http://www.tenebraemush.net/api.php?action=feedcontributions&feedformat=atom&user=AryiaTenebrae - User contributions [en]2026-05-08T03:12:52ZUser contributionsMediaWiki 1.37.1http://www.tenebraemush.net/index.php?title=Where%27d_They_Go%3F_That%27s_Where&diff=44521Where'd They Go? That's Where2025-11-27T05:41:15Z<p>Aryia: </p>
<hr />
<div>Darkness.<br />
<br />
Alexandria has been consumed in it for a hot minute, hasn't it? Not the kind of darkness of night's fall and early winter's days, but the more metaphorical kind: a creeping, slowly spreading chill, a tension building of a coming ending: the moment before the boot drops, so to speak.<br />
<br />
You aren't sure what you were doing, or even how long its been, but here you are: painfully aware of that boot, and unsure where you are. There's an expanse of swirling blackness, and you are alone in it.<br />
<br />
... until your hear a voice: people calling out.<br />
<br />
"Five more minutes!" Skyler grouses, as if the call of the voices were people attempting to wake him up, "Mama, I do not want the pony with the fancy forelock, for he bit me when I fed him sugar cubes."<br />
<br />
Beat.<br />
<br />
"Oh wait. I'm not asleep."<br />
<br />
Another beat. "Gods this is getting *weird* in Alexandria."<br />
<br />
Dirk pauses with his brush in mid-stroke, poised over his beard as that darkness overwhelms him. He blinks owlishly, squinting and peering in the gloom. That doesn't seem right. -He- can see in the dark just fine, usually. "What in Dana's flowery green -arse-?" he grumbles. He fumbles his way to the window of his inn room and flings it open. Perhaps if he can see outside, something will make sense. If only it were that easy. "Och, what the hell is this? What the hell is goin' on here?!" he shouts out into the void. Will it help? Maybe not, but it helps to be able to do -something-. It's proof that he's not going deaf as well as blind in his old age.<br />
<br />
Aryia is quite used to the dark. Pitch black, or even darker. Perhaps the last gift of Taara. Or maybe she's just built different. So it is *weird* that she can't even see past her own nose.<br />
<br />
She catches a voice, then two, turning that way and gives a quiet, two toned whistle as she claps her hands together, trying to light up the dark.<br />
<br />
Eztli was left in some state of confusion at the darkness around her. The makari flicked a small flame between two of her fingers, that seemed to do little to actually disperse the darkness. Sound still worked though, right? The sorceress carefully picked her way through the shadows to not trip on anything, trying to find the source of the noise.<br />
<br />
Aryia manages to get her hands alight with moonlight, but still, barely able to catch anything before her reach. A tinge of panic crawls of up her neck, but she locks that down.<br />
<br />
"What a worthless little cretin. Get rid of it." A distance voice rolled by over her shoulder. A man's. She felt a weight land in her hand. It was dropped like hot iron. "What? Scared? They're useless. You will be too if you don't-"<br />
<br />
A whistling streak of moonlight punches the air behind her, her finding herself panting and slowly backing up. What... is that...?<br />
<br />
"...Albus?" Magpie says, turning this way and that, trying to pierce the gloom. "...Is it time for another Crimson Pen book? Or... wait... You're *not* a book anyore, right? Didn't we--"<br />
<br />
Backing away from the calling voice, Magpie does what comes natural; putting a Light spell on the headdress-coin directly over her forehead, because when you need a light you need it close.<br />
<br />
"The.. pony..."<br />
<br />
"Pony..." A voice seems to echo around Skyler, making his eyes widen and his skin to visibly pimple up.<br />
<br />
"Pony..." Or at least, it would if anyone could see him.<br />
<br />
"Pony... would... not bite... if you did... not ride it so harshly..."<br />
<br />
"Harshly... little toadstool.." Again the voice echos, and Skyler spins around with fist raised, eyes dilated in utter terror. "No. You're *dead*. You're dead and *he* killed you!"<br />
<br />
And he hears the sound of a voice crooning a discordant melody, something about 'heal heal little frog' that's equal parts silly but, judging by how Skyler seems to be covering his ears, equally parts terrifying to him at least.<br />
<br />
"Little hunter..." Dirk's face turns white as his beard as the soft, silky-smooth voice reaches him from the darkness. "Let me -in-, little hunter." Dirk swallows hard, his mouth turning dry. "No... it cannae be you..." He slowly backs away from the window, fumbling in the gloom for his thunderbelcher. His flailing palm catches the barrel, making the weapon topple to the floor. The clatter makes Dirk startle back with a squeak. "Yer -dead-, Demontry Kol! Dolan and Andalena put an -end- tae you! Yer dead an' gone -an' ye cannae come back!-" He stoops to snatch up his thunderbelcher and snaps it to his shoulder. He turns this way and that, panting for breath as he fights the panic clawing at his mind. "Yer dead an' gone. Ye cannae come back. Yer dead an' gone. Ye cannae come -back-!" he whispers hoarsely. But the soft, mocking laughter that rings in his ears tell him that no, Dirk, sometimes your worst nightmare really -can- come true.<br />
<br />
Eztli squinted in spite of the darkness, listening closely to the voices. She froze in place as the voices turned guttural and violent, clearly humanoid, but not quite. "I'll burn you all where you stand!" The sorceress shouted, charging off in the irection of the noise to get to the source of it, and eliminate it if need be.<br />
<br />
With her forehead shining like a beacon, Magpie *ought* to be able to see more than nothing. But the darkness is too close, too heavy, and the voice... shifts, subtly. Menace weights it's barely-understood words, a gurgling sound like an indrawn breath around a mouth full of blood.<br />
<br />
The faint crackle of fire.<br />
<br />
Timbers falling to crash into floorboards.<br />
<br />
The crack of bone.<br />
<br />
"Wait... you're not Albus," Magpie whispers... "...You're... oh *hell* no."<br />
<br />
And she turns and just bolts, fleeing in any random direction that is Away From That Ever-To-Be-Damned Wendigo.<br />
<br />
The voices fade away. Silence.<br />
<br />
All of you are alone in the dark for a moment. It's chill settles into your bones. <br />
<br />
And then a new voice, achingly familiar but just out of reach, a memory come and gone.<br />
<br />
"We are all made of stories, little ones. Seek them out."<br />
<br />
Aryia squashes her breathing, forcing it to be an even In and Out as she backs up with glowing hands raised. Focus. Whatever is going on trying to fuck with you. Find your center. That mantra goes through her head again and again until-<br />
<br />
She senses others nearby. She whistles again, a two toned low-high. And.. a voice? It was painful how familiar it was, the ache like a heart being pulled taut.<br />
<br />
"I saw him..." Skyler whispers staring at nothing as he curls up on the ground, hands wrapped around his legs, "He hurt her. He hurt her and she could not have lived through that. If she did..."<br />
<br />
What that would mean remains unknown, as he perks up when he hears the two-toned high-low whistle. Slowly, he surfaces and pulls a small little grey stone out of a small cage braided into his hair. He kisses it softly, hesitantly, and then lets go of it so it's floating around his head like a friendly little moon as he stands up and walks towards the whistles.<br />
<br />
Dirk's eyes blink open as he hears voices. Voices he knows. Voices that aren't -Kol's-. "Blessed Lady, keep an' protect me," he whispers softly as he gingerly makes his way forward. "Halloooo! Skyler! Is that you, laddie?"<br />
<br />
The voices vanished just as suddenly as they had appeared, leaving Eztli alone again with an ever growing frustration. She sighed, perking up just as the voices picked up again. "Dirk? That you over there? Not something impersonating you or something, hopefully?"<br />
<br />
Magpie is... not really paying attention. She is, after all, convinced that there's a people-eating monster in dire -- like Bear -- need of a snack.<br />
<br />
Magpie is also a smol bean. This has long been a source of great frustration, because the bulk of Alexandria is not *built* for smol beans.<br />
<br />
Both of these together may explain why a circular light bobs rapidly out of the gloom, resolving into a Magpie that crashes into Dirk, rebounding almost immediately and looking up, eyes streaming with fear-filled tears. "...D-Dirk? ...Is that *you,* buddy?!"<br />
<br />
The swashbuckling man comes face to face with a scarred-to-the-nines shadow elf with eerie glowing hands and fierce scowl that could cut through rock. She blinks. Her hands move, and understanding follows regardless of knowing the lingua franca. "Who the fuck are you?"<br />
<br />
Aryia looks to the side, hearing closer voices, barely seeing them. "Eztli? Dirk?" She waves, doing that two-toned whistle again. Her way of saying 'hey!'. <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
"Dirk?" Skyler looks *horrid* when the ol' boy finds him, eyes wide and shaking in the dim light of his (not so) happy (anymore) moon. Is he green or is that just the light of the aeon torch? "Wh.. where are we? I wanna go *home*. Jarik was gunna give me a foot rub!"<br />
<br />
He then jerks his head towards the others, and clings to the dwarf's arm. "Oh hey, I know the little one. We took on some demon-lord and she ate his nuts while I skunked his face. And is that Eztli and..."<br />
<br />
He comes face to face with Aryia, lets out a shriek, and falls backwards on his ass. "I'M TOO YOUNG AND PRETTY TO DIE IS WHO I AM!"<br />
<br />
Eztli trudged up over to where everyone else was conversing, the low growl in her throat dying down and out once she actually saw some faces attached to the voices. "Look, no one here is going to die unless there's a reason for that, and I doubt that's the case." The makari grumbled. <br />
<br />
"Now, more importantly, yeah, no clue where the hell we are. If I can get us out of here and you aren't all shadow monsters pretending to be people I know, then I can see what I can do, if it comes down to it."<br />
<br />
Dirk's eyes get wide as he spies Skyler. He doesn't even comment on the arm-clinging. He's in the mood for some clinging himself. He clutches at Skyler, eyes wide as teacups as he looks around fearfully. "Skyler! Praise the -gods- laddie. Ye won't -believe---" But then there's Aryia, and Eztli, and Magpie too. He staggers a bit as Skyler falls away from him. "Ariya! It's a'right, lassie! Skyler's an adventurer, like us!"<br />
<br />
It's about this time that Magpie enters, stage right, and smacks right into him. He sweeps his arm around her to keep her from ass-planting as well. Fortunately, while he is indeed a shortstack, he is no smol bean. He is decidedly more of a thicc bean, and so he does not tumble as easily as some others. "Magpie! It's a'right, lassie, it's me!"<br />
<br />
He looks up and around at his friends, his beard bristling. "What the hell is goin' -on-? Is this more o' Heth's bullshit? I thought we blasted that sheepfucker out the sky!"<br />
<br />
Aryia relaxes as she runs into others she knows - and more importantly trusts. And then there's this screaming man. Her glowing gaze leers down at him, ears flicking at the high pitched noise. "... sure. Pretty. Get up. My bedtime was interrupted and I'm pissed." She reaches down a hand to help hoist Skyler up - it's more like getting thrown to their feet if he accepts.<br />
<br />
She steps closer to Eztli. "Yes. Let's figure this out. I want to get back to bed."<br />
<br />
She gives a firm nod to Dirk, relaxing somewhat. "Don't know. Too dark for that. He's more a zombie dragon." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Upon confirmation of Dirk's reality, Magpie simply lunges out of his grip to wrap her arms perhaps a quarter of the way around his middle, consoling herself with a good few seconds of crying.<br />
<br />
Once big feelings in smol body are satisfied, she leans back, rubbing eyes and nose. "...Yeah no we need to be *anywhere else,* This is lookin' just a little too Void-y for my liking.<br />
<br />
"Evil never dies, Dirk." Skyler says earnestly, as he stares from Dirk to Aryia and then at Eztli and Magpie before accepting the hand to his feet a touch self-consciously as his little moon stalls behind his head. Is it embarrassed to be orbiting the swashbuckler?<br />
<br />
Do they even do that?<br />
<br />
But then it comes around again and he's schooled his face into a grin of amusement. Sure, he's flung to his feet, but he's *Skyler* and manages to twist midair to land nimbly on his feet, brushing off his best feature.<br />
<br />
... His shoulders, duh! "Evil just gets kinda winded and then apparently comes back to throw our deepest trauma at us. Did anyone else see or hear someone or something horrible, or am I just depressed and/or mentally ill?" He scratches his chin consideringly, "Although I think they aren't mutually exclusive. Oh, hey little squirrel!" And he pulls a little lacy bit of fabric out of thin air, and offers it to her, "For your face. You can blow your nose too, 'coz I don't want it back if you use it."<br />
<br />
Dirk wraps Magpie up in his arms and gives her a proper Dwarf Sized hug, a (likely very successful) attempt to crush her soul back into her body. Also, he's trembling himself, and it helps to have someone to cling to. "Easy there lassie. Yer a'right. Fer now, at least. Yer among friends," he says, as soothingly as he can. Once Magpie turns loose, he does the same. He looks up and around at the others. "No, lad, it wasnae just you. I heard... -him-." He shudders, gripping the stock of his thunderbelcher until his knuckles turn white. "Demontry Kol. That rat -bastard- of a vampire. Och, of all the villains I ever fought, he was the -worst-."<br />
<br />
"Th-th Wendigo," Magpie stammers, accepting the lacy cloth with a watery smile and using it to de-gunkify her face. "Thanks... You're *lots* nicer as a person," she says. "...But you made a *heck* of a skunk. Anyway... That's what I was running from. I couldn't see anything... but it sounded like we were back in that in, and just.... no. Nuh-uh."<br />
<br />
"I'm not too confident this is something we can figure out nice and quick, much as I'd like that." Eztli sighed, rubbing the back of her head. "If we're not in Alexandria, teleporting would always work, but I don't know any spells to go cross planes, which is more likely. So, whatever way is out of here, it's on the terms of whatevers got us here."<br />
<br />
"I mean he was a little handsy when *I* ran into him, but after I killed him half a dozen times he got the hint." Skyler says reflectively regarding Dirk's terror, reaching over and patting Magpie on the top of her head. "I don't think I can do a handstand and shake my ass at this problem, alas." He tells the smolbean sadly, "But I'm glad to have you here with me, and we're in some pretty fierce company." He puffs his chest, "Not to brag, but I'm a Gentleman Adventurer, Eztli once sat fire to some stuffed animals, Dirk doesn't shoot blanks despite his age, and she looks terrifying." He jerks his thumb at Ariya. "Surely she's done some dope-ass shit in her time. Silent but *deadly*." Ah, the emotional recovery abilities of a dumbass. They should be studied! He beams around at the group, tucking thumbs in his belt. "We got this!"<br />
<br />
And then Eztli puts a rain on the parade, and he sags. "Spoilsport."<br />
<br />
If Aryia is surprised from the smooth twist and land, she only shows it through a little shrug and a cocked brow. "Yes, I did. Heard my old owner," she answers Skyler. "He should be dead."<br />
<br />
The name Kol catches a tinge of recognition, so she gets closer to everyone to close the ranks. The thumb towards her gets her attention, a snort escaping her. "I simply solve problems by going through them. The others can tell the tales. But we seem competent enough to untangle this."<br />
<br />
She inhales. Out. "So... did anyone hear that other voice?" <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Dirk shakes his head. "He could always get in my head," he says tightly. "I couldnae keep 'im out, nae matter how hard I tried. He could turn me intae his adorin' wee little -slave-. Och." He draws a shaky breath, looking over at Eztli. "Gods, what I wouldnae give tae have Lana or Telamon here. Or Missus Verna, or Master Mikilos. -They'd- know what tae do." He glances back at Aryia, studying the movement of her hands. "Other voice?" he asks, looking back up at her face. "I... I'm nae certain. Could it have been one of us that ye heard, perhaps...?"<br />
<br />
"Something about being made of stories," Aryia replies to Dirk in a quick flit. "Might have been my imagination. This place seems fucked." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
"Maybe we were kidnapped by fairies. I had that happen once." Skyler says brightly, as he glances around, "Anyone see a mushroom circle? They give you hints if you pee on them, the kinky little things."<br />
<br />
There are no mushroom circles.<br />
<br />
Alas, there is only a profound, chilling darkness that seems to extend in all directions.<br />
<br />
And then... <br />
<br />
... there it is.<br />
<br />
That voice.<br />
<br />
Warm, rich, melodious even. "Find the thread. One will bring you to me. A final corruption."<br />
<br />
There, something takes shape. A home rising up out of the dark. Lonely looking, in the sense, but it's a several story manor home from the look of it.<br />
<br />
"I'm not useless, you know, I just don't make it a habit of fucking around with other planes of existence, so I never bothered learning more about it. Which clearly, in hindsight, wasn't a good idea." Eztli huffed, trying not to glare at the comments. "Didn't hear too much, maybe someone's trying to mess with me, since I'd recognize those noises anywhere. Maybe they thought they had more of a hold over me still." <br />
<br />
The makari watched as the building appeared, and sighed. "Well, that's a trap if I ever saw it, but unless anyone has any better leads, or wants to see what happens if we teleport somewhere else at the moment, Doesn't look like much of a choice, does it?"<br />
<br />
Aryia just gives Skyler a /look/. "Okay, fairy pisser. You could just-"<br />
<br />
Her hands still as that voice snakes through the air. Hands drop, looking over to- oh. "-h f-ck m- s-d-w-ys," Aryia hisses through clenched teeth, her grey skin paling. "I know that house. Gird yourselves. Last time I was there, I stepped into a fucked up bloody aftermath of a massacre." She goes through a few motions: cracking her neck and rolling her shoulders before taking point. <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
<OOC> Aryia uses Ki: Barkskin <br />
<br />
Dirk gives Skyler a -look-, his bushy white brows furrowing as he tugs at his beard. "I... I'm nae sure it works -quite- like that, lad," he says. "Although there's plenty out there in the wilds that'll do summat if ye piss on it. I dinnae judge." He looks back to Ariya and snaps his fingers. "Och! Yer so right! I heard that too! Just..." He waves a hand around. "All o' -this- is goin' on..." He looks like he might like to elaborate, but then there's that manor rising up out of the gloom. He looks up (and up and up), his eyes getting wide once again as his jaw drops. "Erh?" That's about all he can manage. Fortunately, Ariya's there to fill in the blanks. At her warning, he lifts his thunderbelcher and racks the slide with a satisfying CHK-CHAK. "Right. Let's finish this up an' get back tae Alex. I have tae finish groomin' me beard."<br />
<br />
GAME: Eztli casts Mage Armor. Caster Level: 14 DC: 20<br />
<br />
"There's a whore I know that taught me the *best* balm for frizzy hair!" Skyler tells Dirk brightly, "You are looking a little poofy. Works extra well on bristly, curly hair. We can even add some dyes to make it fun colors! I once committed piracy with a guy that had a purple beard. It got all over everything, especially when it rained, but he said it helped immensely with split ends." <br />
<br />
As he rattles away, his hand reaches up to draw his wickedly curved blade, tossing it into the air and catching it with a flourish before pausing to check his boots for scuffs. One gets wiped away, before he nods at Aryia, ignoring the look. He once dressed in Verdama drag and flirted with one of Her paladins. It takes more than that to rattle him. "Of course it's a trap. But we know it's a trap, so we're springing it on our terms. Who do we wanna send in first, or do we all want to jump in at once so they can't single anyone out?"<br />
<br />
There's warmth in that home, unlike the chill of the place you're in. You can feel it as you get closer. Love, laughter, and light oozing from it at stark odds with the nature of the place.<br />
<br />
And ... <br />
<br />
...music? You can hear it now. Joyous. Lively.<br />
<br />
GAME: Magpie casts Mass Planar Adaptation. Caster Level: 15 DC: 25<br />
<br />
Dirk gives Skyler another -look-. "I do not need a purple beard," he grumbles. "Make me look like one o' those nutty oddbeards. Hrumph!" He mutters and grumbles as he lumbers along, his posture tense as a coiled spring. But then, hearing that cheery music, and seeing how warm and inviting the place looks... it slows the burly old snowbeard's step. "Aye-yup. This is -definitely- a trap," he grumbles.<br />
<br />
As the others begin to gird up for trouble, Magpie stands there, brow furrowed for a moment. Then, she wets the end of a finger and holds it up to the air, nodding slowly... and begins to chant. The words... don't matter much, sliding off ears and brains as she speaks into her cupped hands. Power gathers there, pooling into a roiling, chaotic mass of liquid light of any and all possible colors. Then, at the apex of her chant, she slams her hands together, and the power sprayes out in all directions, settling over herself and her friends in a shimmering ward that soon fades into only the occasional multicolored glimmer.<br />
<br />
"...Been a tour guide out in the Planes for awhile," she says quietly. "Wherever we are, we're plane-lost. I can get us back, but... this feels *important.*<br />
<br />
"I agree, we're not on this plane," Aryia nods towards Magpie, taking the magic with appreciation. The stark contrast of how the home feels now versus how she remembered it is deeply unsettling. Last Aryia was here, it looked like people suddenly left mid-party. But here, it looked like the party was still going on.<br />
<br />
"I can take it. Prepare for Taaranites," she volunteers, stepping forth towards the manor and... she inhales deeply. Lines of energy flare on her skin in a flash. And she opens the door. <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
<OOC> Aryia uses Ki: Diamond Soul, Gain Spell Resist 30<br />
<br />
"Oh, great, cultists, hiding in a plane of darkness, and something warning about corruption. Suppose that explains why people can sound like they're having so much fun in a place like this." Eztli grumbled, waving one hand over her shimmering robes. "You always sleep with your guns and swords on you? Suppose I would too if I didn't have a way to defend myself these days."<br />
<br />
The door opens. <br />
<br />
It looks very inviting! Just waiting for you.<br />
<br />
That can't be bad, right?<br />
<br />
Aryia hesitates at the door, looking back at the others before peering inside. It felt... odd. The carpet wasn't sodden with blood, and music was flowing like the drinks. "Just stay focused." But alas- she enters, eyes darting through the party. On edge.<br />
<br />
Dirk grunts softly as he feels Magpie's protective magicks settle on him. "Glad we've got -you- here wi' us, lassie," he says. "Gods, I've lost track o' how many times yer magicks have come in clutch." He squares up with the manor, swinging his thunderbelcher to rest it over his shoulder. As he lumbers forward, he glances at Etzli. "Nae -usually-, no. I like me gun well an' all--I made it meself after all--but hardly enough tae sleep wi' the thing. That's just weird." He trundles forward, heading for the door, and whatever might lie beyond it.<br />
<br />
And Aryia bounces Skyler, sword held at the ready as he glances left to right with bright eyes and a grin that suggests he's ready for anything.<br />
<br />
Eztli shrugs and doesn't seem too perturbed for the moment by the building before them, and like the others, is quick to enter. "Focused as well as I can be, maybe it'll be easier inside where I can actually see things, hopefully."<br />
<br />
"Don't forget," Magpie says, giving Dirk a distracted grin as he talks her up. "Find the thread. It was important enough for nothing to say, it's important enough to *remember.*"<br />
<br />
But she's still trying to place the voice as she files on in behind the rest... ready to see what needs a little chaos.<br />
<br />
"Welcome, welcome!"<br />
<br />
You're greeted almost immediately by a man in in loosely fitting robes. Silk.<br />
<br />
"It's been so long since we had guests at the door! Come in! Come in! Enjoy! Wine?" Was he holding a platter moments ago? No? <br />
<br />
Does it matter? He is now. Red wine.<br />
<br />
"We're so happy to see you! I'm sure we've been expecting you."<br />
<br />
The home unfolds into a radcuous, hedonistic party. Everyone is singing along, dancing, drinking. It's -merry-.<br />
<br />
Merry everywhere to the heart's desire. Everything is luxurious...<br />
<br />
Dirk wasn't at all certain what to expect out of this alien, otherworldly place. Aside from a couple jaunts into Quel'ynos, he's kept his feet firmly planted on Ea's face. But -this-... it's familiar. -Too- familiar. The old snowbeard swan-dives headfirst into the uncanny valley. His cheeks turn bright red, and his beard bristles as he stumbles and stammers. "Uh... uh... I... uh... that is tae say..." He reaches up to doff his tricorne, glancing around furtively before turning a -desperate- look on Skyler. The sky pirate's the charming one--surely -he- knows what to say? All poor Dirk can think to do is fidget from foot to foot. He doesn't want to be -rude-, really, but he -was- kidnapped, and now he's at a party. Normally something he'd quite enjoy, if not for the circumstances. He's fairly certain he didn't receive an RSVP to -this- particular gathering.<br />
<br />
Eztli looked even more sour than usual, the sorceress not appreciating the party in the slightest. ""Gods, if anyone asks who your parents are, just tell them that they're too important to bother telling them." She grumbled to no one in particular before stepping inside.<br />
<br />
"Oh, hey! Do you guys have oat milk?" Skyler asks brightly as he shoves his way to the front of the crowd, beaming brightly at the party-goers as he glances around, "So glad you knew we were coming, coz we sure as fire didn't!"<br />
<br />
He pauses, and adds, "You'll forgive us if we don't give you our names. It's more fun that way, y'know!" And he grins brightly, "So what's all this about? What's going on? Did someone die?"<br />
<br />
Aryia is stymied briefly at the entrance, such a party rifled old, bittersweet memories. She lingers at some of the luxuries, but she shakes her head, focusing as Skyler pushes his way to the front. He seems far better suited for this environment, so she's back to watching the party for anything remiss.<br />
<br />
Totally just watching.<br />
<br />
"Oat Milk?"<br />
<br />
A beat.<br />
<br />
"Well, I suppose I can check the pantries. They're ... very well stocked? Amazing. It's like a never ending pantry of anything and everything we could want, so perhaps!"<br />
<br />
He smiles warmly at them, then turns to lead them further in.<br />
<br />
It's ... it's a party. There's people singing, laughing, dancing. They all seem to be having a good time. There's no end to it. Every room you pass by, pass through, is filled to the brim with people locked in some sort of eternal festival and they all look like they're having the time of their life. <br />
<br />
And not a knife to be seen anywhere. "There's some space in this room," he says, cheerfully, pointing the way down another hallway. This place is impossible to figure out. The interior makes no sense to the exterior. One gets the impression it doesn't really matter to any of them.<br />
<br />
Dirk shuffles along with the others as they're led inward. He's never one to turn down a good party. No dwarf worth his beard would be. But all of -this- seems to be a bit much for the old ranger. A small gathering of friends in a cheerful inn room is much more his speed. He stares all around as they make their way in. The strange geometries and curious angles has the poor old dwarf's eyes crossing. "Beards o' me sweet tapdancin' fathers. What the hell--"<br />
<br />
He pauses with one foot poised to take a step before he stops in his tracks. Sloooowly he turns his head and leeeeeans back, peering into a room. His eyes get wide, and his cheeks turn red as beets. He swiftly resumes his pace, harrumphing softly as he fans himself with his tricorne. "So ah... heh... quite the er... -lively- gatherin' ye've got goin' on here," he says to their strange host. "There a special occasion? Or are ye all just a naturally happy lot?"<br />
<br />
"Maybe I was too harsh in my judgement. I think they might genuinely just be here to have fun with no ulterior motives. Maybe." Eztli relented as they wandered further into the strange party. "So, what's your name, then? What's the occasion for all of this, anyways?"<br />
<br />
"Hey question!" Magpie calls from much closer to the floor; imposible angles and eldritch geometries... Yeah they're weird, but pay attention to your feet and you'll be fine. "Like he said; what *are* y'all celebrating, anyway? I ain't never seen a party this size without *somethin'* kickin' it off!"<br />
<br />
The gnome seems more... curious, than suspicious, as she examines passed hallways and chambers. Maybe the thread is a literal one?<br />
<br />
This isn't the first or second time that Aryia had been in an otherworldly place where the festivities were eternal. She follows, better to go along with the tide than to fight against it. Especially since they're still trying to sort out what's going on.<br />
<br />
The fact that she hasn't spotted the that knife was both relaxing as it was concerning. A thought that is discarded as she peers into the same room as Dirk. Her brows raise as she whistles lowly, before lazily trailing along with the others after a moment.<br />
<br />
"Hey! When you find the oat milk, maybe also get us the answers to our questions?" Skyler asks brightly, his tone firm but friendly, cheerful even as he squints at the back of the leading figure. "And space for what? Are we having an orgy? I mean, usually I like a little more prep work before group debauchery. And if you think for a second I'm sharing my oat milk, you really are insane."<br />
<br />
He asides to the group, "This is definitely a trap. But, like, is it the kind of fun trap where we all end up naked and covered in cheese, or the kind of trap that ends with us eating someone's flesh? Because I won't do that again. People are kinda gamey." Surely he jests, right?<br />
<br />
Dirk flicks his wide-eyed gaze around at his friends. His friends are safe. The old dwarf is hardly a prude, but even he has his limits. And the heedless abandon permeating this place is a -very- long way beyond that line. If there's anything he can't stand, its losing control of himself. He's had enough of that to last a lifetime.<br />
<br />
But then Skyler has to go and do Skyler things. The old snowbeard's gaze snaps to the swashbuckler. "Naked an' covered in--" He stops in his tracks again, his jaw working for a moment as his cheeks once again turn red as beets. "How's -that- get fun?!" he finally manages in a strangled tone. He doesn't mention the flesh eating. Erotic cheese dip is -so- much easier on his poor frazzled nerves.<br />
<br />
"We are celebrating Taara, of course! How could you not know?" He tilts his head at you, smiling still. "We feast, we sing, we dance, and we tell stories. We lie, we cheat, we manipulte, and we tell stories. All that lives, wants, and all that is dead wants to live. That is why we are here. She has called us to her Side. She is near."<br />
<br />
Oh boy.<br />
<br />
'Find the thread.'<br />
<br />
'Find the thread.''We sing, we dance, we tell stories.'<br />
<br />
'Find the thread.'<br />
<br />
'We lie, we cheat, and we tell stories.'<br />
<br />
In a rush, Magpie draws in a breath, and reaches up to take a glass of wine from the tray. "So, she says, with her most engaging smile, "would you do us the favor of telling us a story? About Taara?"<br />
<br />
"Very gamey," Aryia concurs with a gesture. Was she joking? Does Aryia joke? She glances to Dirk. Shrugs. "Gouda is pretty fun. I can see it."<br />
<br />
Her footfalls stop hard with a stomp. Pales. Gulps. This is Her domain. Magpie comes swooping in with a way forward, grounding the mul'neissa woman that should be completely at ease here. She would have in a different, past life. She is not that woman anymore, and is thankful someone else can fill those shoes. <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
"If I have to explain it, Dirk..." Skyler shakes his head, and jerks his thumb at the dwarf as he addresses the guide, "If we do go cannibal, he's probably a little tough. Probably best to stew him. Low heat, long cook time in an oven." He then cocks his head at Magpie, nodding.<br />
<br />
"Preferably with refreshments. I want oak milk. Warm, maybe, with some honey stirred in? My nanny use to give me a cup every night when she told me stories." He says with a charming, winsome smile, "You'd be surprised at home much I don't know." He says with pride, "I mean, knowing stuff takes so much work. Easier just to vibe! So why don't you get us refreshments and we can listen to your Taaran stories, maybe pull some thread, indulge in pulling Her threads, whatever else we need to do to *party*!"<br />
<br />
"I would rather avoid anything involving cheese or eating people myself." Eztli sighed. "Great, she's near. So, that means we should probably get going, right? Sounds like the case to me, if this is some exclusive Taaran gathering."<br />
<br />
Dirk's eyes get wider still. "Taara. -Taara-? -The- Taara? The goddess of--" He looks for a moment like he'd like to say something -very- unflattering. But he gets ahold of his tongue and snaps his mouth shut. His beard bristles for a moment. "Er. Uh. I mean tae say. The goddess of... things." He gestures lamely all around. That's nice and neutral, right? Surely -that- won't offend a goddess in Her own realm.<br />
<br />
Once again, Skyler gets a -look-. "Och! You lot take it intae yer heads an' cook -me-, I'll go straight tae yer hips, I swear tae fuckin' Dana," he grumbles. It's hardly the first time some nasty beastie or foul fiend has threatened to make a meal of him, but -this- time it feels different. He nods eagerly at Eztli, pointing her way. "-She- gets it!"<br />
<br />
"No, Eztli," Magpie says, shaking a finger next to her head, and beginning to pace. "No... I think we're nearly there. It *feels* close, because what *is* a story? It's the lie that outlines a truth. And they have stories... *and I would hear them.* I want to see the common thread."<br />
<br />
Oh, no, Magpie seems to be locking into her theory, looking up at the revelers with a sort of hunger in her shimmering eyes.<br />
<br />
There's a distinct pause from the young man as the others talk. He tilts his head, adjusting his hood and pulling it down all together. Yep, he's a shadow elf too. Of course he is. <br />
<br />
All smiles.<br />
<br />
"Of COURSE I'll talk to you about Taara. But I think you're here for a reason -- no one gets in uninvited you see -- so why don't you look around and find who invited you?"<br />
<br />
He gestures beyond into the party.<br />
<br />
"Let your journey be the story that warms your hearts in the night or failing that, be worth the hangover."<br />
<br />
While that milk idea sounds pretty good to Aryia, but the weight of what others point make her even more nervous, especially as Magpie seems to hit the mark. An unsettling thing with the normally stoic pugilist. And then-<br />
<br />
She was /invited/ here. Into Taara's domain? Aryia gave up on her over half a century ago. "I tell no more lies, not even to myself anymore," she gestures, looking out to the party proper. "But, fine. Guess we'll have to mingle. Try to not overdo it." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Magpie is just about to say something incredibly clever... when they are put on a scavenger hunt. Words die in her throat, her finger loses it's pointer-y-ness, and she sort of... deflates, just a little. Looking back up at the reveler, she tries on a crooked grin?<br />
<br />
"...A clue, perhaps? Cryptic or plain, honest or red herring, it's momentum that matters, is it not?"<br />
<br />
She *has* her suspicions... but to be wrong might also be blasphemy, so...<br />
<br />
"Wonderful, so we've all got a reason to be here, for something or other. Maybe just the entertainment?" The makari shrugged, not looking to pleased. "So be it, gods I hate mingling at parties,but if that's what we need to do, so be it. Be a bit harder when all I've got to rely on is my winning personality and humility, but we've gotta do something, right?"<br />
<br />
"What if my thread is oat milk?" Skyler asks in a tiny, hopeful little voice before he sighs, scrubs his face with one hand, and shakes his head sadly. "Curses. Fate is a fickle bitch once again."<br />
<br />
He then squares his shoulders, and glances at his party. "Maybe it has something to do with the traumatic visions we heard?" He pauses, and adds to Eztli, "You also have your fiery wit!" And he mimes flames coming out of his mouth, and flails his hands like he's burning. "Crispy."<br />
<br />
Dirk looks up at their host and blinks owlishly. Blink. Blink blink. "Uh..." He looks back towards the room that had just captured his attention moments ago. Of -course- it's still within easy reach, it's fresh in Dirk's mind. "-Taara-? Taara invited -me-? -The- Taara? Och, I'm naebody, why would Taara invite -me-?" He mutters and harrumphs, tugging at his beard as he glances around. Aryia's suggestion has the old ranger boggling slightly. "Mingle? -Me-? Och, but, this is all so... so..." He fumbles for a diplomatic word. "-Lively-," is what he eventually goes with. "I'd just bring the vibe down. You know us dwarves. We're all a bunch o' grounches, us. We'd rather spend our time scowlin' intae a mug o' beer in a gloomy corner. Ayep, that's us, right there." He fidgets with his tricorne, looking around at his friends. Surely they're not suggesting the cardinal sin of splitting the party, are they...?<br />
<br />
"Is that so?" remarks the young man to Aryia, curiously, "Truth is funny thing, you know, that exists in the space between one's story and another's." He takes a step back, smiles at Magpie, and then offers her another glass of wine just because.<br />
<br />
"She waits for all of you." <br />
<br />
And then he disappears into the swirling, dancing crowd.<br />
<br />
Aryia flexes her jaw. "That space is where truth lies, and where truth lies," she replies back with a hand. The mute glances to Magpie. "Momentum matters, it seems. And either we spin this tale in an endless inertia of debauchery or we press forward. Probably has to deal with the horrid shit we saw like Skyler said. So..."<br />
<br />
She rubs her face. Dirk is right, Taara invited /them/? This has to be a sick joke, or and honest plea, and it was frustrating it could be both at the same time. "... let's get into the party or some shit. Fuck me." Aryia moves past the room they peered at, following into the dancing crowd. <Handspeech/Tongues> <br />
<br />
Skyler?<br />
<br />
He's already gone, shrugging out of his coat. "WHO HERE HAS EVER DONE VODKA AND OAT MILK SHOTS?!" He's shouting over the crowd, even as he shakes his ass, "It tastes like hell but oh my god the way it *lingers*! WOOOHOOO!"<br />
<br />
"Does it?" <br />
<br />
"Shit, let's try it!"<br />
<br />
"Let's find some oat milk!"<br />
<br />
"What the hell is oat milk?"<br />
<br />
"WHO KNOWS!"<br />
<br />
"...Okay well since no one got smoten saying it, yeah, pretty sure that's who we have to find, Magpie says, absently swirling the wine... then pausing as Skyler sends a group of Taaranites on a wild oats chase. "Hey, guys? I'm reminded of a saying I heard from a Rosalian... 'In vino, veritas.' This is totally a bad idea, but...."<br />
<br />
Drawing in a short breath, she takes a long swallow of the wine.<br />
<br />
Eztli was left shaking her head awkwardly as some of the others took off. "I was just gonna find a dance floor or pole or something. Seems like the sort of stuff they'd have here." Eztli grumbled. "I don't trust any of the drink here at all, so I'll pass on the oat milk. How do you even milk a plant in the first place? Don't particularly want to know, to be perfectly honest."<br />
<br />
Dirk boggles as their host retreats, leaving them alone. "Oh, beards o' me sweet tapdancin' fathers," he whimpers softly. "How are we goin' tae get back home? We -will- be able to, won't we? Och, Thistle an' Lulu must be so worried..." He fidgets and frets, looking around for something, or anything that might resemble what they're looking for. He's certainly -not- in the mood to party. Usually, he's the one who picks what parties he goes to, and none of the debauchery is doing anything to enhance the burly old ranger's calm.<br />
<br />
As Magpie goes to drink that wine, he startles, reaching out with a "Aggkk--!" But he's too late. "Och, what if it's like in the fae realm? If ye eat or drink what they give ye, they own yer soul, or some nonsense like that," he says. Aaaaand there Skyler goes, doing Skyler things. You really have nobody to blame but yourself, Dirk. You're the one who decided he should do the talking.<br />
<br />
GAME: Aryia rolls perception: (18)+38: 56<br />
GAME: Skyler rolls Perception: (14)+21: 35<br />
GAME: Eztli rolls perception: (14)+5: 19<br />
GAME: Dirk rolls Perception: (19)+22: 41<br />
GAME: Magpie rolls percetion: (20)+percetion: 20<br />
GAME: Magpie rolls perception: (4)+15: 19<br />
<br />
It's loud.<br />
<br />
It's raucous.<br />
<br />
There are people -everywhere-, and talking to them reveals every last one is a Taaran of some kind -- in fact, many of them are actual clergy, or so they say: all too happily.<br />
<br />
They also lie.<br />
<br />
A -lot-.<br />
<br />
It's frustrating. It's annoying. It sends you in circles trying to grasp what's even happenign here, or how you might've goten here. All that is until Aryia in particular hears a voice.<br />
<br />
A familiar laugh, up a set of stairs that seems to have no end.<br />
<br />
There's a touch of old, old habit Aryia falls back into, and that is dance. One of the few vestiges of her old life that still stuck around after the slow fall to rock bottom. She sways from one group to the next, trying to get some iota of information but- she's done this all before- and it's still just as annoying. It seems like it's going to be far too much to deal with-<br />
<br />
A laugh lances through her ears and mind like a shot of old, nostalgic trauma with no ice. A wave of emotions crash against her; fear, rage, apathy, guilty relief. It had been so long to hear that voice, to wield that power. Oh- to taste that once more, the delight of a delivered lie.<br />
<br />
She let the wave crash, spread, and recede. In. Out. She didn't need Her anymore.<br />
<br />
The others. She flits through the party, tapping her friends on the shoulders and gesturing to follow. "Found the thread," she just signs in explanation, pointing to the set of stairs before heading up herself. <Handspeehc/Tongues><br />
<br />
"... And then I told him that it wasn't a banana, it was ME!" Skyler cheerfully tells a group that he's regaling with a story featuring two drunk goblins, an hobgoblin, and a basket of fruit.<br />
<br />
Don't ask.<br />
<br />
In all likelihood it's a lie, and he seems to be attempting to top himself with gusto with each new lie he attempts to tell... Although he also keeps half an eye on each of his party, distracting people attempting to interrupt them or draw trhem away from the mission. When a woman with big ol' knockers and a hungry expression begins to approach Dirk, for example, he calls out, "HEY! DID I EVER TELL YOU ABOUT THE TIME I DRESSED IN DRAG AND TRIED TO SEDUCE A PALADIN OF VARDAMA?!" to draw her away.<br />
<br />
Eztli had searched and searched, but there was nowhere to dance proper she found, outside of just meandering in between the groups of priests that seemed to treat lying like a competitive sport. By the time she was about to threaten to cut out some of their tongues and shove them down their throats, Aryia seemed to recognize something in particular this time, and the sorceress breathed a sigh of relief before reconvening.<br />
<br />
That voice.<br />
<br />
Aryia is leading you towards something she recognizes, up a set of stairs. Up another, longer set of stairs.<br />
<br />
Through narrow and dark hallway, past rooms full of party-goers and increasing levels of hedonism and debauchery. <br />
<br />
Finally, into a lounge, lit by firelight. Shadow Elves in reverent prayer are here -- prayer to Taara. Seated comfortably amongst them is a scarlet-haired shadow elf of, of course, indeterminate age. She rises to her feet, silk robes hanging comfortably on her frame.<br />
<br />
"Well, well, well," she begins, "It's so good to see you and your friends, darling."<br />
<br />
Aryia knows who that is.<br />
<br />
Aryia stops short in the doorframe. Her jaw works, eyes wide at the figure as her throat bobs. "Akorinil," she signs in a blitz of fingerspelling. She clearly is ignoring any pleasantries as the pugilist looks about the room before half looking at the High Priestess. "I take it you invited us here." It wasn't a question. A hand behind her back flashes to the group, "Caution." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
"Oh, golly, I never knew a raven could do *that* with a writing desk." Skyler tells whichever poor soul ended up getting stuck at the rear of the line with him. When the party left the main group, Skyler seemingly appeared out of thin air at the rear of the line holding a goblet of something that is vaguely milky but a little too thin to be actual milk from a cow.<br />
<br />
Is it the fabled oat milk?!<br />
<br />
Despite being by all measures something of a dunderhead, he's not stupid enough to actually drink it, but does seem to be content to carry it with him in the hopes of escaping with it. Oat milk has a longer shelf life than cow's milk, after all. He glances around with bright eyes as they enter the room with the scarlet-haired shadow-elf. He looks prepared to step forward again to take the lead when Aryia begins to wiggle her fingers. He frowns but shrugs, and leans against something after checking it for stickiness. It *is* that kind of place, after all.<br />
<br />
Dirk's eyes get wider and wider as they progress up the stairs. Each new display of hedonism and abandon has the old snowbeard's cheeks turning brighter and brighter red. "Och, if they're tryin' tae sell us, they might be goin' a -wee- bit overboard, wouldn't ye say?" he mutters, giving his beard a tug. But then, they're there, in the company of Taaranites. The redheaded shadow elf has Dirk blinking owlishly. And again when it appears that Aryia -knows- this person. His gaze flicks to the sign behind her back. His shaggy white brows furrow as he takes a step forward. One hand reaches up and over his shoulder to grip the stock of his thunderbelcher. "Right. Let's nae be havin' any biscuit-arsed behavior out o' -you-, lassie," he growls. "It seems a -lovey- party yer havin' here. It'd be such a shame fer there tae be an arse-kickin', now wouldn't it?"<br />
<br />
Eztli continued along with the rest of the group, with some idea of where to go courtesy of Aryia. The makari certainly did not know what to make of the elf, it was just another of many at the party, but she did at least get an inkling to show some manner of wariness.<br />
<br />
Magpie actually giggles at Skyler's commentary; how can one not? he puts such careful work into it, after all, it'd be a shame for his efforts to go unappreciated. She tries not to look into the doors they pass, largely because Dirk is a good enough bellwether, it serves to satisfy her curiosity.<br />
<br />
When the group tops the house to find Akorinil, however... the gnome seems confused. "I... hm... it's good to meet you, your Taarishness? Sorry, never learned many polite modes of address but um... I'm... not familiar?"<br />
<br />
The fabled oat milk is not in evidence at this time.<br />
<br />
But it's not like they aren't looking for it. You can hear them, down below, on the hunt.<br />
<br />
The Shadow Elven woman rises to her full not at all impressive height and gives a very, very warm smile. She's entirely happy to see everyone. "There's no need for any of -that-," she tells Dirk, warmly, "Such distrust, such hostility! It's just like old times, wouldn't you say?" she tells Aryia. <br />
<br />
"I am Akorinil Belvade, and you are a guest in the house that faith built. It is we, here, who sacrifice so that you may live to fight another day -- or perhaps we should say tell another tale?"<br />
<br />
"To be fair, we weren't exactly given the most..." Skyler purses his lips as he considers exactly how to phrase it, "Sanity-preserving wake-up and invitation to the party." His pale eyes drift along the group, taking in Dirk's belligerence, Aryia's discomfort, and Eztli's wariness. "But regardless. You'll have to forgive my little teapot of a friend. His tastes are a little more conservative than you and your followers." He glances over his shoulder, "Although I do have some questions about that one room with the three sea shells myself, to be honest. They certainly looked like they were having fun but..."<br />
<br />
He shakes his head, waving a hand dismissively before checking to see if he spilled the oat milk. Nope. Still safe for Verna or Telamon or someone else to de-cursify for him to enjoy later. "Banger of a party though, Akorrie." He holds up one thumb, "Seriously. So what's this about telling tales? I have an appointment at the bath-house to get my toe nails trimmed and I don't want to be late, so if you could tell us how to get home..."<br />
<br />
Aryia holds up a hand to Dirk, then pushes her hand down in a calming motion. "While I am confident in my abilities, let's not poke this nest." She glances to Skyler, Dirk, Eztli, and Magpie before taking a deep breath and looking back to the Akorinil. "High Priestess of the Lady of Shade, she fails to mention."<br />
<br />
A sigh escapes her. "You can hardly blame us, you know? The distrust. While I appreciate the hospitality, I agree with the fancy man. Can you clear up what the hell's going on here? Because in the material plane this party was... bloody." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Dirk's scowl deepens. "I'm nae Taaranite," he growls. His grip on his thunderbelcher never wavers. "An' -our- tales are -true- ones! Nae those rust-covered lies that -She- spins." Skyler calling him a 'little teapot' has him regarding the swashbuckler with an indignant scowl. "Hrmph! I can cut loose just fine, ye struttin' peacock. But there's a bloody time an' place for it, isn't there?" <br />
<br />
He doesn't miss Ariya's admonition, but he old ranger is tense as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs. He looks back to Akorinil, fixing her with a hairy eyeball. "Ye -kidnapped- us. Forced us here against our will. What on Ea's great green -arse- would make ye think we'd want -anything- tae do wi' ye? We've nae want fer any yarn or tale ye'd want tae spin fer us. Let us go home!" For now, he keeps his voice to a low, surly growl, but he's ready to spring into action at the drop of a hat.<br />
<br />
Eztli sighed, and shook her head a few times. "You've got a real swell way of inviting people to your house of debauchery." Eztli huffed. "Why exactly should we telling you more than we should? It'd be good to know why we should actually tell you anything."<br />
<br />
"It really is a lot of trouble to go to, to bring four random people and also Ariya halfway across the planes," Magpie agrees, and by the very sound of her voice, if she wore glasses she'd be pushing them up their nose.<br />
<br />
"Also I gotta admit, things have been getting ugly and weird for a while now, so I can only guess we're here because we're uniquely suited to help, somehow? Not you, though..."<br />
<br />
Magpie looks down for a moment, then back up, and nods. "So how can we help?"<br />
<br />
Bless her little chaos gremlin heart.<br />
<br />
Skyler snap-points at Magpie, one chaos gremlin to another.<br />
<br />
Clicking her tongue against the roof of her mouth -- a tutt of disappointment -- Akorinil shakes her head with such sadness in her eyes.<br />
<br />
"I am wounded -- so very wounded -- by the accusations and innuendos. Though I like him --" She points at Skyler. "And you," a point at Magpie.<br />
<br />
She smiles at Aryia. <br />
<br />
"I would've thought my station so obvious!"<br />
<br />
A smile at Dirk. <br />
<br />
"Kidnap you? Kidnapping is so gauche. I saved you. The Void consumes all it touches. Do you remember what you were doing before you found yourself here? Do you -really- remember?"<br />
<br />
... come to think of it ... you don't. Not really.<br />
<br />
What do you do when the High Priestess of Lies compliments you? "Thank you, you're pretty swell too! Speaking of swell how do you keep everything so perky with minimal support!" You believe the freakin' lie, of course. It's gauche to point out someone's lie, and she is trying so hard, after all!<br />
<br />
To Dirk, he shakes his head, "Maybe if you calm down, she'll give you some caramel hard candies! Doesn't that sound nice?" And he reaches over to squeeze the dwarf's shoulder warningly, turning to give him a grimace that is as serious as the grave where Akorinil can't see it. And slightly apologetic, as if he's trying to silently apologize for what he's saying.<br />
<br />
Turning back to the Lie Priestess (get it?) he grins. "Nope, but to be fair it wouldn't be the first morning that happened. My partner usually finds me, pays any fees or bounty, and then I start the day. And the Void has been a *bitch* lately, so you'll have to be be more specific. What'd the Void do this time?"<br />
<br />
"And I'm not either, Dirk, but-" Aryia sighs, rubbing her temples. She drops it, stepping deeper into the room and leaning against a wall. "I know how Taaranites work, and those that don't find it kind of maddening to talk in double speak the entire time." She can't help but half cough at Skyler's comment, a rare silent snicker escaping her.<br />
<br />
The pugilist blinks. "The void was... approaching, but we staved it. But before here-..." Aryia stops. Thinks. Frowns. "... alright. Fine. Got me there. Care to elaborate?"<br />
<br />
"Sorry if I don't give much of a crap about impressing you, to be very honest. High Taaranite priest isn't really that high on my list of stations that I care about." The makari snorted. "So, you brought us here, for some reason. I'm sure you did it out of the depth of your heart and compassion, since you know so much about how I'd want to be saved from something like that."<br />
<br />
Dirk's beard bristles angrily. He tenses at Skyler's hand on his shoulder, and he looks about ready to throw it off, possibly with some proper dwarven profanity to help it along. But he's a canny old bear, and he doesn't miss Skyler's expression. It'd be noteworthy enough -without- them being in the very heart of Taara's house of faith. He pulls deep, snorting, snarling breaths through his big dwarven nose. The leather of his gauntlet creaks as he forces his fingers to unclench with visible effort.<br />
<br />
"I'm nae afraid o' the Void," he growls, in a bit more of an even tone.<br />
<br />
He turns his attention back to Akorinil. "Lord Gilead an' the Blessed Lady hold me in their keeping. I trust in Their goodness." He draws another deep breath, fighting for calm. Now is not the time for dwarven tempers. He never was the sharpest marble in the deck. Deep thoughts often evade him. But he possesses deep, homespun wisdom of his own. He forces himself to be calm and cool, like the forest's shade on a clear spring morning. The priestess' question, though, has his hackles springing -right- back up. "Of -course- I remember what I was doin'! I--" He cuts off, lifting a hand to his beard. He gives the majestic snowy white whiskers a tug. "I was... I was... brushin' me beard out..." He pauses. Blink blink. "I -was-, wasn't I...?"<br />
<br />
Confusion darkens his mood back into a surly scowl. He turns his dour gaze back on Akorinil."All right. Fine. Ye brought us here. If we hear yer tale, -then- can we go home? I was... doin' -somethin'- important. I'm fair certain." He actually -isn't- certain, but he's not letting -her- know that.<br />
<br />
"Easy, buddy," Magpie whispers as she rests a hand on Dirk's arm. "I'm not gonna bite the hand that pulls me out of the Void, for certain... But we still need to hear what it is you need from *us.* You can rest assured -- High Priestess? -- we're grateful enough to do what clearly only we could, so... Whaddaya need a tracker, a firelighter, a brawler, and two chaos gremlins for?"<br />
<br />
"You've all done very well in facing the Void, it's true. You've killed the 'villains of the void' -- but do you know what those were made of? Not just void stuff, to be sure. What else were they?"<br />
<br />
The question Akorinil asks each of you is clearly rhetorical, but she's planting her hands on her hips. She needs to hear something from each of you.<br />
<br />
"Pass." Skyler tells the rest of the party, his expression utterly bewildered. "I mean, as far as I know, it's made of nothing because that's what void is, right? Absence of stuff?" He grimaces, "I think I skipped that day with my tutors, or slept through it."<br />
<br />
Aryia nods her head along with Dirk; she wasn't afraid either, having faced it several times herself. She stares at the High Priestess. "... really Akorinil? You were there. You helped me and the group. I fought a corrupted version of myself. A reflection of another timeline. Others I've known have fought the same." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Dirk nods his head firmly at Skyler. "Aye, ye have it exact, laddie," he says with a voice full of conviction. "It's -nothing-. My farts after Gobbo Chili Night have more substance." He pauses, and looks thoughtfully. "Actually, those have a -lot- of substance after Gobbo Chili Night. Errf." He gives himself a shake, looking back to Akorinil. "Sun rises. Rains fall. The forest breathes. An' -good triumphs over evil. That's the way the world bloody works." He grips his belt and nods again. Dwarf Law has been spoken.<br />
<br />
"You've... not been paying too much attention to me, it seems. Guess I was just dragged along for the hell of it." Eztli huffed again, clearly growing a bit more agitated. "But given my second hand knowledge and keeping up with the times, I dunno. They're memories. Void stuff pretending to be something it isn't, because those folks are supposed to be some of the worst known."<br />
<br />
Magpie pauses, then looks over her shoulder at Skyler and Dirk. The others seem to refuse to put much thought into the question, but the Gnome dips her head, beginning to pace.<br />
<br />
"...But the Void isn't nothing," she says, tapping her nose. "If it was, there'd be no Heth. It *is* hungry, and corruptive, but we're not *talking* about Voidstuff. We're talking about the villains."<br />
<br />
Turning back about, she snap-points at Eztli for a moment. "Memories. That's close, but they weren't the *same.* But if the people involved had fallen *to* the Void..."<br />
<br />
She pauses, and looks up at Akorinil. "They're lies. Lies told by the people they were trying to be. 'If only,' 'maybe I could've,' 'if not for that damn skunk...' Memories grasping for ways to remain relevant, come back stronger, get what they deserve."<br />
<br />
Is she holding a mug? Why, yes.<br />
<br />
Was Akorinil holding that mug moments ago?<br />
<br />
No. It's not even clear where she got it -- but she must've gotten it from somewhere. In point of fact, as you each look at her holding it, you begin to -remember- her ssending a servant to fetch it, one bringing it back to her. You're pretty sure that didn't happen... right?<br />
<br />
She holds it out to Skyler. Is it... could it be?<br />
<br />
IS IT THE LEGENDARY OAT MILK?<br />
<br />
In the meantime, she does nod towards Magpie, glancing between each of the others. <br />
<br />
"Tell me, friends -- what is another name for a lie? A fiction. What is a fiction but a story?"<br />
<br />
Her eyes turn towards Aryia, now, "Do you know? Do you know why we were called to her side? It is the same reason you stand here now."<br />
<br />
GAME: Skyler rolls Wisdom: (5)+2: 7<br />
<br />
"Evil is subjective, Dirk. Deforestation is a sin to some, but to others it's a necessary part of fueling progress and forwarding civilization." Skyler says earnestly to Dirk, "I'll grant you there are things that are black and white, but for the most part it's all different colors in between."<br />
<br />
He looks prepared to wax more philosophy when the mug is held out to him. His eyes widen and he bites his lip like a man facing the worst temptation of his life. He knows it's stupid and unwise to drink something handed to him by the Lie Priestess, but...<br />
<br />
"Oat milk." He breathes, and reaches for it, "Gods. It's been so long."<br />
<br />
The others' perspectives paint Aryia another picture of what's going on. She wasn't far off, it seemed: memories, false potentials, all that could have been. She quirks a brow at the offered mug, not really certain where it appeared. But, weirdly, she actually trusted it was the true, one and only: oat milk. Honestly, she can't blame the man for jumping for it, and doesn't stop him.<br />
<br />
She's heard that mantra before: a lie is just fiction, and a story. But she gets a different question. Her eyes grow downcast. "I was called because I was very good at telling the story of Her and His matrimony," her hands are slow. Her fingers curl into tight fists. Tremor. Then release with a breath Out. "But She left me when I needed her most. And now I need no one aside from my friends."<br />
<br />
She glances up to Akorinil, resolved. "But that is not the question you asked. You mean the Mul'neissa. It was..." she tries to remember. "... the original elves. Ancestors. Taara took one, or sheltered them from the other, a long time ago." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Dirk boggles a bit at Skyler as that mug appears out of nowhere. A -fiendish- mug, no less! "-Sky-ler, don't be -thick-!" he can't help exclaiming. "What if it's poison? Ye dinnae have a dwarf belly, poison can -hurt- you!" He grumphs and mutters. "If progress an' civilization comes at the cost of murderin' the forest, then -fuck- 'em both. The Green Word was here long afore anyone put one stone atop another. It'll outlive all of us." He flicks his gaze to Akorinil. "An' -nothin'- can stop -that-."<br />
<br />
He pulls another calming breath. Mutter mutter, grumble grumble. "A'right, so they're -stories-. Just like everything else. Like you an' them, an' -us-." He gestures fro Akorinil, to the other Taarenites, to his comrades. "Get tae yer -point-, lassie. I want tae go -home-." He does try his very best not to sound like a petulant child, but he is -so- far out of his element here.<br />
<br />
"So, stories are being made into reality, and not anything good. Why can't the void just raid Mikilos' library of crimson pen books and do something more fun with that?" Eztli continued to grumble. "Yarn, tale, epic, not sure what you want us to answer here, there's more names than anyone could reasonably guess, everyone's got their name for a story."<br />
<br />
"Dirk," Magpie says, a little more insistently. "C'mon now. I know this is wildly outta your comfort zone, but.. you wouldn't be here if you weren't needed. I believe in you, buddy, okay?"<br />
<br />
Though this is a story she *hasn't* heard, and new stories make for very curious gnomes.<br />
<br />
"Oh, I do wish that it -would-. Nothing can be so self-annihilating as sex," says Akorinil to Eztli, but with a big old smile. She gives Dirk and Magpie sympathetic looks. She certainly understands -- or so she'd like you to think. <br />
<br />
"It's true. You're all here for a reason." She turns her eyes towards Aryia, then, and continues.<br />
<br />
"...ah. The Shadow Elves -- you and me both -- once labored in spiritual bondage to her, as you know. AS everyone knows. That bondage was shattered when the right story was told. Without the weight of their souls, however, the wall against the Void within her weakened. The toll her theft of magic for power took grew. The death of Animus haunted her. The Void found purchase within divinity and sought a new story: a fractured one that would end reality. Without narrative, there is no time, not consciousness, no 'self', and without those things, there can be no desires fulfilled."<br />
<br />
She glances towards Skyler, "... a world without a hunger for oat milk," she says, for emphasis.<br />
<br />
"And so she called her high priests home to her. She called her faithful, so many of us, so that we may rest in the Abyss and support her through it all. She called so many, and we worked until the time was right. We stand on the precipice of the final step. There is but one more villain of the Void to face."<br />
<br />
There is a single, momentary beat as she lets the words wash over you.<br />
<br />
"The goddess of lies herself."<br />
<br />
Beat.<br />
<br />
And then...<br />
<br />
"Thank you for the oat milk, you're Lying'ness, but I think I need to go home." Skyler says in a remarkably steady voice, "I can give you a couple recommendations. Eztli here is awesome. There's also Telamon, and Cor'Lana-Banana, or possibly Verna! She's scary. I just..." He stares at the others helplessly, "I swing a sword good, end of story. Yeah?"<br />
<br />
Dirk listens to Akorinil, beard all a-bristle and his bushy white brows furrowed. It -does- sound like the sort of outlandish, self-aggrandizing tale a creature like the Goddess of Lies would spin about Herself. But then she drops that last bombshell--that they're to face down Taara. His face goes from red to white, and his brows fly towards his hairline as if trying to escape his face altogether. "Heek?!" is about all he can manage to squeak. He looks over at his friends, hopping from foot to foot. "-Me-?! Face down a Goddess? Och! Lassie, I know I'm a right bad-arse but--but--" He fumbles and stammers, trying to think of something, -anything- to say. He snap-points at Skyler with eyes wide as teacups. "Aye, -exactly-! I'm just a simple hunter! I'm nae the sort o' hero who fights -Goddesses-!" he cries in a strangled tone.<br />
<br />
Aryia purses her lips as Akorinil explains her point. She was aware of a good chunk of it, though the forthrightness of it has her questioning the authenticity of it. It's true the High Priestess has done nothing /wrong/ in all the time that she's known her, but it something one has a very hard time shaking the nagging feeling she's going to-<br />
<br />
The mute audibly gasps "Th- f-ck?", which turns into a hacking fit. She rubs at her throat, stepping off the wall as the others try to reason with such a tall ask. "So let me get this right... you want us to...-" she rolls a hand, thinking while trying not to reel from the suggestion. And the faint, faint tinge of vengeance creeping in. "... what? Expose a truth to her so damming it unravels her position? You cannot defeat an entity such as that." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Eztli blinked once, then twice, breathing in, and letting out the longest Exhale she could manage. "Aren't you a priestess of them? Isn't this some horrible, horrible sacrilege? And wouldn't that piss off literally everyone in this building?"<br />
<br />
"...Ah-ha," Magpie say, nodding slowly... for the thirty seconds or so it takes for the magnitude of the ask to sink in. Which poiny the noe-rubbing becomes a long, low whistle. "Oh *wow* you are getting desperate, holy beans..."<br />
<br />
Blinking, she looks up and about at her friends. "...So she can't fight the Void in her anymore. But her own people are *too close*, likely as not to follow her into the Void just out of religious ecstasy, right? So Her High Priestessness casts around for folks also lost in the Void -- us -- who have a shot at doing what they can't; Dirk, think of a bird that gets dunked in an airship's oil tank. You don't clean the oil off, what's gonna happen to the bird?"<br />
<br />
The reactions to her statement have Akorinil smiling. Then smiling even bigger .She's delighted. She loves it. 'Lying'nesa' tickled her especially. She nods solemnly right along and then addresses first Skyler.<br />
<br />
"Oh, I am well aware. But this isn't about power. It's a task that you've been more prepared for than you realize, Skyler." Wait -- where'd she get his name? It's not like he introduced himself to her out the gate.<br />
<br />
Dirk earns a tilt of her head, her crimson eyes focused on him.<br />
<br />
"We do not get to pick our fights, young one." Only an elf can call a dwarf 'young one' succesfully, right?<br />
<br />
"... but you think yourself a hero? Then stay."<br />
<br />
Aryia's reaction forces her to cover her mouth with her hand in abject delight.<br />
<br />
"Oh, oh. We go back such a long way, don't we? To think we're standing here together at the end of the world, with as much as you've seen and as much as you know, prepared to author something new together."<br />
<br />
"What matters is the tale being told," she tells her.<br />
<br />
And then to Magpie, she gets a smile. "Creative! Thoughtful. I like this one."<br />
<br />
"But it's all so linear. What Animus spoke of when he called out for aid is true. He can be saved. Aspects of the blight -- the so-called 'villains of the void' were called for you to confront. What do you suppose they represent in truth? And how do you suppose their defeat helped Animus?"<br />
<br />
Aryia squints at the Highpriestess, growing more weary as Akorinil gets excited. She takes in the information as told to the others, and she pauses. Looks at the crew. Then back to Akorinil. "I guess the villans of the void were aspects that Taara threw out to help weather the weight of the Void? But the way you're talking is making it seem likes we have to make up story that becomes reality, getting Her out of this mess, and... brings Animus to the fore?"<br />
<br />
She blinks. "Is /this/ why you wanted the damn shards??" she jabs at a finger at Akorinil, eyes wide. <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Dirk's day is certainly taking a turn for the strange. And considering some of the things the old snowbeard has seen in his days, that's saying quite a lot, actually. "Wait," he says, looking over to Aryia. "Wait, wait, wait just one anvil-crackin' minute. -We- have tae come up wi' a story?" He pauses, staring at his friend for a moment. "It... it -cannae- be -that- easy. Can it?"<br />
<br />
"They were stories for us to confront and re-tell. Kol and that Snow Bitch weren't defeated brute force; we had to finesse them." Skyler says slowly, a light (however dim and flickery) coming on in the attic, "It's about establishing what reality is strongest. Gods, my head hurts." And he drinks the last of his milk. "More, please?"<br />
<br />
"I still have no clue what we're supposed to be doing here, because if you think that we're supposed to confront the corruption of a god on our own, then, well even if I'll give it a try, I don't particularly welcome my chances." The makari sighed. "So, I don't know. I really, really don't know, and I'm not a fan of trying to get a straight answer out of a pathological liar."<br />
<br />
"I mean, I wouldn't call it *easy,*" Magpie says, scratching her head. "But if it ain't completely linear, then... Beating the villains didn't just show the lie of them for what they are, but told Animus that was *never* how it happened?"<br />
<br />
Magpie is clearly stretching the limits of her comprehension, but trying regardless. "So now we have to... show the lie of the Void to Taara?"<br />
<br />
"Closer, closer," says Akorinil to Aryia and Magpie. Eztli gets a sympathetic look before she remarks, with a smile, "The life of the party, aren't you," she says, amused. There's no mockery in her tone, just earnestness this time around. She tilts her head, letting her long, red hair fall over her face and shoulder.<br />
<br />
"You're closer, as I say. The Goddess of stories looked down the narrative path, the branching tree of a story, if you would. The possibilities. Each choice she made closed one after another, and yet she persisted. Too stubborn to let go of what is rightfully her's. Each villain of the void, as they were called, embodied a portion of the Void within her, yes yes, and in so returning sought to prove the futility of life and meaning. Here you are, having told the story already, and yet you were called again to do what you had already done. Isn't.."<br />
<br />
"It.."<br />
<br />
"Pointless?" she asks. <br />
<br />
"While a story is linear, a means by which we understand the events of our lives, the choices a Goddess makes extend into the past and the future." Her eyes fix on Aryia.<br />
<br />
"Just like the death of Animus."<br />
<br />
"And when we have a story and we don't like how it's going..."<br />
<br />
"Perhaps we can be shown how to author a better ending."<br />
<br />
Her eyes fix on Skyler -- for just a moment.<br />
<br />
And then she turns to Magpie.<br />
<br />
"So. If we must save Animus, how do we save the Goddess of Want from herself -- for the final collapse of meaning rests in failing to do so."<br />
<br />
"Listen, I had a *really* bad trip a while back. Me and a bunch of halflings and goblins took a job babysitting some rich asshole. We got kidnapped by pixies or some shit, shoved through a mushroom ring, and were forced to do some Ye Olde Bullshit Queste and then it became this battle of imagination with the big bad." Skyler scratches his jaw. "It was weird. This seems like the same bullshit: Stories and our perceptions of reality shape what is real or not. We just have to convince the Goddess of Lies and Bullshit that we're telling the truth."<br />
<br />
Skyler pauses and adds, "I doubt I can solve this with imagining she has a cloaca, but I'm willing to try."<br />
<br />
Dirk listens to this great, tangled yarn. All of it speaks of things so far beyond his experience. Like the beasts of the forest that he protects, in many ways, old Dirk is a creature of habit and instinct. When one measures their life in centuries, it becomes easy to forget Tomorrow, even as one recalls Yesterday. He tugs at his beard, glancing around at his comrades. "I mean... -I- can spin a decent enough tall tale when the mood takes me," he says. "But I'm hardly a bard. I cannae create a tale worthy of a Goddess." He scowls a bit. "Even one like Taara," he grumbles. "Och, She's gone an' stacked the deck against me. What kind o' tale should I tell? -Mine-? Hrumph. As if -that's- a tale worth hearin'. I'm nobody."<br />
<br />
Aryia scratches the shaved side of her head. She supposed that makes sense with everything considered. "We make up a tale, Dirk. A bit of collaborative story telling. We make her want something else, I think, instead of clutching so tightly to magic, or something like that," she suggests, thinking she had a serious solution.<br />
<br />
She stares at Skyler. Reaches down for a vacant prayer pillow, and throws it at him. <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
"Because what do the best stories do?" Magpie says, conjuring an illusory copy of Aryia's throw pillow and getting a half dozen tosses in herself. "They take us to a world that's even more wondrous than the one we live in. Make us think that maybe *that* world could stay *here.* So if we've gotten all the silly and skeptical out of our systems... I really want to take a run at this, you guys. After all," she says, looking about and grinning.<br />
<br />
"How many people are gonna get to say they told the Goddess of Lies a story so good, she wanted it to be true?"<br />
<br />
"Absolutely thrilled to be here, doing this." Eztli shrugged. "Whatever, I'll try to do something. Can't go any worse than last time, and it's not like there's anything left to lose at this point."<br />
<br />
Skyler says, “Never." Regarding the silly that is. But he does finish his oat milk again and roll his shoulders...<br />
<br />
Until a pillow hits him in the face, and he spills oat milk all over himself. He gives Aryia a wounded look, and then makes an arcane gesture while muttering something equally arcane before passing his hands over himself. The milk disappears. His shoes are shiny. And he smells faintly of mint and sandalwood. His hair even looks smooth and luxurious!<br />
<br />
Hisrestidigitation: Better than dry shampoo.<br />
<br />
"I'm ready. So we want to discuss parameters? I usually find stories go crazy if we just start spewing details. It's how a door becomes genitalia and weird stuff happens. We gotta keep the narrative neat and follow the proper rules of plot structure." He then snaps and gives finger-guns to Eztli. "That's the spirit! You can keep us grounded so Dirk doesn't give her a poofy beard or something." Aside to Akorinil, "He gets a little obsessive, the old dear.”<br />
<br />
Dirk looks at Skyler with an indignant "-Hey!-" He mutters and grumbles, tugging irritably at his beard. "I am -not- obsessive. I'm a -dwarf-. Nae the same thing at all!" Harrumph harrumph. He looks back to his friends. "An' if we fail, here an' now... then that's it? Everything we've done, all the battles we fought, blastin' Heth out the sky wi' the Spell Cannon... it dinnae count fer anything?" He lifts his hand from his beard to rub his face. "Och. I'm gettin' too bloody -old- fer this bullshit," he grumbles softly under his breath. He sucks a deep breath through his big dwarven nose, turning his face skyward. "A'right. A tale, then." He pauses with his mouth hanging open as Skyler gives his warning about the dangers of unstructured narrative. Slooooowly the old ranger turns to regard the swashbuckler. "Dana's sweet flowery -teats-. If a door turnin' intae a ramrod -isn't- weird then what in all the sugary-sweet world -is-?" He pauses. Lifts a finger. "Do -not- answer that. Please, please, -please- do not answer that."<br />
<br />
"That is the secret of the Void -- it empties you of hope, of ambition. It buries it beneath the greatest lie of all: that you are already the worst version of you. What happens when a being which contains infinite stories, multitudes of selves, believes that there is only -one-?"<br />
<br />
"Everything..."<br />
<br />
"...flattens..."<br />
<br />
"...out."<br />
<br />
There is only darkness.<br />
<br />
And then...<br />
<br />
"CHRISTOPHER!"<br />
<br />
The voice is harsh, shrill, and demanding. The person it belongs to? A young woman of modest appearance in full Myrrish court garb. She is young, but bitterness and a sort of ferret-like leanness to her features makes her quite unpleasant and older than her years. "Your brother, the Duke, has demanded that you attend court on his behalf." She shakes her head and sneers, "It's about all you're good for, isn't it? Being your brother's little toady, nothing but an extension of his will when he, the *actual* important one, deals with the real work."<br />
<br />
A pause, and Skyler Skywalker... no, *Christopher Carl von Wayne of the House of Ashewell* starts as if he'd been drifting off to sleep, a bottle rolling out of his hands with a thud. The woman's lip curls. "Gods, you are useless. The only good you ever were was to get your brother *my* dowery to support you, and even then you can't even get me children!"<br />
<br />
The abuse continues, as Christopher stares at his hands, eyes full of pain, of disappointment, of utter despair...<br />
<br />
Dirk Stormgrip is not a young man. There are few dwarves in Ea who have lived longer than he has. He has watched entire forests rise up from saplings to mighty arbors. He has seen towns spring up from nothing. He has counted himself lucky to be friends to many He even fell in love, and was blissfully married. <br />
<br />
And yet....<br />
<br />
He has outlived many of his kinsmen. He has watched those mighty forests wither and fade, until naught but sour, barren earth remained. He has buried more friends than he's kept. And in the end, his wife of nearly sixty years went the way all mortals must.<br />
<br />
Yet he remains. He comforst himself knowing that, one day, he'll find his own time and place to rest.<br />
<br />
But what if he -doesn't-? What if he just... keeps going?<br />
<br />
What he he outlives -everything-?<br />
<br />
In a dismal cave, many long-forgotten years into the future, Dirk sits at a lonely campfire, surrounded by the skeletal husks of a dead grove. His face, once hearty and cheerful, is gaunt and hollow, awash in misery quiet despair. He's all that remains. There's nothing else left. The bleak, dismal night encroaches ever closer, threatening to snuff out that feeble little flame.<br />
<br />
And yet he knows, that even when the fire fades, he'll still be there. He'll never rest. He'll always be there.<br />
<br />
-Alone-.<br />
<br />
One only truly knows what they have lost once it has been taken from them. Freedom. Self-actualization. Trust. Peace. Usefulness. What if she slipped? What if she fell? What if she consorted with the very things she ripped free of her friends and family? "Wait- Aya, I-I did this all for you!" Aryia /screeches/, audibly, at the back of a mul'neissan woman with a long white braid wearing wrapped in sheets in robes. They don't looks back as they walk into the darkness.<br />
<br />
Aryia is... no where near the same. She's bloody, caked in blood but none of it her own, her scars are gone. But a horrid, demonic presence wafts behind her, like a horrid, stretching shadow. "I did this for you, all of you..!"<br />
<br />
The figure pauses. "No sister of mine would stoop to such lows, I thought you learned from my mistakes." They continue walking into the darkness. "Live with your regrets."<br />
<br />
The corrupted pugilist screams more at the backs of others as they walk away. Many adventurers and kinsmen that had lifted her to new heights: Cor'lana, Telamon, Dirk, Seyardu, Verna, Venom, and so many countless others that her long life had touched.<br />
<br />
Her knees hit the floor. The inner rivers have run dry. The sense of self is hollow. And heart beats of glass like her glazed gaze, sharp and staccato as the sound of manacles being clamped and a iron brand searing flesh sizzles into the dark.<br />
<br />
The thing about being lost in the Planes is, unless you know exactly what you're doing... being lost *forever* is a very, very easy thing to do. And in some places, time moves strange... almost as if it ran in currents not unlike water, to pool and swirl and fold back upon itself and--<br />
<br />
When Magpie made a mistake long ago, and fell into one of the famed planar instabilities of the Vast, she never really.. talked about how she got back. Or how long she truly spent, drifting in formless chaos. Or what she saw and heard, surrounded by the very chaos that so heavily infused her blood.<br />
<br />
The truth was, it was a lucky break, that she found a thin place that allowed her to push back into materiality after a scant dozen subjective years.<br />
<br />
Random chance.<br />
<br />
If she *hadn't* been so lucky, well...<br />
<br />
She'd still be there now. She'd still be there when the Void fell over all.<br />
<br />
Drifting.<br />
<br />
Lonely.<br />
<br />
*Untethered.*<br />
<br />
Unspooling.<br />
<br />
Unraveling.<br />
<br />
Unremembered.<br />
<br />
Uncreated.<br />
<br />
Lost to time, space, matter, and anyone who might have remembered her, Magpie quietly, utterly unzips on any meaningful level of materiality, mentality, and spirituality.<br />
<br />
A nobody, gone to nothing.<br />
<br />
The teleportation wards around Alexandria had one major flaw, one that had been tested before. What happens when normal access failed? <br />
<br />
This time, battered and exhausted, the city reached its breaking point. The undead worms collapsed the walls, the sundered by Heth. <br />
<br />
There was still sounds of combat in the city, but every passing hour they died down, while the screams of those beset upon by the dead grew, until they too quieted. <br />
<br />
Eztli was at the docks, where those who remained hurriedly packed onto the boats. The sorceress had not bothered, even with a faint sliver of hope remaining. There would be nowhere safe to flee to this time, and she watched as the boats sank one by one, with the dying breaths of the city.<br />
<br />
There's no hope. <br />
<br />
There's nothing at all. Just an emptiness, bleak and unyielding that feels like it wants to swallow you up.<br />
<br />
... but then... <br />
<br />
There is something. Perhaps its just a feeling, an inkling that this isn't right. A voice whispering in one ear that you could still be more. That the story isn't over.<br />
<br />
And then... there is.<br />
<br />
Music plays, as people move slowly in a stately dance that is all mathematic precision and no passion. Empty steps, done by learned rote. It's beautiful, but... cold.<br />
<br />
Distant.<br />
<br />
Lifeless.<br />
<br />
Among them, Christopher moves with one hand clasping that of the ferret in a ball gown that he's married to. Who is scowling at him fiercely as she mutters a count under her breath, as if Christopher isn't even capable of stepping in time.<br />
<br />
And then, Christopher takes a left when he should have stepped right.<br />
<br />
Gasps! A shocked silence...<br />
<br />
And Christopher abruptly grabs the hand of a handsome half-orc that was beside him. He looks wild despite the court garments, with a certain primal allure. He moves stiffly at first, staring at Christopher. <br />
<br />
"Skyler."<br />
<br />
Beg pardon?<br />
<br />
"I'm *Skyler*."<br />
<br />
And, okay, *Skyler* gives the half-orc a saucy wink before abruptly dipping him and pressing his lips against the tusked mouth as it falls open in shock. He then twirls him away, and laughs as he stares around. "You people suck!" Skyler declares, shaking his head. And to his 'wife'..? "I'd say I wanted a divorce, but I don't think even Dana recognizes a marriage to a wet fish! C'mon... er... you! Let's boogie!"<br />
<br />
And Skyler begins to bump and grind against the half-orc. Who blinks. Shrugs. And then begins to bump and grind against him in turn.<br />
<br />
Dirk draws a deep, shaky breath and lets it out in a sigh. His shoulders slump. The tear-tracks on his face have long since dried. Nothing matters. How could it, when he'll just outlast everyone and everything he's ever known and loved?<br />
<br />
A shriek for help splits the night. His head snaps up, and he's on his feet, thunderbelcher in hand in an eyeblink. He tears out of the cave, racing and leaping through the underbrush, faster than the most nimble deer. He breaks out into a clearing lit by Eluna's silvery light.<br />
<br />
There. A shadow towers over a terrified young maiden. A stinking stain upon the face of Ea, one that has -no- place in the pure, clear wood. The burly old ranger moves on instinct. He hefts his thunderbelcher to his shoulder and immediately cracks off three shots. CHK-BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! They ring out into the night, splitting the darkness and illuminating the night with Dana and Gilead's blessed light. The shadow-demon's malevolent laughter turns to a howl of agony as the blessed bullets rip its substance apart, sending it screaming back to the Iron Hells<br />
<br />
Dirk lowers his weapon and steps forward. "Yer all right now, lassie. Yer safe."<br />
<br />
The maiden looks up, and his heart freezes. She looks -so- like his beloved Sarah, his beloved wife, whom he buried so long ago. It's -not- her, and yet the resemblance is uncanny. She reaches up to take his outstretched hand, and flings herself at him. "Thank you! You saved my life!" she sobs into his shoulder. "I thought I was all alone out here!"<br />
<br />
Color returns to the old snowbeard's face. Strength fills his heavyset frame. He curls his arm around the lass and hugs her close. Over distant mountains, the sun crests the horizon, turning the sky from inky black to glorious rose.<br />
<br />
"No, lassie. Yer nae alone. -I'm- here now."<br />
<br />
When Magpie was lost in the Planes, only random chance allowed her an opening to find the means to find her own way home.<br />
<br />
But the thing about random chance is, the dice never stop being thrown. Every hour, every minute, every second that passes is a new opportunity for something incredibly unlikely to become inevitability. And Magpie is a *much* different person, now, than when she fell into formless Chaos those few short years ago. She *knows* better. She's *learned* more.<br />
<br />
And given the sheer strength of Chaos in her blood, and how its mutability works on her mind and being... she *has* to have a stronger sense of self, just to be able to exist normally.<br />
<br />
The thinness brushes against her senses, and Magpie responds. Fingers, coherent again, flex. An eye coalesces from yellow-green light, and blinks. A mouth that threatened to drift offon its own, opens and pulls air into lungs.<br />
<br />
'Cogito, ergo sum,' goes the saying in Rune's polymorphing schools. 'I think, therefore I am.' In those classes, it's not just pithy words; it's a *lifeline,* a reminder that no matter what form you take, as long as you can use your mind, you will *always* be you.<br />
<br />
At her current powers, it's almost trivially easy to take hold of the pocket of thinness within the Planes, and tug it open to look out onto Alexandria's Lower Market, at the height of the lunchtime rush.<br />
<br />
Being lost is *hungry* work.<br />
<br />
There is anger. There is self-loathing. There is despair. In that shackled cage that shuts with a deafening click. Aryia Zilstrae Aeldius has hit rock bottom again, where all has left her. Inaction and betrayal has got her here. Her misbegotten actions, undercutting her steadfast morals. But then... there is-<br />
<br />
Will. A will to live. It's a drop in a stagnant lake. The ripples barely nudging nary a waterfly. But it wavers the illusion of hopelessness, distorts it, just enough. She's been here before. Churn the waters. Feel the river flow, the heart beat the breath In.<br />
<br />
Out. "NO CHAIN. WILL /EVER/. BIND ME AGAIN!" she bellows into the empty air, her hands flickering to moonlight once again. Manacled hands bash into iron bars, groaning and shearing with each blow before metal sprays out in a deadly shrapnel, her having thrown herself free of the cage.<br />
<br />
Coming to a roll, Aryia pops up, covered in her own blood and wielding an iron bar as she breaks into a dead sprint towards her retreating friends. The pugilist leaps towards a creeping, demonic shadow that looms over them, tackling it to the ground and pinning it there. The only sound that echoes is the satisfying, echoing and repeated clang of metal and a flashes of moonlight chasing the darkness away.<br />
<br />
Not every ship had sunk, a few remained, perhaps avoiding the worst of it from their smaller size compared to other, much more enticing targets. Could she just stay there, do nothing, and give up? It was certainly an enticing thought, in it's own twisted way. <br />
<br />
The sorceress shook off the feeling, a low growl escaping the makari as her form shifted, longer and larger until a massive brass dragon stood in her place that soared into the sky, crashing through the clouds of undead beasts, drawing their attention away while clawing through as many as they could manage. Hopefully it would take long enough to be taken down to turn a sliver of hope into something greater.<br />
<br />
You deserve a better ending.<br />
<br />
You've staved off the darkness for another day, it's true, but you deserve something better. All those wars. All those sacrifices. Don't you deserve better? Just...<br />
<br />
Comfort?<br />
<br />
Warmth?<br />
<br />
Surely, you do.<br />
<br />
And so the scene changes. There's a disorienting moment. It's all good. <br />
<br />
It's always good.<br />
<br />
"Boogiee...."<br />
<br />
"...e's dead! Duke Austyn is dead." The minor revere Christopher has over the punch bowl, a fantasy of rejecting everything and dancing chaotically with some hunky half-orc wild-man dissolving like the ice in his ridiculously ornate, tiny little glass. And the glass is dropped as his wife grabs his arm, her nails digging in hard enough to tear the fine silk of his doublet.<br />
<br />
Christopher stares dully at his wife. "W.. what?"<br />
<br />
She lets out a sound of disgust, leaning forward to smell his breath before wrinkling her nose. "Really? Gods, how much did you drink, you useless shit?" She shakes her head, and her scowl turns into a wide grin. "I killed him. Your brother's dead. Now I'm the Duchess Ashewell of Gull's Edge!" She smiles cruelly, "And you, husband, will get your freedom." She guides him off to the side, hand still digging hard enough to hurt. "The freedom of the country estate. You can farm, you can hunt, you can drink and debauch yourself to an early grave if you want." She puts a hand over her stomach. "I have the Duke's heir. He looks enough like you no one will know the difference." She sneers, "You're free, you useless lump! Isn't that what you always wanted? Freedom, to be something? Well now you're the Duke's father! And you'll be free to wither away in the countryside."<br />
<br />
It's a happy enough ending, in the cut-throat courts of the Myrrish kingdoms...<br />
<br />
Isn't it?<br />
<br />
Not many people get a second chance at happiness. Dirk is one of those lucky few. The lass he rescued from the shadow demon--Farah is her name--falls in love with him, and he with her. She fills his days with brilliant sunshine and laughter once again. With her at his side, the forest grows strong and clean. The land thrives. He takes up his mantle as the forest's champion once again. And how could he not? After so long, he has something to fight for.<br />
<br />
Weeks pass. Winter blankets the wood in soft, cottony-cold white. Dirk watches the snowfall from his cozy cabin with his arm around Farah's shoulders. He rests a palm atop her belly, made large by new life--the one thing Sarah was never able to give him, all those years ago gone by. Just when he thought his happily-ever-after couldn't -possibly- get any better, his newfound love has made him a father in addition to being a husband.<br />
<br />
They name the baby 'Sarah Leigh', and she's as perfect an angel, as all children are in the eyes of their parents. Dirk gently bounces her in his arms, crooning a quiet dwarven lullabye to her as she gazes up at him with wide, golden eyes. He presses a kiss to her forehead and gently lays her in her crib. "Sleep sweetly, me bonny wee lass," he says soothingly.<br />
<br />
He blows out the candle by the bedside and burrows under the heavy blankets with his beloved Farah. Gloom shrouds the cabin.<br />
<br />
Sarah Leigh's eyes open, now inky black orbs. Her mouth curves into a wicked, too-wide smile. In her baby-babble, the shadow-demon's laughter echos just beyond the range of hearing.<br />
<br />
Being lost is hungry work, and damn it all, Magpie will *never* be hungry. Not again. The first thirty years of her life, she was too small to properly defend her food from the bigger kids at the orphanages.<br />
<br />
Which might have something to do with the frequency of wild-magic fires that seemed to haunt little Magpie's trail...<br />
<br />
...Whatever, it's lunchtime at the Alexandrian markets, and all of her favorites are not just on special, but *free* just for her. Rosemary-pork pocket pies, goblin fireball sweetbreads, candied garlic skewers... Every turn of her head brings new and interesting delicacies into vision. And because it's *her,* because she is so amazing and powerful and respected and adored, she pays for none of it.<br />
<br />
Every morsel that passes her lips, bought by the fame she'd always longed for as a child, where justexisting was enough to be celebrated.<br />
<br />
And in the middle of the Market square, Magpie slowly begins to be buried under a cacophony of treats and sweets and savories, heaped ever higher by her adoring public.<br />
<br />
And so Aryia clawed it all back. Trust. Sense of self. Belonging. Usefulness. Back into the weave with friends. Coaching her team back in the Colosseum. Battling kaiju. Sailing the seas on her boat. Pummeling through mountains through sheer force of tenacity.<br />
<br />
So she sits atop that mountain, her apex, having found her center again. The waters have run so fast they look calm in their laminar flow. Breathing In. Out. In. Out.<br />
<br />
The days morph into weeks, months, years. Decades. Time drags on, yet for this elf it's barely scraping any more etchings into the scars. Others age, but that comes and goes, just like all do in the story that never ends. But does it matter? The peak has been reached. Her vantage is leagues in all directions.<br />
<br />
It is absolute perfection.<br />
<br />
Or is it? It hits in a beat of introspection. Somewhere in all that time, a thought worms its way into her mind. 'What is the point of a mountain, if to not look up at its daunting beauty from below? What is the point of highs? Without the lows?'<br />
<br />
Eztli didn't normally wake up with the sun, but recent work forced the makari reluctantly out of bed. After some time blinking the tiredness out of her eyes, she eventually managed to get over to her closet, where several costumes were hanging. All of them and their accessories were carefully stowed into a pack at her side, before she left for the lower floors. <br />
<br />
"Figured you'd be up before me, rehearsals are going to take most of the day. Say hi to deathless for me, will you, and I'll catch you around dinner, yeah?" She offered to the brown haired hunter who had been in the kitchen. She said nothing, only giving a crooked toothed smile to the sorceress before she was out the door, and not a single word spoken.<br />
<br />
It's better, isn't it? Better this way ...<br />
<br />
... but then the worms turn. A thought, an idea gnaws. And once it's there, it doesn't stop. Each vision seems to splinter, to crack, to fray. Black lines ripping across like spiderwebs.<br />
<br />
And then there's a sense of weightlessness, of being-without-body.<br />
<br />
It is cool here. You sense ... other presences. Then, slowly, the curtain draws back. You're ... somewhere.<br />
<br />
Akorinil Belvade look at each of you, a smile on her face.<br />
<br />
"Do you understand now?" she asks, a cautious yet hopeful tone in her voice.<br />
<br />
GAME: Skyler rolls 1d100: (6): 6<br />
<br />
SPLASH!<br />
<br />
Skyler tosses the cup to the side, expression utterly devoid of emotion as he stares at Akorinil with a hate and fury he's only shown once, in a demi-plane of death while a kyton taunted him on the true meaning of pain and pleasure. <br />
<br />
"You bitch." He says flatly, turning away from her and closing his eyes. And his shoulders rise one, fall, and he speaks up to the others. "We have to do this for her. I don't know what you guys saw, but..." He swallows, "We have to do this. And we *can*. The first vision is non-negotiable, and the third isn't enough."<br />
<br />
Coming back to herself was a shock, especially as she was close to resigning herself to drowning under an ever-growing pile of things a child would think were deserved.<br />
<br />
And not for the first time, does Magpie begin to ask herself how old she was when the world became a certain, predictable thing-- no. No time to unpack that now!<br />
<br />
Shaking her head, she takes a moment to focus on Akorinil, and the milk dripping off her nose. "...Yeah," she says, finally. "Skyler's right too... We *need* to do this, cos that last one... Damn, but the Void's insidious..."<br />
<br />
The expanse contracts, and all those possibilities of time passing collapses into presence and- Aryia rapidly blinks, and her lips move to say something, but she ends up coughing up a lung before spits a glob of blood off to the side. "Well that was fucked," she signs with a scowl and rubbing her throat. There was a certain satisfaction as Skyler acts on her impulses, but she couldn't help but feel a tad guilty. Akorinil was truly, truly trying, for the best of someone she believed in.<br />
<br />
She thought of her found sister, Aya.<br />
<br />
The mute pugilist grimaces. Damn it. "Alright. Fuck. Fine. But I'm not doing it for /Her/. I'm doing it because we have a thing we can teach Her. And hopefully it'll knock some sense into Her." <br />
<br />
She glances to Akorinil, with the first look of genuine empathy. "Congratulations. You convinced this non-believer that it's worth a shot." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Dirk's eyes are wide as teacups as sight and reason returns. He blinks owlishly, his gaze snapping from side to side hard enough to make his beard whip-whap back and forth. "Wha--ah? Hah? What the... och! What the hell -was- that?!" He looks back to Akorinil. His panic turns to anger as his temper riles right back up. "-That's- our story?! BULLSHIT!! That's nae -my- story, an' never will be!"<br />
<br />
He looks back around at his friends, his beard all a-bristle as he scowls and fumes and snorts and snarls. "So what, we -have- tae go through all that? Blessed Dana's flowery -teats-, there -has- tae be another way..."<br />
<br />
Eztli was left speechless as she came back to reality, and she stood their for some time, breathing heavily. "Seems... fucked. I'd like to think the difference is obvious,but I'm no god. And either way, none of it was right. Not in the slightest." They grumbled. "So... what?"<br />
<br />
All around is darkness, now, but for the presence of yourselves and Akorinil.<br />
<br />
She raises a hand and presses the back of it to her forehead, swaying back away from them. She's clearly somewhat used to hate and fury bneing directed at her. <br />
<br />
"Forgive me. I can't control what you see or face in the tales you're entering. Those are subject only to you. But the narrative is ... hmmm ... unspooling, I suppose, because narrative itself is threatening to end. Think of it all as dancing on the razor edge of the dagger that slays Animus --."<br />
<br />
A hitch.<br />
<br />
"...though it's not really a dagger. Godly weapons are something wholely other and beyond comprehension." <br />
<br />
She lets out a breath, then. And then, a quiet voice. "You have to save her."<br />
<br />
Aryia glances to the side as the raving party seems to have fallen to the wayside and away. Was it ever really there? "Forgiveness is an action given, gained only by further action to warrant it. You don't get that just yet, as I'm quite familiar with Taara's gaslighting," the pugilist gestures before digging in the inside pocket of her jacket. An embroidered black silk handkerchief is pulled free, and is offered to Akorinil, Aryia's eyes downcast. "But, perhaps that is something that can be rectified once this is dealt with."<br />
<br />
She nods subtly. "They are not weapons that mere mortals know. I've seen them. But perhaps she just needs to think she's wielding something else other than to slay. In a metaphorical sense." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
"We said we'd do it." Skyler says grumpily, "Just, are you going to shove us at her blind or are there any hints that aren't bullshit metaphors. I mean..." He blinks at the rest of the group, "What *is* a metaphor for?" He frowns, glancing down at his fingers. "Um. a Metaeight?"<br />
<br />
Dirk glances around at his friends, then back to Akorinil. "I -suppose- that losin' Taara would throw all the worlds in the universe out o' balance, or some other such bullshit," he grumbles. He scowls dourly, leveling a finger at the priestess. "I dinnae trust a word -you- say," he says. He takes a step back, glancing up and around at his comrades. "But I -do- trust my friends. So we'll do what must be done." He glances at Aryia with a firm nod, then up at Skyler. He peers at the swashbuckler, then counts up on his own fingers. "Aye, think ye got it right, laddie. Metaeight," he says, nodding again.<br />
<br />
"Close enough," Magpie says. "For the future, there's a point where precisionruins the analogy that made understandingpossible. Even if it's, like, a metaconceptual cinquedea forged of the taste of blue, calling it a dagger still works."<br />
<br />
Looking about, she draws in a breath, and claps her hands. "So let's save a goddess!"<br />
<br />
"Well, that's all well and good, you keep saying we need to save her, but I feel like we're all not much closer to actually saving her, aside from a bit more emotional scarring to add to the pile." Eztli grumbled loudly. "So, lets go down to this. I'm sure a handful of people can help fix this where every single taaran priest or priestess partying here failed."<br />
<br />
The handkerchief is accepted with a gentle smile at Aryia.<br />
<br />
Akorinil knows -exactly- how much it must've pained her to give it to her. <br />
<br />
"If narrative dies, our ability to understand our own stories dies with it. No art. No history. No ordered conscious thought. Everything comes apart without the thread of consciousness."<br />
<br />
Of course, how much of that is true and how much of that is Taara's grandeur talking? Then again, it may not matter. The results of ANimus dying were bad enough."I can not see what happened to you. Those sojourns were for you alone."<br />
<br />
She grimces a moment, dabbing her face and she produces a pen from inside her robe. She begins to draw a single red line through the air with it. <br />
<br />
"We must merely turn the page, hm? Show her a better ending, as I said..."<br />
<br />
And then she gives the line a 'yank' and 'peels' the world like a page in the book and you find yourselves somewhere else.<br />
<br />
A sunny glade. A pale sun above. It's warm here And yet, there's a sense of forboding, and its coming from the litle cottage, all quaint and cozy in the distance. Chimney smoke rises from it.<br />
<br />
"Do you think it'd tell a fun story if we burn it down?" Skyler suggests as he raises a hand to shade his eyes as he looks over the tableau in front of them, "I mean, I'd get over my ennui if someone set *my* house on fire. Or we could rush in to put it out and save her that way?" He cocks his head, "Make your own heroic rescue!"<br />
<br />
As much as it pained her, it wouldn't behoove Taara to change her mind if even an ex-Taaran couldn't show some shred of compassion. Aryia sighs, rubbing her face before flashing a thumbs up. There's a wince as the world practically rips away.<br />
<br />
She lowers her hand from the sun, sliding her sunglasses down. "I am not against walking up and knocking before booting the door down," she shrugs. The normally face-first pugilist is hesitant to advance, her staring down the building like it's a warding sign specifically meant for her.<br />
<br />
But Aryia gulps, exhales slowly, and starts that way with her hands in her pockets. <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Dirk grunts softly. "I know how -my- tale should end," he grumbles quietly. "So if that bullshit I saw earlier is the best -she- can come up with, then aye, I can sure as hell come up wi' a better ending n' -that-." As the new scene unfolds before him, he squints at the cottage. He looks up, down, and all around. "Summat here dinnae sit right," he mutters. "I mean, not as I was expectin' sunshine an' frolickin' bunnies, but... there's summat -off- here." He glances up at Skyler and Aryia with a frown. "Why don't we try bein' polite -first-. -Then- we can start kickin' doors in if we have to."<br />
<br />
Eztli squinted as the world was torn away in some metaphysical sense she was still trying to wrap her head around, if it was even possible. "Not a bad idea to force a different story, but I don't know if it will actually help things, unless the new reeality is some fiery hellscape." She grumbled. <br />
<br />
"Lets start with checking the house itself for now, even though I can't shake that something is less pleasant in spite of the weather. Hard to explain."<br />
<br />
As one gets closer, the overwhelming smell of something ... bready can be detected. Someone is baking. <br />
<br />
There's a hint of sweetness to it, too.<br />
<br />
Could it be...?<br />
<br />
Could someone be baking -pie-?<br />
<br />
Not exactly what one would expect here at the end of things, but then, perhaps that's the best time for some pie.<br />
<br />
Looking left and right among her comrades, Magpie shrugs and does what everyone is suggesting, but understandably hesitant to do; she toddles up, and knocks on the door. "Auntie Taara?" she calls, figuring hey... even if she robbed her way there, being *a* goddess of magic affords one the respect of the magically-blooded. "Auntie Taara, we've come to visit? Are you all right?"<br />
<br />
Aryia slows as she smells baked goods. Damn. When did she eat last? All of this was so ephemeral it was hard to tell. Wait, focus. She gives a quick look to the party, one of 'you all smell that, right?', before she shakes her head and rests against the side of the doorframe. She raises a brow. Auntie Taara?<br />
<br />
"I'd love to try your cherry pie!" Skyler adds on the heels of Magpie, "And boy, do I have an *amazing* story to tell you! There was this box and inside it was this kid and he was like an angel but then some dragon ate fish from my hand and now we go get drunk at taverns together!"<br />
<br />
He pauses, and adds to the group, "It's actually a really traumatizing story."<br />
<br />
Dirk lumbers along with his friends, though his plodding step slows as they approach the house. His big dwarven nose twitches as he sniffs the air. "Oh, beards o' me sweet tapdancin' -fathers-," he groans softly. His hefty middle gives an -infuriated- sounding rumble. How long ago -did- he eat last? Far too long, from the sound of things. He looks towards the cabin with a pained expression. "Och, if that's a fake cherry pie I'm smellin', it's a really really -good- fake," he says. He glances at the others, then lifts up his hand to cup the side of his mouth. "Missus Taara, marm! It's me, Dirk Stormgrip. -I've- got a tale tae tell that -isn't- traumatizing! How does -that- sound, eh?"<br />
<br />
"Didn't take her for a baker, assuming that's actually her in there." Eztli shrugged to no one in particular, the makari meandering down to the actual door as others knocked on it. "Don't forget who we're potentially dealing with. Lies and all that, I'm not sure I'd trust anything baking."<br />
<br />
"Is someone there?" comes a small voice. "Moggie, can you check?"<br />
<br />
"Ugh. Can't you see I'm busy?" comes a rougher male voice before an older man, barrel chested man from years of toil opens the door and squints at the pair.<br />
<br />
""The hell are you people supposed to be?" he asks gruffly. <br />
<br />
The smell of pie only intensifies. The interior of the cottage appears ... alarmingly quaint. -VERY-. <br />
<br />
Disgustingly so.<br />
<br />
"Oh wow. I wouldn't mind *his* cherry pie." Skyler mutters to no one in particular, eyes widening before he clasps a hand over his mouth... and discreetly takes several steps back to the rear of the strange party.<br />
<br />
Sometimes you have to know when to let someone else take the lead. Such is wisdom, and Skyler is a very wise man, even if he isn't a very intelligent one.<br />
<br />
This is very awkward.<br />
<br />
You see, when you were a priestess in a different life, devoted to a sect of the unholy matrimony between Maugrim and Taara, you tend to expound on their tales of how they came together and stayed.<br />
<br />
So Aryia, now a devout atheist, stares up at the very man who she used to venerate in an adjacent manner. She, uncharacteristically, trembles. And then raises a hand to sign-<br />
<br />
"Hello. We're supposed to be your wake up call." Shit. She didn't think this far. His presence threw all her thoughts out the window. <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
"Moggie? Oh you've gotta be fucking kidding me, we've gotta deal with him too?" Ezti grumbled under her breath before they got to the door. "Hey, good evening, we just happened to be in the area and we were wondering what was going on with all the baking here?" She managed to offer for some manner of explanation.<br />
<br />
Dirk looks up--and up, and up, and up--at the imposing figure of Maugrim before him. "Heek." He's suddenly -very- aware of the fact that his beard grooming was interrupted before all this started. He hurriedly smooths his hands down his whiskers, doing his best to get them into some kind of semblance of order, before he steps forward. "Aye, as me comrade here says, Master Maugrim. Sir. As we understand it, ye all need some stories, aye?" His tubby middle snarls angrily again, and he puts both his palms to it, as if -that- would soothe the bottomless pit inside him. "Well, as it just so happens, we need some o' that delicious-smellin' pie. So... perhaps we might work a trade, eh?"<br />
<br />
'Moggie,' Magpie mouths, eyes wide. Somehow, it feels like not even Maugrim would *allow* his wife to call him that; it's just too undignified.<br />
<br />
Her mouth works open and closed for a moment, as she tries to think of a good answer to that question... and failing one, simply leans over and yells past the man, into the house. "Auntie Taara, we've come to visit, and talk! And perhaps if you'd be so kind... maybe one of your famous stories? The kind that made Ceinara ash herself with jealousy?"<br />
<br />
Look, play to your audience. Taara might not be a *nice* person, but this may be the one time a minor blasphemy might be overlooked.<br />
<br />
'Moggie' sort of stands there, staring at the lot of you. <br />
<br />
"Bloody hell, I didn't know the family was rolling in," he says after a moment, "Come on in, everyone. Have a seat. I'll go break open the keg."<br />
<br />
Wait, family? Well,t hat's weird. <br />
<br />
The lady of the house is a smiling woman dressed in dark clothing with long, scarlet hair. She seems thrilled to see everyone, moving closer to give them a hug, individually. "Oh, you all made it! I'm so thrilled."<br />
<br />
That's weird. A moment ago she had no idea who you were, now she's acting like you were always meant to be here and our family.<br />
<br />
Like ...<br />
<br />
... like she's an aunt. Your aunt. Isn't she?<br />
<br />
"Auntie Taara! Uncle Moggie!" Skyler pushes forward as he feels the narrative shift, not even attempting to keep up with the logic... Shades of the Skyler that rejected the measured, stately dances in favor of booging and enjoying the moment. Although he does give Aryia's shoulder a quick, reassuring squeeze on his way past.<br />
<br />
"It's been so damn long! Since..." He pauses, eyes squinting, "Well. It's been a while! Hugs?"<br />
<br />
And he holds his arms out hopefully to Maugrum fully prepared to get an armful of the Tyrant and rest his face against the pillowy bosom of his pectorals.<br />
<br />
The unspoken agreement that goes through the party gets Aryia to wince, stymied entirely from progressing. But a squeeze on her shoulder gets her to snap to the present. She looks to Skyler with a harried expression, fear in her eyes. But she clasps his forearm, inhales deeply, and settles into the role, reaffirmed. A thankful nod is tossed his way.<br />
<br />
She slips into the abode as they're all invited, stepping aside as the others file in. Her attention is all too focused else where before-<br />
<br />
The lady of the house hugs Aryia. She freezes up.<br />
<br />
Then takes Taara into a tight, hearty embrace. 'I missed you so much,' she mutters near-silently by Her ear.<br />
<br />
She lets Her go, again.<br />
<br />
The pugilist wipes at her eyes.<br />
<br />
Dirk has seen much in his long years upon Ea. He's championed a swanmay princess. He's been blessed by angels. He's heard the voices of the Green Word. -Now-... he's getting a hug from a goddess. Even stranger, he finds himself returning that hug, throwing his burly arms around Taara and giving her a proper Dwarf Hug. "Och, Auntie Taara, it's -so- good tae see ye!" he booms cheerfully. "An' Uncle Maugrim! Lookin' fit as ever, I see! Och, maybe someday soon ye'll be as hefty as -I- am! Hah!"<br />
<br />
He turns his attention back to Taara. Hey, if the gods are all like this--friendly, warm, with a cozy home and delicious treats--then maybe they aren't so bad after all. "Auntie, I smelled that pie yer bakin' from nearly a furlong away. Och, I'm -starvin'-! An' boy oh -boy- do we have some stories fer -you-!"<br />
<br />
Blink. Blink. Last Eztli could tell, Taara wasn't a gnome. She was half expecting the goddess to shrink down to the size of an aunt until she realized what was going on. "A-ah, yes! Something to drink would be appreciated." She spoke up after a moment to collect herself. The hug certainly wasn't helping. "Did you make a chilled pie for Skyler too? You know how particular he is about his oat milk, after all."<br />
<br />
"Of course we made it, Auntie Taara," Magpie laughs, throwing her arms up to give the best hug her stubby little everything is capable of giving. "How could we stand the thought of our Auntie feeling lonely?" 'Uncle Moggie' gets a brief side-eye, as Magpie isn't *quite* sure whether or not he's the actual Tyrant, and not a figment of the Void.<br />
<br />
"But how are you *doing,* Auntie?" she presses onward, reaching up to pat Ariya's arm in what she hopes is a comforting way.<br />
<br />
There, there.<br />
<br />
"Oh!"<br />
<br />
Aunty 'Taara', if that is indeed who she is, is more than a little surprised by the embrace. She awkwardly pats Aryia on the back. "I'm so glad to hear that," she tells her, happily. "There's pie! Come in, everyone, come in, please make yourself comfortable. It's weird how accepting she is. Just rolls with it. You're all family. Of course you're family. What's weirder is that you all can kind of feel it's true at the same time -- which might be a little discomfitting in the moment.<br />
<br />
'Moggie' grunts. He doesn't -do- hugs, thank you very much. All taciturn. "I'll be right back. I'm going to go check on some things." He disappears out the back door, grumbling the whole while with the sort of grumble that every worker would recognize.<br />
<br />
"Curses. Foiled again."<br />
<br />
Skyler shakes his head as Uncle Moggie departs but he's all grins as he turns back to Auntie Taara with his grin back in place. He glances at the others as his brow knits when the wave of familial closeness washes over him. Considering what the visions earlier revealed about *his* relationship with his family, it's an unfamiliar sensation.<br />
<br />
He swallows, closing his eyes for a moment before shaking his head. "What kind of pie, Auntie Taara? Is it full of secrets, or butterscotch or the void? I hope it's apple. I bet your void pie is awesome, but I'm partial to apple."<br />
<br />
Aryia scratches her head at the change in accommodations, but she rolls with it as she's invited in. She takes a seat nearby, all but flopping into a loveseat nearby in a very 'at home' manner. Was that on purpose? Lines were getting a bit blurry on the comfort of things.<br />
<br />
Dirk perks up at the mention of pie, and his eyes light up like a Yule tree. "Oh, bless yer kindness, auntie, I'd -love- a slice!" he says happily. He's a canny old bear, and he doesn't miss that strange feeling of familiarity. But such feelings are natural to dwarves, who cherish their communities so. Even a black sheep like ol' Dirk craves the company of his friends and comrades, so he's already hard-wired to accept and recipricate bonds of family. Even if it comes from the Goddess of Lies.<br />
<br />
Magpie watches 'Moggie' disappear out the back with evident curiosity; is this part of the setting making way for the change in focus? Or was that truly Maugrim, and if so how many devils are going to be hiding in their pillows from now on? "...They say you eat an average of three devils in your sleep a week," she murmurs softly, so softly. "...Or was that spiders..."<br />
<br />
Shaking her head, she puts on her biggest, niece-iest smile for Taara, glancing at Skyler and nodding her approval at his narrative. "How've you been, Auntie Taara? We've been pretty worried about you, we haven't heard much from these parts in a while."<br />
<br />
Eztli blinked a few more times at the recognition, and feeling of it, as well. "Oh, thank you, then! I wouldn't mind some pie myself, but I don't know, surely there's something I could do in return for the hospitality? It's only fair, I think."<br />
<br />
Indeed. The accomdations -are- changing. Things are unfolding. Was it always like this? You know it wasn't, but it FEELS like it was. Totally natural. There's even a dining room, now, and you're being escorted to the table by 'Taara', though she's never introduced herself that way. She strokes her fingerws through her long hair and then gerstures to the seating. <br />
<br />
"Please, please! Sit down. Tell me all about your adventures, darlings!" <br />
<br />
The impossibility of being 'related' doesn't seem to have occurred to her at all. <br />
<br />
Meanwhile, Moggie is, well... there's a lot of swearing from out back. This is how you know he's cooking.<br />
<br />
Aryia leans up, sitting at the table now as she gets herself situated. There's this half lull of staring at a goddess she once venerated, and half just at the dinner table with auntie and family. She's having to root herself in the horrid things they just went through recently to remind herself why they're all here. And boy is it hard to keep the story straight.<br />
<br />
Tell about... her adventures? Aryia looks to the others before gesturing in elaboration: "Mine would take way too long, but I learned through my adventures if you're stubborn enough, you can win card games against gods and drop kick kaiju through portals. All it takes is losing everything and finding yourself in the scraps." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Eztli took one of the chairs, spun it around to have a seat at the table comfortably. "Of our adventures? Well, I'm sure that the others have some wonderful stories to tell. I've been on a few, but I imagine theirs are better, or at least they feel up to talking about them."<br />
<br />
Skyler's lips thin, and he glances over the crowd for a moment before he says earnestly, softly. "I grew up second son to a minor noble. Heir and the spare, I was the spare. My father wasn't a good man, by any definition. My brother, the heir, use to pour boiling water on puppies out of amusement. Found out they were going to kill me."<br />
<br />
He swallows, "So I decided that I'd kill me first. Was on a ship that got attacked by pirates, and when they threatened to ransom me, I instead charmed'm into letting me join. Being a pirate sounded fun. It was, until I realized I hurt people. Badly. Met someone I love." He smiles wryly, "And decided to be something else. Gentleman Adventurer of the Society of Dagger Dames and Gentleman Adventurers. Taught me something important, Auntie Taara." He glances around, "*I* write my story. Other people might throw curveballs at me, things might beat me down and even kill me. But in the end, I wrote the story and never let anyone else control the narrative."<br />
<br />
Dirk follows Auntie to the table and plumps his hefty rump down. He gives a wiggle, testing the chair out, and is rather surprised that it supports Dwarf Weight quite well! He reaches up to doff his tricorne and sets it aside. "Pshaw, Eztli. You an' me been on plenty of adventures together!" he says with a rumble of laughter. "Och, d'ye remember when we got sent out by Lady Fionnula tae find 'er sister in the Mythwood? An' we fought off those cold knights? Hell of a scrap, that was!"<br />
<br />
He glances over at Skyler, listening to the swashbuckler's tale. Much of it is new to the burly old ranger. His conclusion has the old snowbeard nodding firmly. "True talk, laddie, true talk," he says. "All our lives are a grand tale, an' -we- hold the pen. Even if sometimes folk want tae butt in an' put their own spin on things."<br />
<br />
Magpie clambers up into a high-chair, allowing her to regard the table like someone meant to be seated there, and puffs out a breath at the invitation. "Man... where to even *start.*"<br />
<br />
As Skyler tells his story, Magpie listens carefully, nodding firmly at the lesson he takes away from the story of his life. And, it seems, she chooses to follow up serious drama with comedy.<br />
<br />
"Well, there was that temple that got uncovered in the Felwood, I remember one point we ended up having to deal with a bunch of non-Guild 'adventurers' who were looking for loot to find. Then, after we beat them into submission, we had to take them back to camp... when demons started coming after us. Cos Felwood, right? But we didn't have time to *fight,* we had a job to do, so I threw an illusion over this huge tree! Turned into a big angel statue, two middle fingers up, and a banner; DEMONS CAN KISS THE PEARLIEST PART OF MY GATES!"<br />
<br />
Here, Magpie pauses to giggle t her own joke. "And the best part was, it *worked!* Distracted them long enough we could get away!"<br />
<br />
"Because if you're willing to be a little silly, you can saves lives with a good lie."<br />
<br />
The Lady of the House listens, and smiles, and she proceeds to begin preparing the meal. There are plenty of things to bring in from the kitchen, and yet more from 'Moggie' outside. They're clearly, yes, representative of someone's idea of what Taara and Maugrim might be. Somehow.<br />
<br />
Somehow indeed.<br />
<br />
'Taara' claps her hands delightedly as the stories come out. She asks questions, seeks details. She wants more. The despair that was sitting heavily on her when you arrived -- perhaps not so visible as it was then as its departure is now -- seems to have lifted, yes, and Moggie very clearly doesn't have a lot to say. He's busy working.<br />
<br />
"That all sounds lovely," remarks your 'aunt'. <br />
<br />
"But now what will you all do?"<br />
<br />
Details are happily divulged, and Magpie seems to be the kind of storyteller who can barely believe the nonsense she herself got up to. So the details are delivered with a combination of self-deprecation and surprise. But then, 'Taara' puts a question to her.<br />
<br />
That is a very, very good question.<br />
<br />
"Well," she says slowly, "we are kind of on a job right now, in fact. See, there's someone very, very important who needs to be rescued from the Void. And we need to make sure she can shake free of it, because nobody... *nobody.* Deserves for the Void to take them.<br />
<br />
"I can think of a few people." Skyler says consideringly, "Captain Cashew, maybe. But it's probably got a nut allergy."<br />
<br />
But he makes a gesture, conceding Magpie's point and letting her take the narrative lead on this. "But she deserves a happy ending, this one. She's had a hell of a story so far, and deserves happiness with her beefy hot husband." He considers. "Maybe they just need to spice things up? Find a unicorn?" He means a horse with a horn, right?<br />
<br />
Aryia listens to the others, her brows raising at Skyler. She didn't pin him as noble born, and it was quite an amusing twist that'd he manufactured himself. If only she was as slick as him all those decades ago. She nods along in agreement with Dirk, but she can't but help but stare at Magpie. There was not way she could /not/ help but snort in amusement.<br />
<br />
Food comes out, and she's already got one of everything. It must have been some crimson pen story, or something, that has these two gods portrayed as such in a cottage-core lifestyle. The mute shares more, about a Unloved King that took a chance to become the Joyful King, and through his efforts, managed to help a party of heroes slay larger-than life fiends and help a celestial dragon fulfill their overdue duties. She's smiling at the memories of it, a mixture of cocky and wan.<br />
<br />
Question poised, she nods along with Magpie and Skyler. "Or maybe have something come along, a catalyst? Every story has something that makes things happen." She gives Skyler a side glance before chuffing and shaking her head, amused. <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Eztli shrugged, and chuckled quietly. "Kinda sounds like my life, except I ran away from my parents as their only daughter, and I ended up getting eaten by undead and ending up as a giant, small lizard." Eztli snorted. "Which is to say, entirely not like your life at all upon further thought, but, at least I'm mostly okay with it now. But for doing stuff now? I don't know, I guess it doesn't feel right to give up. I'd like to make some more stories, have some more adventures and the like. Probably."<br />
<br />
Dirk busily loads up a plate with delicious goodies and wonderful treats. Even piling up proper Dwarf Sized portions, there's still plenty for everyone else. Clearly, -this- version of Taara knows how to cook for dwarves. He munches away at some nibbly things, listening to the others' tales. When Skyler mentions a unicorn, he brightens up. "Och! That reminds me of the time I was trackin' this ugly beastie down in Am'shere!" he says. "I'll tell ye, jungles an' dwarves mix together 'bout as well as some berk rippin' arse in church! Hah!" He recounts the tale of the monster hunt, which led to a unicorn that had been tempted into disgrace by a wish demon. "The poor thing wanted us tae end its sufferin'. But I hadnae the heart tae kill such a noble beast. But fortunately, me mate Dolan's a Corona in Daeus' church, an' we able tae help the poor thing find repentance an' forgiveness!" He gets thoughtful as he munches another bite of tasty things. "Because even the worst villain can be redeemed, in the end," he muses.<br />
<br />
Someone important? Rescued from the Void? What?!<br />
<br />
Moggie scowls darkly, muttering under his breath about 'dilly-dallying while the world is doomed, he'd never let you get away with that' and so on. It's entirely in character for him,. it seems.<br />
<br />
'Auntie' puts her hands together in front of her, eyes wide. "You don't say! What is there to be done, though?!" Obviously, this is just a normal day at dinner, where one talks about rescuing people from THE VOID of all things. <br />
<br />
The food is ... a lot. There's -so much of it-. Anything you want is thjere on the table. Somehow. Like she knew. Because, of course, she did. <br />
<br />
Eztli gets her hand patted. She understands. Skyler too, really. "Parents can be so dreadful," she mourns.<br />
<br />
The comments of redemption has them BOTH eyeing Dirk.<br />
<br />
"We have to remind her," Magpie says, trying to pull the couple's attention from Dirk. "That she *has* choices she can make. That any story she could tell could be true, even the lies. *Especially* the lies. Because that's what stories are, right?"<br />
<br />
Leaning over the table, she picks up a lovely spiced-pork bun and tears it in half, breathing in the aroma. "Stories are lies about things that never happened, that outline a truth that needs to be known, aren't they?"<br />
<br />
Monching on one half for a bit, she swallows, and looks up, eyes wide and begging.<br />
<br />
"Tell us a story, Auntie?"<br />
<br />
Aryia's inhaling some Am'shere cuisine as she side eyes the others, seeing if they're catching on to the hooks being pulled. With a tlahco in one hand, mouth with another, her free hand gestures out, "It's so simple it's kind of stupid. Don't believe the Void. It's a bad lie. Reflections of reality that have no basis. The instances where I fought myself, my void self, it was such a farce of reality. It couldn't handle the /real/ me. Am I lying to myself? Maybe. But even if I don't believe I'm better, as long as I believe I'm better than the next thing, I'm golden."<br />
<br />
Sticking to her guns, it seems, and playing up what Magpie posits with a solid, and true, story. Aryia gestures at Magpie, agreeing with her. Story time! <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
"Oh, _tell_ me about it." Eztli bemoaned, reaching for a large mug of ale that was incredibly difficult to drink in a proper fashion. "Parents were more concerned about making sure that they would profit off selling my hand off to the richest family they could find, and the worst part? Never even asked if I liked the guy, liked guys in the first place, and he had the audacity to tell me that dance was _boring. Don't think they ever bothered to know me." The makari ranted. "So, found someone that cared, made plans to leave, and then the countries overrun with zombies. Bad luck on that, not to mention being called a reptilian freak next time I saw my partner." She continued, stopping to open her mouth and dump the rest of the alcohol down her throat. "But y'know what? It was worth the try. I'll take a chance of things being better over a guaranteed life of misery any day of the week. And it was my choice to make, too, no one twisting my arm in the process. Surely you've got some stories about your own decisions too, right?"<br />
<br />
Dirk wilts a little bit as Auntie Taara and Uncle Moggie stare him down. "Heek?" He instead goes beard-first into his plate of delicious treats, chompfing and monching with a -purpose-. He looks over to Magpie, nodding his head vigorously in agreement. He might actually -say- so, but at the moment his cheeks are puffed out like a squirrel's, and he has enough manners not to talk with his mouth full. Instead, he listens to Ariya and Eztli in turn. The sith's tale has his eyes getting wide. Chompf chomphf mrnch GLLP! "Reptilian freak? Och, I wish I coulda been there! -Please- tell me ye wiped the smirk off 'is dozy gob. Hell, -I- would've put me fist tae 'is nose fer that kind o' cheek!" He mutters and harrumphs, before diving back in to enjoy more of this -superb- home cooking. It's just like his mother used to make--uncannily so, but it came from the hands and hearth of a goddess.<br />
<br />
After gulping down another payload of food, he nods his head. "I'll never forget the day I met my darlin' Sarah," he says. "I was out in the Eldwyn huntin' deer, when I heard 'er singin'. I'd never heard such a lovely voice afore. I followed the sound an' there she was. Hair like spun gold, an' a voice like a nightingale's. Eluna was full an' round, an' lit 'er up like water dancin' on silver." He sighs dreamily as he recalls. "She had me entranced, she did. She was busy pickin' flowers, so she dinnae see me at first. But then as she turned, I spied a nasty warg creepin' up on 'er from behind. Well, I leaped up from where I was crouched an' hollered 'Get down, lassie!' Then I put a bullet straight betwixt that nasty beastie's eyes. An' Sarah, gods love 'er, she drew 'er belt knife an' flung it straight at me! Or at least, I -thought- it was straight at me--but it hit the warg's -mate- who was about tae get the drop on -me-!"<br />
<br />
He rumbles with laughter, clapping a hand to his knee. "Och, we were both all blushes an' stumbles after that. But it lit a spark that eve. We'd meet up in that verra same clearing each week, an' have us a picnic luncheon. We'd spend all the day just... talkin'. It was so..." He sighs happily again. "...so -nice-." He looks back to Taara with that same dopey, love-struck grin. "What 'bout you, Auntie Taara? How did you an' Uncle Moggie meet, then? Tell us all about it!"<br />
<br />
Each story ventured is listened to. Each set of words taken in. 'Moggie' just sort of grumbly returns from out back carrying some platters of freshly cooked meat from the firepit outside. Pork, from the smell of it. He passes through the dining area of the little home and into the kitchen, where more grumbling and swearing can be heard. It's not a cooking event without one of the cooks swearing a lot. This is fact. <br />
<br />
'Taara' just seems thrilled with the tales, yes, particularly Dirk's. She loves a good love story, doesn't she? Who doesn't? Of course, that look in her eye already suggests she's envisioning dramas.<br />
<br />
A lot of dramas. That's better than the empty, some despairing look one can now recognize even if it was hard to see on arrival. <br />
<br />
"You've all had such difficulty," she begins, leaving the thought unfinished. <br />
<br />
She's thinking, okay?<br />
<br />
"Difficulties are what makes stories spicy." Skyler says with a shrug, "The struggles we've gone through make us appreciate what we have. Without them, there's no lows, but no highs either."<br />
<br />
Aryia shrugs. "If it were easy, then what's the point of living?" she signs, nodding towards Skyler's perspective. <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Dirk nods his head, reaching over to stab a stack of delicious ham from the platter Moggie brings in without taking his eyes off Taara. He chompfs a big bite of delicious pork, rumbling happily as he savors the flavor. "Mmh! Mrnch! Monch! GLUP! Och, Uncle Moggie, this is -fantastic!-" He grins over at his 'uncle' before he looks back to Taara. He nods his head, his expression softening. "Aye, the fop has it right," he says, nodding at Skyler. "Sarah an' I both knew what it'd mean, if we stayed together. She'd grow old an' die while I lived on. An' sometimes, the thought o' that would keep one--or both--of us up at night." His expression turns quietly wistful. "An' when her time came tae leave this world, I thought... well, fer years after, I thought 'it's nae -fair-, we dinnae get enough time together'. But then I remember what Blessed Dana teaches us. To everything, there is a season. What lives must die, so that it may live again. In the end, we got sixty-five years together. As bitter as her passing was... even -that- cannae take those years from us."<br />
<br />
Eztli hesitated for a moment as Maugrim came in with large platters of 'pork', but eventually she relaxed and took some onto a plate for a few bites. "Life's always going to have difficulties to some degree, like everyone else has said. No good comparing to someone else and getting burned, but you're going to have challenges. I'd be happier knowing that others haven't had to deal with the sorts of things I have, anyways."<br />
<br />
"Gotta have the bitter," Magpie opines, "If you wanna appreciate the sweet. Thanks, Uncle," she says, as she helps herself to a couple pork chops. "Yeah I spent a lotta my growin up years just miserable, but *oh boy* do I love the dad that *chose* me out of all the other urchins. And it's the same with adventurin'."<br />
<br />
Hoisting a half-pint mug of dark stout, she takes a quick drink. "When you're in it, it's boredom and boredom and then ten minutes of life-or-death panic, but like... Couple months later? You're sitting in a tavern, and the story starts out 'so no shit, there I was,' and everything is just *hilarious* in hindsight."<br />
<br />
"Hmm," is what she says to Skyler. Then she listens to ARyia, nodding her head. Dirk's words are tkaen in, thne Eztli's, and finally Magpie's. Each has spoken to her in turn><br />
<br />
She's aboutt o say something and then there's a loud set of swear words coming from the kitchen area again. Who knew that he was so full of cussing?<br />
<br />
She smiles, after a moment, with a slight strain. It would appear that even in this illusion, the reality of what someone is can not be fully dismissed.<br />
<br />
""I suppose that makes sense," she agrees, casually. More food is being prepared, and now it's being rolled out in great heaping dishes. Dinner is served. Roast meat (of some kind) alongside roasted vegetables. Onions, garlic! Spring vegetables, because it's always spring here, clearly.<br />
<br />
'Taara' pauses a moment, then pats her husband's hand when he passes her by. <br />
<br />
"You all seem to have taken it in stride. But what about when you make a mistake?" She asks, squinting at them. This, she wants to hear. "I never make those," she is hasty to clarify.<br />
<br />
Aryia finishes her course of Amshere delights, grabbing a stein of beer and leaning back in her chair. She quirks a brow at the cursing, her grabbing another serving of the dinner that's being served and stacking it high. "You learn from it. Take a nugget of wisdom from it, and do better next time," she suggests. "A perfect story has to have failure within it too, right? Otherwise it's just boring and self serving. Actions speak louder than words. Shit, I've fucked up a lot, and the only way I've rectified those mistakes is by doing something about it." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Skyler is still for a moment, and then glances towards Eztli before answering, speaking as much to the sorceress as the Goddess. "I made a mistake, recently. I was reckless, thinking no one other than myself would pay the price. A killer caught me in a trap, and because of my recklessness a friend, Carver, died." His jaw works, and he finally looks away from Eztli. "She died spitting defiance, laughing with her prey's blood on her lips, but she still died, and left someone that loved her and she loved very much without her." He closes his eyes briefly before opening them again. "But that's how stories go sometimes. You fail. You make mistakes.. And sometimes, even worse: you aren't the one that pays for them. The people you love and care about are." He glances over at Eztli. "You learn from them, so the price wasn't paid in vail, y'know?"<br />
<br />
Eztli had a few more bites of food, the sorceress chewing slowly to focus on listening. And listening, until eventually a low growl grew in their throat. She reached to take another tankard of ale, and this one was unceremoniously dumped completely down her throat in a singular motion. That quieted her for some time. "You make a mistake, you own up to it, simple as that." She eventually sighed. "If it's fixable, you fix it, if it's not , you live with it. Not much more to it."<br />
<br />
Skyler nods slowly, with an odd sense of solemnity and gives Eztli a brief grin of acknowledgement.<br />
<br />
"They're right," Magpie says, lunging over the table to grab a sausage, which is split in half, painted with mustard, and sandwiched between the two pork chops. "Most good stories deal with the protagonist making a mistake. Sometimes it's a little one they can make right, sometimes it's a big one they can't. And the important part is always whether or not they *learn better,* y'know? The way my dad says it, is like... 'As long as you never make the same mistake twice, you're getting somewhere.'"<br />
<br />
At which point she takes a relatively huge bite of her meat-sweat sandwich. Which looks like a mistake all its own.<br />
<br />
Dirk finishes off his third plate of food, pushing the empty aside and settling back in his seat with a happy sigh. He pats his hefty middle as he picks up a mug of beer for himself. He tips back a healthy swallow, gulping thirstily as he drains the mug dry. He bangs the empty down on the table and thumps his chest a couple times, coaxing out a mighty, rafter-shaking belch. "BraaaaaaAAAAAAAUUUUUFFF! Oh! 'scuse -me-!" He glances around, tugging at his collar as he grins sheepishly. "Sorry. It's easy tae forget tallfolk dinnae value proper belchin' skill."<br />
<br />
He looks back at Taara, nodding in agreement with his mates. "We all make mistakes. We're nae a one of us perfect. Nor I ever -want- tae be. Tae be perfect is to never change--because if ye did, then ye'd nae be perfect anymore, would ye? Nothin' would change, nothin' would grow." He hefts his empty mug--which he suddenly finds full again. When did that happen? "Hell, Sarah -would- scold me every time I let loose a belch. An' there was times when I'd tell 'er exactly what I thought o' tallfolk prudishness. We both said things we dinnae really mean. But we always found our way back. We always said we were sorry, an' forgave each other." He smiles wistfully at Taara. "Bein' imperfect... makin' mistakes... it dinnae make us -bad-, Auntie Taara. It just makes us... mortal."<br />
<br />
The food is, at least, tasty.<br />
<br />
-Really- tasty.<br />
<br />
Who knew Taara and 'Moggy' could cook so well? Well, it appears to be the fact here, in any event.<br />
<br />
Each speaker is given their moment in turn to answer the question and they listen. Well, 'Taara' listens. 'Moggie' just kind of quietly seethes, especially when he's called 'Moggie' again. Maybe he's not as fond of the name as he appears, but it's not like he's going anywhere.<br />
<br />
Aryia gets a nod from her and sghe leans forward, chin on her hands, elbows on the table.<br />
<br />
Big eyes.<br />
<br />
"What if its too late?" she asks, thoughtfully.<br />
<br />
To Skyler, she turns her gaze, asking the same question, "How do you know its fixable? Do you just throw yourself into it until you find out its not?"<br />
<br />
Dirk is listened to and there's a big smile. "Mortal!" She cracks.<br />
<br />
"Yes, I suppose that we are, she nods. "Forgiveness seems like a difficult thing to earn. I always feel like I've so much red ink on my hands, even just itting here and writing!"<br />
<br />
Then to Magpie, there is a smile.<br />
<br />
"Well. That's a good saying. I'd like that."<br />
<br />
"Look at it this way, ma'am..." 'Ma'am?!' Skyler ducks his head. "If you try, and still fail, then it isn't your fault that it failed. But if you don't try, and we lose everything, then it's all your fault." He spreads his hands. "You might fail half the shots you try, but you fail more if you never take them at all."<br />
<br />
Aryia side eyes Skyler and Eztli, grimacing at the tale. She's known of Carver by proxy, and couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness from that. There's a nod towards Dirk, her giving an approving look at the belch before downing her own drink.<br />
<br />
And then 'Taara' asks her. Her. For advice. Aryia looks at the bottom of her mug, looking like she is trying to find answers in the leftover froth. She breathes In. And gestures. "If it's too late, then you own the mistake. Acknowledge how badly you fucked up, apologize, and- I cannot stress this enough- /move the fuck on/. If you do not move, do not act, you'll wallow in the darkness, if you even if you don't realize it."<br />
<br />
She jabs a thumb to Skyler's point. "A ship is safest in the harbor. But that is not what a ship is built for." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Eztli had reached for another mug of drink, tossed back into her throat. The small makari snorted, flames flickering out the end of her snout. "If it's too late, it's too late. That doesn't change." Eztli shrugged. "Is it too late, or are you just giving up? Big difference there. Real big difference. And like Aryia said, still more you could do. I'd like to say it's never too late to at least do _something_."<br />
<br />
"Not to mention," Magpie pipes up, "unless you've just pushed everyone and everything away... there's always folk near you, who care enough to give you a hand." At this, she nods to 'Moggie.' "People like that? They're a treasure beyond price, because there is nothing that makes the darkness lighten up like being able to ask for help, and *get it.*"<br />
<br />
Finishing her half-pint, she leans over the table, big eyes locked onto 'Taara,' voice gentle. "Cos it's okay to need help. Nobody's as strong alone as they are with friends. An' I got personal experience of that, with most everyone I came with, Auntie. It might surprise you, what asking for help'll turn up."<br />
<br />
Dirk nods his head in agreement with his mates, his smile warm and bright as his eyes twinkle beneath the hang of his shaggy white brows. "Aye, yer all right, all of ye!" He looks back to Taara and Maugrim. "Yesterday we cannae change. Tomorrow we cannae know. But -today-... today is ours, an' we can do -anything-! There's nae sense in worryin' about what's done or what -might- be. That's a sticky bog that'll sink ye under if ye dwell on it overlong. Best tae keep yer feet right here in the now, where yer footin' is firm." He leans forward, regarding Taara with his simple, homespun earnesty. "Auntie Taara... if even a Goddess o' the Dark can show kindness an' share a delicious meal wi' those who would stand against 'er... then doesn't that mean -somethin'- good?" He taps the side of his big dwarven nose. "We -need- ye, lassie. We need you, an' Maugrim, an' Caracoroth, an' all the rest. Without ye... we great an' mighty heroes, we've got nae stories at -all-."<br />
<br />
Forgiveness. Permission to forgive one's self. Redemption. Owning up to mistakes.<br />
<br />
Narratively, these are heady cocktail of ideas, aren't they? All of them know that, of course, even if they also believe them. Life experience, in all its long roads and difficulty, and troubles that it took them to get here has taught each of them that. Through battle, love, and loss, each person present has in some way endured what life has called on them to deal with, what its author has put in front of them. A narrative which has inextricably led them here, to this moment, where they sit with some kind of ethereal representation of that same shifting narrative.<br />
<br />
It may be Taara. It may be Maugrim. It may be representations of them. The latter is probably more likely, but then, the Gods know everything anyway so its not as if it makes a difference, right?<br />
<br />
Right.<br />
<br />
But what makes a difference, it seems, is the acts taken. There's a sense of well being. Of a loss of tension. Of warmth. Of warm meals, laughter. Of family, found and otherwise. Of friends, new and old, like a journey is coming to a close and also paradoxically looping around once again to its beginning. Where one leaves off, another picks up. That's the nature of roads, too. <br />
<br />
Each of them enjoy their meals in turn and the night wears on. More stories are swapped. More tales of regret and more tales of redemption, perhaps, or at least ones that begin. There's even a late addition, another older gentlemen from down the way. You never get his name. You suppose it doesn't matter. At least in the moment, you feel like you've known him all along anyway.<br />
<br />
Slowly, the memory fades out. You find yourselves ... somewhere else. In an empty home, just outside Alexandria. The air seems lighter, somehow. A little ways away from you is a dinner table that seems long abandoned. At its foot, is a black robe that seems remarkably similar to the one Akorinil was wearing before you 'left' the manor house you were in for the 'cottage'. A faint black residue lays in a circle around it, along with a few strands of red hair.<br />
<br />
Though the word is not whispered aloud, it lingers in your ears anyway.<br />
<br />
"Rest easy."<br />
<br />
-End Scene-<br />
<br />
[[Category:PRPs]]</div>Aryiahttp://www.tenebraemush.net/index.php?title=Where%27d_They_Go%3F_That%27s_Where&diff=44520Where'd They Go? That's Where2025-11-27T04:59:42Z<p>Aryia: </p>
<hr />
<div>Darkness.<br />
<br />
Alexandria has been consumed in it for a hot minute, hasn't it? Not the kind of darkness of night's fall and early winter's days, but the more metaphorical kind: a creeping, slowly spreading chill, a tension building of a coming ending: the moment before the boot drops, so to speak.<br />
<br />
You aren't sure what you were doing, or even how long its been, but here you are: painfully aware of that boot, and unsure where you are. There's an expanse of swirling blackness, and you are alone in it.<br />
<br />
... until your hear a voice: people calling out.<br />
<br />
"Five more minutes!" Skyler grouses, as if the call of the voices were people attempting to wake him up, "Mama, I do not want the pony with the fancy forelock, for he bit me when I fed him sugar cubes."<br />
<br />
Beat.<br />
<br />
"Oh wait. I'm not asleep."<br />
<br />
Another beat. "Gods this is getting *weird* in Alexandria."<br />
<br />
Dirk pauses with his brush in mid-stroke, poised over his beard as that darkness overwhelms him. He blinks owlishly, squinting and peering in the gloom. That doesn't seem right. -He- can see in the dark just fine, usually. "What in Dana's flowery green -arse-?" he grumbles. He fumbles his way to the window of his inn room and flings it open. Perhaps if he can see outside, something will make sense. If only it were that easy. "Och, what the hell is this? What the hell is goin' on here?!" he shouts out into the void. Will it help? Maybe not, but it helps to be able to do -something-. It's proof that he's not going deaf as well as blind in his old age.<br />
<br />
Aryia is quite used to the dark. Pitch black, or even darker. Perhaps the last gift of Taara. Or maybe she's just built different. So it is *weird* that she can't even see past her own nose.<br />
<br />
She catches a voice, then two, turning that way and gives a quiet, two toned whistle as she claps her hands together, trying to light up the dark.<br />
<br />
Eztli was left in some state of confusion at the darkness around her. The makari flicked a small flame between two of her fingers, that seemed to do little to actually disperse the darkness. Sound still worked though, right? The sorceress carefully picked her way through the shadows to not trip on anything, trying to find the source of the noise.<br />
<br />
Aryia manages to get her hands alight with moonlight, but still, barely able to catch anything before her reach. A tinge of panic crawls of up her neck, but she locks that down.<br />
<br />
"What a worthless little cretin. Get rid of it." A distance voice rolled by over her shoulder. A man's. She felt a weight land in her hand. It was dropped like hot iron. "What? Scared? They're useless. You will be too if you don't-"<br />
<br />
A whistling streak of moonlight punches the air behind her, her finding herself panting and slowly backing up. What... is that...?<br />
<br />
"...Albus?" Magpie says, turning this way and that, trying to pierce the gloom. "...Is it time for another Crimson Pen book? Or... wait... You're *not* a book anyore, right? Didn't we--"<br />
<br />
Backing away from the calling voice, Magpie does what comes natural; putting a Light spell on the headdress-coin directly over her forehead, because when you need a light you need it close.<br />
<br />
"The.. pony..."<br />
<br />
"Pony..." A voice seems to echo around Skyler, making his eyes widen and his skin to visibly pimple up.<br />
<br />
"Pony..." Or at least, it would if anyone could see him.<br />
<br />
"Pony... would... not bite... if you did... not ride it so harshly..."<br />
<br />
"Harshly... little toadstool.." Again the voice echos, and Skyler spins around with fist raised, eyes dilated in utter terror. "No. You're *dead*. You're dead and *he* killed you!"<br />
<br />
And he hears the sound of a voice crooning a discordant melody, something about 'heal heal little frog' that's equal parts silly but, judging by how Skyler seems to be covering his ears, equally parts terrifying to him at least.<br />
<br />
"Little hunter..." Dirk's face turns white as his beard as the soft, silky-smooth voice reaches him from the darkness. "Let me -in-, little hunter." Dirk swallows hard, his mouth turning dry. "No... it cannae be you..." He slowly backs away from the window, fumbling in the gloom for his thunderbelcher. His flailing palm catches the barrel, making the weapon topple to the floor. The clatter makes Dirk startle back with a squeak. "Yer -dead-, Demontry Kol! Dolan and Andalena put an -end- tae you! Yer dead an' gone -an' ye cannae come back!-" He stoops to snatch up his thunderbelcher and snaps it to his shoulder. He turns this way and that, panting for breath as he fights the panic clawing at his mind. "Yer dead an' gone. Ye cannae come back. Yer dead an' gone. Ye cannae come -back-!" he whispers hoarsely. But the soft, mocking laughter that rings in his ears tell him that no, Dirk, sometimes your worst nightmare really -can- come true.<br />
<br />
Eztli squinted in spite of the darkness, listening closely to the voices. She froze in place as the voices turned guttural and violent, clearly humanoid, but not quite. "I'll burn you all where you stand!" The sorceress shouted, charging off in the irection of the noise to get to the source of it, and eliminate it if need be.<br />
<br />
With her forehead shining like a beacon, Magpie *ought* to be able to see more than nothing. But the darkness is too close, too heavy, and the voice... shifts, subtly. Menace weights it's barely-understood words, a gurgling sound like an indrawn breath around a mouth full of blood.<br />
<br />
The faint crackle of fire.<br />
<br />
Timbers falling to crash into floorboards.<br />
<br />
The crack of bone.<br />
<br />
"Wait... you're not Albus," Magpie whispers... "...You're... oh *hell* no."<br />
<br />
And she turns and just bolts, fleeing in any random direction that is Away From That Ever-To-Be-Damned Wendigo.<br />
<br />
The voices fade away. Silence.<br />
<br />
All of you are alone in the dark for a moment. It's chill settles into your bones. <br />
<br />
And then a new voice, achingly familiar but just out of reach, a memory come and gone.<br />
<br />
"We are all made of stories, little ones. Seek them out."<br />
<br />
Aryia squashes her breathing, forcing it to be an even In and Out as she backs up with glowing hands raised. Focus. Whatever is going on trying to fuck with you. Find your center. That mantra goes through her head again and again until-<br />
<br />
She senses others nearby. She whistles again, a two toned low-high. And.. a voice? It was painful how familiar it was, the ache like a heart being pulled taut.<br />
<br />
"I saw him..." Skyler whispers staring at nothing as he curls up on the ground, hands wrapped around his legs, "He hurt her. He hurt her and she could not have lived through that. If she did..."<br />
<br />
What that would mean remains unknown, as he perks up when he hears the two-toned high-low whistle. Slowly, he surfaces and pulls a small little grey stone out of a small cage braided into his hair. He kisses it softly, hesitantly, and then lets go of it so it's floating around his head like a friendly little moon as he stands up and walks towards the whistles.<br />
<br />
Dirk's eyes blink open as he hears voices. Voices he knows. Voices that aren't -Kol's-. "Blessed Lady, keep an' protect me," he whispers softly as he gingerly makes his way forward. "Halloooo! Skyler! Is that you, laddie?"<br />
<br />
The voices vanished just as suddenly as they had appeared, leaving Eztli alone again with an ever growing frustration. She sighed, perking up just as the voices picked up again. "Dirk? That you over there? Not something impersonating you or something, hopefully?"<br />
<br />
Magpie is... not really paying attention. She is, after all, convinced that there's a people-eating monster in dire -- like Bear -- need of a snack.<br />
<br />
Magpie is also a smol bean. This has long been a source of great frustration, because the bulk of Alexandria is not *built* for smol beans.<br />
<br />
Both of these together may explain why a circular light bobs rapidly out of the gloom, resolving into a Magpie that crashes into Dirk, rebounding almost immediately and looking up, eyes streaming with fear-filled tears. "...D-Dirk? ...Is that *you,* buddy?!"<br />
<br />
The swashbuckling man comes face to face with a scarred-to-the-nines shadow elf with eerie glowing hands and fierce scowl that could cut through rock. She blinks. Her hands move, and understanding follows regardless of knowing the lingua franca. "Who the fuck are you?"<br />
<br />
Aryia looks to the side, hearing closer voices, barely seeing them. "Eztli? Dirk?" She waves, doing that two-toned whistle again. Her way of saying 'hey!'. <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
"Dirk?" Skyler looks *horrid* when the ol' boy finds him, eyes wide and shaking in the dim light of his (not so) happy (anymore) moon. Is he green or is that just the light of the aeon torch? "Wh.. where are we? I wanna go *home*. Jarik was gunna give me a foot rub!"<br />
<br />
He then jerks his head towards the others, and clings to the dwarf's arm. "Oh hey, I know the little one. We took on some demon-lord and she ate his nuts while I skunked his face. And is that Eztli and..."<br />
<br />
He comes face to face with Aryia, lets out a shriek, and falls backwards on his ass. "I'M TOO YOUNG AND PRETTY TO DIE IS WHO I AM!"<br />
<br />
Eztli trudged up over to where everyone else was conversing, the low growl in her throat dying down and out once she actually saw some faces attached to the voices. "Look, no one here is going to die unless there's a reason for that, and I doubt that's the case." The makari grumbled. <br />
<br />
"Now, more importantly, yeah, no clue where the hell we are. If I can get us out of here and you aren't all shadow monsters pretending to be people I know, then I can see what I can do, if it comes down to it."<br />
<br />
Dirk's eyes get wide as he spies Skyler. He doesn't even comment on the arm-clinging. He's in the mood for some clinging himself. He clutches at Skyler, eyes wide as teacups as he looks around fearfully. "Skyler! Praise the -gods- laddie. Ye won't -believe---" But then there's Aryia, and Eztli, and Magpie too. He staggers a bit as Skyler falls away from him. "Ariya! It's a'right, lassie! Skyler's an adventurer, like us!"<br />
<br />
It's about this time that Magpie enters, stage right, and smacks right into him. He sweeps his arm around her to keep her from ass-planting as well. Fortunately, while he is indeed a shortstack, he is no smol bean. He is decidedly more of a thicc bean, and so he does not tumble as easily as some others. "Magpie! It's a'right, lassie, it's me!"<br />
<br />
He looks up and around at his friends, his beard bristling. "What the hell is goin' -on-? Is this more o' Heth's bullshit? I thought we blasted that sheepfucker out the sky!"<br />
<br />
Aryia relaxes as she runs into others she knows - and more importantly trusts. And then there's this screaming man. Her glowing gaze leers down at him, ears flicking at the high pitched noise. "... sure. Pretty. Get up. My bedtime was interrupted and I'm pissed." She reaches down a hand to help hoist Skyler up - it's more like getting thrown to their feet if he accepts.<br />
<br />
She steps closer to Eztli. "Yes. Let's figure this out. I want to get back to bed."<br />
<br />
She gives a firm nod to Dirk, relaxing somewhat. "Don't know. Too dark for that. He's more a zombie dragon." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Upon confirmation of Dirk's reality, Magpie simply lunges out of his grip to wrap her arms perhaps a quarter of the way around his middle, consoling herself with a good few seconds of crying.<br />
<br />
Once big feelings in smol body are satisfied, she leans back, rubbing eyes and nose. "...Yeah no we need to be *anywhere else,* This is lookin' just a little too Void-y for my liking.<br />
<br />
"Evil never dies, Dirk." Skyler says earnestly, as he stares from Dirk to Aryia and then at Eztli and Magpie before accepting the hand to his feet a touch self-consciously as his little moon stalls behind his head. Is it embarrassed to be orbiting the swashbuckler?<br />
<br />
Do they even do that?<br />
<br />
But then it comes around again and he's schooled his face into a grin of amusement. Sure, he's flung to his feet, but he's *Skyler* and manages to twist midair to land nimbly on his feet, brushing off his best feature.<br />
<br />
... His shoulders, duh! "Evil just gets kinda winded and then apparently comes back to throw our deepest trauma at us. Did anyone else see or hear someone or something horrible, or am I just depressed and/or mentally ill?" He scratches his chin consideringly, "Although I think they aren't mutually exclusive. Oh, hey little squirrel!" And he pulls a little lacy bit of fabric out of thin air, and offers it to her, "For your face. You can blow your nose too, 'coz I don't want it back if you use it."<br />
<br />
Dirk wraps Magpie up in his arms and gives her a proper Dwarf Sized hug, a (likely very successful) attempt to crush her soul back into her body. Also, he's trembling himself, and it helps to have someone to cling to. "Easy there lassie. Yer a'right. Fer now, at least. Yer among friends," he says, as soothingly as he can. Once Magpie turns loose, he does the same. He looks up and around at the others. "No, lad, it wasnae just you. I heard... -him-." He shudders, gripping the stock of his thunderbelcher until his knuckles turn white. "Demontry Kol. That rat -bastard- of a vampire. Och, of all the villains I ever fought, he was the -worst-."<br />
<br />
"Th-th Wendigo," Magpie stammers, accepting the lacy cloth with a watery smile and using it to de-gunkify her face. "Thanks... You're *lots* nicer as a person," she says. "...But you made a *heck* of a skunk. Anyway... That's what I was running from. I couldn't see anything... but it sounded like we were back in that in, and just.... no. Nuh-uh."<br />
<br />
"I'm not too confident this is something we can figure out nice and quick, much as I'd like that." Eztli sighed, rubbing the back of her head. "If we're not in Alexandria, teleporting would always work, but I don't know any spells to go cross planes, which is more likely. So, whatever way is out of here, it's on the terms of whatevers got us here."<br />
<br />
"I mean he was a little handsy when *I* ran into him, but after I killed him half a dozen times he got the hint." Skyler says reflectively regarding Dirk's terror, reaching over and patting Magpie on the top of her head. "I don't think I can do a handstand and shake my ass at this problem, alas." He tells the smolbean sadly, "But I'm glad to have you here with me, and we're in some pretty fierce company." He puffs his chest, "Not to brag, but I'm a Gentleman Adventurer, Eztli once sat fire to some stuffed animals, Dirk doesn't shoot blanks despite his age, and she looks terrifying." He jerks his thumb at Ariya. "Surely she's done some dope-ass shit in her time. Silent but *deadly*." Ah, the emotional recovery abilities of a dumbass. They should be studied! He beams around at the group, tucking thumbs in his belt. "We got this!"<br />
<br />
And then Eztli puts a rain on the parade, and he sags. "Spoilsport."<br />
<br />
If Aryia is surprised from the smooth twist and land, she only shows it through a little shrug and a cocked brow. "Yes, I did. Heard my old owner," she answers Skyler. "He should be dead."<br />
<br />
The name Kol catches a tinge of recognition, so she gets closer to everyone to close the ranks. The thumb towards her gets her attention, a snort escaping her. "I simply solve problems by going through them. The others can tell the tales. But we seem competent enough to untangle this."<br />
<br />
She inhales. Out. "So... did anyone hear that other voice?" <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Dirk shakes his head. "He could always get in my head," he says tightly. "I couldnae keep 'im out, nae matter how hard I tried. He could turn me intae his adorin' wee little -slave-. Och." He draws a shaky breath, looking over at Eztli. "Gods, what I wouldnae give tae have Lana or Telamon here. Or Missus Verna, or Master Mikilos. -They'd- know what tae do." He glances back at Aryia, studying the movement of her hands. "Other voice?" he asks, looking back up at her face. "I... I'm nae certain. Could it have been one of us that ye heard, perhaps...?"<br />
<br />
"Something about being made of stories," Aryia replies to Dirk in a quick flit. "Might have been my imagination. This place seems fucked." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
"Maybe we were kidnapped by fairies. I had that happen once." Skyler says brightly, as he glances around, "Anyone see a mushroom circle? They give you hints if you pee on them, the kinky little things."<br />
<br />
There are no mushroom circles.<br />
<br />
Alas, there is only a profound, chilling darkness that seems to extend in all directions.<br />
<br />
And then... <br />
<br />
... there it is.<br />
<br />
That voice.<br />
<br />
Warm, rich, melodious even. "Find the thread. One will bring you to me. A final corruption."<br />
<br />
There, something takes shape. A home rising up out of the dark. Lonely looking, in the sense, but it's a several story manor home from the look of it.<br />
<br />
"I'm not useless, you know, I just don't make it a habit of fucking around with other planes of existence, so I never bothered learning more about it. Which clearly, in hindsight, wasn't a good idea." Eztli huffed, trying not to glare at the comments. "Didn't hear too much, maybe someone's trying to mess with me, since I'd recognize those noises anywhere. Maybe they thought they had more of a hold over me still." <br />
<br />
The makari watched as the building appeared, and sighed. "Well, that's a trap if I ever saw it, but unless anyone has any better leads, or wants to see what happens if we teleport somewhere else at the moment, Doesn't look like much of a choice, does it?"<br />
<br />
Aryia just gives Skyler a /look/. "Okay, fairy pisser. You could just-"<br />
<br />
Her hands still as that voice snakes through the air. Hands drop, looking over to- oh. "-h f-ck m- s-d-w-ys," Aryia hisses through clenched teeth, her grey skin paling. "I know that house. Gird yourselves. Last time I was there, I stepped into a fucked up bloody aftermath of a massacre." She goes through a few motions: cracking her neck and rolling her shoulders before taking point. <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
<OOC> Aryia uses Ki: Barkskin <br />
<br />
Dirk gives Skyler a -look-, his bushy white brows furrowing as he tugs at his beard. "I... I'm nae sure it works -quite- like that, lad," he says. "Although there's plenty out there in the wilds that'll do summat if ye piss on it. I dinnae judge." He looks back to Ariya and snaps his fingers. "Och! Yer so right! I heard that too! Just..." He waves a hand around. "All o' -this- is goin' on..." He looks like he might like to elaborate, but then there's that manor rising up out of the gloom. He looks up (and up and up), his eyes getting wide once again as his jaw drops. "Erh?" That's about all he can manage. Fortunately, Ariya's there to fill in the blanks. At her warning, he lifts his thunderbelcher and racks the slide with a satisfying CHK-CHAK. "Right. Let's finish this up an' get back tae Alex. I have tae finish groomin' me beard."<br />
<br />
GAME: Eztli casts Mage Armor. Caster Level: 14 DC: 20<br />
<br />
"There's a whore I know that taught me the *best* balm for frizzy hair!" Skyler tells Dirk brightly, "You are looking a little poofy. Works extra well on bristly, curly hair. We can even add some dyes to make it fun colors! I once committed piracy with a guy that had a purple beard. It got all over everything, especially when it rained, but he said it helped immensely with split ends." <br />
<br />
As he rattles away, his hand reaches up to draw his wickedly curved blade, tossing it into the air and catching it with a flourish before pausing to check his boots for scuffs. One gets wiped away, before he nods at Aryia, ignoring the look. He once dressed in Verdama drag and flirted with one of Her paladins. It takes more than that to rattle him. "Of course it's a trap. But we know it's a trap, so we're springing it on our terms. Who do we wanna send in first, or do we all want to jump in at once so they can't single anyone out?"<br />
<br />
There's warmth in that home, unlike the chill of the place you're in. You can feel it as you get closer. Love, laughter, and light oozing from it at stark odds with the nature of the place.<br />
<br />
And ... <br />
<br />
...music? You can hear it now. Joyous. Lively.<br />
<br />
GAME: Magpie casts Mass Planar Adaptation. Caster Level: 15 DC: 25<br />
<br />
Dirk gives Skyler another -look-. "I do not need a purple beard," he grumbles. "Make me look like one o' those nutty oddbeards. Hrumph!" He mutters and grumbles as he lumbers along, his posture tense as a coiled spring. But then, hearing that cheery music, and seeing how warm and inviting the place looks... it slows the burly old snowbeard's step. "Aye-yup. This is -definitely- a trap," he grumbles.<br />
<br />
As the others begin to gird up for trouble, Magpie stands there, brow furrowed for a moment. Then, she wets the end of a finger and holds it up to the air, nodding slowly... and begins to chant. The words... don't matter much, sliding off ears and brains as she speaks into her cupped hands. Power gathers there, pooling into a roiling, chaotic mass of liquid light of any and all possible colors. Then, at the apex of her chant, she slams her hands together, and the power sprayes out in all directions, settling over herself and her friends in a shimmering ward that soon fades into only the occasional multicolored glimmer.<br />
<br />
"...Been a tour guide out in the Planes for awhile," she says quietly. "Wherever we are, we're plane-lost. I can get us back, but... this feels *important.*<br />
<br />
"I agree, we're not on this plane," Aryia nods towards Magpie, taking the magic with appreciation. The stark contrast of how the home feels now versus how she remembered it is deeply unsettling. Last Aryia was here, it looked like people suddenly left mid-party. But here, it looked like the party was still going on.<br />
<br />
"I can take it. Prepare for Taaranites," she volunteers, stepping forth towards the manor and... she inhales deeply. Lines of energy flare on her skin in a flash. And she opens the door. <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
<OOC> Aryia uses Ki: Diamond Soul, Gain Spell Resist 30<br />
<br />
"Oh, great, cultists, hiding in a plane of darkness, and something warning about corruption. Suppose that explains why people can sound like they're having so much fun in a place like this." Eztli grumbled, waving one hand over her shimmering robes. "You always sleep with your guns and swords on you? Suppose I would too if I didn't have a way to defend myself these days."<br />
<br />
The door opens. <br />
<br />
It looks very inviting! Just waiting for you.<br />
<br />
That can't be bad, right?<br />
<br />
Aryia hesitates at the door, looking back at the others before peering inside. It felt... odd. The carpet wasn't sodden with blood, and music was flowing like the drinks. "Just stay focused." But alas- she enters, eyes darting through the party. On edge.<br />
<br />
Dirk grunts softly as he feels Magpie's protective magicks settle on him. "Glad we've got -you- here wi' us, lassie," he says. "Gods, I've lost track o' how many times yer magicks have come in clutch." He squares up with the manor, swinging his thunderbelcher to rest it over his shoulder. As he lumbers forward, he glances at Etzli. "Nae -usually-, no. I like me gun well an' all--I made it meself after all--but hardly enough tae sleep wi' the thing. That's just weird." He trundles forward, heading for the door, and whatever might lie beyond it.<br />
<br />
And Aryia bounces Skyler, sword held at the ready as he glances left to right with bright eyes and a grin that suggests he's ready for anything.<br />
<br />
Eztli shrugs and doesn't seem too perturbed for the moment by the building before them, and like the others, is quick to enter. "Focused as well as I can be, maybe it'll be easier inside where I can actually see things, hopefully."<br />
<br />
"Don't forget," Magpie says, giving Dirk a distracted grin as he talks her up. "Find the thread. It was important enough for nothing to say, it's important enough to *remember.*"<br />
<br />
But she's still trying to place the voice as she files on in behind the rest... ready to see what needs a little chaos.<br />
<br />
"Welcome, welcome!"<br />
<br />
You're greeted almost immediately by a man in in loosely fitting robes. Silk.<br />
<br />
"It's been so long since we had guests at the door! Come in! Come in! Enjoy! Wine?" Was he holding a platter moments ago? No? <br />
<br />
Does it matter? He is now. Red wine.<br />
<br />
"We're so happy to see you! I'm sure we've been expecting you."<br />
<br />
The home unfolds into a radcuous, hedonistic party. Everyone is singing along, dancing, drinking. It's -merry-.<br />
<br />
Merry everywhere to the heart's desire. Everything is luxurious...<br />
<br />
Dirk wasn't at all certain what to expect out of this alien, otherworldly place. Aside from a couple jaunts into Quel'ynos, he's kept his feet firmly planted on Ea's face. But -this-... it's familiar. -Too- familiar. The old snowbeard swan-dives headfirst into the uncanny valley. His cheeks turn bright red, and his beard bristles as he stumbles and stammers. "Uh... uh... I... uh... that is tae say..." He reaches up to doff his tricorne, glancing around furtively before turning a -desperate- look on Skyler. The sky pirate's the charming one--surely -he- knows what to say? All poor Dirk can think to do is fidget from foot to foot. He doesn't want to be -rude-, really, but he -was- kidnapped, and now he's at a party. Normally something he'd quite enjoy, if not for the circumstances. He's fairly certain he didn't receive an RSVP to -this- particular gathering.<br />
<br />
Eztli looked even more sour than usual, the sorceress not appreciating the party in the slightest. ""Gods, if anyone asks who your parents are, just tell them that they're too important to bother telling them." She grumbled to no one in particular before stepping inside.<br />
<br />
"Oh, hey! Do you guys have oat milk?" Skyler asks brightly as he shoves his way to the front of the crowd, beaming brightly at the party-goers as he glances around, "So glad you knew we were coming, coz we sure as fire didn't!"<br />
<br />
He pauses, and adds, "You'll forgive us if we don't give you our names. It's more fun that way, y'know!" And he grins brightly, "So what's all this about? What's going on? Did someone die?"<br />
<br />
Aryia is stymied briefly at the entrance, such a party rifled old, bittersweet memories. She lingers at some of the luxuries, but she shakes her head, focusing as Skyler pushes his way to the front. He seems far better suited for this environment, so she's back to watching the party for anything remiss.<br />
<br />
Totally just watching.<br />
<br />
"Oat Milk?"<br />
<br />
A beat.<br />
<br />
"Well, I suppose I can check the pantries. They're ... very well stocked? Amazing. It's like a never ending pantry of anything and everything we could want, so perhaps!"<br />
<br />
He smiles warmly at them, then turns to lead them further in.<br />
<br />
It's ... it's a party. There's people singing, laughing, dancing. They all seem to be having a good time. There's no end to it. Every room you pass by, pass through, is filled to the brim with people locked in some sort of eternal festival and they all look like they're having the time of their life. <br />
<br />
And not a knife to be seen anywhere. "There's some space in this room," he says, cheerfully, pointing the way down another hallway. This place is impossible to figure out. The interior makes no sense to the exterior. One gets the impression it doesn't really matter to any of them.<br />
<br />
Dirk shuffles along with the others as they're led inward. He's never one to turn down a good party. No dwarf worth his beard would be. But all of -this- seems to be a bit much for the old ranger. A small gathering of friends in a cheerful inn room is much more his speed. He stares all around as they make their way in. The strange geometries and curious angles has the poor old dwarf's eyes crossing. "Beards o' me sweet tapdancin' fathers. What the hell--"<br />
<br />
He pauses with one foot poised to take a step before he stops in his tracks. Sloooowly he turns his head and leeeeeans back, peering into a room. His eyes get wide, and his cheeks turn red as beets. He swiftly resumes his pace, harrumphing softly as he fans himself with his tricorne. "So ah... heh... quite the er... -lively- gatherin' ye've got goin' on here," he says to their strange host. "There a special occasion? Or are ye all just a naturally happy lot?"<br />
<br />
"Maybe I was too harsh in my judgement. I think they might genuinely just be here to have fun with no ulterior motives. Maybe." Eztli relented as they wandered further into the strange party. "So, what's your name, then? What's the occasion for all of this, anyways?"<br />
<br />
"Hey question!" Magpie calls from much closer to the floor; imposible angles and eldritch geometries... Yeah they're weird, but pay attention to your feet and you'll be fine. "Like he said; what *are* y'all celebrating, anyway? I ain't never seen a party this size without *somethin'* kickin' it off!"<br />
<br />
The gnome seems more... curious, than suspicious, as she examines passed hallways and chambers. Maybe the thread is a literal one?<br />
<br />
This isn't the first or second time that Aryia had been in an otherworldly place where the festivities were eternal. She follows, better to go along with the tide than to fight against it. Especially since they're still trying to sort out what's going on.<br />
<br />
The fact that she hasn't spotted the that knife was both relaxing as it was concerning. A thought that is discarded as she peers into the same room as Dirk. Her brows raise as she whistles lowly, before lazily trailing along with the others after a moment.<br />
<br />
"Hey! When you find the oat milk, maybe also get us the answers to our questions?" Skyler asks brightly, his tone firm but friendly, cheerful even as he squints at the back of the leading figure. "And space for what? Are we having an orgy? I mean, usually I like a little more prep work before group debauchery. And if you think for a second I'm sharing my oat milk, you really are insane."<br />
<br />
He asides to the group, "This is definitely a trap. But, like, is it the kind of fun trap where we all end up naked and covered in cheese, or the kind of trap that ends with us eating someone's flesh? Because I won't do that again. People are kinda gamey." Surely he jests, right?<br />
<br />
Dirk flicks his wide-eyed gaze around at his friends. His friends are safe. The old dwarf is hardly a prude, but even he has his limits. And the heedless abandon permeating this place is a -very- long way beyond that line. If there's anything he can't stand, its losing control of himself. He's had enough of that to last a lifetime.<br />
<br />
But then Skyler has to go and do Skyler things. The old snowbeard's gaze snaps to the swashbuckler. "Naked an' covered in--" He stops in his tracks again, his jaw working for a moment as his cheeks once again turn red as beets. "How's -that- get fun?!" he finally manages in a strangled tone. He doesn't mention the flesh eating. Erotic cheese dip is -so- much easier on his poor frazzled nerves.<br />
<br />
"We are celebrating Taara, of course! How could you not know?" He tilts his head at you, smiling still. "We feast, we sing, we dance, and we tell stories. We lie, we cheat, we manipulte, and we tell stories. All that lives, wants, and all that is dead wants to live. That is why we are here. She has called us to her Side. She is near."<br />
<br />
Oh boy.<br />
<br />
'Find the thread.'<br />
<br />
'Find the thread.''We sing, we dance, we tell stories.'<br />
<br />
'Find the thread.'<br />
<br />
'We lie, we cheat, and we tell stories.'<br />
<br />
In a rush, Magpie draws in a breath, and reaches up to take a glass of wine from the tray. "So, she says, with her most engaging smile, "would you do us the favor of telling us a story? About Taara?"<br />
<br />
"Very gamey," Aryia concurs with a gesture. Was she joking? Does Aryia joke? She glances to Dirk. Shrugs. "Gouda is pretty fun. I can see it."<br />
<br />
Her footfalls stop hard with a stomp. Pales. Gulps. This is Her domain. Magpie comes swooping in with a way forward, grounding the mul'neissa woman that should be completely at ease here. She would have in a different, past life. She is not that woman anymore, and is thankful someone else can fill those shoes. <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
"If I have to explain it, Dirk..." Skyler shakes his head, and jerks his thumb at the dwarf as he addresses the guide, "If we do go cannibal, he's probably a little tough. Probably best to stew him. Low heat, long cook time in an oven." He then cocks his head at Magpie, nodding.<br />
<br />
"Preferably with refreshments. I want oak milk. Warm, maybe, with some honey stirred in? My nanny use to give me a cup every night when she told me stories." He says with a charming, winsome smile, "You'd be surprised at home much I don't know." He says with pride, "I mean, knowing stuff takes so much work. Easier just to vibe! So why don't you get us refreshments and we can listen to your Taaran stories, maybe pull some thread, indulge in pulling Her threads, whatever else we need to do to *party*!"<br />
<br />
"I would rather avoid anything involving cheese or eating people myself." Eztli sighed. "Great, she's near. So, that means we should probably get going, right? Sounds like the case to me, if this is some exclusive Taaran gathering."<br />
<br />
Dirk's eyes get wider still. "Taara. -Taara-? -The- Taara? The goddess of--" He looks for a moment like he'd like to say something -very- unflattering. But he gets ahold of his tongue and snaps his mouth shut. His beard bristles for a moment. "Er. Uh. I mean tae say. The goddess of... things." He gestures lamely all around. That's nice and neutral, right? Surely -that- won't offend a goddess in Her own realm.<br />
<br />
Once again, Skyler gets a -look-. "Och! You lot take it intae yer heads an' cook -me-, I'll go straight tae yer hips, I swear tae fuckin' Dana," he grumbles. It's hardly the first time some nasty beastie or foul fiend has threatened to make a meal of him, but -this- time it feels different. He nods eagerly at Eztli, pointing her way. "-She- gets it!"<br />
<br />
"No, Eztli," Magpie says, shaking a finger next to her head, and beginning to pace. "No... I think we're nearly there. It *feels* close, because what *is* a story? It's the lie that outlines a truth. And they have stories... *and I would hear them.* I want to see the common thread."<br />
<br />
Oh, no, Magpie seems to be locking into her theory, looking up at the revelers with a sort of hunger in her shimmering eyes.<br />
<br />
There's a distinct pause from the young man as the others talk. He tilts his head, adjusting his hood and pulling it down all together. Yep, he's a shadow elf too. Of course he is. <br />
<br />
All smiles.<br />
<br />
"Of COURSE I'll talk to you about Taara. But I think you're here for a reason -- no one gets in uninvited you see -- so why don't you look around and find who invited you?"<br />
<br />
He gestures beyond into the party.<br />
<br />
"Let your journey be the story that warms your hearts in the night or failing that, be worth the hangover."<br />
<br />
While that milk idea sounds pretty good to Aryia, but the weight of what others point make her even more nervous, especially as Magpie seems to hit the mark. An unsettling thing with the normally stoic pugilist. And then-<br />
<br />
She was /invited/ here. Into Taara's domain? Aryia gave up on her over half a century ago. "I tell no more lies, not even to myself anymore," she gestures, looking out to the party proper. "But, fine. Guess we'll have to mingle. Try to not overdo it." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Magpie is just about to say something incredibly clever... when they are put on a scavenger hunt. Words die in her throat, her finger loses it's pointer-y-ness, and she sort of... deflates, just a little. Looking back up at the reveler, she tries on a crooked grin?<br />
<br />
"...A clue, perhaps? Cryptic or plain, honest or red herring, it's momentum that matters, is it not?"<br />
<br />
She *has* her suspicions... but to be wrong might also be blasphemy, so...<br />
<br />
"Wonderful, so we've all got a reason to be here, for something or other. Maybe just the entertainment?" The makari shrugged, not looking to pleased. "So be it, gods I hate mingling at parties,but if that's what we need to do, so be it. Be a bit harder when all I've got to rely on is my winning personality and humility, but we've gotta do something, right?"<br />
<br />
"What if my thread is oat milk?" Skyler asks in a tiny, hopeful little voice before he sighs, scrubs his face with one hand, and shakes his head sadly. "Curses. Fate is a fickle bitch once again."<br />
<br />
He then squares his shoulders, and glances at his party. "Maybe it has something to do with the traumatic visions we heard?" He pauses, and adds to Eztli, "You also have your fiery wit!" And he mimes flames coming out of his mouth, and flails his hands like he's burning. "Crispy."<br />
<br />
Dirk looks up at their host and blinks owlishly. Blink. Blink blink. "Uh..." He looks back towards the room that had just captured his attention moments ago. Of -course- it's still within easy reach, it's fresh in Dirk's mind. "-Taara-? Taara invited -me-? -The- Taara? Och, I'm naebody, why would Taara invite -me-?" He mutters and harrumphs, tugging at his beard as he glances around. Aryia's suggestion has the old ranger boggling slightly. "Mingle? -Me-? Och, but, this is all so... so..." He fumbles for a diplomatic word. "-Lively-," is what he eventually goes with. "I'd just bring the vibe down. You know us dwarves. We're all a bunch o' grounches, us. We'd rather spend our time scowlin' intae a mug o' beer in a gloomy corner. Ayep, that's us, right there." He fidgets with his tricorne, looking around at his friends. Surely they're not suggesting the cardinal sin of splitting the party, are they...?<br />
<br />
"Is that so?" remarks the young man to Aryia, curiously, "Truth is funny thing, you know, that exists in the space between one's story and another's." He takes a step back, smiles at Magpie, and then offers her another glass of wine just because.<br />
<br />
"She waits for all of you." <br />
<br />
And then he disappears into the swirling, dancing crowd.<br />
<br />
Aryia flexes her jaw. "That space is where truth lies, and where truth lies," she replies back with a hand. The mute glances to Magpie. "Momentum matters, it seems. And either we spin this tale in an endless inertia of debauchery or we press forward. Probably has to deal with the horrid shit we saw like Skyler said. So..."<br />
<br />
She rubs her face. Dirk is right, Taara invited /them/? This has to be a sick joke, or and honest plea, and it was frustrating it could be both at the same time. "... let's get into the party or some shit. Fuck me." Aryia moves past the room they peered at, following into the dancing crowd. <Handspeech/Tongues> <br />
<br />
Skyler?<br />
<br />
He's already gone, shrugging out of his coat. "WHO HERE HAS EVER DONE VODKA AND OAT MILK SHOTS?!" He's shouting over the crowd, even as he shakes his ass, "It tastes like hell but oh my god the way it *lingers*! WOOOHOOO!"<br />
<br />
"Does it?" <br />
<br />
"Shit, let's try it!"<br />
<br />
"Let's find some oat milk!"<br />
<br />
"What the hell is oat milk?"<br />
<br />
"WHO KNOWS!"<br />
<br />
"...Okay well since no one got smoten saying it, yeah, pretty sure that's who we have to find, Magpie says, absently swirling the wine... then pausing as Skyler sends a group of Taaranites on a wild oats chase. "Hey, guys? I'm reminded of a saying I heard from a Rosalian... 'In vino, veritas.' This is totally a bad idea, but...."<br />
<br />
Drawing in a short breath, she takes a long swallow of the wine.<br />
<br />
Eztli was left shaking her head awkwardly as some of the others took off. "I was just gonna find a dance floor or pole or something. Seems like the sort of stuff they'd have here." Eztli grumbled. "I don't trust any of the drink here at all, so I'll pass on the oat milk. How do you even milk a plant in the first place? Don't particularly want to know, to be perfectly honest."<br />
<br />
Dirk boggles as their host retreats, leaving them alone. "Oh, beards o' me sweet tapdancin' fathers," he whimpers softly. "How are we goin' tae get back home? We -will- be able to, won't we? Och, Thistle an' Lulu must be so worried..." He fidgets and frets, looking around for something, or anything that might resemble what they're looking for. He's certainly -not- in the mood to party. Usually, he's the one who picks what parties he goes to, and none of the debauchery is doing anything to enhance the burly old ranger's calm.<br />
<br />
As Magpie goes to drink that wine, he startles, reaching out with a "Aggkk--!" But he's too late. "Och, what if it's like in the fae realm? If ye eat or drink what they give ye, they own yer soul, or some nonsense like that," he says. Aaaaand there Skyler goes, doing Skyler things. You really have nobody to blame but yourself, Dirk. You're the one who decided he should do the talking.<br />
<br />
GAME: Aryia rolls perception: (18)+38: 56<br />
GAME: Skyler rolls Perception: (14)+21: 35<br />
GAME: Eztli rolls perception: (14)+5: 19<br />
GAME: Dirk rolls Perception: (19)+22: 41<br />
GAME: Magpie rolls percetion: (20)+percetion: 20<br />
GAME: Magpie rolls perception: (4)+15: 19<br />
<br />
It's loud.<br />
<br />
It's raucous.<br />
<br />
There are people -everywhere-, and talking to them reveals every last one is a Taaran of some kind -- in fact, many of them are actual clergy, or so they say: all too happily.<br />
<br />
They also lie.<br />
<br />
A -lot-.<br />
<br />
It's frustrating. It's annoying. It sends you in circles trying to grasp what's even happenign here, or how you might've goten here. All that is until Aryia in particular hears a voice.<br />
<br />
A familiar laugh, up a set of stairs that seems to have no end.<br />
<br />
There's a touch of old, old habit Aryia falls back into, and that is dance. One of the few vestiges of her old life that still stuck around after the slow fall to rock bottom. She sways from one group to the next, trying to get some iota of information but- she's done this all before- and it's still just as annoying. It seems like it's going to be far too much to deal with-<br />
<br />
A laugh lances through her ears and mind like a shot of old, nostalgic trauma with no ice. A wave of emotions crash against her; fear, rage, apathy, guilty relief. It had been so long to hear that voice, to wield that power. Oh- to taste that once more, the delight of a delivered lie.<br />
<br />
She let the wave crash, spread, and recede. In. Out. She didn't need Her anymore.<br />
<br />
The others. She flits through the party, tapping her friends on the shoulders and gesturing to follow. "Found the thread," she just signs in explanation, pointing to the set of stairs before heading up herself. <Handspeehc/Tongues><br />
<br />
"... And then I told him that it wasn't a banana, it was ME!" Skyler cheerfully tells a group that he's regaling with a story featuring two drunk goblins, an hobgoblin, and a basket of fruit.<br />
<br />
Don't ask.<br />
<br />
In all likelihood it's a lie, and he seems to be attempting to top himself with gusto with each new lie he attempts to tell... Although he also keeps half an eye on each of his party, distracting people attempting to interrupt them or draw trhem away from the mission. When a woman with big ol' knockers and a hungry expression begins to approach Dirk, for example, he calls out, "HEY! DID I EVER TELL YOU ABOUT THE TIME I DRESSED IN DRAG AND TRIED TO SEDUCE A PALADIN OF VARDAMA?!" to draw her away.<br />
<br />
Eztli had searched and searched, but there was nowhere to dance proper she found, outside of just meandering in between the groups of priests that seemed to treat lying like a competitive sport. By the time she was about to threaten to cut out some of their tongues and shove them down their throats, Aryia seemed to recognize something in particular this time, and the sorceress breathed a sigh of relief before reconvening.<br />
<br />
That voice.<br />
<br />
Aryia is leading you towards something she recognizes, up a set of stairs. Up another, longer set of stairs.<br />
<br />
Through narrow and dark hallway, past rooms full of party-goers and increasing levels of hedonism and debauchery. <br />
<br />
Finally, into a lounge, lit by firelight. Shadow Elves in reverent prayer are here -- prayer to Taara. Seated comfortably amongst them is a scarlet-haired shadow elf of, of course, indeterminate age. She rises to her feet, silk robes hanging comfortably on her frame.<br />
<br />
"Well, well, well," she begins, "It's so good to see you and your friends, darling."<br />
<br />
Aryia knows who that is.<br />
<br />
Aryia stops short in the doorframe. Her jaw works, eyes wide at the figure as her throat bobs. "Akorinil," she signs in a blitz of fingerspelling. She clearly is ignoring any pleasantries as the pugilist looks about the room before half looking at the High Priestess. "I take it you invited us here." It wasn't a question. A hand behind her back flashes to the group, "Caution." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
"Oh, golly, I never knew a raven could do *that* with a writing desk." Skyler tells whichever poor soul ended up getting stuck at the rear of the line with him. When the party left the main group, Skyler seemingly appeared out of thin air at the rear of the line holding a goblet of something that is vaguely milky but a little too thin to be actual milk from a cow.<br />
<br />
Is it the fabled oat milk?!<br />
<br />
Despite being by all measures something of a dunderhead, he's not stupid enough to actually drink it, but does seem to be content to carry it with him in the hopes of escaping with it. Oat milk has a longer shelf life than cow's milk, after all. He glances around with bright eyes as they enter the room with the scarlet-haired shadow-elf. He looks prepared to step forward again to take the lead when Aryia begins to wiggle her fingers. He frowns but shrugs, and leans against something after checking it for stickiness. It *is* that kind of place, after all.<br />
<br />
Dirk's eyes get wider and wider as they progress up the stairs. Each new display of hedonism and abandon has the old snowbeard's cheeks turning brighter and brighter red. "Och, if they're tryin' tae sell us, they might be goin' a -wee- bit overboard, wouldn't ye say?" he mutters, giving his beard a tug. But then, they're there, in the company of Taaranites. The redheaded shadow elf has Dirk blinking owlishly. And again when it appears that Aryia -knows- this person. His gaze flicks to the sign behind her back. His shaggy white brows furrow as he takes a step forward. One hand reaches up and over his shoulder to grip the stock of his thunderbelcher. "Right. Let's nae be havin' any biscuit-arsed behavior out o' -you-, lassie," he growls. "It seems a -lovey- party yer havin' here. It'd be such a shame fer there tae be an arse-kickin', now wouldn't it?"<br />
<br />
Eztli continued along with the rest of the group, with some idea of where to go courtesy of Aryia. The makari certainly did not know what to make of the elf, it was just another of many at the party, but she did at least get an inkling to show some manner of wariness.<br />
<br />
Magpie actually giggles at Skyler's commentary; how can one not? he puts such careful work into it, after all, it'd be a shame for his efforts to go unappreciated. She tries not to look into the doors they pass, largely because Dirk is a good enough bellwether, it serves to satisfy her curiosity.<br />
<br />
When the group tops the house to find Akorinil, however... the gnome seems confused. "I... hm... it's good to meet you, your Taarishness? Sorry, never learned many polite modes of address but um... I'm... not familiar?"<br />
<br />
The fabled oat milk is not in evidence at this time.<br />
<br />
But it's not like they aren't looking for it. You can hear them, down below, on the hunt.<br />
<br />
The Shadow Elven woman rises to her full not at all impressive height and gives a very, very warm smile. She's entirely happy to see everyone. "There's no need for any of -that-," she tells Dirk, warmly, "Such distrust, such hostility! It's just like old times, wouldn't you say?" she tells Aryia. <br />
<br />
"I am Akorinil Belvade, and you are a guest in the house that faith built. It is we, here, who sacrifice so that you may live to fight another day -- or perhaps we should say tell another tale?"<br />
<br />
"To be fair, we weren't exactly given the most..." Skyler purses his lips as he considers exactly how to phrase it, "Sanity-preserving wake-up and invitation to the party." His pale eyes drift along the group, taking in Dirk's belligerence, Aryia's discomfort, and Eztli's wariness. "But regardless. You'll have to forgive my little teapot of a friend. His tastes are a little more conservative than you and your followers." He glances over his shoulder, "Although I do have some questions about that one room with the three sea shells myself, to be honest. They certainly looked like they were having fun but..."<br />
<br />
He shakes his head, waving a hand dismissively before checking to see if he spilled the oat milk. Nope. Still safe for Verna or Telamon or someone else to de-cursify for him to enjoy later. "Banger of a party though, Akorrie." He holds up one thumb, "Seriously. So what's this about telling tales? I have an appointment at the bath-house to get my toe nails trimmed and I don't want to be late, so if you could tell us how to get home..."<br />
<br />
Aryia holds up a hand to Dirk, then pushes her hand down in a calming motion. "While I am confident in my abilities, let's not poke this nest." She glances to Skyler, Dirk, Eztli, and Magpie before taking a deep breath and looking back to the Akorinil. "High Priestess of the Lady of Shade, she fails to mention."<br />
<br />
A sigh escapes her. "You can hardly blame us, you know? The distrust. While I appreciate the hospitality, I agree with the fancy man. Can you clear up what the hell's going on here? Because in the material plane this party was... bloody." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Dirk's scowl deepens. "I'm nae Taaranite," he growls. His grip on his thunderbelcher never wavers. "An' -our- tales are -true- ones! Nae those rust-covered lies that -She- spins." Skyler calling him a 'little teapot' has him regarding the swashbuckler with an indignant scowl. "Hrmph! I can cut loose just fine, ye struttin' peacock. But there's a bloody time an' place for it, isn't there?" <br />
<br />
He doesn't miss Ariya's admonition, but he old ranger is tense as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs. He looks back to Akorinil, fixing her with a hairy eyeball. "Ye -kidnapped- us. Forced us here against our will. What on Ea's great green -arse- would make ye think we'd want -anything- tae do wi' ye? We've nae want fer any yarn or tale ye'd want tae spin fer us. Let us go home!" For now, he keeps his voice to a low, surly growl, but he's ready to spring into action at the drop of a hat.<br />
<br />
Eztli sighed, and shook her head a few times. "You've got a real swell way of inviting people to your house of debauchery." Eztli huffed. "Why exactly should we telling you more than we should? It'd be good to know why we should actually tell you anything."<br />
<br />
"It really is a lot of trouble to go to, to bring four random people and also Ariya halfway across the planes," Magpie agrees, and by the very sound of her voice, if she wore glasses she'd be pushing them up their nose.<br />
<br />
"Also I gotta admit, things have been getting ugly and weird for a while now, so I can only guess we're here because we're uniquely suited to help, somehow? Not you, though..."<br />
<br />
Magpie looks down for a moment, then back up, and nods. "So how can we help?"<br />
<br />
Bless her little chaos gremlin heart.<br />
<br />
Skyler snap-points at Magpie, one chaos gremlin to another.<br />
<br />
Clicking her tongue against the roof of her mouth -- a tutt of disappointment -- Akorinil shakes her head with such sadness in her eyes.<br />
<br />
"I am wounded -- so very wounded -- by the accusations and innuendos. Though I like him --" She points at Skyler. "And you," a point at Magpie.<br />
<br />
She smiles at Aryia. <br />
<br />
"I would've thought my station so obvious!"<br />
<br />
A smile at Dirk. <br />
<br />
"Kidnap you? Kidnapping is so gauche. I saved you. The Void consumes all it touches. Do you remember what you were doing before you found yourself here? Do you -really- remember?"<br />
<br />
... come to think of it ... you don't. Not really.<br />
<br />
What do you do when the High Priestess of Lies compliments you? "Thank you, you're pretty swell too! Speaking of swell how do you keep everything so perky with minimal support!" You believe the freakin' lie, of course. It's gauche to point out someone's lie, and she is trying so hard, after all!<br />
<br />
To Dirk, he shakes his head, "Maybe if you calm down, she'll give you some caramel hard candies! Doesn't that sound nice?" And he reaches over to squeeze the dwarf's shoulder warningly, turning to give him a grimace that is as serious as the grave where Akorinil can't see it. And slightly apologetic, as if he's trying to silently apologize for what he's saying.<br />
<br />
Turning back to the Lie Priestess (get it?) he grins. "Nope, but to be fair it wouldn't be the first morning that happened. My partner usually finds me, pays any fees or bounty, and then I start the day. And the Void has been a *bitch* lately, so you'll have to be be more specific. What'd the Void do this time?"<br />
<br />
"And I'm not either, Dirk, but-" Aryia sighs, rubbing her temples. She drops it, stepping deeper into the room and leaning against a wall. "I know how Taaranites work, and those that don't find it kind of maddening to talk in double speak the entire time." She can't help but half cough at Skyler's comment, a rare silent snicker escaping her.<br />
<br />
The pugilist blinks. "The void was... approaching, but we staved it. But before here-..." Aryia stops. Thinks. Frowns. "... alright. Fine. Got me there. Care to elaborate?"<br />
<br />
"Sorry if I don't give much of a crap about impressing you, to be very honest. High Taaranite priest isn't really that high on my list of stations that I care about." The makari snorted. "So, you brought us here, for some reason. I'm sure you did it out of the depth of your heart and compassion, since you know so much about how I'd want to be saved from something like that."<br />
<br />
Dirk's beard bristles angrily. He tenses at Skyler's hand on his shoulder, and he looks about ready to throw it off, possibly with some proper dwarven profanity to help it along. But he's a canny old bear, and he doesn't miss Skyler's expression. It'd be noteworthy enough -without- them being in the very heart of Taara's house of faith. He pulls deep, snorting, snarling breaths through his big dwarven nose. The leather of his gauntlet creaks as he forces his fingers to unclench with visible effort.<br />
<br />
"I'm nae afraid o' the Void," he growls, in a bit more of an even tone.<br />
<br />
He turns his attention back to Akorinil. "Lord Gilead an' the Blessed Lady hold me in their keeping. I trust in Their goodness." He draws another deep breath, fighting for calm. Now is not the time for dwarven tempers. He never was the sharpest marble in the deck. Deep thoughts often evade him. But he possesses deep, homespun wisdom of his own. He forces himself to be calm and cool, like the forest's shade on a clear spring morning. The priestess' question, though, has his hackles springing -right- back up. "Of -course- I remember what I was doin'! I--" He cuts off, lifting a hand to his beard. He gives the majestic snowy white whiskers a tug. "I was... I was... brushin' me beard out..." He pauses. Blink blink. "I -was-, wasn't I...?"<br />
<br />
Confusion darkens his mood back into a surly scowl. He turns his dour gaze back on Akorinil."All right. Fine. Ye brought us here. If we hear yer tale, -then- can we go home? I was... doin' -somethin'- important. I'm fair certain." He actually -isn't- certain, but he's not letting -her- know that.<br />
<br />
"Easy, buddy," Magpie whispers as she rests a hand on Dirk's arm. "I'm not gonna bite the hand that pulls me out of the Void, for certain... But we still need to hear what it is you need from *us.* You can rest assured -- High Priestess? -- we're grateful enough to do what clearly only we could, so... Whaddaya need a tracker, a firelighter, a brawler, and two chaos gremlins for?"<br />
<br />
"You've all done very well in facing the Void, it's true. You've killed the 'villains of the void' -- but do you know what those were made of? Not just void stuff, to be sure. What else were they?"<br />
<br />
The question Akorinil asks each of you is clearly rhetorical, but she's planting her hands on her hips. She needs to hear something from each of you.<br />
<br />
"Pass." Skyler tells the rest of the party, his expression utterly bewildered. "I mean, as far as I know, it's made of nothing because that's what void is, right? Absence of stuff?" He grimaces, "I think I skipped that day with my tutors, or slept through it."<br />
<br />
Aryia nods her head along with Dirk; she wasn't afraid either, having faced it several times herself. She stares at the High Priestess. "... really Akorinil? You were there. You helped me and the group. I fought a corrupted version of myself. A reflection of another timeline. Others I've known have fought the same." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Dirk nods his head firmly at Skyler. "Aye, ye have it exact, laddie," he says with a voice full of conviction. "It's -nothing-. My farts after Gobbo Chili Night have more substance." He pauses, and looks thoughtfully. "Actually, those have a -lot- of substance after Gobbo Chili Night. Errf." He gives himself a shake, looking back to Akorinil. "Sun rises. Rains fall. The forest breathes. An' -good triumphs over evil. That's the way the world bloody works." He grips his belt and nods again. Dwarf Law has been spoken.<br />
<br />
"You've... not been paying too much attention to me, it seems. Guess I was just dragged along for the hell of it." Eztli huffed again, clearly growing a bit more agitated. "But given my second hand knowledge and keeping up with the times, I dunno. They're memories. Void stuff pretending to be something it isn't, because those folks are supposed to be some of the worst known."<br />
<br />
Magpie pauses, then looks over her shoulder at Skyler and Dirk. The others seem to refuse to put much thought into the question, but the Gnome dips her head, beginning to pace.<br />
<br />
"...But the Void isn't nothing," she says, tapping her nose. "If it was, there'd be no Heth. It *is* hungry, and corruptive, but we're not *talking* about Voidstuff. We're talking about the villains."<br />
<br />
Turning back about, she snap-points at Eztli for a moment. "Memories. That's close, but they weren't the *same.* But if the people involved had fallen *to* the Void..."<br />
<br />
She pauses, and looks up at Akorinil. "They're lies. Lies told by the people they were trying to be. 'If only,' 'maybe I could've,' 'if not for that damn skunk...' Memories grasping for ways to remain relevant, come back stronger, get what they deserve."<br />
<br />
Is she holding a mug? Why, yes.<br />
<br />
Was Akorinil holding that mug moments ago?<br />
<br />
No. It's not even clear where she got it -- but she must've gotten it from somewhere. In point of fact, as you each look at her holding it, you begin to -remember- her ssending a servant to fetch it, one bringing it back to her. You're pretty sure that didn't happen... right?<br />
<br />
She holds it out to Skyler. Is it... could it be?<br />
<br />
IS IT THE LEGENDARY OAT MILK?<br />
<br />
In the meantime, she does nod towards Magpie, glancing between each of the others. <br />
<br />
"Tell me, friends -- what is another name for a lie? A fiction. What is a fiction but a story?"<br />
<br />
Her eyes turn towards Aryia, now, "Do you know? Do you know why we were called to her side? It is the same reason you stand here now."<br />
<br />
GAME: Skyler rolls Wisdom: (5)+2: 7<br />
<br />
"Evil is subjective, Dirk. Deforestation is a sin to some, but to others it's a necessary part of fueling progress and forwarding civilization." Skyler says earnestly to Dirk, "I'll grant you there are things that are black and white, but for the most part it's all different colors in between."<br />
<br />
He looks prepared to wax more philosophy when the mug is held out to him. His eyes widen and he bites his lip like a man facing the worst temptation of his life. He knows it's stupid and unwise to drink something handed to him by the Lie Priestess, but...<br />
<br />
"Oat milk." He breathes, and reaches for it, "Gods. It's been so long."<br />
<br />
The others' perspectives paint Aryia another picture of what's going on. She wasn't far off, it seemed: memories, false potentials, all that could have been. She quirks a brow at the offered mug, not really certain where it appeared. But, weirdly, she actually trusted it was the true, one and only: oat milk. Honestly, she can't blame the man for jumping for it, and doesn't stop him.<br />
<br />
She's heard that mantra before: a lie is just fiction, and a story. But she gets a different question. Her eyes grow downcast. "I was called because I was very good at telling the story of Her and His matrimony," her hands are slow. Her fingers curl into tight fists. Tremor. Then release with a breath Out. "But She left me when I needed her most. And now I need no one aside from my friends."<br />
<br />
She glances up to Akorinil, resolved. "But that is not the question you asked. You mean the Mul'neissa. It was..." she tries to remember. "... the original elves. Ancestors. Taara took one, or sheltered them from the other, a long time ago." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Dirk boggles a bit at Skyler as that mug appears out of nowhere. A -fiendish- mug, no less! "-Sky-ler, don't be -thick-!" he can't help exclaiming. "What if it's poison? Ye dinnae have a dwarf belly, poison can -hurt- you!" He grumphs and mutters. "If progress an' civilization comes at the cost of murderin' the forest, then -fuck- 'em both. The Green Word was here long afore anyone put one stone atop another. It'll outlive all of us." He flicks his gaze to Akorinil. "An' -nothin'- can stop -that-."<br />
<br />
He pulls another calming breath. Mutter mutter, grumble grumble. "A'right, so they're -stories-. Just like everything else. Like you an' them, an' -us-." He gestures fro Akorinil, to the other Taarenites, to his comrades. "Get tae yer -point-, lassie. I want tae go -home-." He does try his very best not to sound like a petulant child, but he is -so- far out of his element here.<br />
<br />
"So, stories are being made into reality, and not anything good. Why can't the void just raid Mikilos' library of crimson pen books and do something more fun with that?" Eztli continued to grumble. "Yarn, tale, epic, not sure what you want us to answer here, there's more names than anyone could reasonably guess, everyone's got their name for a story."<br />
<br />
"Dirk," Magpie says, a little more insistently. "C'mon now. I know this is wildly outta your comfort zone, but.. you wouldn't be here if you weren't needed. I believe in you, buddy, okay?"<br />
<br />
Though this is a story she *hasn't* heard, and new stories make for very curious gnomes.<br />
<br />
"Oh, I do wish that it -would-. Nothing can be so self-annihilating as sex," says Akorinil to Eztli, but with a big old smile. She gives Dirk and Magpie sympathetic looks. She certainly understands -- or so she'd like you to think. <br />
<br />
"It's true. You're all here for a reason." She turns her eyes towards Aryia, then, and continues.<br />
<br />
"...ah. The Shadow Elves -- you and me both -- once labored in spiritual bondage to her, as you know. AS everyone knows. That bondage was shattered when the right story was told. Without the weight of their souls, however, the wall against the Void within her weakened. The toll her theft of magic for power took grew. The death of Animus haunted her. The Void found purchase within divinity and sought a new story: a fractured one that would end reality. Without narrative, there is no time, not consciousness, no 'self', and without those things, there can be no desires fulfilled."<br />
<br />
She glances towards Skyler, "... a world without a hunger for oat milk," she says, for emphasis.<br />
<br />
"And so she called her high priests home to her. She called her faithful, so many of us, so that we may rest in the Abyss and support her through it all. She called so many, and we worked until the time was right. We stand on the precipice of the final step. There is but one more villain of the Void to face."<br />
<br />
There is a single, momentary beat as she lets the words wash over you.<br />
<br />
"The goddess of lies herself."<br />
<br />
Beat.<br />
<br />
And then...<br />
<br />
"Thank you for the oat milk, you're Lying'ness, but I think I need to go home." Skyler says in a remarkably steady voice, "I can give you a couple recommendations. Eztli here is awesome. There's also Telamon, and Cor'Lana-Banana, or possibly Verna! She's scary. I just..." He stares at the others helplessly, "I swing a sword good, end of story. Yeah?"<br />
<br />
Dirk listens to Akorinil, beard all a-bristle and his bushy white brows furrowed. It -does- sound like the sort of outlandish, self-aggrandizing tale a creature like the Goddess of Lies would spin about Herself. But then she drops that last bombshell--that they're to face down Taara. His face goes from red to white, and his brows fly towards his hairline as if trying to escape his face altogether. "Heek?!" is about all he can manage to squeak. He looks over at his friends, hopping from foot to foot. "-Me-?! Face down a Goddess? Och! Lassie, I know I'm a right bad-arse but--but--" He fumbles and stammers, trying to think of something, -anything- to say. He snap-points at Skyler with eyes wide as teacups. "Aye, -exactly-! I'm just a simple hunter! I'm nae the sort o' hero who fights -Goddesses-!" he cries in a strangled tone.<br />
<br />
Aryia purses her lips as Akorinil explains her point. She was aware of a good chunk of it, though the forthrightness of it has her questioning the authenticity of it. It's true the High Priestess has done nothing /wrong/ in all the time that she's known her, but it something one has a very hard time shaking the nagging feeling she's going to-<br />
<br />
The mute audibly gasps "Th- f-ck?", which turns into a hacking fit. She rubs at her throat, stepping off the wall as the others try to reason with such a tall ask. "So let me get this right... you want us to...-" she rolls a hand, thinking while trying not to reel from the suggestion. And the faint, faint tinge of vengeance creeping in. "... what? Expose a truth to her so damming it unravels her position? You cannot defeat an entity such as that." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Eztli blinked once, then twice, breathing in, and letting out the longest Exhale she could manage. "Aren't you a priestess of them? Isn't this some horrible, horrible sacrilege? And wouldn't that piss off literally everyone in this building?"<br />
<br />
"...Ah-ha," Magpie say, nodding slowly... for the thirty seconds or so it takes for the magnitude of the ask to sink in. Which poiny the noe-rubbing becomes a long, low whistle. "Oh *wow* you are getting desperate, holy beans..."<br />
<br />
Blinking, she looks up and about at her friends. "...So she can't fight the Void in her anymore. But her own people are *too close*, likely as not to follow her into the Void just out of religious ecstasy, right? So Her High Priestessness casts around for folks also lost in the Void -- us -- who have a shot at doing what they can't; Dirk, think of a bird that gets dunked in an airship's oil tank. You don't clean the oil off, what's gonna happen to the bird?"<br />
<br />
The reactions to her statement have Akorinil smiling. Then smiling even bigger .She's delighted. She loves it. 'Lying'nesa' tickled her especially. She nods solemnly right along and then addresses first Skyler.<br />
<br />
"Oh, I am well aware. But this isn't about power. It's a task that you've been more prepared for than you realize, Skyler." Wait -- where'd she get his name? It's not like he introduced himself to her out the gate.<br />
<br />
Dirk earns a tilt of her head, her crimson eyes focused on him.<br />
<br />
"We do not get to pick our fights, young one." Only an elf can call a dwarf 'young one' succesfully, right?<br />
<br />
"... but you think yourself a hero? Then stay."<br />
<br />
Aryia's reaction forces her to cover her mouth with her hand in abject delight.<br />
<br />
"Oh, oh. We go back such a long way, don't we? To think we're standing here together at the end of the world, with as much as you've seen and as much as you know, prepared to author something new together."<br />
<br />
"What matters is the tale being told," she tells her.<br />
<br />
And then to Magpie, she gets a smile. "Creative! Thoughtful. I like this one."<br />
<br />
"But it's all so linear. What Animus spoke of when he called out for aid is true. He can be saved. Aspects of the blight -- the so-called 'villains of the void' were called for you to confront. What do you suppose they represent in truth? And how do you suppose their defeat helped Animus?"<br />
<br />
Aryia squints at the Highpriestess, growing more weary as Akorinil gets excited. She takes in the information as told to the others, and she pauses. Looks at the crew. Then back to Akorinil. "I guess the villans of the void were aspects that Taara threw out to help weather the weight of the Void? But the way you're talking is making it seem likes we have to make up story that becomes reality, getting Her out of this mess, and... brings Animus to the fore?"<br />
<br />
She blinks. "Is /this/ why you wanted the damn shards??" she jabs at a finger at Akorinil, eyes wide. <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Dirk's day is certainly taking a turn for the strange. And considering some of the things the old snowbeard has seen in his days, that's saying quite a lot, actually. "Wait," he says, looking over to Aryia. "Wait, wait, wait just one anvil-crackin' minute. -We- have tae come up wi' a story?" He pauses, staring at his friend for a moment. "It... it -cannae- be -that- easy. Can it?"<br />
<br />
"They were stories for us to confront and re-tell. Kol and that Snow Bitch weren't defeated brute force; we had to finesse them." Skyler says slowly, a light (however dim and flickery) coming on in the attic, "It's about establishing what reality is strongest. Gods, my head hurts." And he drinks the last of his milk. "More, please?"<br />
<br />
"I still have no clue what we're supposed to be doing here, because if you think that we're supposed to confront the corruption of a god on our own, then, well even if I'll give it a try, I don't particularly welcome my chances." The makari sighed. "So, I don't know. I really, really don't know, and I'm not a fan of trying to get a straight answer out of a pathological liar."<br />
<br />
"I mean, I wouldn't call it *easy,*" Magpie says, scratching her head. "But if it ain't completely linear, then... Beating the villains didn't just show the lie of them for what they are, but told Animus that was *never* how it happened?"<br />
<br />
Magpie is clearly stretching the limits of her comprehension, but trying regardless. "So now we have to... show the lie of the Void to Taara?"<br />
<br />
"Closer, closer," says Akorinil to Aryia and Magpie. Eztli gets a sympathetic look before she remarks, with a smile, "The life of the party, aren't you," she says, amused. There's no mockery in her tone, just earnestness this time around. She tilts her head, letting her long, red hair fall over her face and shoulder.<br />
<br />
"You're closer, as I say. The Goddess of stories looked down the narrative path, the branching tree of a story, if you would. The possibilities. Each choice she made closed one after another, and yet she persisted. Too stubborn to let go of what is rightfully her's. Each villain of the void, as they were called, embodied a portion of the Void within her, yes yes, and in so returning sought to prove the futility of life and meaning. Here you are, having told the story already, and yet you were called again to do what you had already done. Isn't.."<br />
<br />
"It.."<br />
<br />
"Pointless?" she asks. <br />
<br />
"While a story is linear, a means by which we understand the events of our lives, the choices a Goddess makes extend into the past and the future." Her eyes fix on Aryia.<br />
<br />
"Just like the death of Animus."<br />
<br />
"And when we have a story and we don't like how it's going..."<br />
<br />
"Perhaps we can be shown how to author a better ending."<br />
<br />
Her eyes fix on Skyler -- for just a moment.<br />
<br />
And then she turns to Magpie.<br />
<br />
"So. If we must save Animus, how do we save the Goddess of Want from herself -- for the final collapse of meaning rests in failing to do so."<br />
<br />
"Listen, I had a *really* bad trip a while back. Me and a bunch of halflings and goblins took a job babysitting some rich asshole. We got kidnapped by pixies or some shit, shoved through a mushroom ring, and were forced to do some Ye Olde Bullshit Queste and then it became this battle of imagination with the big bad." Skyler scratches his jaw. "It was weird. This seems like the same bullshit: Stories and our perceptions of reality shape what is real or not. We just have to convince the Goddess of Lies and Bullshit that we're telling the truth."<br />
<br />
Skyler pauses and adds, "I doubt I can solve this with imagining she has a cloaca, but I'm willing to try."<br />
<br />
Dirk listens to this great, tangled yarn. All of it speaks of things so far beyond his experience. Like the beasts of the forest that he protects, in many ways, old Dirk is a creature of habit and instinct. When one measures their life in centuries, it becomes easy to forget Tomorrow, even as one recalls Yesterday. He tugs at his beard, glancing around at his comrades. "I mean... -I- can spin a decent enough tall tale when the mood takes me," he says. "But I'm hardly a bard. I cannae create a tale worthy of a Goddess." He scowls a bit. "Even one like Taara," he grumbles. "Och, She's gone an' stacked the deck against me. What kind o' tale should I tell? -Mine-? Hrumph. As if -that's- a tale worth hearin'. I'm nobody."<br />
<br />
Aryia scratches the shaved side of her head. She supposed that makes sense with everything considered. "We make up a tale, Dirk. A bit of collaborative story telling. We make her want something else, I think, instead of clutching so tightly to magic, or something like that," she suggests, thinking she had a serious solution.<br />
<br />
She stares at Skyler. Reaches down for a vacant prayer pillow, and throws it at him. <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
"Because what do the best stories do?" Magpie says, conjuring an illusory copy of Aryia's throw pillow and getting a half dozen tosses in herself. "They take us to a world that's even more wondrous than the one we live in. Make us think that maybe *that* world could stay *here.* So if we've gotten all the silly and skeptical out of our systems... I really want to take a run at this, you guys. After all," she says, looking about and grinning.<br />
<br />
"How many people are gonna get to say they told the Goddess of Lies a story so good, she wanted it to be true?"<br />
<br />
"Absolutely thrilled to be here, doing this." Eztli shrugged. "Whatever, I'll try to do something. Can't go any worse than last time, and it's not like there's anything left to lose at this point."<br />
<br />
Skyler says, “Never." Regarding the silly that is. But he does finish his oat milk again and roll his shoulders...<br />
<br />
Until a pillow hits him in the face, and he spills oat milk all over himself. He gives Aryia a wounded look, and then makes an arcane gesture while muttering something equally arcane before passing his hands over himself. The milk disappears. His shoes are shiny. And he smells faintly of mint and sandalwood. His hair even looks smooth and luxurious!<br />
<br />
Hisrestidigitation: Better than dry shampoo.<br />
<br />
"I'm ready. So we want to discuss parameters? I usually find stories go crazy if we just start spewing details. It's how a door becomes genitalia and weird stuff happens. We gotta keep the narrative neat and follow the proper rules of plot structure." He then snaps and gives finger-guns to Eztli. "That's the spirit! You can keep us grounded so Dirk doesn't give her a poofy beard or something." Aside to Akorinil, "He gets a little obsessive, the old dear.”<br />
<br />
Dirk looks at Skyler with an indignant "-Hey!-" He mutters and grumbles, tugging irritably at his beard. "I am -not- obsessive. I'm a -dwarf-. Nae the same thing at all!" Harrumph harrumph. He looks back to his friends. "An' if we fail, here an' now... then that's it? Everything we've done, all the battles we fought, blastin' Heth out the sky wi' the Spell Cannon... it dinnae count fer anything?" He lifts his hand from his beard to rub his face. "Och. I'm gettin' too bloody -old- fer this bullshit," he grumbles softly under his breath. He sucks a deep breath through his big dwarven nose, turning his face skyward. "A'right. A tale, then." He pauses with his mouth hanging open as Skyler gives his warning about the dangers of unstructured narrative. Slooooowly the old ranger turns to regard the swashbuckler. "Dana's sweet flowery -teats-. If a door turnin' intae a ramrod -isn't- weird then what in all the sugary-sweet world -is-?" He pauses. Lifts a finger. "Do -not- answer that. Please, please, -please- do not answer that."<br />
<br />
"That is the secret of the Void -- it empties you of hope, of ambition. It buries it beneath the greatest lie of all: that you are already the worst version of you. What happens when a being which contains infinite stories, multitudes of selves, believes that there is only -one-?"<br />
<br />
"Everything..."<br />
<br />
"...flattens..."<br />
<br />
"...out."<br />
<br />
There is only darkness.<br />
<br />
And then...<br />
<br />
"CHRISTOPHER!"<br />
<br />
The voice is harsh, shrill, and demanding. The person it belongs to? A young woman of modest appearance in full Myrrish court garb. She is young, but bitterness and a sort of ferret-like leanness to her features makes her quite unpleasant and older than her years. "Your brother, the Duke, has demanded that you attend court on his behalf." She shakes her head and sneers, "It's about all you're good for, isn't it? Being your brother's little toady, nothing but an extension of his will when he, the *actual* important one, deals with the real work."<br />
<br />
A pause, and Skyler Skywalker... no, *Christopher Carl von Wayne of the House of Ashewell* starts as if he'd been drifting off to sleep, a bottle rolling out of his hands with a thud. The woman's lip curls. "Gods, you are useless. The only good you ever were was to get your brother *my* dowery to support you, and even then you can't even get me children!"<br />
<br />
The abuse continues, as Christopher stares at his hands, eyes full of pain, of disappointment, of utter despair...<br />
<br />
Dirk Stormgrip is not a young man. There are few dwarves in Ea who have lived longer than he has. He has watched entire forests rise up from saplings to mighty arbors. He has seen towns spring up from nothing. He has counted himself lucky to be friends to many He even fell in love, and was blissfully married. <br />
<br />
And yet....<br />
<br />
He has outlived many of his kinsmen. He has watched those mighty forests wither and fade, until naught but sour, barren earth remained. He has buried more friends than he's kept. And in the end, his wife of nearly sixty years went the way all mortals must.<br />
<br />
Yet he remains. He comforst himself knowing that, one day, he'll find his own time and place to rest.<br />
<br />
But what if he -doesn't-? What if he just... keeps going?<br />
<br />
What he he outlives -everything-?<br />
<br />
In a dismal cave, many long-forgotten years into the future, Dirk sits at a lonely campfire, surrounded by the skeletal husks of a dead grove. His face, once hearty and cheerful, is gaunt and hollow, awash in misery quiet despair. He's all that remains. There's nothing else left. The bleak, dismal night encroaches ever closer, threatening to snuff out that feeble little flame.<br />
<br />
And yet he knows, that even when the fire fades, he'll still be there. He'll never rest. He'll always be there.<br />
<br />
-Alone-.<br />
<br />
One only truly knows what they have lost once it has been taken from them. Freedom. Self-actualization. Trust. Peace. Usefulness. What if she slipped? What if she fell? What if she consorted with the very things she ripped free of her friends and family? "Wait- Aya, I-I did this all for you!" Aryia /screeches/, audibly, at the back of a mul'neissan woman with a long white braid wearing wrapped in sheets in robes. They don't looks back as they walk into the darkness.<br />
<br />
Aryia is... no where near the same. She's bloody, caked in blood but none of it her own, her scars are gone. But a horrid, demonic presence wafts behind her, like a horrid, stretching shadow. "I did this for you, all of you..!"<br />
<br />
The figure pauses. "No sister of mine would stoop to such lows, I thought you learned from my mistakes." They continue walking into the darkness. "Live with your regrets."<br />
<br />
The corrupted pugilist screams more at the backs of others as they walk away. Many adventurers and kinsmen that had lifted her to new heights: Cor'lana, Telamon, Dirk, Seyardu, Verna, Venom, and so many countless others that her long life had touched.<br />
<br />
Her knees hit the floor. The inner rivers have run dry. The sense of self is hollow. And heart beats of glass like her glazed gaze, sharp and staccato as the sound of manacles being clamped and a iron brand searing flesh sizzles into the dark.<br />
<br />
The thing about being lost in the Planes is, unless you know exactly what you're doing... being lost *forever* is a very, very easy thing to do. And in some places, time moves strange... almost as if it ran in currents not unlike water, to pool and swirl and fold back upon itself and--<br />
<br />
When Magpie made a mistake long ago, and fell into one of the famed planar instabilities of the Vast, she never really.. talked about how she got back. Or how long she truly spent, drifting in formless chaos. Or what she saw and heard, surrounded by the very chaos that so heavily infused her blood.<br />
<br />
The truth was, it was a lucky break, that she found a thin place that allowed her to push back into materiality after a scant dozen subjective years.<br />
<br />
Random chance.<br />
<br />
If she *hadn't* been so lucky, well...<br />
<br />
She'd still be there now. She'd still be there when the Void fell over all.<br />
<br />
Drifting.<br />
<br />
Lonely.<br />
<br />
*Untethered.*<br />
<br />
Unspooling.<br />
<br />
Unraveling.<br />
<br />
Unremembered.<br />
<br />
Uncreated.<br />
<br />
Lost to time, space, matter, and anyone who might have remembered her, Magpie quietly, utterly unzips on any meaningful level of materiality, mentality, and spirituality.<br />
<br />
A nobody, gone to nothing.<br />
<br />
The teleportation wards around Alexandria had one major flaw, one that had been tested before. What happens when normal access failed? <br />
<br />
This time, battered and exhausted, the city reached its breaking point. The undead worms collapsed the walls, the sundered by Heth. <br />
<br />
There was still sounds of combat in the city, but every passing hour they died down, while the screams of those beset upon by the dead grew, until they too quieted. <br />
<br />
Eztli was at the docks, where those who remained hurriedly packed onto the boats. The sorceress had not bothered, even with a faint sliver of hope remaining. There would be nowhere safe to flee to this time, and she watched as the boats sank one by one, with the dying breaths of the city.<br />
<br />
There's no hope. <br />
<br />
There's nothing at all. Just an emptiness, bleak and unyielding that feels like it wants to swallow you up.<br />
<br />
... but then... <br />
<br />
There is something. Perhaps its just a feeling, an inkling that this isn't right. A voice whispering in one ear that you could still be more. That the story isn't over.<br />
<br />
And then... there is.<br />
<br />
Music plays, as people move slowly in a stately dance that is all mathematic precision and no passion. Empty steps, done by learned rote. It's beautiful, but... cold.<br />
<br />
Distant.<br />
<br />
Lifeless.<br />
<br />
Among them, Christopher moves with one hand clasping that of the ferret in a ball gown that he's married to. Who is scowling at him fiercely as she mutters a count under her breath, as if Christopher isn't even capable of stepping in time.<br />
<br />
And then, Christopher takes a left when he should have stepped right.<br />
<br />
Gasps! A shocked silence...<br />
<br />
And Christopher abruptly grabs the hand of a handsome half-orc that was beside him. He looks wild despite the court garments, with a certain primal allure. He moves stiffly at first, staring at Christopher. <br />
<br />
"Skyler."<br />
<br />
Beg pardon?<br />
<br />
"I'm *Skyler*."<br />
<br />
And, okay, *Skyler* gives the half-orc a saucy wink before abruptly dipping him and pressing his lips against the tusked mouth as it falls open in shock. He then twirls him away, and laughs as he stares around. "You people suck!" Skyler declares, shaking his head. And to his 'wife'..? "I'd say I wanted a divorce, but I don't think even Dana recognizes a marriage to a wet fish! C'mon... er... you! Let's boogie!"<br />
<br />
And Skyler begins to bump and grind against the half-orc. Who blinks. Shrugs. And then begins to bump and grind against him in turn.<br />
<br />
Dirk draws a deep, shaky breath and lets it out in a sigh. His shoulders slump. The tear-tracks on his face have long since dried. Nothing matters. How could it, when he'll just outlast everyone and everything he's ever known and loved?<br />
<br />
A shriek for help splits the night. His head snaps up, and he's on his feet, thunderbelcher in hand in an eyeblink. He tears out of the cave, racing and leaping through the underbrush, faster than the most nimble deer. He breaks out into a clearing lit by Eluna's silvery light.<br />
<br />
There. A shadow towers over a terrified young maiden. A stinking stain upon the face of Ea, one that has -no- place in the pure, clear wood. The burly old ranger moves on instinct. He hefts his thunderbelcher to his shoulder and immediately cracks off three shots. CHK-BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! They ring out into the night, splitting the darkness and illuminating the night with Dana and Gilead's blessed light. The shadow-demon's malevolent laughter turns to a howl of agony as the blessed bullets rip its substance apart, sending it screaming back to the Iron Hells<br />
<br />
Dirk lowers his weapon and steps forward. "Yer all right now, lassie. Yer safe."<br />
<br />
The maiden looks up, and his heart freezes. She looks -so- like his beloved Sarah, his beloved wife, whom he buried so long ago. It's -not- her, and yet the resemblance is uncanny. She reaches up to take his outstretched hand, and flings herself at him. "Thank you! You saved my life!" she sobs into his shoulder. "I thought I was all alone out here!"<br />
<br />
Color returns to the old snowbeard's face. Strength fills his heavyset frame. He curls his arm around the lass and hugs her close. Over distant mountains, the sun crests the horizon, turning the sky from inky black to glorious rose.<br />
<br />
"No, lassie. Yer nae alone. -I'm- here now."<br />
<br />
When Magpie was lost in the Planes, only random chance allowed her an opening to find the means to find her own way home.<br />
<br />
But the thing about random chance is, the dice never stop being thrown. Every hour, every minute, every second that passes is a new opportunity for something incredibly unlikely to become inevitability. And Magpie is a *much* different person, now, than when she fell into formless Chaos those few short years ago. She *knows* better. She's *learned* more.<br />
<br />
And given the sheer strength of Chaos in her blood, and how its mutability works on her mind and being... she *has* to have a stronger sense of self, just to be able to exist normally.<br />
<br />
The thinness brushes against her senses, and Magpie responds. Fingers, coherent again, flex. An eye coalesces from yellow-green light, and blinks. A mouth that threatened to drift offon its own, opens and pulls air into lungs.<br />
<br />
'Cogito, ergo sum,' goes the saying in Rune's polymorphing schools. 'I think, therefore I am.' In those classes, it's not just pithy words; it's a *lifeline,* a reminder that no matter what form you take, as long as you can use your mind, you will *always* be you.<br />
<br />
At her current powers, it's almost trivially easy to take hold of the pocket of thinness within the Planes, and tug it open to look out onto Alexandria's Lower Market, at the height of the lunchtime rush.<br />
<br />
Being lost is *hungry* work.<br />
<br />
There is anger. There is self-loathing. There is despair. In that shackled cage that shuts with a deafening click. Aryia Zilstrae Aeldius has hit rock bottom again, where all has left her. Inaction and betrayal has got her here. Her misbegotten actions, undercutting her steadfast morals. But then... there is-<br />
<br />
Will. A will to live. It's a drop in a stagnant lake. The ripples barely nudging nary a waterfly. But it wavers the illusion of hopelessness, distorts it, just enough. She's been here before. Churn the waters. Feel the river flow, the heart beat the breath In.<br />
<br />
Out. "NO CHAIN. WILL /EVER/. BIND ME AGAIN!" she bellows into the empty air, her hands flickering to moonlight once again. Manacled hands bash into iron bars, groaning and shearing with each blow before metal sprays out in a deadly shrapnel, her having thrown herself free of the cage.<br />
<br />
Coming to a roll, Aryia pops up, covered in her own blood and wielding an iron bar as she breaks into a dead sprint towards her retreating friends. The pugilist leaps towards a creeping, demonic shadow that looms over them, tackling it to the ground and pinning it there. The only sound that echoes is the satisfying, echoing and repeated clang of metal and a flashes of moonlight chasing the darkness away.<br />
<br />
Not every ship had sunk, a few remained, perhaps avoiding the worst of it from their smaller size compared to other, much more enticing targets. Could she just stay there, do nothing, and give up? It was certainly an enticing thought, in it's own twisted way. <br />
<br />
The sorceress shook off the feeling, a low growl escaping the makari as her form shifted, longer and larger until a massive brass dragon stood in her place that soared into the sky, crashing through the clouds of undead beasts, drawing their attention away while clawing through as many as they could manage. Hopefully it would take long enough to be taken down to turn a sliver of hope into something greater.<br />
<br />
You deserve a better ending.<br />
<br />
You've staved off the darkness for another day, it's true, but you deserve something better. All those wars. All those sacrifices. Don't you deserve better? Just...<br />
<br />
Comfort?<br />
<br />
Warmth?<br />
<br />
Surely, you do.<br />
<br />
And so the scene changes. There's a disorienting moment. It's all good. <br />
<br />
It's always good.<br />
<br />
"Boogiee...."<br />
<br />
"...e's dead! Duke Austyn is dead." The minor revere Christopher has over the punch bowl, a fantasy of rejecting everything and dancing chaotically with some hunky half-orc wild-man dissolving like the ice in his ridiculously ornate, tiny little glass. And the glass is dropped as his wife grabs his arm, her nails digging in hard enough to tear the fine silk of his doublet.<br />
<br />
Christopher stares dully at his wife. "W.. what?"<br />
<br />
She lets out a sound of disgust, leaning forward to smell his breath before wrinkling her nose. "Really? Gods, how much did you drink, you useless shit?" She shakes her head, and her scowl turns into a wide grin. "I killed him. Your brother's dead. Now I'm the Duchess Ashewell of Gull's Edge!" She smiles cruelly, "And you, husband, will get your freedom." She guides him off to the side, hand still digging hard enough to hurt. "The freedom of the country estate. You can farm, you can hunt, you can drink and debauch yourself to an early grave if you want." She puts a hand over her stomach. "I have the Duke's heir. He looks enough like you no one will know the difference." She sneers, "You're free, you useless lump! Isn't that what you always wanted? Freedom, to be something? Well now you're the Duke's father! And you'll be free to wither away in the countryside."<br />
<br />
It's a happy enough ending, in the cut-throat courts of the Myrrish kingdoms...<br />
<br />
Isn't it?<br />
<br />
Not many people get a second chance at happiness. Dirk is one of those lucky few. The lass he rescued from the shadow demon--Farah is her name--falls in love with him, and he with her. She fills his days with brilliant sunshine and laughter once again. With her at his side, the forest grows strong and clean. The land thrives. He takes up his mantle as the forest's champion once again. And how could he not? After so long, he has something to fight for.<br />
<br />
Weeks pass. Winter blankets the wood in soft, cottony-cold white. Dirk watches the snowfall from his cozy cabin with his arm around Farah's shoulders. He rests a palm atop her belly, made large by new life--the one thing Sarah was never able to give him, all those years ago gone by. Just when he thought his happily-ever-after couldn't -possibly- get any better, his newfound love has made him a father in addition to being a husband.<br />
<br />
They name the baby 'Sarah Leigh', and she's as perfect an angel, as all children are in the eyes of their parents. Dirk gently bounces her in his arms, crooning a quiet dwarven lullabye to her as she gazes up at him with wide, golden eyes. He presses a kiss to her forehead and gently lays her in her crib. "Sleep sweetly, me bonny wee lass," he says soothingly.<br />
<br />
He blows out the candle by the bedside and burrows under the heavy blankets with his beloved Farah. Gloom shrouds the cabin.<br />
<br />
Sarah Leigh's eyes open, now inky black orbs. Her mouth curves into a wicked, too-wide smile. In her baby-babble, the shadow-demon's laughter echos just beyond the range of hearing.<br />
<br />
Being lost is hungry work, and damn it all, Magpie will *never* be hungry. Not again. The first thirty years of her life, she was too small to properly defend her food from the bigger kids at the orphanages.<br />
<br />
Which might have something to do with the frequency of wild-magic fires that seemed to haunt little Magpie's trail...<br />
<br />
...Whatever, it's lunchtime at the Alexandrian markets, and all of her favorites are not just on special, but *free* just for her. Rosemary-pork pocket pies, goblin fireball sweetbreads, candied garlic skewers... Every turn of her head brings new and interesting delicacies into vision. And because it's *her,* because she is so amazing and powerful and respected and adored, she pays for none of it.<br />
<br />
Every morsel that passes her lips, bought by the fame she'd always longed for as a child, where justexisting was enough to be celebrated.<br />
<br />
And in the middle of the Market square, Magpie slowly begins to be buried under a cacophony of treats and sweets and savories, heaped ever higher by her adoring public.<br />
<br />
And so Aryia clawed it all back. Trust. Sense of self. Belonging. Usefulness. Back into the weave with friends. Coaching her team back in the Colosseum. Battling kaiju. Sailing the seas on her boat. Pummeling through mountains through sheer force of tenacity.<br />
<br />
So she sits atop that mountain, her apex, having found her center again. The waters have run so fast they look calm in their laminar flow. Breathing In. Out. In. Out.<br />
<br />
The days morph into weeks, months, years. Decades. Time drags on, yet for this elf it's barely scraping any more etchings into the scars. Others age, but that comes and goes, just like all do in the story that never ends. But does it matter? The peak has been reached. Her vantage is leagues in all directions.<br />
<br />
It is absolute perfection.<br />
<br />
Or is it? It hits in a beat of introspection. Somewhere in all that time, a thought worms its way into her mind. 'What is the point of a mountain, if to not look up at its daunting beauty from below? What is the point of highs? Without the lows?'<br />
<br />
Eztli didn't normally wake up with the sun, but recent work forced the makari reluctantly out of bed. After some time blinking the tiredness out of her eyes, she eventually managed to get over to her closet, where several costumes were hanging. All of them and their accessories were carefully stowed into a pack at her side, before she left for the lower floors. <br />
<br />
"Figured you'd be up before me, rehearsals are going to take most of the day. Say hi to deathless for me, will you, and I'll catch you around dinner, yeah?" She offered to the brown haired hunter who had been in the kitchen. She said nothing, only giving a crooked toothed smile to the sorceress before she was out the door, and not a single word spoken.<br />
<br />
It's better, isn't it? Better this way ...<br />
<br />
... but then the worms turn. A thought, an idea gnaws. And once it's there, it doesn't stop. Each vision seems to splinter, to crack, to fray. Black lines ripping across like spiderwebs.<br />
<br />
And then there's a sense of weightlessness, of being-without-body.<br />
<br />
It is cool here. You sense ... other presences. Then, slowly, the curtain draws back. You're ... somewhere.<br />
<br />
Akorinil Belvade look at each of you, a smile on her face.<br />
<br />
"Do you understand now?" she asks, a cautious yet hopeful tone in her voice.<br />
<br />
GAME: Skyler rolls 1d100: (6): 6<br />
<br />
SPLASH!<br />
<br />
Skyler tosses the cup to the side, expression utterly devoid of emotion as he stares at Akorinil with a hate and fury he's only shown once, in a demi-plane of death while a kyton taunted him on the true meaning of pain and pleasure. <br />
<br />
"You bitch." He says flatly, turning away from her and closing his eyes. And his shoulders rise one, fall, and he speaks up to the others. "We have to do this for her. I don't know what you guys saw, but..." He swallows, "We have to do this. And we *can*. The first vision is non-negotiable, and the third isn't enough."<br />
<br />
Coming back to herself was a shock, especially as she was close to resigning herself to drowning under an ever-growing pile of things a child would think were deserved.<br />
<br />
And not for the first time, does Magpie begin to ask herself how old she was when the world became a certain, predictable thing-- no. No time to unpack that now!<br />
<br />
Shaking her head, she takes a moment to focus on Akorinil, and the milk dripping off her nose. "...Yeah," she says, finally. "Skyler's right too... We *need* to do this, cos that last one... Damn, but the Void's insidious..."<br />
<br />
The expanse contracts, and all those possibilities of time passing collapses into presence and- Aryia rapidly blinks, and her lips move to say something, but she ends up coughing up a lung before spits a glob of blood off to the side. "Well that was fucked," she signs with a scowl and rubbing her throat. There was a certain satisfaction as Skyler acts on her impulses, but she couldn't help but feel a tad guilty. Akorinil was truly, truly trying, for the best of someone she believed in.<br />
<br />
She thought of her found sister, Aya.<br />
<br />
The mute pugilist grimaces. Damn it. "Alright. Fuck. Fine. But I'm not doing it for /Her/. I'm doing it because we have a thing we can teach Her. And hopefully it'll knock some sense into Her." <br />
<br />
She glances to Akorinil, with the first look of genuine empathy. "Congratulations. You convinced this non-believer that it's worth a shot." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Dirk's eyes are wide as teacups as sight and reason returns. He blinks owlishly, his gaze snapping from side to side hard enough to make his beard whip-whap back and forth. "Wha--ah? Hah? What the... och! What the hell -was- that?!" He looks back to Akorinil. His panic turns to anger as his temper riles right back up. "-That's- our story?! BULLSHIT!! That's nae -my- story, an' never will be!"<br />
<br />
He looks back around at his friends, his beard all a-bristle as he scowls and fumes and snorts and snarls. "So what, we -have- tae go through all that? Blessed Dana's flowery -teats-, there -has- tae be another way..."<br />
<br />
Eztli was left speechless as she came back to reality, and she stood their for some time, breathing heavily. "Seems... fucked. I'd like to think the difference is obvious,but I'm no god. And either way, none of it was right. Not in the slightest." They grumbled. "So... what?"<br />
<br />
All around is darkness, now, but for the presence of yourselves and Akorinil.<br />
<br />
She raises a hand and presses the back of it to her forehead, swaying back away from them. She's clearly somewhat used to hate and fury bneing directed at her. <br />
<br />
"Forgive me. I can't control what you see or face in the tales you're entering. Those are subject only to you. But the narrative is ... hmmm ... unspooling, I suppose, because narrative itself is threatening to end. Think of it all as dancing on the razor edge of the dagger that slays Animus --."<br />
<br />
A hitch.<br />
<br />
"...though it's not really a dagger. Godly weapons are something wholely other and beyond comprehension." <br />
<br />
She lets out a breath, then. And then, a quiet voice. "You have to save her."<br />
<br />
Aryia glances to the side as the raving party seems to have fallen to the wayside and away. Was it ever really there? "Forgiveness is an action given, gained only by further action to warrant it. You don't get that just yet, as I'm quite familiar with Taara's gaslighting," the pugilist gestures before digging in the inside pocket of her jacket. An embroidered black silk handkerchief is pulled free, and is offered to Akorinil, Aryia's eyes downcast. "But, perhaps that is something that can be rectified once this is dealt with."<br />
<br />
She nods subtly. "They are not weapons that mere mortals know. I've seen them. But perhaps she just needs to think she's wielding something else other than to slay. In a metaphorical sense." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
"We said we'd do it." Skyler says grumpily, "Just, are you going to shove us at her blind or are there any hints that aren't bullshit metaphors. I mean..." He blinks at the rest of the group, "What *is* a metaphor for?" He frowns, glancing down at his fingers. "Um. a Metaeight?"<br />
<br />
Dirk glances around at his friends, then back to Akorinil. "I -suppose- that losin' Taara would throw all the worlds in the universe out o' balance, or some other such bullshit," he grumbles. He scowls dourly, leveling a finger at the priestess. "I dinnae trust a word -you- say," he says. He takes a step back, glancing up and around at his comrades. "But I -do- trust my friends. So we'll do what must be done." He glances at Aryia with a firm nod, then up at Skyler. He peers at the swashbuckler, then counts up on his own fingers. "Aye, think ye got it right, laddie. Metaeight," he says, nodding again.<br />
<br />
"Close enough," Magpie says. "For the future, there's a point where precisionruins the analogy that made understandingpossible. Even if it's, like, a metaconceptual cinquedea forged of the taste of blue, calling it a dagger still works."<br />
<br />
Looking about, she draws in a breath, and claps her hands. "So let's save a goddess!"<br />
<br />
"Well, that's all well and good, you keep saying we need to save her, but I feel like we're all not much closer to actually saving her, aside from a bit more emotional scarring to add to the pile." Eztli grumbled loudly. "So, lets go down to this. I'm sure a handful of people can help fix this where every single taaran priest or priestess partying here failed."<br />
<br />
The handkerchief is accepted with a gentle smile at Aryia.<br />
<br />
Akorinil knows -exactly- how much it must've pained her to give it to her. <br />
<br />
"If narrative dies, our ability to understand our own stories dies with it. No art. No history. No ordered conscious thought. Everything comes apart without the thread of consciousness."<br />
<br />
Of course, how much of that is true and how much of that is Taara's grandeur talking? Then again, it may not matter. The results of ANimus dying were bad enough."I can not see what happened to you. Those sojourns were for you alone."<br />
<br />
She grimces a moment, dabbing her face and she produces a pen from inside her robe. She begins to draw a single red line through the air with it. <br />
<br />
"We must merely turn the page, hm? Show her a better ending, as I said..."<br />
<br />
And then she gives the line a 'yank' and 'peels' the world like a page in the book and you find yourselves somewhere else.<br />
<br />
A sunny glade. A pale sun above. It's warm here And yet, there's a sense of forboding, and its coming from the litle cottage, all quaint and cozy in the distance. Chimney smoke rises from it.<br />
<br />
"Do you think it'd tell a fun story if we burn it down?" Skyler suggests as he raises a hand to shade his eyes as he looks over the tableau in front of them, "I mean, I'd get over my ennui if someone set *my* house on fire. Or we could rush in to put it out and save her that way?" He cocks his head, "Make your own heroic rescue!"<br />
<br />
As much as it pained her, it wouldn't behoove Taara to change her mind if even an ex-Taaran couldn't show some shred of compassion. Aryia sighs, rubbing her face before flashing a thumbs up. There's a wince as the world practically rips away.<br />
<br />
She lowers her hand from the sun, sliding her sunglasses down. "I am not against walking up and knocking before booting the door down," she shrugs. The normally face-first pugilist is hesitant to advance, her staring down the building like it's a warding sign specifically meant for her.<br />
<br />
But Aryia gulps, exhales slowly, and starts that way with her hands in her pockets. <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Dirk grunts softly. "I know how -my- tale should end," he grumbles quietly. "So if that bullshit I saw earlier is the best -she- can come up with, then aye, I can sure as hell come up wi' a better ending n' -that-." As the new scene unfolds before him, he squints at the cottage. He looks up, down, and all around. "Summat here dinnae sit right," he mutters. "I mean, not as I was expectin' sunshine an' frolickin' bunnies, but... there's summat -off- here." He glances up at Skyler and Aryia with a frown. "Why don't we try bein' polite -first-. -Then- we can start kickin' doors in if we have to."<br />
<br />
Eztli squinted as the world was torn away in some metaphysical sense she was still trying to wrap her head around, if it was even possible. "Not a bad idea to force a different story, but I don't know if it will actually help things, unless the new reeality is some fiery hellscape." She grumbled. <br />
<br />
"Lets start with checking the house itself for now, even though I can't shake that something is less pleasant in spite of the weather. Hard to explain."<br />
<br />
As one gets closer, the overwhelming smell of something ... bready can be detected. Someone is baking. <br />
<br />
There's a hint of sweetness to it, too.<br />
<br />
Could it be...?<br />
<br />
Could someone be baking -pie-?<br />
<br />
Not exactly what one would expect here at the end of things, but then, perhaps that's the best time for some pie.<br />
<br />
Looking left and right among her comrades, Magpie shrugs and does what everyone is suggesting, but understandably hesitant to do; she toddles up, and knocks on the door. "Auntie Taara?" she calls, figuring hey... even if she robbed her way there, being *a* goddess of magic affords one the respect of the magically-blooded. "Auntie Taara, we've come to visit? Are you all right?"<br />
<br />
Aryia slows as she smells baked goods. Damn. When did she eat last? All of this was so ephemeral it was hard to tell. Wait, focus. She gives a quick look to the party, one of 'you all smell that, right?', before she shakes her head and rests against the side of the doorframe. She raises a brow. Auntie Taara?<br />
<br />
"I'd love to try your cherry pie!" Skyler adds on the heels of Magpie, "And boy, do I have an *amazing* story to tell you! There was this box and inside it was this kid and he was like an angel but then some dragon ate fish from my hand and now we go get drunk at taverns together!"<br />
<br />
He pauses, and adds to the group, "It's actually a really traumatizing story."<br />
<br />
Dirk lumbers along with his friends, though his plodding step slows as they approach the house. His big dwarven nose twitches as he sniffs the air. "Oh, beards o' me sweet tapdancin' -fathers-," he groans softly. His hefty middle gives an -infuriated- sounding rumble. How long ago -did- he eat last? Far too long, from the sound of things. He looks towards the cabin with a pained expression. "Och, if that's a fake cherry pie I'm smellin', it's a really really -good- fake," he says. He glances at the others, then lifts up his hand to cup the side of his mouth. "Missus Taara, marm! It's me, Dirk Stormgrip. -I've- got a tale tae tell that -isn't- traumatizing! How does -that- sound, eh?"<br />
<br />
"Didn't take her for a baker, assuming that's actually her in there." Eztli shrugged to no one in particular, the makari meandering down to the actual door as others knocked on it. "Don't forget who we're potentially dealing with. Lies and all that, I'm not sure I'd trust anything baking."<br />
<br />
"Is someone there?" comes a small voice. "Moggie, can you check?"<br />
<br />
"Ugh. Can't you see I'm busy?" comes a rougher male voice before an older man, barrel chested man from years of toil opens the door and squints at the pair.<br />
<br />
""The hell are you people supposed to be?" he asks gruffly. <br />
<br />
The smell of pie only intensifies. The interior of the cottage appears ... alarmingly quaint. -VERY-. <br />
<br />
Disgustingly so.<br />
<br />
"Oh wow. I wouldn't mind *his* cherry pie." Skyler mutters to no one in particular, eyes widening before he clasps a hand over his mouth... and discreetly takes several steps back to the rear of the strange party.<br />
<br />
Sometimes you have to know when to let someone else take the lead. Such is wisdom, and Skyler is a very wise man, even if he isn't a very intelligent one.<br />
<br />
This is very awkward.<br />
<br />
You see, when you were a priestess in a different life, devoted to a sect of the unholy matrimony between Maugrim and Taara, you tend to expound on their tales of how they came together and stayed.<br />
<br />
So Aryia, now a devout atheist, stares up at the very man who she used to venerate in an adjacent manner. She, uncharacteristically, trembles. And then raises a hand to sign-<br />
<br />
"Hello. We're supposed to be your wake up call." Shit. She didn't think this far. His presence threw all her thoughts out the window. <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
"Moggie? Oh you've gotta be fucking kidding me, we've gotta deal with him too?" Ezti grumbled under her breath before they got to the door. "Hey, good evening, we just happened to be in the area and we were wondering what was going on with all the baking here?" She managed to offer for some manner of explanation.<br />
<br />
Dirk looks up--and up, and up, and up--at the imposing figure of Maugrim before him. "Heek." He's suddenly -very- aware of the fact that his beard grooming was interrupted before all this started. He hurriedly smooths his hands down his whiskers, doing his best to get them into some kind of semblance of order, before he steps forward. "Aye, as me comrade here says, Master Maugrim. Sir. As we understand it, ye all need some stories, aye?" His tubby middle snarls angrily again, and he puts both his palms to it, as if -that- would soothe the bottomless pit inside him. "Well, as it just so happens, we need some o' that delicious-smellin' pie. So... perhaps we might work a trade, eh?"<br />
<br />
'Moggie,' Magpie mouths, eyes wide. Somehow, it feels like not even Maugrim would *allow* his wife to call him that; it's just too undignified.<br />
<br />
Her mouth works open and closed for a moment, as she tries to think of a good answer to that question... and failing one, simply leans over and yells past the man, into the house. "Auntie Taara, we've come to visit, and talk! And perhaps if you'd be so kind... maybe one of your famous stories? The kind that made Ceinara ash herself with jealousy?"<br />
<br />
Look, play to your audience. Taara might not be a *nice* person, but this may be the one time a minor blasphemy might be overlooked.<br />
<br />
'Moggie' sort of stands there, staring at the lot of you. <br />
<br />
"Bloody hell, I didn't know the family was rolling in," he says after a moment, "Come on in, everyone. Have a seat. I'll go break open the keg."<br />
<br />
Wait, family? Well,t hat's weird. <br />
<br />
The lady of the house is a smiling woman dressed in dark clothing with long, scarlet hair. She seems thrilled to see everyone, moving closer to give them a hug, individually. "Oh, you all made it! I'm so thrilled."<br />
<br />
That's weird. A moment ago she had no idea who you were, now she's acting like you were always meant to be here and our family.<br />
<br />
Like ...<br />
<br />
... like she's an aunt. Your aunt. Isn't she?<br />
<br />
"Auntie Taara! Uncle Moggie!" Skyler pushes forward as he feels the narrative shift, not even attempting to keep up with the logic... Shades of the Skyler that rejected the measured, stately dances in favor of booging and enjoying the moment. Although he does give Aryia's shoulder a quick, reassuring squeeze on his way past.<br />
<br />
"It's been so damn long! Since..." He pauses, eyes squinting, "Well. It's been a while! Hugs?"<br />
<br />
And he holds his arms out hopefully to Maugrum fully prepared to get an armful of the Tyrant and rest his face against the pillowy bosom of his pectorals.<br />
<br />
The unspoken agreement that goes through the party gets Aryia to wince, stymied entirely from progressing. But a squeeze on her shoulder gets her to snap to the present. She looks to Skyler with a harried expression, fear in her eyes. But she clasps his forearm, inhales deeply, and settles into the role, reaffirmed. A thankful nod is tossed his way.<br />
<br />
She slips into the abode as they're all invited, stepping aside as the others file in. Her attention is all too focused else where before-<br />
<br />
The lady of the house hugs Aryia. She freezes up.<br />
<br />
Then takes Taara into a tight, hearty embrace. 'I missed you so much,' she mutters near-silently by Her ear.<br />
<br />
She lets Her go, again.<br />
<br />
The pugilist wipes at her eyes.<br />
<br />
Dirk has seen much in his long years upon Ea. He's championed a swanmay princess. He's been blessed by angels. He's heard the voices of the Green Word. -Now-... he's getting a hug from a goddess. Even stranger, he finds himself returning that hug, throwing his burly arms around Taara and giving her a proper Dwarf Hug. "Och, Auntie Taara, it's -so- good tae see ye!" he booms cheerfully. "An' Uncle Maugrim! Lookin' fit as ever, I see! Och, maybe someday soon ye'll be as hefty as -I- am! Hah!"<br />
<br />
He turns his attention back to Taara. Hey, if the gods are all like this--friendly, warm, with a cozy home and delicious treats--then maybe they aren't so bad after all. "Auntie, I smelled that pie yer bakin' from nearly a furlong away. Och, I'm -starvin'-! An' boy oh -boy- do we have some stories fer -you-!"<br />
<br />
Blink. Blink. Last Eztli could tell, Taara wasn't a gnome. She was half expecting the goddess to shrink down to the size of an aunt until she realized what was going on. "A-ah, yes! Something to drink would be appreciated." She spoke up after a moment to collect herself. The hug certainly wasn't helping. "Did you make a chilled pie for Skyler too? You know how particular he is about his oat milk, after all."<br />
<br />
"Of course we made it, Auntie Taara," Magpie laughs, throwing her arms up to give the best hug her stubby little everything is capable of giving. "How could we stand the thought of our Auntie feeling lonely?" 'Uncle Moggie' gets a brief side-eye, as Magpie isn't *quite* sure whether or not he's the actual Tyrant, and not a figment of the Void.<br />
<br />
"But how are you *doing,* Auntie?" she presses onward, reaching up to pat Ariya's arm in what she hopes is a comforting way.<br />
<br />
There, there.<br />
<br />
"Oh!"<br />
<br />
Aunty 'Taara', if that is indeed who she is, is more than a little surprised by the embrace. She awkwardly pats Aryia on the back. "I'm so glad to hear that," she tells her, happily. "There's pie! Come in, everyone, come in, please make yourself comfortable. It's weird how accepting she is. Just rolls with it. You're all family. Of course you're family. What's weirder is that you all can kind of feel it's true at the same time -- which might be a little discomfitting in the moment.<br />
<br />
'Moggie' grunts. He doesn't -do- hugs, thank you very much. All taciturn. "I'll be right back. I'm going to go check on some things." He disappears out the back door, grumbling the whole while with the sort of grumble that every worker would recognize.<br />
<br />
"Curses. Foiled again."<br />
<br />
Skyler shakes his head as Uncle Moggie departs but he's all grins as he turns back to Auntie Taara with his grin back in place. He glances at the others as his brow knits when the wave of familial closeness washes over him. Considering what the visions earlier revealed about *his* relationship with his family, it's an unfamiliar sensation.<br />
<br />
He swallows, closing his eyes for a moment before shaking his head. "What kind of pie, Auntie Taara? Is it full of secrets, or butterscotch or the void? I hope it's apple. I bet your void pie is awesome, but I'm partial to apple."<br />
<br />
Aryia scratches her head at the change in accommodations, but she rolls with it as she's invited in. She takes a seat nearby, all but flopping into a loveseat nearby in a very 'at home' manner. Was that on purpose? Lines were getting a bit blurry on the comfort of things.<br />
<br />
Dirk perks up at the mention of pie, and his eyes light up like a Yule tree. "Oh, bless yer kindness, auntie, I'd -love- a slice!" he says happily. He's a canny old bear, and he doesn't miss that strange feeling of familiarity. But such feelings are natural to dwarves, who cherish their communities so. Even a black sheep like ol' Dirk craves the company of his friends and comrades, so he's already hard-wired to accept and recipricate bonds of family. Even if it comes from the Goddess of Lies.<br />
<br />
Magpie watches 'Moggie' disappear out the back with evident curiosity; is this part of the setting making way for the change in focus? Or was that truly Maugrim, and if so how many devils are going to be hiding in their pillows from now on? "...They say you eat an average of three devils in your sleep a week," she murmurs softly, so softly. "...Or was that spiders..."<br />
<br />
Shaking her head, she puts on her biggest, niece-iest smile for Taara, glancing at Skyler and nodding her approval at his narrative. "How've you been, Auntie Taara? We've been pretty worried about you, we haven't heard much from these parts in a while."<br />
<br />
Eztli blinked a few more times at the recognition, and feeling of it, as well. "Oh, thank you, then! I wouldn't mind some pie myself, but I don't know, surely there's something I could do in return for the hospitality? It's only fair, I think."<br />
<br />
Indeed. The accomdations -are- changing. Things are unfolding. Was it always like this? You know it wasn't, but it FEELS like it was. Totally natural. There's even a dining room, now, and you're being escorted to the table by 'Taara', though she's never introduced herself that way. She strokes her fingerws through her long hair and then gerstures to the seating. <br />
<br />
"Please, please! Sit down. Tell me all about your adventures, darlings!" <br />
<br />
The impossibility of being 'related' doesn't seem to have occurred to her at all. <br />
<br />
Meanwhile, Moggie is, well... there's a lot of swearing from out back. This is how you know he's cooking.<br />
<br />
Aryia leans up, sitting at the table now as she gets herself situated. There's this half lull of staring at a goddess she once venerated, and half just at the dinner table with auntie and family. She's having to root herself in the horrid things they just went through recently to remind herself why they're all here. And boy is it hard to keep the story straight.<br />
<br />
Tell about... her adventures? Aryia looks to the others before gesturing in elaboration: "Mine would take way too long, but I learned through my adventures if you're stubborn enough, you can win card games against gods and drop kick kaiju through portals. All it takes is losing everything and finding yourself in the scraps." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Eztli took one of the chairs, spun it around to have a seat at the table comfortably. "Of our adventures? Well, I'm sure that the others have some wonderful stories to tell. I've been on a few, but I imagine theirs are better, or at least they feel up to talking about them."<br />
<br />
Skyler's lips thin, and he glances over the crowd for a moment before he says earnestly, softly. "I grew up second son to a minor noble. Heir and the spare, I was the spare. My father wasn't a good man, by any definition. My brother, the heir, use to pour boiling water on puppies out of amusement. Found out they were going to kill me."<br />
<br />
He swallows, "So I decided that I'd kill me first. Was on a ship that got attacked by pirates, and when they threatened to ransom me, I instead charmed'm into letting me join. Being a pirate sounded fun. It was, until I realized I hurt people. Badly. Met someone I love." He smiles wryly, "And decided to be something else. Gentleman Adventurer of the Society of Dagger Dames and Gentleman Adventurers. Taught me something important, Auntie Taara." He glances around, "*I* write my story. Other people might throw curveballs at me, things might beat me down and even kill me. But in the end, I wrote the story and never let anyone else control the narrative."<br />
<br />
Dirk follows Auntie to the table and plumps his hefty rump down. He gives a wiggle, testing the chair out, and is rather surprised that it supports Dwarf Weight quite well! He reaches up to doff his tricorne and sets it aside. "Pshaw, Eztli. You an' me been on plenty of adventures together!" he says with a rumble of laughter. "Och, d'ye remember when we got sent out by Lady Fionnula tae find 'er sister in the Mythwood? An' we fought off those cold knights? Hell of a scrap, that was!"<br />
<br />
He glances over at Skyler, listening to the swashbuckler's tale. Much of it is new to the burly old ranger. His conclusion has the old snowbeard nodding firmly. "True talk, laddie, true talk," he says. "All our lives are a grand tale, an' -we- hold the pen. Even if sometimes folk want tae butt in an' put their own spin on things."<br />
<br />
Magpie clambers up into a high-chair, allowing her to regard the table like someone meant to be seated there, and puffs out a breath at the invitation. "Man... where to even *start.*"<br />
<br />
As Skyler tells his story, Magpie listens carefully, nodding firmly at the lesson he takes away from the story of his life. And, it seems, she chooses to follow up serious drama with comedy.<br />
<br />
"Well, there was that temple that got uncovered in the Felwood, I remember one point we ended up having to deal with a bunch of non-Guild 'adventurers' who were looking for loot to find. Then, after we beat them into submission, we had to take them back to camp... when demons started coming after us. Cos Felwood, right? But we didn't have time to *fight,* we had a job to do, so I threw an illusion over this huge tree! Turned into a big angel statue, two middle fingers up, and a banner; DEMONS CAN KISS THE PEARLIEST PART OF MY GATES!"<br />
<br />
Here, Magpie pauses to giggle t her own joke. "And the best part was, it *worked!* Distracted them long enough we could get away!"<br />
<br />
"Because if you're willing to be a little silly, you can saves lives with a good lie."<br />
<br />
The Lady of the House listens, and smiles, and she proceeds to begin preparing the meal. There are plenty of things to bring in from the kitchen, and yet more from 'Moggie' outside. They're clearly, yes, representative of someone's idea of what Taara and Maugrim might be. Somehow.<br />
<br />
Somehow indeed.<br />
<br />
'Taara' claps her hands delightedly as the stories come out. She asks questions, seeks details. She wants more. The despair that was sitting heavily on her when you arrived -- perhaps not so visible as it was then as its departure is now -- seems to have lifted, yes, and Moggie very clearly doesn't have a lot to say. He's busy working.<br />
<br />
"That all sounds lovely," remarks your 'aunt'. <br />
<br />
"But now what will you all do?"<br />
<br />
Details are happily divulged, and Magpie seems to be the kind of storyteller who can barely believe the nonsense she herself got up to. So the details are delivered with a combination of self-deprecation and surprise. But then, 'Taara' puts a question to her.<br />
<br />
That is a very, very good question.<br />
<br />
"Well," she says slowly, "we are kind of on a job right now, in fact. See, there's someone very, very important who needs to be rescued from the Void. And we need to make sure she can shake free of it, because nobody... *nobody.* Deserves for the Void to take them.<br />
<br />
"I can think of a few people." Skyler says consideringly, "Captain Cashew, maybe. But it's probably got a nut allergy."<br />
<br />
But he makes a gesture, conceding Magpie's point and letting her take the narrative lead on this. "But she deserves a happy ending, this one. She's had a hell of a story so far, and deserves happiness with her beefy hot husband." He considers. "Maybe they just need to spice things up? Find a unicorn?" He means a horse with a horn, right?<br />
<br />
Aryia listens to the others, her brows raising at Skyler. She didn't pin him as noble born, and it was quite an amusing twist that'd he manufactured himself. If only she was as slick as him all those decades ago. She nods along in agreement with Dirk, but she can't but help but stare at Magpie. There was not way she could /not/ help but snort in amusement.<br />
<br />
Food comes out, and she's already got one of everything. It must have been some crimson pen story, or something, that has these two gods portrayed as such in a cottage-core lifestyle. The mute shares more, about a Unloved King that took a chance to become the Joyful King, and through his efforts, managed to help a party of heroes slay larger-than life fiends and help a celestial dragon fulfill their overdue duties. She's smiling at the memories of it, a mixture of cocky and wan.<br />
<br />
Question poised, she nods along with Magpie and Skyler. "Or maybe have something come along, a catalyst? Every story has something that makes things happen." She gives Skyler a side glance before chuffing and shaking her head, amused. <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Eztli shrugged, and chuckled quietly. "Kinda sounds like my life, except I ran away from my parents as their only daughter, and I ended up getting eaten by undead and ending up as a giant, small lizard." Eztli snorted. "Which is to say, entirely not like your life at all upon further thought, but, at least I'm mostly okay with it now. But for doing stuff now? I don't know, I guess it doesn't feel right to give up. I'd like to make some more stories, have some more adventures and the like. Probably."<br />
<br />
Dirk busily loads up a plate with delicious goodies and wonderful treats. Even piling up proper Dwarf Sized portions, there's still plenty for everyone else. Clearly, -this- version of Taara knows how to cook for dwarves. He munches away at some nibbly things, listening to the others' tales. When Skyler mentions a unicorn, he brightens up. "Och! That reminds me of the time I was trackin' this ugly beastie down in Am'shere!" he says. "I'll tell ye, jungles an' dwarves mix together 'bout as well as some berk rippin' arse in church! Hah!" He recounts the tale of the monster hunt, which led to a unicorn that had been tempted into disgrace by a wish demon. "The poor thing wanted us tae end its sufferin'. But I hadnae the heart tae kill such a noble beast. But fortunately, me mate Dolan's a Corona in Daeus' church, an' we able tae help the poor thing find repentance an' forgiveness!" He gets thoughtful as he munches another bite of tasty things. "Because even the worst villain can be redeemed, in the end," he muses.<br />
<br />
Someone important? Rescued from the Void? What?!<br />
<br />
Moggie scowls darkly, muttering under his breath about 'dilly-dallying while the world is doomed, he'd never let you get away with that' and so on. It's entirely in character for him,. it seems.<br />
<br />
'Auntie' puts her hands together in front of her, eyes wide. "You don't say! What is there to be done, though?!" Obviously, this is just a normal day at dinner, where one talks about rescuing people from THE VOID of all things. <br />
<br />
The food is ... a lot. There's -so much of it-. Anything you want is thjere on the table. Somehow. Like she knew. Because, of course, she did. <br />
<br />
Eztli gets her hand patted. She understands. Skyler too, really. "Parents can be so dreadful," she mourns.<br />
<br />
The comments of redemption has them BOTH eyeing Dirk.<br />
<br />
"We have to remind her," Magpie says, trying to pull the couple's attention from Dirk. "That she *has* choices she can make. That any story she could tell could be true, even the lies. *Especially* the lies. Because that's what stories are, right?"<br />
<br />
Leaning over the table, she picks up a lovely spiced-pork bun and tears it in half, breathing in the aroma. "Stories are lies about things that never happened, that outline a truth that needs to be known, aren't they?"<br />
<br />
Monching on one half for a bit, she swallows, and looks up, eyes wide and begging.<br />
<br />
"Tell us a story, Auntie?"<br />
<br />
Aryia's inhaling some Am'shere cuisine as she side eyes the others, seeing if they're catching on to the hooks being pulled. With a tlahco in one hand, mouth with another, her free hand gestures out, "It's so simple it's kind of stupid. Don't believe the Void. It's a bad lie. Reflections of reality that have no basis. The instances where I fought myself, my void self, it was such a farce of reality. It couldn't handle the /real/ me. Am I lying to myself? Maybe. But even if I don't believe I'm better, as long as I believe I'm better than the next thing, I'm golden."<br />
<br />
Sticking to her guns, it seems, and playing up what Magpie posits with a solid, and true, story. Aryia gestures at Magpie, agreeing with her. Story time! <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
"Oh, _tell_ me about it." Eztli bemoaned, reaching for a large mug of ale that was incredibly difficult to drink in a proper fashion. "Parents were more concerned about making sure that they would profit off selling my hand off to the richest family they could find, and the worst part? Never even asked if I liked the guy, liked guys in the first place, and he had the audacity to tell me that dance was _boring. Don't think they ever bothered to know me." The makari ranted. "So, found someone that cared, made plans to leave, and then the countries overrun with zombies. Bad luck on that, not to mention being called a reptilian freak next time I saw my partner." She continued, stopping to open her mouth and dump the rest of the alcohol down her throat. "But y'know what? It was worth the try. I'll take a chance of things being better over a guaranteed life of misery any day of the week. And it was my choice to make, too, no one twisting my arm in the process. Surely you've got some stories about your own decisions too, right?"<br />
<br />
Dirk wilts a little bit as Auntie Taara and Uncle Moggie stare him down. "Heek?" He instead goes beard-first into his plate of delicious treats, chompfing and monching with a -purpose-. He looks over to Magpie, nodding his head vigorously in agreement. He might actually -say- so, but at the moment his cheeks are puffed out like a squirrel's, and he has enough manners not to talk with his mouth full. Instead, he listens to Ariya and Eztli in turn. The sith's tale has his eyes getting wide. Chompf chomphf mrnch GLLP! "Reptilian freak? Och, I wish I coulda been there! -Please- tell me ye wiped the smirk off 'is dozy gob. Hell, -I- would've put me fist tae 'is nose fer that kind o' cheek!" He mutters and harrumphs, before diving back in to enjoy more of this -superb- home cooking. It's just like his mother used to make--uncannily so, but it came from the hands and hearth of a goddess.<br />
<br />
After gulping down another payload of food, he nods his head. "I'll never forget the day I met my darlin' Sarah," he says. "I was out in the Eldwyn huntin' deer, when I heard 'er singin'. I'd never heard such a lovely voice afore. I followed the sound an' there she was. Hair like spun gold, an' a voice like a nightingale's. Eluna was full an' round, an' lit 'er up like water dancin' on silver." He sighs dreamily as he recalls. "She had me entranced, she did. She was busy pickin' flowers, so she dinnae see me at first. But then as she turned, I spied a nasty warg creepin' up on 'er from behind. Well, I leaped up from where I was crouched an' hollered 'Get down, lassie!' Then I put a bullet straight betwixt that nasty beastie's eyes. An' Sarah, gods love 'er, she drew 'er belt knife an' flung it straight at me! Or at least, I -thought- it was straight at me--but it hit the warg's -mate- who was about tae get the drop on -me-!"<br />
<br />
He rumbles with laughter, clapping a hand to his knee. "Och, we were both all blushes an' stumbles after that. But it lit a spark that eve. We'd meet up in that verra same clearing each week, an' have us a picnic luncheon. We'd spend all the day just... talkin'. It was so..." He sighs happily again. "...so -nice-." He looks back to Taara with that same dopey, love-struck grin. "What 'bout you, Auntie Taara? How did you an' Uncle Moggie meet, then? Tell us all about it!"<br />
<br />
Each story ventured is listened to. Each set of words taken in. 'Moggie' just sort of grumbly returns from out back carrying some platters of freshly cooked meat from the firepit outside. Pork, from the smell of it. He passes through the dining area of the little home and into the kitchen, where more grumbling and swearing can be heard. It's not a cooking event without one of the cooks swearing a lot. This is fact. <br />
<br />
'Taara' just seems thrilled with the tales, yes, particularly Dirk's. She loves a good love story, doesn't she? Who doesn't? Of course, that look in her eye already suggests she's envisioning dramas.<br />
<br />
A lot of dramas. That's better than the empty, some despairing look one can now recognize even if it was hard to see on arrival. <br />
<br />
"You've all had such difficulty," she begins, leaving the thought unfinished. <br />
<br />
She's thinking, okay?<br />
<br />
"Difficulties are what makes stories spicy." Skyler says with a shrug, "The struggles we've gone through make us appreciate what we have. Without them, there's no lows, but no highs either."<br />
<br />
Aryia shrugs. "If it were easy, then what's the point of living?" she signs, nodding towards Skyler's perspective. <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Dirk nods his head, reaching over to stab a stack of delicious ham from the platter Moggie brings in without taking his eyes off Taara. He chompfs a big bite of delicious pork, rumbling happily as he savors the flavor. "Mmh! Mrnch! Monch! GLUP! Och, Uncle Moggie, this is -fantastic!-" He grins over at his 'uncle' before he looks back to Taara. He nods his head, his expression softening. "Aye, the fop has it right," he says, nodding at Skyler. "Sarah an' I both knew what it'd mean, if we stayed together. She'd grow old an' die while I lived on. An' sometimes, the thought o' that would keep one--or both--of us up at night." His expression turns quietly wistful. "An' when her time came tae leave this world, I thought... well, fer years after, I thought 'it's nae -fair-, we dinnae get enough time together'. But then I remember what Blessed Dana teaches us. To everything, there is a season. What lives must die, so that it may live again. In the end, we got sixty-five years together. As bitter as her passing was... even -that- cannae take those years from us."<br />
<br />
Eztli hesitated for a moment as Maugrim came in with large platters of 'pork', but eventually she relaxed and took some onto a plate for a few bites. "Life's always going to have difficulties to some degree, like everyone else has said. No good comparing to someone else and getting burned, but you're going to have challenges. I'd be happier knowing that others haven't had to deal with the sorts of things I have, anyways."<br />
<br />
"Gotta have the bitter," Magpie opines, "If you wanna appreciate the sweet. Thanks, Uncle," she says, as she helps herself to a couple pork chops. "Yeah I spent a lotta my growin up years just miserable, but *oh boy* do I love the dad that *chose* me out of all the other urchins. And it's the same with adventurin'."<br />
<br />
Hoisting a half-pint mug of dark stout, she takes a quick drink. "When you're in it, it's boredom and boredom and then ten minutes of life-or-death panic, but like... Couple months later? You're sitting in a tavern, and the story starts out 'so no shit, there I was,' and everything is just *hilarious* in hindsight."<br />
<br />
"Hmm," is what she says to Skyler. Then she listens to ARyia, nodding her head. Dirk's words are tkaen in, thne Eztli's, and finally Magpie's. Each has spoken to her in turn><br />
<br />
She's aboutt o say something and then there's a loud set of swear words coming from the kitchen area again. Who knew that he was so full of cussing?<br />
<br />
She smiles, after a moment, with a slight strain. It would appear that even in this illusion, the reality of what someone is can not be fully dismissed.<br />
<br />
""I suppose that makes sense," she agrees, casually. More food is being prepared, and now it's being rolled out in great heaping dishes. Dinner is served. Roast meat (of some kind) alongside roasted vegetables. Onions, garlic! Spring vegetables, because it's always spring here, clearly.<br />
<br />
'Taara' pauses a moment, then pats her husband's hand when he passes her by. <br />
<br />
"You all seem to have taken it in stride. But what about when you make a mistake?" She asks, squinting at them. This, she wants to hear. "I never make those," she is hasty to clarify.<br />
<br />
Aryia finishes her course of Amshere delights, grabbing a stein of beer and leaning back in her chair. She quirks a brow at the cursing, her grabbing another serving of the dinner that's being served and stacking it high. "You learn from it. Take a nugget of wisdom from it, and do better next time," she suggests. "A perfect story has to have failure within it too, right? Otherwise it's just boring and self serving. Actions speak louder than words. Shit, I've fucked up a lot, and the only way I've rectified those mistakes is by doing something about it." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Skyler is still for a moment, and then glances towards Eztli before answering, speaking as much to the sorceress as the Goddess. "I made a mistake, recently. I was reckless, thinking no one other than myself would pay the price. A killer caught me in a trap, and because of my recklessness a friend, Carver, died." His jaw works, and he finally looks away from Eztli. "She died spitting defiance, laughing with her prey's blood on her lips, but she still died, and left someone that loved her and she loved very much without her." He closes his eyes briefly before opening them again. "But that's how stories go sometimes. You fail. You make mistakes.. And sometimes, even worse: you aren't the one that pays for them. The people you love and care about are." He glances over at Eztli. "You learn from them, so the price wasn't paid in vail, y'know?"<br />
<br />
Eztli had a few more bites of food, the sorceress chewing slowly to focus on listening. And listening, until eventually a low growl grew in their throat. She reached to take another tankard of ale, and this one was unceremoniously dumped completely down her throat in a singular motion. That quieted her for some time. "You make a mistake, you own up to it, simple as that." She eventually sighed. "If it's fixable, you fix it, if it's not , you live with it. Not much more to it."<br />
<br />
Skyler nods slowly, with an odd sense of solemnity and gives Eztli a brief grin of acknowledgement.<br />
<br />
"They're right," Magpie says, lunging over the table to grab a sausage, which is split in half, painted with mustard, and sandwiched between the two pork chops. "Most good stories deal with the protagonist making a mistake. Sometimes it's a little one they can make right, sometimes it's a big one they can't. And the important part is always whether or not they *learn better,* y'know? The way my dad says it, is like... 'As long as you never make the same mistake twice, you're getting somewhere.'"<br />
<br />
At which point she takes a relatively huge bite of her meat-sweat sandwich. Which looks like a mistake all its own.<br />
<br />
Dirk finishes off his third plate of food, pushing the empty aside and settling back in his seat with a happy sigh. He pats his hefty middle as he picks up a mug of beer for himself. He tips back a healthy swallow, gulping thirstily as he drains the mug dry. He bangs the empty down on the table and thumps his chest a couple times, coaxing out a mighty, rafter-shaking belch. "BraaaaaaAAAAAAAUUUUUFFF! Oh! 'scuse -me-!" He glances around, tugging at his collar as he grins sheepishly. "Sorry. It's easy tae forget tallfolk dinnae value proper belchin' skill."<br />
<br />
He looks back at Taara, nodding in agreement with his mates. "We all make mistakes. We're nae a one of us perfect. Nor I ever -want- tae be. Tae be perfect is to never change--because if ye did, then ye'd nae be perfect anymore, would ye? Nothin' would change, nothin' would grow." He hefts his empty mug--which he suddenly finds full again. When did that happen? "Hell, Sarah -would- scold me every time I let loose a belch. An' there was times when I'd tell 'er exactly what I thought o' tallfolk prudishness. We both said things we dinnae really mean. But we always found our way back. We always said we were sorry, an' forgave each other." He smiles wistfully at Taara. "Bein' imperfect... makin' mistakes... it dinnae make us -bad-, Auntie Taara. It just makes us... mortal."<br />
<br />
The food is, at least, tasty.<br />
<br />
-Really- tasty.<br />
<br />
Who knew Taara and 'Moggy' could cook so well? Well, it appears to be the fact here, in any event.<br />
<br />
Each speaker is given their moment in turn to answer the question and they listen. Well, 'Taara' listens. 'Moggie' just kind of quietly seethes, especially when he's called 'Moggie' again. Maybe he's not as fond of the name as he appears, but it's not like he's going anywhere.<br />
<br />
Aryia gets a nod from her and sghe leans forward, chin on her hands, elbows on the table.<br />
<br />
Big eyes.<br />
<br />
"What if its too late?" she asks, thoughtfully.<br />
<br />
To Skyler, she turns her gaze, asking the same question, "How do you know its fixable? Do you just throw yourself into it until you find out its not?"<br />
<br />
Dirk is listened to and there's a big smile. "Mortal!" She cracks.<br />
<br />
"Yes, I suppose that we are, she nods. "Forgiveness seems like a difficult thing to earn. I always feel like I've so much red ink on my hands, even just itting here and writing!"<br />
<br />
Then to Magpie, there is a smile.<br />
<br />
"Well. That's a good saying. I'd like that."<br />
<br />
"Look at it this way, ma'am..." 'Ma'am?!' Skyler ducks his head. "If you try, and still fail, then it isn't your fault that it failed. But if you don't try, and we lose everything, then it's all your fault." He spreads his hands. "You might fail half the shots you try, but you fail more if you never take them at all."<br />
<br />
Aryia side eyes Skyler and Eztli, grimacing at the tale. She's known of Carver by proxy, and couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness from that. There's a nod towards Dirk, her giving an approving look at the belch before downing her own drink.<br />
<br />
And then 'Taara' asks her. Her. For advice. Aryia looks at the bottom of her mug, looking like she is trying to find answers in the leftover froth. She breathes In. And gestures. "If it's too late, then you own the mistake. Acknowledge how badly you fucked up, apologize, and- I cannot stress this enough- /move the fuck on/. If you do not move, do not act, you'll wallow in the darkness, if you even if you don't realize it."<br />
<br />
She jabs a thumb to Skyler's point. "A ship is safest in the harbor. But that is not what a ship is built for." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Eztli had reached for another mug of drink, tossed back into her throat. The small makari snorted, flames flickering out the end of her snout. "If it's too late, it's too late. That doesn't change." Eztli shrugged. "Is it too late, or are you just giving up? Big difference there. Real big difference. And like Aryia said, still more you could do. I'd like to say it's never too late to at least do _something_."<br />
<br />
"Not to mention," Magpie pipes up, "unless you've just pushed everyone and everything away... there's always folk near you, who care enough to give you a hand." At this, she nods to 'Moggie.' "People like that? They're a treasure beyond price, because there is nothing that makes the darkness lighten up like being able to ask for help, and *get it.*"<br />
<br />
Finishing her half-pint, she leans over the table, big eyes locked onto 'Taara,' voice gentle. "Cos it's okay to need help. Nobody's as strong alone as they are with friends. An' I got personal experience of that, with most everyone I came with, Auntie. It might surprise you, what asking for help'll turn up."<br />
<br />
Dirk nods his head in agreement with his mates, his smile warm and bright as his eyes twinkle beneath the hang of his shaggy white brows. "Aye, yer all right, all of ye!" He looks back to Taara and Maugrim. "Yesterday we cannae change. Tomorrow we cannae know. But -today-... today is ours, an' we can do -anything-! There's nae sense in worryin' about what's done or what -might- be. That's a sticky bog that'll sink ye under if ye dwell on it overlong. Best tae keep yer feet right here in the now, where yer footin' is firm." He leans forward, regarding Taara with his simple, homespun earnesty. "Auntie Taara... if even a Goddess o' the Dark can show kindness an' share a delicious meal wi' those who would stand against 'er... then doesn't that mean -somethin'- good?" He taps the side of his big dwarven nose. "We -need- ye, lassie. We need you, an' Maugrim, an' Caracoroth, an' all the rest. Without ye... we great an' mighty heroes, we've got nae stories at -all-."<br />
<br />
-To be continued-<br />
<br />
[[Category:PRPs]]</div>Aryiahttp://www.tenebraemush.net/index.php?title=Where%27d_They_Go%3F_That%27s_Where&diff=44519Where'd They Go? That's Where2025-11-25T05:26:04Z<p>Aryia: </p>
<hr />
<div>Darkness.<br />
<br />
Alexandria has been consumed in it for a hot minute, hasn't it? Not the kind of darkness of night's fall and early winter's days, but the more metaphorical kind: a creeping, slowly spreading chill, a tension building of a coming ending: the moment before the boot drops, so to speak.<br />
<br />
You aren't sure what you were doing, or even how long its been, but here you are: painfully aware of that boot, and unsure where you are. There's an expanse of swirling blackness, and you are alone in it.<br />
<br />
... until your hear a voice: people calling out.<br />
<br />
"Five more minutes!" Skyler grouses, as if the call of the voices were people attempting to wake him up, "Mama, I do not want the pony with the fancy forelock, for he bit me when I fed him sugar cubes."<br />
<br />
Beat.<br />
<br />
"Oh wait. I'm not asleep."<br />
<br />
Another beat. "Gods this is getting *weird* in Alexandria."<br />
<br />
Dirk pauses with his brush in mid-stroke, poised over his beard as that darkness overwhelms him. He blinks owlishly, squinting and peering in the gloom. That doesn't seem right. -He- can see in the dark just fine, usually. "What in Dana's flowery green -arse-?" he grumbles. He fumbles his way to the window of his inn room and flings it open. Perhaps if he can see outside, something will make sense. If only it were that easy. "Och, what the hell is this? What the hell is goin' on here?!" he shouts out into the void. Will it help? Maybe not, but it helps to be able to do -something-. It's proof that he's not going deaf as well as blind in his old age.<br />
<br />
Aryia is quite used to the dark. Pitch black, or even darker. Perhaps the last gift of Taara. Or maybe she's just built different. So it is *weird* that she can't even see past her own nose.<br />
<br />
She catches a voice, then two, turning that way and gives a quiet, two toned whistle as she claps her hands together, trying to light up the dark.<br />
<br />
Eztli was left in some state of confusion at the darkness around her. The makari flicked a small flame between two of her fingers, that seemed to do little to actually disperse the darkness. Sound still worked though, right? The sorceress carefully picked her way through the shadows to not trip on anything, trying to find the source of the noise.<br />
<br />
Aryia manages to get her hands alight with moonlight, but still, barely able to catch anything before her reach. A tinge of panic crawls of up her neck, but she locks that down.<br />
<br />
"What a worthless little cretin. Get rid of it." A distance voice rolled by over her shoulder. A man's. She felt a weight land in her hand. It was dropped like hot iron. "What? Scared? They're useless. You will be too if you don't-"<br />
<br />
A whistling streak of moonlight punches the air behind her, her finding herself panting and slowly backing up. What... is that...?<br />
<br />
"...Albus?" Magpie says, turning this way and that, trying to pierce the gloom. "...Is it time for another Crimson Pen book? Or... wait... You're *not* a book anyore, right? Didn't we--"<br />
<br />
Backing away from the calling voice, Magpie does what comes natural; putting a Light spell on the headdress-coin directly over her forehead, because when you need a light you need it close.<br />
<br />
"The.. pony..."<br />
<br />
"Pony..." A voice seems to echo around Skyler, making his eyes widen and his skin to visibly pimple up.<br />
<br />
"Pony..." Or at least, it would if anyone could see him.<br />
<br />
"Pony... would... not bite... if you did... not ride it so harshly..."<br />
<br />
"Harshly... little toadstool.." Again the voice echos, and Skyler spins around with fist raised, eyes dilated in utter terror. "No. You're *dead*. You're dead and *he* killed you!"<br />
<br />
And he hears the sound of a voice crooning a discordant melody, something about 'heal heal little frog' that's equal parts silly but, judging by how Skyler seems to be covering his ears, equally parts terrifying to him at least.<br />
<br />
"Little hunter..." Dirk's face turns white as his beard as the soft, silky-smooth voice reaches him from the darkness. "Let me -in-, little hunter." Dirk swallows hard, his mouth turning dry. "No... it cannae be you..." He slowly backs away from the window, fumbling in the gloom for his thunderbelcher. His flailing palm catches the barrel, making the weapon topple to the floor. The clatter makes Dirk startle back with a squeak. "Yer -dead-, Demontry Kol! Dolan and Andalena put an -end- tae you! Yer dead an' gone -an' ye cannae come back!-" He stoops to snatch up his thunderbelcher and snaps it to his shoulder. He turns this way and that, panting for breath as he fights the panic clawing at his mind. "Yer dead an' gone. Ye cannae come back. Yer dead an' gone. Ye cannae come -back-!" he whispers hoarsely. But the soft, mocking laughter that rings in his ears tell him that no, Dirk, sometimes your worst nightmare really -can- come true.<br />
<br />
Eztli squinted in spite of the darkness, listening closely to the voices. She froze in place as the voices turned guttural and violent, clearly humanoid, but not quite. "I'll burn you all where you stand!" The sorceress shouted, charging off in the irection of the noise to get to the source of it, and eliminate it if need be.<br />
<br />
With her forehead shining like a beacon, Magpie *ought* to be able to see more than nothing. But the darkness is too close, too heavy, and the voice... shifts, subtly. Menace weights it's barely-understood words, a gurgling sound like an indrawn breath around a mouth full of blood.<br />
<br />
The faint crackle of fire.<br />
<br />
Timbers falling to crash into floorboards.<br />
<br />
The crack of bone.<br />
<br />
"Wait... you're not Albus," Magpie whispers... "...You're... oh *hell* no."<br />
<br />
And she turns and just bolts, fleeing in any random direction that is Away From That Ever-To-Be-Damned Wendigo.<br />
<br />
The voices fade away. Silence.<br />
<br />
All of you are alone in the dark for a moment. It's chill settles into your bones. <br />
<br />
And then a new voice, achingly familiar but just out of reach, a memory come and gone.<br />
<br />
"We are all made of stories, little ones. Seek them out."<br />
<br />
Aryia squashes her breathing, forcing it to be an even In and Out as she backs up with glowing hands raised. Focus. Whatever is going on trying to fuck with you. Find your center. That mantra goes through her head again and again until-<br />
<br />
She senses others nearby. She whistles again, a two toned low-high. And.. a voice? It was painful how familiar it was, the ache like a heart being pulled taut.<br />
<br />
"I saw him..." Skyler whispers staring at nothing as he curls up on the ground, hands wrapped around his legs, "He hurt her. He hurt her and she could not have lived through that. If she did..."<br />
<br />
What that would mean remains unknown, as he perks up when he hears the two-toned high-low whistle. Slowly, he surfaces and pulls a small little grey stone out of a small cage braided into his hair. He kisses it softly, hesitantly, and then lets go of it so it's floating around his head like a friendly little moon as he stands up and walks towards the whistles.<br />
<br />
Dirk's eyes blink open as he hears voices. Voices he knows. Voices that aren't -Kol's-. "Blessed Lady, keep an' protect me," he whispers softly as he gingerly makes his way forward. "Halloooo! Skyler! Is that you, laddie?"<br />
<br />
The voices vanished just as suddenly as they had appeared, leaving Eztli alone again with an ever growing frustration. She sighed, perking up just as the voices picked up again. "Dirk? That you over there? Not something impersonating you or something, hopefully?"<br />
<br />
Magpie is... not really paying attention. She is, after all, convinced that there's a people-eating monster in dire -- like Bear -- need of a snack.<br />
<br />
Magpie is also a smol bean. This has long been a source of great frustration, because the bulk of Alexandria is not *built* for smol beans.<br />
<br />
Both of these together may explain why a circular light bobs rapidly out of the gloom, resolving into a Magpie that crashes into Dirk, rebounding almost immediately and looking up, eyes streaming with fear-filled tears. "...D-Dirk? ...Is that *you,* buddy?!"<br />
<br />
The swashbuckling man comes face to face with a scarred-to-the-nines shadow elf with eerie glowing hands and fierce scowl that could cut through rock. She blinks. Her hands move, and understanding follows regardless of knowing the lingua franca. "Who the fuck are you?"<br />
<br />
Aryia looks to the side, hearing closer voices, barely seeing them. "Eztli? Dirk?" She waves, doing that two-toned whistle again. Her way of saying 'hey!'. <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
"Dirk?" Skyler looks *horrid* when the ol' boy finds him, eyes wide and shaking in the dim light of his (not so) happy (anymore) moon. Is he green or is that just the light of the aeon torch? "Wh.. where are we? I wanna go *home*. Jarik was gunna give me a foot rub!"<br />
<br />
He then jerks his head towards the others, and clings to the dwarf's arm. "Oh hey, I know the little one. We took on some demon-lord and she ate his nuts while I skunked his face. And is that Eztli and..."<br />
<br />
He comes face to face with Aryia, lets out a shriek, and falls backwards on his ass. "I'M TOO YOUNG AND PRETTY TO DIE IS WHO I AM!"<br />
<br />
Eztli trudged up over to where everyone else was conversing, the low growl in her throat dying down and out once she actually saw some faces attached to the voices. "Look, no one here is going to die unless there's a reason for that, and I doubt that's the case." The makari grumbled. <br />
<br />
"Now, more importantly, yeah, no clue where the hell we are. If I can get us out of here and you aren't all shadow monsters pretending to be people I know, then I can see what I can do, if it comes down to it."<br />
<br />
Dirk's eyes get wide as he spies Skyler. He doesn't even comment on the arm-clinging. He's in the mood for some clinging himself. He clutches at Skyler, eyes wide as teacups as he looks around fearfully. "Skyler! Praise the -gods- laddie. Ye won't -believe---" But then there's Aryia, and Eztli, and Magpie too. He staggers a bit as Skyler falls away from him. "Ariya! It's a'right, lassie! Skyler's an adventurer, like us!"<br />
<br />
It's about this time that Magpie enters, stage right, and smacks right into him. He sweeps his arm around her to keep her from ass-planting as well. Fortunately, while he is indeed a shortstack, he is no smol bean. He is decidedly more of a thicc bean, and so he does not tumble as easily as some others. "Magpie! It's a'right, lassie, it's me!"<br />
<br />
He looks up and around at his friends, his beard bristling. "What the hell is goin' -on-? Is this more o' Heth's bullshit? I thought we blasted that sheepfucker out the sky!"<br />
<br />
Aryia relaxes as she runs into others she knows - and more importantly trusts. And then there's this screaming man. Her glowing gaze leers down at him, ears flicking at the high pitched noise. "... sure. Pretty. Get up. My bedtime was interrupted and I'm pissed." She reaches down a hand to help hoist Skyler up - it's more like getting thrown to their feet if he accepts.<br />
<br />
She steps closer to Eztli. "Yes. Let's figure this out. I want to get back to bed."<br />
<br />
She gives a firm nod to Dirk, relaxing somewhat. "Don't know. Too dark for that. He's more a zombie dragon." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Upon confirmation of Dirk's reality, Magpie simply lunges out of his grip to wrap her arms perhaps a quarter of the way around his middle, consoling herself with a good few seconds of crying.<br />
<br />
Once big feelings in smol body are satisfied, she leans back, rubbing eyes and nose. "...Yeah no we need to be *anywhere else,* This is lookin' just a little too Void-y for my liking.<br />
<br />
"Evil never dies, Dirk." Skyler says earnestly, as he stares from Dirk to Aryia and then at Eztli and Magpie before accepting the hand to his feet a touch self-consciously as his little moon stalls behind his head. Is it embarrassed to be orbiting the swashbuckler?<br />
<br />
Do they even do that?<br />
<br />
But then it comes around again and he's schooled his face into a grin of amusement. Sure, he's flung to his feet, but he's *Skyler* and manages to twist midair to land nimbly on his feet, brushing off his best feature.<br />
<br />
... His shoulders, duh! "Evil just gets kinda winded and then apparently comes back to throw our deepest trauma at us. Did anyone else see or hear someone or something horrible, or am I just depressed and/or mentally ill?" He scratches his chin consideringly, "Although I think they aren't mutually exclusive. Oh, hey little squirrel!" And he pulls a little lacy bit of fabric out of thin air, and offers it to her, "For your face. You can blow your nose too, 'coz I don't want it back if you use it."<br />
<br />
Dirk wraps Magpie up in his arms and gives her a proper Dwarf Sized hug, a (likely very successful) attempt to crush her soul back into her body. Also, he's trembling himself, and it helps to have someone to cling to. "Easy there lassie. Yer a'right. Fer now, at least. Yer among friends," he says, as soothingly as he can. Once Magpie turns loose, he does the same. He looks up and around at the others. "No, lad, it wasnae just you. I heard... -him-." He shudders, gripping the stock of his thunderbelcher until his knuckles turn white. "Demontry Kol. That rat -bastard- of a vampire. Och, of all the villains I ever fought, he was the -worst-."<br />
<br />
"Th-th Wendigo," Magpie stammers, accepting the lacy cloth with a watery smile and using it to de-gunkify her face. "Thanks... You're *lots* nicer as a person," she says. "...But you made a *heck* of a skunk. Anyway... That's what I was running from. I couldn't see anything... but it sounded like we were back in that in, and just.... no. Nuh-uh."<br />
<br />
"I'm not too confident this is something we can figure out nice and quick, much as I'd like that." Eztli sighed, rubbing the back of her head. "If we're not in Alexandria, teleporting would always work, but I don't know any spells to go cross planes, which is more likely. So, whatever way is out of here, it's on the terms of whatevers got us here."<br />
<br />
"I mean he was a little handsy when *I* ran into him, but after I killed him half a dozen times he got the hint." Skyler says reflectively regarding Dirk's terror, reaching over and patting Magpie on the top of her head. "I don't think I can do a handstand and shake my ass at this problem, alas." He tells the smolbean sadly, "But I'm glad to have you here with me, and we're in some pretty fierce company." He puffs his chest, "Not to brag, but I'm a Gentleman Adventurer, Eztli once sat fire to some stuffed animals, Dirk doesn't shoot blanks despite his age, and she looks terrifying." He jerks his thumb at Ariya. "Surely she's done some dope-ass shit in her time. Silent but *deadly*." Ah, the emotional recovery abilities of a dumbass. They should be studied! He beams around at the group, tucking thumbs in his belt. "We got this!"<br />
<br />
And then Eztli puts a rain on the parade, and he sags. "Spoilsport."<br />
<br />
If Aryia is surprised from the smooth twist and land, she only shows it through a little shrug and a cocked brow. "Yes, I did. Heard my old owner," she answers Skyler. "He should be dead."<br />
<br />
The name Kol catches a tinge of recognition, so she gets closer to everyone to close the ranks. The thumb towards her gets her attention, a snort escaping her. "I simply solve problems by going through them. The others can tell the tales. But we seem competent enough to untangle this."<br />
<br />
She inhales. Out. "So... did anyone hear that other voice?" <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Dirk shakes his head. "He could always get in my head," he says tightly. "I couldnae keep 'im out, nae matter how hard I tried. He could turn me intae his adorin' wee little -slave-. Och." He draws a shaky breath, looking over at Eztli. "Gods, what I wouldnae give tae have Lana or Telamon here. Or Missus Verna, or Master Mikilos. -They'd- know what tae do." He glances back at Aryia, studying the movement of her hands. "Other voice?" he asks, looking back up at her face. "I... I'm nae certain. Could it have been one of us that ye heard, perhaps...?"<br />
<br />
"Something about being made of stories," Aryia replies to Dirk in a quick flit. "Might have been my imagination. This place seems fucked." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
"Maybe we were kidnapped by fairies. I had that happen once." Skyler says brightly, as he glances around, "Anyone see a mushroom circle? They give you hints if you pee on them, the kinky little things."<br />
<br />
There are no mushroom circles.<br />
<br />
Alas, there is only a profound, chilling darkness that seems to extend in all directions.<br />
<br />
And then... <br />
<br />
... there it is.<br />
<br />
That voice.<br />
<br />
Warm, rich, melodious even. "Find the thread. One will bring you to me. A final corruption."<br />
<br />
There, something takes shape. A home rising up out of the dark. Lonely looking, in the sense, but it's a several story manor home from the look of it.<br />
<br />
"I'm not useless, you know, I just don't make it a habit of fucking around with other planes of existence, so I never bothered learning more about it. Which clearly, in hindsight, wasn't a good idea." Eztli huffed, trying not to glare at the comments. "Didn't hear too much, maybe someone's trying to mess with me, since I'd recognize those noises anywhere. Maybe they thought they had more of a hold over me still." <br />
<br />
The makari watched as the building appeared, and sighed. "Well, that's a trap if I ever saw it, but unless anyone has any better leads, or wants to see what happens if we teleport somewhere else at the moment, Doesn't look like much of a choice, does it?"<br />
<br />
Aryia just gives Skyler a /look/. "Okay, fairy pisser. You could just-"<br />
<br />
Her hands still as that voice snakes through the air. Hands drop, looking over to- oh. "-h f-ck m- s-d-w-ys," Aryia hisses through clenched teeth, her grey skin paling. "I know that house. Gird yourselves. Last time I was there, I stepped into a fucked up bloody aftermath of a massacre." She goes through a few motions: cracking her neck and rolling her shoulders before taking point. <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
<OOC> Aryia uses Ki: Barkskin <br />
<br />
Dirk gives Skyler a -look-, his bushy white brows furrowing as he tugs at his beard. "I... I'm nae sure it works -quite- like that, lad," he says. "Although there's plenty out there in the wilds that'll do summat if ye piss on it. I dinnae judge." He looks back to Ariya and snaps his fingers. "Och! Yer so right! I heard that too! Just..." He waves a hand around. "All o' -this- is goin' on..." He looks like he might like to elaborate, but then there's that manor rising up out of the gloom. He looks up (and up and up), his eyes getting wide once again as his jaw drops. "Erh?" That's about all he can manage. Fortunately, Ariya's there to fill in the blanks. At her warning, he lifts his thunderbelcher and racks the slide with a satisfying CHK-CHAK. "Right. Let's finish this up an' get back tae Alex. I have tae finish groomin' me beard."<br />
<br />
GAME: Eztli casts Mage Armor. Caster Level: 14 DC: 20<br />
<br />
"There's a whore I know that taught me the *best* balm for frizzy hair!" Skyler tells Dirk brightly, "You are looking a little poofy. Works extra well on bristly, curly hair. We can even add some dyes to make it fun colors! I once committed piracy with a guy that had a purple beard. It got all over everything, especially when it rained, but he said it helped immensely with split ends." <br />
<br />
As he rattles away, his hand reaches up to draw his wickedly curved blade, tossing it into the air and catching it with a flourish before pausing to check his boots for scuffs. One gets wiped away, before he nods at Aryia, ignoring the look. He once dressed in Verdama drag and flirted with one of Her paladins. It takes more than that to rattle him. "Of course it's a trap. But we know it's a trap, so we're springing it on our terms. Who do we wanna send in first, or do we all want to jump in at once so they can't single anyone out?"<br />
<br />
There's warmth in that home, unlike the chill of the place you're in. You can feel it as you get closer. Love, laughter, and light oozing from it at stark odds with the nature of the place.<br />
<br />
And ... <br />
<br />
...music? You can hear it now. Joyous. Lively.<br />
<br />
GAME: Magpie casts Mass Planar Adaptation. Caster Level: 15 DC: 25<br />
<br />
Dirk gives Skyler another -look-. "I do not need a purple beard," he grumbles. "Make me look like one o' those nutty oddbeards. Hrumph!" He mutters and grumbles as he lumbers along, his posture tense as a coiled spring. But then, hearing that cheery music, and seeing how warm and inviting the place looks... it slows the burly old snowbeard's step. "Aye-yup. This is -definitely- a trap," he grumbles.<br />
<br />
As the others begin to gird up for trouble, Magpie stands there, brow furrowed for a moment. Then, she wets the end of a finger and holds it up to the air, nodding slowly... and begins to chant. The words... don't matter much, sliding off ears and brains as she speaks into her cupped hands. Power gathers there, pooling into a roiling, chaotic mass of liquid light of any and all possible colors. Then, at the apex of her chant, she slams her hands together, and the power sprayes out in all directions, settling over herself and her friends in a shimmering ward that soon fades into only the occasional multicolored glimmer.<br />
<br />
"...Been a tour guide out in the Planes for awhile," she says quietly. "Wherever we are, we're plane-lost. I can get us back, but... this feels *important.*<br />
<br />
"I agree, we're not on this plane," Aryia nods towards Magpie, taking the magic with appreciation. The stark contrast of how the home feels now versus how she remembered it is deeply unsettling. Last Aryia was here, it looked like people suddenly left mid-party. But here, it looked like the party was still going on.<br />
<br />
"I can take it. Prepare for Taaranites," she volunteers, stepping forth towards the manor and... she inhales deeply. Lines of energy flare on her skin in a flash. And she opens the door. <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
<OOC> Aryia uses Ki: Diamond Soul, Gain Spell Resist 30<br />
<br />
"Oh, great, cultists, hiding in a plane of darkness, and something warning about corruption. Suppose that explains why people can sound like they're having so much fun in a place like this." Eztli grumbled, waving one hand over her shimmering robes. "You always sleep with your guns and swords on you? Suppose I would too if I didn't have a way to defend myself these days."<br />
<br />
The door opens. <br />
<br />
It looks very inviting! Just waiting for you.<br />
<br />
That can't be bad, right?<br />
<br />
Aryia hesitates at the door, looking back at the others before peering inside. It felt... odd. The carpet wasn't sodden with blood, and music was flowing like the drinks. "Just stay focused." But alas- she enters, eyes darting through the party. On edge.<br />
<br />
Dirk grunts softly as he feels Magpie's protective magicks settle on him. "Glad we've got -you- here wi' us, lassie," he says. "Gods, I've lost track o' how many times yer magicks have come in clutch." He squares up with the manor, swinging his thunderbelcher to rest it over his shoulder. As he lumbers forward, he glances at Etzli. "Nae -usually-, no. I like me gun well an' all--I made it meself after all--but hardly enough tae sleep wi' the thing. That's just weird." He trundles forward, heading for the door, and whatever might lie beyond it.<br />
<br />
And Aryia bounces Skyler, sword held at the ready as he glances left to right with bright eyes and a grin that suggests he's ready for anything.<br />
<br />
Eztli shrugs and doesn't seem too perturbed for the moment by the building before them, and like the others, is quick to enter. "Focused as well as I can be, maybe it'll be easier inside where I can actually see things, hopefully."<br />
<br />
"Don't forget," Magpie says, giving Dirk a distracted grin as he talks her up. "Find the thread. It was important enough for nothing to say, it's important enough to *remember.*"<br />
<br />
But she's still trying to place the voice as she files on in behind the rest... ready to see what needs a little chaos.<br />
<br />
"Welcome, welcome!"<br />
<br />
You're greeted almost immediately by a man in in loosely fitting robes. Silk.<br />
<br />
"It's been so long since we had guests at the door! Come in! Come in! Enjoy! Wine?" Was he holding a platter moments ago? No? <br />
<br />
Does it matter? He is now. Red wine.<br />
<br />
"We're so happy to see you! I'm sure we've been expecting you."<br />
<br />
The home unfolds into a radcuous, hedonistic party. Everyone is singing along, dancing, drinking. It's -merry-.<br />
<br />
Merry everywhere to the heart's desire. Everything is luxurious...<br />
<br />
Dirk wasn't at all certain what to expect out of this alien, otherworldly place. Aside from a couple jaunts into Quel'ynos, he's kept his feet firmly planted on Ea's face. But -this-... it's familiar. -Too- familiar. The old snowbeard swan-dives headfirst into the uncanny valley. His cheeks turn bright red, and his beard bristles as he stumbles and stammers. "Uh... uh... I... uh... that is tae say..." He reaches up to doff his tricorne, glancing around furtively before turning a -desperate- look on Skyler. The sky pirate's the charming one--surely -he- knows what to say? All poor Dirk can think to do is fidget from foot to foot. He doesn't want to be -rude-, really, but he -was- kidnapped, and now he's at a party. Normally something he'd quite enjoy, if not for the circumstances. He's fairly certain he didn't receive an RSVP to -this- particular gathering.<br />
<br />
Eztli looked even more sour than usual, the sorceress not appreciating the party in the slightest. ""Gods, if anyone asks who your parents are, just tell them that they're too important to bother telling them." She grumbled to no one in particular before stepping inside.<br />
<br />
"Oh, hey! Do you guys have oat milk?" Skyler asks brightly as he shoves his way to the front of the crowd, beaming brightly at the party-goers as he glances around, "So glad you knew we were coming, coz we sure as fire didn't!"<br />
<br />
He pauses, and adds, "You'll forgive us if we don't give you our names. It's more fun that way, y'know!" And he grins brightly, "So what's all this about? What's going on? Did someone die?"<br />
<br />
Aryia is stymied briefly at the entrance, such a party rifled old, bittersweet memories. She lingers at some of the luxuries, but she shakes her head, focusing as Skyler pushes his way to the front. He seems far better suited for this environment, so she's back to watching the party for anything remiss.<br />
<br />
Totally just watching.<br />
<br />
"Oat Milk?"<br />
<br />
A beat.<br />
<br />
"Well, I suppose I can check the pantries. They're ... very well stocked? Amazing. It's like a never ending pantry of anything and everything we could want, so perhaps!"<br />
<br />
He smiles warmly at them, then turns to lead them further in.<br />
<br />
It's ... it's a party. There's people singing, laughing, dancing. They all seem to be having a good time. There's no end to it. Every room you pass by, pass through, is filled to the brim with people locked in some sort of eternal festival and they all look like they're having the time of their life. <br />
<br />
And not a knife to be seen anywhere. "There's some space in this room," he says, cheerfully, pointing the way down another hallway. This place is impossible to figure out. The interior makes no sense to the exterior. One gets the impression it doesn't really matter to any of them.<br />
<br />
Dirk shuffles along with the others as they're led inward. He's never one to turn down a good party. No dwarf worth his beard would be. But all of -this- seems to be a bit much for the old ranger. A small gathering of friends in a cheerful inn room is much more his speed. He stares all around as they make their way in. The strange geometries and curious angles has the poor old dwarf's eyes crossing. "Beards o' me sweet tapdancin' fathers. What the hell--"<br />
<br />
He pauses with one foot poised to take a step before he stops in his tracks. Sloooowly he turns his head and leeeeeans back, peering into a room. His eyes get wide, and his cheeks turn red as beets. He swiftly resumes his pace, harrumphing softly as he fans himself with his tricorne. "So ah... heh... quite the er... -lively- gatherin' ye've got goin' on here," he says to their strange host. "There a special occasion? Or are ye all just a naturally happy lot?"<br />
<br />
"Maybe I was too harsh in my judgement. I think they might genuinely just be here to have fun with no ulterior motives. Maybe." Eztli relented as they wandered further into the strange party. "So, what's your name, then? What's the occasion for all of this, anyways?"<br />
<br />
"Hey question!" Magpie calls from much closer to the floor; imposible angles and eldritch geometries... Yeah they're weird, but pay attention to your feet and you'll be fine. "Like he said; what *are* y'all celebrating, anyway? I ain't never seen a party this size without *somethin'* kickin' it off!"<br />
<br />
The gnome seems more... curious, than suspicious, as she examines passed hallways and chambers. Maybe the thread is a literal one?<br />
<br />
This isn't the first or second time that Aryia had been in an otherworldly place where the festivities were eternal. She follows, better to go along with the tide than to fight against it. Especially since they're still trying to sort out what's going on.<br />
<br />
The fact that she hasn't spotted the that knife was both relaxing as it was concerning. A thought that is discarded as she peers into the same room as Dirk. Her brows raise as she whistles lowly, before lazily trailing along with the others after a moment.<br />
<br />
"Hey! When you find the oat milk, maybe also get us the answers to our questions?" Skyler asks brightly, his tone firm but friendly, cheerful even as he squints at the back of the leading figure. "And space for what? Are we having an orgy? I mean, usually I like a little more prep work before group debauchery. And if you think for a second I'm sharing my oat milk, you really are insane."<br />
<br />
He asides to the group, "This is definitely a trap. But, like, is it the kind of fun trap where we all end up naked and covered in cheese, or the kind of trap that ends with us eating someone's flesh? Because I won't do that again. People are kinda gamey." Surely he jests, right?<br />
<br />
Dirk flicks his wide-eyed gaze around at his friends. His friends are safe. The old dwarf is hardly a prude, but even he has his limits. And the heedless abandon permeating this place is a -very- long way beyond that line. If there's anything he can't stand, its losing control of himself. He's had enough of that to last a lifetime.<br />
<br />
But then Skyler has to go and do Skyler things. The old snowbeard's gaze snaps to the swashbuckler. "Naked an' covered in--" He stops in his tracks again, his jaw working for a moment as his cheeks once again turn red as beets. "How's -that- get fun?!" he finally manages in a strangled tone. He doesn't mention the flesh eating. Erotic cheese dip is -so- much easier on his poor frazzled nerves.<br />
<br />
"We are celebrating Taara, of course! How could you not know?" He tilts his head at you, smiling still. "We feast, we sing, we dance, and we tell stories. We lie, we cheat, we manipulte, and we tell stories. All that lives, wants, and all that is dead wants to live. That is why we are here. She has called us to her Side. She is near."<br />
<br />
Oh boy.<br />
<br />
'Find the thread.'<br />
<br />
'Find the thread.''We sing, we dance, we tell stories.'<br />
<br />
'Find the thread.'<br />
<br />
'We lie, we cheat, and we tell stories.'<br />
<br />
In a rush, Magpie draws in a breath, and reaches up to take a glass of wine from the tray. "So, she says, with her most engaging smile, "would you do us the favor of telling us a story? About Taara?"<br />
<br />
"Very gamey," Aryia concurs with a gesture. Was she joking? Does Aryia joke? She glances to Dirk. Shrugs. "Gouda is pretty fun. I can see it."<br />
<br />
Her footfalls stop hard with a stomp. Pales. Gulps. This is Her domain. Magpie comes swooping in with a way forward, grounding the mul'neissa woman that should be completely at ease here. She would have in a different, past life. She is not that woman anymore, and is thankful someone else can fill those shoes. <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
"If I have to explain it, Dirk..." Skyler shakes his head, and jerks his thumb at the dwarf as he addresses the guide, "If we do go cannibal, he's probably a little tough. Probably best to stew him. Low heat, long cook time in an oven." He then cocks his head at Magpie, nodding.<br />
<br />
"Preferably with refreshments. I want oak milk. Warm, maybe, with some honey stirred in? My nanny use to give me a cup every night when she told me stories." He says with a charming, winsome smile, "You'd be surprised at home much I don't know." He says with pride, "I mean, knowing stuff takes so much work. Easier just to vibe! So why don't you get us refreshments and we can listen to your Taaran stories, maybe pull some thread, indulge in pulling Her threads, whatever else we need to do to *party*!"<br />
<br />
"I would rather avoid anything involving cheese or eating people myself." Eztli sighed. "Great, she's near. So, that means we should probably get going, right? Sounds like the case to me, if this is some exclusive Taaran gathering."<br />
<br />
Dirk's eyes get wider still. "Taara. -Taara-? -The- Taara? The goddess of--" He looks for a moment like he'd like to say something -very- unflattering. But he gets ahold of his tongue and snaps his mouth shut. His beard bristles for a moment. "Er. Uh. I mean tae say. The goddess of... things." He gestures lamely all around. That's nice and neutral, right? Surely -that- won't offend a goddess in Her own realm.<br />
<br />
Once again, Skyler gets a -look-. "Och! You lot take it intae yer heads an' cook -me-, I'll go straight tae yer hips, I swear tae fuckin' Dana," he grumbles. It's hardly the first time some nasty beastie or foul fiend has threatened to make a meal of him, but -this- time it feels different. He nods eagerly at Eztli, pointing her way. "-She- gets it!"<br />
<br />
"No, Eztli," Magpie says, shaking a finger next to her head, and beginning to pace. "No... I think we're nearly there. It *feels* close, because what *is* a story? It's the lie that outlines a truth. And they have stories... *and I would hear them.* I want to see the common thread."<br />
<br />
Oh, no, Magpie seems to be locking into her theory, looking up at the revelers with a sort of hunger in her shimmering eyes.<br />
<br />
There's a distinct pause from the young man as the others talk. He tilts his head, adjusting his hood and pulling it down all together. Yep, he's a shadow elf too. Of course he is. <br />
<br />
All smiles.<br />
<br />
"Of COURSE I'll talk to you about Taara. But I think you're here for a reason -- no one gets in uninvited you see -- so why don't you look around and find who invited you?"<br />
<br />
He gestures beyond into the party.<br />
<br />
"Let your journey be the story that warms your hearts in the night or failing that, be worth the hangover."<br />
<br />
While that milk idea sounds pretty good to Aryia, but the weight of what others point make her even more nervous, especially as Magpie seems to hit the mark. An unsettling thing with the normally stoic pugilist. And then-<br />
<br />
She was /invited/ here. Into Taara's domain? Aryia gave up on her over half a century ago. "I tell no more lies, not even to myself anymore," she gestures, looking out to the party proper. "But, fine. Guess we'll have to mingle. Try to not overdo it." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Magpie is just about to say something incredibly clever... when they are put on a scavenger hunt. Words die in her throat, her finger loses it's pointer-y-ness, and she sort of... deflates, just a little. Looking back up at the reveler, she tries on a crooked grin?<br />
<br />
"...A clue, perhaps? Cryptic or plain, honest or red herring, it's momentum that matters, is it not?"<br />
<br />
She *has* her suspicions... but to be wrong might also be blasphemy, so...<br />
<br />
"Wonderful, so we've all got a reason to be here, for something or other. Maybe just the entertainment?" The makari shrugged, not looking to pleased. "So be it, gods I hate mingling at parties,but if that's what we need to do, so be it. Be a bit harder when all I've got to rely on is my winning personality and humility, but we've gotta do something, right?"<br />
<br />
"What if my thread is oat milk?" Skyler asks in a tiny, hopeful little voice before he sighs, scrubs his face with one hand, and shakes his head sadly. "Curses. Fate is a fickle bitch once again."<br />
<br />
He then squares his shoulders, and glances at his party. "Maybe it has something to do with the traumatic visions we heard?" He pauses, and adds to Eztli, "You also have your fiery wit!" And he mimes flames coming out of his mouth, and flails his hands like he's burning. "Crispy."<br />
<br />
Dirk looks up at their host and blinks owlishly. Blink. Blink blink. "Uh..." He looks back towards the room that had just captured his attention moments ago. Of -course- it's still within easy reach, it's fresh in Dirk's mind. "-Taara-? Taara invited -me-? -The- Taara? Och, I'm naebody, why would Taara invite -me-?" He mutters and harrumphs, tugging at his beard as he glances around. Aryia's suggestion has the old ranger boggling slightly. "Mingle? -Me-? Och, but, this is all so... so..." He fumbles for a diplomatic word. "-Lively-," is what he eventually goes with. "I'd just bring the vibe down. You know us dwarves. We're all a bunch o' grounches, us. We'd rather spend our time scowlin' intae a mug o' beer in a gloomy corner. Ayep, that's us, right there." He fidgets with his tricorne, looking around at his friends. Surely they're not suggesting the cardinal sin of splitting the party, are they...?<br />
<br />
"Is that so?" remarks the young man to Aryia, curiously, "Truth is funny thing, you know, that exists in the space between one's story and another's." He takes a step back, smiles at Magpie, and then offers her another glass of wine just because.<br />
<br />
"She waits for all of you." <br />
<br />
And then he disappears into the swirling, dancing crowd.<br />
<br />
Aryia flexes her jaw. "That space is where truth lies, and where truth lies," she replies back with a hand. The mute glances to Magpie. "Momentum matters, it seems. And either we spin this tale in an endless inertia of debauchery or we press forward. Probably has to deal with the horrid shit we saw like Skyler said. So..."<br />
<br />
She rubs her face. Dirk is right, Taara invited /them/? This has to be a sick joke, or and honest plea, and it was frustrating it could be both at the same time. "... let's get into the party or some shit. Fuck me." Aryia moves past the room they peered at, following into the dancing crowd. <Handspeech/Tongues> <br />
<br />
Skyler?<br />
<br />
He's already gone, shrugging out of his coat. "WHO HERE HAS EVER DONE VODKA AND OAT MILK SHOTS?!" He's shouting over the crowd, even as he shakes his ass, "It tastes like hell but oh my god the way it *lingers*! WOOOHOOO!"<br />
<br />
"Does it?" <br />
<br />
"Shit, let's try it!"<br />
<br />
"Let's find some oat milk!"<br />
<br />
"What the hell is oat milk?"<br />
<br />
"WHO KNOWS!"<br />
<br />
"...Okay well since no one got smoten saying it, yeah, pretty sure that's who we have to find, Magpie says, absently swirling the wine... then pausing as Skyler sends a group of Taaranites on a wild oats chase. "Hey, guys? I'm reminded of a saying I heard from a Rosalian... 'In vino, veritas.' This is totally a bad idea, but...."<br />
<br />
Drawing in a short breath, she takes a long swallow of the wine.<br />
<br />
Eztli was left shaking her head awkwardly as some of the others took off. "I was just gonna find a dance floor or pole or something. Seems like the sort of stuff they'd have here." Eztli grumbled. "I don't trust any of the drink here at all, so I'll pass on the oat milk. How do you even milk a plant in the first place? Don't particularly want to know, to be perfectly honest."<br />
<br />
Dirk boggles as their host retreats, leaving them alone. "Oh, beards o' me sweet tapdancin' fathers," he whimpers softly. "How are we goin' tae get back home? We -will- be able to, won't we? Och, Thistle an' Lulu must be so worried..." He fidgets and frets, looking around for something, or anything that might resemble what they're looking for. He's certainly -not- in the mood to party. Usually, he's the one who picks what parties he goes to, and none of the debauchery is doing anything to enhance the burly old ranger's calm.<br />
<br />
As Magpie goes to drink that wine, he startles, reaching out with a "Aggkk--!" But he's too late. "Och, what if it's like in the fae realm? If ye eat or drink what they give ye, they own yer soul, or some nonsense like that," he says. Aaaaand there Skyler goes, doing Skyler things. You really have nobody to blame but yourself, Dirk. You're the one who decided he should do the talking.<br />
<br />
GAME: Aryia rolls perception: (18)+38: 56<br />
GAME: Skyler rolls Perception: (14)+21: 35<br />
GAME: Eztli rolls perception: (14)+5: 19<br />
GAME: Dirk rolls Perception: (19)+22: 41<br />
GAME: Magpie rolls percetion: (20)+percetion: 20<br />
GAME: Magpie rolls perception: (4)+15: 19<br />
<br />
It's loud.<br />
<br />
It's raucous.<br />
<br />
There are people -everywhere-, and talking to them reveals every last one is a Taaran of some kind -- in fact, many of them are actual clergy, or so they say: all too happily.<br />
<br />
They also lie.<br />
<br />
A -lot-.<br />
<br />
It's frustrating. It's annoying. It sends you in circles trying to grasp what's even happenign here, or how you might've goten here. All that is until Aryia in particular hears a voice.<br />
<br />
A familiar laugh, up a set of stairs that seems to have no end.<br />
<br />
There's a touch of old, old habit Aryia falls back into, and that is dance. One of the few vestiges of her old life that still stuck around after the slow fall to rock bottom. She sways from one group to the next, trying to get some iota of information but- she's done this all before- and it's still just as annoying. It seems like it's going to be far too much to deal with-<br />
<br />
A laugh lances through her ears and mind like a shot of old, nostalgic trauma with no ice. A wave of emotions crash against her; fear, rage, apathy, guilty relief. It had been so long to hear that voice, to wield that power. Oh- to taste that once more, the delight of a delivered lie.<br />
<br />
She let the wave crash, spread, and recede. In. Out. She didn't need Her anymore.<br />
<br />
The others. She flits through the party, tapping her friends on the shoulders and gesturing to follow. "Found the thread," she just signs in explanation, pointing to the set of stairs before heading up herself. <Handspeehc/Tongues><br />
<br />
"... And then I told him that it wasn't a banana, it was ME!" Skyler cheerfully tells a group that he's regaling with a story featuring two drunk goblins, an hobgoblin, and a basket of fruit.<br />
<br />
Don't ask.<br />
<br />
In all likelihood it's a lie, and he seems to be attempting to top himself with gusto with each new lie he attempts to tell... Although he also keeps half an eye on each of his party, distracting people attempting to interrupt them or draw trhem away from the mission. When a woman with big ol' knockers and a hungry expression begins to approach Dirk, for example, he calls out, "HEY! DID I EVER TELL YOU ABOUT THE TIME I DRESSED IN DRAG AND TRIED TO SEDUCE A PALADIN OF VARDAMA?!" to draw her away.<br />
<br />
Eztli had searched and searched, but there was nowhere to dance proper she found, outside of just meandering in between the groups of priests that seemed to treat lying like a competitive sport. By the time she was about to threaten to cut out some of their tongues and shove them down their throats, Aryia seemed to recognize something in particular this time, and the sorceress breathed a sigh of relief before reconvening.<br />
<br />
That voice.<br />
<br />
Aryia is leading you towards something she recognizes, up a set of stairs. Up another, longer set of stairs.<br />
<br />
Through narrow and dark hallway, past rooms full of party-goers and increasing levels of hedonism and debauchery. <br />
<br />
Finally, into a lounge, lit by firelight. Shadow Elves in reverent prayer are here -- prayer to Taara. Seated comfortably amongst them is a scarlet-haired shadow elf of, of course, indeterminate age. She rises to her feet, silk robes hanging comfortably on her frame.<br />
<br />
"Well, well, well," she begins, "It's so good to see you and your friends, darling."<br />
<br />
Aryia knows who that is.<br />
<br />
Aryia stops short in the doorframe. Her jaw works, eyes wide at the figure as her throat bobs. "Akorinil," she signs in a blitz of fingerspelling. She clearly is ignoring any pleasantries as the pugilist looks about the room before half looking at the High Priestess. "I take it you invited us here." It wasn't a question. A hand behind her back flashes to the group, "Caution." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
"Oh, golly, I never knew a raven could do *that* with a writing desk." Skyler tells whichever poor soul ended up getting stuck at the rear of the line with him. When the party left the main group, Skyler seemingly appeared out of thin air at the rear of the line holding a goblet of something that is vaguely milky but a little too thin to be actual milk from a cow.<br />
<br />
Is it the fabled oat milk?!<br />
<br />
Despite being by all measures something of a dunderhead, he's not stupid enough to actually drink it, but does seem to be content to carry it with him in the hopes of escaping with it. Oat milk has a longer shelf life than cow's milk, after all. He glances around with bright eyes as they enter the room with the scarlet-haired shadow-elf. He looks prepared to step forward again to take the lead when Aryia begins to wiggle her fingers. He frowns but shrugs, and leans against something after checking it for stickiness. It *is* that kind of place, after all.<br />
<br />
Dirk's eyes get wider and wider as they progress up the stairs. Each new display of hedonism and abandon has the old snowbeard's cheeks turning brighter and brighter red. "Och, if they're tryin' tae sell us, they might be goin' a -wee- bit overboard, wouldn't ye say?" he mutters, giving his beard a tug. But then, they're there, in the company of Taaranites. The redheaded shadow elf has Dirk blinking owlishly. And again when it appears that Aryia -knows- this person. His gaze flicks to the sign behind her back. His shaggy white brows furrow as he takes a step forward. One hand reaches up and over his shoulder to grip the stock of his thunderbelcher. "Right. Let's nae be havin' any biscuit-arsed behavior out o' -you-, lassie," he growls. "It seems a -lovey- party yer havin' here. It'd be such a shame fer there tae be an arse-kickin', now wouldn't it?"<br />
<br />
Eztli continued along with the rest of the group, with some idea of where to go courtesy of Aryia. The makari certainly did not know what to make of the elf, it was just another of many at the party, but she did at least get an inkling to show some manner of wariness.<br />
<br />
Magpie actually giggles at Skyler's commentary; how can one not? he puts such careful work into it, after all, it'd be a shame for his efforts to go unappreciated. She tries not to look into the doors they pass, largely because Dirk is a good enough bellwether, it serves to satisfy her curiosity.<br />
<br />
When the group tops the house to find Akorinil, however... the gnome seems confused. "I... hm... it's good to meet you, your Taarishness? Sorry, never learned many polite modes of address but um... I'm... not familiar?"<br />
<br />
The fabled oat milk is not in evidence at this time.<br />
<br />
But it's not like they aren't looking for it. You can hear them, down below, on the hunt.<br />
<br />
The Shadow Elven woman rises to her full not at all impressive height and gives a very, very warm smile. She's entirely happy to see everyone. "There's no need for any of -that-," she tells Dirk, warmly, "Such distrust, such hostility! It's just like old times, wouldn't you say?" she tells Aryia. <br />
<br />
"I am Akorinil Belvade, and you are a guest in the house that faith built. It is we, here, who sacrifice so that you may live to fight another day -- or perhaps we should say tell another tale?"<br />
<br />
"To be fair, we weren't exactly given the most..." Skyler purses his lips as he considers exactly how to phrase it, "Sanity-preserving wake-up and invitation to the party." His pale eyes drift along the group, taking in Dirk's belligerence, Aryia's discomfort, and Eztli's wariness. "But regardless. You'll have to forgive my little teapot of a friend. His tastes are a little more conservative than you and your followers." He glances over his shoulder, "Although I do have some questions about that one room with the three sea shells myself, to be honest. They certainly looked like they were having fun but..."<br />
<br />
He shakes his head, waving a hand dismissively before checking to see if he spilled the oat milk. Nope. Still safe for Verna or Telamon or someone else to de-cursify for him to enjoy later. "Banger of a party though, Akorrie." He holds up one thumb, "Seriously. So what's this about telling tales? I have an appointment at the bath-house to get my toe nails trimmed and I don't want to be late, so if you could tell us how to get home..."<br />
<br />
Aryia holds up a hand to Dirk, then pushes her hand down in a calming motion. "While I am confident in my abilities, let's not poke this nest." She glances to Skyler, Dirk, Eztli, and Magpie before taking a deep breath and looking back to the Akorinil. "High Priestess of the Lady of Shade, she fails to mention."<br />
<br />
A sigh escapes her. "You can hardly blame us, you know? The distrust. While I appreciate the hospitality, I agree with the fancy man. Can you clear up what the hell's going on here? Because in the material plane this party was... bloody." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Dirk's scowl deepens. "I'm nae Taaranite," he growls. His grip on his thunderbelcher never wavers. "An' -our- tales are -true- ones! Nae those rust-covered lies that -She- spins." Skyler calling him a 'little teapot' has him regarding the swashbuckler with an indignant scowl. "Hrmph! I can cut loose just fine, ye struttin' peacock. But there's a bloody time an' place for it, isn't there?" <br />
<br />
He doesn't miss Ariya's admonition, but he old ranger is tense as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs. He looks back to Akorinil, fixing her with a hairy eyeball. "Ye -kidnapped- us. Forced us here against our will. What on Ea's great green -arse- would make ye think we'd want -anything- tae do wi' ye? We've nae want fer any yarn or tale ye'd want tae spin fer us. Let us go home!" For now, he keeps his voice to a low, surly growl, but he's ready to spring into action at the drop of a hat.<br />
<br />
Eztli sighed, and shook her head a few times. "You've got a real swell way of inviting people to your house of debauchery." Eztli huffed. "Why exactly should we telling you more than we should? It'd be good to know why we should actually tell you anything."<br />
<br />
"It really is a lot of trouble to go to, to bring four random people and also Ariya halfway across the planes," Magpie agrees, and by the very sound of her voice, if she wore glasses she'd be pushing them up their nose.<br />
<br />
"Also I gotta admit, things have been getting ugly and weird for a while now, so I can only guess we're here because we're uniquely suited to help, somehow? Not you, though..."<br />
<br />
Magpie looks down for a moment, then back up, and nods. "So how can we help?"<br />
<br />
Bless her little chaos gremlin heart.<br />
<br />
Skyler snap-points at Magpie, one chaos gremlin to another.<br />
<br />
Clicking her tongue against the roof of her mouth -- a tutt of disappointment -- Akorinil shakes her head with such sadness in her eyes.<br />
<br />
"I am wounded -- so very wounded -- by the accusations and innuendos. Though I like him --" She points at Skyler. "And you," a point at Magpie.<br />
<br />
She smiles at Aryia. <br />
<br />
"I would've thought my station so obvious!"<br />
<br />
A smile at Dirk. <br />
<br />
"Kidnap you? Kidnapping is so gauche. I saved you. The Void consumes all it touches. Do you remember what you were doing before you found yourself here? Do you -really- remember?"<br />
<br />
... come to think of it ... you don't. Not really.<br />
<br />
What do you do when the High Priestess of Lies compliments you? "Thank you, you're pretty swell too! Speaking of swell how do you keep everything so perky with minimal support!" You believe the freakin' lie, of course. It's gauche to point out someone's lie, and she is trying so hard, after all!<br />
<br />
To Dirk, he shakes his head, "Maybe if you calm down, she'll give you some caramel hard candies! Doesn't that sound nice?" And he reaches over to squeeze the dwarf's shoulder warningly, turning to give him a grimace that is as serious as the grave where Akorinil can't see it. And slightly apologetic, as if he's trying to silently apologize for what he's saying.<br />
<br />
Turning back to the Lie Priestess (get it?) he grins. "Nope, but to be fair it wouldn't be the first morning that happened. My partner usually finds me, pays any fees or bounty, and then I start the day. And the Void has been a *bitch* lately, so you'll have to be be more specific. What'd the Void do this time?"<br />
<br />
"And I'm not either, Dirk, but-" Aryia sighs, rubbing her temples. She drops it, stepping deeper into the room and leaning against a wall. "I know how Taaranites work, and those that don't find it kind of maddening to talk in double speak the entire time." She can't help but half cough at Skyler's comment, a rare silent snicker escaping her.<br />
<br />
The pugilist blinks. "The void was... approaching, but we staved it. But before here-..." Aryia stops. Thinks. Frowns. "... alright. Fine. Got me there. Care to elaborate?"<br />
<br />
"Sorry if I don't give much of a crap about impressing you, to be very honest. High Taaranite priest isn't really that high on my list of stations that I care about." The makari snorted. "So, you brought us here, for some reason. I'm sure you did it out of the depth of your heart and compassion, since you know so much about how I'd want to be saved from something like that."<br />
<br />
Dirk's beard bristles angrily. He tenses at Skyler's hand on his shoulder, and he looks about ready to throw it off, possibly with some proper dwarven profanity to help it along. But he's a canny old bear, and he doesn't miss Skyler's expression. It'd be noteworthy enough -without- them being in the very heart of Taara's house of faith. He pulls deep, snorting, snarling breaths through his big dwarven nose. The leather of his gauntlet creaks as he forces his fingers to unclench with visible effort.<br />
<br />
"I'm nae afraid o' the Void," he growls, in a bit more of an even tone.<br />
<br />
He turns his attention back to Akorinil. "Lord Gilead an' the Blessed Lady hold me in their keeping. I trust in Their goodness." He draws another deep breath, fighting for calm. Now is not the time for dwarven tempers. He never was the sharpest marble in the deck. Deep thoughts often evade him. But he possesses deep, homespun wisdom of his own. He forces himself to be calm and cool, like the forest's shade on a clear spring morning. The priestess' question, though, has his hackles springing -right- back up. "Of -course- I remember what I was doin'! I--" He cuts off, lifting a hand to his beard. He gives the majestic snowy white whiskers a tug. "I was... I was... brushin' me beard out..." He pauses. Blink blink. "I -was-, wasn't I...?"<br />
<br />
Confusion darkens his mood back into a surly scowl. He turns his dour gaze back on Akorinil."All right. Fine. Ye brought us here. If we hear yer tale, -then- can we go home? I was... doin' -somethin'- important. I'm fair certain." He actually -isn't- certain, but he's not letting -her- know that.<br />
<br />
"Easy, buddy," Magpie whispers as she rests a hand on Dirk's arm. "I'm not gonna bite the hand that pulls me out of the Void, for certain... But we still need to hear what it is you need from *us.* You can rest assured -- High Priestess? -- we're grateful enough to do what clearly only we could, so... Whaddaya need a tracker, a firelighter, a brawler, and two chaos gremlins for?"<br />
<br />
"You've all done very well in facing the Void, it's true. You've killed the 'villains of the void' -- but do you know what those were made of? Not just void stuff, to be sure. What else were they?"<br />
<br />
The question Akorinil asks each of you is clearly rhetorical, but she's planting her hands on her hips. She needs to hear something from each of you.<br />
<br />
"Pass." Skyler tells the rest of the party, his expression utterly bewildered. "I mean, as far as I know, it's made of nothing because that's what void is, right? Absence of stuff?" He grimaces, "I think I skipped that day with my tutors, or slept through it."<br />
<br />
Aryia nods her head along with Dirk; she wasn't afraid either, having faced it several times herself. She stares at the High Priestess. "... really Akorinil? You were there. You helped me and the group. I fought a corrupted version of myself. A reflection of another timeline. Others I've known have fought the same." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Dirk nods his head firmly at Skyler. "Aye, ye have it exact, laddie," he says with a voice full of conviction. "It's -nothing-. My farts after Gobbo Chili Night have more substance." He pauses, and looks thoughtfully. "Actually, those have a -lot- of substance after Gobbo Chili Night. Errf." He gives himself a shake, looking back to Akorinil. "Sun rises. Rains fall. The forest breathes. An' -good triumphs over evil. That's the way the world bloody works." He grips his belt and nods again. Dwarf Law has been spoken.<br />
<br />
"You've... not been paying too much attention to me, it seems. Guess I was just dragged along for the hell of it." Eztli huffed again, clearly growing a bit more agitated. "But given my second hand knowledge and keeping up with the times, I dunno. They're memories. Void stuff pretending to be something it isn't, because those folks are supposed to be some of the worst known."<br />
<br />
Magpie pauses, then looks over her shoulder at Skyler and Dirk. The others seem to refuse to put much thought into the question, but the Gnome dips her head, beginning to pace.<br />
<br />
"...But the Void isn't nothing," she says, tapping her nose. "If it was, there'd be no Heth. It *is* hungry, and corruptive, but we're not *talking* about Voidstuff. We're talking about the villains."<br />
<br />
Turning back about, she snap-points at Eztli for a moment. "Memories. That's close, but they weren't the *same.* But if the people involved had fallen *to* the Void..."<br />
<br />
She pauses, and looks up at Akorinil. "They're lies. Lies told by the people they were trying to be. 'If only,' 'maybe I could've,' 'if not for that damn skunk...' Memories grasping for ways to remain relevant, come back stronger, get what they deserve."<br />
<br />
Is she holding a mug? Why, yes.<br />
<br />
Was Akorinil holding that mug moments ago?<br />
<br />
No. It's not even clear where she got it -- but she must've gotten it from somewhere. In point of fact, as you each look at her holding it, you begin to -remember- her ssending a servant to fetch it, one bringing it back to her. You're pretty sure that didn't happen... right?<br />
<br />
She holds it out to Skyler. Is it... could it be?<br />
<br />
IS IT THE LEGENDARY OAT MILK?<br />
<br />
In the meantime, she does nod towards Magpie, glancing between each of the others. <br />
<br />
"Tell me, friends -- what is another name for a lie? A fiction. What is a fiction but a story?"<br />
<br />
Her eyes turn towards Aryia, now, "Do you know? Do you know why we were called to her side? It is the same reason you stand here now."<br />
<br />
GAME: Skyler rolls Wisdom: (5)+2: 7<br />
<br />
"Evil is subjective, Dirk. Deforestation is a sin to some, but to others it's a necessary part of fueling progress and forwarding civilization." Skyler says earnestly to Dirk, "I'll grant you there are things that are black and white, but for the most part it's all different colors in between."<br />
<br />
He looks prepared to wax more philosophy when the mug is held out to him. His eyes widen and he bites his lip like a man facing the worst temptation of his life. He knows it's stupid and unwise to drink something handed to him by the Lie Priestess, but...<br />
<br />
"Oat milk." He breathes, and reaches for it, "Gods. It's been so long."<br />
<br />
The others' perspectives paint Aryia another picture of what's going on. She wasn't far off, it seemed: memories, false potentials, all that could have been. She quirks a brow at the offered mug, not really certain where it appeared. But, weirdly, she actually trusted it was the true, one and only: oat milk. Honestly, she can't blame the man for jumping for it, and doesn't stop him.<br />
<br />
She's heard that mantra before: a lie is just fiction, and a story. But she gets a different question. Her eyes grow downcast. "I was called because I was very good at telling the story of Her and His matrimony," her hands are slow. Her fingers curl into tight fists. Tremor. Then release with a breath Out. "But She left me when I needed her most. And now I need no one aside from my friends."<br />
<br />
She glances up to Akorinil, resolved. "But that is not the question you asked. You mean the Mul'neissa. It was..." she tries to remember. "... the original elves. Ancestors. Taara took one, or sheltered them from the other, a long time ago." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Dirk boggles a bit at Skyler as that mug appears out of nowhere. A -fiendish- mug, no less! "-Sky-ler, don't be -thick-!" he can't help exclaiming. "What if it's poison? Ye dinnae have a dwarf belly, poison can -hurt- you!" He grumphs and mutters. "If progress an' civilization comes at the cost of murderin' the forest, then -fuck- 'em both. The Green Word was here long afore anyone put one stone atop another. It'll outlive all of us." He flicks his gaze to Akorinil. "An' -nothin'- can stop -that-."<br />
<br />
He pulls another calming breath. Mutter mutter, grumble grumble. "A'right, so they're -stories-. Just like everything else. Like you an' them, an' -us-." He gestures fro Akorinil, to the other Taarenites, to his comrades. "Get tae yer -point-, lassie. I want tae go -home-." He does try his very best not to sound like a petulant child, but he is -so- far out of his element here.<br />
<br />
"So, stories are being made into reality, and not anything good. Why can't the void just raid Mikilos' library of crimson pen books and do something more fun with that?" Eztli continued to grumble. "Yarn, tale, epic, not sure what you want us to answer here, there's more names than anyone could reasonably guess, everyone's got their name for a story."<br />
<br />
"Dirk," Magpie says, a little more insistently. "C'mon now. I know this is wildly outta your comfort zone, but.. you wouldn't be here if you weren't needed. I believe in you, buddy, okay?"<br />
<br />
Though this is a story she *hasn't* heard, and new stories make for very curious gnomes.<br />
<br />
"Oh, I do wish that it -would-. Nothing can be so self-annihilating as sex," says Akorinil to Eztli, but with a big old smile. She gives Dirk and Magpie sympathetic looks. She certainly understands -- or so she'd like you to think. <br />
<br />
"It's true. You're all here for a reason." She turns her eyes towards Aryia, then, and continues.<br />
<br />
"...ah. The Shadow Elves -- you and me both -- once labored in spiritual bondage to her, as you know. AS everyone knows. That bondage was shattered when the right story was told. Without the weight of their souls, however, the wall against the Void within her weakened. The toll her theft of magic for power took grew. The death of Animus haunted her. The Void found purchase within divinity and sought a new story: a fractured one that would end reality. Without narrative, there is no time, not consciousness, no 'self', and without those things, there can be no desires fulfilled."<br />
<br />
She glances towards Skyler, "... a world without a hunger for oat milk," she says, for emphasis.<br />
<br />
"And so she called her high priests home to her. She called her faithful, so many of us, so that we may rest in the Abyss and support her through it all. She called so many, and we worked until the time was right. We stand on the precipice of the final step. There is but one more villain of the Void to face."<br />
<br />
There is a single, momentary beat as she lets the words wash over you.<br />
<br />
"The goddess of lies herself."<br />
<br />
Beat.<br />
<br />
And then...<br />
<br />
"Thank you for the oat milk, you're Lying'ness, but I think I need to go home." Skyler says in a remarkably steady voice, "I can give you a couple recommendations. Eztli here is awesome. There's also Telamon, and Cor'Lana-Banana, or possibly Verna! She's scary. I just..." He stares at the others helplessly, "I swing a sword good, end of story. Yeah?"<br />
<br />
Dirk listens to Akorinil, beard all a-bristle and his bushy white brows furrowed. It -does- sound like the sort of outlandish, self-aggrandizing tale a creature like the Goddess of Lies would spin about Herself. But then she drops that last bombshell--that they're to face down Taara. His face goes from red to white, and his brows fly towards his hairline as if trying to escape his face altogether. "Heek?!" is about all he can manage to squeak. He looks over at his friends, hopping from foot to foot. "-Me-?! Face down a Goddess? Och! Lassie, I know I'm a right bad-arse but--but--" He fumbles and stammers, trying to think of something, -anything- to say. He snap-points at Skyler with eyes wide as teacups. "Aye, -exactly-! I'm just a simple hunter! I'm nae the sort o' hero who fights -Goddesses-!" he cries in a strangled tone.<br />
<br />
Aryia purses her lips as Akorinil explains her point. She was aware of a good chunk of it, though the forthrightness of it has her questioning the authenticity of it. It's true the High Priestess has done nothing /wrong/ in all the time that she's known her, but it something one has a very hard time shaking the nagging feeling she's going to-<br />
<br />
The mute audibly gasps "Th- f-ck?", which turns into a hacking fit. She rubs at her throat, stepping off the wall as the others try to reason with such a tall ask. "So let me get this right... you want us to...-" she rolls a hand, thinking while trying not to reel from the suggestion. And the faint, faint tinge of vengeance creeping in. "... what? Expose a truth to her so damming it unravels her position? You cannot defeat an entity such as that." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Eztli blinked once, then twice, breathing in, and letting out the longest Exhale she could manage. "Aren't you a priestess of them? Isn't this some horrible, horrible sacrilege? And wouldn't that piss off literally everyone in this building?"<br />
<br />
"...Ah-ha," Magpie say, nodding slowly... for the thirty seconds or so it takes for the magnitude of the ask to sink in. Which poiny the noe-rubbing becomes a long, low whistle. "Oh *wow* you are getting desperate, holy beans..."<br />
<br />
Blinking, she looks up and about at her friends. "...So she can't fight the Void in her anymore. But her own people are *too close*, likely as not to follow her into the Void just out of religious ecstasy, right? So Her High Priestessness casts around for folks also lost in the Void -- us -- who have a shot at doing what they can't; Dirk, think of a bird that gets dunked in an airship's oil tank. You don't clean the oil off, what's gonna happen to the bird?"<br />
<br />
The reactions to her statement have Akorinil smiling. Then smiling even bigger .She's delighted. She loves it. 'Lying'nesa' tickled her especially. She nods solemnly right along and then addresses first Skyler.<br />
<br />
"Oh, I am well aware. But this isn't about power. It's a task that you've been more prepared for than you realize, Skyler." Wait -- where'd she get his name? It's not like he introduced himself to her out the gate.<br />
<br />
Dirk earns a tilt of her head, her crimson eyes focused on him.<br />
<br />
"We do not get to pick our fights, young one." Only an elf can call a dwarf 'young one' succesfully, right?<br />
<br />
"... but you think yourself a hero? Then stay."<br />
<br />
Aryia's reaction forces her to cover her mouth with her hand in abject delight.<br />
<br />
"Oh, oh. We go back such a long way, don't we? To think we're standing here together at the end of the world, with as much as you've seen and as much as you know, prepared to author something new together."<br />
<br />
"What matters is the tale being told," she tells her.<br />
<br />
And then to Magpie, she gets a smile. "Creative! Thoughtful. I like this one."<br />
<br />
"But it's all so linear. What Animus spoke of when he called out for aid is true. He can be saved. Aspects of the blight -- the so-called 'villains of the void' were called for you to confront. What do you suppose they represent in truth? And how do you suppose their defeat helped Animus?"<br />
<br />
Aryia squints at the Highpriestess, growing more weary as Akorinil gets excited. She takes in the information as told to the others, and she pauses. Looks at the crew. Then back to Akorinil. "I guess the villans of the void were aspects that Taara threw out to help weather the weight of the Void? But the way you're talking is making it seem likes we have to make up story that becomes reality, getting Her out of this mess, and... brings Animus to the fore?"<br />
<br />
She blinks. "Is /this/ why you wanted the damn shards??" she jabs at a finger at Akorinil, eyes wide. <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Dirk's day is certainly taking a turn for the strange. And considering some of the things the old snowbeard has seen in his days, that's saying quite a lot, actually. "Wait," he says, looking over to Aryia. "Wait, wait, wait just one anvil-crackin' minute. -We- have tae come up wi' a story?" He pauses, staring at his friend for a moment. "It... it -cannae- be -that- easy. Can it?"<br />
<br />
"They were stories for us to confront and re-tell. Kol and that Snow Bitch weren't defeated brute force; we had to finesse them." Skyler says slowly, a light (however dim and flickery) coming on in the attic, "It's about establishing what reality is strongest. Gods, my head hurts." And he drinks the last of his milk. "More, please?"<br />
<br />
"I still have no clue what we're supposed to be doing here, because if you think that we're supposed to confront the corruption of a god on our own, then, well even if I'll give it a try, I don't particularly welcome my chances." The makari sighed. "So, I don't know. I really, really don't know, and I'm not a fan of trying to get a straight answer out of a pathological liar."<br />
<br />
"I mean, I wouldn't call it *easy,*" Magpie says, scratching her head. "But if it ain't completely linear, then... Beating the villains didn't just show the lie of them for what they are, but told Animus that was *never* how it happened?"<br />
<br />
Magpie is clearly stretching the limits of her comprehension, but trying regardless. "So now we have to... show the lie of the Void to Taara?"<br />
<br />
"Closer, closer," says Akorinil to Aryia and Magpie. Eztli gets a sympathetic look before she remarks, with a smile, "The life of the party, aren't you," she says, amused. There's no mockery in her tone, just earnestness this time around. She tilts her head, letting her long, red hair fall over her face and shoulder.<br />
<br />
"You're closer, as I say. The Goddess of stories looked down the narrative path, the branching tree of a story, if you would. The possibilities. Each choice she made closed one after another, and yet she persisted. Too stubborn to let go of what is rightfully her's. Each villain of the void, as they were called, embodied a portion of the Void within her, yes yes, and in so returning sought to prove the futility of life and meaning. Here you are, having told the story already, and yet you were called again to do what you had already done. Isn't.."<br />
<br />
"It.."<br />
<br />
"Pointless?" she asks. <br />
<br />
"While a story is linear, a means by which we understand the events of our lives, the choices a Goddess makes extend into the past and the future." Her eyes fix on Aryia.<br />
<br />
"Just like the death of Animus."<br />
<br />
"And when we have a story and we don't like how it's going..."<br />
<br />
"Perhaps we can be shown how to author a better ending."<br />
<br />
Her eyes fix on Skyler -- for just a moment.<br />
<br />
And then she turns to Magpie.<br />
<br />
"So. If we must save Animus, how do we save the Goddess of Want from herself -- for the final collapse of meaning rests in failing to do so."<br />
<br />
"Listen, I had a *really* bad trip a while back. Me and a bunch of halflings and goblins took a job babysitting some rich asshole. We got kidnapped by pixies or some shit, shoved through a mushroom ring, and were forced to do some Ye Olde Bullshit Queste and then it became this battle of imagination with the big bad." Skyler scratches his jaw. "It was weird. This seems like the same bullshit: Stories and our perceptions of reality shape what is real or not. We just have to convince the Goddess of Lies and Bullshit that we're telling the truth."<br />
<br />
Skyler pauses and adds, "I doubt I can solve this with imagining she has a cloaca, but I'm willing to try."<br />
<br />
Dirk listens to this great, tangled yarn. All of it speaks of things so far beyond his experience. Like the beasts of the forest that he protects, in many ways, old Dirk is a creature of habit and instinct. When one measures their life in centuries, it becomes easy to forget Tomorrow, even as one recalls Yesterday. He tugs at his beard, glancing around at his comrades. "I mean... -I- can spin a decent enough tall tale when the mood takes me," he says. "But I'm hardly a bard. I cannae create a tale worthy of a Goddess." He scowls a bit. "Even one like Taara," he grumbles. "Och, She's gone an' stacked the deck against me. What kind o' tale should I tell? -Mine-? Hrumph. As if -that's- a tale worth hearin'. I'm nobody."<br />
<br />
Aryia scratches the shaved side of her head. She supposed that makes sense with everything considered. "We make up a tale, Dirk. A bit of collaborative story telling. We make her want something else, I think, instead of clutching so tightly to magic, or something like that," she suggests, thinking she had a serious solution.<br />
<br />
She stares at Skyler. Reaches down for a vacant prayer pillow, and throws it at him. <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
"Because what do the best stories do?" Magpie says, conjuring an illusory copy of Aryia's throw pillow and getting a half dozen tosses in herself. "They take us to a world that's even more wondrous than the one we live in. Make us think that maybe *that* world could stay *here.* So if we've gotten all the silly and skeptical out of our systems... I really want to take a run at this, you guys. After all," she says, looking about and grinning.<br />
<br />
"How many people are gonna get to say they told the Goddess of Lies a story so good, she wanted it to be true?"<br />
<br />
"Absolutely thrilled to be here, doing this." Eztli shrugged. "Whatever, I'll try to do something. Can't go any worse than last time, and it's not like there's anything left to lose at this point."<br />
<br />
Skyler says, “Never." Regarding the silly that is. But he does finish his oat milk again and roll his shoulders...<br />
<br />
Until a pillow hits him in the face, and he spills oat milk all over himself. He gives Aryia a wounded look, and then makes an arcane gesture while muttering something equally arcane before passing his hands over himself. The milk disappears. His shoes are shiny. And he smells faintly of mint and sandalwood. His hair even looks smooth and luxurious!<br />
<br />
Hisrestidigitation: Better than dry shampoo.<br />
<br />
"I'm ready. So we want to discuss parameters? I usually find stories go crazy if we just start spewing details. It's how a door becomes genitalia and weird stuff happens. We gotta keep the narrative neat and follow the proper rules of plot structure." He then snaps and gives finger-guns to Eztli. "That's the spirit! You can keep us grounded so Dirk doesn't give her a poofy beard or something." Aside to Akorinil, "He gets a little obsessive, the old dear.”<br />
<br />
Dirk looks at Skyler with an indignant "-Hey!-" He mutters and grumbles, tugging irritably at his beard. "I am -not- obsessive. I'm a -dwarf-. Nae the same thing at all!" Harrumph harrumph. He looks back to his friends. "An' if we fail, here an' now... then that's it? Everything we've done, all the battles we fought, blastin' Heth out the sky wi' the Spell Cannon... it dinnae count fer anything?" He lifts his hand from his beard to rub his face. "Och. I'm gettin' too bloody -old- fer this bullshit," he grumbles softly under his breath. He sucks a deep breath through his big dwarven nose, turning his face skyward. "A'right. A tale, then." He pauses with his mouth hanging open as Skyler gives his warning about the dangers of unstructured narrative. Slooooowly the old ranger turns to regard the swashbuckler. "Dana's sweet flowery -teats-. If a door turnin' intae a ramrod -isn't- weird then what in all the sugary-sweet world -is-?" He pauses. Lifts a finger. "Do -not- answer that. Please, please, -please- do not answer that."<br />
<br />
"That is the secret of the Void -- it empties you of hope, of ambition. It buries it beneath the greatest lie of all: that you are already the worst version of you. What happens when a being which contains infinite stories, multitudes of selves, believes that there is only -one-?"<br />
<br />
"Everything..."<br />
<br />
"...flattens..."<br />
<br />
"...out."<br />
<br />
There is only darkness.<br />
<br />
And then...<br />
<br />
"CHRISTOPHER!"<br />
<br />
The voice is harsh, shrill, and demanding. The person it belongs to? A young woman of modest appearance in full Myrrish court garb. She is young, but bitterness and a sort of ferret-like leanness to her features makes her quite unpleasant and older than her years. "Your brother, the Duke, has demanded that you attend court on his behalf." She shakes her head and sneers, "It's about all you're good for, isn't it? Being your brother's little toady, nothing but an extension of his will when he, the *actual* important one, deals with the real work."<br />
<br />
A pause, and Skyler Skywalker... no, *Christopher Carl von Wayne of the House of Ashewell* starts as if he'd been drifting off to sleep, a bottle rolling out of his hands with a thud. The woman's lip curls. "Gods, you are useless. The only good you ever were was to get your brother *my* dowery to support you, and even then you can't even get me children!"<br />
<br />
The abuse continues, as Christopher stares at his hands, eyes full of pain, of disappointment, of utter despair...<br />
<br />
Dirk Stormgrip is not a young man. There are few dwarves in Ea who have lived longer than he has. He has watched entire forests rise up from saplings to mighty arbors. He has seen towns spring up from nothing. He has counted himself lucky to be friends to many He even fell in love, and was blissfully married. <br />
<br />
And yet....<br />
<br />
He has outlived many of his kinsmen. He has watched those mighty forests wither and fade, until naught but sour, barren earth remained. He has buried more friends than he's kept. And in the end, his wife of nearly sixty years went the way all mortals must.<br />
<br />
Yet he remains. He comforst himself knowing that, one day, he'll find his own time and place to rest.<br />
<br />
But what if he -doesn't-? What if he just... keeps going?<br />
<br />
What he he outlives -everything-?<br />
<br />
In a dismal cave, many long-forgotten years into the future, Dirk sits at a lonely campfire, surrounded by the skeletal husks of a dead grove. His face, once hearty and cheerful, is gaunt and hollow, awash in misery quiet despair. He's all that remains. There's nothing else left. The bleak, dismal night encroaches ever closer, threatening to snuff out that feeble little flame.<br />
<br />
And yet he knows, that even when the fire fades, he'll still be there. He'll never rest. He'll always be there.<br />
<br />
-Alone-.<br />
<br />
One only truly knows what they have lost once it has been taken from them. Freedom. Self-actualization. Trust. Peace. Usefulness. What if she slipped? What if she fell? What if she consorted with the very things she ripped free of her friends and family? "Wait- Aya, I-I did this all for you!" Aryia /screeches/, audibly, at the back of a mul'neissan woman with a long white braid wearing wrapped in sheets in robes. They don't looks back as they walk into the darkness.<br />
<br />
Aryia is... no where near the same. She's bloody, caked in blood but none of it her own, her scars are gone. But a horrid, demonic presence wafts behind her, like a horrid, stretching shadow. "I did this for you, all of you..!"<br />
<br />
The figure pauses. "No sister of mine would stoop to such lows, I thought you learned from my mistakes." They continue walking into the darkness. "Live with your regrets."<br />
<br />
The corrupted pugilist screams more at the backs of others as they walk away. Many adventurers and kinsmen that had lifted her to new heights: Cor'lana, Telamon, Dirk, Seyardu, Verna, Venom, and so many countless others that her long life had touched.<br />
<br />
Her knees hit the floor. The inner rivers have run dry. The sense of self is hollow. And heart beats of glass like her glazed gaze, sharp and staccato as the sound of manacles being clamped and a iron brand searing flesh sizzles into the dark.<br />
<br />
The thing about being lost in the Planes is, unless you know exactly what you're doing... being lost *forever* is a very, very easy thing to do. And in some places, time moves strange... almost as if it ran in currents not unlike water, to pool and swirl and fold back upon itself and--<br />
<br />
When Magpie made a mistake long ago, and fell into one of the famed planar instabilities of the Vast, she never really.. talked about how she got back. Or how long she truly spent, drifting in formless chaos. Or what she saw and heard, surrounded by the very chaos that so heavily infused her blood.<br />
<br />
The truth was, it was a lucky break, that she found a thin place that allowed her to push back into materiality after a scant dozen subjective years.<br />
<br />
Random chance.<br />
<br />
If she *hadn't* been so lucky, well...<br />
<br />
She'd still be there now. She'd still be there when the Void fell over all.<br />
<br />
Drifting.<br />
<br />
Lonely.<br />
<br />
*Untethered.*<br />
<br />
Unspooling.<br />
<br />
Unraveling.<br />
<br />
Unremembered.<br />
<br />
Uncreated.<br />
<br />
Lost to time, space, matter, and anyone who might have remembered her, Magpie quietly, utterly unzips on any meaningful level of materiality, mentality, and spirituality.<br />
<br />
A nobody, gone to nothing.<br />
<br />
The teleportation wards around Alexandria had one major flaw, one that had been tested before. What happens when normal access failed? <br />
<br />
This time, battered and exhausted, the city reached its breaking point. The undead worms collapsed the walls, the sundered by Heth. <br />
<br />
There was still sounds of combat in the city, but every passing hour they died down, while the screams of those beset upon by the dead grew, until they too quieted. <br />
<br />
Eztli was at the docks, where those who remained hurriedly packed onto the boats. The sorceress had not bothered, even with a faint sliver of hope remaining. There would be nowhere safe to flee to this time, and she watched as the boats sank one by one, with the dying breaths of the city.<br />
<br />
There's no hope. <br />
<br />
There's nothing at all. Just an emptiness, bleak and unyielding that feels like it wants to swallow you up.<br />
<br />
... but then... <br />
<br />
There is something. Perhaps its just a feeling, an inkling that this isn't right. A voice whispering in one ear that you could still be more. That the story isn't over.<br />
<br />
And then... there is.<br />
<br />
Music plays, as people move slowly in a stately dance that is all mathematic precision and no passion. Empty steps, done by learned rote. It's beautiful, but... cold.<br />
<br />
Distant.<br />
<br />
Lifeless.<br />
<br />
Among them, Christopher moves with one hand clasping that of the ferret in a ball gown that he's married to. Who is scowling at him fiercely as she mutters a count under her breath, as if Christopher isn't even capable of stepping in time.<br />
<br />
And then, Christopher takes a left when he should have stepped right.<br />
<br />
Gasps! A shocked silence...<br />
<br />
And Christopher abruptly grabs the hand of a handsome half-orc that was beside him. He looks wild despite the court garments, with a certain primal allure. He moves stiffly at first, staring at Christopher. <br />
<br />
"Skyler."<br />
<br />
Beg pardon?<br />
<br />
"I'm *Skyler*."<br />
<br />
And, okay, *Skyler* gives the half-orc a saucy wink before abruptly dipping him and pressing his lips against the tusked mouth as it falls open in shock. He then twirls him away, and laughs as he stares around. "You people suck!" Skyler declares, shaking his head. And to his 'wife'..? "I'd say I wanted a divorce, but I don't think even Dana recognizes a marriage to a wet fish! C'mon... er... you! Let's boogie!"<br />
<br />
And Skyler begins to bump and grind against the half-orc. Who blinks. Shrugs. And then begins to bump and grind against him in turn.<br />
<br />
Dirk draws a deep, shaky breath and lets it out in a sigh. His shoulders slump. The tear-tracks on his face have long since dried. Nothing matters. How could it, when he'll just outlast everyone and everything he's ever known and loved?<br />
<br />
A shriek for help splits the night. His head snaps up, and he's on his feet, thunderbelcher in hand in an eyeblink. He tears out of the cave, racing and leaping through the underbrush, faster than the most nimble deer. He breaks out into a clearing lit by Eluna's silvery light.<br />
<br />
There. A shadow towers over a terrified young maiden. A stinking stain upon the face of Ea, one that has -no- place in the pure, clear wood. The burly old ranger moves on instinct. He hefts his thunderbelcher to his shoulder and immediately cracks off three shots. CHK-BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! They ring out into the night, splitting the darkness and illuminating the night with Dana and Gilead's blessed light. The shadow-demon's malevolent laughter turns to a howl of agony as the blessed bullets rip its substance apart, sending it screaming back to the Iron Hells<br />
<br />
Dirk lowers his weapon and steps forward. "Yer all right now, lassie. Yer safe."<br />
<br />
The maiden looks up, and his heart freezes. She looks -so- like his beloved Sarah, his beloved wife, whom he buried so long ago. It's -not- her, and yet the resemblance is uncanny. She reaches up to take his outstretched hand, and flings herself at him. "Thank you! You saved my life!" she sobs into his shoulder. "I thought I was all alone out here!"<br />
<br />
Color returns to the old snowbeard's face. Strength fills his heavyset frame. He curls his arm around the lass and hugs her close. Over distant mountains, the sun crests the horizon, turning the sky from inky black to glorious rose.<br />
<br />
"No, lassie. Yer nae alone. -I'm- here now."<br />
<br />
When Magpie was lost in the Planes, only random chance allowed her an opening to find the means to find her own way home.<br />
<br />
But the thing about random chance is, the dice never stop being thrown. Every hour, every minute, every second that passes is a new opportunity for something incredibly unlikely to become inevitability. And Magpie is a *much* different person, now, than when she fell into formless Chaos those few short years ago. She *knows* better. She's *learned* more.<br />
<br />
And given the sheer strength of Chaos in her blood, and how its mutability works on her mind and being... she *has* to have a stronger sense of self, just to be able to exist normally.<br />
<br />
The thinness brushes against her senses, and Magpie responds. Fingers, coherent again, flex. An eye coalesces from yellow-green light, and blinks. A mouth that threatened to drift offon its own, opens and pulls air into lungs.<br />
<br />
'Cogito, ergo sum,' goes the saying in Rune's polymorphing schools. 'I think, therefore I am.' In those classes, it's not just pithy words; it's a *lifeline,* a reminder that no matter what form you take, as long as you can use your mind, you will *always* be you.<br />
<br />
At her current powers, it's almost trivially easy to take hold of the pocket of thinness within the Planes, and tug it open to look out onto Alexandria's Lower Market, at the height of the lunchtime rush.<br />
<br />
Being lost is *hungry* work.<br />
<br />
There is anger. There is self-loathing. There is despair. In that shackled cage that shuts with a deafening click. Aryia Zilstrae Aeldius has hit rock bottom again, where all has left her. Inaction and betrayal has got her here. Her misbegotten actions, undercutting her steadfast morals. But then... there is-<br />
<br />
Will. A will to live. It's a drop in a stagnant lake. The ripples barely nudging nary a waterfly. But it wavers the illusion of hopelessness, distorts it, just enough. She's been here before. Churn the waters. Feel the river flow, the heart beat the breath In.<br />
<br />
Out. "NO CHAIN. WILL /EVER/. BIND ME AGAIN!" she bellows into the empty air, her hands flickering to moonlight once again. Manacled hands bash into iron bars, groaning and shearing with each blow before metal sprays out in a deadly shrapnel, her having thrown herself free of the cage.<br />
<br />
Coming to a roll, Aryia pops up, covered in her own blood and wielding an iron bar as she breaks into a dead sprint towards her retreating friends. The pugilist leaps towards a creeping, demonic shadow that looms over them, tackling it to the ground and pinning it there. The only sound that echoes is the satisfying, echoing and repeated clang of metal and a flashes of moonlight chasing the darkness away.<br />
<br />
Not every ship had sunk, a few remained, perhaps avoiding the worst of it from their smaller size compared to other, much more enticing targets. Could she just stay there, do nothing, and give up? It was certainly an enticing thought, in it's own twisted way. <br />
<br />
The sorceress shook off the feeling, a low growl escaping the makari as her form shifted, longer and larger until a massive brass dragon stood in her place that soared into the sky, crashing through the clouds of undead beasts, drawing their attention away while clawing through as many as they could manage. Hopefully it would take long enough to be taken down to turn a sliver of hope into something greater.<br />
<br />
You deserve a better ending.<br />
<br />
You've staved off the darkness for another day, it's true, but you deserve something better. All those wars. All those sacrifices. Don't you deserve better? Just...<br />
<br />
Comfort?<br />
<br />
Warmth?<br />
<br />
Surely, you do.<br />
<br />
And so the scene changes. There's a disorienting moment. It's all good. <br />
<br />
It's always good.<br />
<br />
"Boogiee...."<br />
<br />
"...e's dead! Duke Austyn is dead." The minor revere Christopher has over the punch bowl, a fantasy of rejecting everything and dancing chaotically with some hunky half-orc wild-man dissolving like the ice in his ridiculously ornate, tiny little glass. And the glass is dropped as his wife grabs his arm, her nails digging in hard enough to tear the fine silk of his doublet.<br />
<br />
Christopher stares dully at his wife. "W.. what?"<br />
<br />
She lets out a sound of disgust, leaning forward to smell his breath before wrinkling her nose. "Really? Gods, how much did you drink, you useless shit?" She shakes her head, and her scowl turns into a wide grin. "I killed him. Your brother's dead. Now I'm the Duchess Ashewell of Gull's Edge!" She smiles cruelly, "And you, husband, will get your freedom." She guides him off to the side, hand still digging hard enough to hurt. "The freedom of the country estate. You can farm, you can hunt, you can drink and debauch yourself to an early grave if you want." She puts a hand over her stomach. "I have the Duke's heir. He looks enough like you no one will know the difference." She sneers, "You're free, you useless lump! Isn't that what you always wanted? Freedom, to be something? Well now you're the Duke's father! And you'll be free to wither away in the countryside."<br />
<br />
It's a happy enough ending, in the cut-throat courts of the Myrrish kingdoms...<br />
<br />
Isn't it?<br />
<br />
Not many people get a second chance at happiness. Dirk is one of those lucky few. The lass he rescued from the shadow demon--Farah is her name--falls in love with him, and he with her. She fills his days with brilliant sunshine and laughter once again. With her at his side, the forest grows strong and clean. The land thrives. He takes up his mantle as the forest's champion once again. And how could he not? After so long, he has something to fight for.<br />
<br />
Weeks pass. Winter blankets the wood in soft, cottony-cold white. Dirk watches the snowfall from his cozy cabin with his arm around Farah's shoulders. He rests a palm atop her belly, made large by new life--the one thing Sarah was never able to give him, all those years ago gone by. Just when he thought his happily-ever-after couldn't -possibly- get any better, his newfound love has made him a father in addition to being a husband.<br />
<br />
They name the baby 'Sarah Leigh', and she's as perfect an angel, as all children are in the eyes of their parents. Dirk gently bounces her in his arms, crooning a quiet dwarven lullabye to her as she gazes up at him with wide, golden eyes. He presses a kiss to her forehead and gently lays her in her crib. "Sleep sweetly, me bonny wee lass," he says soothingly.<br />
<br />
He blows out the candle by the bedside and burrows under the heavy blankets with his beloved Farah. Gloom shrouds the cabin.<br />
<br />
Sarah Leigh's eyes open, now inky black orbs. Her mouth curves into a wicked, too-wide smile. In her baby-babble, the shadow-demon's laughter echos just beyond the range of hearing.<br />
<br />
Being lost is hungry work, and damn it all, Magpie will *never* be hungry. Not again. The first thirty years of her life, she was too small to properly defend her food from the bigger kids at the orphanages.<br />
<br />
Which might have something to do with the frequency of wild-magic fires that seemed to haunt little Magpie's trail...<br />
<br />
...Whatever, it's lunchtime at the Alexandrian markets, and all of her favorites are not just on special, but *free* just for her. Rosemary-pork pocket pies, goblin fireball sweetbreads, candied garlic skewers... Every turn of her head brings new and interesting delicacies into vision. And because it's *her,* because she is so amazing and powerful and respected and adored, she pays for none of it.<br />
<br />
Every morsel that passes her lips, bought by the fame she'd always longed for as a child, where justexisting was enough to be celebrated.<br />
<br />
And in the middle of the Market square, Magpie slowly begins to be buried under a cacophony of treats and sweets and savories, heaped ever higher by her adoring public.<br />
<br />
And so Aryia clawed it all back. Trust. Sense of self. Belonging. Usefulness. Back into the weave with friends. Coaching her team back in the Colosseum. Battling kaiju. Sailing the seas on her boat. Pummeling through mountains through sheer force of tenacity.<br />
<br />
So she sits atop that mountain, her apex, having found her center again. The waters have run so fast they look calm in their laminar flow. Breathing In. Out. In. Out.<br />
<br />
The days morph into weeks, months, years. Decades. Time drags on, yet for this elf it's barely scraping any more etchings into the scars. Others age, but that comes and goes, just like all do in the story that never ends. But does it matter? The peak has been reached. Her vantage is leagues in all directions.<br />
<br />
It is absolute perfection.<br />
<br />
Or is it? It hits in a beat of introspection. Somewhere in all that time, a thought worms its way into her mind. 'What is the point of a mountain, if to not look up at its daunting beauty from below? What is the point of highs? Without the lows?'<br />
<br />
Eztli didn't normally wake up with the sun, but recent work forced the makari reluctantly out of bed. After some time blinking the tiredness out of her eyes, she eventually managed to get over to her closet, where several costumes were hanging. All of them and their accessories were carefully stowed into a pack at her side, before she left for the lower floors. <br />
<br />
"Figured you'd be up before me, rehearsals are going to take most of the day. Say hi to deathless for me, will you, and I'll catch you around dinner, yeah?" She offered to the brown haired hunter who had been in the kitchen. She said nothing, only giving a crooked toothed smile to the sorceress before she was out the door, and not a single word spoken.<br />
<br />
It's better, isn't it? Better this way ...<br />
<br />
... but then the worms turn. A thought, an idea gnaws. And once it's there, it doesn't stop. Each vision seems to splinter, to crack, to fray. Black lines ripping across like spiderwebs.<br />
<br />
And then there's a sense of weightlessness, of being-without-body.<br />
<br />
It is cool here. You sense ... other presences. Then, slowly, the curtain draws back. You're ... somewhere.<br />
<br />
Akorinil Belvade look at each of you, a smile on her face.<br />
<br />
"Do you understand now?" she asks, a cautious yet hopeful tone in her voice.<br />
<br />
GAME: Skyler rolls 1d100: (6): 6<br />
<br />
SPLASH!<br />
<br />
Skyler tosses the cup to the side, expression utterly devoid of emotion as he stares at Akorinil with a hate and fury he's only shown once, in a demi-plane of death while a kyton taunted him on the true meaning of pain and pleasure. <br />
<br />
"You bitch." He says flatly, turning away from her and closing his eyes. And his shoulders rise one, fall, and he speaks up to the others. "We have to do this for her. I don't know what you guys saw, but..." He swallows, "We have to do this. And we *can*. The first vision is non-negotiable, and the third isn't enough."<br />
<br />
Coming back to herself was a shock, especially as she was close to resigning herself to drowning under an ever-growing pile of things a child would think were deserved.<br />
<br />
And not for the first time, does Magpie begin to ask herself how old she was when the world became a certain, predictable thing-- no. No time to unpack that now!<br />
<br />
Shaking her head, she takes a moment to focus on Akorinil, and the milk dripping off her nose. "...Yeah," she says, finally. "Skyler's right too... We *need* to do this, cos that last one... Damn, but the Void's insidious..."<br />
<br />
The expanse contracts, and all those possibilities of time passing collapses into presence and- Aryia rapidly blinks, and her lips move to say something, but she ends up coughing up a lung before spits a glob of blood off to the side. "Well that was fucked," she signs with a scowl and rubbing her throat. There was a certain satisfaction as Skyler acts on her impulses, but she couldn't help but feel a tad guilty. Akorinil was truly, truly trying, for the best of someone she believed in.<br />
<br />
She thought of her found sister, Aya.<br />
<br />
The mute pugilist grimaces. Damn it. "Alright. Fuck. Fine. But I'm not doing it for /Her/. I'm doing it because we have a thing we can teach Her. And hopefully it'll knock some sense into Her." <br />
<br />
She glances to Akorinil, with the first look of genuine empathy. "Congratulations. You convinced this non-believer that it's worth a shot." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Dirk's eyes are wide as teacups as sight and reason returns. He blinks owlishly, his gaze snapping from side to side hard enough to make his beard whip-whap back and forth. "Wha--ah? Hah? What the... och! What the hell -was- that?!" He looks back to Akorinil. His panic turns to anger as his temper riles right back up. "-That's- our story?! BULLSHIT!! That's nae -my- story, an' never will be!"<br />
<br />
He looks back around at his friends, his beard all a-bristle as he scowls and fumes and snorts and snarls. "So what, we -have- tae go through all that? Blessed Dana's flowery -teats-, there -has- tae be another way..."<br />
<br />
Eztli was left speechless as she came back to reality, and she stood their for some time, breathing heavily. "Seems... fucked. I'd like to think the difference is obvious,but I'm no god. And either way, none of it was right. Not in the slightest." They grumbled. "So... what?"<br />
<br />
All around is darkness, now, but for the presence of yourselves and Akorinil.<br />
<br />
She raises a hand and presses the back of it to her forehead, swaying back away from them. She's clearly somewhat used to hate and fury bneing directed at her. <br />
<br />
"Forgive me. I can't control what you see or face in the tales you're entering. Those are subject only to you. But the narrative is ... hmmm ... unspooling, I suppose, because narrative itself is threatening to end. Think of it all as dancing on the razor edge of the dagger that slays Animus --."<br />
<br />
A hitch.<br />
<br />
"...though it's not really a dagger. Godly weapons are something wholely other and beyond comprehension." <br />
<br />
She lets out a breath, then. And then, a quiet voice. "You have to save her."<br />
<br />
Aryia glances to the side as the raving party seems to have fallen to the wayside and away. Was it ever really there? "Forgiveness is an action given, gained only by further action to warrant it. You don't get that just yet, as I'm quite familiar with Taara's gaslighting," the pugilist gestures before digging in the inside pocket of her jacket. An embroidered black silk handkerchief is pulled free, and is offered to Akorinil, Aryia's eyes downcast. "But, perhaps that is something that can be rectified once this is dealt with."<br />
<br />
She nods subtly. "They are not weapons that mere mortals know. I've seen them. But perhaps she just needs to think she's wielding something else other than to slay. In a metaphorical sense." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
"We said we'd do it." Skyler says grumpily, "Just, are you going to shove us at her blind or are there any hints that aren't bullshit metaphors. I mean..." He blinks at the rest of the group, "What *is* a metaphor for?" He frowns, glancing down at his fingers. "Um. a Metaeight?"<br />
<br />
Dirk glances around at his friends, then back to Akorinil. "I -suppose- that losin' Taara would throw all the worlds in the universe out o' balance, or some other such bullshit," he grumbles. He scowls dourly, leveling a finger at the priestess. "I dinnae trust a word -you- say," he says. He takes a step back, glancing up and around at his comrades. "But I -do- trust my friends. So we'll do what must be done." He glances at Aryia with a firm nod, then up at Skyler. He peers at the swashbuckler, then counts up on his own fingers. "Aye, think ye got it right, laddie. Metaeight," he says, nodding again.<br />
<br />
"Close enough," Magpie says. "For the future, there's a point where precisionruins the analogy that made understandingpossible. Even if it's, like, a metaconceptual cinquedea forged of the taste of blue, calling it a dagger still works."<br />
<br />
Looking about, she draws in a breath, and claps her hands. "So let's save a goddess!"<br />
<br />
"Well, that's all well and good, you keep saying we need to save her, but I feel like we're all not much closer to actually saving her, aside from a bit more emotional scarring to add to the pile." Eztli grumbled loudly. "So, lets go down to this. I'm sure a handful of people can help fix this where every single taaran priest or priestess partying here failed."<br />
<br />
The handkerchief is accepted with a gentle smile at Aryia.<br />
<br />
Akorinil knows -exactly- how much it must've pained her to give it to her. <br />
<br />
"If narrative dies, our ability to understand our own stories dies with it. No art. No history. No ordered conscious thought. Everything comes apart without the thread of consciousness."<br />
<br />
Of course, how much of that is true and how much of that is Taara's grandeur talking? Then again, it may not matter. The results of ANimus dying were bad enough."I can not see what happened to you. Those sojourns were for you alone."<br />
<br />
She grimces a moment, dabbing her face and she produces a pen from inside her robe. She begins to draw a single red line through the air with it. <br />
<br />
"We must merely turn the page, hm? Show her a better ending, as I said..."<br />
<br />
And then she gives the line a 'yank' and 'peels' the world like a page in the book and you find yourselves somewhere else.<br />
<br />
A sunny glade. A pale sun above. It's warm here And yet, there's a sense of forboding, and its coming from the litle cottage, all quaint and cozy in the distance. Chimney smoke rises from it.<br />
<br />
"Do you think it'd tell a fun story if we burn it down?" Skyler suggests as he raises a hand to shade his eyes as he looks over the tableau in front of them, "I mean, I'd get over my ennui if someone set *my* house on fire. Or we could rush in to put it out and save her that way?" He cocks his head, "Make your own heroic rescue!"<br />
<br />
As much as it pained her, it wouldn't behoove Taara to change her mind if even an ex-Taaran couldn't show some shred of compassion. Aryia sighs, rubbing her face before flashing a thumbs up. There's a wince as the world practically rips away.<br />
<br />
She lowers her hand from the sun, sliding her sunglasses down. "I am not against walking up and knocking before booting the door down," she shrugs. The normally face-first pugilist is hesitant to advance, her staring down the building like it's a warding sign specifically meant for her.<br />
<br />
But Aryia gulps, exhales slowly, and starts that way with her hands in her pockets. <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Dirk grunts softly. "I know how -my- tale should end," he grumbles quietly. "So if that bullshit I saw earlier is the best -she- can come up with, then aye, I can sure as hell come up wi' a better ending n' -that-." As the new scene unfolds before him, he squints at the cottage. He looks up, down, and all around. "Summat here dinnae sit right," he mutters. "I mean, not as I was expectin' sunshine an' frolickin' bunnies, but... there's summat -off- here." He glances up at Skyler and Aryia with a frown. "Why don't we try bein' polite -first-. -Then- we can start kickin' doors in if we have to."<br />
<br />
Eztli squinted as the world was torn away in some metaphysical sense she was still trying to wrap her head around, if it was even possible. "Not a bad idea to force a different story, but I don't know if it will actually help things, unless the new reeality is some fiery hellscape." She grumbled. <br />
<br />
"Lets start with checking the house itself for now, even though I can't shake that something is less pleasant in spite of the weather. Hard to explain."<br />
<br />
As one gets closer, the overwhelming smell of something ... bready can be detected. Someone is baking. <br />
<br />
There's a hint of sweetness to it, too.<br />
<br />
Could it be...?<br />
<br />
Could someone be baking -pie-?<br />
<br />
Not exactly what one would expect here at the end of things, but then, perhaps that's the best time for some pie.<br />
<br />
Looking left and right among her comrades, Magpie shrugs and does what everyone is suggesting, but understandably hesitant to do; she toddles up, and knocks on the door. "Auntie Taara?" she calls, figuring hey... even if she robbed her way there, being *a* goddess of magic affords one the respect of the magically-blooded. "Auntie Taara, we've come to visit? Are you all right?"<br />
<br />
Aryia slows as she smells baked goods. Damn. When did she eat last? All of this was so ephemeral it was hard to tell. Wait, focus. She gives a quick look to the party, one of 'you all smell that, right?', before she shakes her head and rests against the side of the doorframe. She raises a brow. Auntie Taara?<br />
<br />
"I'd love to try your cherry pie!" Skyler adds on the heels of Magpie, "And boy, do I have an *amazing* story to tell you! There was this box and inside it was this kid and he was like an angel but then some dragon ate fish from my hand and now we go get drunk at taverns together!"<br />
<br />
He pauses, and adds to the group, "It's actually a really traumatizing story."<br />
<br />
Dirk lumbers along with his friends, though his plodding step slows as they approach the house. His big dwarven nose twitches as he sniffs the air. "Oh, beards o' me sweet tapdancin' -fathers-," he groans softly. His hefty middle gives an -infuriated- sounding rumble. How long ago -did- he eat last? Far too long, from the sound of things. He looks towards the cabin with a pained expression. "Och, if that's a fake cherry pie I'm smellin', it's a really really -good- fake," he says. He glances at the others, then lifts up his hand to cup the side of his mouth. "Missus Taara, marm! It's me, Dirk Stormgrip. -I've- got a tale tae tell that -isn't- traumatizing! How does -that- sound, eh?"<br />
<br />
"Didn't take her for a baker, assuming that's actually her in there." Eztli shrugged to no one in particular, the makari meandering down to the actual door as others knocked on it. "Don't forget who we're potentially dealing with. Lies and all that, I'm not sure I'd trust anything baking."<br />
<br />
"Is someone there?" comes a small voice. "Moggie, can you check?"<br />
<br />
"Ugh. Can't you see I'm busy?" comes a rougher male voice before an older man, barrel chested man from years of toil opens the door and squints at the pair.<br />
<br />
""The hell are you people supposed to be?" he asks gruffly. <br />
<br />
The smell of pie only intensifies. The interior of the cottage appears ... alarmingly quaint. -VERY-. <br />
<br />
Disgustingly so.<br />
<br />
"Oh wow. I wouldn't mind *his* cherry pie." Skyler mutters to no one in particular, eyes widening before he clasps a hand over his mouth... and discreetly takes several steps back to the rear of the strange party.<br />
<br />
Sometimes you have to know when to let someone else take the lead. Such is wisdom, and Skyler is a very wise man, even if he isn't a very intelligent one.<br />
<br />
This is very awkward.<br />
<br />
You see, when you were a priestess in a different life, devoted to a sect of the unholy matrimony between Maugrim and Taara, you tend to expound on their tales of how they came together and stayed.<br />
<br />
So Aryia, now a devout atheist, stares up at the very man who she used to venerate in an adjacent manner. She, uncharacteristically, trembles. And then raises a hand to sign-<br />
<br />
"Hello. We're supposed to be your wake up call." Shit. She didn't think this far. His presence threw all her thoughts out the window. <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
"Moggie? Oh you've gotta be fucking kidding me, we've gotta deal with him too?" Ezti grumbled under her breath before they got to the door. "Hey, good evening, we just happened to be in the area and we were wondering what was going on with all the baking here?" She managed to offer for some manner of explanation.<br />
<br />
Dirk looks up--and up, and up, and up--at the imposing figure of Maugrim before him. "Heek." He's suddenly -very- aware of the fact that his beard grooming was interrupted before all this started. He hurriedly smooths his hands down his whiskers, doing his best to get them into some kind of semblance of order, before he steps forward. "Aye, as me comrade here says, Master Maugrim. Sir. As we understand it, ye all need some stories, aye?" His tubby middle snarls angrily again, and he puts both his palms to it, as if -that- would soothe the bottomless pit inside him. "Well, as it just so happens, we need some o' that delicious-smellin' pie. So... perhaps we might work a trade, eh?"<br />
<br />
'Moggie,' Magpie mouths, eyes wide. Somehow, it feels like not even Maugrim would *allow* his wife to call him that; it's just too undignified.<br />
<br />
Her mouth works open and closed for a moment, as she tries to think of a good answer to that question... and failing one, simply leans over and yells past the man, into the house. "Auntie Taara, we've come to visit, and talk! And perhaps if you'd be so kind... maybe one of your famous stories? The kind that made Ceinara ash herself with jealousy?"<br />
<br />
Look, play to your audience. Taara might not be a *nice* person, but this may be the one time a minor blasphemy might be overlooked.<br />
<br />
'Moggie' sort of stands there, staring at the lot of you. <br />
<br />
"Bloody hell, I didn't know the family was rolling in," he says after a moment, "Come on in, everyone. Have a seat. I'll go break open the keg."<br />
<br />
Wait, family? Well,t hat's weird. <br />
<br />
The lady of the house is a smiling woman dressed in dark clothing with long, scarlet hair. She seems thrilled to see everyone, moving closer to give them a hug, individually. "Oh, you all made it! I'm so thrilled."<br />
<br />
That's weird. A moment ago she had no idea who you were, now she's acting like you were always meant to be here and our family.<br />
<br />
Like ...<br />
<br />
... like she's an aunt. Your aunt. Isn't she?<br />
<br />
"Auntie Taara! Uncle Moggie!" Skyler pushes forward as he feels the narrative shift, not even attempting to keep up with the logic... Shades of the Skyler that rejected the measured, stately dances in favor of booging and enjoying the moment. Although he does give Aryia's shoulder a quick, reassuring squeeze on his way past.<br />
<br />
"It's been so damn long! Since..." He pauses, eyes squinting, "Well. It's been a while! Hugs?"<br />
<br />
And he holds his arms out hopefully to Maugrum fully prepared to get an armful of the Tyrant and rest his face against the pillowy bosom of his pectorals.<br />
<br />
The unspoken agreement that goes through the party gets Aryia to wince, stymied entirely from progressing. But a squeeze on her shoulder gets her to snap to the present. She looks to Skyler with a harried expression, fear in her eyes. But she clasps his forearm, inhales deeply, and settles into the role, reaffirmed. A thankful nod is tossed his way.<br />
<br />
She slips into the abode as they're all invited, stepping aside as the others file in. Her attention is all too focused else where before-<br />
<br />
The lady of the house hugs Aryia. She freezes up.<br />
<br />
Then takes Taara into a tight, hearty embrace. 'I missed you so much,' she mutters near-silently by Her ear.<br />
<br />
She lets Her go, again.<br />
<br />
The pugilist wipes at her eyes.<br />
<br />
Dirk has seen much in his long years upon Ea. He's championed a swanmay princess. He's been blessed by angels. He's heard the voices of the Green Word. -Now-... he's getting a hug from a goddess. Even stranger, he finds himself returning that hug, throwing his burly arms around Taara and giving her a proper Dwarf Hug. "Och, Auntie Taara, it's -so- good tae see ye!" he booms cheerfully. "An' Uncle Maugrim! Lookin' fit as ever, I see! Och, maybe someday soon ye'll be as hefty as -I- am! Hah!"<br />
<br />
He turns his attention back to Taara. Hey, if the gods are all like this--friendly, warm, with a cozy home and delicious treats--then maybe they aren't so bad after all. "Auntie, I smelled that pie yer bakin' from nearly a furlong away. Och, I'm -starvin'-! An' boy oh -boy- do we have some stories fer -you-!"<br />
<br />
Blink. Blink. Last Eztli could tell, Taara wasn't a gnome. She was half expecting the goddess to shrink down to the size of an aunt until she realized what was going on. "A-ah, yes! Something to drink would be appreciated." She spoke up after a moment to collect herself. The hug certainly wasn't helping. "Did you make a chilled pie for Skyler too? You know how particular he is about his oat milk, after all."<br />
<br />
"Of course we made it, Auntie Taara," Magpie laughs, throwing her arms up to give the best hug her stubby little everything is capable of giving. "How could we stand the thought of our Auntie feeling lonely?" 'Uncle Moggie' gets a brief side-eye, as Magpie isn't *quite* sure whether or not he's the actual Tyrant, and not a figment of the Void.<br />
<br />
"But how are you *doing,* Auntie?" she presses onward, reaching up to pat Ariya's arm in what she hopes is a comforting way.<br />
<br />
There, there.<br />
<br />
"Oh!"<br />
<br />
Aunty 'Taara', if that is indeed who she is, is more than a little surprised by the embrace. She awkwardly pats Aryia on the back. "I'm so glad to hear that," she tells her, happily. "There's pie! Come in, everyone, come in, please make yourself comfortable. It's weird how accepting she is. Just rolls with it. You're all family. Of course you're family. What's weirder is that you all can kind of feel it's true at the same time -- which might be a little discomfitting in the moment.<br />
<br />
'Moggie' grunts. He doesn't -do- hugs, thank you very much. All taciturn. "I'll be right back. I'm going to go check on some things." He disappears out the back door, grumbling the whole while with the sort of grumble that every worker would recognize.<br />
<br />
"Curses. Foiled again."<br />
<br />
Skyler shakes his head as Uncle Moggie departs but he's all grins as he turns back to Auntie Taara with his grin back in place. He glances at the others as his brow knits when the wave of familial closeness washes over him. Considering what the visions earlier revealed about *his* relationship with his family, it's an unfamiliar sensation.<br />
<br />
He swallows, closing his eyes for a moment before shaking his head. "What kind of pie, Auntie Taara? Is it full of secrets, or butterscotch or the void? I hope it's apple. I bet your void pie is awesome, but I'm partial to apple."<br />
<br />
Aryia scratches her head at the change in accommodations, but she rolls with it as she's invited in. She takes a seat nearby, all but flopping into a loveseat nearby in a very 'at home' manner. Was that on purpose? Lines were getting a bit blurry on the comfort of things.<br />
<br />
Dirk perks up at the mention of pie, and his eyes light up like a Yule tree. "Oh, bless yer kindness, auntie, I'd -love- a slice!" he says happily. He's a canny old bear, and he doesn't miss that strange feeling of familiarity. But such feelings are natural to dwarves, who cherish their communities so. Even a black sheep like ol' Dirk craves the company of his friends and comrades, so he's already hard-wired to accept and recipricate bonds of family. Even if it comes from the Goddess of Lies.<br />
<br />
Magpie watches 'Moggie' disappear out the back with evident curiosity; is this part of the setting making way for the change in focus? Or was that truly Maugrim, and if so how many devils are going to be hiding in their pillows from now on? "...They say you eat an average of three devils in your sleep a week," she murmurs softly, so softly. "...Or was that spiders..."<br />
<br />
Shaking her head, she puts on her biggest, niece-iest smile for Taara, glancing at Skyler and nodding her approval at his narrative. "How've you been, Auntie Taara? We've been pretty worried about you, we haven't heard much from these parts in a while."<br />
<br />
Eztli blinked a few more times at the recognition, and feeling of it, as well. "Oh, thank you, then! I wouldn't mind some pie myself, but I don't know, surely there's something I could do in return for the hospitality? It's only fair, I think."<br />
<br />
Indeed. The accomdations -are- changing. Things are unfolding. Was it always like this? You know it wasn't, but it FEELS like it was. Totally natural. There's even a dining room, now, and you're being escorted to the table by 'Taara', though she's never introduced herself that way. She strokes her fingerws through her long hair and then gerstures to the seating. <br />
<br />
"Please, please! Sit down. Tell me all about your adventures, darlings!" <br />
<br />
The impossibility of being 'related' doesn't seem to have occurred to her at all. <br />
<br />
Meanwhile, Moggie is, well... there's a lot of swearing from out back. This is how you know he's cooking.<br />
<br />
Aryia leans up, sitting at the table now as she gets herself situated. There's this half lull of staring at a goddess she once venerated, and half just at the dinner table with auntie and family. She's having to root herself in the horrid things they just went through recently to remind herself why they're all here. And boy is it hard to keep the story straight.<br />
<br />
Tell about... her adventures? Aryia looks to the others before gesturing in elaboration: "Mine would take way too long, but I learned through my adventures if you're stubborn enough, you can win card games against gods and drop kick kaiju through portals. All it takes is losing everything and finding yourself in the scraps." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Eztli took one of the chairs, spun it around to have a seat at the table comfortably. "Of our adventures? Well, I'm sure that the others have some wonderful stories to tell. I've been on a few, but I imagine theirs are better, or at least they feel up to talking about them."<br />
<br />
Skyler's lips thin, and he glances over the crowd for a moment before he says earnestly, softly. "I grew up second son to a minor noble. Heir and the spare, I was the spare. My father wasn't a good man, by any definition. My brother, the heir, use to pour boiling water on puppies out of amusement. Found out they were going to kill me."<br />
<br />
He swallows, "So I decided that I'd kill me first. Was on a ship that got attacked by pirates, and when they threatened to ransom me, I instead charmed'm into letting me join. Being a pirate sounded fun. It was, until I realized I hurt people. Badly. Met someone I love." He smiles wryly, "And decided to be something else. Gentleman Adventurer of the Society of Dagger Dames and Gentleman Adventurers. Taught me something important, Auntie Taara." He glances around, "*I* write my story. Other people might throw curveballs at me, things might beat me down and even kill me. But in the end, I wrote the story and never let anyone else control the narrative."<br />
<br />
Dirk follows Auntie to the table and plumps his hefty rump down. He gives a wiggle, testing the chair out, and is rather surprised that it supports Dwarf Weight quite well! He reaches up to doff his tricorne and sets it aside. "Pshaw, Eztli. You an' me been on plenty of adventures together!" he says with a rumble of laughter. "Och, d'ye remember when we got sent out by Lady Fionnula tae find 'er sister in the Mythwood? An' we fought off those cold knights? Hell of a scrap, that was!"<br />
<br />
He glances over at Skyler, listening to the swashbuckler's tale. Much of it is new to the burly old ranger. His conclusion has the old snowbeard nodding firmly. "True talk, laddie, true talk," he says. "All our lives are a grand tale, an' -we- hold the pen. Even if sometimes folk want tae butt in an' put their own spin on things."<br />
<br />
Magpie clambers up into a high-chair, allowing her to regard the table like someone meant to be seated there, and puffs out a breath at the invitation. "Man... where to even *start.*"<br />
<br />
As Skyler tells his story, Magpie listens carefully, nodding firmly at the lesson he takes away from the story of his life. And, it seems, she chooses to follow up serious drama with comedy.<br />
<br />
"Well, there was that temple that got uncovered in the Felwood, I remember one point we ended up having to deal with a bunch of non-Guild 'adventurers' who were looking for loot to find. Then, after we beat them into submission, we had to take them back to camp... when demons started coming after us. Cos Felwood, right? But we didn't have time to *fight,* we had a job to do, so I threw an illusion over this huge tree! Turned into a big angel statue, two middle fingers up, and a banner; DEMONS CAN KISS THE PEARLIEST PART OF MY GATES!"<br />
<br />
Here, Magpie pauses to giggle t her own joke. "And the best part was, it *worked!* Distracted them long enough we could get away!"<br />
<br />
"Because if you're willing to be a little silly, you can saves lives with a good lie."<br />
<br />
The Lady of the House listens, and smiles, and she proceeds to begin preparing the meal. There are plenty of things to bring in from the kitchen, and yet more from 'Moggie' outside. They're clearly, yes, representative of someone's idea of what Taara and Maugrim might be. Somehow.<br />
<br />
Somehow indeed.<br />
<br />
'Taara' claps her hands delightedly as the stories come out. She asks questions, seeks details. She wants more. The despair that was sitting heavily on her when you arrived -- perhaps not so visible as it was then as its departure is now -- seems to have lifted, yes, and Moggie very clearly doesn't have a lot to say. He's busy working.<br />
<br />
"That all sounds lovely," remarks your 'aunt'. <br />
<br />
"But now what will you all do?"<br />
<br />
Details are happily divulged, and Magpie seems to be the kind of storyteller who can barely believe the nonsense she herself got up to. So the details are delivered with a combination of self-deprecation and surprise. But then, 'Taara' puts a question to her.<br />
<br />
That is a very, very good question.<br />
<br />
"Well," she says slowly, "we are kind of on a job right now, in fact. See, there's someone very, very important who needs to be rescued from the Void. And we need to make sure she can shake free of it, because nobody... *nobody.* Deserves for the Void to take them.<br />
<br />
"I can think of a few people." Skyler says consideringly, "Captain Cashew, maybe. But it's probably got a nut allergy."<br />
<br />
But he makes a gesture, conceding Magpie's point and letting her take the narrative lead on this. "But she deserves a happy ending, this one. She's had a hell of a story so far, and deserves happiness with her beefy hot husband." He considers. "Maybe they just need to spice things up? Find a unicorn?" He means a horse with a horn, right?<br />
<br />
Aryia listens to the others, her brows raising at Skyler. She didn't pin him as noble born, and it was quite an amusing twist that'd he manufactured himself. If only she was as slick as him all those decades ago. She nods along in agreement with Dirk, but she can't but help but stare at Magpie. There was not way she could /not/ help but snort in amusement.<br />
<br />
Food comes out, and she's already got one of everything. It must have been some crimson pen story, or something, that has these two gods portrayed as such in a cottage-core lifestyle. The mute shares more, about a Unloved King that took a chance to become the Joyful King, and through his efforts, managed to help a party of heroes slay larger-than life fiends and help a celestial dragon fulfill their overdue duties. She's smiling at the memories of it, a mixture of cocky and wan.<br />
<br />
Question poised, she nods along with Magpie and Skyler. "Or maybe have something come along, a catalyst? Every story has something that makes things happen." She gives Skyler a side glance before chuffing and shaking her head, amused. <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Eztli shrugged, and chuckled quietly. "Kinda sounds like my life, except I ran away from my parents as their only daughter, and I ended up getting eaten by undead and ending up as a giant, small lizard." Eztli snorted. "Which is to say, entirely not like your life at all upon further thought, but, at least I'm mostly okay with it now. But for doing stuff now? I don't know, I guess it doesn't feel right to give up. I'd like to make some more stories, have some more adventures and the like. Probably."<br />
<br />
Dirk busily loads up a plate with delicious goodies and wonderful treats. Even piling up proper Dwarf Sized portions, there's still plenty for everyone else. Clearly, -this- version of Taara knows how to cook for dwarves. He munches away at some nibbly things, listening to the others' tales. When Skyler mentions a unicorn, he brightens up. "Och! That reminds me of the time I was trackin' this ugly beastie down in Am'shere!" he says. "I'll tell ye, jungles an' dwarves mix together 'bout as well as some berk rippin' arse in church! Hah!" He recounts the tale of the monster hunt, which led to a unicorn that had been tempted into disgrace by a wish demon. "The poor thing wanted us tae end its sufferin'. But I hadnae the heart tae kill such a noble beast. But fortunately, me mate Dolan's a Corona in Daeus' church, an' we able tae help the poor thing find repentance an' forgiveness!" He gets thoughtful as he munches another bite of tasty things. "Because even the worst villain can be redeemed, in the end," he muses.<br />
<br />
Someone important? Rescued from the Void? What?!<br />
<br />
Moggie scowls darkly, muttering under his breath about 'dilly-dallying while the world is doomed, he'd never let you get away with that' and so on. It's entirely in character for him,. it seems.<br />
<br />
'Auntie' puts her hands together in front of her, eyes wide. "You don't say! What is there to be done, though?!" Obviously, this is just a normal day at dinner, where one talks about rescuing people from THE VOID of all things. <br />
<br />
The food is ... a lot. There's -so much of it-. Anything you want is thjere on the table. Somehow. Like she knew. Because, of course, she did. <br />
<br />
Eztli gets her hand patted. She understands. Skyler too, really. "Parents can be so dreadful," she mourns.<br />
<br />
The comments of redemption has them BOTH eyeing Dirk.<br />
<br />
"We have to remind her," Magpie says, trying to pull the couple's attention from Dirk. "That she *has* choices she can make. That any story she could tell could be true, even the lies. *Especially* the lies. Because that's what stories are, right?"<br />
<br />
Leaning over the table, she picks up a lovely spiced-pork bun and tears it in half, breathing in the aroma. "Stories are lies about things that never happened, that outline a truth that needs to be known, aren't they?"<br />
<br />
Monching on one half for a bit, she swallows, and looks up, eyes wide and begging.<br />
<br />
"Tell us a story, Auntie?"<br />
<br />
Aryia's inhaling some Am'shere cuisine as she side eyes the others, seeing if they're catching on to the hooks being pulled. With a tlahco in one hand, mouth with another, her free hand gestures out, "It's so simple it's kind of stupid. Don't believe the Void. It's a bad lie. Reflections of reality that have no basis. The instances where I fought myself, my void self, it was such a farce of reality. It couldn't handle the /real/ me. Am I lying to myself? Maybe. But even if I don't believe I'm better, as long as I believe I'm better than the next thing, I'm golden."<br />
<br />
Sticking to her guns, it seems, and playing up what Magpie posits with a solid, and true, story. Aryia gestures at Magpie, agreeing with her. Story time! <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
"Oh, _tell_ me about it." Eztli bemoaned, reaching for a large mug of ale that was incredibly difficult to drink in a proper fashion. "Parents were more concerned about making sure that they would profit off selling my hand off to the richest family they could find, and the worst part? Never even asked if I liked the guy, liked guys in the first place, and he had the audacity to tell me that dance was _boring. Don't think they ever bothered to know me." The makari ranted. "So, found someone that cared, made plans to leave, and then the countries overrun with zombies. Bad luck on that, not to mention being called a reptilian freak next time I saw my partner." She continued, stopping to open her mouth and dump the rest of the alcohol down her throat. "But y'know what? It was worth the try. I'll take a chance of things being better over a guaranteed life of misery any day of the week. And it was my choice to make, too, no one twisting my arm in the process. Surely you've got some stories about your own decisions too, right?"<br />
<br />
<br />
-To be continued-<br />
<br />
[[Category:PRPs]]</div>Aryiahttp://www.tenebraemush.net/index.php?title=Where%27d_They_Go%3F_That%27s_Where&diff=44518Where'd They Go? That's Where2025-11-25T05:05:57Z<p>Aryia: </p>
<hr />
<div>Darkness.<br />
<br />
Alexandria has been consumed in it for a hot minute, hasn't it? Not the kind of darkness of night's fall and early winter's days, but the more metaphorical kind: a creeping, slowly spreading chill, a tension building of a coming ending: the moment before the boot drops, so to speak.<br />
<br />
You aren't sure what you were doing, or even how long its been, but here you are: painfully aware of that boot, and unsure where you are. There's an expanse of swirling blackness, and you are alone in it.<br />
<br />
... until your hear a voice: people calling out.<br />
<br />
"Five more minutes!" Skyler grouses, as if the call of the voices were people attempting to wake him up, "Mama, I do not want the pony with the fancy forelock, for he bit me when I fed him sugar cubes."<br />
<br />
Beat.<br />
<br />
"Oh wait. I'm not asleep."<br />
<br />
Another beat. "Gods this is getting *weird* in Alexandria."<br />
<br />
Dirk pauses with his brush in mid-stroke, poised over his beard as that darkness overwhelms him. He blinks owlishly, squinting and peering in the gloom. That doesn't seem right. -He- can see in the dark just fine, usually. "What in Dana's flowery green -arse-?" he grumbles. He fumbles his way to the window of his inn room and flings it open. Perhaps if he can see outside, something will make sense. If only it were that easy. "Och, what the hell is this? What the hell is goin' on here?!" he shouts out into the void. Will it help? Maybe not, but it helps to be able to do -something-. It's proof that he's not going deaf as well as blind in his old age.<br />
<br />
Aryia is quite used to the dark. Pitch black, or even darker. Perhaps the last gift of Taara. Or maybe she's just built different. So it is *weird* that she can't even see past her own nose.<br />
<br />
She catches a voice, then two, turning that way and gives a quiet, two toned whistle as she claps her hands together, trying to light up the dark.<br />
<br />
Eztli was left in some state of confusion at the darkness around her. The makari flicked a small flame between two of her fingers, that seemed to do little to actually disperse the darkness. Sound still worked though, right? The sorceress carefully picked her way through the shadows to not trip on anything, trying to find the source of the noise.<br />
<br />
Aryia manages to get her hands alight with moonlight, but still, barely able to catch anything before her reach. A tinge of panic crawls of up her neck, but she locks that down.<br />
<br />
"What a worthless little cretin. Get rid of it." A distance voice rolled by over her shoulder. A man's. She felt a weight land in her hand. It was dropped like hot iron. "What? Scared? They're useless. You will be too if you don't-"<br />
<br />
A whistling streak of moonlight punches the air behind her, her finding herself panting and slowly backing up. What... is that...?<br />
<br />
"...Albus?" Magpie says, turning this way and that, trying to pierce the gloom. "...Is it time for another Crimson Pen book? Or... wait... You're *not* a book anyore, right? Didn't we--"<br />
<br />
Backing away from the calling voice, Magpie does what comes natural; putting a Light spell on the headdress-coin directly over her forehead, because when you need a light you need it close.<br />
<br />
"The.. pony..."<br />
<br />
"Pony..." A voice seems to echo around Skyler, making his eyes widen and his skin to visibly pimple up.<br />
<br />
"Pony..." Or at least, it would if anyone could see him.<br />
<br />
"Pony... would... not bite... if you did... not ride it so harshly..."<br />
<br />
"Harshly... little toadstool.." Again the voice echos, and Skyler spins around with fist raised, eyes dilated in utter terror. "No. You're *dead*. You're dead and *he* killed you!"<br />
<br />
And he hears the sound of a voice crooning a discordant melody, something about 'heal heal little frog' that's equal parts silly but, judging by how Skyler seems to be covering his ears, equally parts terrifying to him at least.<br />
<br />
"Little hunter..." Dirk's face turns white as his beard as the soft, silky-smooth voice reaches him from the darkness. "Let me -in-, little hunter." Dirk swallows hard, his mouth turning dry. "No... it cannae be you..." He slowly backs away from the window, fumbling in the gloom for his thunderbelcher. His flailing palm catches the barrel, making the weapon topple to the floor. The clatter makes Dirk startle back with a squeak. "Yer -dead-, Demontry Kol! Dolan and Andalena put an -end- tae you! Yer dead an' gone -an' ye cannae come back!-" He stoops to snatch up his thunderbelcher and snaps it to his shoulder. He turns this way and that, panting for breath as he fights the panic clawing at his mind. "Yer dead an' gone. Ye cannae come back. Yer dead an' gone. Ye cannae come -back-!" he whispers hoarsely. But the soft, mocking laughter that rings in his ears tell him that no, Dirk, sometimes your worst nightmare really -can- come true.<br />
<br />
Eztli squinted in spite of the darkness, listening closely to the voices. She froze in place as the voices turned guttural and violent, clearly humanoid, but not quite. "I'll burn you all where you stand!" The sorceress shouted, charging off in the irection of the noise to get to the source of it, and eliminate it if need be.<br />
<br />
With her forehead shining like a beacon, Magpie *ought* to be able to see more than nothing. But the darkness is too close, too heavy, and the voice... shifts, subtly. Menace weights it's barely-understood words, a gurgling sound like an indrawn breath around a mouth full of blood.<br />
<br />
The faint crackle of fire.<br />
<br />
Timbers falling to crash into floorboards.<br />
<br />
The crack of bone.<br />
<br />
"Wait... you're not Albus," Magpie whispers... "...You're... oh *hell* no."<br />
<br />
And she turns and just bolts, fleeing in any random direction that is Away From That Ever-To-Be-Damned Wendigo.<br />
<br />
The voices fade away. Silence.<br />
<br />
All of you are alone in the dark for a moment. It's chill settles into your bones. <br />
<br />
And then a new voice, achingly familiar but just out of reach, a memory come and gone.<br />
<br />
"We are all made of stories, little ones. Seek them out."<br />
<br />
Aryia squashes her breathing, forcing it to be an even In and Out as she backs up with glowing hands raised. Focus. Whatever is going on trying to fuck with you. Find your center. That mantra goes through her head again and again until-<br />
<br />
She senses others nearby. She whistles again, a two toned low-high. And.. a voice? It was painful how familiar it was, the ache like a heart being pulled taut.<br />
<br />
"I saw him..." Skyler whispers staring at nothing as he curls up on the ground, hands wrapped around his legs, "He hurt her. He hurt her and she could not have lived through that. If she did..."<br />
<br />
What that would mean remains unknown, as he perks up when he hears the two-toned high-low whistle. Slowly, he surfaces and pulls a small little grey stone out of a small cage braided into his hair. He kisses it softly, hesitantly, and then lets go of it so it's floating around his head like a friendly little moon as he stands up and walks towards the whistles.<br />
<br />
Dirk's eyes blink open as he hears voices. Voices he knows. Voices that aren't -Kol's-. "Blessed Lady, keep an' protect me," he whispers softly as he gingerly makes his way forward. "Halloooo! Skyler! Is that you, laddie?"<br />
<br />
The voices vanished just as suddenly as they had appeared, leaving Eztli alone again with an ever growing frustration. She sighed, perking up just as the voices picked up again. "Dirk? That you over there? Not something impersonating you or something, hopefully?"<br />
<br />
Magpie is... not really paying attention. She is, after all, convinced that there's a people-eating monster in dire -- like Bear -- need of a snack.<br />
<br />
Magpie is also a smol bean. This has long been a source of great frustration, because the bulk of Alexandria is not *built* for smol beans.<br />
<br />
Both of these together may explain why a circular light bobs rapidly out of the gloom, resolving into a Magpie that crashes into Dirk, rebounding almost immediately and looking up, eyes streaming with fear-filled tears. "...D-Dirk? ...Is that *you,* buddy?!"<br />
<br />
The swashbuckling man comes face to face with a scarred-to-the-nines shadow elf with eerie glowing hands and fierce scowl that could cut through rock. She blinks. Her hands move, and understanding follows regardless of knowing the lingua franca. "Who the fuck are you?"<br />
<br />
Aryia looks to the side, hearing closer voices, barely seeing them. "Eztli? Dirk?" She waves, doing that two-toned whistle again. Her way of saying 'hey!'. <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
"Dirk?" Skyler looks *horrid* when the ol' boy finds him, eyes wide and shaking in the dim light of his (not so) happy (anymore) moon. Is he green or is that just the light of the aeon torch? "Wh.. where are we? I wanna go *home*. Jarik was gunna give me a foot rub!"<br />
<br />
He then jerks his head towards the others, and clings to the dwarf's arm. "Oh hey, I know the little one. We took on some demon-lord and she ate his nuts while I skunked his face. And is that Eztli and..."<br />
<br />
He comes face to face with Aryia, lets out a shriek, and falls backwards on his ass. "I'M TOO YOUNG AND PRETTY TO DIE IS WHO I AM!"<br />
<br />
Eztli trudged up over to where everyone else was conversing, the low growl in her throat dying down and out once she actually saw some faces attached to the voices. "Look, no one here is going to die unless there's a reason for that, and I doubt that's the case." The makari grumbled. <br />
<br />
"Now, more importantly, yeah, no clue where the hell we are. If I can get us out of here and you aren't all shadow monsters pretending to be people I know, then I can see what I can do, if it comes down to it."<br />
<br />
Dirk's eyes get wide as he spies Skyler. He doesn't even comment on the arm-clinging. He's in the mood for some clinging himself. He clutches at Skyler, eyes wide as teacups as he looks around fearfully. "Skyler! Praise the -gods- laddie. Ye won't -believe---" But then there's Aryia, and Eztli, and Magpie too. He staggers a bit as Skyler falls away from him. "Ariya! It's a'right, lassie! Skyler's an adventurer, like us!"<br />
<br />
It's about this time that Magpie enters, stage right, and smacks right into him. He sweeps his arm around her to keep her from ass-planting as well. Fortunately, while he is indeed a shortstack, he is no smol bean. He is decidedly more of a thicc bean, and so he does not tumble as easily as some others. "Magpie! It's a'right, lassie, it's me!"<br />
<br />
He looks up and around at his friends, his beard bristling. "What the hell is goin' -on-? Is this more o' Heth's bullshit? I thought we blasted that sheepfucker out the sky!"<br />
<br />
Aryia relaxes as she runs into others she knows - and more importantly trusts. And then there's this screaming man. Her glowing gaze leers down at him, ears flicking at the high pitched noise. "... sure. Pretty. Get up. My bedtime was interrupted and I'm pissed." She reaches down a hand to help hoist Skyler up - it's more like getting thrown to their feet if he accepts.<br />
<br />
She steps closer to Eztli. "Yes. Let's figure this out. I want to get back to bed."<br />
<br />
She gives a firm nod to Dirk, relaxing somewhat. "Don't know. Too dark for that. He's more a zombie dragon." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Upon confirmation of Dirk's reality, Magpie simply lunges out of his grip to wrap her arms perhaps a quarter of the way around his middle, consoling herself with a good few seconds of crying.<br />
<br />
Once big feelings in smol body are satisfied, she leans back, rubbing eyes and nose. "...Yeah no we need to be *anywhere else,* This is lookin' just a little too Void-y for my liking.<br />
<br />
"Evil never dies, Dirk." Skyler says earnestly, as he stares from Dirk to Aryia and then at Eztli and Magpie before accepting the hand to his feet a touch self-consciously as his little moon stalls behind his head. Is it embarrassed to be orbiting the swashbuckler?<br />
<br />
Do they even do that?<br />
<br />
But then it comes around again and he's schooled his face into a grin of amusement. Sure, he's flung to his feet, but he's *Skyler* and manages to twist midair to land nimbly on his feet, brushing off his best feature.<br />
<br />
... His shoulders, duh! "Evil just gets kinda winded and then apparently comes back to throw our deepest trauma at us. Did anyone else see or hear someone or something horrible, or am I just depressed and/or mentally ill?" He scratches his chin consideringly, "Although I think they aren't mutually exclusive. Oh, hey little squirrel!" And he pulls a little lacy bit of fabric out of thin air, and offers it to her, "For your face. You can blow your nose too, 'coz I don't want it back if you use it."<br />
<br />
Dirk wraps Magpie up in his arms and gives her a proper Dwarf Sized hug, a (likely very successful) attempt to crush her soul back into her body. Also, he's trembling himself, and it helps to have someone to cling to. "Easy there lassie. Yer a'right. Fer now, at least. Yer among friends," he says, as soothingly as he can. Once Magpie turns loose, he does the same. He looks up and around at the others. "No, lad, it wasnae just you. I heard... -him-." He shudders, gripping the stock of his thunderbelcher until his knuckles turn white. "Demontry Kol. That rat -bastard- of a vampire. Och, of all the villains I ever fought, he was the -worst-."<br />
<br />
"Th-th Wendigo," Magpie stammers, accepting the lacy cloth with a watery smile and using it to de-gunkify her face. "Thanks... You're *lots* nicer as a person," she says. "...But you made a *heck* of a skunk. Anyway... That's what I was running from. I couldn't see anything... but it sounded like we were back in that in, and just.... no. Nuh-uh."<br />
<br />
"I'm not too confident this is something we can figure out nice and quick, much as I'd like that." Eztli sighed, rubbing the back of her head. "If we're not in Alexandria, teleporting would always work, but I don't know any spells to go cross planes, which is more likely. So, whatever way is out of here, it's on the terms of whatevers got us here."<br />
<br />
"I mean he was a little handsy when *I* ran into him, but after I killed him half a dozen times he got the hint." Skyler says reflectively regarding Dirk's terror, reaching over and patting Magpie on the top of her head. "I don't think I can do a handstand and shake my ass at this problem, alas." He tells the smolbean sadly, "But I'm glad to have you here with me, and we're in some pretty fierce company." He puffs his chest, "Not to brag, but I'm a Gentleman Adventurer, Eztli once sat fire to some stuffed animals, Dirk doesn't shoot blanks despite his age, and she looks terrifying." He jerks his thumb at Ariya. "Surely she's done some dope-ass shit in her time. Silent but *deadly*." Ah, the emotional recovery abilities of a dumbass. They should be studied! He beams around at the group, tucking thumbs in his belt. "We got this!"<br />
<br />
And then Eztli puts a rain on the parade, and he sags. "Spoilsport."<br />
<br />
If Aryia is surprised from the smooth twist and land, she only shows it through a little shrug and a cocked brow. "Yes, I did. Heard my old owner," she answers Skyler. "He should be dead."<br />
<br />
The name Kol catches a tinge of recognition, so she gets closer to everyone to close the ranks. The thumb towards her gets her attention, a snort escaping her. "I simply solve problems by going through them. The others can tell the tales. But we seem competent enough to untangle this."<br />
<br />
She inhales. Out. "So... did anyone hear that other voice?" <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Dirk shakes his head. "He could always get in my head," he says tightly. "I couldnae keep 'im out, nae matter how hard I tried. He could turn me intae his adorin' wee little -slave-. Och." He draws a shaky breath, looking over at Eztli. "Gods, what I wouldnae give tae have Lana or Telamon here. Or Missus Verna, or Master Mikilos. -They'd- know what tae do." He glances back at Aryia, studying the movement of her hands. "Other voice?" he asks, looking back up at her face. "I... I'm nae certain. Could it have been one of us that ye heard, perhaps...?"<br />
<br />
"Something about being made of stories," Aryia replies to Dirk in a quick flit. "Might have been my imagination. This place seems fucked." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
"Maybe we were kidnapped by fairies. I had that happen once." Skyler says brightly, as he glances around, "Anyone see a mushroom circle? They give you hints if you pee on them, the kinky little things."<br />
<br />
There are no mushroom circles.<br />
<br />
Alas, there is only a profound, chilling darkness that seems to extend in all directions.<br />
<br />
And then... <br />
<br />
... there it is.<br />
<br />
That voice.<br />
<br />
Warm, rich, melodious even. "Find the thread. One will bring you to me. A final corruption."<br />
<br />
There, something takes shape. A home rising up out of the dark. Lonely looking, in the sense, but it's a several story manor home from the look of it.<br />
<br />
"I'm not useless, you know, I just don't make it a habit of fucking around with other planes of existence, so I never bothered learning more about it. Which clearly, in hindsight, wasn't a good idea." Eztli huffed, trying not to glare at the comments. "Didn't hear too much, maybe someone's trying to mess with me, since I'd recognize those noises anywhere. Maybe they thought they had more of a hold over me still." <br />
<br />
The makari watched as the building appeared, and sighed. "Well, that's a trap if I ever saw it, but unless anyone has any better leads, or wants to see what happens if we teleport somewhere else at the moment, Doesn't look like much of a choice, does it?"<br />
<br />
Aryia just gives Skyler a /look/. "Okay, fairy pisser. You could just-"<br />
<br />
Her hands still as that voice snakes through the air. Hands drop, looking over to- oh. "-h f-ck m- s-d-w-ys," Aryia hisses through clenched teeth, her grey skin paling. "I know that house. Gird yourselves. Last time I was there, I stepped into a fucked up bloody aftermath of a massacre." She goes through a few motions: cracking her neck and rolling her shoulders before taking point. <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
<OOC> Aryia uses Ki: Barkskin <br />
<br />
Dirk gives Skyler a -look-, his bushy white brows furrowing as he tugs at his beard. "I... I'm nae sure it works -quite- like that, lad," he says. "Although there's plenty out there in the wilds that'll do summat if ye piss on it. I dinnae judge." He looks back to Ariya and snaps his fingers. "Och! Yer so right! I heard that too! Just..." He waves a hand around. "All o' -this- is goin' on..." He looks like he might like to elaborate, but then there's that manor rising up out of the gloom. He looks up (and up and up), his eyes getting wide once again as his jaw drops. "Erh?" That's about all he can manage. Fortunately, Ariya's there to fill in the blanks. At her warning, he lifts his thunderbelcher and racks the slide with a satisfying CHK-CHAK. "Right. Let's finish this up an' get back tae Alex. I have tae finish groomin' me beard."<br />
<br />
GAME: Eztli casts Mage Armor. Caster Level: 14 DC: 20<br />
<br />
"There's a whore I know that taught me the *best* balm for frizzy hair!" Skyler tells Dirk brightly, "You are looking a little poofy. Works extra well on bristly, curly hair. We can even add some dyes to make it fun colors! I once committed piracy with a guy that had a purple beard. It got all over everything, especially when it rained, but he said it helped immensely with split ends." <br />
<br />
As he rattles away, his hand reaches up to draw his wickedly curved blade, tossing it into the air and catching it with a flourish before pausing to check his boots for scuffs. One gets wiped away, before he nods at Aryia, ignoring the look. He once dressed in Verdama drag and flirted with one of Her paladins. It takes more than that to rattle him. "Of course it's a trap. But we know it's a trap, so we're springing it on our terms. Who do we wanna send in first, or do we all want to jump in at once so they can't single anyone out?"<br />
<br />
There's warmth in that home, unlike the chill of the place you're in. You can feel it as you get closer. Love, laughter, and light oozing from it at stark odds with the nature of the place.<br />
<br />
And ... <br />
<br />
...music? You can hear it now. Joyous. Lively.<br />
<br />
GAME: Magpie casts Mass Planar Adaptation. Caster Level: 15 DC: 25<br />
<br />
Dirk gives Skyler another -look-. "I do not need a purple beard," he grumbles. "Make me look like one o' those nutty oddbeards. Hrumph!" He mutters and grumbles as he lumbers along, his posture tense as a coiled spring. But then, hearing that cheery music, and seeing how warm and inviting the place looks... it slows the burly old snowbeard's step. "Aye-yup. This is -definitely- a trap," he grumbles.<br />
<br />
As the others begin to gird up for trouble, Magpie stands there, brow furrowed for a moment. Then, she wets the end of a finger and holds it up to the air, nodding slowly... and begins to chant. The words... don't matter much, sliding off ears and brains as she speaks into her cupped hands. Power gathers there, pooling into a roiling, chaotic mass of liquid light of any and all possible colors. Then, at the apex of her chant, she slams her hands together, and the power sprayes out in all directions, settling over herself and her friends in a shimmering ward that soon fades into only the occasional multicolored glimmer.<br />
<br />
"...Been a tour guide out in the Planes for awhile," she says quietly. "Wherever we are, we're plane-lost. I can get us back, but... this feels *important.*<br />
<br />
"I agree, we're not on this plane," Aryia nods towards Magpie, taking the magic with appreciation. The stark contrast of how the home feels now versus how she remembered it is deeply unsettling. Last Aryia was here, it looked like people suddenly left mid-party. But here, it looked like the party was still going on.<br />
<br />
"I can take it. Prepare for Taaranites," she volunteers, stepping forth towards the manor and... she inhales deeply. Lines of energy flare on her skin in a flash. And she opens the door. <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
<OOC> Aryia uses Ki: Diamond Soul, Gain Spell Resist 30<br />
<br />
"Oh, great, cultists, hiding in a plane of darkness, and something warning about corruption. Suppose that explains why people can sound like they're having so much fun in a place like this." Eztli grumbled, waving one hand over her shimmering robes. "You always sleep with your guns and swords on you? Suppose I would too if I didn't have a way to defend myself these days."<br />
<br />
The door opens. <br />
<br />
It looks very inviting! Just waiting for you.<br />
<br />
That can't be bad, right?<br />
<br />
Aryia hesitates at the door, looking back at the others before peering inside. It felt... odd. The carpet wasn't sodden with blood, and music was flowing like the drinks. "Just stay focused." But alas- she enters, eyes darting through the party. On edge.<br />
<br />
Dirk grunts softly as he feels Magpie's protective magicks settle on him. "Glad we've got -you- here wi' us, lassie," he says. "Gods, I've lost track o' how many times yer magicks have come in clutch." He squares up with the manor, swinging his thunderbelcher to rest it over his shoulder. As he lumbers forward, he glances at Etzli. "Nae -usually-, no. I like me gun well an' all--I made it meself after all--but hardly enough tae sleep wi' the thing. That's just weird." He trundles forward, heading for the door, and whatever might lie beyond it.<br />
<br />
And Aryia bounces Skyler, sword held at the ready as he glances left to right with bright eyes and a grin that suggests he's ready for anything.<br />
<br />
Eztli shrugs and doesn't seem too perturbed for the moment by the building before them, and like the others, is quick to enter. "Focused as well as I can be, maybe it'll be easier inside where I can actually see things, hopefully."<br />
<br />
"Don't forget," Magpie says, giving Dirk a distracted grin as he talks her up. "Find the thread. It was important enough for nothing to say, it's important enough to *remember.*"<br />
<br />
But she's still trying to place the voice as she files on in behind the rest... ready to see what needs a little chaos.<br />
<br />
"Welcome, welcome!"<br />
<br />
You're greeted almost immediately by a man in in loosely fitting robes. Silk.<br />
<br />
"It's been so long since we had guests at the door! Come in! Come in! Enjoy! Wine?" Was he holding a platter moments ago? No? <br />
<br />
Does it matter? He is now. Red wine.<br />
<br />
"We're so happy to see you! I'm sure we've been expecting you."<br />
<br />
The home unfolds into a radcuous, hedonistic party. Everyone is singing along, dancing, drinking. It's -merry-.<br />
<br />
Merry everywhere to the heart's desire. Everything is luxurious...<br />
<br />
Dirk wasn't at all certain what to expect out of this alien, otherworldly place. Aside from a couple jaunts into Quel'ynos, he's kept his feet firmly planted on Ea's face. But -this-... it's familiar. -Too- familiar. The old snowbeard swan-dives headfirst into the uncanny valley. His cheeks turn bright red, and his beard bristles as he stumbles and stammers. "Uh... uh... I... uh... that is tae say..." He reaches up to doff his tricorne, glancing around furtively before turning a -desperate- look on Skyler. The sky pirate's the charming one--surely -he- knows what to say? All poor Dirk can think to do is fidget from foot to foot. He doesn't want to be -rude-, really, but he -was- kidnapped, and now he's at a party. Normally something he'd quite enjoy, if not for the circumstances. He's fairly certain he didn't receive an RSVP to -this- particular gathering.<br />
<br />
Eztli looked even more sour than usual, the sorceress not appreciating the party in the slightest. ""Gods, if anyone asks who your parents are, just tell them that they're too important to bother telling them." She grumbled to no one in particular before stepping inside.<br />
<br />
"Oh, hey! Do you guys have oat milk?" Skyler asks brightly as he shoves his way to the front of the crowd, beaming brightly at the party-goers as he glances around, "So glad you knew we were coming, coz we sure as fire didn't!"<br />
<br />
He pauses, and adds, "You'll forgive us if we don't give you our names. It's more fun that way, y'know!" And he grins brightly, "So what's all this about? What's going on? Did someone die?"<br />
<br />
Aryia is stymied briefly at the entrance, such a party rifled old, bittersweet memories. She lingers at some of the luxuries, but she shakes her head, focusing as Skyler pushes his way to the front. He seems far better suited for this environment, so she's back to watching the party for anything remiss.<br />
<br />
Totally just watching.<br />
<br />
"Oat Milk?"<br />
<br />
A beat.<br />
<br />
"Well, I suppose I can check the pantries. They're ... very well stocked? Amazing. It's like a never ending pantry of anything and everything we could want, so perhaps!"<br />
<br />
He smiles warmly at them, then turns to lead them further in.<br />
<br />
It's ... it's a party. There's people singing, laughing, dancing. They all seem to be having a good time. There's no end to it. Every room you pass by, pass through, is filled to the brim with people locked in some sort of eternal festival and they all look like they're having the time of their life. <br />
<br />
And not a knife to be seen anywhere. "There's some space in this room," he says, cheerfully, pointing the way down another hallway. This place is impossible to figure out. The interior makes no sense to the exterior. One gets the impression it doesn't really matter to any of them.<br />
<br />
Dirk shuffles along with the others as they're led inward. He's never one to turn down a good party. No dwarf worth his beard would be. But all of -this- seems to be a bit much for the old ranger. A small gathering of friends in a cheerful inn room is much more his speed. He stares all around as they make their way in. The strange geometries and curious angles has the poor old dwarf's eyes crossing. "Beards o' me sweet tapdancin' fathers. What the hell--"<br />
<br />
He pauses with one foot poised to take a step before he stops in his tracks. Sloooowly he turns his head and leeeeeans back, peering into a room. His eyes get wide, and his cheeks turn red as beets. He swiftly resumes his pace, harrumphing softly as he fans himself with his tricorne. "So ah... heh... quite the er... -lively- gatherin' ye've got goin' on here," he says to their strange host. "There a special occasion? Or are ye all just a naturally happy lot?"<br />
<br />
"Maybe I was too harsh in my judgement. I think they might genuinely just be here to have fun with no ulterior motives. Maybe." Eztli relented as they wandered further into the strange party. "So, what's your name, then? What's the occasion for all of this, anyways?"<br />
<br />
"Hey question!" Magpie calls from much closer to the floor; imposible angles and eldritch geometries... Yeah they're weird, but pay attention to your feet and you'll be fine. "Like he said; what *are* y'all celebrating, anyway? I ain't never seen a party this size without *somethin'* kickin' it off!"<br />
<br />
The gnome seems more... curious, than suspicious, as she examines passed hallways and chambers. Maybe the thread is a literal one?<br />
<br />
This isn't the first or second time that Aryia had been in an otherworldly place where the festivities were eternal. She follows, better to go along with the tide than to fight against it. Especially since they're still trying to sort out what's going on.<br />
<br />
The fact that she hasn't spotted the that knife was both relaxing as it was concerning. A thought that is discarded as she peers into the same room as Dirk. Her brows raise as she whistles lowly, before lazily trailing along with the others after a moment.<br />
<br />
"Hey! When you find the oat milk, maybe also get us the answers to our questions?" Skyler asks brightly, his tone firm but friendly, cheerful even as he squints at the back of the leading figure. "And space for what? Are we having an orgy? I mean, usually I like a little more prep work before group debauchery. And if you think for a second I'm sharing my oat milk, you really are insane."<br />
<br />
He asides to the group, "This is definitely a trap. But, like, is it the kind of fun trap where we all end up naked and covered in cheese, or the kind of trap that ends with us eating someone's flesh? Because I won't do that again. People are kinda gamey." Surely he jests, right?<br />
<br />
Dirk flicks his wide-eyed gaze around at his friends. His friends are safe. The old dwarf is hardly a prude, but even he has his limits. And the heedless abandon permeating this place is a -very- long way beyond that line. If there's anything he can't stand, its losing control of himself. He's had enough of that to last a lifetime.<br />
<br />
But then Skyler has to go and do Skyler things. The old snowbeard's gaze snaps to the swashbuckler. "Naked an' covered in--" He stops in his tracks again, his jaw working for a moment as his cheeks once again turn red as beets. "How's -that- get fun?!" he finally manages in a strangled tone. He doesn't mention the flesh eating. Erotic cheese dip is -so- much easier on his poor frazzled nerves.<br />
<br />
"We are celebrating Taara, of course! How could you not know?" He tilts his head at you, smiling still. "We feast, we sing, we dance, and we tell stories. We lie, we cheat, we manipulte, and we tell stories. All that lives, wants, and all that is dead wants to live. That is why we are here. She has called us to her Side. She is near."<br />
<br />
Oh boy.<br />
<br />
'Find the thread.'<br />
<br />
'Find the thread.''We sing, we dance, we tell stories.'<br />
<br />
'Find the thread.'<br />
<br />
'We lie, we cheat, and we tell stories.'<br />
<br />
In a rush, Magpie draws in a breath, and reaches up to take a glass of wine from the tray. "So, she says, with her most engaging smile, "would you do us the favor of telling us a story? About Taara?"<br />
<br />
"Very gamey," Aryia concurs with a gesture. Was she joking? Does Aryia joke? She glances to Dirk. Shrugs. "Gouda is pretty fun. I can see it."<br />
<br />
Her footfalls stop hard with a stomp. Pales. Gulps. This is Her domain. Magpie comes swooping in with a way forward, grounding the mul'neissa woman that should be completely at ease here. She would have in a different, past life. She is not that woman anymore, and is thankful someone else can fill those shoes. <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
"If I have to explain it, Dirk..." Skyler shakes his head, and jerks his thumb at the dwarf as he addresses the guide, "If we do go cannibal, he's probably a little tough. Probably best to stew him. Low heat, long cook time in an oven." He then cocks his head at Magpie, nodding.<br />
<br />
"Preferably with refreshments. I want oak milk. Warm, maybe, with some honey stirred in? My nanny use to give me a cup every night when she told me stories." He says with a charming, winsome smile, "You'd be surprised at home much I don't know." He says with pride, "I mean, knowing stuff takes so much work. Easier just to vibe! So why don't you get us refreshments and we can listen to your Taaran stories, maybe pull some thread, indulge in pulling Her threads, whatever else we need to do to *party*!"<br />
<br />
"I would rather avoid anything involving cheese or eating people myself." Eztli sighed. "Great, she's near. So, that means we should probably get going, right? Sounds like the case to me, if this is some exclusive Taaran gathering."<br />
<br />
Dirk's eyes get wider still. "Taara. -Taara-? -The- Taara? The goddess of--" He looks for a moment like he'd like to say something -very- unflattering. But he gets ahold of his tongue and snaps his mouth shut. His beard bristles for a moment. "Er. Uh. I mean tae say. The goddess of... things." He gestures lamely all around. That's nice and neutral, right? Surely -that- won't offend a goddess in Her own realm.<br />
<br />
Once again, Skyler gets a -look-. "Och! You lot take it intae yer heads an' cook -me-, I'll go straight tae yer hips, I swear tae fuckin' Dana," he grumbles. It's hardly the first time some nasty beastie or foul fiend has threatened to make a meal of him, but -this- time it feels different. He nods eagerly at Eztli, pointing her way. "-She- gets it!"<br />
<br />
"No, Eztli," Magpie says, shaking a finger next to her head, and beginning to pace. "No... I think we're nearly there. It *feels* close, because what *is* a story? It's the lie that outlines a truth. And they have stories... *and I would hear them.* I want to see the common thread."<br />
<br />
Oh, no, Magpie seems to be locking into her theory, looking up at the revelers with a sort of hunger in her shimmering eyes.<br />
<br />
There's a distinct pause from the young man as the others talk. He tilts his head, adjusting his hood and pulling it down all together. Yep, he's a shadow elf too. Of course he is. <br />
<br />
All smiles.<br />
<br />
"Of COURSE I'll talk to you about Taara. But I think you're here for a reason -- no one gets in uninvited you see -- so why don't you look around and find who invited you?"<br />
<br />
He gestures beyond into the party.<br />
<br />
"Let your journey be the story that warms your hearts in the night or failing that, be worth the hangover."<br />
<br />
While that milk idea sounds pretty good to Aryia, but the weight of what others point make her even more nervous, especially as Magpie seems to hit the mark. An unsettling thing with the normally stoic pugilist. And then-<br />
<br />
She was /invited/ here. Into Taara's domain? Aryia gave up on her over half a century ago. "I tell no more lies, not even to myself anymore," she gestures, looking out to the party proper. "But, fine. Guess we'll have to mingle. Try to not overdo it." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Magpie is just about to say something incredibly clever... when they are put on a scavenger hunt. Words die in her throat, her finger loses it's pointer-y-ness, and she sort of... deflates, just a little. Looking back up at the reveler, she tries on a crooked grin?<br />
<br />
"...A clue, perhaps? Cryptic or plain, honest or red herring, it's momentum that matters, is it not?"<br />
<br />
She *has* her suspicions... but to be wrong might also be blasphemy, so...<br />
<br />
"Wonderful, so we've all got a reason to be here, for something or other. Maybe just the entertainment?" The makari shrugged, not looking to pleased. "So be it, gods I hate mingling at parties,but if that's what we need to do, so be it. Be a bit harder when all I've got to rely on is my winning personality and humility, but we've gotta do something, right?"<br />
<br />
"What if my thread is oat milk?" Skyler asks in a tiny, hopeful little voice before he sighs, scrubs his face with one hand, and shakes his head sadly. "Curses. Fate is a fickle bitch once again."<br />
<br />
He then squares his shoulders, and glances at his party. "Maybe it has something to do with the traumatic visions we heard?" He pauses, and adds to Eztli, "You also have your fiery wit!" And he mimes flames coming out of his mouth, and flails his hands like he's burning. "Crispy."<br />
<br />
Dirk looks up at their host and blinks owlishly. Blink. Blink blink. "Uh..." He looks back towards the room that had just captured his attention moments ago. Of -course- it's still within easy reach, it's fresh in Dirk's mind. "-Taara-? Taara invited -me-? -The- Taara? Och, I'm naebody, why would Taara invite -me-?" He mutters and harrumphs, tugging at his beard as he glances around. Aryia's suggestion has the old ranger boggling slightly. "Mingle? -Me-? Och, but, this is all so... so..." He fumbles for a diplomatic word. "-Lively-," is what he eventually goes with. "I'd just bring the vibe down. You know us dwarves. We're all a bunch o' grounches, us. We'd rather spend our time scowlin' intae a mug o' beer in a gloomy corner. Ayep, that's us, right there." He fidgets with his tricorne, looking around at his friends. Surely they're not suggesting the cardinal sin of splitting the party, are they...?<br />
<br />
"Is that so?" remarks the young man to Aryia, curiously, "Truth is funny thing, you know, that exists in the space between one's story and another's." He takes a step back, smiles at Magpie, and then offers her another glass of wine just because.<br />
<br />
"She waits for all of you." <br />
<br />
And then he disappears into the swirling, dancing crowd.<br />
<br />
Aryia flexes her jaw. "That space is where truth lies, and where truth lies," she replies back with a hand. The mute glances to Magpie. "Momentum matters, it seems. And either we spin this tale in an endless inertia of debauchery or we press forward. Probably has to deal with the horrid shit we saw like Skyler said. So..."<br />
<br />
She rubs her face. Dirk is right, Taara invited /them/? This has to be a sick joke, or and honest plea, and it was frustrating it could be both at the same time. "... let's get into the party or some shit. Fuck me." Aryia moves past the room they peered at, following into the dancing crowd. <Handspeech/Tongues> <br />
<br />
Skyler?<br />
<br />
He's already gone, shrugging out of his coat. "WHO HERE HAS EVER DONE VODKA AND OAT MILK SHOTS?!" He's shouting over the crowd, even as he shakes his ass, "It tastes like hell but oh my god the way it *lingers*! WOOOHOOO!"<br />
<br />
"Does it?" <br />
<br />
"Shit, let's try it!"<br />
<br />
"Let's find some oat milk!"<br />
<br />
"What the hell is oat milk?"<br />
<br />
"WHO KNOWS!"<br />
<br />
"...Okay well since no one got smoten saying it, yeah, pretty sure that's who we have to find, Magpie says, absently swirling the wine... then pausing as Skyler sends a group of Taaranites on a wild oats chase. "Hey, guys? I'm reminded of a saying I heard from a Rosalian... 'In vino, veritas.' This is totally a bad idea, but...."<br />
<br />
Drawing in a short breath, she takes a long swallow of the wine.<br />
<br />
Eztli was left shaking her head awkwardly as some of the others took off. "I was just gonna find a dance floor or pole or something. Seems like the sort of stuff they'd have here." Eztli grumbled. "I don't trust any of the drink here at all, so I'll pass on the oat milk. How do you even milk a plant in the first place? Don't particularly want to know, to be perfectly honest."<br />
<br />
Dirk boggles as their host retreats, leaving them alone. "Oh, beards o' me sweet tapdancin' fathers," he whimpers softly. "How are we goin' tae get back home? We -will- be able to, won't we? Och, Thistle an' Lulu must be so worried..." He fidgets and frets, looking around for something, or anything that might resemble what they're looking for. He's certainly -not- in the mood to party. Usually, he's the one who picks what parties he goes to, and none of the debauchery is doing anything to enhance the burly old ranger's calm.<br />
<br />
As Magpie goes to drink that wine, he startles, reaching out with a "Aggkk--!" But he's too late. "Och, what if it's like in the fae realm? If ye eat or drink what they give ye, they own yer soul, or some nonsense like that," he says. Aaaaand there Skyler goes, doing Skyler things. You really have nobody to blame but yourself, Dirk. You're the one who decided he should do the talking.<br />
<br />
GAME: Aryia rolls perception: (18)+38: 56<br />
GAME: Skyler rolls Perception: (14)+21: 35<br />
GAME: Eztli rolls perception: (14)+5: 19<br />
GAME: Dirk rolls Perception: (19)+22: 41<br />
GAME: Magpie rolls percetion: (20)+percetion: 20<br />
GAME: Magpie rolls perception: (4)+15: 19<br />
<br />
It's loud.<br />
<br />
It's raucous.<br />
<br />
There are people -everywhere-, and talking to them reveals every last one is a Taaran of some kind -- in fact, many of them are actual clergy, or so they say: all too happily.<br />
<br />
They also lie.<br />
<br />
A -lot-.<br />
<br />
It's frustrating. It's annoying. It sends you in circles trying to grasp what's even happenign here, or how you might've goten here. All that is until Aryia in particular hears a voice.<br />
<br />
A familiar laugh, up a set of stairs that seems to have no end.<br />
<br />
There's a touch of old, old habit Aryia falls back into, and that is dance. One of the few vestiges of her old life that still stuck around after the slow fall to rock bottom. She sways from one group to the next, trying to get some iota of information but- she's done this all before- and it's still just as annoying. It seems like it's going to be far too much to deal with-<br />
<br />
A laugh lances through her ears and mind like a shot of old, nostalgic trauma with no ice. A wave of emotions crash against her; fear, rage, apathy, guilty relief. It had been so long to hear that voice, to wield that power. Oh- to taste that once more, the delight of a delivered lie.<br />
<br />
She let the wave crash, spread, and recede. In. Out. She didn't need Her anymore.<br />
<br />
The others. She flits through the party, tapping her friends on the shoulders and gesturing to follow. "Found the thread," she just signs in explanation, pointing to the set of stairs before heading up herself. <Handspeehc/Tongues><br />
<br />
"... And then I told him that it wasn't a banana, it was ME!" Skyler cheerfully tells a group that he's regaling with a story featuring two drunk goblins, an hobgoblin, and a basket of fruit.<br />
<br />
Don't ask.<br />
<br />
In all likelihood it's a lie, and he seems to be attempting to top himself with gusto with each new lie he attempts to tell... Although he also keeps half an eye on each of his party, distracting people attempting to interrupt them or draw trhem away from the mission. When a woman with big ol' knockers and a hungry expression begins to approach Dirk, for example, he calls out, "HEY! DID I EVER TELL YOU ABOUT THE TIME I DRESSED IN DRAG AND TRIED TO SEDUCE A PALADIN OF VARDAMA?!" to draw her away.<br />
<br />
Eztli had searched and searched, but there was nowhere to dance proper she found, outside of just meandering in between the groups of priests that seemed to treat lying like a competitive sport. By the time she was about to threaten to cut out some of their tongues and shove them down their throats, Aryia seemed to recognize something in particular this time, and the sorceress breathed a sigh of relief before reconvening.<br />
<br />
That voice.<br />
<br />
Aryia is leading you towards something she recognizes, up a set of stairs. Up another, longer set of stairs.<br />
<br />
Through narrow and dark hallway, past rooms full of party-goers and increasing levels of hedonism and debauchery. <br />
<br />
Finally, into a lounge, lit by firelight. Shadow Elves in reverent prayer are here -- prayer to Taara. Seated comfortably amongst them is a scarlet-haired shadow elf of, of course, indeterminate age. She rises to her feet, silk robes hanging comfortably on her frame.<br />
<br />
"Well, well, well," she begins, "It's so good to see you and your friends, darling."<br />
<br />
Aryia knows who that is.<br />
<br />
Aryia stops short in the doorframe. Her jaw works, eyes wide at the figure as her throat bobs. "Akorinil," she signs in a blitz of fingerspelling. She clearly is ignoring any pleasantries as the pugilist looks about the room before half looking at the High Priestess. "I take it you invited us here." It wasn't a question. A hand behind her back flashes to the group, "Caution." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
"Oh, golly, I never knew a raven could do *that* with a writing desk." Skyler tells whichever poor soul ended up getting stuck at the rear of the line with him. When the party left the main group, Skyler seemingly appeared out of thin air at the rear of the line holding a goblet of something that is vaguely milky but a little too thin to be actual milk from a cow.<br />
<br />
Is it the fabled oat milk?!<br />
<br />
Despite being by all measures something of a dunderhead, he's not stupid enough to actually drink it, but does seem to be content to carry it with him in the hopes of escaping with it. Oat milk has a longer shelf life than cow's milk, after all. He glances around with bright eyes as they enter the room with the scarlet-haired shadow-elf. He looks prepared to step forward again to take the lead when Aryia begins to wiggle her fingers. He frowns but shrugs, and leans against something after checking it for stickiness. It *is* that kind of place, after all.<br />
<br />
Dirk's eyes get wider and wider as they progress up the stairs. Each new display of hedonism and abandon has the old snowbeard's cheeks turning brighter and brighter red. "Och, if they're tryin' tae sell us, they might be goin' a -wee- bit overboard, wouldn't ye say?" he mutters, giving his beard a tug. But then, they're there, in the company of Taaranites. The redheaded shadow elf has Dirk blinking owlishly. And again when it appears that Aryia -knows- this person. His gaze flicks to the sign behind her back. His shaggy white brows furrow as he takes a step forward. One hand reaches up and over his shoulder to grip the stock of his thunderbelcher. "Right. Let's nae be havin' any biscuit-arsed behavior out o' -you-, lassie," he growls. "It seems a -lovey- party yer havin' here. It'd be such a shame fer there tae be an arse-kickin', now wouldn't it?"<br />
<br />
Eztli continued along with the rest of the group, with some idea of where to go courtesy of Aryia. The makari certainly did not know what to make of the elf, it was just another of many at the party, but she did at least get an inkling to show some manner of wariness.<br />
<br />
Magpie actually giggles at Skyler's commentary; how can one not? he puts such careful work into it, after all, it'd be a shame for his efforts to go unappreciated. She tries not to look into the doors they pass, largely because Dirk is a good enough bellwether, it serves to satisfy her curiosity.<br />
<br />
When the group tops the house to find Akorinil, however... the gnome seems confused. "I... hm... it's good to meet you, your Taarishness? Sorry, never learned many polite modes of address but um... I'm... not familiar?"<br />
<br />
The fabled oat milk is not in evidence at this time.<br />
<br />
But it's not like they aren't looking for it. You can hear them, down below, on the hunt.<br />
<br />
The Shadow Elven woman rises to her full not at all impressive height and gives a very, very warm smile. She's entirely happy to see everyone. "There's no need for any of -that-," she tells Dirk, warmly, "Such distrust, such hostility! It's just like old times, wouldn't you say?" she tells Aryia. <br />
<br />
"I am Akorinil Belvade, and you are a guest in the house that faith built. It is we, here, who sacrifice so that you may live to fight another day -- or perhaps we should say tell another tale?"<br />
<br />
"To be fair, we weren't exactly given the most..." Skyler purses his lips as he considers exactly how to phrase it, "Sanity-preserving wake-up and invitation to the party." His pale eyes drift along the group, taking in Dirk's belligerence, Aryia's discomfort, and Eztli's wariness. "But regardless. You'll have to forgive my little teapot of a friend. His tastes are a little more conservative than you and your followers." He glances over his shoulder, "Although I do have some questions about that one room with the three sea shells myself, to be honest. They certainly looked like they were having fun but..."<br />
<br />
He shakes his head, waving a hand dismissively before checking to see if he spilled the oat milk. Nope. Still safe for Verna or Telamon or someone else to de-cursify for him to enjoy later. "Banger of a party though, Akorrie." He holds up one thumb, "Seriously. So what's this about telling tales? I have an appointment at the bath-house to get my toe nails trimmed and I don't want to be late, so if you could tell us how to get home..."<br />
<br />
Aryia holds up a hand to Dirk, then pushes her hand down in a calming motion. "While I am confident in my abilities, let's not poke this nest." She glances to Skyler, Dirk, Eztli, and Magpie before taking a deep breath and looking back to the Akorinil. "High Priestess of the Lady of Shade, she fails to mention."<br />
<br />
A sigh escapes her. "You can hardly blame us, you know? The distrust. While I appreciate the hospitality, I agree with the fancy man. Can you clear up what the hell's going on here? Because in the material plane this party was... bloody." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Dirk's scowl deepens. "I'm nae Taaranite," he growls. His grip on his thunderbelcher never wavers. "An' -our- tales are -true- ones! Nae those rust-covered lies that -She- spins." Skyler calling him a 'little teapot' has him regarding the swashbuckler with an indignant scowl. "Hrmph! I can cut loose just fine, ye struttin' peacock. But there's a bloody time an' place for it, isn't there?" <br />
<br />
He doesn't miss Ariya's admonition, but he old ranger is tense as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs. He looks back to Akorinil, fixing her with a hairy eyeball. "Ye -kidnapped- us. Forced us here against our will. What on Ea's great green -arse- would make ye think we'd want -anything- tae do wi' ye? We've nae want fer any yarn or tale ye'd want tae spin fer us. Let us go home!" For now, he keeps his voice to a low, surly growl, but he's ready to spring into action at the drop of a hat.<br />
<br />
Eztli sighed, and shook her head a few times. "You've got a real swell way of inviting people to your house of debauchery." Eztli huffed. "Why exactly should we telling you more than we should? It'd be good to know why we should actually tell you anything."<br />
<br />
"It really is a lot of trouble to go to, to bring four random people and also Ariya halfway across the planes," Magpie agrees, and by the very sound of her voice, if she wore glasses she'd be pushing them up their nose.<br />
<br />
"Also I gotta admit, things have been getting ugly and weird for a while now, so I can only guess we're here because we're uniquely suited to help, somehow? Not you, though..."<br />
<br />
Magpie looks down for a moment, then back up, and nods. "So how can we help?"<br />
<br />
Bless her little chaos gremlin heart.<br />
<br />
Skyler snap-points at Magpie, one chaos gremlin to another.<br />
<br />
Clicking her tongue against the roof of her mouth -- a tutt of disappointment -- Akorinil shakes her head with such sadness in her eyes.<br />
<br />
"I am wounded -- so very wounded -- by the accusations and innuendos. Though I like him --" She points at Skyler. "And you," a point at Magpie.<br />
<br />
She smiles at Aryia. <br />
<br />
"I would've thought my station so obvious!"<br />
<br />
A smile at Dirk. <br />
<br />
"Kidnap you? Kidnapping is so gauche. I saved you. The Void consumes all it touches. Do you remember what you were doing before you found yourself here? Do you -really- remember?"<br />
<br />
... come to think of it ... you don't. Not really.<br />
<br />
What do you do when the High Priestess of Lies compliments you? "Thank you, you're pretty swell too! Speaking of swell how do you keep everything so perky with minimal support!" You believe the freakin' lie, of course. It's gauche to point out someone's lie, and she is trying so hard, after all!<br />
<br />
To Dirk, he shakes his head, "Maybe if you calm down, she'll give you some caramel hard candies! Doesn't that sound nice?" And he reaches over to squeeze the dwarf's shoulder warningly, turning to give him a grimace that is as serious as the grave where Akorinil can't see it. And slightly apologetic, as if he's trying to silently apologize for what he's saying.<br />
<br />
Turning back to the Lie Priestess (get it?) he grins. "Nope, but to be fair it wouldn't be the first morning that happened. My partner usually finds me, pays any fees or bounty, and then I start the day. And the Void has been a *bitch* lately, so you'll have to be be more specific. What'd the Void do this time?"<br />
<br />
"And I'm not either, Dirk, but-" Aryia sighs, rubbing her temples. She drops it, stepping deeper into the room and leaning against a wall. "I know how Taaranites work, and those that don't find it kind of maddening to talk in double speak the entire time." She can't help but half cough at Skyler's comment, a rare silent snicker escaping her.<br />
<br />
The pugilist blinks. "The void was... approaching, but we staved it. But before here-..." Aryia stops. Thinks. Frowns. "... alright. Fine. Got me there. Care to elaborate?"<br />
<br />
"Sorry if I don't give much of a crap about impressing you, to be very honest. High Taaranite priest isn't really that high on my list of stations that I care about." The makari snorted. "So, you brought us here, for some reason. I'm sure you did it out of the depth of your heart and compassion, since you know so much about how I'd want to be saved from something like that."<br />
<br />
Dirk's beard bristles angrily. He tenses at Skyler's hand on his shoulder, and he looks about ready to throw it off, possibly with some proper dwarven profanity to help it along. But he's a canny old bear, and he doesn't miss Skyler's expression. It'd be noteworthy enough -without- them being in the very heart of Taara's house of faith. He pulls deep, snorting, snarling breaths through his big dwarven nose. The leather of his gauntlet creaks as he forces his fingers to unclench with visible effort.<br />
<br />
"I'm nae afraid o' the Void," he growls, in a bit more of an even tone.<br />
<br />
He turns his attention back to Akorinil. "Lord Gilead an' the Blessed Lady hold me in their keeping. I trust in Their goodness." He draws another deep breath, fighting for calm. Now is not the time for dwarven tempers. He never was the sharpest marble in the deck. Deep thoughts often evade him. But he possesses deep, homespun wisdom of his own. He forces himself to be calm and cool, like the forest's shade on a clear spring morning. The priestess' question, though, has his hackles springing -right- back up. "Of -course- I remember what I was doin'! I--" He cuts off, lifting a hand to his beard. He gives the majestic snowy white whiskers a tug. "I was... I was... brushin' me beard out..." He pauses. Blink blink. "I -was-, wasn't I...?"<br />
<br />
Confusion darkens his mood back into a surly scowl. He turns his dour gaze back on Akorinil."All right. Fine. Ye brought us here. If we hear yer tale, -then- can we go home? I was... doin' -somethin'- important. I'm fair certain." He actually -isn't- certain, but he's not letting -her- know that.<br />
<br />
"Easy, buddy," Magpie whispers as she rests a hand on Dirk's arm. "I'm not gonna bite the hand that pulls me out of the Void, for certain... But we still need to hear what it is you need from *us.* You can rest assured -- High Priestess? -- we're grateful enough to do what clearly only we could, so... Whaddaya need a tracker, a firelighter, a brawler, and two chaos gremlins for?"<br />
<br />
"You've all done very well in facing the Void, it's true. You've killed the 'villains of the void' -- but do you know what those were made of? Not just void stuff, to be sure. What else were they?"<br />
<br />
The question Akorinil asks each of you is clearly rhetorical, but she's planting her hands on her hips. She needs to hear something from each of you.<br />
<br />
"Pass." Skyler tells the rest of the party, his expression utterly bewildered. "I mean, as far as I know, it's made of nothing because that's what void is, right? Absence of stuff?" He grimaces, "I think I skipped that day with my tutors, or slept through it."<br />
<br />
Aryia nods her head along with Dirk; she wasn't afraid either, having faced it several times herself. She stares at the High Priestess. "... really Akorinil? You were there. You helped me and the group. I fought a corrupted version of myself. A reflection of another timeline. Others I've known have fought the same." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Dirk nods his head firmly at Skyler. "Aye, ye have it exact, laddie," he says with a voice full of conviction. "It's -nothing-. My farts after Gobbo Chili Night have more substance." He pauses, and looks thoughtfully. "Actually, those have a -lot- of substance after Gobbo Chili Night. Errf." He gives himself a shake, looking back to Akorinil. "Sun rises. Rains fall. The forest breathes. An' -good triumphs over evil. That's the way the world bloody works." He grips his belt and nods again. Dwarf Law has been spoken.<br />
<br />
"You've... not been paying too much attention to me, it seems. Guess I was just dragged along for the hell of it." Eztli huffed again, clearly growing a bit more agitated. "But given my second hand knowledge and keeping up with the times, I dunno. They're memories. Void stuff pretending to be something it isn't, because those folks are supposed to be some of the worst known."<br />
<br />
Magpie pauses, then looks over her shoulder at Skyler and Dirk. The others seem to refuse to put much thought into the question, but the Gnome dips her head, beginning to pace.<br />
<br />
"...But the Void isn't nothing," she says, tapping her nose. "If it was, there'd be no Heth. It *is* hungry, and corruptive, but we're not *talking* about Voidstuff. We're talking about the villains."<br />
<br />
Turning back about, she snap-points at Eztli for a moment. "Memories. That's close, but they weren't the *same.* But if the people involved had fallen *to* the Void..."<br />
<br />
She pauses, and looks up at Akorinil. "They're lies. Lies told by the people they were trying to be. 'If only,' 'maybe I could've,' 'if not for that damn skunk...' Memories grasping for ways to remain relevant, come back stronger, get what they deserve."<br />
<br />
Is she holding a mug? Why, yes.<br />
<br />
Was Akorinil holding that mug moments ago?<br />
<br />
No. It's not even clear where she got it -- but she must've gotten it from somewhere. In point of fact, as you each look at her holding it, you begin to -remember- her ssending a servant to fetch it, one bringing it back to her. You're pretty sure that didn't happen... right?<br />
<br />
She holds it out to Skyler. Is it... could it be?<br />
<br />
IS IT THE LEGENDARY OAT MILK?<br />
<br />
In the meantime, she does nod towards Magpie, glancing between each of the others. <br />
<br />
"Tell me, friends -- what is another name for a lie? A fiction. What is a fiction but a story?"<br />
<br />
Her eyes turn towards Aryia, now, "Do you know? Do you know why we were called to her side? It is the same reason you stand here now."<br />
<br />
GAME: Skyler rolls Wisdom: (5)+2: 7<br />
<br />
"Evil is subjective, Dirk. Deforestation is a sin to some, but to others it's a necessary part of fueling progress and forwarding civilization." Skyler says earnestly to Dirk, "I'll grant you there are things that are black and white, but for the most part it's all different colors in between."<br />
<br />
He looks prepared to wax more philosophy when the mug is held out to him. His eyes widen and he bites his lip like a man facing the worst temptation of his life. He knows it's stupid and unwise to drink something handed to him by the Lie Priestess, but...<br />
<br />
"Oat milk." He breathes, and reaches for it, "Gods. It's been so long."<br />
<br />
The others' perspectives paint Aryia another picture of what's going on. She wasn't far off, it seemed: memories, false potentials, all that could have been. She quirks a brow at the offered mug, not really certain where it appeared. But, weirdly, she actually trusted it was the true, one and only: oat milk. Honestly, she can't blame the man for jumping for it, and doesn't stop him.<br />
<br />
She's heard that mantra before: a lie is just fiction, and a story. But she gets a different question. Her eyes grow downcast. "I was called because I was very good at telling the story of Her and His matrimony," her hands are slow. Her fingers curl into tight fists. Tremor. Then release with a breath Out. "But She left me when I needed her most. And now I need no one aside from my friends."<br />
<br />
She glances up to Akorinil, resolved. "But that is not the question you asked. You mean the Mul'neissa. It was..." she tries to remember. "... the original elves. Ancestors. Taara took one, or sheltered them from the other, a long time ago." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Dirk boggles a bit at Skyler as that mug appears out of nowhere. A -fiendish- mug, no less! "-Sky-ler, don't be -thick-!" he can't help exclaiming. "What if it's poison? Ye dinnae have a dwarf belly, poison can -hurt- you!" He grumphs and mutters. "If progress an' civilization comes at the cost of murderin' the forest, then -fuck- 'em both. The Green Word was here long afore anyone put one stone atop another. It'll outlive all of us." He flicks his gaze to Akorinil. "An' -nothin'- can stop -that-."<br />
<br />
He pulls another calming breath. Mutter mutter, grumble grumble. "A'right, so they're -stories-. Just like everything else. Like you an' them, an' -us-." He gestures fro Akorinil, to the other Taarenites, to his comrades. "Get tae yer -point-, lassie. I want tae go -home-." He does try his very best not to sound like a petulant child, but he is -so- far out of his element here.<br />
<br />
"So, stories are being made into reality, and not anything good. Why can't the void just raid Mikilos' library of crimson pen books and do something more fun with that?" Eztli continued to grumble. "Yarn, tale, epic, not sure what you want us to answer here, there's more names than anyone could reasonably guess, everyone's got their name for a story."<br />
<br />
"Dirk," Magpie says, a little more insistently. "C'mon now. I know this is wildly outta your comfort zone, but.. you wouldn't be here if you weren't needed. I believe in you, buddy, okay?"<br />
<br />
Though this is a story she *hasn't* heard, and new stories make for very curious gnomes.<br />
<br />
"Oh, I do wish that it -would-. Nothing can be so self-annihilating as sex," says Akorinil to Eztli, but with a big old smile. She gives Dirk and Magpie sympathetic looks. She certainly understands -- or so she'd like you to think. <br />
<br />
"It's true. You're all here for a reason." She turns her eyes towards Aryia, then, and continues.<br />
<br />
"...ah. The Shadow Elves -- you and me both -- once labored in spiritual bondage to her, as you know. AS everyone knows. That bondage was shattered when the right story was told. Without the weight of their souls, however, the wall against the Void within her weakened. The toll her theft of magic for power took grew. The death of Animus haunted her. The Void found purchase within divinity and sought a new story: a fractured one that would end reality. Without narrative, there is no time, not consciousness, no 'self', and without those things, there can be no desires fulfilled."<br />
<br />
She glances towards Skyler, "... a world without a hunger for oat milk," she says, for emphasis.<br />
<br />
"And so she called her high priests home to her. She called her faithful, so many of us, so that we may rest in the Abyss and support her through it all. She called so many, and we worked until the time was right. We stand on the precipice of the final step. There is but one more villain of the Void to face."<br />
<br />
There is a single, momentary beat as she lets the words wash over you.<br />
<br />
"The goddess of lies herself."<br />
<br />
Beat.<br />
<br />
And then...<br />
<br />
"Thank you for the oat milk, you're Lying'ness, but I think I need to go home." Skyler says in a remarkably steady voice, "I can give you a couple recommendations. Eztli here is awesome. There's also Telamon, and Cor'Lana-Banana, or possibly Verna! She's scary. I just..." He stares at the others helplessly, "I swing a sword good, end of story. Yeah?"<br />
<br />
Dirk listens to Akorinil, beard all a-bristle and his bushy white brows furrowed. It -does- sound like the sort of outlandish, self-aggrandizing tale a creature like the Goddess of Lies would spin about Herself. But then she drops that last bombshell--that they're to face down Taara. His face goes from red to white, and his brows fly towards his hairline as if trying to escape his face altogether. "Heek?!" is about all he can manage to squeak. He looks over at his friends, hopping from foot to foot. "-Me-?! Face down a Goddess? Och! Lassie, I know I'm a right bad-arse but--but--" He fumbles and stammers, trying to think of something, -anything- to say. He snap-points at Skyler with eyes wide as teacups. "Aye, -exactly-! I'm just a simple hunter! I'm nae the sort o' hero who fights -Goddesses-!" he cries in a strangled tone.<br />
<br />
Aryia purses her lips as Akorinil explains her point. She was aware of a good chunk of it, though the forthrightness of it has her questioning the authenticity of it. It's true the High Priestess has done nothing /wrong/ in all the time that she's known her, but it something one has a very hard time shaking the nagging feeling she's going to-<br />
<br />
The mute audibly gasps "Th- f-ck?", which turns into a hacking fit. She rubs at her throat, stepping off the wall as the others try to reason with such a tall ask. "So let me get this right... you want us to...-" she rolls a hand, thinking while trying not to reel from the suggestion. And the faint, faint tinge of vengeance creeping in. "... what? Expose a truth to her so damming it unravels her position? You cannot defeat an entity such as that." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Eztli blinked once, then twice, breathing in, and letting out the longest Exhale she could manage. "Aren't you a priestess of them? Isn't this some horrible, horrible sacrilege? And wouldn't that piss off literally everyone in this building?"<br />
<br />
"...Ah-ha," Magpie say, nodding slowly... for the thirty seconds or so it takes for the magnitude of the ask to sink in. Which poiny the noe-rubbing becomes a long, low whistle. "Oh *wow* you are getting desperate, holy beans..."<br />
<br />
Blinking, she looks up and about at her friends. "...So she can't fight the Void in her anymore. But her own people are *too close*, likely as not to follow her into the Void just out of religious ecstasy, right? So Her High Priestessness casts around for folks also lost in the Void -- us -- who have a shot at doing what they can't; Dirk, think of a bird that gets dunked in an airship's oil tank. You don't clean the oil off, what's gonna happen to the bird?"<br />
<br />
The reactions to her statement have Akorinil smiling. Then smiling even bigger .She's delighted. She loves it. 'Lying'nesa' tickled her especially. She nods solemnly right along and then addresses first Skyler.<br />
<br />
"Oh, I am well aware. But this isn't about power. It's a task that you've been more prepared for than you realize, Skyler." Wait -- where'd she get his name? It's not like he introduced himself to her out the gate.<br />
<br />
Dirk earns a tilt of her head, her crimson eyes focused on him.<br />
<br />
"We do not get to pick our fights, young one." Only an elf can call a dwarf 'young one' succesfully, right?<br />
<br />
"... but you think yourself a hero? Then stay."<br />
<br />
Aryia's reaction forces her to cover her mouth with her hand in abject delight.<br />
<br />
"Oh, oh. We go back such a long way, don't we? To think we're standing here together at the end of the world, with as much as you've seen and as much as you know, prepared to author something new together."<br />
<br />
"What matters is the tale being told," she tells her.<br />
<br />
And then to Magpie, she gets a smile. "Creative! Thoughtful. I like this one."<br />
<br />
"But it's all so linear. What Animus spoke of when he called out for aid is true. He can be saved. Aspects of the blight -- the so-called 'villains of the void' were called for you to confront. What do you suppose they represent in truth? And how do you suppose their defeat helped Animus?"<br />
<br />
Aryia squints at the Highpriestess, growing more weary as Akorinil gets excited. She takes in the information as told to the others, and she pauses. Looks at the crew. Then back to Akorinil. "I guess the villans of the void were aspects that Taara threw out to help weather the weight of the Void? But the way you're talking is making it seem likes we have to make up story that becomes reality, getting Her out of this mess, and... brings Animus to the fore?"<br />
<br />
She blinks. "Is /this/ why you wanted the damn shards??" she jabs at a finger at Akorinil, eyes wide. <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Dirk's day is certainly taking a turn for the strange. And considering some of the things the old snowbeard has seen in his days, that's saying quite a lot, actually. "Wait," he says, looking over to Aryia. "Wait, wait, wait just one anvil-crackin' minute. -We- have tae come up wi' a story?" He pauses, staring at his friend for a moment. "It... it -cannae- be -that- easy. Can it?"<br />
<br />
"They were stories for us to confront and re-tell. Kol and that Snow Bitch weren't defeated brute force; we had to finesse them." Skyler says slowly, a light (however dim and flickery) coming on in the attic, "It's about establishing what reality is strongest. Gods, my head hurts." And he drinks the last of his milk. "More, please?"<br />
<br />
"I still have no clue what we're supposed to be doing here, because if you think that we're supposed to confront the corruption of a god on our own, then, well even if I'll give it a try, I don't particularly welcome my chances." The makari sighed. "So, I don't know. I really, really don't know, and I'm not a fan of trying to get a straight answer out of a pathological liar."<br />
<br />
"I mean, I wouldn't call it *easy,*" Magpie says, scratching her head. "But if it ain't completely linear, then... Beating the villains didn't just show the lie of them for what they are, but told Animus that was *never* how it happened?"<br />
<br />
Magpie is clearly stretching the limits of her comprehension, but trying regardless. "So now we have to... show the lie of the Void to Taara?"<br />
<br />
"Closer, closer," says Akorinil to Aryia and Magpie. Eztli gets a sympathetic look before she remarks, with a smile, "The life of the party, aren't you," she says, amused. There's no mockery in her tone, just earnestness this time around. She tilts her head, letting her long, red hair fall over her face and shoulder.<br />
<br />
"You're closer, as I say. The Goddess of stories looked down the narrative path, the branching tree of a story, if you would. The possibilities. Each choice she made closed one after another, and yet she persisted. Too stubborn to let go of what is rightfully her's. Each villain of the void, as they were called, embodied a portion of the Void within her, yes yes, and in so returning sought to prove the futility of life and meaning. Here you are, having told the story already, and yet you were called again to do what you had already done. Isn't.."<br />
<br />
"It.."<br />
<br />
"Pointless?" she asks. <br />
<br />
"While a story is linear, a means by which we understand the events of our lives, the choices a Goddess makes extend into the past and the future." Her eyes fix on Aryia.<br />
<br />
"Just like the death of Animus."<br />
<br />
"And when we have a story and we don't like how it's going..."<br />
<br />
"Perhaps we can be shown how to author a better ending."<br />
<br />
Her eyes fix on Skyler -- for just a moment.<br />
<br />
And then she turns to Magpie.<br />
<br />
"So. If we must save Animus, how do we save the Goddess of Want from herself -- for the final collapse of meaning rests in failing to do so."<br />
<br />
"Listen, I had a *really* bad trip a while back. Me and a bunch of halflings and goblins took a job babysitting some rich asshole. We got kidnapped by pixies or some shit, shoved through a mushroom ring, and were forced to do some Ye Olde Bullshit Queste and then it became this battle of imagination with the big bad." Skyler scratches his jaw. "It was weird. This seems like the same bullshit: Stories and our perceptions of reality shape what is real or not. We just have to convince the Goddess of Lies and Bullshit that we're telling the truth."<br />
<br />
Skyler pauses and adds, "I doubt I can solve this with imagining she has a cloaca, but I'm willing to try."<br />
<br />
Dirk listens to this great, tangled yarn. All of it speaks of things so far beyond his experience. Like the beasts of the forest that he protects, in many ways, old Dirk is a creature of habit and instinct. When one measures their life in centuries, it becomes easy to forget Tomorrow, even as one recalls Yesterday. He tugs at his beard, glancing around at his comrades. "I mean... -I- can spin a decent enough tall tale when the mood takes me," he says. "But I'm hardly a bard. I cannae create a tale worthy of a Goddess." He scowls a bit. "Even one like Taara," he grumbles. "Och, She's gone an' stacked the deck against me. What kind o' tale should I tell? -Mine-? Hrumph. As if -that's- a tale worth hearin'. I'm nobody."<br />
<br />
Aryia scratches the shaved side of her head. She supposed that makes sense with everything considered. "We make up a tale, Dirk. A bit of collaborative story telling. We make her want something else, I think, instead of clutching so tightly to magic, or something like that," she suggests, thinking she had a serious solution.<br />
<br />
She stares at Skyler. Reaches down for a vacant prayer pillow, and throws it at him. <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
"Because what do the best stories do?" Magpie says, conjuring an illusory copy of Aryia's throw pillow and getting a half dozen tosses in herself. "They take us to a world that's even more wondrous than the one we live in. Make us think that maybe *that* world could stay *here.* So if we've gotten all the silly and skeptical out of our systems... I really want to take a run at this, you guys. After all," she says, looking about and grinning.<br />
<br />
"How many people are gonna get to say they told the Goddess of Lies a story so good, she wanted it to be true?"<br />
<br />
"Absolutely thrilled to be here, doing this." Eztli shrugged. "Whatever, I'll try to do something. Can't go any worse than last time, and it's not like there's anything left to lose at this point."<br />
<br />
Skyler says, “Never." Regarding the silly that is. But he does finish his oat milk again and roll his shoulders...<br />
<br />
Until a pillow hits him in the face, and he spills oat milk all over himself. He gives Aryia a wounded look, and then makes an arcane gesture while muttering something equally arcane before passing his hands over himself. The milk disappears. His shoes are shiny. And he smells faintly of mint and sandalwood. His hair even looks smooth and luxurious!<br />
<br />
Hisrestidigitation: Better than dry shampoo.<br />
<br />
"I'm ready. So we want to discuss parameters? I usually find stories go crazy if we just start spewing details. It's how a door becomes genitalia and weird stuff happens. We gotta keep the narrative neat and follow the proper rules of plot structure." He then snaps and gives finger-guns to Eztli. "That's the spirit! You can keep us grounded so Dirk doesn't give her a poofy beard or something." Aside to Akorinil, "He gets a little obsessive, the old dear.”<br />
<br />
Dirk looks at Skyler with an indignant "-Hey!-" He mutters and grumbles, tugging irritably at his beard. "I am -not- obsessive. I'm a -dwarf-. Nae the same thing at all!" Harrumph harrumph. He looks back to his friends. "An' if we fail, here an' now... then that's it? Everything we've done, all the battles we fought, blastin' Heth out the sky wi' the Spell Cannon... it dinnae count fer anything?" He lifts his hand from his beard to rub his face. "Och. I'm gettin' too bloody -old- fer this bullshit," he grumbles softly under his breath. He sucks a deep breath through his big dwarven nose, turning his face skyward. "A'right. A tale, then." He pauses with his mouth hanging open as Skyler gives his warning about the dangers of unstructured narrative. Slooooowly the old ranger turns to regard the swashbuckler. "Dana's sweet flowery -teats-. If a door turnin' intae a ramrod -isn't- weird then what in all the sugary-sweet world -is-?" He pauses. Lifts a finger. "Do -not- answer that. Please, please, -please- do not answer that."<br />
<br />
"That is the secret of the Void -- it empties you of hope, of ambition. It buries it beneath the greatest lie of all: that you are already the worst version of you. What happens when a being which contains infinite stories, multitudes of selves, believes that there is only -one-?"<br />
<br />
"Everything..."<br />
<br />
"...flattens..."<br />
<br />
"...out."<br />
<br />
There is only darkness.<br />
<br />
And then...<br />
<br />
"CHRISTOPHER!"<br />
<br />
The voice is harsh, shrill, and demanding. The person it belongs to? A young woman of modest appearance in full Myrrish court garb. She is young, but bitterness and a sort of ferret-like leanness to her features makes her quite unpleasant and older than her years. "Your brother, the Duke, has demanded that you attend court on his behalf." She shakes her head and sneers, "It's about all you're good for, isn't it? Being your brother's little toady, nothing but an extension of his will when he, the *actual* important one, deals with the real work."<br />
<br />
A pause, and Skyler Skywalker... no, *Christopher Carl von Wayne of the House of Ashewell* starts as if he'd been drifting off to sleep, a bottle rolling out of his hands with a thud. The woman's lip curls. "Gods, you are useless. The only good you ever were was to get your brother *my* dowery to support you, and even then you can't even get me children!"<br />
<br />
The abuse continues, as Christopher stares at his hands, eyes full of pain, of disappointment, of utter despair...<br />
<br />
Dirk Stormgrip is not a young man. There are few dwarves in Ea who have lived longer than he has. He has watched entire forests rise up from saplings to mighty arbors. He has seen towns spring up from nothing. He has counted himself lucky to be friends to many He even fell in love, and was blissfully married. <br />
<br />
And yet....<br />
<br />
He has outlived many of his kinsmen. He has watched those mighty forests wither and fade, until naught but sour, barren earth remained. He has buried more friends than he's kept. And in the end, his wife of nearly sixty years went the way all mortals must.<br />
<br />
Yet he remains. He comforst himself knowing that, one day, he'll find his own time and place to rest.<br />
<br />
But what if he -doesn't-? What if he just... keeps going?<br />
<br />
What he he outlives -everything-?<br />
<br />
In a dismal cave, many long-forgotten years into the future, Dirk sits at a lonely campfire, surrounded by the skeletal husks of a dead grove. His face, once hearty and cheerful, is gaunt and hollow, awash in misery quiet despair. He's all that remains. There's nothing else left. The bleak, dismal night encroaches ever closer, threatening to snuff out that feeble little flame.<br />
<br />
And yet he knows, that even when the fire fades, he'll still be there. He'll never rest. He'll always be there.<br />
<br />
-Alone-.<br />
<br />
One only truly knows what they have lost once it has been taken from them. Freedom. Self-actualization. Trust. Peace. Usefulness. What if she slipped? What if she fell? What if she consorted with the very things she ripped free of her friends and family? "Wait- Aya, I-I did this all for you!" Aryia /screeches/, audibly, at the back of a mul'neissan woman with a long white braid wearing wrapped in sheets in robes. They don't looks back as they walk into the darkness.<br />
<br />
Aryia is... no where near the same. She's bloody, caked in blood but none of it her own, her scars are gone. But a horrid, demonic presence wafts behind her, like a horrid, stretching shadow. "I did this for you, all of you..!"<br />
<br />
The figure pauses. "No sister of mine would stoop to such lows, I thought you learned from my mistakes." They continue walking into the darkness. "Live with your regrets."<br />
<br />
The corrupted pugilist screams more at the backs of others as they walk away. Many adventurers and kinsmen that had lifted her to new heights: Cor'lana, Telamon, Dirk, Seyardu, Verna, Venom, and so many countless others that her long life had touched.<br />
<br />
Her knees hit the floor. The inner rivers have run dry. The sense of self is hollow. And heart beats of glass like her glazed gaze, sharp and staccato as the sound of manacles being clamped and a iron brand searing flesh sizzles into the dark.<br />
<br />
The thing about being lost in the Planes is, unless you know exactly what you're doing... being lost *forever* is a very, very easy thing to do. And in some places, time moves strange... almost as if it ran in currents not unlike water, to pool and swirl and fold back upon itself and--<br />
<br />
When Magpie made a mistake long ago, and fell into one of the famed planar instabilities of the Vast, she never really.. talked about how she got back. Or how long she truly spent, drifting in formless chaos. Or what she saw and heard, surrounded by the very chaos that so heavily infused her blood.<br />
<br />
The truth was, it was a lucky break, that she found a thin place that allowed her to push back into materiality after a scant dozen subjective years.<br />
<br />
Random chance.<br />
<br />
If she *hadn't* been so lucky, well...<br />
<br />
She'd still be there now. She'd still be there when the Void fell over all.<br />
<br />
Drifting.<br />
<br />
Lonely.<br />
<br />
*Untethered.*<br />
<br />
Unspooling.<br />
<br />
Unraveling.<br />
<br />
Unremembered.<br />
<br />
Uncreated.<br />
<br />
Lost to time, space, matter, and anyone who might have remembered her, Magpie quietly, utterly unzips on any meaningful level of materiality, mentality, and spirituality.<br />
<br />
A nobody, gone to nothing.<br />
<br />
The teleportation wards around Alexandria had one major flaw, one that had been tested before. What happens when normal access failed? <br />
<br />
This time, battered and exhausted, the city reached its breaking point. The undead worms collapsed the walls, the sundered by Heth. <br />
<br />
There was still sounds of combat in the city, but every passing hour they died down, while the screams of those beset upon by the dead grew, until they too quieted. <br />
<br />
Eztli was at the docks, where those who remained hurriedly packed onto the boats. The sorceress had not bothered, even with a faint sliver of hope remaining. There would be nowhere safe to flee to this time, and she watched as the boats sank one by one, with the dying breaths of the city.<br />
<br />
There's no hope. <br />
<br />
There's nothing at all. Just an emptiness, bleak and unyielding that feels like it wants to swallow you up.<br />
<br />
... but then... <br />
<br />
There is something. Perhaps its just a feeling, an inkling that this isn't right. A voice whispering in one ear that you could still be more. That the story isn't over.<br />
<br />
And then... there is.<br />
<br />
Music plays, as people move slowly in a stately dance that is all mathematic precision and no passion. Empty steps, done by learned rote. It's beautiful, but... cold.<br />
<br />
Distant.<br />
<br />
Lifeless.<br />
<br />
Among them, Christopher moves with one hand clasping that of the ferret in a ball gown that he's married to. Who is scowling at him fiercely as she mutters a count under her breath, as if Christopher isn't even capable of stepping in time.<br />
<br />
And then, Christopher takes a left when he should have stepped right.<br />
<br />
Gasps! A shocked silence...<br />
<br />
And Christopher abruptly grabs the hand of a handsome half-orc that was beside him. He looks wild despite the court garments, with a certain primal allure. He moves stiffly at first, staring at Christopher. <br />
<br />
"Skyler."<br />
<br />
Beg pardon?<br />
<br />
"I'm *Skyler*."<br />
<br />
And, okay, *Skyler* gives the half-orc a saucy wink before abruptly dipping him and pressing his lips against the tusked mouth as it falls open in shock. He then twirls him away, and laughs as he stares around. "You people suck!" Skyler declares, shaking his head. And to his 'wife'..? "I'd say I wanted a divorce, but I don't think even Dana recognizes a marriage to a wet fish! C'mon... er... you! Let's boogie!"<br />
<br />
And Skyler begins to bump and grind against the half-orc. Who blinks. Shrugs. And then begins to bump and grind against him in turn.<br />
<br />
Dirk draws a deep, shaky breath and lets it out in a sigh. His shoulders slump. The tear-tracks on his face have long since dried. Nothing matters. How could it, when he'll just outlast everyone and everything he's ever known and loved?<br />
<br />
A shriek for help splits the night. His head snaps up, and he's on his feet, thunderbelcher in hand in an eyeblink. He tears out of the cave, racing and leaping through the underbrush, faster than the most nimble deer. He breaks out into a clearing lit by Eluna's silvery light.<br />
<br />
There. A shadow towers over a terrified young maiden. A stinking stain upon the face of Ea, one that has -no- place in the pure, clear wood. The burly old ranger moves on instinct. He hefts his thunderbelcher to his shoulder and immediately cracks off three shots. CHK-BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! They ring out into the night, splitting the darkness and illuminating the night with Dana and Gilead's blessed light. The shadow-demon's malevolent laughter turns to a howl of agony as the blessed bullets rip its substance apart, sending it screaming back to the Iron Hells<br />
<br />
Dirk lowers his weapon and steps forward. "Yer all right now, lassie. Yer safe."<br />
<br />
The maiden looks up, and his heart freezes. She looks -so- like his beloved Sarah, his beloved wife, whom he buried so long ago. It's -not- her, and yet the resemblance is uncanny. She reaches up to take his outstretched hand, and flings herself at him. "Thank you! You saved my life!" she sobs into his shoulder. "I thought I was all alone out here!"<br />
<br />
Color returns to the old snowbeard's face. Strength fills his heavyset frame. He curls his arm around the lass and hugs her close. Over distant mountains, the sun crests the horizon, turning the sky from inky black to glorious rose.<br />
<br />
"No, lassie. Yer nae alone. -I'm- here now."<br />
<br />
When Magpie was lost in the Planes, only random chance allowed her an opening to find the means to find her own way home.<br />
<br />
But the thing about random chance is, the dice never stop being thrown. Every hour, every minute, every second that passes is a new opportunity for something incredibly unlikely to become inevitability. And Magpie is a *much* different person, now, than when she fell into formless Chaos those few short years ago. She *knows* better. She's *learned* more.<br />
<br />
And given the sheer strength of Chaos in her blood, and how its mutability works on her mind and being... she *has* to have a stronger sense of self, just to be able to exist normally.<br />
<br />
The thinness brushes against her senses, and Magpie responds. Fingers, coherent again, flex. An eye coalesces from yellow-green light, and blinks. A mouth that threatened to drift offon its own, opens and pulls air into lungs.<br />
<br />
'Cogito, ergo sum,' goes the saying in Rune's polymorphing schools. 'I think, therefore I am.' In those classes, it's not just pithy words; it's a *lifeline,* a reminder that no matter what form you take, as long as you can use your mind, you will *always* be you.<br />
<br />
At her current powers, it's almost trivially easy to take hold of the pocket of thinness within the Planes, and tug it open to look out onto Alexandria's Lower Market, at the height of the lunchtime rush.<br />
<br />
Being lost is *hungry* work.<br />
<br />
There is anger. There is self-loathing. There is despair. In that shackled cage that shuts with a deafening click. Aryia Zilstrae Aeldius has hit rock bottom again, where all has left her. Inaction and betrayal has got her here. Her misbegotten actions, undercutting her steadfast morals. But then... there is-<br />
<br />
Will. A will to live. It's a drop in a stagnant lake. The ripples barely nudging nary a waterfly. But it wavers the illusion of hopelessness, distorts it, just enough. She's been here before. Churn the waters. Feel the river flow, the heart beat the breath In.<br />
<br />
Out. "NO CHAIN. WILL /EVER/. BIND ME AGAIN!" she bellows into the empty air, her hands flickering to moonlight once again. Manacled hands bash into iron bars, groaning and shearing with each blow before metal sprays out in a deadly shrapnel, her having thrown herself free of the cage.<br />
<br />
Coming to a roll, Aryia pops up, covered in her own blood and wielding an iron bar as she breaks into a dead sprint towards her retreating friends. The pugilist leaps towards a creeping, demonic shadow that looms over them, tackling it to the ground and pinning it there. The only sound that echoes is the satisfying, echoing and repeated clang of metal and a flashes of moonlight chasing the darkness away.<br />
<br />
Not every ship had sunk, a few remained, perhaps avoiding the worst of it from their smaller size compared to other, much more enticing targets. Could she just stay there, do nothing, and give up? It was certainly an enticing thought, in it's own twisted way. <br />
<br />
The sorceress shook off the feeling, a low growl escaping the makari as her form shifted, longer and larger until a massive brass dragon stood in her place that soared into the sky, crashing through the clouds of undead beasts, drawing their attention away while clawing through as many as they could manage. Hopefully it would take long enough to be taken down to turn a sliver of hope into something greater.<br />
<br />
You deserve a better ending.<br />
<br />
You've staved off the darkness for another day, it's true, but you deserve something better. All those wars. All those sacrifices. Don't you deserve better? Just...<br />
<br />
Comfort?<br />
<br />
Warmth?<br />
<br />
Surely, you do.<br />
<br />
And so the scene changes. There's a disorienting moment. It's all good. <br />
<br />
It's always good.<br />
<br />
"Boogiee...."<br />
<br />
"...e's dead! Duke Austyn is dead." The minor revere Christopher has over the punch bowl, a fantasy of rejecting everything and dancing chaotically with some hunky half-orc wild-man dissolving like the ice in his ridiculously ornate, tiny little glass. And the glass is dropped as his wife grabs his arm, her nails digging in hard enough to tear the fine silk of his doublet.<br />
<br />
Christopher stares dully at his wife. "W.. what?"<br />
<br />
She lets out a sound of disgust, leaning forward to smell his breath before wrinkling her nose. "Really? Gods, how much did you drink, you useless shit?" She shakes her head, and her scowl turns into a wide grin. "I killed him. Your brother's dead. Now I'm the Duchess Ashewell of Gull's Edge!" She smiles cruelly, "And you, husband, will get your freedom." She guides him off to the side, hand still digging hard enough to hurt. "The freedom of the country estate. You can farm, you can hunt, you can drink and debauch yourself to an early grave if you want." She puts a hand over her stomach. "I have the Duke's heir. He looks enough like you no one will know the difference." She sneers, "You're free, you useless lump! Isn't that what you always wanted? Freedom, to be something? Well now you're the Duke's father! And you'll be free to wither away in the countryside."<br />
<br />
It's a happy enough ending, in the cut-throat courts of the Myrrish kingdoms...<br />
<br />
Isn't it?<br />
<br />
Not many people get a second chance at happiness. Dirk is one of those lucky few. The lass he rescued from the shadow demon--Farah is her name--falls in love with him, and he with her. She fills his days with brilliant sunshine and laughter once again. With her at his side, the forest grows strong and clean. The land thrives. He takes up his mantle as the forest's champion once again. And how could he not? After so long, he has something to fight for.<br />
<br />
Weeks pass. Winter blankets the wood in soft, cottony-cold white. Dirk watches the snowfall from his cozy cabin with his arm around Farah's shoulders. He rests a palm atop her belly, made large by new life--the one thing Sarah was never able to give him, all those years ago gone by. Just when he thought his happily-ever-after couldn't -possibly- get any better, his newfound love has made him a father in addition to being a husband.<br />
<br />
They name the baby 'Sarah Leigh', and she's as perfect an angel, as all children are in the eyes of their parents. Dirk gently bounces her in his arms, crooning a quiet dwarven lullabye to her as she gazes up at him with wide, golden eyes. He presses a kiss to her forehead and gently lays her in her crib. "Sleep sweetly, me bonny wee lass," he says soothingly.<br />
<br />
He blows out the candle by the bedside and burrows under the heavy blankets with his beloved Farah. Gloom shrouds the cabin.<br />
<br />
Sarah Leigh's eyes open, now inky black orbs. Her mouth curves into a wicked, too-wide smile. In her baby-babble, the shadow-demon's laughter echos just beyond the range of hearing.<br />
<br />
Being lost is hungry work, and damn it all, Magpie will *never* be hungry. Not again. The first thirty years of her life, she was too small to properly defend her food from the bigger kids at the orphanages.<br />
<br />
Which might have something to do with the frequency of wild-magic fires that seemed to haunt little Magpie's trail...<br />
<br />
...Whatever, it's lunchtime at the Alexandrian markets, and all of her favorites are not just on special, but *free* just for her. Rosemary-pork pocket pies, goblin fireball sweetbreads, candied garlic skewers... Every turn of her head brings new and interesting delicacies into vision. And because it's *her,* because she is so amazing and powerful and respected and adored, she pays for none of it.<br />
<br />
Every morsel that passes her lips, bought by the fame she'd always longed for as a child, where justexisting was enough to be celebrated.<br />
<br />
And in the middle of the Market square, Magpie slowly begins to be buried under a cacophony of treats and sweets and savories, heaped ever higher by her adoring public.<br />
<br />
And so Aryia clawed it all back. Trust. Sense of self. Belonging. Usefulness. Back into the weave with friends. Coaching her team back in the Colosseum. Battling kaiju. Sailing the seas on her boat. Pummeling through mountains through sheer force of tenacity.<br />
<br />
So she sits atop that mountain, her apex, having found her center again. The waters have run so fast they look calm in their laminar flow. Breathing In. Out. In. Out.<br />
<br />
The days morph into weeks, months, years. Decades. Time drags on, yet for this elf it's barely scraping any more etchings into the scars. Others age, but that comes and goes, just like all do in the story that never ends. But does it matter? The peak has been reached. Her vantage is leagues in all directions.<br />
<br />
It is absolute perfection.<br />
<br />
Or is it? It hits in a beat of introspection. Somewhere in all that time, a thought worms its way into her mind. 'What is the point of a mountain, if to not look up at its daunting beauty from below? What is the point of highs? Without the lows?'<br />
<br />
Eztli didn't normally wake up with the sun, but recent work forced the makari reluctantly out of bed. After some time blinking the tiredness out of her eyes, she eventually managed to get over to her closet, where several costumes were hanging. All of them and their accessories were carefully stowed into a pack at her side, before she left for the lower floors. <br />
<br />
"Figured you'd be up before me, rehearsals are going to take most of the day. Say hi to deathless for me, will you, and I'll catch you around dinner, yeah?" She offered to the brown haired hunter who had been in the kitchen. She said nothing, only giving a crooked toothed smile to the sorceress before she was out the door, and not a single word spoken.<br />
<br />
It's better, isn't it? Better this way ...<br />
<br />
... but then the worms turn. A thought, an idea gnaws. And once it's there, it doesn't stop. Each vision seems to splinter, to crack, to fray. Black lines ripping across like spiderwebs.<br />
<br />
And then there's a sense of weightlessness, of being-without-body.<br />
<br />
It is cool here. You sense ... other presences. Then, slowly, the curtain draws back. You're ... somewhere.<br />
<br />
Akorinil Belvade look at each of you, a smile on her face.<br />
<br />
"Do you understand now?" she asks, a cautious yet hopeful tone in her voice.<br />
<br />
GAME: Skyler rolls 1d100: (6): 6<br />
<br />
SPLASH!<br />
<br />
Skyler tosses the cup to the side, expression utterly devoid of emotion as he stares at Akorinil with a hate and fury he's only shown once, in a demi-plane of death while a kyton taunted him on the true meaning of pain and pleasure. <br />
<br />
"You bitch." He says flatly, turning away from her and closing his eyes. And his shoulders rise one, fall, and he speaks up to the others. "We have to do this for her. I don't know what you guys saw, but..." He swallows, "We have to do this. And we *can*. The first vision is non-negotiable, and the third isn't enough."<br />
<br />
Coming back to herself was a shock, especially as she was close to resigning herself to drowning under an ever-growing pile of things a child would think were deserved.<br />
<br />
And not for the first time, does Magpie begin to ask herself how old she was when the world became a certain, predictable thing-- no. No time to unpack that now!<br />
<br />
Shaking her head, she takes a moment to focus on Akorinil, and the milk dripping off her nose. "...Yeah," she says, finally. "Skyler's right too... We *need* to do this, cos that last one... Damn, but the Void's insidious..."<br />
<br />
The expanse contracts, and all those possibilities of time passing collapses into presence and- Aryia rapidly blinks, and her lips move to say something, but she ends up coughing up a lung before spits a glob of blood off to the side. "Well that was fucked," she signs with a scowl and rubbing her throat. There was a certain satisfaction as Skyler acts on her impulses, but she couldn't help but feel a tad guilty. Akorinil was truly, truly trying, for the best of someone she believed in.<br />
<br />
She thought of her found sister, Aya.<br />
<br />
The mute pugilist grimaces. Damn it. "Alright. Fuck. Fine. But I'm not doing it for /Her/. I'm doing it because we have a thing we can teach Her. And hopefully it'll knock some sense into Her." <br />
<br />
She glances to Akorinil, with the first look of genuine empathy. "Congratulations. You convinced this non-believer that it's worth a shot." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Dirk's eyes are wide as teacups as sight and reason returns. He blinks owlishly, his gaze snapping from side to side hard enough to make his beard whip-whap back and forth. "Wha--ah? Hah? What the... och! What the hell -was- that?!" He looks back to Akorinil. His panic turns to anger as his temper riles right back up. "-That's- our story?! BULLSHIT!! That's nae -my- story, an' never will be!"<br />
<br />
He looks back around at his friends, his beard all a-bristle as he scowls and fumes and snorts and snarls. "So what, we -have- tae go through all that? Blessed Dana's flowery -teats-, there -has- tae be another way..."<br />
<br />
Eztli was left speechless as she came back to reality, and she stood their for some time, breathing heavily. "Seems... fucked. I'd like to think the difference is obvious,but I'm no god. And either way, none of it was right. Not in the slightest." They grumbled. "So... what?"<br />
<br />
All around is darkness, now, but for the presence of yourselves and Akorinil.<br />
<br />
She raises a hand and presses the back of it to her forehead, swaying back away from them. She's clearly somewhat used to hate and fury bneing directed at her. <br />
<br />
"Forgive me. I can't control what you see or face in the tales you're entering. Those are subject only to you. But the narrative is ... hmmm ... unspooling, I suppose, because narrative itself is threatening to end. Think of it all as dancing on the razor edge of the dagger that slays Animus --."<br />
<br />
A hitch.<br />
<br />
"...though it's not really a dagger. Godly weapons are something wholely other and beyond comprehension." <br />
<br />
She lets out a breath, then. And then, a quiet voice. "You have to save her."<br />
<br />
Aryia glances to the side as the raving party seems to have fallen to the wayside and away. Was it ever really there? "Forgiveness is an action given, gained only by further action to warrant it. You don't get that just yet, as I'm quite familiar with Taara's gaslighting," the pugilist gestures before digging in the inside pocket of her jacket. An embroidered black silk handkerchief is pulled free, and is offered to Akorinil, Aryia's eyes downcast. "But, perhaps that is something that can be rectified once this is dealt with."<br />
<br />
She nods subtly. "They are not weapons that mere mortals know. I've seen them. But perhaps she just needs to think she's wielding something else other than to slay. In a metaphorical sense." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
"We said we'd do it." Skyler says grumpily, "Just, are you going to shove us at her blind or are there any hints that aren't bullshit metaphors. I mean..." He blinks at the rest of the group, "What *is* a metaphor for?" He frowns, glancing down at his fingers. "Um. a Metaeight?"<br />
<br />
Dirk glances around at his friends, then back to Akorinil. "I -suppose- that losin' Taara would throw all the worlds in the universe out o' balance, or some other such bullshit," he grumbles. He scowls dourly, leveling a finger at the priestess. "I dinnae trust a word -you- say," he says. He takes a step back, glancing up and around at his comrades. "But I -do- trust my friends. So we'll do what must be done." He glances at Aryia with a firm nod, then up at Skyler. He peers at the swashbuckler, then counts up on his own fingers. "Aye, think ye got it right, laddie. Metaeight," he says, nodding again.<br />
<br />
"Close enough," Magpie says. "For the future, there's a point where precisionruins the analogy that made understandingpossible. Even if it's, like, a metaconceptual cinquedea forged of the taste of blue, calling it a dagger still works."<br />
<br />
Looking about, she draws in a breath, and claps her hands. "So let's save a goddess!"<br />
<br />
"Well, that's all well and good, you keep saying we need to save her, but I feel like we're all not much closer to actually saving her, aside from a bit more emotional scarring to add to the pile." Eztli grumbled loudly. "So, lets go down to this. I'm sure a handful of people can help fix this where every single taaran priest or priestess partying here failed."<br />
<br />
The handkerchief is accepted with a gentle smile at Aryia.<br />
<br />
Akorinil knows -exactly- how much it must've pained her to give it to her. <br />
<br />
"If narrative dies, our ability to understand our own stories dies with it. No art. No history. No ordered conscious thought. Everything comes apart without the thread of consciousness."<br />
<br />
Of course, how much of that is true and how much of that is Taara's grandeur talking? Then again, it may not matter. The results of ANimus dying were bad enough."I can not see what happened to you. Those sojourns were for you alone."<br />
<br />
She grimces a moment, dabbing her face and she produces a pen from inside her robe. She begins to draw a single red line through the air with it. <br />
<br />
"We must merely turn the page, hm? Show her a better ending, as I said..."<br />
<br />
And then she gives the line a 'yank' and 'peels' the world like a page in the book and you find yourselves somewhere else.<br />
<br />
A sunny glade. A pale sun above. It's warm here And yet, there's a sense of forboding, and its coming from the litle cottage, all quaint and cozy in the distance. Chimney smoke rises from it.<br />
<br />
"Do you think it'd tell a fun story if we burn it down?" Skyler suggests as he raises a hand to shade his eyes as he looks over the tableau in front of them, "I mean, I'd get over my ennui if someone set *my* house on fire. Or we could rush in to put it out and save her that way?" He cocks his head, "Make your own heroic rescue!"<br />
<br />
As much as it pained her, it wouldn't behoove Taara to change her mind if even an ex-Taaran couldn't show some shred of compassion. Aryia sighs, rubbing her face before flashing a thumbs up. There's a wince as the world practically rips away.<br />
<br />
She lowers her hand from the sun, sliding her sunglasses down. "I am not against walking up and knocking before booting the door down," she shrugs. The normally face-first pugilist is hesitant to advance, her staring down the building like it's a warding sign specifically meant for her.<br />
<br />
But Aryia gulps, exhales slowly, and starts that way with her hands in her pockets. <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Dirk grunts softly. "I know how -my- tale should end," he grumbles quietly. "So if that bullshit I saw earlier is the best -she- can come up with, then aye, I can sure as hell come up wi' a better ending n' -that-." As the new scene unfolds before him, he squints at the cottage. He looks up, down, and all around. "Summat here dinnae sit right," he mutters. "I mean, not as I was expectin' sunshine an' frolickin' bunnies, but... there's summat -off- here." He glances up at Skyler and Aryia with a frown. "Why don't we try bein' polite -first-. -Then- we can start kickin' doors in if we have to."<br />
<br />
Eztli squinted as the world was torn away in some metaphysical sense she was still trying to wrap her head around, if it was even possible. "Not a bad idea to force a different story, but I don't know if it will actually help things, unless the new reeality is some fiery hellscape." She grumbled. <br />
<br />
"Lets start with checking the house itself for now, even though I can't shake that something is less pleasant in spite of the weather. Hard to explain."<br />
<br />
As one gets closer, the overwhelming smell of something ... bready can be detected. Someone is baking. <br />
<br />
There's a hint of sweetness to it, too.<br />
<br />
Could it be...?<br />
<br />
Could someone be baking -pie-?<br />
<br />
Not exactly what one would expect here at the end of things, but then, perhaps that's the best time for some pie.<br />
<br />
Looking left and right among her comrades, Magpie shrugs and does what everyone is suggesting, but understandably hesitant to do; she toddles up, and knocks on the door. "Auntie Taara?" she calls, figuring hey... even if she robbed her way there, being *a* goddess of magic affords one the respect of the magically-blooded. "Auntie Taara, we've come to visit? Are you all right?"<br />
<br />
Aryia slows as she smells baked goods. Damn. When did she eat last? All of this was so ephemeral it was hard to tell. Wait, focus. She gives a quick look to the party, one of 'you all smell that, right?', before she shakes her head and rests against the side of the doorframe. She raises a brow. Auntie Taara?<br />
<br />
"I'd love to try your cherry pie!" Skyler adds on the heels of Magpie, "And boy, do I have an *amazing* story to tell you! There was this box and inside it was this kid and he was like an angel but then some dragon ate fish from my hand and now we go get drunk at taverns together!"<br />
<br />
He pauses, and adds to the group, "It's actually a really traumatizing story."<br />
<br />
Dirk lumbers along with his friends, though his plodding step slows as they approach the house. His big dwarven nose twitches as he sniffs the air. "Oh, beards o' me sweet tapdancin' -fathers-," he groans softly. His hefty middle gives an -infuriated- sounding rumble. How long ago -did- he eat last? Far too long, from the sound of things. He looks towards the cabin with a pained expression. "Och, if that's a fake cherry pie I'm smellin', it's a really really -good- fake," he says. He glances at the others, then lifts up his hand to cup the side of his mouth. "Missus Taara, marm! It's me, Dirk Stormgrip. -I've- got a tale tae tell that -isn't- traumatizing! How does -that- sound, eh?"<br />
<br />
"Didn't take her for a baker, assuming that's actually her in there." Eztli shrugged to no one in particular, the makari meandering down to the actual door as others knocked on it. "Don't forget who we're potentially dealing with. Lies and all that, I'm not sure I'd trust anything baking."<br />
<br />
"Is someone there?" comes a small voice. "Moggie, can you check?"<br />
<br />
"Ugh. Can't you see I'm busy?" comes a rougher male voice before an older man, barrel chested man from years of toil opens the door and squints at the pair.<br />
<br />
""The hell are you people supposed to be?" he asks gruffly. <br />
<br />
The smell of pie only intensifies. The interior of the cottage appears ... alarmingly quaint. -VERY-. <br />
<br />
Disgustingly so.<br />
<br />
"Oh wow. I wouldn't mind *his* cherry pie." Skyler mutters to no one in particular, eyes widening before he clasps a hand over his mouth... and discreetly takes several steps back to the rear of the strange party.<br />
<br />
Sometimes you have to know when to let someone else take the lead. Such is wisdom, and Skyler is a very wise man, even if he isn't a very intelligent one.<br />
<br />
This is very awkward.<br />
<br />
You see, when you were a priestess in a different life, devoted to a sect of the unholy matrimony between Maugrim and Taara, you tend to expound on their tales of how they came together and stayed.<br />
<br />
So Aryia, now a devout atheist, stares up at the very man who she used to venerate in an adjacent manner. She, uncharacteristically, trembles. And then raises a hand to sign-<br />
<br />
"Hello. We're supposed to be your wake up call." Shit. She didn't think this far. His presence threw all her thoughts out the window. <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
"Moggie? Oh you've gotta be fucking kidding me, we've gotta deal with him too?" Ezti grumbled under her breath before they got to the door. "Hey, good evening, we just happened to be in the area and we were wondering what was going on with all the baking here?" She managed to offer for some manner of explanation.<br />
<br />
Dirk looks up--and up, and up, and up--at the imposing figure of Maugrim before him. "Heek." He's suddenly -very- aware of the fact that his beard grooming was interrupted before all this started. He hurriedly smooths his hands down his whiskers, doing his best to get them into some kind of semblance of order, before he steps forward. "Aye, as me comrade here says, Master Maugrim. Sir. As we understand it, ye all need some stories, aye?" His tubby middle snarls angrily again, and he puts both his palms to it, as if -that- would soothe the bottomless pit inside him. "Well, as it just so happens, we need some o' that delicious-smellin' pie. So... perhaps we might work a trade, eh?"<br />
<br />
'Moggie,' Magpie mouths, eyes wide. Somehow, it feels like not even Maugrim would *allow* his wife to call him that; it's just too undignified.<br />
<br />
Her mouth works open and closed for a moment, as she tries to think of a good answer to that question... and failing one, simply leans over and yells past the man, into the house. "Auntie Taara, we've come to visit, and talk! And perhaps if you'd be so kind... maybe one of your famous stories? The kind that made Ceinara ash herself with jealousy?"<br />
<br />
Look, play to your audience. Taara might not be a *nice* person, but this may be the one time a minor blasphemy might be overlooked.<br />
<br />
'Moggie' sort of stands there, staring at the lot of you. <br />
<br />
"Bloody hell, I didn't know the family was rolling in," he says after a moment, "Come on in, everyone. Have a seat. I'll go break open the keg."<br />
<br />
Wait, family? Well,t hat's weird. <br />
<br />
The lady of the house is a smiling woman dressed in dark clothing with long, scarlet hair. She seems thrilled to see everyone, moving closer to give them a hug, individually. "Oh, you all made it! I'm so thrilled."<br />
<br />
That's weird. A moment ago she had no idea who you were, now she's acting like you were always meant to be here and our family.<br />
<br />
Like ...<br />
<br />
... like she's an aunt. Your aunt. Isn't she?<br />
<br />
"Auntie Taara! Uncle Moggie!" Skyler pushes forward as he feels the narrative shift, not even attempting to keep up with the logic... Shades of the Skyler that rejected the measured, stately dances in favor of booging and enjoying the moment. Although he does give Aryia's shoulder a quick, reassuring squeeze on his way past.<br />
<br />
"It's been so damn long! Since..." He pauses, eyes squinting, "Well. It's been a while! Hugs?"<br />
<br />
And he holds his arms out hopefully to Maugrum fully prepared to get an armful of the Tyrant and rest his face against the pillowy bosom of his pectorals.<br />
<br />
The unspoken agreement that goes through the party gets Aryia to wince, stymied entirely from progressing. But a squeeze on her shoulder gets her to snap to the present. She looks to Skyler with a harried expression, fear in her eyes. But she clasps his forearm, inhales deeply, and settles into the role, reaffirmed. A thankful nod is tossed his way.<br />
<br />
She slips into the abode as they're all invited, stepping aside as the others file in. Her attention is all too focused else where before-<br />
<br />
The lady of the house hugs Aryia. She freezes up.<br />
<br />
Then takes Taara into a tight, hearty embrace. 'I missed you so much,' she mutters near-silently by Her ear.<br />
<br />
She lets Her go, again.<br />
<br />
The pugilist wipes at her eyes.<br />
<br />
Dirk has seen much in his long years upon Ea. He's championed a swanmay princess. He's been blessed by angels. He's heard the voices of the Green Word. -Now-... he's getting a hug from a goddess. Even stranger, he finds himself returning that hug, throwing his burly arms around Taara and giving her a proper Dwarf Hug. "Och, Auntie Taara, it's -so- good tae see ye!" he booms cheerfully. "An' Uncle Maugrim! Lookin' fit as ever, I see! Och, maybe someday soon ye'll be as hefty as -I- am! Hah!"<br />
<br />
He turns his attention back to Taara. Hey, if the gods are all like this--friendly, warm, with a cozy home and delicious treats--then maybe they aren't so bad after all. "Auntie, I smelled that pie yer bakin' from nearly a furlong away. Och, I'm -starvin'-! An' boy oh -boy- do we have some stories fer -you-!"<br />
<br />
Blink. Blink. Last Eztli could tell, Taara wasn't a gnome. She was half expecting the goddess to shrink down to the size of an aunt until she realized what was going on. "A-ah, yes! Something to drink would be appreciated." She spoke up after a moment to collect herself. The hug certainly wasn't helping. "Did you make a chilled pie for Skyler too? You know how particular he is about his oat milk, after all."<br />
<br />
"Of course we made it, Auntie Taara," Magpie laughs, throwing her arms up to give the best hug her stubby little everything is capable of giving. "How could we stand the thought of our Auntie feeling lonely?" 'Uncle Moggie' gets a brief side-eye, as Magpie isn't *quite* sure whether or not he's the actual Tyrant, and not a figment of the Void.<br />
<br />
"But how are you *doing,* Auntie?" she presses onward, reaching up to pat Ariya's arm in what she hopes is a comforting way.<br />
<br />
There, there.<br />
<br />
"Oh!"<br />
<br />
Aunty 'Taara', if that is indeed who she is, is more than a little surprised by the embrace. She awkwardly pats Aryia on the back. "I'm so glad to hear that," she tells her, happily. "There's pie! Come in, everyone, come in, please make yourself comfortable. It's weird how accepting she is. Just rolls with it. You're all family. Of course you're family. What's weirder is that you all can kind of feel it's true at the same time -- which might be a little discomfitting in the moment.<br />
<br />
'Moggie' grunts. He doesn't -do- hugs, thank you very much. All taciturn. "I'll be right back. I'm going to go check on some things." He disappears out the back door, grumbling the whole while with the sort of grumble that every worker would recognize.<br />
<br />
"Curses. Foiled again."<br />
<br />
Skyler shakes his head as Uncle Moggie departs but he's all grins as he turns back to Auntie Taara with his grin back in place. He glances at the others as his brow knits when the wave of familial closeness washes over him. Considering what the visions earlier revealed about *his* relationship with his family, it's an unfamiliar sensation.<br />
<br />
He swallows, closing his eyes for a moment before shaking his head. "What kind of pie, Auntie Taara? Is it full of secrets, or butterscotch or the void? I hope it's apple. I bet your void pie is awesome, but I'm partial to apple."<br />
<br />
Aryia scratches her head at the change in accommodations, but she rolls with it as she's invited in. She takes a seat nearby, all but flopping into a loveseat nearby in a very 'at home' manner. Was that on purpose? Lines were getting a bit blurry on the comfort of things.<br />
<br />
Dirk perks up at the mention of pie, and his eyes light up like a Yule tree. "Oh, bless yer kindness, auntie, I'd -love- a slice!" he says happily. He's a canny old bear, and he doesn't miss that strange feeling of familiarity. But such feelings are natural to dwarves, who cherish their communities so. Even a black sheep like ol' Dirk craves the company of his friends and comrades, so he's already hard-wired to accept and recipricate bonds of family. Even if it comes from the Goddess of Lies.<br />
<br />
Magpie watches 'Moggie' disappear out the back with evident curiosity; is this part of the setting making way for the change in focus? Or was that truly Maugrim, and if so how many devils are going to be hiding in their pillows from now on? "...They say you eat an average of three devils in your sleep a week," she murmurs softly, so softly. "...Or was that spiders..."<br />
<br />
Shaking her head, she puts on her biggest, niece-iest smile for Taara, glancing at Skyler and nodding her approval at his narrative. "How've you been, Auntie Taara? We've been pretty worried about you, we haven't heard much from these parts in a while."<br />
<br />
Eztli blinked a few more times at the recognition, and feeling of it, as well. "Oh, thank you, then! I wouldn't mind some pie myself, but I don't know, surely there's something I could do in return for the hospitality? It's only fair, I think."<br />
<br />
Indeed. The accomdations -are- changing. Things are unfolding. Was it always like this? You know it wasn't, but it FEELS like it was. Totally natural. There's even a dining room, now, and you're being escorted to the table by 'Taara', though she's never introduced herself that way. She strokes her fingerws through her long hair and then gerstures to the seating. <br />
<br />
"Please, please! Sit down. Tell me all about your adventures, darlings!" <br />
<br />
The impossibility of being 'related' doesn't seem to have occurred to her at all. <br />
<br />
Meanwhile, Moggie is, well... there's a lot of swearing from out back. This is how you know he's cooking.<br />
<br />
Aryia leans up, sitting at the table now as she gets herself situated. There's this half lull of staring at a goddess she once venerated, and half just at the dinner table with auntie and family. She's having to root herself in the horrid things they just went through recently to remind herself why they're all here. And boy is it hard to keep the story straight.<br />
<br />
Tell about... her adventures? Aryia looks to the others before gesturing in elaboration: "Mine would take way too long, but I learned through my adventures if you're stubborn enough, you can win card games against gods and drop kick kaiju through portals. All it takes is losing everything and finding yourself in the scraps." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Eztli took one of the chairs, spun it around to have a seat at the table comfortably. "Of our adventures? Well, I'm sure that the others have some wonderful stories to tell. I've been on a few, but I imagine theirs are better, or at least they feel up to talking about them."<br />
<br />
Skyler's lips thin, and he glances over the crowd for a moment before he says earnestly, softly. "I grew up second son to a minor noble. Heir and the spare, I was the spare. My father wasn't a good man, by any definition. My brother, the heir, use to pour boiling water on puppies out of amusement. Found out they were going to kill me."<br />
<br />
He swallows, "So I decided that I'd kill me first. Was on a ship that got attacked by pirates, and when they threatened to ransom me, I instead charmed'm into letting me join. Being a pirate sounded fun. It was, until I realized I hurt people. Badly. Met someone I love." He smiles wryly, "And decided to be something else. Gentleman Adventurer of the Society of Dagger Dames and Gentleman Adventurers. Taught me something important, Auntie Taara." He glances around, "*I* write my story. Other people might throw curveballs at me, things might beat me down and even kill me. But in the end, I wrote the story and never let anyone else control the narrative."<br />
<br />
Dirk follows Auntie to the table and plumps his hefty rump down. He gives a wiggle, testing the chair out, and is rather surprised that it supports Dwarf Weight quite well! He reaches up to doff his tricorne and sets it aside. "Pshaw, Eztli. You an' me been on plenty of adventures together!" he says with a rumble of laughter. "Och, d'ye remember when we got sent out by Lady Fionnula tae find 'er sister in the Mythwood? An' we fought off those cold knights? Hell of a scrap, that was!"<br />
<br />
He glances over at Skyler, listening to the swashbuckler's tale. Much of it is new to the burly old ranger. His conclusion has the old snowbeard nodding firmly. "True talk, laddie, true talk," he says. "All our lives are a grand tale, an' -we- hold the pen. Even if sometimes folk want tae butt in an' put their own spin on things."<br />
<br />
Magpie clambers up into a high-chair, allowing her to regard the table like someone meant to be seated there, and puffs out a breath at the invitation. "Man... where to even *start.*"<br />
<br />
As Skyler tells his story, Magpie listens carefully, nodding firmly at the lesson he takes away from the story of his life. And, it seems, she chooses to follow up serious drama with comedy.<br />
<br />
"Well, there was that temple that got uncovered in the Felwood, I remember one point we ended up having to deal with a bunch of non-Guild 'adventurers' who were looking for loot to find. Then, after we beat them into submission, we had to take them back to camp... when demons started coming after us. Cos Felwood, right? But we didn't have time to *fight,* we had a job to do, so I threw an illusion over this huge tree! Turned into a big angel statue, two middle fingers up, and a banner; DEMONS CAN KISS THE PEARLIEST PART OF MY GATES!"<br />
<br />
Here, Magpie pauses to giggle t her own joke. "And the best part was, it *worked!* Distracted them long enough we could get away!"<br />
<br />
"Because if you're willing to be a little silly, you can saves lives with a good lie."<br />
<br />
The Lady of the House listens, and smiles, and she proceeds to begin preparing the meal. There are plenty of things to bring in from the kitchen, and yet more from 'Moggie' outside. They're clearly, yes, representative of someone's idea of what Taara and Maugrim might be. Somehow.<br />
<br />
Somehow indeed.<br />
<br />
'Taara' claps her hands delightedly as the stories come out. She asks questions, seeks details. She wants more. The despair that was sitting heavily on her when you arrived -- perhaps not so visible as it was then as its departure is now -- seems to have lifted, yes, and Moggie very clearly doesn't have a lot to say. He's busy working.<br />
<br />
"That all sounds lovely," remarks your 'aunt'. <br />
<br />
"But now what will you all do?"<br />
<br />
Details are happily divulged, and Magpie seems to be the kind of storyteller who can barely believe the nonsense she herself got up to. So the details are delivered with a combination of self-deprecation and surprise. But then, 'Taara' puts a question to her.<br />
<br />
That is a very, very good question.<br />
<br />
"Well," she says slowly, "we are kind of on a job right now, in fact. See, there's someone very, very important who needs to be rescued from the Void. And we need to make sure she can shake free of it, because nobody... *nobody.* Deserves for the Void to take them.<br />
<br />
"I can think of a few people." Skyler says consideringly, "Captain Cashew, maybe. But it's probably got a nut allergy."<br />
<br />
But he makes a gesture, conceding Magpie's point and letting her take the narrative lead on this. "But she deserves a happy ending, this one. She's had a hell of a story so far, and deserves happiness with her beefy hot husband." He considers. "Maybe they just need to spice things up? Find a unicorn?" He means a horse with a horn, right?<br />
<br />
Aryia listens to the others, her brows raising at Skyler. She didn't pin him as noble born, and it was quite an amusing twist that'd he manufactured himself. If only she was as slick as him all those decades ago. She nods along in agreement with Dirk, but she can't but help but stare at Magpie. There was not way she could /not/ help but snort in amusement.<br />
<br />
Food comes out, and she's already got one of everything. It must have been some crimson pen story, or something, that has these two gods portrayed as such in a cottage-core lifestyle. The mute shares more, about a Unloved King that took a chance to become the Joyful King, and through his efforts, managed to help a party of heroes slay larger-than life fiends and help a celestial dragon fulfill their overdue duties. She's smiling at the memories of it, a mixture of cocky and wan.<br />
<br />
Question poised, she nods along with Magpie and Skyler. "Or maybe have something come along, a catalyst? Every story has something that makes things happen." She gives Skyler a side glance before chuffing and shaking her head, amused. <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Eztli shrugged, and chuckled quietly. "Kinda sounds like my life, except I ran away from my parents as their only daughter, and I ended up getting eaten by undead and ending up as a giant, small lizard." Eztli snorted. "Which is to say, entirely not like your life at all upon further thought, but, at least I'm mostly okay with it now. But for doing stuff now? I don't know, I guess it doesn't feel right to give up. I'd like to make some more stories, have some more adventures and the like. Probably."<br />
<br />
Dirk busily loads up a plate with delicious goodies and wonderful treats. Even piling up proper Dwarf Sized portions, there's still plenty for everyone else. Clearly, -this- version of Taara knows how to cook for dwarves. He munches away at some nibbly things, listening to the others' tales. When Skyler mentions a unicorn, he brightens up. "Och! That reminds me of the time I was trackin' this ugly beastie down in Am'shere!" he says. "I'll tell ye, jungles an' dwarves mix together 'bout as well as some berk rippin' arse in church! Hah!" He recounts the tale of the monster hunt, which led to a unicorn that had been tempted into disgrace by a wish demon. "The poor thing wanted us tae end its sufferin'. But I hadnae the heart tae kill such a noble beast. But fortunately, me mate Dolan's a Corona in Daeus' church, an' we able tae help the poor thing find repentance an' forgiveness!" He gets thoughtful as he munches another bite of tasty things. "Because even the worst villain can be redeemed, in the end," he muses.<br />
<br />
Someone important? Rescued from the Void? What?!<br />
<br />
Moggie scowls darkly, muttering under his breath about 'dilly-dallying while the world is doomed, he'd never let you get away with that' and so on. It's entirely in character for him,. it seems.<br />
<br />
'Auntie' puts her hands together in front of her, eyes wide. "You don't say! What is there to be done, though?!" Obviously, this is just a normal day at dinner, where one talks about rescuing people from THE VOID of all things. <br />
<br />
The food is ... a lot. There's -so much of it-. Anything you want is thjere on the table. Somehow. Like she knew. Because, of course, she did. <br />
<br />
Eztli gets her hand patted. She understands. Skyler too, really. "Parents can be so dreadful," she mourns.<br />
<br />
The comments of redemption has them BOTH eyeing Dirk.<br />
<br />
-To be continued-<br />
<br />
[[Category:PRPs]]</div>Aryiahttp://www.tenebraemush.net/index.php?title=Where%27d_They_Go%3F_That%27s_Where&diff=44517Where'd They Go? That's Where2025-11-25T05:00:15Z<p>Aryia: </p>
<hr />
<div>Darkness.<br />
<br />
Alexandria has been consumed in it for a hot minute, hasn't it? Not the kind of darkness of night's fall and early winter's days, but the more metaphorical kind: a creeping, slowly spreading chill, a tension building of a coming ending: the moment before the boot drops, so to speak.<br />
<br />
You aren't sure what you were doing, or even how long its been, but here you are: painfully aware of that boot, and unsure where you are. There's an expanse of swirling blackness, and you are alone in it.<br />
<br />
... until your hear a voice: people calling out.<br />
<br />
"Five more minutes!" Skyler grouses, as if the call of the voices were people attempting to wake him up, "Mama, I do not want the pony with the fancy forelock, for he bit me when I fed him sugar cubes."<br />
<br />
Beat.<br />
<br />
"Oh wait. I'm not asleep."<br />
<br />
Another beat. "Gods this is getting *weird* in Alexandria."<br />
<br />
Dirk pauses with his brush in mid-stroke, poised over his beard as that darkness overwhelms him. He blinks owlishly, squinting and peering in the gloom. That doesn't seem right. -He- can see in the dark just fine, usually. "What in Dana's flowery green -arse-?" he grumbles. He fumbles his way to the window of his inn room and flings it open. Perhaps if he can see outside, something will make sense. If only it were that easy. "Och, what the hell is this? What the hell is goin' on here?!" he shouts out into the void. Will it help? Maybe not, but it helps to be able to do -something-. It's proof that he's not going deaf as well as blind in his old age.<br />
<br />
Aryia is quite used to the dark. Pitch black, or even darker. Perhaps the last gift of Taara. Or maybe she's just built different. So it is *weird* that she can't even see past her own nose.<br />
<br />
She catches a voice, then two, turning that way and gives a quiet, two toned whistle as she claps her hands together, trying to light up the dark.<br />
<br />
Eztli was left in some state of confusion at the darkness around her. The makari flicked a small flame between two of her fingers, that seemed to do little to actually disperse the darkness. Sound still worked though, right? The sorceress carefully picked her way through the shadows to not trip on anything, trying to find the source of the noise.<br />
<br />
Aryia manages to get her hands alight with moonlight, but still, barely able to catch anything before her reach. A tinge of panic crawls of up her neck, but she locks that down.<br />
<br />
"What a worthless little cretin. Get rid of it." A distance voice rolled by over her shoulder. A man's. She felt a weight land in her hand. It was dropped like hot iron. "What? Scared? They're useless. You will be too if you don't-"<br />
<br />
A whistling streak of moonlight punches the air behind her, her finding herself panting and slowly backing up. What... is that...?<br />
<br />
"...Albus?" Magpie says, turning this way and that, trying to pierce the gloom. "...Is it time for another Crimson Pen book? Or... wait... You're *not* a book anyore, right? Didn't we--"<br />
<br />
Backing away from the calling voice, Magpie does what comes natural; putting a Light spell on the headdress-coin directly over her forehead, because when you need a light you need it close.<br />
<br />
"The.. pony..."<br />
<br />
"Pony..." A voice seems to echo around Skyler, making his eyes widen and his skin to visibly pimple up.<br />
<br />
"Pony..." Or at least, it would if anyone could see him.<br />
<br />
"Pony... would... not bite... if you did... not ride it so harshly..."<br />
<br />
"Harshly... little toadstool.." Again the voice echos, and Skyler spins around with fist raised, eyes dilated in utter terror. "No. You're *dead*. You're dead and *he* killed you!"<br />
<br />
And he hears the sound of a voice crooning a discordant melody, something about 'heal heal little frog' that's equal parts silly but, judging by how Skyler seems to be covering his ears, equally parts terrifying to him at least.<br />
<br />
"Little hunter..." Dirk's face turns white as his beard as the soft, silky-smooth voice reaches him from the darkness. "Let me -in-, little hunter." Dirk swallows hard, his mouth turning dry. "No... it cannae be you..." He slowly backs away from the window, fumbling in the gloom for his thunderbelcher. His flailing palm catches the barrel, making the weapon topple to the floor. The clatter makes Dirk startle back with a squeak. "Yer -dead-, Demontry Kol! Dolan and Andalena put an -end- tae you! Yer dead an' gone -an' ye cannae come back!-" He stoops to snatch up his thunderbelcher and snaps it to his shoulder. He turns this way and that, panting for breath as he fights the panic clawing at his mind. "Yer dead an' gone. Ye cannae come back. Yer dead an' gone. Ye cannae come -back-!" he whispers hoarsely. But the soft, mocking laughter that rings in his ears tell him that no, Dirk, sometimes your worst nightmare really -can- come true.<br />
<br />
Eztli squinted in spite of the darkness, listening closely to the voices. She froze in place as the voices turned guttural and violent, clearly humanoid, but not quite. "I'll burn you all where you stand!" The sorceress shouted, charging off in the irection of the noise to get to the source of it, and eliminate it if need be.<br />
<br />
With her forehead shining like a beacon, Magpie *ought* to be able to see more than nothing. But the darkness is too close, too heavy, and the voice... shifts, subtly. Menace weights it's barely-understood words, a gurgling sound like an indrawn breath around a mouth full of blood.<br />
<br />
The faint crackle of fire.<br />
<br />
Timbers falling to crash into floorboards.<br />
<br />
The crack of bone.<br />
<br />
"Wait... you're not Albus," Magpie whispers... "...You're... oh *hell* no."<br />
<br />
And she turns and just bolts, fleeing in any random direction that is Away From That Ever-To-Be-Damned Wendigo.<br />
<br />
The voices fade away. Silence.<br />
<br />
All of you are alone in the dark for a moment. It's chill settles into your bones. <br />
<br />
And then a new voice, achingly familiar but just out of reach, a memory come and gone.<br />
<br />
"We are all made of stories, little ones. Seek them out."<br />
<br />
Aryia squashes her breathing, forcing it to be an even In and Out as she backs up with glowing hands raised. Focus. Whatever is going on trying to fuck with you. Find your center. That mantra goes through her head again and again until-<br />
<br />
She senses others nearby. She whistles again, a two toned low-high. And.. a voice? It was painful how familiar it was, the ache like a heart being pulled taut.<br />
<br />
"I saw him..." Skyler whispers staring at nothing as he curls up on the ground, hands wrapped around his legs, "He hurt her. He hurt her and she could not have lived through that. If she did..."<br />
<br />
What that would mean remains unknown, as he perks up when he hears the two-toned high-low whistle. Slowly, he surfaces and pulls a small little grey stone out of a small cage braided into his hair. He kisses it softly, hesitantly, and then lets go of it so it's floating around his head like a friendly little moon as he stands up and walks towards the whistles.<br />
<br />
Dirk's eyes blink open as he hears voices. Voices he knows. Voices that aren't -Kol's-. "Blessed Lady, keep an' protect me," he whispers softly as he gingerly makes his way forward. "Halloooo! Skyler! Is that you, laddie?"<br />
<br />
The voices vanished just as suddenly as they had appeared, leaving Eztli alone again with an ever growing frustration. She sighed, perking up just as the voices picked up again. "Dirk? That you over there? Not something impersonating you or something, hopefully?"<br />
<br />
Magpie is... not really paying attention. She is, after all, convinced that there's a people-eating monster in dire -- like Bear -- need of a snack.<br />
<br />
Magpie is also a smol bean. This has long been a source of great frustration, because the bulk of Alexandria is not *built* for smol beans.<br />
<br />
Both of these together may explain why a circular light bobs rapidly out of the gloom, resolving into a Magpie that crashes into Dirk, rebounding almost immediately and looking up, eyes streaming with fear-filled tears. "...D-Dirk? ...Is that *you,* buddy?!"<br />
<br />
The swashbuckling man comes face to face with a scarred-to-the-nines shadow elf with eerie glowing hands and fierce scowl that could cut through rock. She blinks. Her hands move, and understanding follows regardless of knowing the lingua franca. "Who the fuck are you?"<br />
<br />
Aryia looks to the side, hearing closer voices, barely seeing them. "Eztli? Dirk?" She waves, doing that two-toned whistle again. Her way of saying 'hey!'. <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
"Dirk?" Skyler looks *horrid* when the ol' boy finds him, eyes wide and shaking in the dim light of his (not so) happy (anymore) moon. Is he green or is that just the light of the aeon torch? "Wh.. where are we? I wanna go *home*. Jarik was gunna give me a foot rub!"<br />
<br />
He then jerks his head towards the others, and clings to the dwarf's arm. "Oh hey, I know the little one. We took on some demon-lord and she ate his nuts while I skunked his face. And is that Eztli and..."<br />
<br />
He comes face to face with Aryia, lets out a shriek, and falls backwards on his ass. "I'M TOO YOUNG AND PRETTY TO DIE IS WHO I AM!"<br />
<br />
Eztli trudged up over to where everyone else was conversing, the low growl in her throat dying down and out once she actually saw some faces attached to the voices. "Look, no one here is going to die unless there's a reason for that, and I doubt that's the case." The makari grumbled. <br />
<br />
"Now, more importantly, yeah, no clue where the hell we are. If I can get us out of here and you aren't all shadow monsters pretending to be people I know, then I can see what I can do, if it comes down to it."<br />
<br />
Dirk's eyes get wide as he spies Skyler. He doesn't even comment on the arm-clinging. He's in the mood for some clinging himself. He clutches at Skyler, eyes wide as teacups as he looks around fearfully. "Skyler! Praise the -gods- laddie. Ye won't -believe---" But then there's Aryia, and Eztli, and Magpie too. He staggers a bit as Skyler falls away from him. "Ariya! It's a'right, lassie! Skyler's an adventurer, like us!"<br />
<br />
It's about this time that Magpie enters, stage right, and smacks right into him. He sweeps his arm around her to keep her from ass-planting as well. Fortunately, while he is indeed a shortstack, he is no smol bean. He is decidedly more of a thicc bean, and so he does not tumble as easily as some others. "Magpie! It's a'right, lassie, it's me!"<br />
<br />
He looks up and around at his friends, his beard bristling. "What the hell is goin' -on-? Is this more o' Heth's bullshit? I thought we blasted that sheepfucker out the sky!"<br />
<br />
Aryia relaxes as she runs into others she knows - and more importantly trusts. And then there's this screaming man. Her glowing gaze leers down at him, ears flicking at the high pitched noise. "... sure. Pretty. Get up. My bedtime was interrupted and I'm pissed." She reaches down a hand to help hoist Skyler up - it's more like getting thrown to their feet if he accepts.<br />
<br />
She steps closer to Eztli. "Yes. Let's figure this out. I want to get back to bed."<br />
<br />
She gives a firm nod to Dirk, relaxing somewhat. "Don't know. Too dark for that. He's more a zombie dragon." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Upon confirmation of Dirk's reality, Magpie simply lunges out of his grip to wrap her arms perhaps a quarter of the way around his middle, consoling herself with a good few seconds of crying.<br />
<br />
Once big feelings in smol body are satisfied, she leans back, rubbing eyes and nose. "...Yeah no we need to be *anywhere else,* This is lookin' just a little too Void-y for my liking.<br />
<br />
"Evil never dies, Dirk." Skyler says earnestly, as he stares from Dirk to Aryia and then at Eztli and Magpie before accepting the hand to his feet a touch self-consciously as his little moon stalls behind his head. Is it embarrassed to be orbiting the swashbuckler?<br />
<br />
Do they even do that?<br />
<br />
But then it comes around again and he's schooled his face into a grin of amusement. Sure, he's flung to his feet, but he's *Skyler* and manages to twist midair to land nimbly on his feet, brushing off his best feature.<br />
<br />
... His shoulders, duh! "Evil just gets kinda winded and then apparently comes back to throw our deepest trauma at us. Did anyone else see or hear someone or something horrible, or am I just depressed and/or mentally ill?" He scratches his chin consideringly, "Although I think they aren't mutually exclusive. Oh, hey little squirrel!" And he pulls a little lacy bit of fabric out of thin air, and offers it to her, "For your face. You can blow your nose too, 'coz I don't want it back if you use it."<br />
<br />
Dirk wraps Magpie up in his arms and gives her a proper Dwarf Sized hug, a (likely very successful) attempt to crush her soul back into her body. Also, he's trembling himself, and it helps to have someone to cling to. "Easy there lassie. Yer a'right. Fer now, at least. Yer among friends," he says, as soothingly as he can. Once Magpie turns loose, he does the same. He looks up and around at the others. "No, lad, it wasnae just you. I heard... -him-." He shudders, gripping the stock of his thunderbelcher until his knuckles turn white. "Demontry Kol. That rat -bastard- of a vampire. Och, of all the villains I ever fought, he was the -worst-."<br />
<br />
"Th-th Wendigo," Magpie stammers, accepting the lacy cloth with a watery smile and using it to de-gunkify her face. "Thanks... You're *lots* nicer as a person," she says. "...But you made a *heck* of a skunk. Anyway... That's what I was running from. I couldn't see anything... but it sounded like we were back in that in, and just.... no. Nuh-uh."<br />
<br />
"I'm not too confident this is something we can figure out nice and quick, much as I'd like that." Eztli sighed, rubbing the back of her head. "If we're not in Alexandria, teleporting would always work, but I don't know any spells to go cross planes, which is more likely. So, whatever way is out of here, it's on the terms of whatevers got us here."<br />
<br />
"I mean he was a little handsy when *I* ran into him, but after I killed him half a dozen times he got the hint." Skyler says reflectively regarding Dirk's terror, reaching over and patting Magpie on the top of her head. "I don't think I can do a handstand and shake my ass at this problem, alas." He tells the smolbean sadly, "But I'm glad to have you here with me, and we're in some pretty fierce company." He puffs his chest, "Not to brag, but I'm a Gentleman Adventurer, Eztli once sat fire to some stuffed animals, Dirk doesn't shoot blanks despite his age, and she looks terrifying." He jerks his thumb at Ariya. "Surely she's done some dope-ass shit in her time. Silent but *deadly*." Ah, the emotional recovery abilities of a dumbass. They should be studied! He beams around at the group, tucking thumbs in his belt. "We got this!"<br />
<br />
And then Eztli puts a rain on the parade, and he sags. "Spoilsport."<br />
<br />
If Aryia is surprised from the smooth twist and land, she only shows it through a little shrug and a cocked brow. "Yes, I did. Heard my old owner," she answers Skyler. "He should be dead."<br />
<br />
The name Kol catches a tinge of recognition, so she gets closer to everyone to close the ranks. The thumb towards her gets her attention, a snort escaping her. "I simply solve problems by going through them. The others can tell the tales. But we seem competent enough to untangle this."<br />
<br />
She inhales. Out. "So... did anyone hear that other voice?" <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Dirk shakes his head. "He could always get in my head," he says tightly. "I couldnae keep 'im out, nae matter how hard I tried. He could turn me intae his adorin' wee little -slave-. Och." He draws a shaky breath, looking over at Eztli. "Gods, what I wouldnae give tae have Lana or Telamon here. Or Missus Verna, or Master Mikilos. -They'd- know what tae do." He glances back at Aryia, studying the movement of her hands. "Other voice?" he asks, looking back up at her face. "I... I'm nae certain. Could it have been one of us that ye heard, perhaps...?"<br />
<br />
"Something about being made of stories," Aryia replies to Dirk in a quick flit. "Might have been my imagination. This place seems fucked." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
"Maybe we were kidnapped by fairies. I had that happen once." Skyler says brightly, as he glances around, "Anyone see a mushroom circle? They give you hints if you pee on them, the kinky little things."<br />
<br />
There are no mushroom circles.<br />
<br />
Alas, there is only a profound, chilling darkness that seems to extend in all directions.<br />
<br />
And then... <br />
<br />
... there it is.<br />
<br />
That voice.<br />
<br />
Warm, rich, melodious even. "Find the thread. One will bring you to me. A final corruption."<br />
<br />
There, something takes shape. A home rising up out of the dark. Lonely looking, in the sense, but it's a several story manor home from the look of it.<br />
<br />
"I'm not useless, you know, I just don't make it a habit of fucking around with other planes of existence, so I never bothered learning more about it. Which clearly, in hindsight, wasn't a good idea." Eztli huffed, trying not to glare at the comments. "Didn't hear too much, maybe someone's trying to mess with me, since I'd recognize those noises anywhere. Maybe they thought they had more of a hold over me still." <br />
<br />
The makari watched as the building appeared, and sighed. "Well, that's a trap if I ever saw it, but unless anyone has any better leads, or wants to see what happens if we teleport somewhere else at the moment, Doesn't look like much of a choice, does it?"<br />
<br />
Aryia just gives Skyler a /look/. "Okay, fairy pisser. You could just-"<br />
<br />
Her hands still as that voice snakes through the air. Hands drop, looking over to- oh. "-h f-ck m- s-d-w-ys," Aryia hisses through clenched teeth, her grey skin paling. "I know that house. Gird yourselves. Last time I was there, I stepped into a fucked up bloody aftermath of a massacre." She goes through a few motions: cracking her neck and rolling her shoulders before taking point. <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
<OOC> Aryia uses Ki: Barkskin <br />
<br />
Dirk gives Skyler a -look-, his bushy white brows furrowing as he tugs at his beard. "I... I'm nae sure it works -quite- like that, lad," he says. "Although there's plenty out there in the wilds that'll do summat if ye piss on it. I dinnae judge." He looks back to Ariya and snaps his fingers. "Och! Yer so right! I heard that too! Just..." He waves a hand around. "All o' -this- is goin' on..." He looks like he might like to elaborate, but then there's that manor rising up out of the gloom. He looks up (and up and up), his eyes getting wide once again as his jaw drops. "Erh?" That's about all he can manage. Fortunately, Ariya's there to fill in the blanks. At her warning, he lifts his thunderbelcher and racks the slide with a satisfying CHK-CHAK. "Right. Let's finish this up an' get back tae Alex. I have tae finish groomin' me beard."<br />
<br />
GAME: Eztli casts Mage Armor. Caster Level: 14 DC: 20<br />
<br />
"There's a whore I know that taught me the *best* balm for frizzy hair!" Skyler tells Dirk brightly, "You are looking a little poofy. Works extra well on bristly, curly hair. We can even add some dyes to make it fun colors! I once committed piracy with a guy that had a purple beard. It got all over everything, especially when it rained, but he said it helped immensely with split ends." <br />
<br />
As he rattles away, his hand reaches up to draw his wickedly curved blade, tossing it into the air and catching it with a flourish before pausing to check his boots for scuffs. One gets wiped away, before he nods at Aryia, ignoring the look. He once dressed in Verdama drag and flirted with one of Her paladins. It takes more than that to rattle him. "Of course it's a trap. But we know it's a trap, so we're springing it on our terms. Who do we wanna send in first, or do we all want to jump in at once so they can't single anyone out?"<br />
<br />
There's warmth in that home, unlike the chill of the place you're in. You can feel it as you get closer. Love, laughter, and light oozing from it at stark odds with the nature of the place.<br />
<br />
And ... <br />
<br />
...music? You can hear it now. Joyous. Lively.<br />
<br />
GAME: Magpie casts Mass Planar Adaptation. Caster Level: 15 DC: 25<br />
<br />
Dirk gives Skyler another -look-. "I do not need a purple beard," he grumbles. "Make me look like one o' those nutty oddbeards. Hrumph!" He mutters and grumbles as he lumbers along, his posture tense as a coiled spring. But then, hearing that cheery music, and seeing how warm and inviting the place looks... it slows the burly old snowbeard's step. "Aye-yup. This is -definitely- a trap," he grumbles.<br />
<br />
As the others begin to gird up for trouble, Magpie stands there, brow furrowed for a moment. Then, she wets the end of a finger and holds it up to the air, nodding slowly... and begins to chant. The words... don't matter much, sliding off ears and brains as she speaks into her cupped hands. Power gathers there, pooling into a roiling, chaotic mass of liquid light of any and all possible colors. Then, at the apex of her chant, she slams her hands together, and the power sprayes out in all directions, settling over herself and her friends in a shimmering ward that soon fades into only the occasional multicolored glimmer.<br />
<br />
"...Been a tour guide out in the Planes for awhile," she says quietly. "Wherever we are, we're plane-lost. I can get us back, but... this feels *important.*<br />
<br />
"I agree, we're not on this plane," Aryia nods towards Magpie, taking the magic with appreciation. The stark contrast of how the home feels now versus how she remembered it is deeply unsettling. Last Aryia was here, it looked like people suddenly left mid-party. But here, it looked like the party was still going on.<br />
<br />
"I can take it. Prepare for Taaranites," she volunteers, stepping forth towards the manor and... she inhales deeply. Lines of energy flare on her skin in a flash. And she opens the door. <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
<OOC> Aryia uses Ki: Diamond Soul, Gain Spell Resist 30<br />
<br />
"Oh, great, cultists, hiding in a plane of darkness, and something warning about corruption. Suppose that explains why people can sound like they're having so much fun in a place like this." Eztli grumbled, waving one hand over her shimmering robes. "You always sleep with your guns and swords on you? Suppose I would too if I didn't have a way to defend myself these days."<br />
<br />
The door opens. <br />
<br />
It looks very inviting! Just waiting for you.<br />
<br />
That can't be bad, right?<br />
<br />
Aryia hesitates at the door, looking back at the others before peering inside. It felt... odd. The carpet wasn't sodden with blood, and music was flowing like the drinks. "Just stay focused." But alas- she enters, eyes darting through the party. On edge.<br />
<br />
Dirk grunts softly as he feels Magpie's protective magicks settle on him. "Glad we've got -you- here wi' us, lassie," he says. "Gods, I've lost track o' how many times yer magicks have come in clutch." He squares up with the manor, swinging his thunderbelcher to rest it over his shoulder. As he lumbers forward, he glances at Etzli. "Nae -usually-, no. I like me gun well an' all--I made it meself after all--but hardly enough tae sleep wi' the thing. That's just weird." He trundles forward, heading for the door, and whatever might lie beyond it.<br />
<br />
And Aryia bounces Skyler, sword held at the ready as he glances left to right with bright eyes and a grin that suggests he's ready for anything.<br />
<br />
Eztli shrugs and doesn't seem too perturbed for the moment by the building before them, and like the others, is quick to enter. "Focused as well as I can be, maybe it'll be easier inside where I can actually see things, hopefully."<br />
<br />
"Don't forget," Magpie says, giving Dirk a distracted grin as he talks her up. "Find the thread. It was important enough for nothing to say, it's important enough to *remember.*"<br />
<br />
But she's still trying to place the voice as she files on in behind the rest... ready to see what needs a little chaos.<br />
<br />
"Welcome, welcome!"<br />
<br />
You're greeted almost immediately by a man in in loosely fitting robes. Silk.<br />
<br />
"It's been so long since we had guests at the door! Come in! Come in! Enjoy! Wine?" Was he holding a platter moments ago? No? <br />
<br />
Does it matter? He is now. Red wine.<br />
<br />
"We're so happy to see you! I'm sure we've been expecting you."<br />
<br />
The home unfolds into a radcuous, hedonistic party. Everyone is singing along, dancing, drinking. It's -merry-.<br />
<br />
Merry everywhere to the heart's desire. Everything is luxurious...<br />
<br />
Dirk wasn't at all certain what to expect out of this alien, otherworldly place. Aside from a couple jaunts into Quel'ynos, he's kept his feet firmly planted on Ea's face. But -this-... it's familiar. -Too- familiar. The old snowbeard swan-dives headfirst into the uncanny valley. His cheeks turn bright red, and his beard bristles as he stumbles and stammers. "Uh... uh... I... uh... that is tae say..." He reaches up to doff his tricorne, glancing around furtively before turning a -desperate- look on Skyler. The sky pirate's the charming one--surely -he- knows what to say? All poor Dirk can think to do is fidget from foot to foot. He doesn't want to be -rude-, really, but he -was- kidnapped, and now he's at a party. Normally something he'd quite enjoy, if not for the circumstances. He's fairly certain he didn't receive an RSVP to -this- particular gathering.<br />
<br />
Eztli looked even more sour than usual, the sorceress not appreciating the party in the slightest. ""Gods, if anyone asks who your parents are, just tell them that they're too important to bother telling them." She grumbled to no one in particular before stepping inside.<br />
<br />
"Oh, hey! Do you guys have oat milk?" Skyler asks brightly as he shoves his way to the front of the crowd, beaming brightly at the party-goers as he glances around, "So glad you knew we were coming, coz we sure as fire didn't!"<br />
<br />
He pauses, and adds, "You'll forgive us if we don't give you our names. It's more fun that way, y'know!" And he grins brightly, "So what's all this about? What's going on? Did someone die?"<br />
<br />
Aryia is stymied briefly at the entrance, such a party rifled old, bittersweet memories. She lingers at some of the luxuries, but she shakes her head, focusing as Skyler pushes his way to the front. He seems far better suited for this environment, so she's back to watching the party for anything remiss.<br />
<br />
Totally just watching.<br />
<br />
"Oat Milk?"<br />
<br />
A beat.<br />
<br />
"Well, I suppose I can check the pantries. They're ... very well stocked? Amazing. It's like a never ending pantry of anything and everything we could want, so perhaps!"<br />
<br />
He smiles warmly at them, then turns to lead them further in.<br />
<br />
It's ... it's a party. There's people singing, laughing, dancing. They all seem to be having a good time. There's no end to it. Every room you pass by, pass through, is filled to the brim with people locked in some sort of eternal festival and they all look like they're having the time of their life. <br />
<br />
And not a knife to be seen anywhere. "There's some space in this room," he says, cheerfully, pointing the way down another hallway. This place is impossible to figure out. The interior makes no sense to the exterior. One gets the impression it doesn't really matter to any of them.<br />
<br />
Dirk shuffles along with the others as they're led inward. He's never one to turn down a good party. No dwarf worth his beard would be. But all of -this- seems to be a bit much for the old ranger. A small gathering of friends in a cheerful inn room is much more his speed. He stares all around as they make their way in. The strange geometries and curious angles has the poor old dwarf's eyes crossing. "Beards o' me sweet tapdancin' fathers. What the hell--"<br />
<br />
He pauses with one foot poised to take a step before he stops in his tracks. Sloooowly he turns his head and leeeeeans back, peering into a room. His eyes get wide, and his cheeks turn red as beets. He swiftly resumes his pace, harrumphing softly as he fans himself with his tricorne. "So ah... heh... quite the er... -lively- gatherin' ye've got goin' on here," he says to their strange host. "There a special occasion? Or are ye all just a naturally happy lot?"<br />
<br />
"Maybe I was too harsh in my judgement. I think they might genuinely just be here to have fun with no ulterior motives. Maybe." Eztli relented as they wandered further into the strange party. "So, what's your name, then? What's the occasion for all of this, anyways?"<br />
<br />
"Hey question!" Magpie calls from much closer to the floor; imposible angles and eldritch geometries... Yeah they're weird, but pay attention to your feet and you'll be fine. "Like he said; what *are* y'all celebrating, anyway? I ain't never seen a party this size without *somethin'* kickin' it off!"<br />
<br />
The gnome seems more... curious, than suspicious, as she examines passed hallways and chambers. Maybe the thread is a literal one?<br />
<br />
This isn't the first or second time that Aryia had been in an otherworldly place where the festivities were eternal. She follows, better to go along with the tide than to fight against it. Especially since they're still trying to sort out what's going on.<br />
<br />
The fact that she hasn't spotted the that knife was both relaxing as it was concerning. A thought that is discarded as she peers into the same room as Dirk. Her brows raise as she whistles lowly, before lazily trailing along with the others after a moment.<br />
<br />
"Hey! When you find the oat milk, maybe also get us the answers to our questions?" Skyler asks brightly, his tone firm but friendly, cheerful even as he squints at the back of the leading figure. "And space for what? Are we having an orgy? I mean, usually I like a little more prep work before group debauchery. And if you think for a second I'm sharing my oat milk, you really are insane."<br />
<br />
He asides to the group, "This is definitely a trap. But, like, is it the kind of fun trap where we all end up naked and covered in cheese, or the kind of trap that ends with us eating someone's flesh? Because I won't do that again. People are kinda gamey." Surely he jests, right?<br />
<br />
Dirk flicks his wide-eyed gaze around at his friends. His friends are safe. The old dwarf is hardly a prude, but even he has his limits. And the heedless abandon permeating this place is a -very- long way beyond that line. If there's anything he can't stand, its losing control of himself. He's had enough of that to last a lifetime.<br />
<br />
But then Skyler has to go and do Skyler things. The old snowbeard's gaze snaps to the swashbuckler. "Naked an' covered in--" He stops in his tracks again, his jaw working for a moment as his cheeks once again turn red as beets. "How's -that- get fun?!" he finally manages in a strangled tone. He doesn't mention the flesh eating. Erotic cheese dip is -so- much easier on his poor frazzled nerves.<br />
<br />
"We are celebrating Taara, of course! How could you not know?" He tilts his head at you, smiling still. "We feast, we sing, we dance, and we tell stories. We lie, we cheat, we manipulte, and we tell stories. All that lives, wants, and all that is dead wants to live. That is why we are here. She has called us to her Side. She is near."<br />
<br />
Oh boy.<br />
<br />
'Find the thread.'<br />
<br />
'Find the thread.''We sing, we dance, we tell stories.'<br />
<br />
'Find the thread.'<br />
<br />
'We lie, we cheat, and we tell stories.'<br />
<br />
In a rush, Magpie draws in a breath, and reaches up to take a glass of wine from the tray. "So, she says, with her most engaging smile, "would you do us the favor of telling us a story? About Taara?"<br />
<br />
"Very gamey," Aryia concurs with a gesture. Was she joking? Does Aryia joke? She glances to Dirk. Shrugs. "Gouda is pretty fun. I can see it."<br />
<br />
Her footfalls stop hard with a stomp. Pales. Gulps. This is Her domain. Magpie comes swooping in with a way forward, grounding the mul'neissa woman that should be completely at ease here. She would have in a different, past life. She is not that woman anymore, and is thankful someone else can fill those shoes. <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
"If I have to explain it, Dirk..." Skyler shakes his head, and jerks his thumb at the dwarf as he addresses the guide, "If we do go cannibal, he's probably a little tough. Probably best to stew him. Low heat, long cook time in an oven." He then cocks his head at Magpie, nodding.<br />
<br />
"Preferably with refreshments. I want oak milk. Warm, maybe, with some honey stirred in? My nanny use to give me a cup every night when she told me stories." He says with a charming, winsome smile, "You'd be surprised at home much I don't know." He says with pride, "I mean, knowing stuff takes so much work. Easier just to vibe! So why don't you get us refreshments and we can listen to your Taaran stories, maybe pull some thread, indulge in pulling Her threads, whatever else we need to do to *party*!"<br />
<br />
"I would rather avoid anything involving cheese or eating people myself." Eztli sighed. "Great, she's near. So, that means we should probably get going, right? Sounds like the case to me, if this is some exclusive Taaran gathering."<br />
<br />
Dirk's eyes get wider still. "Taara. -Taara-? -The- Taara? The goddess of--" He looks for a moment like he'd like to say something -very- unflattering. But he gets ahold of his tongue and snaps his mouth shut. His beard bristles for a moment. "Er. Uh. I mean tae say. The goddess of... things." He gestures lamely all around. That's nice and neutral, right? Surely -that- won't offend a goddess in Her own realm.<br />
<br />
Once again, Skyler gets a -look-. "Och! You lot take it intae yer heads an' cook -me-, I'll go straight tae yer hips, I swear tae fuckin' Dana," he grumbles. It's hardly the first time some nasty beastie or foul fiend has threatened to make a meal of him, but -this- time it feels different. He nods eagerly at Eztli, pointing her way. "-She- gets it!"<br />
<br />
"No, Eztli," Magpie says, shaking a finger next to her head, and beginning to pace. "No... I think we're nearly there. It *feels* close, because what *is* a story? It's the lie that outlines a truth. And they have stories... *and I would hear them.* I want to see the common thread."<br />
<br />
Oh, no, Magpie seems to be locking into her theory, looking up at the revelers with a sort of hunger in her shimmering eyes.<br />
<br />
There's a distinct pause from the young man as the others talk. He tilts his head, adjusting his hood and pulling it down all together. Yep, he's a shadow elf too. Of course he is. <br />
<br />
All smiles.<br />
<br />
"Of COURSE I'll talk to you about Taara. But I think you're here for a reason -- no one gets in uninvited you see -- so why don't you look around and find who invited you?"<br />
<br />
He gestures beyond into the party.<br />
<br />
"Let your journey be the story that warms your hearts in the night or failing that, be worth the hangover."<br />
<br />
While that milk idea sounds pretty good to Aryia, but the weight of what others point make her even more nervous, especially as Magpie seems to hit the mark. An unsettling thing with the normally stoic pugilist. And then-<br />
<br />
She was /invited/ here. Into Taara's domain? Aryia gave up on her over half a century ago. "I tell no more lies, not even to myself anymore," she gestures, looking out to the party proper. "But, fine. Guess we'll have to mingle. Try to not overdo it." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Magpie is just about to say something incredibly clever... when they are put on a scavenger hunt. Words die in her throat, her finger loses it's pointer-y-ness, and she sort of... deflates, just a little. Looking back up at the reveler, she tries on a crooked grin?<br />
<br />
"...A clue, perhaps? Cryptic or plain, honest or red herring, it's momentum that matters, is it not?"<br />
<br />
She *has* her suspicions... but to be wrong might also be blasphemy, so...<br />
<br />
"Wonderful, so we've all got a reason to be here, for something or other. Maybe just the entertainment?" The makari shrugged, not looking to pleased. "So be it, gods I hate mingling at parties,but if that's what we need to do, so be it. Be a bit harder when all I've got to rely on is my winning personality and humility, but we've gotta do something, right?"<br />
<br />
"What if my thread is oat milk?" Skyler asks in a tiny, hopeful little voice before he sighs, scrubs his face with one hand, and shakes his head sadly. "Curses. Fate is a fickle bitch once again."<br />
<br />
He then squares his shoulders, and glances at his party. "Maybe it has something to do with the traumatic visions we heard?" He pauses, and adds to Eztli, "You also have your fiery wit!" And he mimes flames coming out of his mouth, and flails his hands like he's burning. "Crispy."<br />
<br />
Dirk looks up at their host and blinks owlishly. Blink. Blink blink. "Uh..." He looks back towards the room that had just captured his attention moments ago. Of -course- it's still within easy reach, it's fresh in Dirk's mind. "-Taara-? Taara invited -me-? -The- Taara? Och, I'm naebody, why would Taara invite -me-?" He mutters and harrumphs, tugging at his beard as he glances around. Aryia's suggestion has the old ranger boggling slightly. "Mingle? -Me-? Och, but, this is all so... so..." He fumbles for a diplomatic word. "-Lively-," is what he eventually goes with. "I'd just bring the vibe down. You know us dwarves. We're all a bunch o' grounches, us. We'd rather spend our time scowlin' intae a mug o' beer in a gloomy corner. Ayep, that's us, right there." He fidgets with his tricorne, looking around at his friends. Surely they're not suggesting the cardinal sin of splitting the party, are they...?<br />
<br />
"Is that so?" remarks the young man to Aryia, curiously, "Truth is funny thing, you know, that exists in the space between one's story and another's." He takes a step back, smiles at Magpie, and then offers her another glass of wine just because.<br />
<br />
"She waits for all of you." <br />
<br />
And then he disappears into the swirling, dancing crowd.<br />
<br />
Aryia flexes her jaw. "That space is where truth lies, and where truth lies," she replies back with a hand. The mute glances to Magpie. "Momentum matters, it seems. And either we spin this tale in an endless inertia of debauchery or we press forward. Probably has to deal with the horrid shit we saw like Skyler said. So..."<br />
<br />
She rubs her face. Dirk is right, Taara invited /them/? This has to be a sick joke, or and honest plea, and it was frustrating it could be both at the same time. "... let's get into the party or some shit. Fuck me." Aryia moves past the room they peered at, following into the dancing crowd. <Handspeech/Tongues> <br />
<br />
Skyler?<br />
<br />
He's already gone, shrugging out of his coat. "WHO HERE HAS EVER DONE VODKA AND OAT MILK SHOTS?!" He's shouting over the crowd, even as he shakes his ass, "It tastes like hell but oh my god the way it *lingers*! WOOOHOOO!"<br />
<br />
"Does it?" <br />
<br />
"Shit, let's try it!"<br />
<br />
"Let's find some oat milk!"<br />
<br />
"What the hell is oat milk?"<br />
<br />
"WHO KNOWS!"<br />
<br />
"...Okay well since no one got smoten saying it, yeah, pretty sure that's who we have to find, Magpie says, absently swirling the wine... then pausing as Skyler sends a group of Taaranites on a wild oats chase. "Hey, guys? I'm reminded of a saying I heard from a Rosalian... 'In vino, veritas.' This is totally a bad idea, but...."<br />
<br />
Drawing in a short breath, she takes a long swallow of the wine.<br />
<br />
Eztli was left shaking her head awkwardly as some of the others took off. "I was just gonna find a dance floor or pole or something. Seems like the sort of stuff they'd have here." Eztli grumbled. "I don't trust any of the drink here at all, so I'll pass on the oat milk. How do you even milk a plant in the first place? Don't particularly want to know, to be perfectly honest."<br />
<br />
Dirk boggles as their host retreats, leaving them alone. "Oh, beards o' me sweet tapdancin' fathers," he whimpers softly. "How are we goin' tae get back home? We -will- be able to, won't we? Och, Thistle an' Lulu must be so worried..." He fidgets and frets, looking around for something, or anything that might resemble what they're looking for. He's certainly -not- in the mood to party. Usually, he's the one who picks what parties he goes to, and none of the debauchery is doing anything to enhance the burly old ranger's calm.<br />
<br />
As Magpie goes to drink that wine, he startles, reaching out with a "Aggkk--!" But he's too late. "Och, what if it's like in the fae realm? If ye eat or drink what they give ye, they own yer soul, or some nonsense like that," he says. Aaaaand there Skyler goes, doing Skyler things. You really have nobody to blame but yourself, Dirk. You're the one who decided he should do the talking.<br />
<br />
GAME: Aryia rolls perception: (18)+38: 56<br />
GAME: Skyler rolls Perception: (14)+21: 35<br />
GAME: Eztli rolls perception: (14)+5: 19<br />
GAME: Dirk rolls Perception: (19)+22: 41<br />
GAME: Magpie rolls percetion: (20)+percetion: 20<br />
GAME: Magpie rolls perception: (4)+15: 19<br />
<br />
It's loud.<br />
<br />
It's raucous.<br />
<br />
There are people -everywhere-, and talking to them reveals every last one is a Taaran of some kind -- in fact, many of them are actual clergy, or so they say: all too happily.<br />
<br />
They also lie.<br />
<br />
A -lot-.<br />
<br />
It's frustrating. It's annoying. It sends you in circles trying to grasp what's even happenign here, or how you might've goten here. All that is until Aryia in particular hears a voice.<br />
<br />
A familiar laugh, up a set of stairs that seems to have no end.<br />
<br />
There's a touch of old, old habit Aryia falls back into, and that is dance. One of the few vestiges of her old life that still stuck around after the slow fall to rock bottom. She sways from one group to the next, trying to get some iota of information but- she's done this all before- and it's still just as annoying. It seems like it's going to be far too much to deal with-<br />
<br />
A laugh lances through her ears and mind like a shot of old, nostalgic trauma with no ice. A wave of emotions crash against her; fear, rage, apathy, guilty relief. It had been so long to hear that voice, to wield that power. Oh- to taste that once more, the delight of a delivered lie.<br />
<br />
She let the wave crash, spread, and recede. In. Out. She didn't need Her anymore.<br />
<br />
The others. She flits through the party, tapping her friends on the shoulders and gesturing to follow. "Found the thread," she just signs in explanation, pointing to the set of stairs before heading up herself. <Handspeehc/Tongues><br />
<br />
"... And then I told him that it wasn't a banana, it was ME!" Skyler cheerfully tells a group that he's regaling with a story featuring two drunk goblins, an hobgoblin, and a basket of fruit.<br />
<br />
Don't ask.<br />
<br />
In all likelihood it's a lie, and he seems to be attempting to top himself with gusto with each new lie he attempts to tell... Although he also keeps half an eye on each of his party, distracting people attempting to interrupt them or draw trhem away from the mission. When a woman with big ol' knockers and a hungry expression begins to approach Dirk, for example, he calls out, "HEY! DID I EVER TELL YOU ABOUT THE TIME I DRESSED IN DRAG AND TRIED TO SEDUCE A PALADIN OF VARDAMA?!" to draw her away.<br />
<br />
Eztli had searched and searched, but there was nowhere to dance proper she found, outside of just meandering in between the groups of priests that seemed to treat lying like a competitive sport. By the time she was about to threaten to cut out some of their tongues and shove them down their throats, Aryia seemed to recognize something in particular this time, and the sorceress breathed a sigh of relief before reconvening.<br />
<br />
That voice.<br />
<br />
Aryia is leading you towards something she recognizes, up a set of stairs. Up another, longer set of stairs.<br />
<br />
Through narrow and dark hallway, past rooms full of party-goers and increasing levels of hedonism and debauchery. <br />
<br />
Finally, into a lounge, lit by firelight. Shadow Elves in reverent prayer are here -- prayer to Taara. Seated comfortably amongst them is a scarlet-haired shadow elf of, of course, indeterminate age. She rises to her feet, silk robes hanging comfortably on her frame.<br />
<br />
"Well, well, well," she begins, "It's so good to see you and your friends, darling."<br />
<br />
Aryia knows who that is.<br />
<br />
Aryia stops short in the doorframe. Her jaw works, eyes wide at the figure as her throat bobs. "Akorinil," she signs in a blitz of fingerspelling. She clearly is ignoring any pleasantries as the pugilist looks about the room before half looking at the High Priestess. "I take it you invited us here." It wasn't a question. A hand behind her back flashes to the group, "Caution." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
"Oh, golly, I never knew a raven could do *that* with a writing desk." Skyler tells whichever poor soul ended up getting stuck at the rear of the line with him. When the party left the main group, Skyler seemingly appeared out of thin air at the rear of the line holding a goblet of something that is vaguely milky but a little too thin to be actual milk from a cow.<br />
<br />
Is it the fabled oat milk?!<br />
<br />
Despite being by all measures something of a dunderhead, he's not stupid enough to actually drink it, but does seem to be content to carry it with him in the hopes of escaping with it. Oat milk has a longer shelf life than cow's milk, after all. He glances around with bright eyes as they enter the room with the scarlet-haired shadow-elf. He looks prepared to step forward again to take the lead when Aryia begins to wiggle her fingers. He frowns but shrugs, and leans against something after checking it for stickiness. It *is* that kind of place, after all.<br />
<br />
Dirk's eyes get wider and wider as they progress up the stairs. Each new display of hedonism and abandon has the old snowbeard's cheeks turning brighter and brighter red. "Och, if they're tryin' tae sell us, they might be goin' a -wee- bit overboard, wouldn't ye say?" he mutters, giving his beard a tug. But then, they're there, in the company of Taaranites. The redheaded shadow elf has Dirk blinking owlishly. And again when it appears that Aryia -knows- this person. His gaze flicks to the sign behind her back. His shaggy white brows furrow as he takes a step forward. One hand reaches up and over his shoulder to grip the stock of his thunderbelcher. "Right. Let's nae be havin' any biscuit-arsed behavior out o' -you-, lassie," he growls. "It seems a -lovey- party yer havin' here. It'd be such a shame fer there tae be an arse-kickin', now wouldn't it?"<br />
<br />
Eztli continued along with the rest of the group, with some idea of where to go courtesy of Aryia. The makari certainly did not know what to make of the elf, it was just another of many at the party, but she did at least get an inkling to show some manner of wariness.<br />
<br />
Magpie actually giggles at Skyler's commentary; how can one not? he puts such careful work into it, after all, it'd be a shame for his efforts to go unappreciated. She tries not to look into the doors they pass, largely because Dirk is a good enough bellwether, it serves to satisfy her curiosity.<br />
<br />
When the group tops the house to find Akorinil, however... the gnome seems confused. "I... hm... it's good to meet you, your Taarishness? Sorry, never learned many polite modes of address but um... I'm... not familiar?"<br />
<br />
The fabled oat milk is not in evidence at this time.<br />
<br />
But it's not like they aren't looking for it. You can hear them, down below, on the hunt.<br />
<br />
The Shadow Elven woman rises to her full not at all impressive height and gives a very, very warm smile. She's entirely happy to see everyone. "There's no need for any of -that-," she tells Dirk, warmly, "Such distrust, such hostility! It's just like old times, wouldn't you say?" she tells Aryia. <br />
<br />
"I am Akorinil Belvade, and you are a guest in the house that faith built. It is we, here, who sacrifice so that you may live to fight another day -- or perhaps we should say tell another tale?"<br />
<br />
"To be fair, we weren't exactly given the most..." Skyler purses his lips as he considers exactly how to phrase it, "Sanity-preserving wake-up and invitation to the party." His pale eyes drift along the group, taking in Dirk's belligerence, Aryia's discomfort, and Eztli's wariness. "But regardless. You'll have to forgive my little teapot of a friend. His tastes are a little more conservative than you and your followers." He glances over his shoulder, "Although I do have some questions about that one room with the three sea shells myself, to be honest. They certainly looked like they were having fun but..."<br />
<br />
He shakes his head, waving a hand dismissively before checking to see if he spilled the oat milk. Nope. Still safe for Verna or Telamon or someone else to de-cursify for him to enjoy later. "Banger of a party though, Akorrie." He holds up one thumb, "Seriously. So what's this about telling tales? I have an appointment at the bath-house to get my toe nails trimmed and I don't want to be late, so if you could tell us how to get home..."<br />
<br />
Aryia holds up a hand to Dirk, then pushes her hand down in a calming motion. "While I am confident in my abilities, let's not poke this nest." She glances to Skyler, Dirk, Eztli, and Magpie before taking a deep breath and looking back to the Akorinil. "High Priestess of the Lady of Shade, she fails to mention."<br />
<br />
A sigh escapes her. "You can hardly blame us, you know? The distrust. While I appreciate the hospitality, I agree with the fancy man. Can you clear up what the hell's going on here? Because in the material plane this party was... bloody." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Dirk's scowl deepens. "I'm nae Taaranite," he growls. His grip on his thunderbelcher never wavers. "An' -our- tales are -true- ones! Nae those rust-covered lies that -She- spins." Skyler calling him a 'little teapot' has him regarding the swashbuckler with an indignant scowl. "Hrmph! I can cut loose just fine, ye struttin' peacock. But there's a bloody time an' place for it, isn't there?" <br />
<br />
He doesn't miss Ariya's admonition, but he old ranger is tense as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs. He looks back to Akorinil, fixing her with a hairy eyeball. "Ye -kidnapped- us. Forced us here against our will. What on Ea's great green -arse- would make ye think we'd want -anything- tae do wi' ye? We've nae want fer any yarn or tale ye'd want tae spin fer us. Let us go home!" For now, he keeps his voice to a low, surly growl, but he's ready to spring into action at the drop of a hat.<br />
<br />
Eztli sighed, and shook her head a few times. "You've got a real swell way of inviting people to your house of debauchery." Eztli huffed. "Why exactly should we telling you more than we should? It'd be good to know why we should actually tell you anything."<br />
<br />
"It really is a lot of trouble to go to, to bring four random people and also Ariya halfway across the planes," Magpie agrees, and by the very sound of her voice, if she wore glasses she'd be pushing them up their nose.<br />
<br />
"Also I gotta admit, things have been getting ugly and weird for a while now, so I can only guess we're here because we're uniquely suited to help, somehow? Not you, though..."<br />
<br />
Magpie looks down for a moment, then back up, and nods. "So how can we help?"<br />
<br />
Bless her little chaos gremlin heart.<br />
<br />
Skyler snap-points at Magpie, one chaos gremlin to another.<br />
<br />
Clicking her tongue against the roof of her mouth -- a tutt of disappointment -- Akorinil shakes her head with such sadness in her eyes.<br />
<br />
"I am wounded -- so very wounded -- by the accusations and innuendos. Though I like him --" She points at Skyler. "And you," a point at Magpie.<br />
<br />
She smiles at Aryia. <br />
<br />
"I would've thought my station so obvious!"<br />
<br />
A smile at Dirk. <br />
<br />
"Kidnap you? Kidnapping is so gauche. I saved you. The Void consumes all it touches. Do you remember what you were doing before you found yourself here? Do you -really- remember?"<br />
<br />
... come to think of it ... you don't. Not really.<br />
<br />
What do you do when the High Priestess of Lies compliments you? "Thank you, you're pretty swell too! Speaking of swell how do you keep everything so perky with minimal support!" You believe the freakin' lie, of course. It's gauche to point out someone's lie, and she is trying so hard, after all!<br />
<br />
To Dirk, he shakes his head, "Maybe if you calm down, she'll give you some caramel hard candies! Doesn't that sound nice?" And he reaches over to squeeze the dwarf's shoulder warningly, turning to give him a grimace that is as serious as the grave where Akorinil can't see it. And slightly apologetic, as if he's trying to silently apologize for what he's saying.<br />
<br />
Turning back to the Lie Priestess (get it?) he grins. "Nope, but to be fair it wouldn't be the first morning that happened. My partner usually finds me, pays any fees or bounty, and then I start the day. And the Void has been a *bitch* lately, so you'll have to be be more specific. What'd the Void do this time?"<br />
<br />
"And I'm not either, Dirk, but-" Aryia sighs, rubbing her temples. She drops it, stepping deeper into the room and leaning against a wall. "I know how Taaranites work, and those that don't find it kind of maddening to talk in double speak the entire time." She can't help but half cough at Skyler's comment, a rare silent snicker escaping her.<br />
<br />
The pugilist blinks. "The void was... approaching, but we staved it. But before here-..." Aryia stops. Thinks. Frowns. "... alright. Fine. Got me there. Care to elaborate?"<br />
<br />
"Sorry if I don't give much of a crap about impressing you, to be very honest. High Taaranite priest isn't really that high on my list of stations that I care about." The makari snorted. "So, you brought us here, for some reason. I'm sure you did it out of the depth of your heart and compassion, since you know so much about how I'd want to be saved from something like that."<br />
<br />
Dirk's beard bristles angrily. He tenses at Skyler's hand on his shoulder, and he looks about ready to throw it off, possibly with some proper dwarven profanity to help it along. But he's a canny old bear, and he doesn't miss Skyler's expression. It'd be noteworthy enough -without- them being in the very heart of Taara's house of faith. He pulls deep, snorting, snarling breaths through his big dwarven nose. The leather of his gauntlet creaks as he forces his fingers to unclench with visible effort.<br />
<br />
"I'm nae afraid o' the Void," he growls, in a bit more of an even tone.<br />
<br />
He turns his attention back to Akorinil. "Lord Gilead an' the Blessed Lady hold me in their keeping. I trust in Their goodness." He draws another deep breath, fighting for calm. Now is not the time for dwarven tempers. He never was the sharpest marble in the deck. Deep thoughts often evade him. But he possesses deep, homespun wisdom of his own. He forces himself to be calm and cool, like the forest's shade on a clear spring morning. The priestess' question, though, has his hackles springing -right- back up. "Of -course- I remember what I was doin'! I--" He cuts off, lifting a hand to his beard. He gives the majestic snowy white whiskers a tug. "I was... I was... brushin' me beard out..." He pauses. Blink blink. "I -was-, wasn't I...?"<br />
<br />
Confusion darkens his mood back into a surly scowl. He turns his dour gaze back on Akorinil."All right. Fine. Ye brought us here. If we hear yer tale, -then- can we go home? I was... doin' -somethin'- important. I'm fair certain." He actually -isn't- certain, but he's not letting -her- know that.<br />
<br />
"Easy, buddy," Magpie whispers as she rests a hand on Dirk's arm. "I'm not gonna bite the hand that pulls me out of the Void, for certain... But we still need to hear what it is you need from *us.* You can rest assured -- High Priestess? -- we're grateful enough to do what clearly only we could, so... Whaddaya need a tracker, a firelighter, a brawler, and two chaos gremlins for?"<br />
<br />
"You've all done very well in facing the Void, it's true. You've killed the 'villains of the void' -- but do you know what those were made of? Not just void stuff, to be sure. What else were they?"<br />
<br />
The question Akorinil asks each of you is clearly rhetorical, but she's planting her hands on her hips. She needs to hear something from each of you.<br />
<br />
"Pass." Skyler tells the rest of the party, his expression utterly bewildered. "I mean, as far as I know, it's made of nothing because that's what void is, right? Absence of stuff?" He grimaces, "I think I skipped that day with my tutors, or slept through it."<br />
<br />
Aryia nods her head along with Dirk; she wasn't afraid either, having faced it several times herself. She stares at the High Priestess. "... really Akorinil? You were there. You helped me and the group. I fought a corrupted version of myself. A reflection of another timeline. Others I've known have fought the same." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Dirk nods his head firmly at Skyler. "Aye, ye have it exact, laddie," he says with a voice full of conviction. "It's -nothing-. My farts after Gobbo Chili Night have more substance." He pauses, and looks thoughtfully. "Actually, those have a -lot- of substance after Gobbo Chili Night. Errf." He gives himself a shake, looking back to Akorinil. "Sun rises. Rains fall. The forest breathes. An' -good triumphs over evil. That's the way the world bloody works." He grips his belt and nods again. Dwarf Law has been spoken.<br />
<br />
"You've... not been paying too much attention to me, it seems. Guess I was just dragged along for the hell of it." Eztli huffed again, clearly growing a bit more agitated. "But given my second hand knowledge and keeping up with the times, I dunno. They're memories. Void stuff pretending to be something it isn't, because those folks are supposed to be some of the worst known."<br />
<br />
Magpie pauses, then looks over her shoulder at Skyler and Dirk. The others seem to refuse to put much thought into the question, but the Gnome dips her head, beginning to pace.<br />
<br />
"...But the Void isn't nothing," she says, tapping her nose. "If it was, there'd be no Heth. It *is* hungry, and corruptive, but we're not *talking* about Voidstuff. We're talking about the villains."<br />
<br />
Turning back about, she snap-points at Eztli for a moment. "Memories. That's close, but they weren't the *same.* But if the people involved had fallen *to* the Void..."<br />
<br />
She pauses, and looks up at Akorinil. "They're lies. Lies told by the people they were trying to be. 'If only,' 'maybe I could've,' 'if not for that damn skunk...' Memories grasping for ways to remain relevant, come back stronger, get what they deserve."<br />
<br />
Is she holding a mug? Why, yes.<br />
<br />
Was Akorinil holding that mug moments ago?<br />
<br />
No. It's not even clear where she got it -- but she must've gotten it from somewhere. In point of fact, as you each look at her holding it, you begin to -remember- her ssending a servant to fetch it, one bringing it back to her. You're pretty sure that didn't happen... right?<br />
<br />
She holds it out to Skyler. Is it... could it be?<br />
<br />
IS IT THE LEGENDARY OAT MILK?<br />
<br />
In the meantime, she does nod towards Magpie, glancing between each of the others. <br />
<br />
"Tell me, friends -- what is another name for a lie? A fiction. What is a fiction but a story?"<br />
<br />
Her eyes turn towards Aryia, now, "Do you know? Do you know why we were called to her side? It is the same reason you stand here now."<br />
<br />
GAME: Skyler rolls Wisdom: (5)+2: 7<br />
<br />
"Evil is subjective, Dirk. Deforestation is a sin to some, but to others it's a necessary part of fueling progress and forwarding civilization." Skyler says earnestly to Dirk, "I'll grant you there are things that are black and white, but for the most part it's all different colors in between."<br />
<br />
He looks prepared to wax more philosophy when the mug is held out to him. His eyes widen and he bites his lip like a man facing the worst temptation of his life. He knows it's stupid and unwise to drink something handed to him by the Lie Priestess, but...<br />
<br />
"Oat milk." He breathes, and reaches for it, "Gods. It's been so long."<br />
<br />
The others' perspectives paint Aryia another picture of what's going on. She wasn't far off, it seemed: memories, false potentials, all that could have been. She quirks a brow at the offered mug, not really certain where it appeared. But, weirdly, she actually trusted it was the true, one and only: oat milk. Honestly, she can't blame the man for jumping for it, and doesn't stop him.<br />
<br />
She's heard that mantra before: a lie is just fiction, and a story. But she gets a different question. Her eyes grow downcast. "I was called because I was very good at telling the story of Her and His matrimony," her hands are slow. Her fingers curl into tight fists. Tremor. Then release with a breath Out. "But She left me when I needed her most. And now I need no one aside from my friends."<br />
<br />
She glances up to Akorinil, resolved. "But that is not the question you asked. You mean the Mul'neissa. It was..." she tries to remember. "... the original elves. Ancestors. Taara took one, or sheltered them from the other, a long time ago." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Dirk boggles a bit at Skyler as that mug appears out of nowhere. A -fiendish- mug, no less! "-Sky-ler, don't be -thick-!" he can't help exclaiming. "What if it's poison? Ye dinnae have a dwarf belly, poison can -hurt- you!" He grumphs and mutters. "If progress an' civilization comes at the cost of murderin' the forest, then -fuck- 'em both. The Green Word was here long afore anyone put one stone atop another. It'll outlive all of us." He flicks his gaze to Akorinil. "An' -nothin'- can stop -that-."<br />
<br />
He pulls another calming breath. Mutter mutter, grumble grumble. "A'right, so they're -stories-. Just like everything else. Like you an' them, an' -us-." He gestures fro Akorinil, to the other Taarenites, to his comrades. "Get tae yer -point-, lassie. I want tae go -home-." He does try his very best not to sound like a petulant child, but he is -so- far out of his element here.<br />
<br />
"So, stories are being made into reality, and not anything good. Why can't the void just raid Mikilos' library of crimson pen books and do something more fun with that?" Eztli continued to grumble. "Yarn, tale, epic, not sure what you want us to answer here, there's more names than anyone could reasonably guess, everyone's got their name for a story."<br />
<br />
"Dirk," Magpie says, a little more insistently. "C'mon now. I know this is wildly outta your comfort zone, but.. you wouldn't be here if you weren't needed. I believe in you, buddy, okay?"<br />
<br />
Though this is a story she *hasn't* heard, and new stories make for very curious gnomes.<br />
<br />
"Oh, I do wish that it -would-. Nothing can be so self-annihilating as sex," says Akorinil to Eztli, but with a big old smile. She gives Dirk and Magpie sympathetic looks. She certainly understands -- or so she'd like you to think. <br />
<br />
"It's true. You're all here for a reason." She turns her eyes towards Aryia, then, and continues.<br />
<br />
"...ah. The Shadow Elves -- you and me both -- once labored in spiritual bondage to her, as you know. AS everyone knows. That bondage was shattered when the right story was told. Without the weight of their souls, however, the wall against the Void within her weakened. The toll her theft of magic for power took grew. The death of Animus haunted her. The Void found purchase within divinity and sought a new story: a fractured one that would end reality. Without narrative, there is no time, not consciousness, no 'self', and without those things, there can be no desires fulfilled."<br />
<br />
She glances towards Skyler, "... a world without a hunger for oat milk," she says, for emphasis.<br />
<br />
"And so she called her high priests home to her. She called her faithful, so many of us, so that we may rest in the Abyss and support her through it all. She called so many, and we worked until the time was right. We stand on the precipice of the final step. There is but one more villain of the Void to face."<br />
<br />
There is a single, momentary beat as she lets the words wash over you.<br />
<br />
"The goddess of lies herself."<br />
<br />
Beat.<br />
<br />
And then...<br />
<br />
"Thank you for the oat milk, you're Lying'ness, but I think I need to go home." Skyler says in a remarkably steady voice, "I can give you a couple recommendations. Eztli here is awesome. There's also Telamon, and Cor'Lana-Banana, or possibly Verna! She's scary. I just..." He stares at the others helplessly, "I swing a sword good, end of story. Yeah?"<br />
<br />
Dirk listens to Akorinil, beard all a-bristle and his bushy white brows furrowed. It -does- sound like the sort of outlandish, self-aggrandizing tale a creature like the Goddess of Lies would spin about Herself. But then she drops that last bombshell--that they're to face down Taara. His face goes from red to white, and his brows fly towards his hairline as if trying to escape his face altogether. "Heek?!" is about all he can manage to squeak. He looks over at his friends, hopping from foot to foot. "-Me-?! Face down a Goddess? Och! Lassie, I know I'm a right bad-arse but--but--" He fumbles and stammers, trying to think of something, -anything- to say. He snap-points at Skyler with eyes wide as teacups. "Aye, -exactly-! I'm just a simple hunter! I'm nae the sort o' hero who fights -Goddesses-!" he cries in a strangled tone.<br />
<br />
Aryia purses her lips as Akorinil explains her point. She was aware of a good chunk of it, though the forthrightness of it has her questioning the authenticity of it. It's true the High Priestess has done nothing /wrong/ in all the time that she's known her, but it something one has a very hard time shaking the nagging feeling she's going to-<br />
<br />
The mute audibly gasps "Th- f-ck?", which turns into a hacking fit. She rubs at her throat, stepping off the wall as the others try to reason with such a tall ask. "So let me get this right... you want us to...-" she rolls a hand, thinking while trying not to reel from the suggestion. And the faint, faint tinge of vengeance creeping in. "... what? Expose a truth to her so damming it unravels her position? You cannot defeat an entity such as that." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Eztli blinked once, then twice, breathing in, and letting out the longest Exhale she could manage. "Aren't you a priestess of them? Isn't this some horrible, horrible sacrilege? And wouldn't that piss off literally everyone in this building?"<br />
<br />
"...Ah-ha," Magpie say, nodding slowly... for the thirty seconds or so it takes for the magnitude of the ask to sink in. Which poiny the noe-rubbing becomes a long, low whistle. "Oh *wow* you are getting desperate, holy beans..."<br />
<br />
Blinking, she looks up and about at her friends. "...So she can't fight the Void in her anymore. But her own people are *too close*, likely as not to follow her into the Void just out of religious ecstasy, right? So Her High Priestessness casts around for folks also lost in the Void -- us -- who have a shot at doing what they can't; Dirk, think of a bird that gets dunked in an airship's oil tank. You don't clean the oil off, what's gonna happen to the bird?"<br />
<br />
The reactions to her statement have Akorinil smiling. Then smiling even bigger .She's delighted. She loves it. 'Lying'nesa' tickled her especially. She nods solemnly right along and then addresses first Skyler.<br />
<br />
"Oh, I am well aware. But this isn't about power. It's a task that you've been more prepared for than you realize, Skyler." Wait -- where'd she get his name? It's not like he introduced himself to her out the gate.<br />
<br />
Dirk earns a tilt of her head, her crimson eyes focused on him.<br />
<br />
"We do not get to pick our fights, young one." Only an elf can call a dwarf 'young one' succesfully, right?<br />
<br />
"... but you think yourself a hero? Then stay."<br />
<br />
Aryia's reaction forces her to cover her mouth with her hand in abject delight.<br />
<br />
"Oh, oh. We go back such a long way, don't we? To think we're standing here together at the end of the world, with as much as you've seen and as much as you know, prepared to author something new together."<br />
<br />
"What matters is the tale being told," she tells her.<br />
<br />
And then to Magpie, she gets a smile. "Creative! Thoughtful. I like this one."<br />
<br />
"But it's all so linear. What Animus spoke of when he called out for aid is true. He can be saved. Aspects of the blight -- the so-called 'villains of the void' were called for you to confront. What do you suppose they represent in truth? And how do you suppose their defeat helped Animus?"<br />
<br />
Aryia squints at the Highpriestess, growing more weary as Akorinil gets excited. She takes in the information as told to the others, and she pauses. Looks at the crew. Then back to Akorinil. "I guess the villans of the void were aspects that Taara threw out to help weather the weight of the Void? But the way you're talking is making it seem likes we have to make up story that becomes reality, getting Her out of this mess, and... brings Animus to the fore?"<br />
<br />
She blinks. "Is /this/ why you wanted the damn shards??" she jabs at a finger at Akorinil, eyes wide. <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Dirk's day is certainly taking a turn for the strange. And considering some of the things the old snowbeard has seen in his days, that's saying quite a lot, actually. "Wait," he says, looking over to Aryia. "Wait, wait, wait just one anvil-crackin' minute. -We- have tae come up wi' a story?" He pauses, staring at his friend for a moment. "It... it -cannae- be -that- easy. Can it?"<br />
<br />
"They were stories for us to confront and re-tell. Kol and that Snow Bitch weren't defeated brute force; we had to finesse them." Skyler says slowly, a light (however dim and flickery) coming on in the attic, "It's about establishing what reality is strongest. Gods, my head hurts." And he drinks the last of his milk. "More, please?"<br />
<br />
"I still have no clue what we're supposed to be doing here, because if you think that we're supposed to confront the corruption of a god on our own, then, well even if I'll give it a try, I don't particularly welcome my chances." The makari sighed. "So, I don't know. I really, really don't know, and I'm not a fan of trying to get a straight answer out of a pathological liar."<br />
<br />
"I mean, I wouldn't call it *easy,*" Magpie says, scratching her head. "But if it ain't completely linear, then... Beating the villains didn't just show the lie of them for what they are, but told Animus that was *never* how it happened?"<br />
<br />
Magpie is clearly stretching the limits of her comprehension, but trying regardless. "So now we have to... show the lie of the Void to Taara?"<br />
<br />
"Closer, closer," says Akorinil to Aryia and Magpie. Eztli gets a sympathetic look before she remarks, with a smile, "The life of the party, aren't you," she says, amused. There's no mockery in her tone, just earnestness this time around. She tilts her head, letting her long, red hair fall over her face and shoulder.<br />
<br />
"You're closer, as I say. The Goddess of stories looked down the narrative path, the branching tree of a story, if you would. The possibilities. Each choice she made closed one after another, and yet she persisted. Too stubborn to let go of what is rightfully her's. Each villain of the void, as they were called, embodied a portion of the Void within her, yes yes, and in so returning sought to prove the futility of life and meaning. Here you are, having told the story already, and yet you were called again to do what you had already done. Isn't.."<br />
<br />
"It.."<br />
<br />
"Pointless?" she asks. <br />
<br />
"While a story is linear, a means by which we understand the events of our lives, the choices a Goddess makes extend into the past and the future." Her eyes fix on Aryia.<br />
<br />
"Just like the death of Animus."<br />
<br />
"And when we have a story and we don't like how it's going..."<br />
<br />
"Perhaps we can be shown how to author a better ending."<br />
<br />
Her eyes fix on Skyler -- for just a moment.<br />
<br />
And then she turns to Magpie.<br />
<br />
"So. If we must save Animus, how do we save the Goddess of Want from herself -- for the final collapse of meaning rests in failing to do so."<br />
<br />
"Listen, I had a *really* bad trip a while back. Me and a bunch of halflings and goblins took a job babysitting some rich asshole. We got kidnapped by pixies or some shit, shoved through a mushroom ring, and were forced to do some Ye Olde Bullshit Queste and then it became this battle of imagination with the big bad." Skyler scratches his jaw. "It was weird. This seems like the same bullshit: Stories and our perceptions of reality shape what is real or not. We just have to convince the Goddess of Lies and Bullshit that we're telling the truth."<br />
<br />
Skyler pauses and adds, "I doubt I can solve this with imagining she has a cloaca, but I'm willing to try."<br />
<br />
Dirk listens to this great, tangled yarn. All of it speaks of things so far beyond his experience. Like the beasts of the forest that he protects, in many ways, old Dirk is a creature of habit and instinct. When one measures their life in centuries, it becomes easy to forget Tomorrow, even as one recalls Yesterday. He tugs at his beard, glancing around at his comrades. "I mean... -I- can spin a decent enough tall tale when the mood takes me," he says. "But I'm hardly a bard. I cannae create a tale worthy of a Goddess." He scowls a bit. "Even one like Taara," he grumbles. "Och, She's gone an' stacked the deck against me. What kind o' tale should I tell? -Mine-? Hrumph. As if -that's- a tale worth hearin'. I'm nobody."<br />
<br />
Aryia scratches the shaved side of her head. She supposed that makes sense with everything considered. "We make up a tale, Dirk. A bit of collaborative story telling. We make her want something else, I think, instead of clutching so tightly to magic, or something like that," she suggests, thinking she had a serious solution.<br />
<br />
She stares at Skyler. Reaches down for a vacant prayer pillow, and throws it at him. <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
"Because what do the best stories do?" Magpie says, conjuring an illusory copy of Aryia's throw pillow and getting a half dozen tosses in herself. "They take us to a world that's even more wondrous than the one we live in. Make us think that maybe *that* world could stay *here.* So if we've gotten all the silly and skeptical out of our systems... I really want to take a run at this, you guys. After all," she says, looking about and grinning.<br />
<br />
"How many people are gonna get to say they told the Goddess of Lies a story so good, she wanted it to be true?"<br />
<br />
"Absolutely thrilled to be here, doing this." Eztli shrugged. "Whatever, I'll try to do something. Can't go any worse than last time, and it's not like there's anything left to lose at this point."<br />
<br />
Skyler says, “Never." Regarding the silly that is. But he does finish his oat milk again and roll his shoulders...<br />
<br />
Until a pillow hits him in the face, and he spills oat milk all over himself. He gives Aryia a wounded look, and then makes an arcane gesture while muttering something equally arcane before passing his hands over himself. The milk disappears. His shoes are shiny. And he smells faintly of mint and sandalwood. His hair even looks smooth and luxurious!<br />
<br />
Hisrestidigitation: Better than dry shampoo.<br />
<br />
"I'm ready. So we want to discuss parameters? I usually find stories go crazy if we just start spewing details. It's how a door becomes genitalia and weird stuff happens. We gotta keep the narrative neat and follow the proper rules of plot structure." He then snaps and gives finger-guns to Eztli. "That's the spirit! You can keep us grounded so Dirk doesn't give her a poofy beard or something." Aside to Akorinil, "He gets a little obsessive, the old dear.”<br />
<br />
Dirk looks at Skyler with an indignant "-Hey!-" He mutters and grumbles, tugging irritably at his beard. "I am -not- obsessive. I'm a -dwarf-. Nae the same thing at all!" Harrumph harrumph. He looks back to his friends. "An' if we fail, here an' now... then that's it? Everything we've done, all the battles we fought, blastin' Heth out the sky wi' the Spell Cannon... it dinnae count fer anything?" He lifts his hand from his beard to rub his face. "Och. I'm gettin' too bloody -old- fer this bullshit," he grumbles softly under his breath. He sucks a deep breath through his big dwarven nose, turning his face skyward. "A'right. A tale, then." He pauses with his mouth hanging open as Skyler gives his warning about the dangers of unstructured narrative. Slooooowly the old ranger turns to regard the swashbuckler. "Dana's sweet flowery -teats-. If a door turnin' intae a ramrod -isn't- weird then what in all the sugary-sweet world -is-?" He pauses. Lifts a finger. "Do -not- answer that. Please, please, -please- do not answer that."<br />
<br />
"That is the secret of the Void -- it empties you of hope, of ambition. It buries it beneath the greatest lie of all: that you are already the worst version of you. What happens when a being which contains infinite stories, multitudes of selves, believes that there is only -one-?"<br />
<br />
"Everything..."<br />
<br />
"...flattens..."<br />
<br />
"...out."<br />
<br />
There is only darkness.<br />
<br />
And then...<br />
<br />
"CHRISTOPHER!"<br />
<br />
The voice is harsh, shrill, and demanding. The person it belongs to? A young woman of modest appearance in full Myrrish court garb. She is young, but bitterness and a sort of ferret-like leanness to her features makes her quite unpleasant and older than her years. "Your brother, the Duke, has demanded that you attend court on his behalf." She shakes her head and sneers, "It's about all you're good for, isn't it? Being your brother's little toady, nothing but an extension of his will when he, the *actual* important one, deals with the real work."<br />
<br />
A pause, and Skyler Skywalker... no, *Christopher Carl von Wayne of the House of Ashewell* starts as if he'd been drifting off to sleep, a bottle rolling out of his hands with a thud. The woman's lip curls. "Gods, you are useless. The only good you ever were was to get your brother *my* dowery to support you, and even then you can't even get me children!"<br />
<br />
The abuse continues, as Christopher stares at his hands, eyes full of pain, of disappointment, of utter despair...<br />
<br />
Dirk Stormgrip is not a young man. There are few dwarves in Ea who have lived longer than he has. He has watched entire forests rise up from saplings to mighty arbors. He has seen towns spring up from nothing. He has counted himself lucky to be friends to many He even fell in love, and was blissfully married. <br />
<br />
And yet....<br />
<br />
He has outlived many of his kinsmen. He has watched those mighty forests wither and fade, until naught but sour, barren earth remained. He has buried more friends than he's kept. And in the end, his wife of nearly sixty years went the way all mortals must.<br />
<br />
Yet he remains. He comforst himself knowing that, one day, he'll find his own time and place to rest.<br />
<br />
But what if he -doesn't-? What if he just... keeps going?<br />
<br />
What he he outlives -everything-?<br />
<br />
In a dismal cave, many long-forgotten years into the future, Dirk sits at a lonely campfire, surrounded by the skeletal husks of a dead grove. His face, once hearty and cheerful, is gaunt and hollow, awash in misery quiet despair. He's all that remains. There's nothing else left. The bleak, dismal night encroaches ever closer, threatening to snuff out that feeble little flame.<br />
<br />
And yet he knows, that even when the fire fades, he'll still be there. He'll never rest. He'll always be there.<br />
<br />
-Alone-.<br />
<br />
One only truly knows what they have lost once it has been taken from them. Freedom. Self-actualization. Trust. Peace. Usefulness. What if she slipped? What if she fell? What if she consorted with the very things she ripped free of her friends and family? "Wait- Aya, I-I did this all for you!" Aryia /screeches/, audibly, at the back of a mul'neissan woman with a long white braid wearing wrapped in sheets in robes. They don't looks back as they walk into the darkness.<br />
<br />
Aryia is... no where near the same. She's bloody, caked in blood but none of it her own, her scars are gone. But a horrid, demonic presence wafts behind her, like a horrid, stretching shadow. "I did this for you, all of you..!"<br />
<br />
The figure pauses. "No sister of mine would stoop to such lows, I thought you learned from my mistakes." They continue walking into the darkness. "Live with your regrets."<br />
<br />
The corrupted pugilist screams more at the backs of others as they walk away. Many adventurers and kinsmen that had lifted her to new heights: Cor'lana, Telamon, Dirk, Seyardu, Verna, Venom, and so many countless others that her long life had touched.<br />
<br />
Her knees hit the floor. The inner rivers have run dry. The sense of self is hollow. And heart beats of glass like her glazed gaze, sharp and staccato as the sound of manacles being clamped and a iron brand searing flesh sizzles into the dark.<br />
<br />
The thing about being lost in the Planes is, unless you know exactly what you're doing... being lost *forever* is a very, very easy thing to do. And in some places, time moves strange... almost as if it ran in currents not unlike water, to pool and swirl and fold back upon itself and--<br />
<br />
When Magpie made a mistake long ago, and fell into one of the famed planar instabilities of the Vast, she never really.. talked about how she got back. Or how long she truly spent, drifting in formless chaos. Or what she saw and heard, surrounded by the very chaos that so heavily infused her blood.<br />
<br />
The truth was, it was a lucky break, that she found a thin place that allowed her to push back into materiality after a scant dozen subjective years.<br />
<br />
Random chance.<br />
<br />
If she *hadn't* been so lucky, well...<br />
<br />
She'd still be there now. She'd still be there when the Void fell over all.<br />
<br />
Drifting.<br />
<br />
Lonely.<br />
<br />
*Untethered.*<br />
<br />
Unspooling.<br />
<br />
Unraveling.<br />
<br />
Unremembered.<br />
<br />
Uncreated.<br />
<br />
Lost to time, space, matter, and anyone who might have remembered her, Magpie quietly, utterly unzips on any meaningful level of materiality, mentality, and spirituality.<br />
<br />
A nobody, gone to nothing.<br />
<br />
The teleportation wards around Alexandria had one major flaw, one that had been tested before. What happens when normal access failed? <br />
<br />
This time, battered and exhausted, the city reached its breaking point. The undead worms collapsed the walls, the sundered by Heth. <br />
<br />
There was still sounds of combat in the city, but every passing hour they died down, while the screams of those beset upon by the dead grew, until they too quieted. <br />
<br />
Eztli was at the docks, where those who remained hurriedly packed onto the boats. The sorceress had not bothered, even with a faint sliver of hope remaining. There would be nowhere safe to flee to this time, and she watched as the boats sank one by one, with the dying breaths of the city.<br />
<br />
There's no hope. <br />
<br />
There's nothing at all. Just an emptiness, bleak and unyielding that feels like it wants to swallow you up.<br />
<br />
... but then... <br />
<br />
There is something. Perhaps its just a feeling, an inkling that this isn't right. A voice whispering in one ear that you could still be more. That the story isn't over.<br />
<br />
And then... there is.<br />
<br />
Music plays, as people move slowly in a stately dance that is all mathematic precision and no passion. Empty steps, done by learned rote. It's beautiful, but... cold.<br />
<br />
Distant.<br />
<br />
Lifeless.<br />
<br />
Among them, Christopher moves with one hand clasping that of the ferret in a ball gown that he's married to. Who is scowling at him fiercely as she mutters a count under her breath, as if Christopher isn't even capable of stepping in time.<br />
<br />
And then, Christopher takes a left when he should have stepped right.<br />
<br />
Gasps! A shocked silence...<br />
<br />
And Christopher abruptly grabs the hand of a handsome half-orc that was beside him. He looks wild despite the court garments, with a certain primal allure. He moves stiffly at first, staring at Christopher. <br />
<br />
"Skyler."<br />
<br />
Beg pardon?<br />
<br />
"I'm *Skyler*."<br />
<br />
And, okay, *Skyler* gives the half-orc a saucy wink before abruptly dipping him and pressing his lips against the tusked mouth as it falls open in shock. He then twirls him away, and laughs as he stares around. "You people suck!" Skyler declares, shaking his head. And to his 'wife'..? "I'd say I wanted a divorce, but I don't think even Dana recognizes a marriage to a wet fish! C'mon... er... you! Let's boogie!"<br />
<br />
And Skyler begins to bump and grind against the half-orc. Who blinks. Shrugs. And then begins to bump and grind against him in turn.<br />
<br />
Dirk draws a deep, shaky breath and lets it out in a sigh. His shoulders slump. The tear-tracks on his face have long since dried. Nothing matters. How could it, when he'll just outlast everyone and everything he's ever known and loved?<br />
<br />
A shriek for help splits the night. His head snaps up, and he's on his feet, thunderbelcher in hand in an eyeblink. He tears out of the cave, racing and leaping through the underbrush, faster than the most nimble deer. He breaks out into a clearing lit by Eluna's silvery light.<br />
<br />
There. A shadow towers over a terrified young maiden. A stinking stain upon the face of Ea, one that has -no- place in the pure, clear wood. The burly old ranger moves on instinct. He hefts his thunderbelcher to his shoulder and immediately cracks off three shots. CHK-BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! They ring out into the night, splitting the darkness and illuminating the night with Dana and Gilead's blessed light. The shadow-demon's malevolent laughter turns to a howl of agony as the blessed bullets rip its substance apart, sending it screaming back to the Iron Hells<br />
<br />
Dirk lowers his weapon and steps forward. "Yer all right now, lassie. Yer safe."<br />
<br />
The maiden looks up, and his heart freezes. She looks -so- like his beloved Sarah, his beloved wife, whom he buried so long ago. It's -not- her, and yet the resemblance is uncanny. She reaches up to take his outstretched hand, and flings herself at him. "Thank you! You saved my life!" she sobs into his shoulder. "I thought I was all alone out here!"<br />
<br />
Color returns to the old snowbeard's face. Strength fills his heavyset frame. He curls his arm around the lass and hugs her close. Over distant mountains, the sun crests the horizon, turning the sky from inky black to glorious rose.<br />
<br />
"No, lassie. Yer nae alone. -I'm- here now."<br />
<br />
When Magpie was lost in the Planes, only random chance allowed her an opening to find the means to find her own way home.<br />
<br />
But the thing about random chance is, the dice never stop being thrown. Every hour, every minute, every second that passes is a new opportunity for something incredibly unlikely to become inevitability. And Magpie is a *much* different person, now, than when she fell into formless Chaos those few short years ago. She *knows* better. She's *learned* more.<br />
<br />
And given the sheer strength of Chaos in her blood, and how its mutability works on her mind and being... she *has* to have a stronger sense of self, just to be able to exist normally.<br />
<br />
The thinness brushes against her senses, and Magpie responds. Fingers, coherent again, flex. An eye coalesces from yellow-green light, and blinks. A mouth that threatened to drift offon its own, opens and pulls air into lungs.<br />
<br />
'Cogito, ergo sum,' goes the saying in Rune's polymorphing schools. 'I think, therefore I am.' In those classes, it's not just pithy words; it's a *lifeline,* a reminder that no matter what form you take, as long as you can use your mind, you will *always* be you.<br />
<br />
At her current powers, it's almost trivially easy to take hold of the pocket of thinness within the Planes, and tug it open to look out onto Alexandria's Lower Market, at the height of the lunchtime rush.<br />
<br />
Being lost is *hungry* work.<br />
<br />
There is anger. There is self-loathing. There is despair. In that shackled cage that shuts with a deafening click. Aryia Zilstrae Aeldius has hit rock bottom again, where all has left her. Inaction and betrayal has got her here. Her misbegotten actions, undercutting her steadfast morals. But then... there is-<br />
<br />
Will. A will to live. It's a drop in a stagnant lake. The ripples barely nudging nary a waterfly. But it wavers the illusion of hopelessness, distorts it, just enough. She's been here before. Churn the waters. Feel the river flow, the heart beat the breath In.<br />
<br />
Out. "NO CHAIN. WILL /EVER/. BIND ME AGAIN!" she bellows into the empty air, her hands flickering to moonlight once again. Manacled hands bash into iron bars, groaning and shearing with each blow before metal sprays out in a deadly shrapnel, her having thrown herself free of the cage.<br />
<br />
Coming to a roll, Aryia pops up, covered in her own blood and wielding an iron bar as she breaks into a dead sprint towards her retreating friends. The pugilist leaps towards a creeping, demonic shadow that looms over them, tackling it to the ground and pinning it there. The only sound that echoes is the satisfying, echoing and repeated clang of metal and a flashes of moonlight chasing the darkness away.<br />
<br />
Not every ship had sunk, a few remained, perhaps avoiding the worst of it from their smaller size compared to other, much more enticing targets. Could she just stay there, do nothing, and give up? It was certainly an enticing thought, in it's own twisted way. <br />
<br />
The sorceress shook off the feeling, a low growl escaping the makari as her form shifted, longer and larger until a massive brass dragon stood in her place that soared into the sky, crashing through the clouds of undead beasts, drawing their attention away while clawing through as many as they could manage. Hopefully it would take long enough to be taken down to turn a sliver of hope into something greater.<br />
<br />
You deserve a better ending.<br />
<br />
You've staved off the darkness for another day, it's true, but you deserve something better. All those wars. All those sacrifices. Don't you deserve better? Just...<br />
<br />
Comfort?<br />
<br />
Warmth?<br />
<br />
Surely, you do.<br />
<br />
And so the scene changes. There's a disorienting moment. It's all good. <br />
<br />
It's always good.<br />
<br />
"Boogiee...."<br />
<br />
"...e's dead! Duke Austyn is dead." The minor revere Christopher has over the punch bowl, a fantasy of rejecting everything and dancing chaotically with some hunky half-orc wild-man dissolving like the ice in his ridiculously ornate, tiny little glass. And the glass is dropped as his wife grabs his arm, her nails digging in hard enough to tear the fine silk of his doublet.<br />
<br />
Christopher stares dully at his wife. "W.. what?"<br />
<br />
She lets out a sound of disgust, leaning forward to smell his breath before wrinkling her nose. "Really? Gods, how much did you drink, you useless shit?" She shakes her head, and her scowl turns into a wide grin. "I killed him. Your brother's dead. Now I'm the Duchess Ashewell of Gull's Edge!" She smiles cruelly, "And you, husband, will get your freedom." She guides him off to the side, hand still digging hard enough to hurt. "The freedom of the country estate. You can farm, you can hunt, you can drink and debauch yourself to an early grave if you want." She puts a hand over her stomach. "I have the Duke's heir. He looks enough like you no one will know the difference." She sneers, "You're free, you useless lump! Isn't that what you always wanted? Freedom, to be something? Well now you're the Duke's father! And you'll be free to wither away in the countryside."<br />
<br />
It's a happy enough ending, in the cut-throat courts of the Myrrish kingdoms...<br />
<br />
Isn't it?<br />
<br />
Not many people get a second chance at happiness. Dirk is one of those lucky few. The lass he rescued from the shadow demon--Farah is her name--falls in love with him, and he with her. She fills his days with brilliant sunshine and laughter once again. With her at his side, the forest grows strong and clean. The land thrives. He takes up his mantle as the forest's champion once again. And how could he not? After so long, he has something to fight for.<br />
<br />
Weeks pass. Winter blankets the wood in soft, cottony-cold white. Dirk watches the snowfall from his cozy cabin with his arm around Farah's shoulders. He rests a palm atop her belly, made large by new life--the one thing Sarah was never able to give him, all those years ago gone by. Just when he thought his happily-ever-after couldn't -possibly- get any better, his newfound love has made him a father in addition to being a husband.<br />
<br />
They name the baby 'Sarah Leigh', and she's as perfect an angel, as all children are in the eyes of their parents. Dirk gently bounces her in his arms, crooning a quiet dwarven lullabye to her as she gazes up at him with wide, golden eyes. He presses a kiss to her forehead and gently lays her in her crib. "Sleep sweetly, me bonny wee lass," he says soothingly.<br />
<br />
He blows out the candle by the bedside and burrows under the heavy blankets with his beloved Farah. Gloom shrouds the cabin.<br />
<br />
Sarah Leigh's eyes open, now inky black orbs. Her mouth curves into a wicked, too-wide smile. In her baby-babble, the shadow-demon's laughter echos just beyond the range of hearing.<br />
<br />
Being lost is hungry work, and damn it all, Magpie will *never* be hungry. Not again. The first thirty years of her life, she was too small to properly defend her food from the bigger kids at the orphanages.<br />
<br />
Which might have something to do with the frequency of wild-magic fires that seemed to haunt little Magpie's trail...<br />
<br />
...Whatever, it's lunchtime at the Alexandrian markets, and all of her favorites are not just on special, but *free* just for her. Rosemary-pork pocket pies, goblin fireball sweetbreads, candied garlic skewers... Every turn of her head brings new and interesting delicacies into vision. And because it's *her,* because she is so amazing and powerful and respected and adored, she pays for none of it.<br />
<br />
Every morsel that passes her lips, bought by the fame she'd always longed for as a child, where justexisting was enough to be celebrated.<br />
<br />
And in the middle of the Market square, Magpie slowly begins to be buried under a cacophony of treats and sweets and savories, heaped ever higher by her adoring public.<br />
<br />
And so Aryia clawed it all back. Trust. Sense of self. Belonging. Usefulness. Back into the weave with friends. Coaching her team back in the Colosseum. Battling kaiju. Sailing the seas on her boat. Pummeling through mountains through sheer force of tenacity.<br />
<br />
So she sits atop that mountain, her apex, having found her center again. The waters have run so fast they look calm in their laminar flow. Breathing In. Out. In. Out.<br />
<br />
The days morph into weeks, months, years. Decades. Time drags on, yet for this elf it's barely scraping any more etchings into the scars. Others age, but that comes and goes, just like all do in the story that never ends. But does it matter? The peak has been reached. Her vantage is leagues in all directions.<br />
<br />
It is absolute perfection.<br />
<br />
Or is it? It hits in a beat of introspection. Somewhere in all that time, a thought worms its way into her mind. 'What is the point of a mountain, if to not look up at its daunting beauty from below? What is the point of highs? Without the lows?'<br />
<br />
Eztli didn't normally wake up with the sun, but recent work forced the makari reluctantly out of bed. After some time blinking the tiredness out of her eyes, she eventually managed to get over to her closet, where several costumes were hanging. All of them and their accessories were carefully stowed into a pack at her side, before she left for the lower floors. <br />
<br />
"Figured you'd be up before me, rehearsals are going to take most of the day. Say hi to deathless for me, will you, and I'll catch you around dinner, yeah?" She offered to the brown haired hunter who had been in the kitchen. She said nothing, only giving a crooked toothed smile to the sorceress before she was out the door, and not a single word spoken.<br />
<br />
It's better, isn't it? Better this way ...<br />
<br />
... but then the worms turn. A thought, an idea gnaws. And once it's there, it doesn't stop. Each vision seems to splinter, to crack, to fray. Black lines ripping across like spiderwebs.<br />
<br />
And then there's a sense of weightlessness, of being-without-body.<br />
<br />
It is cool here. You sense ... other presences. Then, slowly, the curtain draws back. You're ... somewhere.<br />
<br />
Akorinil Belvade look at each of you, a smile on her face.<br />
<br />
"Do you understand now?" she asks, a cautious yet hopeful tone in her voice.<br />
<br />
GAME: Skyler rolls 1d100: (6): 6<br />
<br />
SPLASH!<br />
<br />
Skyler tosses the cup to the side, expression utterly devoid of emotion as he stares at Akorinil with a hate and fury he's only shown once, in a demi-plane of death while a kyton taunted him on the true meaning of pain and pleasure. <br />
<br />
"You bitch." He says flatly, turning away from her and closing his eyes. And his shoulders rise one, fall, and he speaks up to the others. "We have to do this for her. I don't know what you guys saw, but..." He swallows, "We have to do this. And we *can*. The first vision is non-negotiable, and the third isn't enough."<br />
<br />
Coming back to herself was a shock, especially as she was close to resigning herself to drowning under an ever-growing pile of things a child would think were deserved.<br />
<br />
And not for the first time, does Magpie begin to ask herself how old she was when the world became a certain, predictable thing-- no. No time to unpack that now!<br />
<br />
Shaking her head, she takes a moment to focus on Akorinil, and the milk dripping off her nose. "...Yeah," she says, finally. "Skyler's right too... We *need* to do this, cos that last one... Damn, but the Void's insidious..."<br />
<br />
The expanse contracts, and all those possibilities of time passing collapses into presence and- Aryia rapidly blinks, and her lips move to say something, but she ends up coughing up a lung before spits a glob of blood off to the side. "Well that was fucked," she signs with a scowl and rubbing her throat. There was a certain satisfaction as Skyler acts on her impulses, but she couldn't help but feel a tad guilty. Akorinil was truly, truly trying, for the best of someone she believed in.<br />
<br />
She thought of her found sister, Aya.<br />
<br />
The mute pugilist grimaces. Damn it. "Alright. Fuck. Fine. But I'm not doing it for /Her/. I'm doing it because we have a thing we can teach Her. And hopefully it'll knock some sense into Her." <br />
<br />
She glances to Akorinil, with the first look of genuine empathy. "Congratulations. You convinced this non-believer that it's worth a shot." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Dirk's eyes are wide as teacups as sight and reason returns. He blinks owlishly, his gaze snapping from side to side hard enough to make his beard whip-whap back and forth. "Wha--ah? Hah? What the... och! What the hell -was- that?!" He looks back to Akorinil. His panic turns to anger as his temper riles right back up. "-That's- our story?! BULLSHIT!! That's nae -my- story, an' never will be!"<br />
<br />
He looks back around at his friends, his beard all a-bristle as he scowls and fumes and snorts and snarls. "So what, we -have- tae go through all that? Blessed Dana's flowery -teats-, there -has- tae be another way..."<br />
<br />
Eztli was left speechless as she came back to reality, and she stood their for some time, breathing heavily. "Seems... fucked. I'd like to think the difference is obvious,but I'm no god. And either way, none of it was right. Not in the slightest." They grumbled. "So... what?"<br />
<br />
All around is darkness, now, but for the presence of yourselves and Akorinil.<br />
<br />
She raises a hand and presses the back of it to her forehead, swaying back away from them. She's clearly somewhat used to hate and fury bneing directed at her. <br />
<br />
"Forgive me. I can't control what you see or face in the tales you're entering. Those are subject only to you. But the narrative is ... hmmm ... unspooling, I suppose, because narrative itself is threatening to end. Think of it all as dancing on the razor edge of the dagger that slays Animus --."<br />
<br />
A hitch.<br />
<br />
"...though it's not really a dagger. Godly weapons are something wholely other and beyond comprehension." <br />
<br />
She lets out a breath, then. And then, a quiet voice. "You have to save her."<br />
<br />
Aryia glances to the side as the raving party seems to have fallen to the wayside and away. Was it ever really there? "Forgiveness is an action given, gained only by further action to warrant it. You don't get that just yet, as I'm quite familiar with Taara's gaslighting," the pugilist gestures before digging in the inside pocket of her jacket. An embroidered black silk handkerchief is pulled free, and is offered to Akorinil, Aryia's eyes downcast. "But, perhaps that is something that can be rectified once this is dealt with."<br />
<br />
She nods subtly. "They are not weapons that mere mortals know. I've seen them. But perhaps she just needs to think she's wielding something else other than to slay. In a metaphorical sense." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
"We said we'd do it." Skyler says grumpily, "Just, are you going to shove us at her blind or are there any hints that aren't bullshit metaphors. I mean..." He blinks at the rest of the group, "What *is* a metaphor for?" He frowns, glancing down at his fingers. "Um. a Metaeight?"<br />
<br />
Dirk glances around at his friends, then back to Akorinil. "I -suppose- that losin' Taara would throw all the worlds in the universe out o' balance, or some other such bullshit," he grumbles. He scowls dourly, leveling a finger at the priestess. "I dinnae trust a word -you- say," he says. He takes a step back, glancing up and around at his comrades. "But I -do- trust my friends. So we'll do what must be done." He glances at Aryia with a firm nod, then up at Skyler. He peers at the swashbuckler, then counts up on his own fingers. "Aye, think ye got it right, laddie. Metaeight," he says, nodding again.<br />
<br />
"Close enough," Magpie says. "For the future, there's a point where precisionruins the analogy that made understandingpossible. Even if it's, like, a metaconceptual cinquedea forged of the taste of blue, calling it a dagger still works."<br />
<br />
Looking about, she draws in a breath, and claps her hands. "So let's save a goddess!"<br />
<br />
"Well, that's all well and good, you keep saying we need to save her, but I feel like we're all not much closer to actually saving her, aside from a bit more emotional scarring to add to the pile." Eztli grumbled loudly. "So, lets go down to this. I'm sure a handful of people can help fix this where every single taaran priest or priestess partying here failed."<br />
<br />
The handkerchief is accepted with a gentle smile at Aryia.<br />
<br />
Akorinil knows -exactly- how much it must've pained her to give it to her. <br />
<br />
"If narrative dies, our ability to understand our own stories dies with it. No art. No history. No ordered conscious thought. Everything comes apart without the thread of consciousness."<br />
<br />
Of course, how much of that is true and how much of that is Taara's grandeur talking? Then again, it may not matter. The results of ANimus dying were bad enough."I can not see what happened to you. Those sojourns were for you alone."<br />
<br />
She grimces a moment, dabbing her face and she produces a pen from inside her robe. She begins to draw a single red line through the air with it. <br />
<br />
"We must merely turn the page, hm? Show her a better ending, as I said..."<br />
<br />
And then she gives the line a 'yank' and 'peels' the world like a page in the book and you find yourselves somewhere else.<br />
<br />
A sunny glade. A pale sun above. It's warm here And yet, there's a sense of forboding, and its coming from the litle cottage, all quaint and cozy in the distance. Chimney smoke rises from it.<br />
<br />
"Do you think it'd tell a fun story if we burn it down?" Skyler suggests as he raises a hand to shade his eyes as he looks over the tableau in front of them, "I mean, I'd get over my ennui if someone set *my* house on fire. Or we could rush in to put it out and save her that way?" He cocks his head, "Make your own heroic rescue!"<br />
<br />
As much as it pained her, it wouldn't behoove Taara to change her mind if even an ex-Taaran couldn't show some shred of compassion. Aryia sighs, rubbing her face before flashing a thumbs up. There's a wince as the world practically rips away.<br />
<br />
She lowers her hand from the sun, sliding her sunglasses down. "I am not against walking up and knocking before booting the door down," she shrugs. The normally face-first pugilist is hesitant to advance, her staring down the building like it's a warding sign specifically meant for her.<br />
<br />
But Aryia gulps, exhales slowly, and starts that way with her hands in her pockets. <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Dirk grunts softly. "I know how -my- tale should end," he grumbles quietly. "So if that bullshit I saw earlier is the best -she- can come up with, then aye, I can sure as hell come up wi' a better ending n' -that-." As the new scene unfolds before him, he squints at the cottage. He looks up, down, and all around. "Summat here dinnae sit right," he mutters. "I mean, not as I was expectin' sunshine an' frolickin' bunnies, but... there's summat -off- here." He glances up at Skyler and Aryia with a frown. "Why don't we try bein' polite -first-. -Then- we can start kickin' doors in if we have to."<br />
<br />
Eztli squinted as the world was torn away in some metaphysical sense she was still trying to wrap her head around, if it was even possible. "Not a bad idea to force a different story, but I don't know if it will actually help things, unless the new reeality is some fiery hellscape." She grumbled. <br />
<br />
"Lets start with checking the house itself for now, even though I can't shake that something is less pleasant in spite of the weather. Hard to explain."<br />
<br />
As one gets closer, the overwhelming smell of something ... bready can be detected. Someone is baking. <br />
<br />
There's a hint of sweetness to it, too.<br />
<br />
Could it be...?<br />
<br />
Could someone be baking -pie-?<br />
<br />
Not exactly what one would expect here at the end of things, but then, perhaps that's the best time for some pie.<br />
<br />
Looking left and right among her comrades, Magpie shrugs and does what everyone is suggesting, but understandably hesitant to do; she toddles up, and knocks on the door. "Auntie Taara?" she calls, figuring hey... even if she robbed her way there, being *a* goddess of magic affords one the respect of the magically-blooded. "Auntie Taara, we've come to visit? Are you all right?"<br />
<br />
Aryia slows as she smells baked goods. Damn. When did she eat last? All of this was so ephemeral it was hard to tell. Wait, focus. She gives a quick look to the party, one of 'you all smell that, right?', before she shakes her head and rests against the side of the doorframe. She raises a brow. Auntie Taara?<br />
<br />
"I'd love to try your cherry pie!" Skyler adds on the heels of Magpie, "And boy, do I have an *amazing* story to tell you! There was this box and inside it was this kid and he was like an angel but then some dragon ate fish from my hand and now we go get drunk at taverns together!"<br />
<br />
He pauses, and adds to the group, "It's actually a really traumatizing story."<br />
<br />
Dirk lumbers along with his friends, though his plodding step slows as they approach the house. His big dwarven nose twitches as he sniffs the air. "Oh, beards o' me sweet tapdancin' -fathers-," he groans softly. His hefty middle gives an -infuriated- sounding rumble. How long ago -did- he eat last? Far too long, from the sound of things. He looks towards the cabin with a pained expression. "Och, if that's a fake cherry pie I'm smellin', it's a really really -good- fake," he says. He glances at the others, then lifts up his hand to cup the side of his mouth. "Missus Taara, marm! It's me, Dirk Stormgrip. -I've- got a tale tae tell that -isn't- traumatizing! How does -that- sound, eh?"<br />
<br />
"Didn't take her for a baker, assuming that's actually her in there." Eztli shrugged to no one in particular, the makari meandering down to the actual door as others knocked on it. "Don't forget who we're potentially dealing with. Lies and all that, I'm not sure I'd trust anything baking."<br />
<br />
"Is someone there?" comes a small voice. "Moggie, can you check?"<br />
<br />
"Ugh. Can't you see I'm busy?" comes a rougher male voice before an older man, barrel chested man from years of toil opens the door and squints at the pair.<br />
<br />
""The hell are you people supposed to be?" he asks gruffly. <br />
<br />
The smell of pie only intensifies. The interior of the cottage appears ... alarmingly quaint. -VERY-. <br />
<br />
Disgustingly so.<br />
<br />
"Oh wow. I wouldn't mind *his* cherry pie." Skyler mutters to no one in particular, eyes widening before he clasps a hand over his mouth... and discreetly takes several steps back to the rear of the strange party.<br />
<br />
Sometimes you have to know when to let someone else take the lead. Such is wisdom, and Skyler is a very wise man, even if he isn't a very intelligent one.<br />
<br />
This is very awkward.<br />
<br />
You see, when you were a priestess in a different life, devoted to a sect of the unholy matrimony between Maugrim and Taara, you tend to expound on their tales of how they came together and stayed.<br />
<br />
So Aryia, now a devout atheist, stares up at the very man who she used to venerate in an adjacent manner. She, uncharacteristically, trembles. And then raises a hand to sign-<br />
<br />
"Hello. We're supposed to be your wake up call." Shit. She didn't think this far. His presence threw all her thoughts out the window. <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
"Moggie? Oh you've gotta be fucking kidding me, we've gotta deal with him too?" Ezti grumbled under her breath before they got to the door. "Hey, good evening, we just happened to be in the area and we were wondering what was going on with all the baking here?" She managed to offer for some manner of explanation.<br />
<br />
Dirk looks up--and up, and up, and up--at the imposing figure of Maugrim before him. "Heek." He's suddenly -very- aware of the fact that his beard grooming was interrupted before all this started. He hurriedly smooths his hands down his whiskers, doing his best to get them into some kind of semblance of order, before he steps forward. "Aye, as me comrade here says, Master Maugrim. Sir. As we understand it, ye all need some stories, aye?" His tubby middle snarls angrily again, and he puts both his palms to it, as if -that- would soothe the bottomless pit inside him. "Well, as it just so happens, we need some o' that delicious-smellin' pie. So... perhaps we might work a trade, eh?"<br />
<br />
'Moggie,' Magpie mouths, eyes wide. Somehow, it feels like not even Maugrim would *allow* his wife to call him that; it's just too undignified.<br />
<br />
Her mouth works open and closed for a moment, as she tries to think of a good answer to that question... and failing one, simply leans over and yells past the man, into the house. "Auntie Taara, we've come to visit, and talk! And perhaps if you'd be so kind... maybe one of your famous stories? The kind that made Ceinara ash herself with jealousy?"<br />
<br />
Look, play to your audience. Taara might not be a *nice* person, but this may be the one time a minor blasphemy might be overlooked.<br />
<br />
'Moggie' sort of stands there, staring at the lot of you. <br />
<br />
"Bloody hell, I didn't know the family was rolling in," he says after a moment, "Come on in, everyone. Have a seat. I'll go break open the keg."<br />
<br />
Wait, family? Well,t hat's weird. <br />
<br />
The lady of the house is a smiling woman dressed in dark clothing with long, scarlet hair. She seems thrilled to see everyone, moving closer to give them a hug, individually. "Oh, you all made it! I'm so thrilled."<br />
<br />
That's weird. A moment ago she had no idea who you were, now she's acting like you were always meant to be here and our family.<br />
<br />
Like ...<br />
<br />
... like she's an aunt. Your aunt. Isn't she?<br />
<br />
"Auntie Taara! Uncle Moggie!" Skyler pushes forward as he feels the narrative shift, not even attempting to keep up with the logic... Shades of the Skyler that rejected the measured, stately dances in favor of booging and enjoying the moment. Although he does give Aryia's shoulder a quick, reassuring squeeze on his way past.<br />
<br />
"It's been so damn long! Since..." He pauses, eyes squinting, "Well. It's been a while! Hugs?"<br />
<br />
And he holds his arms out hopefully to Maugrum fully prepared to get an armful of the Tyrant and rest his face against the pillowy bosom of his pectorals.<br />
<br />
The unspoken agreement that goes through the party gets Aryia to wince, stymied entirely from progressing. But a squeeze on her shoulder gets her to snap to the present. She looks to Skyler with a harried expression, fear in her eyes. But she clasps his forearm, inhales deeply, and settles into the role, reaffirmed. A thankful nod is tossed his way.<br />
<br />
She slips into the abode as they're all invited, stepping aside as the others file in. Her attention is all too focused else where before-<br />
<br />
The lady of the house hugs Aryia. She freezes up.<br />
<br />
Then takes Taara into a tight, hearty embrace. 'I missed you so much,' she mutters near-silently by Her ear.<br />
<br />
She lets Her go, again.<br />
<br />
The pugilist wipes at her eyes.<br />
<br />
Dirk has seen much in his long years upon Ea. He's championed a swanmay princess. He's been blessed by angels. He's heard the voices of the Green Word. -Now-... he's getting a hug from a goddess. Even stranger, he finds himself returning that hug, throwing his burly arms around Taara and giving her a proper Dwarf Hug. "Och, Auntie Taara, it's -so- good tae see ye!" he booms cheerfully. "An' Uncle Maugrim! Lookin' fit as ever, I see! Och, maybe someday soon ye'll be as hefty as -I- am! Hah!"<br />
<br />
He turns his attention back to Taara. Hey, if the gods are all like this--friendly, warm, with a cozy home and delicious treats--then maybe they aren't so bad after all. "Auntie, I smelled that pie yer bakin' from nearly a furlong away. Och, I'm -starvin'-! An' boy oh -boy- do we have some stories fer -you-!"<br />
<br />
Blink. Blink. Last Eztli could tell, Taara wasn't a gnome. She was half expecting the goddess to shrink down to the size of an aunt until she realized what was going on. "A-ah, yes! Something to drink would be appreciated." She spoke up after a moment to collect herself. The hug certainly wasn't helping. "Did you make a chilled pie for Skyler too? You know how particular he is about his oat milk, after all."<br />
<br />
"Of course we made it, Auntie Taara," Magpie laughs, throwing her arms up to give the best hug her stubby little everything is capable of giving. "How could we stand the thought of our Auntie feeling lonely?" 'Uncle Moggie' gets a brief side-eye, as Magpie isn't *quite* sure whether or not he's the actual Tyrant, and not a figment of the Void.<br />
<br />
"But how are you *doing,* Auntie?" she presses onward, reaching up to pat Ariya's arm in what she hopes is a comforting way.<br />
<br />
There, there.<br />
<br />
"Oh!"<br />
<br />
Aunty 'Taara', if that is indeed who she is, is more than a little surprised by the embrace. She awkwardly pats Aryia on the back. "I'm so glad to hear that," she tells her, happily. "There's pie! Come in, everyone, come in, please make yourself comfortable. It's weird how accepting she is. Just rolls with it. You're all family. Of course you're family. What's weirder is that you all can kind of feel it's true at the same time -- which might be a little discomfitting in the moment.<br />
<br />
'Moggie' grunts. He doesn't -do- hugs, thank you very much. All taciturn. "I'll be right back. I'm going to go check on some things." He disappears out the back door, grumbling the whole while with the sort of grumble that every worker would recognize.<br />
<br />
"Curses. Foiled again."<br />
<br />
Skyler shakes his head as Uncle Moggie departs but he's all grins as he turns back to Auntie Taara with his grin back in place. He glances at the others as his brow knits when the wave of familial closeness washes over him. Considering what the visions earlier revealed about *his* relationship with his family, it's an unfamiliar sensation.<br />
<br />
He swallows, closing his eyes for a moment before shaking his head. "What kind of pie, Auntie Taara? Is it full of secrets, or butterscotch or the void? I hope it's apple. I bet your void pie is awesome, but I'm partial to apple."<br />
<br />
Aryia scratches her head at the change in accommodations, but she rolls with it as she's invited in. She takes a seat nearby, all but flopping into a loveseat nearby in a very 'at home' manner. Was that on purpose? Lines were getting a bit blurry on the comfort of things.<br />
<br />
Dirk perks up at the mention of pie, and his eyes light up like a Yule tree. "Oh, bless yer kindness, auntie, I'd -love- a slice!" he says happily. He's a canny old bear, and he doesn't miss that strange feeling of familiarity. But such feelings are natural to dwarves, who cherish their communities so. Even a black sheep like ol' Dirk craves the company of his friends and comrades, so he's already hard-wired to accept and recipricate bonds of family. Even if it comes from the Goddess of Lies.<br />
<br />
Magpie watches 'Moggie' disappear out the back with evident curiosity; is this part of the setting making way for the change in focus? Or was that truly Maugrim, and if so how many devils are going to be hiding in their pillows from now on? "...They say you eat an average of three devils in your sleep a week," she murmurs softly, so softly. "...Or was that spiders..."<br />
<br />
Shaking her head, she puts on her biggest, niece-iest smile for Taara, glancing at Skyler and nodding her approval at his narrative. "How've you been, Auntie Taara? We've been pretty worried about you, we haven't heard much from these parts in a while."<br />
<br />
Eztli blinked a few more times at the recognition, and feeling of it, as well. "Oh, thank you, then! I wouldn't mind some pie myself, but I don't know, surely there's something I could do in return for the hospitality? It's only fair, I think."<br />
<br />
Indeed. The accomdations -are- changing. Things are unfolding. Was it always like this? You know it wasn't, but it FEELS like it was. Totally natural. There's even a dining room, now, and you're being escorted to the table by 'Taara', though she's never introduced herself that way. She strokes her fingerws through her long hair and then gerstures to the seating. <br />
<br />
"Please, please! Sit down. Tell me all about your adventures, darlings!" <br />
<br />
The impossibility of being 'related' doesn't seem to have occurred to her at all. <br />
<br />
Meanwhile, Moggie is, well... there's a lot of swearing from out back. This is how you know he's cooking.<br />
<br />
Aryia leans up, sitting at the table now as she gets herself situated. There's this half lull of staring at a goddess she once venerated, and half just at the dinner table with auntie and family. She's having to root herself in the horrid things they just went through recently to remind herself why they're all here. And boy is it hard to keep the story straight.<br />
<br />
Tell about... her adventures? Aryia looks to the others before gesturing in elaboration: "Mine would take way too long, but I learned through my adventures if you're stubborn enough, you can win card games against gods and drop kick kaiju through portals. All it takes is losing everything and finding yourself in the scraps." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Eztli took one of the chairs, spun it around to have a seat at the table comfortably. "Of our adventures? Well, I'm sure that the others have some wonderful stories to tell. I've been on a few, but I imagine theirs are better, or at least they feel up to talking about them."<br />
<br />
Skyler's lips thin, and he glances over the crowd for a moment before he says earnestly, softly. "I grew up second son to a minor noble. Heir and the spare, I was the spare. My father wasn't a good man, by any definition. My brother, the heir, use to pour boiling water on puppies out of amusement. Found out they were going to kill me."<br />
<br />
He swallows, "So I decided that I'd kill me first. Was on a ship that got attacked by pirates, and when they threatened to ransom me, I instead charmed'm into letting me join. Being a pirate sounded fun. It was, until I realized I hurt people. Badly. Met someone I love." He smiles wryly, "And decided to be something else. Gentleman Adventurer of the Society of Dagger Dames and Gentleman Adventurers. Taught me something important, Auntie Taara." He glances around, "*I* write my story. Other people might throw curveballs at me, things might beat me down and even kill me. But in the end, I wrote the story and never let anyone else control the narrative."<br />
<br />
Dirk follows Auntie to the table and plumps his hefty rump down. He gives a wiggle, testing the chair out, and is rather surprised that it supports Dwarf Weight quite well! He reaches up to doff his tricorne and sets it aside. "Pshaw, Eztli. You an' me been on plenty of adventures together!" he says with a rumble of laughter. "Och, d'ye remember when we got sent out by Lady Fionnula tae find 'er sister in the Mythwood? An' we fought off those cold knights? Hell of a scrap, that was!"<br />
<br />
He glances over at Skyler, listening to the swashbuckler's tale. Much of it is new to the burly old ranger. His conclusion has the old snowbeard nodding firmly. "True talk, laddie, true talk," he says. "All our lives are a grand tale, an' -we- hold the pen. Even if sometimes folk want tae butt in an' put their own spin on things."<br />
<br />
Magpie clambers up into a high-chair, allowing her to regard the table like someone meant to be seated there, and puffs out a breath at the invitation. "Man... where to even *start.*"<br />
<br />
As Skyler tells his story, Magpie listens carefully, nodding firmly at the lesson he takes away from the story of his life. And, it seems, she chooses to follow up serious drama with comedy.<br />
<br />
"Well, there was that temple that got uncovered in the Felwood, I remember one point we ended up having to deal with a bunch of non-Guild 'adventurers' who were looking for loot to find. Then, after we beat them into submission, we had to take them back to camp... when demons started coming after us. Cos Felwood, right? But we didn't have time to *fight,* we had a job to do, so I threw an illusion over this huge tree! Turned into a big angel statue, two middle fingers up, and a banner; DEMONS CAN KISS THE PEARLIEST PART OF MY GATES!"<br />
<br />
Here, Magpie pauses to giggle t her own joke. "And the best part was, it *worked!* Distracted them long enough we could get away!"<br />
<br />
"Because if you're willing to be a little silly, you can saves lives with a good lie."<br />
<br />
The Lady of the House listens, and smiles, and she proceeds to begin preparing the meal. There are plenty of things to bring in from the kitchen, and yet more from 'Moggie' outside. They're clearly, yes, representative of someone's idea of what Taara and Maugrim might be. Somehow.<br />
<br />
Somehow indeed.<br />
<br />
'Taara' claps her hands delightedly as the stories come out. She asks questions, seeks details. She wants more. The despair that was sitting heavily on her when you arrived -- perhaps not so visible as it was then as its departure is now -- seems to have lifted, yes, and Moggie very clearly doesn't have a lot to say. He's busy working.<br />
<br />
"That all sounds lovely," remarks your 'aunt'. <br />
<br />
"But now what will you all do?"<br />
<br />
Details are happily divulged, and Magpie seems to be the kind of storyteller who can barely believe the nonsense she herself got up to. So the details are delivered with a combination of self-deprecation and surprise. But then, 'Taara' puts a question to her.<br />
<br />
That is a very, very good question.<br />
<br />
"Well," she says slowly, "we are kind of on a job right now, in fact. See, there's someone very, very important who needs to be rescued from the Void. And we need to make sure she can shake free of it, because nobody... *nobody.* Deserves for the Void to take them.<br />
<br />
"I can think of a few people." Skyler says consideringly, "Captain Cashew, maybe. But it's probably got a nut allergy."<br />
<br />
But he makes a gesture, conceding Magpie's point and letting her take the narrative lead on this. "But she deserves a happy ending, this one. She's had a hell of a story so far, and deserves happiness with her beefy hot husband." He considers. "Maybe they just need to spice things up? Find a unicorn?" He means a horse with a horn, right?<br />
<br />
Aryia listens to the others, her brows raising at Skyler. She didn't pin him as noble born, and it was quite an amusing twist that'd he manufactured himself. If only she was as slick as him all those decades ago. She nods along in agreement with Dirk, but she can't but help but stare at Magpie. There was not way she could /not/ help but snort in amusement.<br />
<br />
Food comes out, and she's already got one of everything. It must have been some crimson pen story, or something, that has these two gods portrayed as such in a cottage-core lifestyle. The mute shares more, about a Unloved King that took a chance to become the Joyful King, and through his efforts, managed to help a party of heroes slay larger-than life fiends and help a celestial dragon fulfill their overdue duties. She's smiling at the memories of it, a mixture of cocky and wan.<br />
<br />
Question poised, she nods along with Magpie and Skyler. "Or maybe have something come along, a catalyst? Every story has something that makes things happen." She gives Skyler a side glance before chuffing and shaking her head, amused. <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Eztli shrugged, and chuckled quietly. "Kinda sounds like my life, except I ran away from my parents as their only daughter, and I ended up getting eaten by undead and ending up as a giant, small lizard." Eztli snorted. "Which is to say, entirely not like your life at all upon further thought, but, at least I'm mostly okay with it now. But for doing stuff now? I don't know, I guess it doesn't feel right to give up. I'd like to make some more stories, have some more adventures and the like. Probably."<br />
<br />
Dirk busily loads up a plate with delicious goodies and wonderful treats. Even piling up proper Dwarf Sized portions, there's still plenty for everyone else. Clearly, -this- version of Taara knows how to cook for dwarves. He munches away at some nibbly things, listening to the others' tales. When Skyler mentions a unicorn, he brightens up. "Och! That reminds me of the time I was trackin' this ugly beastie down in Am'shere!" he says. "I'll tell ye, jungles an' dwarves mix together 'bout as well as some berk rippin' arse in church! Hah!" He recounts the tale of the monster hunt, which led to a unicorn that had been tempted into disgrace by a wish demon. "The poor thing wanted us tae end its sufferin'. But I hadnae the heart tae kill such a noble beast. But fortunately, me mate Dolan's a Corona in Daeus' church, an' we able tae help the poor thing find repentance an' forgiveness!" He gets thoughtful as he munches another bite of tasty things. "Because even the worst villain can be redeemed, in the end," he muses.<br />
<br />
<br />
-To be continued-<br />
<br />
[[Category:PRPs]]</div>Aryiahttp://www.tenebraemush.net/index.php?title=Where%27d_They_Go%3F_That%27s_Where&diff=44516Where'd They Go? That's Where2025-11-21T05:04:00Z<p>Aryia: </p>
<hr />
<div>Darkness.<br />
<br />
Alexandria has been consumed in it for a hot minute, hasn't it? Not the kind of darkness of night's fall and early winter's days, but the more metaphorical kind: a creeping, slowly spreading chill, a tension building of a coming ending: the moment before the boot drops, so to speak.<br />
<br />
You aren't sure what you were doing, or even how long its been, but here you are: painfully aware of that boot, and unsure where you are. There's an expanse of swirling blackness, and you are alone in it.<br />
<br />
... until your hear a voice: people calling out.<br />
<br />
"Five more minutes!" Skyler grouses, as if the call of the voices were people attempting to wake him up, "Mama, I do not want the pony with the fancy forelock, for he bit me when I fed him sugar cubes."<br />
<br />
Beat.<br />
<br />
"Oh wait. I'm not asleep."<br />
<br />
Another beat. "Gods this is getting *weird* in Alexandria."<br />
<br />
Dirk pauses with his brush in mid-stroke, poised over his beard as that darkness overwhelms him. He blinks owlishly, squinting and peering in the gloom. That doesn't seem right. -He- can see in the dark just fine, usually. "What in Dana's flowery green -arse-?" he grumbles. He fumbles his way to the window of his inn room and flings it open. Perhaps if he can see outside, something will make sense. If only it were that easy. "Och, what the hell is this? What the hell is goin' on here?!" he shouts out into the void. Will it help? Maybe not, but it helps to be able to do -something-. It's proof that he's not going deaf as well as blind in his old age.<br />
<br />
Aryia is quite used to the dark. Pitch black, or even darker. Perhaps the last gift of Taara. Or maybe she's just built different. So it is *weird* that she can't even see past her own nose.<br />
<br />
She catches a voice, then two, turning that way and gives a quiet, two toned whistle as she claps her hands together, trying to light up the dark.<br />
<br />
Eztli was left in some state of confusion at the darkness around her. The makari flicked a small flame between two of her fingers, that seemed to do little to actually disperse the darkness. Sound still worked though, right? The sorceress carefully picked her way through the shadows to not trip on anything, trying to find the source of the noise.<br />
<br />
Aryia manages to get her hands alight with moonlight, but still, barely able to catch anything before her reach. A tinge of panic crawls of up her neck, but she locks that down.<br />
<br />
"What a worthless little cretin. Get rid of it." A distance voice rolled by over her shoulder. A man's. She felt a weight land in her hand. It was dropped like hot iron. "What? Scared? They're useless. You will be too if you don't-"<br />
<br />
A whistling streak of moonlight punches the air behind her, her finding herself panting and slowly backing up. What... is that...?<br />
<br />
"...Albus?" Magpie says, turning this way and that, trying to pierce the gloom. "...Is it time for another Crimson Pen book? Or... wait... You're *not* a book anyore, right? Didn't we--"<br />
<br />
Backing away from the calling voice, Magpie does what comes natural; putting a Light spell on the headdress-coin directly over her forehead, because when you need a light you need it close.<br />
<br />
"The.. pony..."<br />
<br />
"Pony..." A voice seems to echo around Skyler, making his eyes widen and his skin to visibly pimple up.<br />
<br />
"Pony..." Or at least, it would if anyone could see him.<br />
<br />
"Pony... would... not bite... if you did... not ride it so harshly..."<br />
<br />
"Harshly... little toadstool.." Again the voice echos, and Skyler spins around with fist raised, eyes dilated in utter terror. "No. You're *dead*. You're dead and *he* killed you!"<br />
<br />
And he hears the sound of a voice crooning a discordant melody, something about 'heal heal little frog' that's equal parts silly but, judging by how Skyler seems to be covering his ears, equally parts terrifying to him at least.<br />
<br />
"Little hunter..." Dirk's face turns white as his beard as the soft, silky-smooth voice reaches him from the darkness. "Let me -in-, little hunter." Dirk swallows hard, his mouth turning dry. "No... it cannae be you..." He slowly backs away from the window, fumbling in the gloom for his thunderbelcher. His flailing palm catches the barrel, making the weapon topple to the floor. The clatter makes Dirk startle back with a squeak. "Yer -dead-, Demontry Kol! Dolan and Andalena put an -end- tae you! Yer dead an' gone -an' ye cannae come back!-" He stoops to snatch up his thunderbelcher and snaps it to his shoulder. He turns this way and that, panting for breath as he fights the panic clawing at his mind. "Yer dead an' gone. Ye cannae come back. Yer dead an' gone. Ye cannae come -back-!" he whispers hoarsely. But the soft, mocking laughter that rings in his ears tell him that no, Dirk, sometimes your worst nightmare really -can- come true.<br />
<br />
Eztli squinted in spite of the darkness, listening closely to the voices. She froze in place as the voices turned guttural and violent, clearly humanoid, but not quite. "I'll burn you all where you stand!" The sorceress shouted, charging off in the irection of the noise to get to the source of it, and eliminate it if need be.<br />
<br />
With her forehead shining like a beacon, Magpie *ought* to be able to see more than nothing. But the darkness is too close, too heavy, and the voice... shifts, subtly. Menace weights it's barely-understood words, a gurgling sound like an indrawn breath around a mouth full of blood.<br />
<br />
The faint crackle of fire.<br />
<br />
Timbers falling to crash into floorboards.<br />
<br />
The crack of bone.<br />
<br />
"Wait... you're not Albus," Magpie whispers... "...You're... oh *hell* no."<br />
<br />
And she turns and just bolts, fleeing in any random direction that is Away From That Ever-To-Be-Damned Wendigo.<br />
<br />
The voices fade away. Silence.<br />
<br />
All of you are alone in the dark for a moment. It's chill settles into your bones. <br />
<br />
And then a new voice, achingly familiar but just out of reach, a memory come and gone.<br />
<br />
"We are all made of stories, little ones. Seek them out."<br />
<br />
Aryia squashes her breathing, forcing it to be an even In and Out as she backs up with glowing hands raised. Focus. Whatever is going on trying to fuck with you. Find your center. That mantra goes through her head again and again until-<br />
<br />
She senses others nearby. She whistles again, a two toned low-high. And.. a voice? It was painful how familiar it was, the ache like a heart being pulled taut.<br />
<br />
"I saw him..." Skyler whispers staring at nothing as he curls up on the ground, hands wrapped around his legs, "He hurt her. He hurt her and she could not have lived through that. If she did..."<br />
<br />
What that would mean remains unknown, as he perks up when he hears the two-toned high-low whistle. Slowly, he surfaces and pulls a small little grey stone out of a small cage braided into his hair. He kisses it softly, hesitantly, and then lets go of it so it's floating around his head like a friendly little moon as he stands up and walks towards the whistles.<br />
<br />
Dirk's eyes blink open as he hears voices. Voices he knows. Voices that aren't -Kol's-. "Blessed Lady, keep an' protect me," he whispers softly as he gingerly makes his way forward. "Halloooo! Skyler! Is that you, laddie?"<br />
<br />
The voices vanished just as suddenly as they had appeared, leaving Eztli alone again with an ever growing frustration. She sighed, perking up just as the voices picked up again. "Dirk? That you over there? Not something impersonating you or something, hopefully?"<br />
<br />
Magpie is... not really paying attention. She is, after all, convinced that there's a people-eating monster in dire -- like Bear -- need of a snack.<br />
<br />
Magpie is also a smol bean. This has long been a source of great frustration, because the bulk of Alexandria is not *built* for smol beans.<br />
<br />
Both of these together may explain why a circular light bobs rapidly out of the gloom, resolving into a Magpie that crashes into Dirk, rebounding almost immediately and looking up, eyes streaming with fear-filled tears. "...D-Dirk? ...Is that *you,* buddy?!"<br />
<br />
The swashbuckling man comes face to face with a scarred-to-the-nines shadow elf with eerie glowing hands and fierce scowl that could cut through rock. She blinks. Her hands move, and understanding follows regardless of knowing the lingua franca. "Who the fuck are you?"<br />
<br />
Aryia looks to the side, hearing closer voices, barely seeing them. "Eztli? Dirk?" She waves, doing that two-toned whistle again. Her way of saying 'hey!'. <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
"Dirk?" Skyler looks *horrid* when the ol' boy finds him, eyes wide and shaking in the dim light of his (not so) happy (anymore) moon. Is he green or is that just the light of the aeon torch? "Wh.. where are we? I wanna go *home*. Jarik was gunna give me a foot rub!"<br />
<br />
He then jerks his head towards the others, and clings to the dwarf's arm. "Oh hey, I know the little one. We took on some demon-lord and she ate his nuts while I skunked his face. And is that Eztli and..."<br />
<br />
He comes face to face with Aryia, lets out a shriek, and falls backwards on his ass. "I'M TOO YOUNG AND PRETTY TO DIE IS WHO I AM!"<br />
<br />
Eztli trudged up over to where everyone else was conversing, the low growl in her throat dying down and out once she actually saw some faces attached to the voices. "Look, no one here is going to die unless there's a reason for that, and I doubt that's the case." The makari grumbled. <br />
<br />
"Now, more importantly, yeah, no clue where the hell we are. If I can get us out of here and you aren't all shadow monsters pretending to be people I know, then I can see what I can do, if it comes down to it."<br />
<br />
Dirk's eyes get wide as he spies Skyler. He doesn't even comment on the arm-clinging. He's in the mood for some clinging himself. He clutches at Skyler, eyes wide as teacups as he looks around fearfully. "Skyler! Praise the -gods- laddie. Ye won't -believe---" But then there's Aryia, and Eztli, and Magpie too. He staggers a bit as Skyler falls away from him. "Ariya! It's a'right, lassie! Skyler's an adventurer, like us!"<br />
<br />
It's about this time that Magpie enters, stage right, and smacks right into him. He sweeps his arm around her to keep her from ass-planting as well. Fortunately, while he is indeed a shortstack, he is no smol bean. He is decidedly more of a thicc bean, and so he does not tumble as easily as some others. "Magpie! It's a'right, lassie, it's me!"<br />
<br />
He looks up and around at his friends, his beard bristling. "What the hell is goin' -on-? Is this more o' Heth's bullshit? I thought we blasted that sheepfucker out the sky!"<br />
<br />
Aryia relaxes as she runs into others she knows - and more importantly trusts. And then there's this screaming man. Her glowing gaze leers down at him, ears flicking at the high pitched noise. "... sure. Pretty. Get up. My bedtime was interrupted and I'm pissed." She reaches down a hand to help hoist Skyler up - it's more like getting thrown to their feet if he accepts.<br />
<br />
She steps closer to Eztli. "Yes. Let's figure this out. I want to get back to bed."<br />
<br />
She gives a firm nod to Dirk, relaxing somewhat. "Don't know. Too dark for that. He's more a zombie dragon." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Upon confirmation of Dirk's reality, Magpie simply lunges out of his grip to wrap her arms perhaps a quarter of the way around his middle, consoling herself with a good few seconds of crying.<br />
<br />
Once big feelings in smol body are satisfied, she leans back, rubbing eyes and nose. "...Yeah no we need to be *anywhere else,* This is lookin' just a little too Void-y for my liking.<br />
<br />
"Evil never dies, Dirk." Skyler says earnestly, as he stares from Dirk to Aryia and then at Eztli and Magpie before accepting the hand to his feet a touch self-consciously as his little moon stalls behind his head. Is it embarrassed to be orbiting the swashbuckler?<br />
<br />
Do they even do that?<br />
<br />
But then it comes around again and he's schooled his face into a grin of amusement. Sure, he's flung to his feet, but he's *Skyler* and manages to twist midair to land nimbly on his feet, brushing off his best feature.<br />
<br />
... His shoulders, duh! "Evil just gets kinda winded and then apparently comes back to throw our deepest trauma at us. Did anyone else see or hear someone or something horrible, or am I just depressed and/or mentally ill?" He scratches his chin consideringly, "Although I think they aren't mutually exclusive. Oh, hey little squirrel!" And he pulls a little lacy bit of fabric out of thin air, and offers it to her, "For your face. You can blow your nose too, 'coz I don't want it back if you use it."<br />
<br />
Dirk wraps Magpie up in his arms and gives her a proper Dwarf Sized hug, a (likely very successful) attempt to crush her soul back into her body. Also, he's trembling himself, and it helps to have someone to cling to. "Easy there lassie. Yer a'right. Fer now, at least. Yer among friends," he says, as soothingly as he can. Once Magpie turns loose, he does the same. He looks up and around at the others. "No, lad, it wasnae just you. I heard... -him-." He shudders, gripping the stock of his thunderbelcher until his knuckles turn white. "Demontry Kol. That rat -bastard- of a vampire. Och, of all the villains I ever fought, he was the -worst-."<br />
<br />
"Th-th Wendigo," Magpie stammers, accepting the lacy cloth with a watery smile and using it to de-gunkify her face. "Thanks... You're *lots* nicer as a person," she says. "...But you made a *heck* of a skunk. Anyway... That's what I was running from. I couldn't see anything... but it sounded like we were back in that in, and just.... no. Nuh-uh."<br />
<br />
"I'm not too confident this is something we can figure out nice and quick, much as I'd like that." Eztli sighed, rubbing the back of her head. "If we're not in Alexandria, teleporting would always work, but I don't know any spells to go cross planes, which is more likely. So, whatever way is out of here, it's on the terms of whatevers got us here."<br />
<br />
"I mean he was a little handsy when *I* ran into him, but after I killed him half a dozen times he got the hint." Skyler says reflectively regarding Dirk's terror, reaching over and patting Magpie on the top of her head. "I don't think I can do a handstand and shake my ass at this problem, alas." He tells the smolbean sadly, "But I'm glad to have you here with me, and we're in some pretty fierce company." He puffs his chest, "Not to brag, but I'm a Gentleman Adventurer, Eztli once sat fire to some stuffed animals, Dirk doesn't shoot blanks despite his age, and she looks terrifying." He jerks his thumb at Ariya. "Surely she's done some dope-ass shit in her time. Silent but *deadly*." Ah, the emotional recovery abilities of a dumbass. They should be studied! He beams around at the group, tucking thumbs in his belt. "We got this!"<br />
<br />
And then Eztli puts a rain on the parade, and he sags. "Spoilsport."<br />
<br />
If Aryia is surprised from the smooth twist and land, she only shows it through a little shrug and a cocked brow. "Yes, I did. Heard my old owner," she answers Skyler. "He should be dead."<br />
<br />
The name Kol catches a tinge of recognition, so she gets closer to everyone to close the ranks. The thumb towards her gets her attention, a snort escaping her. "I simply solve problems by going through them. The others can tell the tales. But we seem competent enough to untangle this."<br />
<br />
She inhales. Out. "So... did anyone hear that other voice?" <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Dirk shakes his head. "He could always get in my head," he says tightly. "I couldnae keep 'im out, nae matter how hard I tried. He could turn me intae his adorin' wee little -slave-. Och." He draws a shaky breath, looking over at Eztli. "Gods, what I wouldnae give tae have Lana or Telamon here. Or Missus Verna, or Master Mikilos. -They'd- know what tae do." He glances back at Aryia, studying the movement of her hands. "Other voice?" he asks, looking back up at her face. "I... I'm nae certain. Could it have been one of us that ye heard, perhaps...?"<br />
<br />
"Something about being made of stories," Aryia replies to Dirk in a quick flit. "Might have been my imagination. This place seems fucked." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
"Maybe we were kidnapped by fairies. I had that happen once." Skyler says brightly, as he glances around, "Anyone see a mushroom circle? They give you hints if you pee on them, the kinky little things."<br />
<br />
There are no mushroom circles.<br />
<br />
Alas, there is only a profound, chilling darkness that seems to extend in all directions.<br />
<br />
And then... <br />
<br />
... there it is.<br />
<br />
That voice.<br />
<br />
Warm, rich, melodious even. "Find the thread. One will bring you to me. A final corruption."<br />
<br />
There, something takes shape. A home rising up out of the dark. Lonely looking, in the sense, but it's a several story manor home from the look of it.<br />
<br />
"I'm not useless, you know, I just don't make it a habit of fucking around with other planes of existence, so I never bothered learning more about it. Which clearly, in hindsight, wasn't a good idea." Eztli huffed, trying not to glare at the comments. "Didn't hear too much, maybe someone's trying to mess with me, since I'd recognize those noises anywhere. Maybe they thought they had more of a hold over me still." <br />
<br />
The makari watched as the building appeared, and sighed. "Well, that's a trap if I ever saw it, but unless anyone has any better leads, or wants to see what happens if we teleport somewhere else at the moment, Doesn't look like much of a choice, does it?"<br />
<br />
Aryia just gives Skyler a /look/. "Okay, fairy pisser. You could just-"<br />
<br />
Her hands still as that voice snakes through the air. Hands drop, looking over to- oh. "-h f-ck m- s-d-w-ys," Aryia hisses through clenched teeth, her grey skin paling. "I know that house. Gird yourselves. Last time I was there, I stepped into a fucked up bloody aftermath of a massacre." She goes through a few motions: cracking her neck and rolling her shoulders before taking point. <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
<OOC> Aryia uses Ki: Barkskin <br />
<br />
Dirk gives Skyler a -look-, his bushy white brows furrowing as he tugs at his beard. "I... I'm nae sure it works -quite- like that, lad," he says. "Although there's plenty out there in the wilds that'll do summat if ye piss on it. I dinnae judge." He looks back to Ariya and snaps his fingers. "Och! Yer so right! I heard that too! Just..." He waves a hand around. "All o' -this- is goin' on..." He looks like he might like to elaborate, but then there's that manor rising up out of the gloom. He looks up (and up and up), his eyes getting wide once again as his jaw drops. "Erh?" That's about all he can manage. Fortunately, Ariya's there to fill in the blanks. At her warning, he lifts his thunderbelcher and racks the slide with a satisfying CHK-CHAK. "Right. Let's finish this up an' get back tae Alex. I have tae finish groomin' me beard."<br />
<br />
GAME: Eztli casts Mage Armor. Caster Level: 14 DC: 20<br />
<br />
"There's a whore I know that taught me the *best* balm for frizzy hair!" Skyler tells Dirk brightly, "You are looking a little poofy. Works extra well on bristly, curly hair. We can even add some dyes to make it fun colors! I once committed piracy with a guy that had a purple beard. It got all over everything, especially when it rained, but he said it helped immensely with split ends." <br />
<br />
As he rattles away, his hand reaches up to draw his wickedly curved blade, tossing it into the air and catching it with a flourish before pausing to check his boots for scuffs. One gets wiped away, before he nods at Aryia, ignoring the look. He once dressed in Verdama drag and flirted with one of Her paladins. It takes more than that to rattle him. "Of course it's a trap. But we know it's a trap, so we're springing it on our terms. Who do we wanna send in first, or do we all want to jump in at once so they can't single anyone out?"<br />
<br />
There's warmth in that home, unlike the chill of the place you're in. You can feel it as you get closer. Love, laughter, and light oozing from it at stark odds with the nature of the place.<br />
<br />
And ... <br />
<br />
...music? You can hear it now. Joyous. Lively.<br />
<br />
GAME: Magpie casts Mass Planar Adaptation. Caster Level: 15 DC: 25<br />
<br />
Dirk gives Skyler another -look-. "I do not need a purple beard," he grumbles. "Make me look like one o' those nutty oddbeards. Hrumph!" He mutters and grumbles as he lumbers along, his posture tense as a coiled spring. But then, hearing that cheery music, and seeing how warm and inviting the place looks... it slows the burly old snowbeard's step. "Aye-yup. This is -definitely- a trap," he grumbles.<br />
<br />
As the others begin to gird up for trouble, Magpie stands there, brow furrowed for a moment. Then, she wets the end of a finger and holds it up to the air, nodding slowly... and begins to chant. The words... don't matter much, sliding off ears and brains as she speaks into her cupped hands. Power gathers there, pooling into a roiling, chaotic mass of liquid light of any and all possible colors. Then, at the apex of her chant, she slams her hands together, and the power sprayes out in all directions, settling over herself and her friends in a shimmering ward that soon fades into only the occasional multicolored glimmer.<br />
<br />
"...Been a tour guide out in the Planes for awhile," she says quietly. "Wherever we are, we're plane-lost. I can get us back, but... this feels *important.*<br />
<br />
"I agree, we're not on this plane," Aryia nods towards Magpie, taking the magic with appreciation. The stark contrast of how the home feels now versus how she remembered it is deeply unsettling. Last Aryia was here, it looked like people suddenly left mid-party. But here, it looked like the party was still going on.<br />
<br />
"I can take it. Prepare for Taaranites," she volunteers, stepping forth towards the manor and... she inhales deeply. Lines of energy flare on her skin in a flash. And she opens the door. <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
<OOC> Aryia uses Ki: Diamond Soul, Gain Spell Resist 30<br />
<br />
"Oh, great, cultists, hiding in a plane of darkness, and something warning about corruption. Suppose that explains why people can sound like they're having so much fun in a place like this." Eztli grumbled, waving one hand over her shimmering robes. "You always sleep with your guns and swords on you? Suppose I would too if I didn't have a way to defend myself these days."<br />
<br />
The door opens. <br />
<br />
It looks very inviting! Just waiting for you.<br />
<br />
That can't be bad, right?<br />
<br />
Aryia hesitates at the door, looking back at the others before peering inside. It felt... odd. The carpet wasn't sodden with blood, and music was flowing like the drinks. "Just stay focused." But alas- she enters, eyes darting through the party. On edge.<br />
<br />
Dirk grunts softly as he feels Magpie's protective magicks settle on him. "Glad we've got -you- here wi' us, lassie," he says. "Gods, I've lost track o' how many times yer magicks have come in clutch." He squares up with the manor, swinging his thunderbelcher to rest it over his shoulder. As he lumbers forward, he glances at Etzli. "Nae -usually-, no. I like me gun well an' all--I made it meself after all--but hardly enough tae sleep wi' the thing. That's just weird." He trundles forward, heading for the door, and whatever might lie beyond it.<br />
<br />
And Aryia bounces Skyler, sword held at the ready as he glances left to right with bright eyes and a grin that suggests he's ready for anything.<br />
<br />
Eztli shrugs and doesn't seem too perturbed for the moment by the building before them, and like the others, is quick to enter. "Focused as well as I can be, maybe it'll be easier inside where I can actually see things, hopefully."<br />
<br />
"Don't forget," Magpie says, giving Dirk a distracted grin as he talks her up. "Find the thread. It was important enough for nothing to say, it's important enough to *remember.*"<br />
<br />
But she's still trying to place the voice as she files on in behind the rest... ready to see what needs a little chaos.<br />
<br />
"Welcome, welcome!"<br />
<br />
You're greeted almost immediately by a man in in loosely fitting robes. Silk.<br />
<br />
"It's been so long since we had guests at the door! Come in! Come in! Enjoy! Wine?" Was he holding a platter moments ago? No? <br />
<br />
Does it matter? He is now. Red wine.<br />
<br />
"We're so happy to see you! I'm sure we've been expecting you."<br />
<br />
The home unfolds into a radcuous, hedonistic party. Everyone is singing along, dancing, drinking. It's -merry-.<br />
<br />
Merry everywhere to the heart's desire. Everything is luxurious...<br />
<br />
Dirk wasn't at all certain what to expect out of this alien, otherworldly place. Aside from a couple jaunts into Quel'ynos, he's kept his feet firmly planted on Ea's face. But -this-... it's familiar. -Too- familiar. The old snowbeard swan-dives headfirst into the uncanny valley. His cheeks turn bright red, and his beard bristles as he stumbles and stammers. "Uh... uh... I... uh... that is tae say..." He reaches up to doff his tricorne, glancing around furtively before turning a -desperate- look on Skyler. The sky pirate's the charming one--surely -he- knows what to say? All poor Dirk can think to do is fidget from foot to foot. He doesn't want to be -rude-, really, but he -was- kidnapped, and now he's at a party. Normally something he'd quite enjoy, if not for the circumstances. He's fairly certain he didn't receive an RSVP to -this- particular gathering.<br />
<br />
Eztli looked even more sour than usual, the sorceress not appreciating the party in the slightest. ""Gods, if anyone asks who your parents are, just tell them that they're too important to bother telling them." She grumbled to no one in particular before stepping inside.<br />
<br />
"Oh, hey! Do you guys have oat milk?" Skyler asks brightly as he shoves his way to the front of the crowd, beaming brightly at the party-goers as he glances around, "So glad you knew we were coming, coz we sure as fire didn't!"<br />
<br />
He pauses, and adds, "You'll forgive us if we don't give you our names. It's more fun that way, y'know!" And he grins brightly, "So what's all this about? What's going on? Did someone die?"<br />
<br />
Aryia is stymied briefly at the entrance, such a party rifled old, bittersweet memories. She lingers at some of the luxuries, but she shakes her head, focusing as Skyler pushes his way to the front. He seems far better suited for this environment, so she's back to watching the party for anything remiss.<br />
<br />
Totally just watching.<br />
<br />
"Oat Milk?"<br />
<br />
A beat.<br />
<br />
"Well, I suppose I can check the pantries. They're ... very well stocked? Amazing. It's like a never ending pantry of anything and everything we could want, so perhaps!"<br />
<br />
He smiles warmly at them, then turns to lead them further in.<br />
<br />
It's ... it's a party. There's people singing, laughing, dancing. They all seem to be having a good time. There's no end to it. Every room you pass by, pass through, is filled to the brim with people locked in some sort of eternal festival and they all look like they're having the time of their life. <br />
<br />
And not a knife to be seen anywhere. "There's some space in this room," he says, cheerfully, pointing the way down another hallway. This place is impossible to figure out. The interior makes no sense to the exterior. One gets the impression it doesn't really matter to any of them.<br />
<br />
Dirk shuffles along with the others as they're led inward. He's never one to turn down a good party. No dwarf worth his beard would be. But all of -this- seems to be a bit much for the old ranger. A small gathering of friends in a cheerful inn room is much more his speed. He stares all around as they make their way in. The strange geometries and curious angles has the poor old dwarf's eyes crossing. "Beards o' me sweet tapdancin' fathers. What the hell--"<br />
<br />
He pauses with one foot poised to take a step before he stops in his tracks. Sloooowly he turns his head and leeeeeans back, peering into a room. His eyes get wide, and his cheeks turn red as beets. He swiftly resumes his pace, harrumphing softly as he fans himself with his tricorne. "So ah... heh... quite the er... -lively- gatherin' ye've got goin' on here," he says to their strange host. "There a special occasion? Or are ye all just a naturally happy lot?"<br />
<br />
"Maybe I was too harsh in my judgement. I think they might genuinely just be here to have fun with no ulterior motives. Maybe." Eztli relented as they wandered further into the strange party. "So, what's your name, then? What's the occasion for all of this, anyways?"<br />
<br />
"Hey question!" Magpie calls from much closer to the floor; imposible angles and eldritch geometries... Yeah they're weird, but pay attention to your feet and you'll be fine. "Like he said; what *are* y'all celebrating, anyway? I ain't never seen a party this size without *somethin'* kickin' it off!"<br />
<br />
The gnome seems more... curious, than suspicious, as she examines passed hallways and chambers. Maybe the thread is a literal one?<br />
<br />
This isn't the first or second time that Aryia had been in an otherworldly place where the festivities were eternal. She follows, better to go along with the tide than to fight against it. Especially since they're still trying to sort out what's going on.<br />
<br />
The fact that she hasn't spotted the that knife was both relaxing as it was concerning. A thought that is discarded as she peers into the same room as Dirk. Her brows raise as she whistles lowly, before lazily trailing along with the others after a moment.<br />
<br />
"Hey! When you find the oat milk, maybe also get us the answers to our questions?" Skyler asks brightly, his tone firm but friendly, cheerful even as he squints at the back of the leading figure. "And space for what? Are we having an orgy? I mean, usually I like a little more prep work before group debauchery. And if you think for a second I'm sharing my oat milk, you really are insane."<br />
<br />
He asides to the group, "This is definitely a trap. But, like, is it the kind of fun trap where we all end up naked and covered in cheese, or the kind of trap that ends with us eating someone's flesh? Because I won't do that again. People are kinda gamey." Surely he jests, right?<br />
<br />
Dirk flicks his wide-eyed gaze around at his friends. His friends are safe. The old dwarf is hardly a prude, but even he has his limits. And the heedless abandon permeating this place is a -very- long way beyond that line. If there's anything he can't stand, its losing control of himself. He's had enough of that to last a lifetime.<br />
<br />
But then Skyler has to go and do Skyler things. The old snowbeard's gaze snaps to the swashbuckler. "Naked an' covered in--" He stops in his tracks again, his jaw working for a moment as his cheeks once again turn red as beets. "How's -that- get fun?!" he finally manages in a strangled tone. He doesn't mention the flesh eating. Erotic cheese dip is -so- much easier on his poor frazzled nerves.<br />
<br />
"We are celebrating Taara, of course! How could you not know?" He tilts his head at you, smiling still. "We feast, we sing, we dance, and we tell stories. We lie, we cheat, we manipulte, and we tell stories. All that lives, wants, and all that is dead wants to live. That is why we are here. She has called us to her Side. She is near."<br />
<br />
Oh boy.<br />
<br />
'Find the thread.'<br />
<br />
'Find the thread.''We sing, we dance, we tell stories.'<br />
<br />
'Find the thread.'<br />
<br />
'We lie, we cheat, and we tell stories.'<br />
<br />
In a rush, Magpie draws in a breath, and reaches up to take a glass of wine from the tray. "So, she says, with her most engaging smile, "would you do us the favor of telling us a story? About Taara?"<br />
<br />
"Very gamey," Aryia concurs with a gesture. Was she joking? Does Aryia joke? She glances to Dirk. Shrugs. "Gouda is pretty fun. I can see it."<br />
<br />
Her footfalls stop hard with a stomp. Pales. Gulps. This is Her domain. Magpie comes swooping in with a way forward, grounding the mul'neissa woman that should be completely at ease here. She would have in a different, past life. She is not that woman anymore, and is thankful someone else can fill those shoes. <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
"If I have to explain it, Dirk..." Skyler shakes his head, and jerks his thumb at the dwarf as he addresses the guide, "If we do go cannibal, he's probably a little tough. Probably best to stew him. Low heat, long cook time in an oven." He then cocks his head at Magpie, nodding.<br />
<br />
"Preferably with refreshments. I want oak milk. Warm, maybe, with some honey stirred in? My nanny use to give me a cup every night when she told me stories." He says with a charming, winsome smile, "You'd be surprised at home much I don't know." He says with pride, "I mean, knowing stuff takes so much work. Easier just to vibe! So why don't you get us refreshments and we can listen to your Taaran stories, maybe pull some thread, indulge in pulling Her threads, whatever else we need to do to *party*!"<br />
<br />
"I would rather avoid anything involving cheese or eating people myself." Eztli sighed. "Great, she's near. So, that means we should probably get going, right? Sounds like the case to me, if this is some exclusive Taaran gathering."<br />
<br />
Dirk's eyes get wider still. "Taara. -Taara-? -The- Taara? The goddess of--" He looks for a moment like he'd like to say something -very- unflattering. But he gets ahold of his tongue and snaps his mouth shut. His beard bristles for a moment. "Er. Uh. I mean tae say. The goddess of... things." He gestures lamely all around. That's nice and neutral, right? Surely -that- won't offend a goddess in Her own realm.<br />
<br />
Once again, Skyler gets a -look-. "Och! You lot take it intae yer heads an' cook -me-, I'll go straight tae yer hips, I swear tae fuckin' Dana," he grumbles. It's hardly the first time some nasty beastie or foul fiend has threatened to make a meal of him, but -this- time it feels different. He nods eagerly at Eztli, pointing her way. "-She- gets it!"<br />
<br />
"No, Eztli," Magpie says, shaking a finger next to her head, and beginning to pace. "No... I think we're nearly there. It *feels* close, because what *is* a story? It's the lie that outlines a truth. And they have stories... *and I would hear them.* I want to see the common thread."<br />
<br />
Oh, no, Magpie seems to be locking into her theory, looking up at the revelers with a sort of hunger in her shimmering eyes.<br />
<br />
There's a distinct pause from the young man as the others talk. He tilts his head, adjusting his hood and pulling it down all together. Yep, he's a shadow elf too. Of course he is. <br />
<br />
All smiles.<br />
<br />
"Of COURSE I'll talk to you about Taara. But I think you're here for a reason -- no one gets in uninvited you see -- so why don't you look around and find who invited you?"<br />
<br />
He gestures beyond into the party.<br />
<br />
"Let your journey be the story that warms your hearts in the night or failing that, be worth the hangover."<br />
<br />
While that milk idea sounds pretty good to Aryia, but the weight of what others point make her even more nervous, especially as Magpie seems to hit the mark. An unsettling thing with the normally stoic pugilist. And then-<br />
<br />
She was /invited/ here. Into Taara's domain? Aryia gave up on her over half a century ago. "I tell no more lies, not even to myself anymore," she gestures, looking out to the party proper. "But, fine. Guess we'll have to mingle. Try to not overdo it." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Magpie is just about to say something incredibly clever... when they are put on a scavenger hunt. Words die in her throat, her finger loses it's pointer-y-ness, and she sort of... deflates, just a little. Looking back up at the reveler, she tries on a crooked grin?<br />
<br />
"...A clue, perhaps? Cryptic or plain, honest or red herring, it's momentum that matters, is it not?"<br />
<br />
She *has* her suspicions... but to be wrong might also be blasphemy, so...<br />
<br />
"Wonderful, so we've all got a reason to be here, for something or other. Maybe just the entertainment?" The makari shrugged, not looking to pleased. "So be it, gods I hate mingling at parties,but if that's what we need to do, so be it. Be a bit harder when all I've got to rely on is my winning personality and humility, but we've gotta do something, right?"<br />
<br />
"What if my thread is oat milk?" Skyler asks in a tiny, hopeful little voice before he sighs, scrubs his face with one hand, and shakes his head sadly. "Curses. Fate is a fickle bitch once again."<br />
<br />
He then squares his shoulders, and glances at his party. "Maybe it has something to do with the traumatic visions we heard?" He pauses, and adds to Eztli, "You also have your fiery wit!" And he mimes flames coming out of his mouth, and flails his hands like he's burning. "Crispy."<br />
<br />
Dirk looks up at their host and blinks owlishly. Blink. Blink blink. "Uh..." He looks back towards the room that had just captured his attention moments ago. Of -course- it's still within easy reach, it's fresh in Dirk's mind. "-Taara-? Taara invited -me-? -The- Taara? Och, I'm naebody, why would Taara invite -me-?" He mutters and harrumphs, tugging at his beard as he glances around. Aryia's suggestion has the old ranger boggling slightly. "Mingle? -Me-? Och, but, this is all so... so..." He fumbles for a diplomatic word. "-Lively-," is what he eventually goes with. "I'd just bring the vibe down. You know us dwarves. We're all a bunch o' grounches, us. We'd rather spend our time scowlin' intae a mug o' beer in a gloomy corner. Ayep, that's us, right there." He fidgets with his tricorne, looking around at his friends. Surely they're not suggesting the cardinal sin of splitting the party, are they...?<br />
<br />
"Is that so?" remarks the young man to Aryia, curiously, "Truth is funny thing, you know, that exists in the space between one's story and another's." He takes a step back, smiles at Magpie, and then offers her another glass of wine just because.<br />
<br />
"She waits for all of you." <br />
<br />
And then he disappears into the swirling, dancing crowd.<br />
<br />
Aryia flexes her jaw. "That space is where truth lies, and where truth lies," she replies back with a hand. The mute glances to Magpie. "Momentum matters, it seems. And either we spin this tale in an endless inertia of debauchery or we press forward. Probably has to deal with the horrid shit we saw like Skyler said. So..."<br />
<br />
She rubs her face. Dirk is right, Taara invited /them/? This has to be a sick joke, or and honest plea, and it was frustrating it could be both at the same time. "... let's get into the party or some shit. Fuck me." Aryia moves past the room they peered at, following into the dancing crowd. <Handspeech/Tongues> <br />
<br />
Skyler?<br />
<br />
He's already gone, shrugging out of his coat. "WHO HERE HAS EVER DONE VODKA AND OAT MILK SHOTS?!" He's shouting over the crowd, even as he shakes his ass, "It tastes like hell but oh my god the way it *lingers*! WOOOHOOO!"<br />
<br />
"Does it?" <br />
<br />
"Shit, let's try it!"<br />
<br />
"Let's find some oat milk!"<br />
<br />
"What the hell is oat milk?"<br />
<br />
"WHO KNOWS!"<br />
<br />
"...Okay well since no one got smoten saying it, yeah, pretty sure that's who we have to find, Magpie says, absently swirling the wine... then pausing as Skyler sends a group of Taaranites on a wild oats chase. "Hey, guys? I'm reminded of a saying I heard from a Rosalian... 'In vino, veritas.' This is totally a bad idea, but...."<br />
<br />
Drawing in a short breath, she takes a long swallow of the wine.<br />
<br />
Eztli was left shaking her head awkwardly as some of the others took off. "I was just gonna find a dance floor or pole or something. Seems like the sort of stuff they'd have here." Eztli grumbled. "I don't trust any of the drink here at all, so I'll pass on the oat milk. How do you even milk a plant in the first place? Don't particularly want to know, to be perfectly honest."<br />
<br />
Dirk boggles as their host retreats, leaving them alone. "Oh, beards o' me sweet tapdancin' fathers," he whimpers softly. "How are we goin' tae get back home? We -will- be able to, won't we? Och, Thistle an' Lulu must be so worried..." He fidgets and frets, looking around for something, or anything that might resemble what they're looking for. He's certainly -not- in the mood to party. Usually, he's the one who picks what parties he goes to, and none of the debauchery is doing anything to enhance the burly old ranger's calm.<br />
<br />
As Magpie goes to drink that wine, he startles, reaching out with a "Aggkk--!" But he's too late. "Och, what if it's like in the fae realm? If ye eat or drink what they give ye, they own yer soul, or some nonsense like that," he says. Aaaaand there Skyler goes, doing Skyler things. You really have nobody to blame but yourself, Dirk. You're the one who decided he should do the talking.<br />
<br />
GAME: Aryia rolls perception: (18)+38: 56<br />
GAME: Skyler rolls Perception: (14)+21: 35<br />
GAME: Eztli rolls perception: (14)+5: 19<br />
GAME: Dirk rolls Perception: (19)+22: 41<br />
GAME: Magpie rolls percetion: (20)+percetion: 20<br />
GAME: Magpie rolls perception: (4)+15: 19<br />
<br />
It's loud.<br />
<br />
It's raucous.<br />
<br />
There are people -everywhere-, and talking to them reveals every last one is a Taaran of some kind -- in fact, many of them are actual clergy, or so they say: all too happily.<br />
<br />
They also lie.<br />
<br />
A -lot-.<br />
<br />
It's frustrating. It's annoying. It sends you in circles trying to grasp what's even happenign here, or how you might've goten here. All that is until Aryia in particular hears a voice.<br />
<br />
A familiar laugh, up a set of stairs that seems to have no end.<br />
<br />
There's a touch of old, old habit Aryia falls back into, and that is dance. One of the few vestiges of her old life that still stuck around after the slow fall to rock bottom. She sways from one group to the next, trying to get some iota of information but- she's done this all before- and it's still just as annoying. It seems like it's going to be far too much to deal with-<br />
<br />
A laugh lances through her ears and mind like a shot of old, nostalgic trauma with no ice. A wave of emotions crash against her; fear, rage, apathy, guilty relief. It had been so long to hear that voice, to wield that power. Oh- to taste that once more, the delight of a delivered lie.<br />
<br />
She let the wave crash, spread, and recede. In. Out. She didn't need Her anymore.<br />
<br />
The others. She flits through the party, tapping her friends on the shoulders and gesturing to follow. "Found the thread," she just signs in explanation, pointing to the set of stairs before heading up herself. <Handspeehc/Tongues><br />
<br />
"... And then I told him that it wasn't a banana, it was ME!" Skyler cheerfully tells a group that he's regaling with a story featuring two drunk goblins, an hobgoblin, and a basket of fruit.<br />
<br />
Don't ask.<br />
<br />
In all likelihood it's a lie, and he seems to be attempting to top himself with gusto with each new lie he attempts to tell... Although he also keeps half an eye on each of his party, distracting people attempting to interrupt them or draw trhem away from the mission. When a woman with big ol' knockers and a hungry expression begins to approach Dirk, for example, he calls out, "HEY! DID I EVER TELL YOU ABOUT THE TIME I DRESSED IN DRAG AND TRIED TO SEDUCE A PALADIN OF VARDAMA?!" to draw her away.<br />
<br />
Eztli had searched and searched, but there was nowhere to dance proper she found, outside of just meandering in between the groups of priests that seemed to treat lying like a competitive sport. By the time she was about to threaten to cut out some of their tongues and shove them down their throats, Aryia seemed to recognize something in particular this time, and the sorceress breathed a sigh of relief before reconvening.<br />
<br />
That voice.<br />
<br />
Aryia is leading you towards something she recognizes, up a set of stairs. Up another, longer set of stairs.<br />
<br />
Through narrow and dark hallway, past rooms full of party-goers and increasing levels of hedonism and debauchery. <br />
<br />
Finally, into a lounge, lit by firelight. Shadow Elves in reverent prayer are here -- prayer to Taara. Seated comfortably amongst them is a scarlet-haired shadow elf of, of course, indeterminate age. She rises to her feet, silk robes hanging comfortably on her frame.<br />
<br />
"Well, well, well," she begins, "It's so good to see you and your friends, darling."<br />
<br />
Aryia knows who that is.<br />
<br />
Aryia stops short in the doorframe. Her jaw works, eyes wide at the figure as her throat bobs. "Akorinil," she signs in a blitz of fingerspelling. She clearly is ignoring any pleasantries as the pugilist looks about the room before half looking at the High Priestess. "I take it you invited us here." It wasn't a question. A hand behind her back flashes to the group, "Caution." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
"Oh, golly, I never knew a raven could do *that* with a writing desk." Skyler tells whichever poor soul ended up getting stuck at the rear of the line with him. When the party left the main group, Skyler seemingly appeared out of thin air at the rear of the line holding a goblet of something that is vaguely milky but a little too thin to be actual milk from a cow.<br />
<br />
Is it the fabled oat milk?!<br />
<br />
Despite being by all measures something of a dunderhead, he's not stupid enough to actually drink it, but does seem to be content to carry it with him in the hopes of escaping with it. Oat milk has a longer shelf life than cow's milk, after all. He glances around with bright eyes as they enter the room with the scarlet-haired shadow-elf. He looks prepared to step forward again to take the lead when Aryia begins to wiggle her fingers. He frowns but shrugs, and leans against something after checking it for stickiness. It *is* that kind of place, after all.<br />
<br />
Dirk's eyes get wider and wider as they progress up the stairs. Each new display of hedonism and abandon has the old snowbeard's cheeks turning brighter and brighter red. "Och, if they're tryin' tae sell us, they might be goin' a -wee- bit overboard, wouldn't ye say?" he mutters, giving his beard a tug. But then, they're there, in the company of Taaranites. The redheaded shadow elf has Dirk blinking owlishly. And again when it appears that Aryia -knows- this person. His gaze flicks to the sign behind her back. His shaggy white brows furrow as he takes a step forward. One hand reaches up and over his shoulder to grip the stock of his thunderbelcher. "Right. Let's nae be havin' any biscuit-arsed behavior out o' -you-, lassie," he growls. "It seems a -lovey- party yer havin' here. It'd be such a shame fer there tae be an arse-kickin', now wouldn't it?"<br />
<br />
Eztli continued along with the rest of the group, with some idea of where to go courtesy of Aryia. The makari certainly did not know what to make of the elf, it was just another of many at the party, but she did at least get an inkling to show some manner of wariness.<br />
<br />
Magpie actually giggles at Skyler's commentary; how can one not? he puts such careful work into it, after all, it'd be a shame for his efforts to go unappreciated. She tries not to look into the doors they pass, largely because Dirk is a good enough bellwether, it serves to satisfy her curiosity.<br />
<br />
When the group tops the house to find Akorinil, however... the gnome seems confused. "I... hm... it's good to meet you, your Taarishness? Sorry, never learned many polite modes of address but um... I'm... not familiar?"<br />
<br />
The fabled oat milk is not in evidence at this time.<br />
<br />
But it's not like they aren't looking for it. You can hear them, down below, on the hunt.<br />
<br />
The Shadow Elven woman rises to her full not at all impressive height and gives a very, very warm smile. She's entirely happy to see everyone. "There's no need for any of -that-," she tells Dirk, warmly, "Such distrust, such hostility! It's just like old times, wouldn't you say?" she tells Aryia. <br />
<br />
"I am Akorinil Belvade, and you are a guest in the house that faith built. It is we, here, who sacrifice so that you may live to fight another day -- or perhaps we should say tell another tale?"<br />
<br />
"To be fair, we weren't exactly given the most..." Skyler purses his lips as he considers exactly how to phrase it, "Sanity-preserving wake-up and invitation to the party." His pale eyes drift along the group, taking in Dirk's belligerence, Aryia's discomfort, and Eztli's wariness. "But regardless. You'll have to forgive my little teapot of a friend. His tastes are a little more conservative than you and your followers." He glances over his shoulder, "Although I do have some questions about that one room with the three sea shells myself, to be honest. They certainly looked like they were having fun but..."<br />
<br />
He shakes his head, waving a hand dismissively before checking to see if he spilled the oat milk. Nope. Still safe for Verna or Telamon or someone else to de-cursify for him to enjoy later. "Banger of a party though, Akorrie." He holds up one thumb, "Seriously. So what's this about telling tales? I have an appointment at the bath-house to get my toe nails trimmed and I don't want to be late, so if you could tell us how to get home..."<br />
<br />
Aryia holds up a hand to Dirk, then pushes her hand down in a calming motion. "While I am confident in my abilities, let's not poke this nest." She glances to Skyler, Dirk, Eztli, and Magpie before taking a deep breath and looking back to the Akorinil. "High Priestess of the Lady of Shade, she fails to mention."<br />
<br />
A sigh escapes her. "You can hardly blame us, you know? The distrust. While I appreciate the hospitality, I agree with the fancy man. Can you clear up what the hell's going on here? Because in the material plane this party was... bloody." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Dirk's scowl deepens. "I'm nae Taaranite," he growls. His grip on his thunderbelcher never wavers. "An' -our- tales are -true- ones! Nae those rust-covered lies that -She- spins." Skyler calling him a 'little teapot' has him regarding the swashbuckler with an indignant scowl. "Hrmph! I can cut loose just fine, ye struttin' peacock. But there's a bloody time an' place for it, isn't there?" <br />
<br />
He doesn't miss Ariya's admonition, but he old ranger is tense as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs. He looks back to Akorinil, fixing her with a hairy eyeball. "Ye -kidnapped- us. Forced us here against our will. What on Ea's great green -arse- would make ye think we'd want -anything- tae do wi' ye? We've nae want fer any yarn or tale ye'd want tae spin fer us. Let us go home!" For now, he keeps his voice to a low, surly growl, but he's ready to spring into action at the drop of a hat.<br />
<br />
Eztli sighed, and shook her head a few times. "You've got a real swell way of inviting people to your house of debauchery." Eztli huffed. "Why exactly should we telling you more than we should? It'd be good to know why we should actually tell you anything."<br />
<br />
"It really is a lot of trouble to go to, to bring four random people and also Ariya halfway across the planes," Magpie agrees, and by the very sound of her voice, if she wore glasses she'd be pushing them up their nose.<br />
<br />
"Also I gotta admit, things have been getting ugly and weird for a while now, so I can only guess we're here because we're uniquely suited to help, somehow? Not you, though..."<br />
<br />
Magpie looks down for a moment, then back up, and nods. "So how can we help?"<br />
<br />
Bless her little chaos gremlin heart.<br />
<br />
Skyler snap-points at Magpie, one chaos gremlin to another.<br />
<br />
Clicking her tongue against the roof of her mouth -- a tutt of disappointment -- Akorinil shakes her head with such sadness in her eyes.<br />
<br />
"I am wounded -- so very wounded -- by the accusations and innuendos. Though I like him --" She points at Skyler. "And you," a point at Magpie.<br />
<br />
She smiles at Aryia. <br />
<br />
"I would've thought my station so obvious!"<br />
<br />
A smile at Dirk. <br />
<br />
"Kidnap you? Kidnapping is so gauche. I saved you. The Void consumes all it touches. Do you remember what you were doing before you found yourself here? Do you -really- remember?"<br />
<br />
... come to think of it ... you don't. Not really.<br />
<br />
What do you do when the High Priestess of Lies compliments you? "Thank you, you're pretty swell too! Speaking of swell how do you keep everything so perky with minimal support!" You believe the freakin' lie, of course. It's gauche to point out someone's lie, and she is trying so hard, after all!<br />
<br />
To Dirk, he shakes his head, "Maybe if you calm down, she'll give you some caramel hard candies! Doesn't that sound nice?" And he reaches over to squeeze the dwarf's shoulder warningly, turning to give him a grimace that is as serious as the grave where Akorinil can't see it. And slightly apologetic, as if he's trying to silently apologize for what he's saying.<br />
<br />
Turning back to the Lie Priestess (get it?) he grins. "Nope, but to be fair it wouldn't be the first morning that happened. My partner usually finds me, pays any fees or bounty, and then I start the day. And the Void has been a *bitch* lately, so you'll have to be be more specific. What'd the Void do this time?"<br />
<br />
"And I'm not either, Dirk, but-" Aryia sighs, rubbing her temples. She drops it, stepping deeper into the room and leaning against a wall. "I know how Taaranites work, and those that don't find it kind of maddening to talk in double speak the entire time." She can't help but half cough at Skyler's comment, a rare silent snicker escaping her.<br />
<br />
The pugilist blinks. "The void was... approaching, but we staved it. But before here-..." Aryia stops. Thinks. Frowns. "... alright. Fine. Got me there. Care to elaborate?"<br />
<br />
"Sorry if I don't give much of a crap about impressing you, to be very honest. High Taaranite priest isn't really that high on my list of stations that I care about." The makari snorted. "So, you brought us here, for some reason. I'm sure you did it out of the depth of your heart and compassion, since you know so much about how I'd want to be saved from something like that."<br />
<br />
Dirk's beard bristles angrily. He tenses at Skyler's hand on his shoulder, and he looks about ready to throw it off, possibly with some proper dwarven profanity to help it along. But he's a canny old bear, and he doesn't miss Skyler's expression. It'd be noteworthy enough -without- them being in the very heart of Taara's house of faith. He pulls deep, snorting, snarling breaths through his big dwarven nose. The leather of his gauntlet creaks as he forces his fingers to unclench with visible effort.<br />
<br />
"I'm nae afraid o' the Void," he growls, in a bit more of an even tone.<br />
<br />
He turns his attention back to Akorinil. "Lord Gilead an' the Blessed Lady hold me in their keeping. I trust in Their goodness." He draws another deep breath, fighting for calm. Now is not the time for dwarven tempers. He never was the sharpest marble in the deck. Deep thoughts often evade him. But he possesses deep, homespun wisdom of his own. He forces himself to be calm and cool, like the forest's shade on a clear spring morning. The priestess' question, though, has his hackles springing -right- back up. "Of -course- I remember what I was doin'! I--" He cuts off, lifting a hand to his beard. He gives the majestic snowy white whiskers a tug. "I was... I was... brushin' me beard out..." He pauses. Blink blink. "I -was-, wasn't I...?"<br />
<br />
Confusion darkens his mood back into a surly scowl. He turns his dour gaze back on Akorinil."All right. Fine. Ye brought us here. If we hear yer tale, -then- can we go home? I was... doin' -somethin'- important. I'm fair certain." He actually -isn't- certain, but he's not letting -her- know that.<br />
<br />
"Easy, buddy," Magpie whispers as she rests a hand on Dirk's arm. "I'm not gonna bite the hand that pulls me out of the Void, for certain... But we still need to hear what it is you need from *us.* You can rest assured -- High Priestess? -- we're grateful enough to do what clearly only we could, so... Whaddaya need a tracker, a firelighter, a brawler, and two chaos gremlins for?"<br />
<br />
"You've all done very well in facing the Void, it's true. You've killed the 'villains of the void' -- but do you know what those were made of? Not just void stuff, to be sure. What else were they?"<br />
<br />
The question Akorinil asks each of you is clearly rhetorical, but she's planting her hands on her hips. She needs to hear something from each of you.<br />
<br />
"Pass." Skyler tells the rest of the party, his expression utterly bewildered. "I mean, as far as I know, it's made of nothing because that's what void is, right? Absence of stuff?" He grimaces, "I think I skipped that day with my tutors, or slept through it."<br />
<br />
Aryia nods her head along with Dirk; she wasn't afraid either, having faced it several times herself. She stares at the High Priestess. "... really Akorinil? You were there. You helped me and the group. I fought a corrupted version of myself. A reflection of another timeline. Others I've known have fought the same." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Dirk nods his head firmly at Skyler. "Aye, ye have it exact, laddie," he says with a voice full of conviction. "It's -nothing-. My farts after Gobbo Chili Night have more substance." He pauses, and looks thoughtfully. "Actually, those have a -lot- of substance after Gobbo Chili Night. Errf." He gives himself a shake, looking back to Akorinil. "Sun rises. Rains fall. The forest breathes. An' -good triumphs over evil. That's the way the world bloody works." He grips his belt and nods again. Dwarf Law has been spoken.<br />
<br />
"You've... not been paying too much attention to me, it seems. Guess I was just dragged along for the hell of it." Eztli huffed again, clearly growing a bit more agitated. "But given my second hand knowledge and keeping up with the times, I dunno. They're memories. Void stuff pretending to be something it isn't, because those folks are supposed to be some of the worst known."<br />
<br />
Magpie pauses, then looks over her shoulder at Skyler and Dirk. The others seem to refuse to put much thought into the question, but the Gnome dips her head, beginning to pace.<br />
<br />
"...But the Void isn't nothing," she says, tapping her nose. "If it was, there'd be no Heth. It *is* hungry, and corruptive, but we're not *talking* about Voidstuff. We're talking about the villains."<br />
<br />
Turning back about, she snap-points at Eztli for a moment. "Memories. That's close, but they weren't the *same.* But if the people involved had fallen *to* the Void..."<br />
<br />
She pauses, and looks up at Akorinil. "They're lies. Lies told by the people they were trying to be. 'If only,' 'maybe I could've,' 'if not for that damn skunk...' Memories grasping for ways to remain relevant, come back stronger, get what they deserve."<br />
<br />
Is she holding a mug? Why, yes.<br />
<br />
Was Akorinil holding that mug moments ago?<br />
<br />
No. It's not even clear where she got it -- but she must've gotten it from somewhere. In point of fact, as you each look at her holding it, you begin to -remember- her ssending a servant to fetch it, one bringing it back to her. You're pretty sure that didn't happen... right?<br />
<br />
She holds it out to Skyler. Is it... could it be?<br />
<br />
IS IT THE LEGENDARY OAT MILK?<br />
<br />
In the meantime, she does nod towards Magpie, glancing between each of the others. <br />
<br />
"Tell me, friends -- what is another name for a lie? A fiction. What is a fiction but a story?"<br />
<br />
Her eyes turn towards Aryia, now, "Do you know? Do you know why we were called to her side? It is the same reason you stand here now."<br />
<br />
GAME: Skyler rolls Wisdom: (5)+2: 7<br />
<br />
"Evil is subjective, Dirk. Deforestation is a sin to some, but to others it's a necessary part of fueling progress and forwarding civilization." Skyler says earnestly to Dirk, "I'll grant you there are things that are black and white, but for the most part it's all different colors in between."<br />
<br />
He looks prepared to wax more philosophy when the mug is held out to him. His eyes widen and he bites his lip like a man facing the worst temptation of his life. He knows it's stupid and unwise to drink something handed to him by the Lie Priestess, but...<br />
<br />
"Oat milk." He breathes, and reaches for it, "Gods. It's been so long."<br />
<br />
The others' perspectives paint Aryia another picture of what's going on. She wasn't far off, it seemed: memories, false potentials, all that could have been. She quirks a brow at the offered mug, not really certain where it appeared. But, weirdly, she actually trusted it was the true, one and only: oat milk. Honestly, she can't blame the man for jumping for it, and doesn't stop him.<br />
<br />
She's heard that mantra before: a lie is just fiction, and a story. But she gets a different question. Her eyes grow downcast. "I was called because I was very good at telling the story of Her and His matrimony," her hands are slow. Her fingers curl into tight fists. Tremor. Then release with a breath Out. "But She left me when I needed her most. And now I need no one aside from my friends."<br />
<br />
She glances up to Akorinil, resolved. "But that is not the question you asked. You mean the Mul'neissa. It was..." she tries to remember. "... the original elves. Ancestors. Taara took one, or sheltered them from the other, a long time ago." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Dirk boggles a bit at Skyler as that mug appears out of nowhere. A -fiendish- mug, no less! "-Sky-ler, don't be -thick-!" he can't help exclaiming. "What if it's poison? Ye dinnae have a dwarf belly, poison can -hurt- you!" He grumphs and mutters. "If progress an' civilization comes at the cost of murderin' the forest, then -fuck- 'em both. The Green Word was here long afore anyone put one stone atop another. It'll outlive all of us." He flicks his gaze to Akorinil. "An' -nothin'- can stop -that-."<br />
<br />
He pulls another calming breath. Mutter mutter, grumble grumble. "A'right, so they're -stories-. Just like everything else. Like you an' them, an' -us-." He gestures fro Akorinil, to the other Taarenites, to his comrades. "Get tae yer -point-, lassie. I want tae go -home-." He does try his very best not to sound like a petulant child, but he is -so- far out of his element here.<br />
<br />
"So, stories are being made into reality, and not anything good. Why can't the void just raid Mikilos' library of crimson pen books and do something more fun with that?" Eztli continued to grumble. "Yarn, tale, epic, not sure what you want us to answer here, there's more names than anyone could reasonably guess, everyone's got their name for a story."<br />
<br />
"Dirk," Magpie says, a little more insistently. "C'mon now. I know this is wildly outta your comfort zone, but.. you wouldn't be here if you weren't needed. I believe in you, buddy, okay?"<br />
<br />
Though this is a story she *hasn't* heard, and new stories make for very curious gnomes.<br />
<br />
"Oh, I do wish that it -would-. Nothing can be so self-annihilating as sex," says Akorinil to Eztli, but with a big old smile. She gives Dirk and Magpie sympathetic looks. She certainly understands -- or so she'd like you to think. <br />
<br />
"It's true. You're all here for a reason." She turns her eyes towards Aryia, then, and continues.<br />
<br />
"...ah. The Shadow Elves -- you and me both -- once labored in spiritual bondage to her, as you know. AS everyone knows. That bondage was shattered when the right story was told. Without the weight of their souls, however, the wall against the Void within her weakened. The toll her theft of magic for power took grew. The death of Animus haunted her. The Void found purchase within divinity and sought a new story: a fractured one that would end reality. Without narrative, there is no time, not consciousness, no 'self', and without those things, there can be no desires fulfilled."<br />
<br />
She glances towards Skyler, "... a world without a hunger for oat milk," she says, for emphasis.<br />
<br />
"And so she called her high priests home to her. She called her faithful, so many of us, so that we may rest in the Abyss and support her through it all. She called so many, and we worked until the time was right. We stand on the precipice of the final step. There is but one more villain of the Void to face."<br />
<br />
There is a single, momentary beat as she lets the words wash over you.<br />
<br />
"The goddess of lies herself."<br />
<br />
Beat.<br />
<br />
And then...<br />
<br />
"Thank you for the oat milk, you're Lying'ness, but I think I need to go home." Skyler says in a remarkably steady voice, "I can give you a couple recommendations. Eztli here is awesome. There's also Telamon, and Cor'Lana-Banana, or possibly Verna! She's scary. I just..." He stares at the others helplessly, "I swing a sword good, end of story. Yeah?"<br />
<br />
Dirk listens to Akorinil, beard all a-bristle and his bushy white brows furrowed. It -does- sound like the sort of outlandish, self-aggrandizing tale a creature like the Goddess of Lies would spin about Herself. But then she drops that last bombshell--that they're to face down Taara. His face goes from red to white, and his brows fly towards his hairline as if trying to escape his face altogether. "Heek?!" is about all he can manage to squeak. He looks over at his friends, hopping from foot to foot. "-Me-?! Face down a Goddess? Och! Lassie, I know I'm a right bad-arse but--but--" He fumbles and stammers, trying to think of something, -anything- to say. He snap-points at Skyler with eyes wide as teacups. "Aye, -exactly-! I'm just a simple hunter! I'm nae the sort o' hero who fights -Goddesses-!" he cries in a strangled tone.<br />
<br />
Aryia purses her lips as Akorinil explains her point. She was aware of a good chunk of it, though the forthrightness of it has her questioning the authenticity of it. It's true the High Priestess has done nothing /wrong/ in all the time that she's known her, but it something one has a very hard time shaking the nagging feeling she's going to-<br />
<br />
The mute audibly gasps "Th- f-ck?", which turns into a hacking fit. She rubs at her throat, stepping off the wall as the others try to reason with such a tall ask. "So let me get this right... you want us to...-" she rolls a hand, thinking while trying not to reel from the suggestion. And the faint, faint tinge of vengeance creeping in. "... what? Expose a truth to her so damming it unravels her position? You cannot defeat an entity such as that." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Eztli blinked once, then twice, breathing in, and letting out the longest Exhale she could manage. "Aren't you a priestess of them? Isn't this some horrible, horrible sacrilege? And wouldn't that piss off literally everyone in this building?"<br />
<br />
"...Ah-ha," Magpie say, nodding slowly... for the thirty seconds or so it takes for the magnitude of the ask to sink in. Which poiny the noe-rubbing becomes a long, low whistle. "Oh *wow* you are getting desperate, holy beans..."<br />
<br />
Blinking, she looks up and about at her friends. "...So she can't fight the Void in her anymore. But her own people are *too close*, likely as not to follow her into the Void just out of religious ecstasy, right? So Her High Priestessness casts around for folks also lost in the Void -- us -- who have a shot at doing what they can't; Dirk, think of a bird that gets dunked in an airship's oil tank. You don't clean the oil off, what's gonna happen to the bird?"<br />
<br />
The reactions to her statement have Akorinil smiling. Then smiling even bigger .She's delighted. She loves it. 'Lying'nesa' tickled her especially. She nods solemnly right along and then addresses first Skyler.<br />
<br />
"Oh, I am well aware. But this isn't about power. It's a task that you've been more prepared for than you realize, Skyler." Wait -- where'd she get his name? It's not like he introduced himself to her out the gate.<br />
<br />
Dirk earns a tilt of her head, her crimson eyes focused on him.<br />
<br />
"We do not get to pick our fights, young one." Only an elf can call a dwarf 'young one' succesfully, right?<br />
<br />
"... but you think yourself a hero? Then stay."<br />
<br />
Aryia's reaction forces her to cover her mouth with her hand in abject delight.<br />
<br />
"Oh, oh. We go back such a long way, don't we? To think we're standing here together at the end of the world, with as much as you've seen and as much as you know, prepared to author something new together."<br />
<br />
"What matters is the tale being told," she tells her.<br />
<br />
And then to Magpie, she gets a smile. "Creative! Thoughtful. I like this one."<br />
<br />
"But it's all so linear. What Animus spoke of when he called out for aid is true. He can be saved. Aspects of the blight -- the so-called 'villains of the void' were called for you to confront. What do you suppose they represent in truth? And how do you suppose their defeat helped Animus?"<br />
<br />
Aryia squints at the Highpriestess, growing more weary as Akorinil gets excited. She takes in the information as told to the others, and she pauses. Looks at the crew. Then back to Akorinil. "I guess the villans of the void were aspects that Taara threw out to help weather the weight of the Void? But the way you're talking is making it seem likes we have to make up story that becomes reality, getting Her out of this mess, and... brings Animus to the fore?"<br />
<br />
She blinks. "Is /this/ why you wanted the damn shards??" she jabs at a finger at Akorinil, eyes wide. <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Dirk's day is certainly taking a turn for the strange. And considering some of the things the old snowbeard has seen in his days, that's saying quite a lot, actually. "Wait," he says, looking over to Aryia. "Wait, wait, wait just one anvil-crackin' minute. -We- have tae come up wi' a story?" He pauses, staring at his friend for a moment. "It... it -cannae- be -that- easy. Can it?"<br />
<br />
"They were stories for us to confront and re-tell. Kol and that Snow Bitch weren't defeated brute force; we had to finesse them." Skyler says slowly, a light (however dim and flickery) coming on in the attic, "It's about establishing what reality is strongest. Gods, my head hurts." And he drinks the last of his milk. "More, please?"<br />
<br />
"I still have no clue what we're supposed to be doing here, because if you think that we're supposed to confront the corruption of a god on our own, then, well even if I'll give it a try, I don't particularly welcome my chances." The makari sighed. "So, I don't know. I really, really don't know, and I'm not a fan of trying to get a straight answer out of a pathological liar."<br />
<br />
"I mean, I wouldn't call it *easy,*" Magpie says, scratching her head. "But if it ain't completely linear, then... Beating the villains didn't just show the lie of them for what they are, but told Animus that was *never* how it happened?"<br />
<br />
Magpie is clearly stretching the limits of her comprehension, but trying regardless. "So now we have to... show the lie of the Void to Taara?"<br />
<br />
"Closer, closer," says Akorinil to Aryia and Magpie. Eztli gets a sympathetic look before she remarks, with a smile, "The life of the party, aren't you," she says, amused. There's no mockery in her tone, just earnestness this time around. She tilts her head, letting her long, red hair fall over her face and shoulder.<br />
<br />
"You're closer, as I say. The Goddess of stories looked down the narrative path, the branching tree of a story, if you would. The possibilities. Each choice she made closed one after another, and yet she persisted. Too stubborn to let go of what is rightfully her's. Each villain of the void, as they were called, embodied a portion of the Void within her, yes yes, and in so returning sought to prove the futility of life and meaning. Here you are, having told the story already, and yet you were called again to do what you had already done. Isn't.."<br />
<br />
"It.."<br />
<br />
"Pointless?" she asks. <br />
<br />
"While a story is linear, a means by which we understand the events of our lives, the choices a Goddess makes extend into the past and the future." Her eyes fix on Aryia.<br />
<br />
"Just like the death of Animus."<br />
<br />
"And when we have a story and we don't like how it's going..."<br />
<br />
"Perhaps we can be shown how to author a better ending."<br />
<br />
Her eyes fix on Skyler -- for just a moment.<br />
<br />
And then she turns to Magpie.<br />
<br />
"So. If we must save Animus, how do we save the Goddess of Want from herself -- for the final collapse of meaning rests in failing to do so."<br />
<br />
"Listen, I had a *really* bad trip a while back. Me and a bunch of halflings and goblins took a job babysitting some rich asshole. We got kidnapped by pixies or some shit, shoved through a mushroom ring, and were forced to do some Ye Olde Bullshit Queste and then it became this battle of imagination with the big bad." Skyler scratches his jaw. "It was weird. This seems like the same bullshit: Stories and our perceptions of reality shape what is real or not. We just have to convince the Goddess of Lies and Bullshit that we're telling the truth."<br />
<br />
Skyler pauses and adds, "I doubt I can solve this with imagining she has a cloaca, but I'm willing to try."<br />
<br />
Dirk listens to this great, tangled yarn. All of it speaks of things so far beyond his experience. Like the beasts of the forest that he protects, in many ways, old Dirk is a creature of habit and instinct. When one measures their life in centuries, it becomes easy to forget Tomorrow, even as one recalls Yesterday. He tugs at his beard, glancing around at his comrades. "I mean... -I- can spin a decent enough tall tale when the mood takes me," he says. "But I'm hardly a bard. I cannae create a tale worthy of a Goddess." He scowls a bit. "Even one like Taara," he grumbles. "Och, She's gone an' stacked the deck against me. What kind o' tale should I tell? -Mine-? Hrumph. As if -that's- a tale worth hearin'. I'm nobody."<br />
<br />
Aryia scratches the shaved side of her head. She supposed that makes sense with everything considered. "We make up a tale, Dirk. A bit of collaborative story telling. We make her want something else, I think, instead of clutching so tightly to magic, or something like that," she suggests, thinking she had a serious solution.<br />
<br />
She stares at Skyler. Reaches down for a vacant prayer pillow, and throws it at him. <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
"Because what do the best stories do?" Magpie says, conjuring an illusory copy of Aryia's throw pillow and getting a half dozen tosses in herself. "They take us to a world that's even more wondrous than the one we live in. Make us think that maybe *that* world could stay *here.* So if we've gotten all the silly and skeptical out of our systems... I really want to take a run at this, you guys. After all," she says, looking about and grinning.<br />
<br />
"How many people are gonna get to say they told the Goddess of Lies a story so good, she wanted it to be true?"<br />
<br />
"Absolutely thrilled to be here, doing this." Eztli shrugged. "Whatever, I'll try to do something. Can't go any worse than last time, and it's not like there's anything left to lose at this point."<br />
<br />
Skyler says, “Never." Regarding the silly that is. But he does finish his oat milk again and roll his shoulders...<br />
<br />
Until a pillow hits him in the face, and he spills oat milk all over himself. He gives Aryia a wounded look, and then makes an arcane gesture while muttering something equally arcane before passing his hands over himself. The milk disappears. His shoes are shiny. And he smells faintly of mint and sandalwood. His hair even looks smooth and luxurious!<br />
<br />
Hisrestidigitation: Better than dry shampoo.<br />
<br />
"I'm ready. So we want to discuss parameters? I usually find stories go crazy if we just start spewing details. It's how a door becomes genitalia and weird stuff happens. We gotta keep the narrative neat and follow the proper rules of plot structure." He then snaps and gives finger-guns to Eztli. "That's the spirit! You can keep us grounded so Dirk doesn't give her a poofy beard or something." Aside to Akorinil, "He gets a little obsessive, the old dear.”<br />
<br />
Dirk looks at Skyler with an indignant "-Hey!-" He mutters and grumbles, tugging irritably at his beard. "I am -not- obsessive. I'm a -dwarf-. Nae the same thing at all!" Harrumph harrumph. He looks back to his friends. "An' if we fail, here an' now... then that's it? Everything we've done, all the battles we fought, blastin' Heth out the sky wi' the Spell Cannon... it dinnae count fer anything?" He lifts his hand from his beard to rub his face. "Och. I'm gettin' too bloody -old- fer this bullshit," he grumbles softly under his breath. He sucks a deep breath through his big dwarven nose, turning his face skyward. "A'right. A tale, then." He pauses with his mouth hanging open as Skyler gives his warning about the dangers of unstructured narrative. Slooooowly the old ranger turns to regard the swashbuckler. "Dana's sweet flowery -teats-. If a door turnin' intae a ramrod -isn't- weird then what in all the sugary-sweet world -is-?" He pauses. Lifts a finger. "Do -not- answer that. Please, please, -please- do not answer that."<br />
<br />
"That is the secret of the Void -- it empties you of hope, of ambition. It buries it beneath the greatest lie of all: that you are already the worst version of you. What happens when a being which contains infinite stories, multitudes of selves, believes that there is only -one-?"<br />
<br />
"Everything..."<br />
<br />
"...flattens..."<br />
<br />
"...out."<br />
<br />
There is only darkness.<br />
<br />
And then...<br />
<br />
"CHRISTOPHER!"<br />
<br />
The voice is harsh, shrill, and demanding. The person it belongs to? A young woman of modest appearance in full Myrrish court garb. She is young, but bitterness and a sort of ferret-like leanness to her features makes her quite unpleasant and older than her years. "Your brother, the Duke, has demanded that you attend court on his behalf." She shakes her head and sneers, "It's about all you're good for, isn't it? Being your brother's little toady, nothing but an extension of his will when he, the *actual* important one, deals with the real work."<br />
<br />
A pause, and Skyler Skywalker... no, *Christopher Carl von Wayne of the House of Ashewell* starts as if he'd been drifting off to sleep, a bottle rolling out of his hands with a thud. The woman's lip curls. "Gods, you are useless. The only good you ever were was to get your brother *my* dowery to support you, and even then you can't even get me children!"<br />
<br />
The abuse continues, as Christopher stares at his hands, eyes full of pain, of disappointment, of utter despair...<br />
<br />
Dirk Stormgrip is not a young man. There are few dwarves in Ea who have lived longer than he has. He has watched entire forests rise up from saplings to mighty arbors. He has seen towns spring up from nothing. He has counted himself lucky to be friends to many He even fell in love, and was blissfully married. <br />
<br />
And yet....<br />
<br />
He has outlived many of his kinsmen. He has watched those mighty forests wither and fade, until naught but sour, barren earth remained. He has buried more friends than he's kept. And in the end, his wife of nearly sixty years went the way all mortals must.<br />
<br />
Yet he remains. He comforst himself knowing that, one day, he'll find his own time and place to rest.<br />
<br />
But what if he -doesn't-? What if he just... keeps going?<br />
<br />
What he he outlives -everything-?<br />
<br />
In a dismal cave, many long-forgotten years into the future, Dirk sits at a lonely campfire, surrounded by the skeletal husks of a dead grove. His face, once hearty and cheerful, is gaunt and hollow, awash in misery quiet despair. He's all that remains. There's nothing else left. The bleak, dismal night encroaches ever closer, threatening to snuff out that feeble little flame.<br />
<br />
And yet he knows, that even when the fire fades, he'll still be there. He'll never rest. He'll always be there.<br />
<br />
-Alone-.<br />
<br />
One only truly knows what they have lost once it has been taken from them. Freedom. Self-actualization. Trust. Peace. Usefulness. What if she slipped? What if she fell? What if she consorted with the very things she ripped free of her friends and family? "Wait- Aya, I-I did this all for you!" Aryia /screeches/, audibly, at the back of a mul'neissan woman with a long white braid wearing wrapped in sheets in robes. They don't looks back as they walk into the darkness.<br />
<br />
Aryia is... no where near the same. She's bloody, caked in blood but none of it her own, her scars are gone. But a horrid, demonic presence wafts behind her, like a horrid, stretching shadow. "I did this for you, all of you..!"<br />
<br />
The figure pauses. "No sister of mine would stoop to such lows, I thought you learned from my mistakes." They continue walking into the darkness. "Live with your regrets."<br />
<br />
The corrupted pugilist screams more at the backs of others as they walk away. Many adventurers and kinsmen that had lifted her to new heights: Cor'lana, Telamon, Dirk, Seyardu, Verna, Venom, and so many countless others that her long life had touched.<br />
<br />
Her knees hit the floor. The inner rivers have run dry. The sense of self is hollow. And heart beats of glass like her glazed gaze, sharp and staccato as the sound of manacles being clamped and a iron brand searing flesh sizzles into the dark.<br />
<br />
The thing about being lost in the Planes is, unless you know exactly what you're doing... being lost *forever* is a very, very easy thing to do. And in some places, time moves strange... almost as if it ran in currents not unlike water, to pool and swirl and fold back upon itself and--<br />
<br />
When Magpie made a mistake long ago, and fell into one of the famed planar instabilities of the Vast, she never really.. talked about how she got back. Or how long she truly spent, drifting in formless chaos. Or what she saw and heard, surrounded by the very chaos that so heavily infused her blood.<br />
<br />
The truth was, it was a lucky break, that she found a thin place that allowed her to push back into materiality after a scant dozen subjective years.<br />
<br />
Random chance.<br />
<br />
If she *hadn't* been so lucky, well...<br />
<br />
She'd still be there now. She'd still be there when the Void fell over all.<br />
<br />
Drifting.<br />
<br />
Lonely.<br />
<br />
*Untethered.*<br />
<br />
Unspooling.<br />
<br />
Unraveling.<br />
<br />
Unremembered.<br />
<br />
Uncreated.<br />
<br />
Lost to time, space, matter, and anyone who might have remembered her, Magpie quietly, utterly unzips on any meaningful level of materiality, mentality, and spirituality.<br />
<br />
A nobody, gone to nothing.<br />
<br />
The teleportation wards around Alexandria had one major flaw, one that had been tested before. What happens when normal access failed? <br />
<br />
This time, battered and exhausted, the city reached its breaking point. The undead worms collapsed the walls, the sundered by Heth. <br />
<br />
There was still sounds of combat in the city, but every passing hour they died down, while the screams of those beset upon by the dead grew, until they too quieted. <br />
<br />
Eztli was at the docks, where those who remained hurriedly packed onto the boats. The sorceress had not bothered, even with a faint sliver of hope remaining. There would be nowhere safe to flee to this time, and she watched as the boats sank one by one, with the dying breaths of the city.<br />
<br />
There's no hope. <br />
<br />
There's nothing at all. Just an emptiness, bleak and unyielding that feels like it wants to swallow you up.<br />
<br />
... but then... <br />
<br />
There is something. Perhaps its just a feeling, an inkling that this isn't right. A voice whispering in one ear that you could still be more. That the story isn't over.<br />
<br />
And then... there is.<br />
<br />
Music plays, as people move slowly in a stately dance that is all mathematic precision and no passion. Empty steps, done by learned rote. It's beautiful, but... cold.<br />
<br />
Distant.<br />
<br />
Lifeless.<br />
<br />
Among them, Christopher moves with one hand clasping that of the ferret in a ball gown that he's married to. Who is scowling at him fiercely as she mutters a count under her breath, as if Christopher isn't even capable of stepping in time.<br />
<br />
And then, Christopher takes a left when he should have stepped right.<br />
<br />
Gasps! A shocked silence...<br />
<br />
And Christopher abruptly grabs the hand of a handsome half-orc that was beside him. He looks wild despite the court garments, with a certain primal allure. He moves stiffly at first, staring at Christopher. <br />
<br />
"Skyler."<br />
<br />
Beg pardon?<br />
<br />
"I'm *Skyler*."<br />
<br />
And, okay, *Skyler* gives the half-orc a saucy wink before abruptly dipping him and pressing his lips against the tusked mouth as it falls open in shock. He then twirls him away, and laughs as he stares around. "You people suck!" Skyler declares, shaking his head. And to his 'wife'..? "I'd say I wanted a divorce, but I don't think even Dana recognizes a marriage to a wet fish! C'mon... er... you! Let's boogie!"<br />
<br />
And Skyler begins to bump and grind against the half-orc. Who blinks. Shrugs. And then begins to bump and grind against him in turn.<br />
<br />
Dirk draws a deep, shaky breath and lets it out in a sigh. His shoulders slump. The tear-tracks on his face have long since dried. Nothing matters. How could it, when he'll just outlast everyone and everything he's ever known and loved?<br />
<br />
A shriek for help splits the night. His head snaps up, and he's on his feet, thunderbelcher in hand in an eyeblink. He tears out of the cave, racing and leaping through the underbrush, faster than the most nimble deer. He breaks out into a clearing lit by Eluna's silvery light.<br />
<br />
There. A shadow towers over a terrified young maiden. A stinking stain upon the face of Ea, one that has -no- place in the pure, clear wood. The burly old ranger moves on instinct. He hefts his thunderbelcher to his shoulder and immediately cracks off three shots. CHK-BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! They ring out into the night, splitting the darkness and illuminating the night with Dana and Gilead's blessed light. The shadow-demon's malevolent laughter turns to a howl of agony as the blessed bullets rip its substance apart, sending it screaming back to the Iron Hells<br />
<br />
Dirk lowers his weapon and steps forward. "Yer all right now, lassie. Yer safe."<br />
<br />
The maiden looks up, and his heart freezes. She looks -so- like his beloved Sarah, his beloved wife, whom he buried so long ago. It's -not- her, and yet the resemblance is uncanny. She reaches up to take his outstretched hand, and flings herself at him. "Thank you! You saved my life!" she sobs into his shoulder. "I thought I was all alone out here!"<br />
<br />
Color returns to the old snowbeard's face. Strength fills his heavyset frame. He curls his arm around the lass and hugs her close. Over distant mountains, the sun crests the horizon, turning the sky from inky black to glorious rose.<br />
<br />
"No, lassie. Yer nae alone. -I'm- here now."<br />
<br />
When Magpie was lost in the Planes, only random chance allowed her an opening to find the means to find her own way home.<br />
<br />
But the thing about random chance is, the dice never stop being thrown. Every hour, every minute, every second that passes is a new opportunity for something incredibly unlikely to become inevitability. And Magpie is a *much* different person, now, than when she fell into formless Chaos those few short years ago. She *knows* better. She's *learned* more.<br />
<br />
And given the sheer strength of Chaos in her blood, and how its mutability works on her mind and being... she *has* to have a stronger sense of self, just to be able to exist normally.<br />
<br />
The thinness brushes against her senses, and Magpie responds. Fingers, coherent again, flex. An eye coalesces from yellow-green light, and blinks. A mouth that threatened to drift offon its own, opens and pulls air into lungs.<br />
<br />
'Cogito, ergo sum,' goes the saying in Rune's polymorphing schools. 'I think, therefore I am.' In those classes, it's not just pithy words; it's a *lifeline,* a reminder that no matter what form you take, as long as you can use your mind, you will *always* be you.<br />
<br />
At her current powers, it's almost trivially easy to take hold of the pocket of thinness within the Planes, and tug it open to look out onto Alexandria's Lower Market, at the height of the lunchtime rush.<br />
<br />
Being lost is *hungry* work.<br />
<br />
There is anger. There is self-loathing. There is despair. In that shackled cage that shuts with a deafening click. Aryia Zilstrae Aeldius has hit rock bottom again, where all has left her. Inaction and betrayal has got her here. Her misbegotten actions, undercutting her steadfast morals. But then... there is-<br />
<br />
Will. A will to live. It's a drop in a stagnant lake. The ripples barely nudging nary a waterfly. But it wavers the illusion of hopelessness, distorts it, just enough. She's been here before. Churn the waters. Feel the river flow, the heart beat the breath In.<br />
<br />
Out. "NO CHAIN. WILL /EVER/. BIND ME AGAIN!" she bellows into the empty air, her hands flickering to moonlight once again. Manacled hands bash into iron bars, groaning and shearing with each blow before metal sprays out in a deadly shrapnel, her having thrown herself free of the cage.<br />
<br />
Coming to a roll, Aryia pops up, covered in her own blood and wielding an iron bar as she breaks into a dead sprint towards her retreating friends. The pugilist leaps towards a creeping, demonic shadow that looms over them, tackling it to the ground and pinning it there. The only sound that echoes is the satisfying, echoing and repeated clang of metal and a flashes of moonlight chasing the darkness away.<br />
<br />
Not every ship had sunk, a few remained, perhaps avoiding the worst of it from their smaller size compared to other, much more enticing targets. Could she just stay there, do nothing, and give up? It was certainly an enticing thought, in it's own twisted way. <br />
<br />
The sorceress shook off the feeling, a low growl escaping the makari as her form shifted, longer and larger until a massive brass dragon stood in her place that soared into the sky, crashing through the clouds of undead beasts, drawing their attention away while clawing through as many as they could manage. Hopefully it would take long enough to be taken down to turn a sliver of hope into something greater.<br />
<br />
You deserve a better ending.<br />
<br />
You've staved off the darkness for another day, it's true, but you deserve something better. All those wars. All those sacrifices. Don't you deserve better? Just...<br />
<br />
Comfort?<br />
<br />
Warmth?<br />
<br />
Surely, you do.<br />
<br />
And so the scene changes. There's a disorienting moment. It's all good. <br />
<br />
It's always good.<br />
<br />
"Boogiee...."<br />
<br />
"...e's dead! Duke Austyn is dead." The minor revere Christopher has over the punch bowl, a fantasy of rejecting everything and dancing chaotically with some hunky half-orc wild-man dissolving like the ice in his ridiculously ornate, tiny little glass. And the glass is dropped as his wife grabs his arm, her nails digging in hard enough to tear the fine silk of his doublet.<br />
<br />
Christopher stares dully at his wife. "W.. what?"<br />
<br />
She lets out a sound of disgust, leaning forward to smell his breath before wrinkling her nose. "Really? Gods, how much did you drink, you useless shit?" She shakes her head, and her scowl turns into a wide grin. "I killed him. Your brother's dead. Now I'm the Duchess Ashewell of Gull's Edge!" She smiles cruelly, "And you, husband, will get your freedom." She guides him off to the side, hand still digging hard enough to hurt. "The freedom of the country estate. You can farm, you can hunt, you can drink and debauch yourself to an early grave if you want." She puts a hand over her stomach. "I have the Duke's heir. He looks enough like you no one will know the difference." She sneers, "You're free, you useless lump! Isn't that what you always wanted? Freedom, to be something? Well now you're the Duke's father! And you'll be free to wither away in the countryside."<br />
<br />
It's a happy enough ending, in the cut-throat courts of the Myrrish kingdoms...<br />
<br />
Isn't it?<br />
<br />
Not many people get a second chance at happiness. Dirk is one of those lucky few. The lass he rescued from the shadow demon--Farah is her name--falls in love with him, and he with her. She fills his days with brilliant sunshine and laughter once again. With her at his side, the forest grows strong and clean. The land thrives. He takes up his mantle as the forest's champion once again. And how could he not? After so long, he has something to fight for.<br />
<br />
Weeks pass. Winter blankets the wood in soft, cottony-cold white. Dirk watches the snowfall from his cozy cabin with his arm around Farah's shoulders. He rests a palm atop her belly, made large by new life--the one thing Sarah was never able to give him, all those years ago gone by. Just when he thought his happily-ever-after couldn't -possibly- get any better, his newfound love has made him a father in addition to being a husband.<br />
<br />
They name the baby 'Sarah Leigh', and she's as perfect an angel, as all children are in the eyes of their parents. Dirk gently bounces her in his arms, crooning a quiet dwarven lullabye to her as she gazes up at him with wide, golden eyes. He presses a kiss to her forehead and gently lays her in her crib. "Sleep sweetly, me bonny wee lass," he says soothingly.<br />
<br />
He blows out the candle by the bedside and burrows under the heavy blankets with his beloved Farah. Gloom shrouds the cabin.<br />
<br />
Sarah Leigh's eyes open, now inky black orbs. Her mouth curves into a wicked, too-wide smile. In her baby-babble, the shadow-demon's laughter echos just beyond the range of hearing.<br />
<br />
Being lost is hungry work, and damn it all, Magpie will *never* be hungry. Not again. The first thirty years of her life, she was too small to properly defend her food from the bigger kids at the orphanages.<br />
<br />
Which might have something to do with the frequency of wild-magic fires that seemed to haunt little Magpie's trail...<br />
<br />
...Whatever, it's lunchtime at the Alexandrian markets, and all of her favorites are not just on special, but *free* just for her. Rosemary-pork pocket pies, goblin fireball sweetbreads, candied garlic skewers... Every turn of her head brings new and interesting delicacies into vision. And because it's *her,* because she is so amazing and powerful and respected and adored, she pays for none of it.<br />
<br />
Every morsel that passes her lips, bought by the fame she'd always longed for as a child, where justexisting was enough to be celebrated.<br />
<br />
And in the middle of the Market square, Magpie slowly begins to be buried under a cacophony of treats and sweets and savories, heaped ever higher by her adoring public.<br />
<br />
And so Aryia clawed it all back. Trust. Sense of self. Belonging. Usefulness. Back into the weave with friends. Coaching her team back in the Colosseum. Battling kaiju. Sailing the seas on her boat. Pummeling through mountains through sheer force of tenacity.<br />
<br />
So she sits atop that mountain, her apex, having found her center again. The waters have run so fast they look calm in their laminar flow. Breathing In. Out. In. Out.<br />
<br />
The days morph into weeks, months, years. Decades. Time drags on, yet for this elf it's barely scraping any more etchings into the scars. Others age, but that comes and goes, just like all do in the story that never ends. But does it matter? The peak has been reached. Her vantage is leagues in all directions.<br />
<br />
It is absolute perfection.<br />
<br />
Or is it? It hits in a beat of introspection. Somewhere in all that time, a thought worms its way into her mind. 'What is the point of a mountain, if to not look up at its daunting beauty from below? What is the point of highs? Without the lows?'<br />
<br />
Eztli didn't normally wake up with the sun, but recent work forced the makari reluctantly out of bed. After some time blinking the tiredness out of her eyes, she eventually managed to get over to her closet, where several costumes were hanging. All of them and their accessories were carefully stowed into a pack at her side, before she left for the lower floors. <br />
<br />
"Figured you'd be up before me, rehearsals are going to take most of the day. Say hi to deathless for me, will you, and I'll catch you around dinner, yeah?" She offered to the brown haired hunter who had been in the kitchen. She said nothing, only giving a crooked toothed smile to the sorceress before she was out the door, and not a single word spoken.<br />
<br />
It's better, isn't it? Better this way ...<br />
<br />
... but then the worms turn. A thought, an idea gnaws. And once it's there, it doesn't stop. Each vision seems to splinter, to crack, to fray. Black lines ripping across like spiderwebs.<br />
<br />
And then there's a sense of weightlessness, of being-without-body.<br />
<br />
It is cool here. You sense ... other presences. Then, slowly, the curtain draws back. You're ... somewhere.<br />
<br />
Akorinil Belvade look at each of you, a smile on her face.<br />
<br />
"Do you understand now?" she asks, a cautious yet hopeful tone in her voice.<br />
<br />
GAME: Skyler rolls 1d100: (6): 6<br />
<br />
SPLASH!<br />
<br />
Skyler tosses the cup to the side, expression utterly devoid of emotion as he stares at Akorinil with a hate and fury he's only shown once, in a demi-plane of death while a kyton taunted him on the true meaning of pain and pleasure. <br />
<br />
"You bitch." He says flatly, turning away from her and closing his eyes. And his shoulders rise one, fall, and he speaks up to the others. "We have to do this for her. I don't know what you guys saw, but..." He swallows, "We have to do this. And we *can*. The first vision is non-negotiable, and the third isn't enough."<br />
<br />
Coming back to herself was a shock, especially as she was close to resigning herself to drowning under an ever-growing pile of things a child would think were deserved.<br />
<br />
And not for the first time, does Magpie begin to ask herself how old she was when the world became a certain, predictable thing-- no. No time to unpack that now!<br />
<br />
Shaking her head, she takes a moment to focus on Akorinil, and the milk dripping off her nose. "...Yeah," she says, finally. "Skyler's right too... We *need* to do this, cos that last one... Damn, but the Void's insidious..."<br />
<br />
The expanse contracts, and all those possibilities of time passing collapses into presence and- Aryia rapidly blinks, and her lips move to say something, but she ends up coughing up a lung before spits a glob of blood off to the side. "Well that was fucked," she signs with a scowl and rubbing her throat. There was a certain satisfaction as Skyler acts on her impulses, but she couldn't help but feel a tad guilty. Akorinil was truly, truly trying, for the best of someone she believed in.<br />
<br />
She thought of her found sister, Aya.<br />
<br />
The mute pugilist grimaces. Damn it. "Alright. Fuck. Fine. But I'm not doing it for /Her/. I'm doing it because we have a thing we can teach Her. And hopefully it'll knock some sense into Her." <br />
<br />
She glances to Akorinil, with the first look of genuine empathy. "Congratulations. You convinced this non-believer that it's worth a shot." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Dirk's eyes are wide as teacups as sight and reason returns. He blinks owlishly, his gaze snapping from side to side hard enough to make his beard whip-whap back and forth. "Wha--ah? Hah? What the... och! What the hell -was- that?!" He looks back to Akorinil. His panic turns to anger as his temper riles right back up. "-That's- our story?! BULLSHIT!! That's nae -my- story, an' never will be!"<br />
<br />
He looks back around at his friends, his beard all a-bristle as he scowls and fumes and snorts and snarls. "So what, we -have- tae go through all that? Blessed Dana's flowery -teats-, there -has- tae be another way..."<br />
<br />
Eztli was left speechless as she came back to reality, and she stood their for some time, breathing heavily. "Seems... fucked. I'd like to think the difference is obvious,but I'm no god. And either way, none of it was right. Not in the slightest." They grumbled. "So... what?"<br />
<br />
All around is darkness, now, but for the presence of yourselves and Akorinil.<br />
<br />
She raises a hand and presses the back of it to her forehead, swaying back away from them. She's clearly somewhat used to hate and fury bneing directed at her. <br />
<br />
"Forgive me. I can't control what you see or face in the tales you're entering. Those are subject only to you. But the narrative is ... hmmm ... unspooling, I suppose, because narrative itself is threatening to end. Think of it all as dancing on the razor edge of the dagger that slays Animus --."<br />
<br />
A hitch.<br />
<br />
"...though it's not really a dagger. Godly weapons are something wholely other and beyond comprehension." <br />
<br />
She lets out a breath, then. And then, a quiet voice. "You have to save her."<br />
<br />
Aryia glances to the side as the raving party seems to have fallen to the wayside and away. Was it ever really there? "Forgiveness is an action given, gained only by further action to warrant it. You don't get that just yet, as I'm quite familiar with Taara's gaslighting," the pugilist gestures before digging in the inside pocket of her jacket. An embroidered black silk handkerchief is pulled free, and is offered to Akorinil, Aryia's eyes downcast. "But, perhaps that is something that can be rectified once this is dealt with."<br />
<br />
She nods subtly. "They are not weapons that mere mortals know. I've seen them. But perhaps she just needs to think she's wielding something else other than to slay. In a metaphorical sense." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
"We said we'd do it." Skyler says grumpily, "Just, are you going to shove us at her blind or are there any hints that aren't bullshit metaphors. I mean..." He blinks at the rest of the group, "What *is* a metaphor for?" He frowns, glancing down at his fingers. "Um. a Metaeight?"<br />
<br />
Dirk glances around at his friends, then back to Akorinil. "I -suppose- that losin' Taara would throw all the worlds in the universe out o' balance, or some other such bullshit," he grumbles. He scowls dourly, leveling a finger at the priestess. "I dinnae trust a word -you- say," he says. He takes a step back, glancing up and around at his comrades. "But I -do- trust my friends. So we'll do what must be done." He glances at Aryia with a firm nod, then up at Skyler. He peers at the swashbuckler, then counts up on his own fingers. "Aye, think ye got it right, laddie. Metaeight," he says, nodding again.<br />
<br />
"Close enough," Magpie says. "For the future, there's a point where precisionruins the analogy that made understandingpossible. Even if it's, like, a metaconceptual cinquedea forged of the taste of blue, calling it a dagger still works."<br />
<br />
Looking about, she draws in a breath, and claps her hands. "So let's save a goddess!"<br />
<br />
"Well, that's all well and good, you keep saying we need to save her, but I feel like we're all not much closer to actually saving her, aside from a bit more emotional scarring to add to the pile." Eztli grumbled loudly. "So, lets go down to this. I'm sure a handful of people can help fix this where every single taaran priest or priestess partying here failed."<br />
<br />
The handkerchief is accepted with a gentle smile at Aryia.<br />
<br />
Akorinil knows -exactly- how much it must've pained her to give it to her. <br />
<br />
"If narrative dies, our ability to understand our own stories dies with it. No art. No history. No ordered conscious thought. Everything comes apart without the thread of consciousness."<br />
<br />
Of course, how much of that is true and how much of that is Taara's grandeur talking? Then again, it may not matter. The results of ANimus dying were bad enough."I can not see what happened to you. Those sojourns were for you alone."<br />
<br />
She grimces a moment, dabbing her face and she produces a pen from inside her robe. She begins to draw a single red line through the air with it. <br />
<br />
"We must merely turn the page, hm? Show her a better ending, as I said..."<br />
<br />
And then she gives the line a 'yank' and 'peels' the world like a page in the book and you find yourselves somewhere else.<br />
<br />
A sunny glade. A pale sun above. It's warm here And yet, there's a sense of forboding, and its coming from the litle cottage, all quaint and cozy in the distance. Chimney smoke rises from it.<br />
<br />
"Do you think it'd tell a fun story if we burn it down?" Skyler suggests as he raises a hand to shade his eyes as he looks over the tableau in front of them, "I mean, I'd get over my ennui if someone set *my* house on fire. Or we could rush in to put it out and save her that way?" He cocks his head, "Make your own heroic rescue!"<br />
<br />
As much as it pained her, it wouldn't behoove Taara to change her mind if even an ex-Taaran couldn't show some shred of compassion. Aryia sighs, rubbing her face before flashing a thumbs up. There's a wince as the world practically rips away.<br />
<br />
She lowers her hand from the sun, sliding her sunglasses down. "I am not against walking up and knocking before booting the door down," she shrugs. The normally face-first pugilist is hesitant to advance, her staring down the building like it's a warding sign specifically meant for her.<br />
<br />
But Aryia gulps, exhales slowly, and starts that way with her hands in her pockets. <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Dirk grunts softly. "I know how -my- tale should end," he grumbles quietly. "So if that bullshit I saw earlier is the best -she- can come up with, then aye, I can sure as hell come up wi' a better ending n' -that-." As the new scene unfolds before him, he squints at the cottage. He looks up, down, and all around. "Summat here dinnae sit right," he mutters. "I mean, not as I was expectin' sunshine an' frolickin' bunnies, but... there's summat -off- here." He glances up at Skyler and Aryia with a frown. "Why don't we try bein' polite -first-. -Then- we can start kickin' doors in if we have to."<br />
<br />
Eztli squinted as the world was torn away in some metaphysical sense she was still trying to wrap her head around, if it was even possible. "Not a bad idea to force a different story, but I don't know if it will actually help things, unless the new reeality is some fiery hellscape." She grumbled. <br />
<br />
"Lets start with checking the house itself for now, even though I can't shake that something is less pleasant in spite of the weather. Hard to explain."<br />
<br />
As one gets closer, the overwhelming smell of something ... bready can be detected. Someone is baking. <br />
<br />
There's a hint of sweetness to it, too.<br />
<br />
Could it be...?<br />
<br />
Could someone be baking -pie-?<br />
<br />
Not exactly what one would expect here at the end of things, but then, perhaps that's the best time for some pie.<br />
<br />
Looking left and right among her comrades, Magpie shrugs and does what everyone is suggesting, but understandably hesitant to do; she toddles up, and knocks on the door. "Auntie Taara?" she calls, figuring hey... even if she robbed her way there, being *a* goddess of magic affords one the respect of the magically-blooded. "Auntie Taara, we've come to visit? Are you all right?"<br />
<br />
Aryia slows as she smells baked goods. Damn. When did she eat last? All of this was so ephemeral it was hard to tell. Wait, focus. She gives a quick look to the party, one of 'you all smell that, right?', before she shakes her head and rests against the side of the doorframe. She raises a brow. Auntie Taara?<br />
<br />
"I'd love to try your cherry pie!" Skyler adds on the heels of Magpie, "And boy, do I have an *amazing* story to tell you! There was this box and inside it was this kid and he was like an angel but then some dragon ate fish from my hand and now we go get drunk at taverns together!"<br />
<br />
He pauses, and adds to the group, "It's actually a really traumatizing story."<br />
<br />
Dirk lumbers along with his friends, though his plodding step slows as they approach the house. His big dwarven nose twitches as he sniffs the air. "Oh, beards o' me sweet tapdancin' -fathers-," he groans softly. His hefty middle gives an -infuriated- sounding rumble. How long ago -did- he eat last? Far too long, from the sound of things. He looks towards the cabin with a pained expression. "Och, if that's a fake cherry pie I'm smellin', it's a really really -good- fake," he says. He glances at the others, then lifts up his hand to cup the side of his mouth. "Missus Taara, marm! It's me, Dirk Stormgrip. -I've- got a tale tae tell that -isn't- traumatizing! How does -that- sound, eh?"<br />
<br />
"Didn't take her for a baker, assuming that's actually her in there." Eztli shrugged to no one in particular, the makari meandering down to the actual door as others knocked on it. "Don't forget who we're potentially dealing with. Lies and all that, I'm not sure I'd trust anything baking."<br />
<br />
"Is someone there?" comes a small voice. "Moggie, can you check?"<br />
<br />
"Ugh. Can't you see I'm busy?" comes a rougher male voice before an older man, barrel chested man from years of toil opens the door and squints at the pair.<br />
<br />
""The hell are you people supposed to be?" he asks gruffly. <br />
<br />
The smell of pie only intensifies. The interior of the cottage appears ... alarmingly quaint. -VERY-. <br />
<br />
Disgustingly so.<br />
<br />
"Oh wow. I wouldn't mind *his* cherry pie." Skyler mutters to no one in particular, eyes widening before he clasps a hand over his mouth... and discreetly takes several steps back to the rear of the strange party.<br />
<br />
Sometimes you have to know when to let someone else take the lead. Such is wisdom, and Skyler is a very wise man, even if he isn't a very intelligent one.<br />
<br />
This is very awkward.<br />
<br />
You see, when you were a priestess in a different life, devoted to a sect of the unholy matrimony between Maugrim and Taara, you tend to expound on their tales of how they came together and stayed.<br />
<br />
So Aryia, now a devout atheist, stares up at the very man who she used to venerate in an adjacent manner. She, uncharacteristically, trembles. And then raises a hand to sign-<br />
<br />
"Hello. We're supposed to be your wake up call." Shit. She didn't think this far. His presence threw all her thoughts out the window. <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
"Moggie? Oh you've gotta be fucking kidding me, we've gotta deal with him too?" Ezti grumbled under her breath before they got to the door. "Hey, good evening, we just happened to be in the area and we were wondering what was going on with all the baking here?" She managed to offer for some manner of explanation.<br />
<br />
Dirk looks up--and up, and up, and up--at the imposing figure of Maugrim before him. "Heek." He's suddenly -very- aware of the fact that his beard grooming was interrupted before all this started. He hurriedly smooths his hands down his whiskers, doing his best to get them into some kind of semblance of order, before he steps forward. "Aye, as me comrade here says, Master Maugrim. Sir. As we understand it, ye all need some stories, aye?" His tubby middle snarls angrily again, and he puts both his palms to it, as if -that- would soothe the bottomless pit inside him. "Well, as it just so happens, we need some o' that delicious-smellin' pie. So... perhaps we might work a trade, eh?"<br />
<br />
'Moggie,' Magpie mouths, eyes wide. Somehow, it feels like not even Maugrim would *allow* his wife to call him that; it's just too undignified.<br />
<br />
Her mouth works open and closed for a moment, as she tries to think of a good answer to that question... and failing one, simply leans over and yells past the man, into the house. "Auntie Taara, we've come to visit, and talk! And perhaps if you'd be so kind... maybe one of your famous stories? The kind that made Ceinara ash herself with jealousy?"<br />
<br />
Look, play to your audience. Taara might not be a *nice* person, but this may be the one time a minor blasphemy might be overlooked.<br />
<br />
'Moggie' sort of stands there, staring at the lot of you. <br />
<br />
"Bloody hell, I didn't know the family was rolling in," he says after a moment, "Come on in, everyone. Have a seat. I'll go break open the keg."<br />
<br />
Wait, family? Well,t hat's weird. <br />
<br />
The lady of the house is a smiling woman dressed in dark clothing with long, scarlet hair. She seems thrilled to see everyone, moving closer to give them a hug, individually. "Oh, you all made it! I'm so thrilled."<br />
<br />
That's weird. A moment ago she had no idea who you were, now she's acting like you were always meant to be here and our family.<br />
<br />
Like ...<br />
<br />
... like she's an aunt. Your aunt. Isn't she?<br />
<br />
"Auntie Taara! Uncle Moggie!" Skyler pushes forward as he feels the narrative shift, not even attempting to keep up with the logic... Shades of the Skyler that rejected the measured, stately dances in favor of booging and enjoying the moment. Although he does give Aryia's shoulder a quick, reassuring squeeze on his way past.<br />
<br />
"It's been so damn long! Since..." He pauses, eyes squinting, "Well. It's been a while! Hugs?"<br />
<br />
And he holds his arms out hopefully to Maugrum fully prepared to get an armful of the Tyrant and rest his face against the pillowy bosom of his pectorals.<br />
<br />
The unspoken agreement that goes through the party gets Aryia to wince, stymied entirely from progressing. But a squeeze on her shoulder gets her to snap to the present. She looks to Skyler with a harried expression, fear in her eyes. But she clasps his forearm, inhales deeply, and settles into the role, reaffirmed. A thankful nod is tossed his way.<br />
<br />
She slips into the abode as they're all invited, stepping aside as the others file in. Her attention is all too focused else where before-<br />
<br />
The lady of the house hugs Aryia. She freezes up.<br />
<br />
Then takes Taara into a tight, hearty embrace. 'I missed you so much,' she mutters near-silently by Her ear.<br />
<br />
She lets Her go, again.<br />
<br />
The pugilist wipes at her eyes.<br />
<br />
Dirk has seen much in his long years upon Ea. He's championed a swanmay princess. He's been blessed by angels. He's heard the voices of the Green Word. -Now-... he's getting a hug from a goddess. Even stranger, he finds himself returning that hug, throwing his burly arms around Taara and giving her a proper Dwarf Hug. "Och, Auntie Taara, it's -so- good tae see ye!" he booms cheerfully. "An' Uncle Maugrim! Lookin' fit as ever, I see! Och, maybe someday soon ye'll be as hefty as -I- am! Hah!"<br />
<br />
He turns his attention back to Taara. Hey, if the gods are all like this--friendly, warm, with a cozy home and delicious treats--then maybe they aren't so bad after all. "Auntie, I smelled that pie yer bakin' from nearly a furlong away. Och, I'm -starvin'-! An' boy oh -boy- do we have some stories fer -you-!"<br />
<br />
Blink. Blink. Last Eztli could tell, Taara wasn't a gnome. She was half expecting the goddess to shrink down to the size of an aunt until she realized what was going on. "A-ah, yes! Something to drink would be appreciated." She spoke up after a moment to collect herself. The hug certainly wasn't helping. "Did you make a chilled pie for Skyler too? You know how particular he is about his oat milk, after all."<br />
<br />
"Of course we made it, Auntie Taara," Magpie laughs, throwing her arms up to give the best hug her stubby little everything is capable of giving. "How could we stand the thought of our Auntie feeling lonely?" 'Uncle Moggie' gets a brief side-eye, as Magpie isn't *quite* sure whether or not he's the actual Tyrant, and not a figment of the Void.<br />
<br />
"But how are you *doing,* Auntie?" she presses onward, reaching up to pat Ariya's arm in what she hopes is a comforting way.<br />
<br />
There, there.<br />
<br />
-To be continued-<br />
<br />
[[Category:PRPs]]</div>Aryiahttp://www.tenebraemush.net/index.php?title=Where%27d_They_Go%3F_That%27s_Where&diff=44515Where'd They Go? That's Where2025-11-21T04:40:24Z<p>Aryia: </p>
<hr />
<div>Darkness.<br />
<br />
Alexandria has been consumed in it for a hot minute, hasn't it? Not the kind of darkness of night's fall and early winter's days, but the more metaphorical kind: a creeping, slowly spreading chill, a tension building of a coming ending: the moment before the boot drops, so to speak.<br />
<br />
You aren't sure what you were doing, or even how long its been, but here you are: painfully aware of that boot, and unsure where you are. There's an expanse of swirling blackness, and you are alone in it.<br />
<br />
... until your hear a voice: people calling out.<br />
<br />
"Five more minutes!" Skyler grouses, as if the call of the voices were people attempting to wake him up, "Mama, I do not want the pony with the fancy forelock, for he bit me when I fed him sugar cubes."<br />
<br />
Beat.<br />
<br />
"Oh wait. I'm not asleep."<br />
<br />
Another beat. "Gods this is getting *weird* in Alexandria."<br />
<br />
Dirk pauses with his brush in mid-stroke, poised over his beard as that darkness overwhelms him. He blinks owlishly, squinting and peering in the gloom. That doesn't seem right. -He- can see in the dark just fine, usually. "What in Dana's flowery green -arse-?" he grumbles. He fumbles his way to the window of his inn room and flings it open. Perhaps if he can see outside, something will make sense. If only it were that easy. "Och, what the hell is this? What the hell is goin' on here?!" he shouts out into the void. Will it help? Maybe not, but it helps to be able to do -something-. It's proof that he's not going deaf as well as blind in his old age.<br />
<br />
Aryia is quite used to the dark. Pitch black, or even darker. Perhaps the last gift of Taara. Or maybe she's just built different. So it is *weird* that she can't even see past her own nose.<br />
<br />
She catches a voice, then two, turning that way and gives a quiet, two toned whistle as she claps her hands together, trying to light up the dark.<br />
<br />
Eztli was left in some state of confusion at the darkness around her. The makari flicked a small flame between two of her fingers, that seemed to do little to actually disperse the darkness. Sound still worked though, right? The sorceress carefully picked her way through the shadows to not trip on anything, trying to find the source of the noise.<br />
<br />
Aryia manages to get her hands alight with moonlight, but still, barely able to catch anything before her reach. A tinge of panic crawls of up her neck, but she locks that down.<br />
<br />
"What a worthless little cretin. Get rid of it." A distance voice rolled by over her shoulder. A man's. She felt a weight land in her hand. It was dropped like hot iron. "What? Scared? They're useless. You will be too if you don't-"<br />
<br />
A whistling streak of moonlight punches the air behind her, her finding herself panting and slowly backing up. What... is that...?<br />
<br />
"...Albus?" Magpie says, turning this way and that, trying to pierce the gloom. "...Is it time for another Crimson Pen book? Or... wait... You're *not* a book anyore, right? Didn't we--"<br />
<br />
Backing away from the calling voice, Magpie does what comes natural; putting a Light spell on the headdress-coin directly over her forehead, because when you need a light you need it close.<br />
<br />
"The.. pony..."<br />
<br />
"Pony..." A voice seems to echo around Skyler, making his eyes widen and his skin to visibly pimple up.<br />
<br />
"Pony..." Or at least, it would if anyone could see him.<br />
<br />
"Pony... would... not bite... if you did... not ride it so harshly..."<br />
<br />
"Harshly... little toadstool.." Again the voice echos, and Skyler spins around with fist raised, eyes dilated in utter terror. "No. You're *dead*. You're dead and *he* killed you!"<br />
<br />
And he hears the sound of a voice crooning a discordant melody, something about 'heal heal little frog' that's equal parts silly but, judging by how Skyler seems to be covering his ears, equally parts terrifying to him at least.<br />
<br />
"Little hunter..." Dirk's face turns white as his beard as the soft, silky-smooth voice reaches him from the darkness. "Let me -in-, little hunter." Dirk swallows hard, his mouth turning dry. "No... it cannae be you..." He slowly backs away from the window, fumbling in the gloom for his thunderbelcher. His flailing palm catches the barrel, making the weapon topple to the floor. The clatter makes Dirk startle back with a squeak. "Yer -dead-, Demontry Kol! Dolan and Andalena put an -end- tae you! Yer dead an' gone -an' ye cannae come back!-" He stoops to snatch up his thunderbelcher and snaps it to his shoulder. He turns this way and that, panting for breath as he fights the panic clawing at his mind. "Yer dead an' gone. Ye cannae come back. Yer dead an' gone. Ye cannae come -back-!" he whispers hoarsely. But the soft, mocking laughter that rings in his ears tell him that no, Dirk, sometimes your worst nightmare really -can- come true.<br />
<br />
Eztli squinted in spite of the darkness, listening closely to the voices. She froze in place as the voices turned guttural and violent, clearly humanoid, but not quite. "I'll burn you all where you stand!" The sorceress shouted, charging off in the irection of the noise to get to the source of it, and eliminate it if need be.<br />
<br />
With her forehead shining like a beacon, Magpie *ought* to be able to see more than nothing. But the darkness is too close, too heavy, and the voice... shifts, subtly. Menace weights it's barely-understood words, a gurgling sound like an indrawn breath around a mouth full of blood.<br />
<br />
The faint crackle of fire.<br />
<br />
Timbers falling to crash into floorboards.<br />
<br />
The crack of bone.<br />
<br />
"Wait... you're not Albus," Magpie whispers... "...You're... oh *hell* no."<br />
<br />
And she turns and just bolts, fleeing in any random direction that is Away From That Ever-To-Be-Damned Wendigo.<br />
<br />
The voices fade away. Silence.<br />
<br />
All of you are alone in the dark for a moment. It's chill settles into your bones. <br />
<br />
And then a new voice, achingly familiar but just out of reach, a memory come and gone.<br />
<br />
"We are all made of stories, little ones. Seek them out."<br />
<br />
Aryia squashes her breathing, forcing it to be an even In and Out as she backs up with glowing hands raised. Focus. Whatever is going on trying to fuck with you. Find your center. That mantra goes through her head again and again until-<br />
<br />
She senses others nearby. She whistles again, a two toned low-high. And.. a voice? It was painful how familiar it was, the ache like a heart being pulled taut.<br />
<br />
"I saw him..." Skyler whispers staring at nothing as he curls up on the ground, hands wrapped around his legs, "He hurt her. He hurt her and she could not have lived through that. If she did..."<br />
<br />
What that would mean remains unknown, as he perks up when he hears the two-toned high-low whistle. Slowly, he surfaces and pulls a small little grey stone out of a small cage braided into his hair. He kisses it softly, hesitantly, and then lets go of it so it's floating around his head like a friendly little moon as he stands up and walks towards the whistles.<br />
<br />
Dirk's eyes blink open as he hears voices. Voices he knows. Voices that aren't -Kol's-. "Blessed Lady, keep an' protect me," he whispers softly as he gingerly makes his way forward. "Halloooo! Skyler! Is that you, laddie?"<br />
<br />
The voices vanished just as suddenly as they had appeared, leaving Eztli alone again with an ever growing frustration. She sighed, perking up just as the voices picked up again. "Dirk? That you over there? Not something impersonating you or something, hopefully?"<br />
<br />
Magpie is... not really paying attention. She is, after all, convinced that there's a people-eating monster in dire -- like Bear -- need of a snack.<br />
<br />
Magpie is also a smol bean. This has long been a source of great frustration, because the bulk of Alexandria is not *built* for smol beans.<br />
<br />
Both of these together may explain why a circular light bobs rapidly out of the gloom, resolving into a Magpie that crashes into Dirk, rebounding almost immediately and looking up, eyes streaming with fear-filled tears. "...D-Dirk? ...Is that *you,* buddy?!"<br />
<br />
The swashbuckling man comes face to face with a scarred-to-the-nines shadow elf with eerie glowing hands and fierce scowl that could cut through rock. She blinks. Her hands move, and understanding follows regardless of knowing the lingua franca. "Who the fuck are you?"<br />
<br />
Aryia looks to the side, hearing closer voices, barely seeing them. "Eztli? Dirk?" She waves, doing that two-toned whistle again. Her way of saying 'hey!'. <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
"Dirk?" Skyler looks *horrid* when the ol' boy finds him, eyes wide and shaking in the dim light of his (not so) happy (anymore) moon. Is he green or is that just the light of the aeon torch? "Wh.. where are we? I wanna go *home*. Jarik was gunna give me a foot rub!"<br />
<br />
He then jerks his head towards the others, and clings to the dwarf's arm. "Oh hey, I know the little one. We took on some demon-lord and she ate his nuts while I skunked his face. And is that Eztli and..."<br />
<br />
He comes face to face with Aryia, lets out a shriek, and falls backwards on his ass. "I'M TOO YOUNG AND PRETTY TO DIE IS WHO I AM!"<br />
<br />
Eztli trudged up over to where everyone else was conversing, the low growl in her throat dying down and out once she actually saw some faces attached to the voices. "Look, no one here is going to die unless there's a reason for that, and I doubt that's the case." The makari grumbled. <br />
<br />
"Now, more importantly, yeah, no clue where the hell we are. If I can get us out of here and you aren't all shadow monsters pretending to be people I know, then I can see what I can do, if it comes down to it."<br />
<br />
Dirk's eyes get wide as he spies Skyler. He doesn't even comment on the arm-clinging. He's in the mood for some clinging himself. He clutches at Skyler, eyes wide as teacups as he looks around fearfully. "Skyler! Praise the -gods- laddie. Ye won't -believe---" But then there's Aryia, and Eztli, and Magpie too. He staggers a bit as Skyler falls away from him. "Ariya! It's a'right, lassie! Skyler's an adventurer, like us!"<br />
<br />
It's about this time that Magpie enters, stage right, and smacks right into him. He sweeps his arm around her to keep her from ass-planting as well. Fortunately, while he is indeed a shortstack, he is no smol bean. He is decidedly more of a thicc bean, and so he does not tumble as easily as some others. "Magpie! It's a'right, lassie, it's me!"<br />
<br />
He looks up and around at his friends, his beard bristling. "What the hell is goin' -on-? Is this more o' Heth's bullshit? I thought we blasted that sheepfucker out the sky!"<br />
<br />
Aryia relaxes as she runs into others she knows - and more importantly trusts. And then there's this screaming man. Her glowing gaze leers down at him, ears flicking at the high pitched noise. "... sure. Pretty. Get up. My bedtime was interrupted and I'm pissed." She reaches down a hand to help hoist Skyler up - it's more like getting thrown to their feet if he accepts.<br />
<br />
She steps closer to Eztli. "Yes. Let's figure this out. I want to get back to bed."<br />
<br />
She gives a firm nod to Dirk, relaxing somewhat. "Don't know. Too dark for that. He's more a zombie dragon." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Upon confirmation of Dirk's reality, Magpie simply lunges out of his grip to wrap her arms perhaps a quarter of the way around his middle, consoling herself with a good few seconds of crying.<br />
<br />
Once big feelings in smol body are satisfied, she leans back, rubbing eyes and nose. "...Yeah no we need to be *anywhere else,* This is lookin' just a little too Void-y for my liking.<br />
<br />
"Evil never dies, Dirk." Skyler says earnestly, as he stares from Dirk to Aryia and then at Eztli and Magpie before accepting the hand to his feet a touch self-consciously as his little moon stalls behind his head. Is it embarrassed to be orbiting the swashbuckler?<br />
<br />
Do they even do that?<br />
<br />
But then it comes around again and he's schooled his face into a grin of amusement. Sure, he's flung to his feet, but he's *Skyler* and manages to twist midair to land nimbly on his feet, brushing off his best feature.<br />
<br />
... His shoulders, duh! "Evil just gets kinda winded and then apparently comes back to throw our deepest trauma at us. Did anyone else see or hear someone or something horrible, or am I just depressed and/or mentally ill?" He scratches his chin consideringly, "Although I think they aren't mutually exclusive. Oh, hey little squirrel!" And he pulls a little lacy bit of fabric out of thin air, and offers it to her, "For your face. You can blow your nose too, 'coz I don't want it back if you use it."<br />
<br />
Dirk wraps Magpie up in his arms and gives her a proper Dwarf Sized hug, a (likely very successful) attempt to crush her soul back into her body. Also, he's trembling himself, and it helps to have someone to cling to. "Easy there lassie. Yer a'right. Fer now, at least. Yer among friends," he says, as soothingly as he can. Once Magpie turns loose, he does the same. He looks up and around at the others. "No, lad, it wasnae just you. I heard... -him-." He shudders, gripping the stock of his thunderbelcher until his knuckles turn white. "Demontry Kol. That rat -bastard- of a vampire. Och, of all the villains I ever fought, he was the -worst-."<br />
<br />
"Th-th Wendigo," Magpie stammers, accepting the lacy cloth with a watery smile and using it to de-gunkify her face. "Thanks... You're *lots* nicer as a person," she says. "...But you made a *heck* of a skunk. Anyway... That's what I was running from. I couldn't see anything... but it sounded like we were back in that in, and just.... no. Nuh-uh."<br />
<br />
"I'm not too confident this is something we can figure out nice and quick, much as I'd like that." Eztli sighed, rubbing the back of her head. "If we're not in Alexandria, teleporting would always work, but I don't know any spells to go cross planes, which is more likely. So, whatever way is out of here, it's on the terms of whatevers got us here."<br />
<br />
"I mean he was a little handsy when *I* ran into him, but after I killed him half a dozen times he got the hint." Skyler says reflectively regarding Dirk's terror, reaching over and patting Magpie on the top of her head. "I don't think I can do a handstand and shake my ass at this problem, alas." He tells the smolbean sadly, "But I'm glad to have you here with me, and we're in some pretty fierce company." He puffs his chest, "Not to brag, but I'm a Gentleman Adventurer, Eztli once sat fire to some stuffed animals, Dirk doesn't shoot blanks despite his age, and she looks terrifying." He jerks his thumb at Ariya. "Surely she's done some dope-ass shit in her time. Silent but *deadly*." Ah, the emotional recovery abilities of a dumbass. They should be studied! He beams around at the group, tucking thumbs in his belt. "We got this!"<br />
<br />
And then Eztli puts a rain on the parade, and he sags. "Spoilsport."<br />
<br />
If Aryia is surprised from the smooth twist and land, she only shows it through a little shrug and a cocked brow. "Yes, I did. Heard my old owner," she answers Skyler. "He should be dead."<br />
<br />
The name Kol catches a tinge of recognition, so she gets closer to everyone to close the ranks. The thumb towards her gets her attention, a snort escaping her. "I simply solve problems by going through them. The others can tell the tales. But we seem competent enough to untangle this."<br />
<br />
She inhales. Out. "So... did anyone hear that other voice?" <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Dirk shakes his head. "He could always get in my head," he says tightly. "I couldnae keep 'im out, nae matter how hard I tried. He could turn me intae his adorin' wee little -slave-. Och." He draws a shaky breath, looking over at Eztli. "Gods, what I wouldnae give tae have Lana or Telamon here. Or Missus Verna, or Master Mikilos. -They'd- know what tae do." He glances back at Aryia, studying the movement of her hands. "Other voice?" he asks, looking back up at her face. "I... I'm nae certain. Could it have been one of us that ye heard, perhaps...?"<br />
<br />
"Something about being made of stories," Aryia replies to Dirk in a quick flit. "Might have been my imagination. This place seems fucked." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
"Maybe we were kidnapped by fairies. I had that happen once." Skyler says brightly, as he glances around, "Anyone see a mushroom circle? They give you hints if you pee on them, the kinky little things."<br />
<br />
There are no mushroom circles.<br />
<br />
Alas, there is only a profound, chilling darkness that seems to extend in all directions.<br />
<br />
And then... <br />
<br />
... there it is.<br />
<br />
That voice.<br />
<br />
Warm, rich, melodious even. "Find the thread. One will bring you to me. A final corruption."<br />
<br />
There, something takes shape. A home rising up out of the dark. Lonely looking, in the sense, but it's a several story manor home from the look of it.<br />
<br />
"I'm not useless, you know, I just don't make it a habit of fucking around with other planes of existence, so I never bothered learning more about it. Which clearly, in hindsight, wasn't a good idea." Eztli huffed, trying not to glare at the comments. "Didn't hear too much, maybe someone's trying to mess with me, since I'd recognize those noises anywhere. Maybe they thought they had more of a hold over me still." <br />
<br />
The makari watched as the building appeared, and sighed. "Well, that's a trap if I ever saw it, but unless anyone has any better leads, or wants to see what happens if we teleport somewhere else at the moment, Doesn't look like much of a choice, does it?"<br />
<br />
Aryia just gives Skyler a /look/. "Okay, fairy pisser. You could just-"<br />
<br />
Her hands still as that voice snakes through the air. Hands drop, looking over to- oh. "-h f-ck m- s-d-w-ys," Aryia hisses through clenched teeth, her grey skin paling. "I know that house. Gird yourselves. Last time I was there, I stepped into a fucked up bloody aftermath of a massacre." She goes through a few motions: cracking her neck and rolling her shoulders before taking point. <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
<OOC> Aryia uses Ki: Barkskin <br />
<br />
Dirk gives Skyler a -look-, his bushy white brows furrowing as he tugs at his beard. "I... I'm nae sure it works -quite- like that, lad," he says. "Although there's plenty out there in the wilds that'll do summat if ye piss on it. I dinnae judge." He looks back to Ariya and snaps his fingers. "Och! Yer so right! I heard that too! Just..." He waves a hand around. "All o' -this- is goin' on..." He looks like he might like to elaborate, but then there's that manor rising up out of the gloom. He looks up (and up and up), his eyes getting wide once again as his jaw drops. "Erh?" That's about all he can manage. Fortunately, Ariya's there to fill in the blanks. At her warning, he lifts his thunderbelcher and racks the slide with a satisfying CHK-CHAK. "Right. Let's finish this up an' get back tae Alex. I have tae finish groomin' me beard."<br />
<br />
GAME: Eztli casts Mage Armor. Caster Level: 14 DC: 20<br />
<br />
"There's a whore I know that taught me the *best* balm for frizzy hair!" Skyler tells Dirk brightly, "You are looking a little poofy. Works extra well on bristly, curly hair. We can even add some dyes to make it fun colors! I once committed piracy with a guy that had a purple beard. It got all over everything, especially when it rained, but he said it helped immensely with split ends." <br />
<br />
As he rattles away, his hand reaches up to draw his wickedly curved blade, tossing it into the air and catching it with a flourish before pausing to check his boots for scuffs. One gets wiped away, before he nods at Aryia, ignoring the look. He once dressed in Verdama drag and flirted with one of Her paladins. It takes more than that to rattle him. "Of course it's a trap. But we know it's a trap, so we're springing it on our terms. Who do we wanna send in first, or do we all want to jump in at once so they can't single anyone out?"<br />
<br />
There's warmth in that home, unlike the chill of the place you're in. You can feel it as you get closer. Love, laughter, and light oozing from it at stark odds with the nature of the place.<br />
<br />
And ... <br />
<br />
...music? You can hear it now. Joyous. Lively.<br />
<br />
GAME: Magpie casts Mass Planar Adaptation. Caster Level: 15 DC: 25<br />
<br />
Dirk gives Skyler another -look-. "I do not need a purple beard," he grumbles. "Make me look like one o' those nutty oddbeards. Hrumph!" He mutters and grumbles as he lumbers along, his posture tense as a coiled spring. But then, hearing that cheery music, and seeing how warm and inviting the place looks... it slows the burly old snowbeard's step. "Aye-yup. This is -definitely- a trap," he grumbles.<br />
<br />
As the others begin to gird up for trouble, Magpie stands there, brow furrowed for a moment. Then, she wets the end of a finger and holds it up to the air, nodding slowly... and begins to chant. The words... don't matter much, sliding off ears and brains as she speaks into her cupped hands. Power gathers there, pooling into a roiling, chaotic mass of liquid light of any and all possible colors. Then, at the apex of her chant, she slams her hands together, and the power sprayes out in all directions, settling over herself and her friends in a shimmering ward that soon fades into only the occasional multicolored glimmer.<br />
<br />
"...Been a tour guide out in the Planes for awhile," she says quietly. "Wherever we are, we're plane-lost. I can get us back, but... this feels *important.*<br />
<br />
"I agree, we're not on this plane," Aryia nods towards Magpie, taking the magic with appreciation. The stark contrast of how the home feels now versus how she remembered it is deeply unsettling. Last Aryia was here, it looked like people suddenly left mid-party. But here, it looked like the party was still going on.<br />
<br />
"I can take it. Prepare for Taaranites," she volunteers, stepping forth towards the manor and... she inhales deeply. Lines of energy flare on her skin in a flash. And she opens the door. <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
<OOC> Aryia uses Ki: Diamond Soul, Gain Spell Resist 30<br />
<br />
"Oh, great, cultists, hiding in a plane of darkness, and something warning about corruption. Suppose that explains why people can sound like they're having so much fun in a place like this." Eztli grumbled, waving one hand over her shimmering robes. "You always sleep with your guns and swords on you? Suppose I would too if I didn't have a way to defend myself these days."<br />
<br />
The door opens. <br />
<br />
It looks very inviting! Just waiting for you.<br />
<br />
That can't be bad, right?<br />
<br />
Aryia hesitates at the door, looking back at the others before peering inside. It felt... odd. The carpet wasn't sodden with blood, and music was flowing like the drinks. "Just stay focused." But alas- she enters, eyes darting through the party. On edge.<br />
<br />
Dirk grunts softly as he feels Magpie's protective magicks settle on him. "Glad we've got -you- here wi' us, lassie," he says. "Gods, I've lost track o' how many times yer magicks have come in clutch." He squares up with the manor, swinging his thunderbelcher to rest it over his shoulder. As he lumbers forward, he glances at Etzli. "Nae -usually-, no. I like me gun well an' all--I made it meself after all--but hardly enough tae sleep wi' the thing. That's just weird." He trundles forward, heading for the door, and whatever might lie beyond it.<br />
<br />
And Aryia bounces Skyler, sword held at the ready as he glances left to right with bright eyes and a grin that suggests he's ready for anything.<br />
<br />
Eztli shrugs and doesn't seem too perturbed for the moment by the building before them, and like the others, is quick to enter. "Focused as well as I can be, maybe it'll be easier inside where I can actually see things, hopefully."<br />
<br />
"Don't forget," Magpie says, giving Dirk a distracted grin as he talks her up. "Find the thread. It was important enough for nothing to say, it's important enough to *remember.*"<br />
<br />
But she's still trying to place the voice as she files on in behind the rest... ready to see what needs a little chaos.<br />
<br />
"Welcome, welcome!"<br />
<br />
You're greeted almost immediately by a man in in loosely fitting robes. Silk.<br />
<br />
"It's been so long since we had guests at the door! Come in! Come in! Enjoy! Wine?" Was he holding a platter moments ago? No? <br />
<br />
Does it matter? He is now. Red wine.<br />
<br />
"We're so happy to see you! I'm sure we've been expecting you."<br />
<br />
The home unfolds into a radcuous, hedonistic party. Everyone is singing along, dancing, drinking. It's -merry-.<br />
<br />
Merry everywhere to the heart's desire. Everything is luxurious...<br />
<br />
Dirk wasn't at all certain what to expect out of this alien, otherworldly place. Aside from a couple jaunts into Quel'ynos, he's kept his feet firmly planted on Ea's face. But -this-... it's familiar. -Too- familiar. The old snowbeard swan-dives headfirst into the uncanny valley. His cheeks turn bright red, and his beard bristles as he stumbles and stammers. "Uh... uh... I... uh... that is tae say..." He reaches up to doff his tricorne, glancing around furtively before turning a -desperate- look on Skyler. The sky pirate's the charming one--surely -he- knows what to say? All poor Dirk can think to do is fidget from foot to foot. He doesn't want to be -rude-, really, but he -was- kidnapped, and now he's at a party. Normally something he'd quite enjoy, if not for the circumstances. He's fairly certain he didn't receive an RSVP to -this- particular gathering.<br />
<br />
Eztli looked even more sour than usual, the sorceress not appreciating the party in the slightest. ""Gods, if anyone asks who your parents are, just tell them that they're too important to bother telling them." She grumbled to no one in particular before stepping inside.<br />
<br />
"Oh, hey! Do you guys have oat milk?" Skyler asks brightly as he shoves his way to the front of the crowd, beaming brightly at the party-goers as he glances around, "So glad you knew we were coming, coz we sure as fire didn't!"<br />
<br />
He pauses, and adds, "You'll forgive us if we don't give you our names. It's more fun that way, y'know!" And he grins brightly, "So what's all this about? What's going on? Did someone die?"<br />
<br />
Aryia is stymied briefly at the entrance, such a party rifled old, bittersweet memories. She lingers at some of the luxuries, but she shakes her head, focusing as Skyler pushes his way to the front. He seems far better suited for this environment, so she's back to watching the party for anything remiss.<br />
<br />
Totally just watching.<br />
<br />
"Oat Milk?"<br />
<br />
A beat.<br />
<br />
"Well, I suppose I can check the pantries. They're ... very well stocked? Amazing. It's like a never ending pantry of anything and everything we could want, so perhaps!"<br />
<br />
He smiles warmly at them, then turns to lead them further in.<br />
<br />
It's ... it's a party. There's people singing, laughing, dancing. They all seem to be having a good time. There's no end to it. Every room you pass by, pass through, is filled to the brim with people locked in some sort of eternal festival and they all look like they're having the time of their life. <br />
<br />
And not a knife to be seen anywhere. "There's some space in this room," he says, cheerfully, pointing the way down another hallway. This place is impossible to figure out. The interior makes no sense to the exterior. One gets the impression it doesn't really matter to any of them.<br />
<br />
Dirk shuffles along with the others as they're led inward. He's never one to turn down a good party. No dwarf worth his beard would be. But all of -this- seems to be a bit much for the old ranger. A small gathering of friends in a cheerful inn room is much more his speed. He stares all around as they make their way in. The strange geometries and curious angles has the poor old dwarf's eyes crossing. "Beards o' me sweet tapdancin' fathers. What the hell--"<br />
<br />
He pauses with one foot poised to take a step before he stops in his tracks. Sloooowly he turns his head and leeeeeans back, peering into a room. His eyes get wide, and his cheeks turn red as beets. He swiftly resumes his pace, harrumphing softly as he fans himself with his tricorne. "So ah... heh... quite the er... -lively- gatherin' ye've got goin' on here," he says to their strange host. "There a special occasion? Or are ye all just a naturally happy lot?"<br />
<br />
"Maybe I was too harsh in my judgement. I think they might genuinely just be here to have fun with no ulterior motives. Maybe." Eztli relented as they wandered further into the strange party. "So, what's your name, then? What's the occasion for all of this, anyways?"<br />
<br />
"Hey question!" Magpie calls from much closer to the floor; imposible angles and eldritch geometries... Yeah they're weird, but pay attention to your feet and you'll be fine. "Like he said; what *are* y'all celebrating, anyway? I ain't never seen a party this size without *somethin'* kickin' it off!"<br />
<br />
The gnome seems more... curious, than suspicious, as she examines passed hallways and chambers. Maybe the thread is a literal one?<br />
<br />
This isn't the first or second time that Aryia had been in an otherworldly place where the festivities were eternal. She follows, better to go along with the tide than to fight against it. Especially since they're still trying to sort out what's going on.<br />
<br />
The fact that she hasn't spotted the that knife was both relaxing as it was concerning. A thought that is discarded as she peers into the same room as Dirk. Her brows raise as she whistles lowly, before lazily trailing along with the others after a moment.<br />
<br />
"Hey! When you find the oat milk, maybe also get us the answers to our questions?" Skyler asks brightly, his tone firm but friendly, cheerful even as he squints at the back of the leading figure. "And space for what? Are we having an orgy? I mean, usually I like a little more prep work before group debauchery. And if you think for a second I'm sharing my oat milk, you really are insane."<br />
<br />
He asides to the group, "This is definitely a trap. But, like, is it the kind of fun trap where we all end up naked and covered in cheese, or the kind of trap that ends with us eating someone's flesh? Because I won't do that again. People are kinda gamey." Surely he jests, right?<br />
<br />
Dirk flicks his wide-eyed gaze around at his friends. His friends are safe. The old dwarf is hardly a prude, but even he has his limits. And the heedless abandon permeating this place is a -very- long way beyond that line. If there's anything he can't stand, its losing control of himself. He's had enough of that to last a lifetime.<br />
<br />
But then Skyler has to go and do Skyler things. The old snowbeard's gaze snaps to the swashbuckler. "Naked an' covered in--" He stops in his tracks again, his jaw working for a moment as his cheeks once again turn red as beets. "How's -that- get fun?!" he finally manages in a strangled tone. He doesn't mention the flesh eating. Erotic cheese dip is -so- much easier on his poor frazzled nerves.<br />
<br />
"We are celebrating Taara, of course! How could you not know?" He tilts his head at you, smiling still. "We feast, we sing, we dance, and we tell stories. We lie, we cheat, we manipulte, and we tell stories. All that lives, wants, and all that is dead wants to live. That is why we are here. She has called us to her Side. She is near."<br />
<br />
Oh boy.<br />
<br />
'Find the thread.'<br />
<br />
'Find the thread.''We sing, we dance, we tell stories.'<br />
<br />
'Find the thread.'<br />
<br />
'We lie, we cheat, and we tell stories.'<br />
<br />
In a rush, Magpie draws in a breath, and reaches up to take a glass of wine from the tray. "So, she says, with her most engaging smile, "would you do us the favor of telling us a story? About Taara?"<br />
<br />
"Very gamey," Aryia concurs with a gesture. Was she joking? Does Aryia joke? She glances to Dirk. Shrugs. "Gouda is pretty fun. I can see it."<br />
<br />
Her footfalls stop hard with a stomp. Pales. Gulps. This is Her domain. Magpie comes swooping in with a way forward, grounding the mul'neissa woman that should be completely at ease here. She would have in a different, past life. She is not that woman anymore, and is thankful someone else can fill those shoes. <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
"If I have to explain it, Dirk..." Skyler shakes his head, and jerks his thumb at the dwarf as he addresses the guide, "If we do go cannibal, he's probably a little tough. Probably best to stew him. Low heat, long cook time in an oven." He then cocks his head at Magpie, nodding.<br />
<br />
"Preferably with refreshments. I want oak milk. Warm, maybe, with some honey stirred in? My nanny use to give me a cup every night when she told me stories." He says with a charming, winsome smile, "You'd be surprised at home much I don't know." He says with pride, "I mean, knowing stuff takes so much work. Easier just to vibe! So why don't you get us refreshments and we can listen to your Taaran stories, maybe pull some thread, indulge in pulling Her threads, whatever else we need to do to *party*!"<br />
<br />
"I would rather avoid anything involving cheese or eating people myself." Eztli sighed. "Great, she's near. So, that means we should probably get going, right? Sounds like the case to me, if this is some exclusive Taaran gathering."<br />
<br />
Dirk's eyes get wider still. "Taara. -Taara-? -The- Taara? The goddess of--" He looks for a moment like he'd like to say something -very- unflattering. But he gets ahold of his tongue and snaps his mouth shut. His beard bristles for a moment. "Er. Uh. I mean tae say. The goddess of... things." He gestures lamely all around. That's nice and neutral, right? Surely -that- won't offend a goddess in Her own realm.<br />
<br />
Once again, Skyler gets a -look-. "Och! You lot take it intae yer heads an' cook -me-, I'll go straight tae yer hips, I swear tae fuckin' Dana," he grumbles. It's hardly the first time some nasty beastie or foul fiend has threatened to make a meal of him, but -this- time it feels different. He nods eagerly at Eztli, pointing her way. "-She- gets it!"<br />
<br />
"No, Eztli," Magpie says, shaking a finger next to her head, and beginning to pace. "No... I think we're nearly there. It *feels* close, because what *is* a story? It's the lie that outlines a truth. And they have stories... *and I would hear them.* I want to see the common thread."<br />
<br />
Oh, no, Magpie seems to be locking into her theory, looking up at the revelers with a sort of hunger in her shimmering eyes.<br />
<br />
There's a distinct pause from the young man as the others talk. He tilts his head, adjusting his hood and pulling it down all together. Yep, he's a shadow elf too. Of course he is. <br />
<br />
All smiles.<br />
<br />
"Of COURSE I'll talk to you about Taara. But I think you're here for a reason -- no one gets in uninvited you see -- so why don't you look around and find who invited you?"<br />
<br />
He gestures beyond into the party.<br />
<br />
"Let your journey be the story that warms your hearts in the night or failing that, be worth the hangover."<br />
<br />
While that milk idea sounds pretty good to Aryia, but the weight of what others point make her even more nervous, especially as Magpie seems to hit the mark. An unsettling thing with the normally stoic pugilist. And then-<br />
<br />
She was /invited/ here. Into Taara's domain? Aryia gave up on her over half a century ago. "I tell no more lies, not even to myself anymore," she gestures, looking out to the party proper. "But, fine. Guess we'll have to mingle. Try to not overdo it." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Magpie is just about to say something incredibly clever... when they are put on a scavenger hunt. Words die in her throat, her finger loses it's pointer-y-ness, and she sort of... deflates, just a little. Looking back up at the reveler, she tries on a crooked grin?<br />
<br />
"...A clue, perhaps? Cryptic or plain, honest or red herring, it's momentum that matters, is it not?"<br />
<br />
She *has* her suspicions... but to be wrong might also be blasphemy, so...<br />
<br />
"Wonderful, so we've all got a reason to be here, for something or other. Maybe just the entertainment?" The makari shrugged, not looking to pleased. "So be it, gods I hate mingling at parties,but if that's what we need to do, so be it. Be a bit harder when all I've got to rely on is my winning personality and humility, but we've gotta do something, right?"<br />
<br />
"What if my thread is oat milk?" Skyler asks in a tiny, hopeful little voice before he sighs, scrubs his face with one hand, and shakes his head sadly. "Curses. Fate is a fickle bitch once again."<br />
<br />
He then squares his shoulders, and glances at his party. "Maybe it has something to do with the traumatic visions we heard?" He pauses, and adds to Eztli, "You also have your fiery wit!" And he mimes flames coming out of his mouth, and flails his hands like he's burning. "Crispy."<br />
<br />
Dirk looks up at their host and blinks owlishly. Blink. Blink blink. "Uh..." He looks back towards the room that had just captured his attention moments ago. Of -course- it's still within easy reach, it's fresh in Dirk's mind. "-Taara-? Taara invited -me-? -The- Taara? Och, I'm naebody, why would Taara invite -me-?" He mutters and harrumphs, tugging at his beard as he glances around. Aryia's suggestion has the old ranger boggling slightly. "Mingle? -Me-? Och, but, this is all so... so..." He fumbles for a diplomatic word. "-Lively-," is what he eventually goes with. "I'd just bring the vibe down. You know us dwarves. We're all a bunch o' grounches, us. We'd rather spend our time scowlin' intae a mug o' beer in a gloomy corner. Ayep, that's us, right there." He fidgets with his tricorne, looking around at his friends. Surely they're not suggesting the cardinal sin of splitting the party, are they...?<br />
<br />
"Is that so?" remarks the young man to Aryia, curiously, "Truth is funny thing, you know, that exists in the space between one's story and another's." He takes a step back, smiles at Magpie, and then offers her another glass of wine just because.<br />
<br />
"She waits for all of you." <br />
<br />
And then he disappears into the swirling, dancing crowd.<br />
<br />
Aryia flexes her jaw. "That space is where truth lies, and where truth lies," she replies back with a hand. The mute glances to Magpie. "Momentum matters, it seems. And either we spin this tale in an endless inertia of debauchery or we press forward. Probably has to deal with the horrid shit we saw like Skyler said. So..."<br />
<br />
She rubs her face. Dirk is right, Taara invited /them/? This has to be a sick joke, or and honest plea, and it was frustrating it could be both at the same time. "... let's get into the party or some shit. Fuck me." Aryia moves past the room they peered at, following into the dancing crowd. <Handspeech/Tongues> <br />
<br />
Skyler?<br />
<br />
He's already gone, shrugging out of his coat. "WHO HERE HAS EVER DONE VODKA AND OAT MILK SHOTS?!" He's shouting over the crowd, even as he shakes his ass, "It tastes like hell but oh my god the way it *lingers*! WOOOHOOO!"<br />
<br />
"Does it?" <br />
<br />
"Shit, let's try it!"<br />
<br />
"Let's find some oat milk!"<br />
<br />
"What the hell is oat milk?"<br />
<br />
"WHO KNOWS!"<br />
<br />
"...Okay well since no one got smoten saying it, yeah, pretty sure that's who we have to find, Magpie says, absently swirling the wine... then pausing as Skyler sends a group of Taaranites on a wild oats chase. "Hey, guys? I'm reminded of a saying I heard from a Rosalian... 'In vino, veritas.' This is totally a bad idea, but...."<br />
<br />
Drawing in a short breath, she takes a long swallow of the wine.<br />
<br />
Eztli was left shaking her head awkwardly as some of the others took off. "I was just gonna find a dance floor or pole or something. Seems like the sort of stuff they'd have here." Eztli grumbled. "I don't trust any of the drink here at all, so I'll pass on the oat milk. How do you even milk a plant in the first place? Don't particularly want to know, to be perfectly honest."<br />
<br />
Dirk boggles as their host retreats, leaving them alone. "Oh, beards o' me sweet tapdancin' fathers," he whimpers softly. "How are we goin' tae get back home? We -will- be able to, won't we? Och, Thistle an' Lulu must be so worried..." He fidgets and frets, looking around for something, or anything that might resemble what they're looking for. He's certainly -not- in the mood to party. Usually, he's the one who picks what parties he goes to, and none of the debauchery is doing anything to enhance the burly old ranger's calm.<br />
<br />
As Magpie goes to drink that wine, he startles, reaching out with a "Aggkk--!" But he's too late. "Och, what if it's like in the fae realm? If ye eat or drink what they give ye, they own yer soul, or some nonsense like that," he says. Aaaaand there Skyler goes, doing Skyler things. You really have nobody to blame but yourself, Dirk. You're the one who decided he should do the talking.<br />
<br />
GAME: Aryia rolls perception: (18)+38: 56<br />
GAME: Skyler rolls Perception: (14)+21: 35<br />
GAME: Eztli rolls perception: (14)+5: 19<br />
GAME: Dirk rolls Perception: (19)+22: 41<br />
GAME: Magpie rolls percetion: (20)+percetion: 20<br />
GAME: Magpie rolls perception: (4)+15: 19<br />
<br />
It's loud.<br />
<br />
It's raucous.<br />
<br />
There are people -everywhere-, and talking to them reveals every last one is a Taaran of some kind -- in fact, many of them are actual clergy, or so they say: all too happily.<br />
<br />
They also lie.<br />
<br />
A -lot-.<br />
<br />
It's frustrating. It's annoying. It sends you in circles trying to grasp what's even happenign here, or how you might've goten here. All that is until Aryia in particular hears a voice.<br />
<br />
A familiar laugh, up a set of stairs that seems to have no end.<br />
<br />
There's a touch of old, old habit Aryia falls back into, and that is dance. One of the few vestiges of her old life that still stuck around after the slow fall to rock bottom. She sways from one group to the next, trying to get some iota of information but- she's done this all before- and it's still just as annoying. It seems like it's going to be far too much to deal with-<br />
<br />
A laugh lances through her ears and mind like a shot of old, nostalgic trauma with no ice. A wave of emotions crash against her; fear, rage, apathy, guilty relief. It had been so long to hear that voice, to wield that power. Oh- to taste that once more, the delight of a delivered lie.<br />
<br />
She let the wave crash, spread, and recede. In. Out. She didn't need Her anymore.<br />
<br />
The others. She flits through the party, tapping her friends on the shoulders and gesturing to follow. "Found the thread," she just signs in explanation, pointing to the set of stairs before heading up herself. <Handspeehc/Tongues><br />
<br />
"... And then I told him that it wasn't a banana, it was ME!" Skyler cheerfully tells a group that he's regaling with a story featuring two drunk goblins, an hobgoblin, and a basket of fruit.<br />
<br />
Don't ask.<br />
<br />
In all likelihood it's a lie, and he seems to be attempting to top himself with gusto with each new lie he attempts to tell... Although he also keeps half an eye on each of his party, distracting people attempting to interrupt them or draw trhem away from the mission. When a woman with big ol' knockers and a hungry expression begins to approach Dirk, for example, he calls out, "HEY! DID I EVER TELL YOU ABOUT THE TIME I DRESSED IN DRAG AND TRIED TO SEDUCE A PALADIN OF VARDAMA?!" to draw her away.<br />
<br />
Eztli had searched and searched, but there was nowhere to dance proper she found, outside of just meandering in between the groups of priests that seemed to treat lying like a competitive sport. By the time she was about to threaten to cut out some of their tongues and shove them down their throats, Aryia seemed to recognize something in particular this time, and the sorceress breathed a sigh of relief before reconvening.<br />
<br />
That voice.<br />
<br />
Aryia is leading you towards something she recognizes, up a set of stairs. Up another, longer set of stairs.<br />
<br />
Through narrow and dark hallway, past rooms full of party-goers and increasing levels of hedonism and debauchery. <br />
<br />
Finally, into a lounge, lit by firelight. Shadow Elves in reverent prayer are here -- prayer to Taara. Seated comfortably amongst them is a scarlet-haired shadow elf of, of course, indeterminate age. She rises to her feet, silk robes hanging comfortably on her frame.<br />
<br />
"Well, well, well," she begins, "It's so good to see you and your friends, darling."<br />
<br />
Aryia knows who that is.<br />
<br />
Aryia stops short in the doorframe. Her jaw works, eyes wide at the figure as her throat bobs. "Akorinil," she signs in a blitz of fingerspelling. She clearly is ignoring any pleasantries as the pugilist looks about the room before half looking at the High Priestess. "I take it you invited us here." It wasn't a question. A hand behind her back flashes to the group, "Caution." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
"Oh, golly, I never knew a raven could do *that* with a writing desk." Skyler tells whichever poor soul ended up getting stuck at the rear of the line with him. When the party left the main group, Skyler seemingly appeared out of thin air at the rear of the line holding a goblet of something that is vaguely milky but a little too thin to be actual milk from a cow.<br />
<br />
Is it the fabled oat milk?!<br />
<br />
Despite being by all measures something of a dunderhead, he's not stupid enough to actually drink it, but does seem to be content to carry it with him in the hopes of escaping with it. Oat milk has a longer shelf life than cow's milk, after all. He glances around with bright eyes as they enter the room with the scarlet-haired shadow-elf. He looks prepared to step forward again to take the lead when Aryia begins to wiggle her fingers. He frowns but shrugs, and leans against something after checking it for stickiness. It *is* that kind of place, after all.<br />
<br />
Dirk's eyes get wider and wider as they progress up the stairs. Each new display of hedonism and abandon has the old snowbeard's cheeks turning brighter and brighter red. "Och, if they're tryin' tae sell us, they might be goin' a -wee- bit overboard, wouldn't ye say?" he mutters, giving his beard a tug. But then, they're there, in the company of Taaranites. The redheaded shadow elf has Dirk blinking owlishly. And again when it appears that Aryia -knows- this person. His gaze flicks to the sign behind her back. His shaggy white brows furrow as he takes a step forward. One hand reaches up and over his shoulder to grip the stock of his thunderbelcher. "Right. Let's nae be havin' any biscuit-arsed behavior out o' -you-, lassie," he growls. "It seems a -lovey- party yer havin' here. It'd be such a shame fer there tae be an arse-kickin', now wouldn't it?"<br />
<br />
Eztli continued along with the rest of the group, with some idea of where to go courtesy of Aryia. The makari certainly did not know what to make of the elf, it was just another of many at the party, but she did at least get an inkling to show some manner of wariness.<br />
<br />
Magpie actually giggles at Skyler's commentary; how can one not? he puts such careful work into it, after all, it'd be a shame for his efforts to go unappreciated. She tries not to look into the doors they pass, largely because Dirk is a good enough bellwether, it serves to satisfy her curiosity.<br />
<br />
When the group tops the house to find Akorinil, however... the gnome seems confused. "I... hm... it's good to meet you, your Taarishness? Sorry, never learned many polite modes of address but um... I'm... not familiar?"<br />
<br />
The fabled oat milk is not in evidence at this time.<br />
<br />
But it's not like they aren't looking for it. You can hear them, down below, on the hunt.<br />
<br />
The Shadow Elven woman rises to her full not at all impressive height and gives a very, very warm smile. She's entirely happy to see everyone. "There's no need for any of -that-," she tells Dirk, warmly, "Such distrust, such hostility! It's just like old times, wouldn't you say?" she tells Aryia. <br />
<br />
"I am Akorinil Belvade, and you are a guest in the house that faith built. It is we, here, who sacrifice so that you may live to fight another day -- or perhaps we should say tell another tale?"<br />
<br />
"To be fair, we weren't exactly given the most..." Skyler purses his lips as he considers exactly how to phrase it, "Sanity-preserving wake-up and invitation to the party." His pale eyes drift along the group, taking in Dirk's belligerence, Aryia's discomfort, and Eztli's wariness. "But regardless. You'll have to forgive my little teapot of a friend. His tastes are a little more conservative than you and your followers." He glances over his shoulder, "Although I do have some questions about that one room with the three sea shells myself, to be honest. They certainly looked like they were having fun but..."<br />
<br />
He shakes his head, waving a hand dismissively before checking to see if he spilled the oat milk. Nope. Still safe for Verna or Telamon or someone else to de-cursify for him to enjoy later. "Banger of a party though, Akorrie." He holds up one thumb, "Seriously. So what's this about telling tales? I have an appointment at the bath-house to get my toe nails trimmed and I don't want to be late, so if you could tell us how to get home..."<br />
<br />
Aryia holds up a hand to Dirk, then pushes her hand down in a calming motion. "While I am confident in my abilities, let's not poke this nest." She glances to Skyler, Dirk, Eztli, and Magpie before taking a deep breath and looking back to the Akorinil. "High Priestess of the Lady of Shade, she fails to mention."<br />
<br />
A sigh escapes her. "You can hardly blame us, you know? The distrust. While I appreciate the hospitality, I agree with the fancy man. Can you clear up what the hell's going on here? Because in the material plane this party was... bloody." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Dirk's scowl deepens. "I'm nae Taaranite," he growls. His grip on his thunderbelcher never wavers. "An' -our- tales are -true- ones! Nae those rust-covered lies that -She- spins." Skyler calling him a 'little teapot' has him regarding the swashbuckler with an indignant scowl. "Hrmph! I can cut loose just fine, ye struttin' peacock. But there's a bloody time an' place for it, isn't there?" <br />
<br />
He doesn't miss Ariya's admonition, but he old ranger is tense as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs. He looks back to Akorinil, fixing her with a hairy eyeball. "Ye -kidnapped- us. Forced us here against our will. What on Ea's great green -arse- would make ye think we'd want -anything- tae do wi' ye? We've nae want fer any yarn or tale ye'd want tae spin fer us. Let us go home!" For now, he keeps his voice to a low, surly growl, but he's ready to spring into action at the drop of a hat.<br />
<br />
Eztli sighed, and shook her head a few times. "You've got a real swell way of inviting people to your house of debauchery." Eztli huffed. "Why exactly should we telling you more than we should? It'd be good to know why we should actually tell you anything."<br />
<br />
"It really is a lot of trouble to go to, to bring four random people and also Ariya halfway across the planes," Magpie agrees, and by the very sound of her voice, if she wore glasses she'd be pushing them up their nose.<br />
<br />
"Also I gotta admit, things have been getting ugly and weird for a while now, so I can only guess we're here because we're uniquely suited to help, somehow? Not you, though..."<br />
<br />
Magpie looks down for a moment, then back up, and nods. "So how can we help?"<br />
<br />
Bless her little chaos gremlin heart.<br />
<br />
Skyler snap-points at Magpie, one chaos gremlin to another.<br />
<br />
Clicking her tongue against the roof of her mouth -- a tutt of disappointment -- Akorinil shakes her head with such sadness in her eyes.<br />
<br />
"I am wounded -- so very wounded -- by the accusations and innuendos. Though I like him --" She points at Skyler. "And you," a point at Magpie.<br />
<br />
She smiles at Aryia. <br />
<br />
"I would've thought my station so obvious!"<br />
<br />
A smile at Dirk. <br />
<br />
"Kidnap you? Kidnapping is so gauche. I saved you. The Void consumes all it touches. Do you remember what you were doing before you found yourself here? Do you -really- remember?"<br />
<br />
... come to think of it ... you don't. Not really.<br />
<br />
What do you do when the High Priestess of Lies compliments you? "Thank you, you're pretty swell too! Speaking of swell how do you keep everything so perky with minimal support!" You believe the freakin' lie, of course. It's gauche to point out someone's lie, and she is trying so hard, after all!<br />
<br />
To Dirk, he shakes his head, "Maybe if you calm down, she'll give you some caramel hard candies! Doesn't that sound nice?" And he reaches over to squeeze the dwarf's shoulder warningly, turning to give him a grimace that is as serious as the grave where Akorinil can't see it. And slightly apologetic, as if he's trying to silently apologize for what he's saying.<br />
<br />
Turning back to the Lie Priestess (get it?) he grins. "Nope, but to be fair it wouldn't be the first morning that happened. My partner usually finds me, pays any fees or bounty, and then I start the day. And the Void has been a *bitch* lately, so you'll have to be be more specific. What'd the Void do this time?"<br />
<br />
"And I'm not either, Dirk, but-" Aryia sighs, rubbing her temples. She drops it, stepping deeper into the room and leaning against a wall. "I know how Taaranites work, and those that don't find it kind of maddening to talk in double speak the entire time." She can't help but half cough at Skyler's comment, a rare silent snicker escaping her.<br />
<br />
The pugilist blinks. "The void was... approaching, but we staved it. But before here-..." Aryia stops. Thinks. Frowns. "... alright. Fine. Got me there. Care to elaborate?"<br />
<br />
"Sorry if I don't give much of a crap about impressing you, to be very honest. High Taaranite priest isn't really that high on my list of stations that I care about." The makari snorted. "So, you brought us here, for some reason. I'm sure you did it out of the depth of your heart and compassion, since you know so much about how I'd want to be saved from something like that."<br />
<br />
Dirk's beard bristles angrily. He tenses at Skyler's hand on his shoulder, and he looks about ready to throw it off, possibly with some proper dwarven profanity to help it along. But he's a canny old bear, and he doesn't miss Skyler's expression. It'd be noteworthy enough -without- them being in the very heart of Taara's house of faith. He pulls deep, snorting, snarling breaths through his big dwarven nose. The leather of his gauntlet creaks as he forces his fingers to unclench with visible effort.<br />
<br />
"I'm nae afraid o' the Void," he growls, in a bit more of an even tone.<br />
<br />
He turns his attention back to Akorinil. "Lord Gilead an' the Blessed Lady hold me in their keeping. I trust in Their goodness." He draws another deep breath, fighting for calm. Now is not the time for dwarven tempers. He never was the sharpest marble in the deck. Deep thoughts often evade him. But he possesses deep, homespun wisdom of his own. He forces himself to be calm and cool, like the forest's shade on a clear spring morning. The priestess' question, though, has his hackles springing -right- back up. "Of -course- I remember what I was doin'! I--" He cuts off, lifting a hand to his beard. He gives the majestic snowy white whiskers a tug. "I was... I was... brushin' me beard out..." He pauses. Blink blink. "I -was-, wasn't I...?"<br />
<br />
Confusion darkens his mood back into a surly scowl. He turns his dour gaze back on Akorinil."All right. Fine. Ye brought us here. If we hear yer tale, -then- can we go home? I was... doin' -somethin'- important. I'm fair certain." He actually -isn't- certain, but he's not letting -her- know that.<br />
<br />
"Easy, buddy," Magpie whispers as she rests a hand on Dirk's arm. "I'm not gonna bite the hand that pulls me out of the Void, for certain... But we still need to hear what it is you need from *us.* You can rest assured -- High Priestess? -- we're grateful enough to do what clearly only we could, so... Whaddaya need a tracker, a firelighter, a brawler, and two chaos gremlins for?"<br />
<br />
"You've all done very well in facing the Void, it's true. You've killed the 'villains of the void' -- but do you know what those were made of? Not just void stuff, to be sure. What else were they?"<br />
<br />
The question Akorinil asks each of you is clearly rhetorical, but she's planting her hands on her hips. She needs to hear something from each of you.<br />
<br />
"Pass." Skyler tells the rest of the party, his expression utterly bewildered. "I mean, as far as I know, it's made of nothing because that's what void is, right? Absence of stuff?" He grimaces, "I think I skipped that day with my tutors, or slept through it."<br />
<br />
Aryia nods her head along with Dirk; she wasn't afraid either, having faced it several times herself. She stares at the High Priestess. "... really Akorinil? You were there. You helped me and the group. I fought a corrupted version of myself. A reflection of another timeline. Others I've known have fought the same." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Dirk nods his head firmly at Skyler. "Aye, ye have it exact, laddie," he says with a voice full of conviction. "It's -nothing-. My farts after Gobbo Chili Night have more substance." He pauses, and looks thoughtfully. "Actually, those have a -lot- of substance after Gobbo Chili Night. Errf." He gives himself a shake, looking back to Akorinil. "Sun rises. Rains fall. The forest breathes. An' -good triumphs over evil. That's the way the world bloody works." He grips his belt and nods again. Dwarf Law has been spoken.<br />
<br />
"You've... not been paying too much attention to me, it seems. Guess I was just dragged along for the hell of it." Eztli huffed again, clearly growing a bit more agitated. "But given my second hand knowledge and keeping up with the times, I dunno. They're memories. Void stuff pretending to be something it isn't, because those folks are supposed to be some of the worst known."<br />
<br />
Magpie pauses, then looks over her shoulder at Skyler and Dirk. The others seem to refuse to put much thought into the question, but the Gnome dips her head, beginning to pace.<br />
<br />
"...But the Void isn't nothing," she says, tapping her nose. "If it was, there'd be no Heth. It *is* hungry, and corruptive, but we're not *talking* about Voidstuff. We're talking about the villains."<br />
<br />
Turning back about, she snap-points at Eztli for a moment. "Memories. That's close, but they weren't the *same.* But if the people involved had fallen *to* the Void..."<br />
<br />
She pauses, and looks up at Akorinil. "They're lies. Lies told by the people they were trying to be. 'If only,' 'maybe I could've,' 'if not for that damn skunk...' Memories grasping for ways to remain relevant, come back stronger, get what they deserve."<br />
<br />
Is she holding a mug? Why, yes.<br />
<br />
Was Akorinil holding that mug moments ago?<br />
<br />
No. It's not even clear where she got it -- but she must've gotten it from somewhere. In point of fact, as you each look at her holding it, you begin to -remember- her ssending a servant to fetch it, one bringing it back to her. You're pretty sure that didn't happen... right?<br />
<br />
She holds it out to Skyler. Is it... could it be?<br />
<br />
IS IT THE LEGENDARY OAT MILK?<br />
<br />
In the meantime, she does nod towards Magpie, glancing between each of the others. <br />
<br />
"Tell me, friends -- what is another name for a lie? A fiction. What is a fiction but a story?"<br />
<br />
Her eyes turn towards Aryia, now, "Do you know? Do you know why we were called to her side? It is the same reason you stand here now."<br />
<br />
GAME: Skyler rolls Wisdom: (5)+2: 7<br />
<br />
"Evil is subjective, Dirk. Deforestation is a sin to some, but to others it's a necessary part of fueling progress and forwarding civilization." Skyler says earnestly to Dirk, "I'll grant you there are things that are black and white, but for the most part it's all different colors in between."<br />
<br />
He looks prepared to wax more philosophy when the mug is held out to him. His eyes widen and he bites his lip like a man facing the worst temptation of his life. He knows it's stupid and unwise to drink something handed to him by the Lie Priestess, but...<br />
<br />
"Oat milk." He breathes, and reaches for it, "Gods. It's been so long."<br />
<br />
The others' perspectives paint Aryia another picture of what's going on. She wasn't far off, it seemed: memories, false potentials, all that could have been. She quirks a brow at the offered mug, not really certain where it appeared. But, weirdly, she actually trusted it was the true, one and only: oat milk. Honestly, she can't blame the man for jumping for it, and doesn't stop him.<br />
<br />
She's heard that mantra before: a lie is just fiction, and a story. But she gets a different question. Her eyes grow downcast. "I was called because I was very good at telling the story of Her and His matrimony," her hands are slow. Her fingers curl into tight fists. Tremor. Then release with a breath Out. "But She left me when I needed her most. And now I need no one aside from my friends."<br />
<br />
She glances up to Akorinil, resolved. "But that is not the question you asked. You mean the Mul'neissa. It was..." she tries to remember. "... the original elves. Ancestors. Taara took one, or sheltered them from the other, a long time ago." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Dirk boggles a bit at Skyler as that mug appears out of nowhere. A -fiendish- mug, no less! "-Sky-ler, don't be -thick-!" he can't help exclaiming. "What if it's poison? Ye dinnae have a dwarf belly, poison can -hurt- you!" He grumphs and mutters. "If progress an' civilization comes at the cost of murderin' the forest, then -fuck- 'em both. The Green Word was here long afore anyone put one stone atop another. It'll outlive all of us." He flicks his gaze to Akorinil. "An' -nothin'- can stop -that-."<br />
<br />
He pulls another calming breath. Mutter mutter, grumble grumble. "A'right, so they're -stories-. Just like everything else. Like you an' them, an' -us-." He gestures fro Akorinil, to the other Taarenites, to his comrades. "Get tae yer -point-, lassie. I want tae go -home-." He does try his very best not to sound like a petulant child, but he is -so- far out of his element here.<br />
<br />
"So, stories are being made into reality, and not anything good. Why can't the void just raid Mikilos' library of crimson pen books and do something more fun with that?" Eztli continued to grumble. "Yarn, tale, epic, not sure what you want us to answer here, there's more names than anyone could reasonably guess, everyone's got their name for a story."<br />
<br />
"Dirk," Magpie says, a little more insistently. "C'mon now. I know this is wildly outta your comfort zone, but.. you wouldn't be here if you weren't needed. I believe in you, buddy, okay?"<br />
<br />
Though this is a story she *hasn't* heard, and new stories make for very curious gnomes.<br />
<br />
"Oh, I do wish that it -would-. Nothing can be so self-annihilating as sex," says Akorinil to Eztli, but with a big old smile. She gives Dirk and Magpie sympathetic looks. She certainly understands -- or so she'd like you to think. <br />
<br />
"It's true. You're all here for a reason." She turns her eyes towards Aryia, then, and continues.<br />
<br />
"...ah. The Shadow Elves -- you and me both -- once labored in spiritual bondage to her, as you know. AS everyone knows. That bondage was shattered when the right story was told. Without the weight of their souls, however, the wall against the Void within her weakened. The toll her theft of magic for power took grew. The death of Animus haunted her. The Void found purchase within divinity and sought a new story: a fractured one that would end reality. Without narrative, there is no time, not consciousness, no 'self', and without those things, there can be no desires fulfilled."<br />
<br />
She glances towards Skyler, "... a world without a hunger for oat milk," she says, for emphasis.<br />
<br />
"And so she called her high priests home to her. She called her faithful, so many of us, so that we may rest in the Abyss and support her through it all. She called so many, and we worked until the time was right. We stand on the precipice of the final step. There is but one more villain of the Void to face."<br />
<br />
There is a single, momentary beat as she lets the words wash over you.<br />
<br />
"The goddess of lies herself."<br />
<br />
Beat.<br />
<br />
And then...<br />
<br />
"Thank you for the oat milk, you're Lying'ness, but I think I need to go home." Skyler says in a remarkably steady voice, "I can give you a couple recommendations. Eztli here is awesome. There's also Telamon, and Cor'Lana-Banana, or possibly Verna! She's scary. I just..." He stares at the others helplessly, "I swing a sword good, end of story. Yeah?"<br />
<br />
Dirk listens to Akorinil, beard all a-bristle and his bushy white brows furrowed. It -does- sound like the sort of outlandish, self-aggrandizing tale a creature like the Goddess of Lies would spin about Herself. But then she drops that last bombshell--that they're to face down Taara. His face goes from red to white, and his brows fly towards his hairline as if trying to escape his face altogether. "Heek?!" is about all he can manage to squeak. He looks over at his friends, hopping from foot to foot. "-Me-?! Face down a Goddess? Och! Lassie, I know I'm a right bad-arse but--but--" He fumbles and stammers, trying to think of something, -anything- to say. He snap-points at Skyler with eyes wide as teacups. "Aye, -exactly-! I'm just a simple hunter! I'm nae the sort o' hero who fights -Goddesses-!" he cries in a strangled tone.<br />
<br />
Aryia purses her lips as Akorinil explains her point. She was aware of a good chunk of it, though the forthrightness of it has her questioning the authenticity of it. It's true the High Priestess has done nothing /wrong/ in all the time that she's known her, but it something one has a very hard time shaking the nagging feeling she's going to-<br />
<br />
The mute audibly gasps "Th- f-ck?", which turns into a hacking fit. She rubs at her throat, stepping off the wall as the others try to reason with such a tall ask. "So let me get this right... you want us to...-" she rolls a hand, thinking while trying not to reel from the suggestion. And the faint, faint tinge of vengeance creeping in. "... what? Expose a truth to her so damming it unravels her position? You cannot defeat an entity such as that." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Eztli blinked once, then twice, breathing in, and letting out the longest Exhale she could manage. "Aren't you a priestess of them? Isn't this some horrible, horrible sacrilege? And wouldn't that piss off literally everyone in this building?"<br />
<br />
"...Ah-ha," Magpie say, nodding slowly... for the thirty seconds or so it takes for the magnitude of the ask to sink in. Which poiny the noe-rubbing becomes a long, low whistle. "Oh *wow* you are getting desperate, holy beans..."<br />
<br />
Blinking, she looks up and about at her friends. "...So she can't fight the Void in her anymore. But her own people are *too close*, likely as not to follow her into the Void just out of religious ecstasy, right? So Her High Priestessness casts around for folks also lost in the Void -- us -- who have a shot at doing what they can't; Dirk, think of a bird that gets dunked in an airship's oil tank. You don't clean the oil off, what's gonna happen to the bird?"<br />
<br />
The reactions to her statement have Akorinil smiling. Then smiling even bigger .She's delighted. She loves it. 'Lying'nesa' tickled her especially. She nods solemnly right along and then addresses first Skyler.<br />
<br />
"Oh, I am well aware. But this isn't about power. It's a task that you've been more prepared for than you realize, Skyler." Wait -- where'd she get his name? It's not like he introduced himself to her out the gate.<br />
<br />
Dirk earns a tilt of her head, her crimson eyes focused on him.<br />
<br />
"We do not get to pick our fights, young one." Only an elf can call a dwarf 'young one' succesfully, right?<br />
<br />
"... but you think yourself a hero? Then stay."<br />
<br />
Aryia's reaction forces her to cover her mouth with her hand in abject delight.<br />
<br />
"Oh, oh. We go back such a long way, don't we? To think we're standing here together at the end of the world, with as much as you've seen and as much as you know, prepared to author something new together."<br />
<br />
"What matters is the tale being told," she tells her.<br />
<br />
And then to Magpie, she gets a smile. "Creative! Thoughtful. I like this one."<br />
<br />
"But it's all so linear. What Animus spoke of when he called out for aid is true. He can be saved. Aspects of the blight -- the so-called 'villains of the void' were called for you to confront. What do you suppose they represent in truth? And how do you suppose their defeat helped Animus?"<br />
<br />
Aryia squints at the Highpriestess, growing more weary as Akorinil gets excited. She takes in the information as told to the others, and she pauses. Looks at the crew. Then back to Akorinil. "I guess the villans of the void were aspects that Taara threw out to help weather the weight of the Void? But the way you're talking is making it seem likes we have to make up story that becomes reality, getting Her out of this mess, and... brings Animus to the fore?"<br />
<br />
She blinks. "Is /this/ why you wanted the damn shards??" she jabs at a finger at Akorinil, eyes wide. <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Dirk's day is certainly taking a turn for the strange. And considering some of the things the old snowbeard has seen in his days, that's saying quite a lot, actually. "Wait," he says, looking over to Aryia. "Wait, wait, wait just one anvil-crackin' minute. -We- have tae come up wi' a story?" He pauses, staring at his friend for a moment. "It... it -cannae- be -that- easy. Can it?"<br />
<br />
"They were stories for us to confront and re-tell. Kol and that Snow Bitch weren't defeated brute force; we had to finesse them." Skyler says slowly, a light (however dim and flickery) coming on in the attic, "It's about establishing what reality is strongest. Gods, my head hurts." And he drinks the last of his milk. "More, please?"<br />
<br />
"I still have no clue what we're supposed to be doing here, because if you think that we're supposed to confront the corruption of a god on our own, then, well even if I'll give it a try, I don't particularly welcome my chances." The makari sighed. "So, I don't know. I really, really don't know, and I'm not a fan of trying to get a straight answer out of a pathological liar."<br />
<br />
"I mean, I wouldn't call it *easy,*" Magpie says, scratching her head. "But if it ain't completely linear, then... Beating the villains didn't just show the lie of them for what they are, but told Animus that was *never* how it happened?"<br />
<br />
Magpie is clearly stretching the limits of her comprehension, but trying regardless. "So now we have to... show the lie of the Void to Taara?"<br />
<br />
"Closer, closer," says Akorinil to Aryia and Magpie. Eztli gets a sympathetic look before she remarks, with a smile, "The life of the party, aren't you," she says, amused. There's no mockery in her tone, just earnestness this time around. She tilts her head, letting her long, red hair fall over her face and shoulder.<br />
<br />
"You're closer, as I say. The Goddess of stories looked down the narrative path, the branching tree of a story, if you would. The possibilities. Each choice she made closed one after another, and yet she persisted. Too stubborn to let go of what is rightfully her's. Each villain of the void, as they were called, embodied a portion of the Void within her, yes yes, and in so returning sought to prove the futility of life and meaning. Here you are, having told the story already, and yet you were called again to do what you had already done. Isn't.."<br />
<br />
"It.."<br />
<br />
"Pointless?" she asks. <br />
<br />
"While a story is linear, a means by which we understand the events of our lives, the choices a Goddess makes extend into the past and the future." Her eyes fix on Aryia.<br />
<br />
"Just like the death of Animus."<br />
<br />
"And when we have a story and we don't like how it's going..."<br />
<br />
"Perhaps we can be shown how to author a better ending."<br />
<br />
Her eyes fix on Skyler -- for just a moment.<br />
<br />
And then she turns to Magpie.<br />
<br />
"So. If we must save Animus, how do we save the Goddess of Want from herself -- for the final collapse of meaning rests in failing to do so."<br />
<br />
"Listen, I had a *really* bad trip a while back. Me and a bunch of halflings and goblins took a job babysitting some rich asshole. We got kidnapped by pixies or some shit, shoved through a mushroom ring, and were forced to do some Ye Olde Bullshit Queste and then it became this battle of imagination with the big bad." Skyler scratches his jaw. "It was weird. This seems like the same bullshit: Stories and our perceptions of reality shape what is real or not. We just have to convince the Goddess of Lies and Bullshit that we're telling the truth."<br />
<br />
Skyler pauses and adds, "I doubt I can solve this with imagining she has a cloaca, but I'm willing to try."<br />
<br />
Dirk listens to this great, tangled yarn. All of it speaks of things so far beyond his experience. Like the beasts of the forest that he protects, in many ways, old Dirk is a creature of habit and instinct. When one measures their life in centuries, it becomes easy to forget Tomorrow, even as one recalls Yesterday. He tugs at his beard, glancing around at his comrades. "I mean... -I- can spin a decent enough tall tale when the mood takes me," he says. "But I'm hardly a bard. I cannae create a tale worthy of a Goddess." He scowls a bit. "Even one like Taara," he grumbles. "Och, She's gone an' stacked the deck against me. What kind o' tale should I tell? -Mine-? Hrumph. As if -that's- a tale worth hearin'. I'm nobody."<br />
<br />
Aryia scratches the shaved side of her head. She supposed that makes sense with everything considered. "We make up a tale, Dirk. A bit of collaborative story telling. We make her want something else, I think, instead of clutching so tightly to magic, or something like that," she suggests, thinking she had a serious solution.<br />
<br />
She stares at Skyler. Reaches down for a vacant prayer pillow, and throws it at him. <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
"Because what do the best stories do?" Magpie says, conjuring an illusory copy of Aryia's throw pillow and getting a half dozen tosses in herself. "They take us to a world that's even more wondrous than the one we live in. Make us think that maybe *that* world could stay *here.* So if we've gotten all the silly and skeptical out of our systems... I really want to take a run at this, you guys. After all," she says, looking about and grinning.<br />
<br />
"How many people are gonna get to say they told the Goddess of Lies a story so good, she wanted it to be true?"<br />
<br />
"Absolutely thrilled to be here, doing this." Eztli shrugged. "Whatever, I'll try to do something. Can't go any worse than last time, and it's not like there's anything left to lose at this point."<br />
<br />
Skyler says, “Never." Regarding the silly that is. But he does finish his oat milk again and roll his shoulders...<br />
<br />
Until a pillow hits him in the face, and he spills oat milk all over himself. He gives Aryia a wounded look, and then makes an arcane gesture while muttering something equally arcane before passing his hands over himself. The milk disappears. His shoes are shiny. And he smells faintly of mint and sandalwood. His hair even looks smooth and luxurious!<br />
<br />
Hisrestidigitation: Better than dry shampoo.<br />
<br />
"I'm ready. So we want to discuss parameters? I usually find stories go crazy if we just start spewing details. It's how a door becomes genitalia and weird stuff happens. We gotta keep the narrative neat and follow the proper rules of plot structure." He then snaps and gives finger-guns to Eztli. "That's the spirit! You can keep us grounded so Dirk doesn't give her a poofy beard or something." Aside to Akorinil, "He gets a little obsessive, the old dear.”<br />
<br />
Dirk looks at Skyler with an indignant "-Hey!-" He mutters and grumbles, tugging irritably at his beard. "I am -not- obsessive. I'm a -dwarf-. Nae the same thing at all!" Harrumph harrumph. He looks back to his friends. "An' if we fail, here an' now... then that's it? Everything we've done, all the battles we fought, blastin' Heth out the sky wi' the Spell Cannon... it dinnae count fer anything?" He lifts his hand from his beard to rub his face. "Och. I'm gettin' too bloody -old- fer this bullshit," he grumbles softly under his breath. He sucks a deep breath through his big dwarven nose, turning his face skyward. "A'right. A tale, then." He pauses with his mouth hanging open as Skyler gives his warning about the dangers of unstructured narrative. Slooooowly the old ranger turns to regard the swashbuckler. "Dana's sweet flowery -teats-. If a door turnin' intae a ramrod -isn't- weird then what in all the sugary-sweet world -is-?" He pauses. Lifts a finger. "Do -not- answer that. Please, please, -please- do not answer that."<br />
<br />
"That is the secret of the Void -- it empties you of hope, of ambition. It buries it beneath the greatest lie of all: that you are already the worst version of you. What happens when a being which contains infinite stories, multitudes of selves, believes that there is only -one-?"<br />
<br />
"Everything..."<br />
<br />
"...flattens..."<br />
<br />
"...out."<br />
<br />
There is only darkness.<br />
<br />
And then...<br />
<br />
"CHRISTOPHER!"<br />
<br />
The voice is harsh, shrill, and demanding. The person it belongs to? A young woman of modest appearance in full Myrrish court garb. She is young, but bitterness and a sort of ferret-like leanness to her features makes her quite unpleasant and older than her years. "Your brother, the Duke, has demanded that you attend court on his behalf." She shakes her head and sneers, "It's about all you're good for, isn't it? Being your brother's little toady, nothing but an extension of his will when he, the *actual* important one, deals with the real work."<br />
<br />
A pause, and Skyler Skywalker... no, *Christopher Carl von Wayne of the House of Ashewell* starts as if he'd been drifting off to sleep, a bottle rolling out of his hands with a thud. The woman's lip curls. "Gods, you are useless. The only good you ever were was to get your brother *my* dowery to support you, and even then you can't even get me children!"<br />
<br />
The abuse continues, as Christopher stares at his hands, eyes full of pain, of disappointment, of utter despair...<br />
<br />
Dirk Stormgrip is not a young man. There are few dwarves in Ea who have lived longer than he has. He has watched entire forests rise up from saplings to mighty arbors. He has seen towns spring up from nothing. He has counted himself lucky to be friends to many He even fell in love, and was blissfully married. <br />
<br />
And yet....<br />
<br />
He has outlived many of his kinsmen. He has watched those mighty forests wither and fade, until naught but sour, barren earth remained. He has buried more friends than he's kept. And in the end, his wife of nearly sixty years went the way all mortals must.<br />
<br />
Yet he remains. He comforst himself knowing that, one day, he'll find his own time and place to rest.<br />
<br />
But what if he -doesn't-? What if he just... keeps going?<br />
<br />
What he he outlives -everything-?<br />
<br />
In a dismal cave, many long-forgotten years into the future, Dirk sits at a lonely campfire, surrounded by the skeletal husks of a dead grove. His face, once hearty and cheerful, is gaunt and hollow, awash in misery quiet despair. He's all that remains. There's nothing else left. The bleak, dismal night encroaches ever closer, threatening to snuff out that feeble little flame.<br />
<br />
And yet he knows, that even when the fire fades, he'll still be there. He'll never rest. He'll always be there.<br />
<br />
-Alone-.<br />
<br />
One only truly knows what they have lost once it has been taken from them. Freedom. Self-actualization. Trust. Peace. Usefulness. What if she slipped? What if she fell? What if she consorted with the very things she ripped free of her friends and family? "Wait- Aya, I-I did this all for you!" Aryia /screeches/, audibly, at the back of a mul'neissan woman with a long white braid wearing wrapped in sheets in robes. They don't looks back as they walk into the darkness.<br />
<br />
Aryia is... no where near the same. She's bloody, caked in blood but none of it her own, her scars are gone. But a horrid, demonic presence wafts behind her, like a horrid, stretching shadow. "I did this for you, all of you..!"<br />
<br />
The figure pauses. "No sister of mine would stoop to such lows, I thought you learned from my mistakes." They continue walking into the darkness. "Live with your regrets."<br />
<br />
The corrupted pugilist screams more at the backs of others as they walk away. Many adventurers and kinsmen that had lifted her to new heights: Cor'lana, Telamon, Dirk, Seyardu, Verna, Venom, and so many countless others that her long life had touched.<br />
<br />
Her knees hit the floor. The inner rivers have run dry. The sense of self is hollow. And heart beats of glass like her glazed gaze, sharp and staccato as the sound of manacles being clamped and a iron brand searing flesh sizzles into the dark.<br />
<br />
The thing about being lost in the Planes is, unless you know exactly what you're doing... being lost *forever* is a very, very easy thing to do. And in some places, time moves strange... almost as if it ran in currents not unlike water, to pool and swirl and fold back upon itself and--<br />
<br />
When Magpie made a mistake long ago, and fell into one of the famed planar instabilities of the Vast, she never really.. talked about how she got back. Or how long she truly spent, drifting in formless chaos. Or what she saw and heard, surrounded by the very chaos that so heavily infused her blood.<br />
<br />
The truth was, it was a lucky break, that she found a thin place that allowed her to push back into materiality after a scant dozen subjective years.<br />
<br />
Random chance.<br />
<br />
If she *hadn't* been so lucky, well...<br />
<br />
She'd still be there now. She'd still be there when the Void fell over all.<br />
<br />
Drifting.<br />
<br />
Lonely.<br />
<br />
*Untethered.*<br />
<br />
Unspooling.<br />
<br />
Unraveling.<br />
<br />
Unremembered.<br />
<br />
Uncreated.<br />
<br />
Lost to time, space, matter, and anyone who might have remembered her, Magpie quietly, utterly unzips on any meaningful level of materiality, mentality, and spirituality.<br />
<br />
A nobody, gone to nothing.<br />
<br />
The teleportation wards around Alexandria had one major flaw, one that had been tested before. What happens when normal access failed? <br />
<br />
This time, battered and exhausted, the city reached its breaking point. The undead worms collapsed the walls, the sundered by Heth. <br />
<br />
There was still sounds of combat in the city, but every passing hour they died down, while the screams of those beset upon by the dead grew, until they too quieted. <br />
<br />
Eztli was at the docks, where those who remained hurriedly packed onto the boats. The sorceress had not bothered, even with a faint sliver of hope remaining. There would be nowhere safe to flee to this time, and she watched as the boats sank one by one, with the dying breaths of the city.<br />
<br />
There's no hope. <br />
<br />
There's nothing at all. Just an emptiness, bleak and unyielding that feels like it wants to swallow you up.<br />
<br />
... but then... <br />
<br />
There is something. Perhaps its just a feeling, an inkling that this isn't right. A voice whispering in one ear that you could still be more. That the story isn't over.<br />
<br />
And then... there is.<br />
<br />
Music plays, as people move slowly in a stately dance that is all mathematic precision and no passion. Empty steps, done by learned rote. It's beautiful, but... cold.<br />
<br />
Distant.<br />
<br />
Lifeless.<br />
<br />
Among them, Christopher moves with one hand clasping that of the ferret in a ball gown that he's married to. Who is scowling at him fiercely as she mutters a count under her breath, as if Christopher isn't even capable of stepping in time.<br />
<br />
And then, Christopher takes a left when he should have stepped right.<br />
<br />
Gasps! A shocked silence...<br />
<br />
And Christopher abruptly grabs the hand of a handsome half-orc that was beside him. He looks wild despite the court garments, with a certain primal allure. He moves stiffly at first, staring at Christopher. <br />
<br />
"Skyler."<br />
<br />
Beg pardon?<br />
<br />
"I'm *Skyler*."<br />
<br />
And, okay, *Skyler* gives the half-orc a saucy wink before abruptly dipping him and pressing his lips against the tusked mouth as it falls open in shock. He then twirls him away, and laughs as he stares around. "You people suck!" Skyler declares, shaking his head. And to his 'wife'..? "I'd say I wanted a divorce, but I don't think even Dana recognizes a marriage to a wet fish! C'mon... er... you! Let's boogie!"<br />
<br />
And Skyler begins to bump and grind against the half-orc. Who blinks. Shrugs. And then begins to bump and grind against him in turn.<br />
<br />
Dirk draws a deep, shaky breath and lets it out in a sigh. His shoulders slump. The tear-tracks on his face have long since dried. Nothing matters. How could it, when he'll just outlast everyone and everything he's ever known and loved?<br />
<br />
A shriek for help splits the night. His head snaps up, and he's on his feet, thunderbelcher in hand in an eyeblink. He tears out of the cave, racing and leaping through the underbrush, faster than the most nimble deer. He breaks out into a clearing lit by Eluna's silvery light.<br />
<br />
There. A shadow towers over a terrified young maiden. A stinking stain upon the face of Ea, one that has -no- place in the pure, clear wood. The burly old ranger moves on instinct. He hefts his thunderbelcher to his shoulder and immediately cracks off three shots. CHK-BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! They ring out into the night, splitting the darkness and illuminating the night with Dana and Gilead's blessed light. The shadow-demon's malevolent laughter turns to a howl of agony as the blessed bullets rip its substance apart, sending it screaming back to the Iron Hells<br />
<br />
Dirk lowers his weapon and steps forward. "Yer all right now, lassie. Yer safe."<br />
<br />
The maiden looks up, and his heart freezes. She looks -so- like his beloved Sarah, his beloved wife, whom he buried so long ago. It's -not- her, and yet the resemblance is uncanny. She reaches up to take his outstretched hand, and flings herself at him. "Thank you! You saved my life!" she sobs into his shoulder. "I thought I was all alone out here!"<br />
<br />
Color returns to the old snowbeard's face. Strength fills his heavyset frame. He curls his arm around the lass and hugs her close. Over distant mountains, the sun crests the horizon, turning the sky from inky black to glorious rose.<br />
<br />
"No, lassie. Yer nae alone. -I'm- here now."<br />
<br />
When Magpie was lost in the Planes, only random chance allowed her an opening to find the means to find her own way home.<br />
<br />
But the thing about random chance is, the dice never stop being thrown. Every hour, every minute, every second that passes is a new opportunity for something incredibly unlikely to become inevitability. And Magpie is a *much* different person, now, than when she fell into formless Chaos those few short years ago. She *knows* better. She's *learned* more.<br />
<br />
And given the sheer strength of Chaos in her blood, and how its mutability works on her mind and being... she *has* to have a stronger sense of self, just to be able to exist normally.<br />
<br />
The thinness brushes against her senses, and Magpie responds. Fingers, coherent again, flex. An eye coalesces from yellow-green light, and blinks. A mouth that threatened to drift offon its own, opens and pulls air into lungs.<br />
<br />
'Cogito, ergo sum,' goes the saying in Rune's polymorphing schools. 'I think, therefore I am.' In those classes, it's not just pithy words; it's a *lifeline,* a reminder that no matter what form you take, as long as you can use your mind, you will *always* be you.<br />
<br />
At her current powers, it's almost trivially easy to take hold of the pocket of thinness within the Planes, and tug it open to look out onto Alexandria's Lower Market, at the height of the lunchtime rush.<br />
<br />
Being lost is *hungry* work.<br />
<br />
There is anger. There is self-loathing. There is despair. In that shackled cage that shuts with a deafening click. Aryia Zilstrae Aeldius has hit rock bottom again, where all has left her. Inaction and betrayal has got her here. Her misbegotten actions, undercutting her steadfast morals. But then... there is-<br />
<br />
Will. A will to live. It's a drop in a stagnant lake. The ripples barely nudging nary a waterfly. But it wavers the illusion of hopelessness, distorts it, just enough. She's been here before. Churn the waters. Feel the river flow, the heart beat the breath In.<br />
<br />
Out. "NO CHAIN. WILL /EVER/. BIND ME AGAIN!" she bellows into the empty air, her hands flickering to moonlight once again. Manacled hands bash into iron bars, groaning and shearing with each blow before metal sprays out in a deadly shrapnel, her having thrown herself free of the cage.<br />
<br />
Coming to a roll, Aryia pops up, covered in her own blood and wielding an iron bar as she breaks into a dead sprint towards her retreating friends. The pugilist leaps towards a creeping, demonic shadow that looms over them, tackling it to the ground and pinning it there. The only sound that echoes is the satisfying, echoing and repeated clang of metal and a flashes of moonlight chasing the darkness away.<br />
<br />
Not every ship had sunk, a few remained, perhaps avoiding the worst of it from their smaller size compared to other, much more enticing targets. Could she just stay there, do nothing, and give up? It was certainly an enticing thought, in it's own twisted way. <br />
<br />
The sorceress shook off the feeling, a low growl escaping the makari as her form shifted, longer and larger until a massive brass dragon stood in her place that soared into the sky, crashing through the clouds of undead beasts, drawing their attention away while clawing through as many as they could manage. Hopefully it would take long enough to be taken down to turn a sliver of hope into something greater.<br />
<br />
You deserve a better ending.<br />
<br />
You've staved off the darkness for another day, it's true, but you deserve something better. All those wars. All those sacrifices. Don't you deserve better? Just...<br />
<br />
Comfort?<br />
<br />
Warmth?<br />
<br />
Surely, you do.<br />
<br />
And so the scene changes. There's a disorienting moment. It's all good. <br />
<br />
It's always good.<br />
<br />
"Boogiee...."<br />
<br />
"...e's dead! Duke Austyn is dead." The minor revere Christopher has over the punch bowl, a fantasy of rejecting everything and dancing chaotically with some hunky half-orc wild-man dissolving like the ice in his ridiculously ornate, tiny little glass. And the glass is dropped as his wife grabs his arm, her nails digging in hard enough to tear the fine silk of his doublet.<br />
<br />
Christopher stares dully at his wife. "W.. what?"<br />
<br />
She lets out a sound of disgust, leaning forward to smell his breath before wrinkling her nose. "Really? Gods, how much did you drink, you useless shit?" She shakes her head, and her scowl turns into a wide grin. "I killed him. Your brother's dead. Now I'm the Duchess Ashewell of Gull's Edge!" She smiles cruelly, "And you, husband, will get your freedom." She guides him off to the side, hand still digging hard enough to hurt. "The freedom of the country estate. You can farm, you can hunt, you can drink and debauch yourself to an early grave if you want." She puts a hand over her stomach. "I have the Duke's heir. He looks enough like you no one will know the difference." She sneers, "You're free, you useless lump! Isn't that what you always wanted? Freedom, to be something? Well now you're the Duke's father! And you'll be free to wither away in the countryside."<br />
<br />
It's a happy enough ending, in the cut-throat courts of the Myrrish kingdoms...<br />
<br />
Isn't it?<br />
<br />
Not many people get a second chance at happiness. Dirk is one of those lucky few. The lass he rescued from the shadow demon--Farah is her name--falls in love with him, and he with her. She fills his days with brilliant sunshine and laughter once again. With her at his side, the forest grows strong and clean. The land thrives. He takes up his mantle as the forest's champion once again. And how could he not? After so long, he has something to fight for.<br />
<br />
Weeks pass. Winter blankets the wood in soft, cottony-cold white. Dirk watches the snowfall from his cozy cabin with his arm around Farah's shoulders. He rests a palm atop her belly, made large by new life--the one thing Sarah was never able to give him, all those years ago gone by. Just when he thought his happily-ever-after couldn't -possibly- get any better, his newfound love has made him a father in addition to being a husband.<br />
<br />
They name the baby 'Sarah Leigh', and she's as perfect an angel, as all children are in the eyes of their parents. Dirk gently bounces her in his arms, crooning a quiet dwarven lullabye to her as she gazes up at him with wide, golden eyes. He presses a kiss to her forehead and gently lays her in her crib. "Sleep sweetly, me bonny wee lass," he says soothingly.<br />
<br />
He blows out the candle by the bedside and burrows under the heavy blankets with his beloved Farah. Gloom shrouds the cabin.<br />
<br />
Sarah Leigh's eyes open, now inky black orbs. Her mouth curves into a wicked, too-wide smile. In her baby-babble, the shadow-demon's laughter echos just beyond the range of hearing.<br />
<br />
Being lost is hungry work, and damn it all, Magpie will *never* be hungry. Not again. The first thirty years of her life, she was too small to properly defend her food from the bigger kids at the orphanages.<br />
<br />
Which might have something to do with the frequency of wild-magic fires that seemed to haunt little Magpie's trail...<br />
<br />
...Whatever, it's lunchtime at the Alexandrian markets, and all of her favorites are not just on special, but *free* just for her. Rosemary-pork pocket pies, goblin fireball sweetbreads, candied garlic skewers... Every turn of her head brings new and interesting delicacies into vision. And because it's *her,* because she is so amazing and powerful and respected and adored, she pays for none of it.<br />
<br />
Every morsel that passes her lips, bought by the fame she'd always longed for as a child, where justexisting was enough to be celebrated.<br />
<br />
And in the middle of the Market square, Magpie slowly begins to be buried under a cacophony of treats and sweets and savories, heaped ever higher by her adoring public.<br />
<br />
And so Aryia clawed it all back. Trust. Sense of self. Belonging. Usefulness. Back into the weave with friends. Coaching her team back in the Colosseum. Battling kaiju. Sailing the seas on her boat. Pummeling through mountains through sheer force of tenacity.<br />
<br />
So she sits atop that mountain, her apex, having found her center again. The waters have run so fast they look calm in their laminar flow. Breathing In. Out. In. Out.<br />
<br />
The days morph into weeks, months, years. Decades. Time drags on, yet for this elf it's barely scraping any more etchings into the scars. Others age, but that comes and goes, just like all do in the story that never ends. But does it matter? The peak has been reached. Her vantage is leagues in all directions.<br />
<br />
It is absolute perfection.<br />
<br />
Or is it? It hits in a beat of introspection. Somewhere in all that time, a thought worms its way into her mind. 'What is the point of a mountain, if to not look up at its daunting beauty from below? What is the point of highs? Without the lows?'<br />
<br />
Eztli didn't normally wake up with the sun, but recent work forced the makari reluctantly out of bed. After some time blinking the tiredness out of her eyes, she eventually managed to get over to her closet, where several costumes were hanging. All of them and their accessories were carefully stowed into a pack at her side, before she left for the lower floors. <br />
<br />
"Figured you'd be up before me, rehearsals are going to take most of the day. Say hi to deathless for me, will you, and I'll catch you around dinner, yeah?" She offered to the brown haired hunter who had been in the kitchen. She said nothing, only giving a crooked toothed smile to the sorceress before she was out the door, and not a single word spoken.<br />
<br />
It's better, isn't it? Better this way ...<br />
<br />
... but then the worms turn. A thought, an idea gnaws. And once it's there, it doesn't stop. Each vision seems to splinter, to crack, to fray. Black lines ripping across like spiderwebs.<br />
<br />
And then there's a sense of weightlessness, of being-without-body.<br />
<br />
It is cool here. You sense ... other presences. Then, slowly, the curtain draws back. You're ... somewhere.<br />
<br />
Akorinil Belvade look at each of you, a smile on her face.<br />
<br />
"Do you understand now?" she asks, a cautious yet hopeful tone in her voice.<br />
<br />
GAME: Skyler rolls 1d100: (6): 6<br />
<br />
SPLASH!<br />
<br />
Skyler tosses the cup to the side, expression utterly devoid of emotion as he stares at Akorinil with a hate and fury he's only shown once, in a demi-plane of death while a kyton taunted him on the true meaning of pain and pleasure. <br />
<br />
"You bitch." He says flatly, turning away from her and closing his eyes. And his shoulders rise one, fall, and he speaks up to the others. "We have to do this for her. I don't know what you guys saw, but..." He swallows, "We have to do this. And we *can*. The first vision is non-negotiable, and the third isn't enough."<br />
<br />
Coming back to herself was a shock, especially as she was close to resigning herself to drowning under an ever-growing pile of things a child would think were deserved.<br />
<br />
And not for the first time, does Magpie begin to ask herself how old she was when the world became a certain, predictable thing-- no. No time to unpack that now!<br />
<br />
Shaking her head, she takes a moment to focus on Akorinil, and the milk dripping off her nose. "...Yeah," she says, finally. "Skyler's right too... We *need* to do this, cos that last one... Damn, but the Void's insidious..."<br />
<br />
The expanse contracts, and all those possibilities of time passing collapses into presence and- Aryia rapidly blinks, and her lips move to say something, but she ends up coughing up a lung before spits a glob of blood off to the side. "Well that was fucked," she signs with a scowl and rubbing her throat. There was a certain satisfaction as Skyler acts on her impulses, but she couldn't help but feel a tad guilty. Akorinil was truly, truly trying, for the best of someone she believed in.<br />
<br />
She thought of her found sister, Aya.<br />
<br />
The mute pugilist grimaces. Damn it. "Alright. Fuck. Fine. But I'm not doing it for /Her/. I'm doing it because we have a thing we can teach Her. And hopefully it'll knock some sense into Her." <br />
<br />
She glances to Akorinil, with the first look of genuine empathy. "Congratulations. You convinced this non-believer that it's worth a shot." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Dirk's eyes are wide as teacups as sight and reason returns. He blinks owlishly, his gaze snapping from side to side hard enough to make his beard whip-whap back and forth. "Wha--ah? Hah? What the... och! What the hell -was- that?!" He looks back to Akorinil. His panic turns to anger as his temper riles right back up. "-That's- our story?! BULLSHIT!! That's nae -my- story, an' never will be!"<br />
<br />
He looks back around at his friends, his beard all a-bristle as he scowls and fumes and snorts and snarls. "So what, we -have- tae go through all that? Blessed Dana's flowery -teats-, there -has- tae be another way..."<br />
<br />
Eztli was left speechless as she came back to reality, and she stood their for some time, breathing heavily. "Seems... fucked. I'd like to think the difference is obvious,but I'm no god. And either way, none of it was right. Not in the slightest." They grumbled. "So... what?"<br />
<br />
All around is darkness, now, but for the presence of yourselves and Akorinil.<br />
<br />
She raises a hand and presses the back of it to her forehead, swaying back away from them. She's clearly somewhat used to hate and fury bneing directed at her. <br />
<br />
"Forgive me. I can't control what you see or face in the tales you're entering. Those are subject only to you. But the narrative is ... hmmm ... unspooling, I suppose, because narrative itself is threatening to end. Think of it all as dancing on the razor edge of the dagger that slays Animus --."<br />
<br />
A hitch.<br />
<br />
"...though it's not really a dagger. Godly weapons are something wholely other and beyond comprehension." <br />
<br />
She lets out a breath, then. And then, a quiet voice. "You have to save her."<br />
<br />
Aryia glances to the side as the raving party seems to have fallen to the wayside and away. Was it ever really there? "Forgiveness is an action given, gained only by further action to warrant it. You don't get that just yet, as I'm quite familiar with Taara's gaslighting," the pugilist gestures before digging in the inside pocket of her jacket. An embroidered black silk handkerchief is pulled free, and is offered to Akorinil, Aryia's eyes downcast. "But, perhaps that is something that can be rectified once this is dealt with."<br />
<br />
She nods subtly. "They are not weapons that mere mortals know. I've seen them. But perhaps she just needs to think she's wielding something else other than to slay. In a metaphorical sense." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
"We said we'd do it." Skyler says grumpily, "Just, are you going to shove us at her blind or are there any hints that aren't bullshit metaphors. I mean..." He blinks at the rest of the group, "What *is* a metaphor for?" He frowns, glancing down at his fingers. "Um. a Metaeight?"<br />
<br />
Dirk glances around at his friends, then back to Akorinil. "I -suppose- that losin' Taara would throw all the worlds in the universe out o' balance, or some other such bullshit," he grumbles. He scowls dourly, leveling a finger at the priestess. "I dinnae trust a word -you- say," he says. He takes a step back, glancing up and around at his comrades. "But I -do- trust my friends. So we'll do what must be done." He glances at Aryia with a firm nod, then up at Skyler. He peers at the swashbuckler, then counts up on his own fingers. "Aye, think ye got it right, laddie. Metaeight," he says, nodding again.<br />
<br />
"Close enough," Magpie says. "For the future, there's a point where precisionruins the analogy that made understandingpossible. Even if it's, like, a metaconceptual cinquedea forged of the taste of blue, calling it a dagger still works."<br />
<br />
Looking about, she draws in a breath, and claps her hands. "So let's save a goddess!"<br />
<br />
"Well, that's all well and good, you keep saying we need to save her, but I feel like we're all not much closer to actually saving her, aside from a bit more emotional scarring to add to the pile." Eztli grumbled loudly. "So, lets go down to this. I'm sure a handful of people can help fix this where every single taaran priest or priestess partying here failed."<br />
<br />
The handkerchief is accepted with a gentle smile at Aryia.<br />
<br />
Akorinil knows -exactly- how much it must've pained her to give it to her. <br />
<br />
"If narrative dies, our ability to understand our own stories dies with it. No art. No history. No ordered conscious thought. Everything comes apart without the thread of consciousness."<br />
<br />
Of course, how much of that is true and how much of that is Taara's grandeur talking? Then again, it may not matter. The results of ANimus dying were bad enough."I can not see what happened to you. Those sojourns were for you alone."<br />
<br />
She grimces a moment, dabbing her face and she produces a pen from inside her robe. She begins to draw a single red line through the air with it. <br />
<br />
"We must merely turn the page, hm? Show her a better ending, as I said..."<br />
<br />
And then she gives the line a 'yank' and 'peels' the world like a page in the book and you find yourselves somewhere else.<br />
<br />
A sunny glade. A pale sun above. It's warm here And yet, there's a sense of forboding, and its coming from the litle cottage, all quaint and cozy in the distance. Chimney smoke rises from it.<br />
<br />
"Do you think it'd tell a fun story if we burn it down?" Skyler suggests as he raises a hand to shade his eyes as he looks over the tableau in front of them, "I mean, I'd get over my ennui if someone set *my* house on fire. Or we could rush in to put it out and save her that way?" He cocks his head, "Make your own heroic rescue!"<br />
<br />
As much as it pained her, it wouldn't behoove Taara to change her mind if even an ex-Taaran couldn't show some shred of compassion. Aryia sighs, rubbing her face before flashing a thumbs up. There's a wince as the world practically rips away.<br />
<br />
She lowers her hand from the sun, sliding her sunglasses down. "I am not against walking up and knocking before booting the door down," she shrugs. The normally face-first pugilist is hesitant to advance, her staring down the building like it's a warding sign specifically meant for her.<br />
<br />
But Aryia gulps, exhales slowly, and starts that way with her hands in her pockets. <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Dirk grunts softly. "I know how -my- tale should end," he grumbles quietly. "So if that bullshit I saw earlier is the best -she- can come up with, then aye, I can sure as hell come up wi' a better ending n' -that-." As the new scene unfolds before him, he squints at the cottage. He looks up, down, and all around. "Summat here dinnae sit right," he mutters. "I mean, not as I was expectin' sunshine an' frolickin' bunnies, but... there's summat -off- here." He glances up at Skyler and Aryia with a frown. "Why don't we try bein' polite -first-. -Then- we can start kickin' doors in if we have to."<br />
<br />
Eztli squinted as the world was torn away in some metaphysical sense she was still trying to wrap her head around, if it was even possible. "Not a bad idea to force a different story, but I don't know if it will actually help things, unless the new reeality is some fiery hellscape." She grumbled. <br />
<br />
"Lets start with checking the house itself for now, even though I can't shake that something is less pleasant in spite of the weather. Hard to explain."<br />
<br />
As one gets closer, the overwhelming smell of something ... bready can be detected. Someone is baking. <br />
<br />
There's a hint of sweetness to it, too.<br />
<br />
Could it be...?<br />
<br />
Could someone be baking -pie-?<br />
<br />
Not exactly what one would expect here at the end of things, but then, perhaps that's the best time for some pie.<br />
<br />
Looking left and right among her comrades, Magpie shrugs and does what everyone is suggesting, but understandably hesitant to do; she toddles up, and knocks on the door. "Auntie Taara?" she calls, figuring hey... even if she robbed her way there, being *a* goddess of magic affords one the respect of the magically-blooded. "Auntie Taara, we've come to visit? Are you all right?"<br />
<br />
Aryia slows as she smells baked goods. Damn. When did she eat last? All of this was so ephemeral it was hard to tell. Wait, focus. She gives a quick look to the party, one of 'you all smell that, right?', before she shakes her head and rests against the side of the doorframe. She raises a brow. Auntie Taara?<br />
<br />
"I'd love to try your cherry pie!" Skyler adds on the heels of Magpie, "And boy, do I have an *amazing* story to tell you! There was this box and inside it was this kid and he was like an angel but then some dragon ate fish from my hand and now we go get drunk at taverns together!"<br />
<br />
He pauses, and adds to the group, "It's actually a really traumatizing story."<br />
<br />
Dirk lumbers along with his friends, though his plodding step slows as they approach the house. His big dwarven nose twitches as he sniffs the air. "Oh, beards o' me sweet tapdancin' -fathers-," he groans softly. His hefty middle gives an -infuriated- sounding rumble. How long ago -did- he eat last? Far too long, from the sound of things. He looks towards the cabin with a pained expression. "Och, if that's a fake cherry pie I'm smellin', it's a really really -good- fake," he says. He glances at the others, then lifts up his hand to cup the side of his mouth. "Missus Taara, marm! It's me, Dirk Stormgrip. -I've- got a tale tae tell that -isn't- traumatizing! How does -that- sound, eh?"<br />
<br />
"Didn't take her for a baker, assuming that's actually her in there." Eztli shrugged to no one in particular, the makari meandering down to the actual door as others knocked on it. "Don't forget who we're potentially dealing with. Lies and all that, I'm not sure I'd trust anything baking."<br />
<br />
"Is someone there?" comes a small voice. "Moggie, can you check?"<br />
<br />
"Ugh. Can't you see I'm busy?" comes a rougher male voice before an older man, barrel chested man from years of toil opens the door and squints at the pair.<br />
<br />
""The hell are you people supposed to be?" he asks gruffly. <br />
<br />
The smell of pie only intensifies. The interior of the cottage appears ... alarmingly quaint. -VERY-. <br />
<br />
Disgustingly so.<br />
<br />
"Oh wow. I wouldn't mind *his* cherry pie." Skyler mutters to no one in particular, eyes widening before he clasps a hand over his mouth... and discreetly takes several steps back to the rear of the strange party.<br />
<br />
Sometimes you have to know when to let someone else take the lead. Such is wisdom, and Skyler is a very wise man, even if he isn't a very intelligent one.<br />
<br />
This is very awkward.<br />
<br />
You see, when you were a priestess in a different life, devoted to a sect of the unholy matrimony between Maugrim and Taara, you tend to expound on their tales of how they came together and stayed.<br />
<br />
So Aryia, now a devout atheist, stares up at the very man who she used to venerate in an adjacent manner. She, uncharacteristically, trembles. And then raises a hand to sign-<br />
<br />
"Hello. We're supposed to be your wake up call." Shit. She didn't think this far. His presence threw all her thoughts out the window. <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
"Moggie? Oh you've gotta be fucking kidding me, we've gotta deal with him too?" Ezti grumbled under her breath before they got to the door. "Hey, good evening, we just happened to be in the area and we were wondering what was going on with all the baking here?" She managed to offer for some manner of explanation.<br />
<br />
Dirk looks up--and up, and up, and up--at the imposing figure of Maugrim before him. "Heek." He's suddenly -very- aware of the fact that his beard grooming was interrupted before all this started. He hurriedly smooths his hands down his whiskers, doing his best to get them into some kind of semblance of order, before he steps forward. "Aye, as me comrade here says, Master Maugrim. Sir. As we understand it, ye all need some stories, aye?" His tubby middle snarls angrily again, and he puts both his palms to it, as if -that- would soothe the bottomless pit inside him. "Well, as it just so happens, we need some o' that delicious-smellin' pie. So... perhaps we might work a trade, eh?"<br />
<br />
'Moggie,' Magpie mouths, eyes wide. Somehow, it feels like not even Maugrim would *allow* his wife to call him that; it's just too undignified.<br />
<br />
Her mouth works open and closed for a moment, as she tries to think of a good answer to that question... and failing one, simply leans over and yells past the man, into the house. "Auntie Taara, we've come to visit, and talk! And perhaps if you'd be so kind... maybe one of your famous stories? The kind that made Ceinara ash herself with jealousy?"<br />
<br />
Look, play to your audience. Taara might not be a *nice* person, but this may be the one time a minor blasphemy might be overlooked.<br />
<br />
'Moggie' sort of stands there, staring at the lot of you. <br />
<br />
"Bloody hell, I didn't know the family was rolling in," he says after a moment, "Come on in, everyone. Have a seat. I'll go break open the keg."<br />
<br />
Wait, family? Well,t hat's weird. <br />
<br />
The lady of the house is a smiling woman dressed in dark clothing with long, scarlet hair. She seems thrilled to see everyone, moving closer to give them a hug, individually. "Oh, you all made it! I'm so thrilled."<br />
<br />
That's weird. A moment ago she had no idea who you were, now she's acting like you were always meant to be here and our family.<br />
<br />
Like ...<br />
<br />
... like she's an aunt. Your aunt. Isn't she?<br />
<br />
-To be continued-<br />
<br />
[[Category:PRPs]]</div>Aryiahttp://www.tenebraemush.net/index.php?title=Where%27d_They_Go%3F_That%27s_Where&diff=44514Where'd They Go? That's Where2025-11-20T05:29:07Z<p>Aryia: </p>
<hr />
<div>Darkness.<br />
<br />
Alexandria has been consumed in it for a hot minute, hasn't it? Not the kind of darkness of night's fall and early winter's days, but the more metaphorical kind: a creeping, slowly spreading chill, a tension building of a coming ending: the moment before the boot drops, so to speak.<br />
<br />
You aren't sure what you were doing, or even how long its been, but here you are: painfully aware of that boot, and unsure where you are. There's an expanse of swirling blackness, and you are alone in it.<br />
<br />
... until your hear a voice: people calling out.<br />
<br />
"Five more minutes!" Skyler grouses, as if the call of the voices were people attempting to wake him up, "Mama, I do not want the pony with the fancy forelock, for he bit me when I fed him sugar cubes."<br />
<br />
Beat.<br />
<br />
"Oh wait. I'm not asleep."<br />
<br />
Another beat. "Gods this is getting *weird* in Alexandria."<br />
<br />
Dirk pauses with his brush in mid-stroke, poised over his beard as that darkness overwhelms him. He blinks owlishly, squinting and peering in the gloom. That doesn't seem right. -He- can see in the dark just fine, usually. "What in Dana's flowery green -arse-?" he grumbles. He fumbles his way to the window of his inn room and flings it open. Perhaps if he can see outside, something will make sense. If only it were that easy. "Och, what the hell is this? What the hell is goin' on here?!" he shouts out into the void. Will it help? Maybe not, but it helps to be able to do -something-. It's proof that he's not going deaf as well as blind in his old age.<br />
<br />
Aryia is quite used to the dark. Pitch black, or even darker. Perhaps the last gift of Taara. Or maybe she's just built different. So it is *weird* that she can't even see past her own nose.<br />
<br />
She catches a voice, then two, turning that way and gives a quiet, two toned whistle as she claps her hands together, trying to light up the dark.<br />
<br />
Eztli was left in some state of confusion at the darkness around her. The makari flicked a small flame between two of her fingers, that seemed to do little to actually disperse the darkness. Sound still worked though, right? The sorceress carefully picked her way through the shadows to not trip on anything, trying to find the source of the noise.<br />
<br />
Aryia manages to get her hands alight with moonlight, but still, barely able to catch anything before her reach. A tinge of panic crawls of up her neck, but she locks that down.<br />
<br />
"What a worthless little cretin. Get rid of it." A distance voice rolled by over her shoulder. A man's. She felt a weight land in her hand. It was dropped like hot iron. "What? Scared? They're useless. You will be too if you don't-"<br />
<br />
A whistling streak of moonlight punches the air behind her, her finding herself panting and slowly backing up. What... is that...?<br />
<br />
"...Albus?" Magpie says, turning this way and that, trying to pierce the gloom. "...Is it time for another Crimson Pen book? Or... wait... You're *not* a book anyore, right? Didn't we--"<br />
<br />
Backing away from the calling voice, Magpie does what comes natural; putting a Light spell on the headdress-coin directly over her forehead, because when you need a light you need it close.<br />
<br />
"The.. pony..."<br />
<br />
"Pony..." A voice seems to echo around Skyler, making his eyes widen and his skin to visibly pimple up.<br />
<br />
"Pony..." Or at least, it would if anyone could see him.<br />
<br />
"Pony... would... not bite... if you did... not ride it so harshly..."<br />
<br />
"Harshly... little toadstool.." Again the voice echos, and Skyler spins around with fist raised, eyes dilated in utter terror. "No. You're *dead*. You're dead and *he* killed you!"<br />
<br />
And he hears the sound of a voice crooning a discordant melody, something about 'heal heal little frog' that's equal parts silly but, judging by how Skyler seems to be covering his ears, equally parts terrifying to him at least.<br />
<br />
"Little hunter..." Dirk's face turns white as his beard as the soft, silky-smooth voice reaches him from the darkness. "Let me -in-, little hunter." Dirk swallows hard, his mouth turning dry. "No... it cannae be you..." He slowly backs away from the window, fumbling in the gloom for his thunderbelcher. His flailing palm catches the barrel, making the weapon topple to the floor. The clatter makes Dirk startle back with a squeak. "Yer -dead-, Demontry Kol! Dolan and Andalena put an -end- tae you! Yer dead an' gone -an' ye cannae come back!-" He stoops to snatch up his thunderbelcher and snaps it to his shoulder. He turns this way and that, panting for breath as he fights the panic clawing at his mind. "Yer dead an' gone. Ye cannae come back. Yer dead an' gone. Ye cannae come -back-!" he whispers hoarsely. But the soft, mocking laughter that rings in his ears tell him that no, Dirk, sometimes your worst nightmare really -can- come true.<br />
<br />
Eztli squinted in spite of the darkness, listening closely to the voices. She froze in place as the voices turned guttural and violent, clearly humanoid, but not quite. "I'll burn you all where you stand!" The sorceress shouted, charging off in the irection of the noise to get to the source of it, and eliminate it if need be.<br />
<br />
With her forehead shining like a beacon, Magpie *ought* to be able to see more than nothing. But the darkness is too close, too heavy, and the voice... shifts, subtly. Menace weights it's barely-understood words, a gurgling sound like an indrawn breath around a mouth full of blood.<br />
<br />
The faint crackle of fire.<br />
<br />
Timbers falling to crash into floorboards.<br />
<br />
The crack of bone.<br />
<br />
"Wait... you're not Albus," Magpie whispers... "...You're... oh *hell* no."<br />
<br />
And she turns and just bolts, fleeing in any random direction that is Away From That Ever-To-Be-Damned Wendigo.<br />
<br />
The voices fade away. Silence.<br />
<br />
All of you are alone in the dark for a moment. It's chill settles into your bones. <br />
<br />
And then a new voice, achingly familiar but just out of reach, a memory come and gone.<br />
<br />
"We are all made of stories, little ones. Seek them out."<br />
<br />
Aryia squashes her breathing, forcing it to be an even In and Out as she backs up with glowing hands raised. Focus. Whatever is going on trying to fuck with you. Find your center. That mantra goes through her head again and again until-<br />
<br />
She senses others nearby. She whistles again, a two toned low-high. And.. a voice? It was painful how familiar it was, the ache like a heart being pulled taut.<br />
<br />
"I saw him..." Skyler whispers staring at nothing as he curls up on the ground, hands wrapped around his legs, "He hurt her. He hurt her and she could not have lived through that. If she did..."<br />
<br />
What that would mean remains unknown, as he perks up when he hears the two-toned high-low whistle. Slowly, he surfaces and pulls a small little grey stone out of a small cage braided into his hair. He kisses it softly, hesitantly, and then lets go of it so it's floating around his head like a friendly little moon as he stands up and walks towards the whistles.<br />
<br />
Dirk's eyes blink open as he hears voices. Voices he knows. Voices that aren't -Kol's-. "Blessed Lady, keep an' protect me," he whispers softly as he gingerly makes his way forward. "Halloooo! Skyler! Is that you, laddie?"<br />
<br />
The voices vanished just as suddenly as they had appeared, leaving Eztli alone again with an ever growing frustration. She sighed, perking up just as the voices picked up again. "Dirk? That you over there? Not something impersonating you or something, hopefully?"<br />
<br />
Magpie is... not really paying attention. She is, after all, convinced that there's a people-eating monster in dire -- like Bear -- need of a snack.<br />
<br />
Magpie is also a smol bean. This has long been a source of great frustration, because the bulk of Alexandria is not *built* for smol beans.<br />
<br />
Both of these together may explain why a circular light bobs rapidly out of the gloom, resolving into a Magpie that crashes into Dirk, rebounding almost immediately and looking up, eyes streaming with fear-filled tears. "...D-Dirk? ...Is that *you,* buddy?!"<br />
<br />
The swashbuckling man comes face to face with a scarred-to-the-nines shadow elf with eerie glowing hands and fierce scowl that could cut through rock. She blinks. Her hands move, and understanding follows regardless of knowing the lingua franca. "Who the fuck are you?"<br />
<br />
Aryia looks to the side, hearing closer voices, barely seeing them. "Eztli? Dirk?" She waves, doing that two-toned whistle again. Her way of saying 'hey!'. <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
"Dirk?" Skyler looks *horrid* when the ol' boy finds him, eyes wide and shaking in the dim light of his (not so) happy (anymore) moon. Is he green or is that just the light of the aeon torch? "Wh.. where are we? I wanna go *home*. Jarik was gunna give me a foot rub!"<br />
<br />
He then jerks his head towards the others, and clings to the dwarf's arm. "Oh hey, I know the little one. We took on some demon-lord and she ate his nuts while I skunked his face. And is that Eztli and..."<br />
<br />
He comes face to face with Aryia, lets out a shriek, and falls backwards on his ass. "I'M TOO YOUNG AND PRETTY TO DIE IS WHO I AM!"<br />
<br />
Eztli trudged up over to where everyone else was conversing, the low growl in her throat dying down and out once she actually saw some faces attached to the voices. "Look, no one here is going to die unless there's a reason for that, and I doubt that's the case." The makari grumbled. <br />
<br />
"Now, more importantly, yeah, no clue where the hell we are. If I can get us out of here and you aren't all shadow monsters pretending to be people I know, then I can see what I can do, if it comes down to it."<br />
<br />
Dirk's eyes get wide as he spies Skyler. He doesn't even comment on the arm-clinging. He's in the mood for some clinging himself. He clutches at Skyler, eyes wide as teacups as he looks around fearfully. "Skyler! Praise the -gods- laddie. Ye won't -believe---" But then there's Aryia, and Eztli, and Magpie too. He staggers a bit as Skyler falls away from him. "Ariya! It's a'right, lassie! Skyler's an adventurer, like us!"<br />
<br />
It's about this time that Magpie enters, stage right, and smacks right into him. He sweeps his arm around her to keep her from ass-planting as well. Fortunately, while he is indeed a shortstack, he is no smol bean. He is decidedly more of a thicc bean, and so he does not tumble as easily as some others. "Magpie! It's a'right, lassie, it's me!"<br />
<br />
He looks up and around at his friends, his beard bristling. "What the hell is goin' -on-? Is this more o' Heth's bullshit? I thought we blasted that sheepfucker out the sky!"<br />
<br />
Aryia relaxes as she runs into others she knows - and more importantly trusts. And then there's this screaming man. Her glowing gaze leers down at him, ears flicking at the high pitched noise. "... sure. Pretty. Get up. My bedtime was interrupted and I'm pissed." She reaches down a hand to help hoist Skyler up - it's more like getting thrown to their feet if he accepts.<br />
<br />
She steps closer to Eztli. "Yes. Let's figure this out. I want to get back to bed."<br />
<br />
She gives a firm nod to Dirk, relaxing somewhat. "Don't know. Too dark for that. He's more a zombie dragon." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Upon confirmation of Dirk's reality, Magpie simply lunges out of his grip to wrap her arms perhaps a quarter of the way around his middle, consoling herself with a good few seconds of crying.<br />
<br />
Once big feelings in smol body are satisfied, she leans back, rubbing eyes and nose. "...Yeah no we need to be *anywhere else,* This is lookin' just a little too Void-y for my liking.<br />
<br />
"Evil never dies, Dirk." Skyler says earnestly, as he stares from Dirk to Aryia and then at Eztli and Magpie before accepting the hand to his feet a touch self-consciously as his little moon stalls behind his head. Is it embarrassed to be orbiting the swashbuckler?<br />
<br />
Do they even do that?<br />
<br />
But then it comes around again and he's schooled his face into a grin of amusement. Sure, he's flung to his feet, but he's *Skyler* and manages to twist midair to land nimbly on his feet, brushing off his best feature.<br />
<br />
... His shoulders, duh! "Evil just gets kinda winded and then apparently comes back to throw our deepest trauma at us. Did anyone else see or hear someone or something horrible, or am I just depressed and/or mentally ill?" He scratches his chin consideringly, "Although I think they aren't mutually exclusive. Oh, hey little squirrel!" And he pulls a little lacy bit of fabric out of thin air, and offers it to her, "For your face. You can blow your nose too, 'coz I don't want it back if you use it."<br />
<br />
Dirk wraps Magpie up in his arms and gives her a proper Dwarf Sized hug, a (likely very successful) attempt to crush her soul back into her body. Also, he's trembling himself, and it helps to have someone to cling to. "Easy there lassie. Yer a'right. Fer now, at least. Yer among friends," he says, as soothingly as he can. Once Magpie turns loose, he does the same. He looks up and around at the others. "No, lad, it wasnae just you. I heard... -him-." He shudders, gripping the stock of his thunderbelcher until his knuckles turn white. "Demontry Kol. That rat -bastard- of a vampire. Och, of all the villains I ever fought, he was the -worst-."<br />
<br />
"Th-th Wendigo," Magpie stammers, accepting the lacy cloth with a watery smile and using it to de-gunkify her face. "Thanks... You're *lots* nicer as a person," she says. "...But you made a *heck* of a skunk. Anyway... That's what I was running from. I couldn't see anything... but it sounded like we were back in that in, and just.... no. Nuh-uh."<br />
<br />
"I'm not too confident this is something we can figure out nice and quick, much as I'd like that." Eztli sighed, rubbing the back of her head. "If we're not in Alexandria, teleporting would always work, but I don't know any spells to go cross planes, which is more likely. So, whatever way is out of here, it's on the terms of whatevers got us here."<br />
<br />
"I mean he was a little handsy when *I* ran into him, but after I killed him half a dozen times he got the hint." Skyler says reflectively regarding Dirk's terror, reaching over and patting Magpie on the top of her head. "I don't think I can do a handstand and shake my ass at this problem, alas." He tells the smolbean sadly, "But I'm glad to have you here with me, and we're in some pretty fierce company." He puffs his chest, "Not to brag, but I'm a Gentleman Adventurer, Eztli once sat fire to some stuffed animals, Dirk doesn't shoot blanks despite his age, and she looks terrifying." He jerks his thumb at Ariya. "Surely she's done some dope-ass shit in her time. Silent but *deadly*." Ah, the emotional recovery abilities of a dumbass. They should be studied! He beams around at the group, tucking thumbs in his belt. "We got this!"<br />
<br />
And then Eztli puts a rain on the parade, and he sags. "Spoilsport."<br />
<br />
If Aryia is surprised from the smooth twist and land, she only shows it through a little shrug and a cocked brow. "Yes, I did. Heard my old owner," she answers Skyler. "He should be dead."<br />
<br />
The name Kol catches a tinge of recognition, so she gets closer to everyone to close the ranks. The thumb towards her gets her attention, a snort escaping her. "I simply solve problems by going through them. The others can tell the tales. But we seem competent enough to untangle this."<br />
<br />
She inhales. Out. "So... did anyone hear that other voice?" <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Dirk shakes his head. "He could always get in my head," he says tightly. "I couldnae keep 'im out, nae matter how hard I tried. He could turn me intae his adorin' wee little -slave-. Och." He draws a shaky breath, looking over at Eztli. "Gods, what I wouldnae give tae have Lana or Telamon here. Or Missus Verna, or Master Mikilos. -They'd- know what tae do." He glances back at Aryia, studying the movement of her hands. "Other voice?" he asks, looking back up at her face. "I... I'm nae certain. Could it have been one of us that ye heard, perhaps...?"<br />
<br />
"Something about being made of stories," Aryia replies to Dirk in a quick flit. "Might have been my imagination. This place seems fucked." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
"Maybe we were kidnapped by fairies. I had that happen once." Skyler says brightly, as he glances around, "Anyone see a mushroom circle? They give you hints if you pee on them, the kinky little things."<br />
<br />
There are no mushroom circles.<br />
<br />
Alas, there is only a profound, chilling darkness that seems to extend in all directions.<br />
<br />
And then... <br />
<br />
... there it is.<br />
<br />
That voice.<br />
<br />
Warm, rich, melodious even. "Find the thread. One will bring you to me. A final corruption."<br />
<br />
There, something takes shape. A home rising up out of the dark. Lonely looking, in the sense, but it's a several story manor home from the look of it.<br />
<br />
"I'm not useless, you know, I just don't make it a habit of fucking around with other planes of existence, so I never bothered learning more about it. Which clearly, in hindsight, wasn't a good idea." Eztli huffed, trying not to glare at the comments. "Didn't hear too much, maybe someone's trying to mess with me, since I'd recognize those noises anywhere. Maybe they thought they had more of a hold over me still." <br />
<br />
The makari watched as the building appeared, and sighed. "Well, that's a trap if I ever saw it, but unless anyone has any better leads, or wants to see what happens if we teleport somewhere else at the moment, Doesn't look like much of a choice, does it?"<br />
<br />
Aryia just gives Skyler a /look/. "Okay, fairy pisser. You could just-"<br />
<br />
Her hands still as that voice snakes through the air. Hands drop, looking over to- oh. "-h f-ck m- s-d-w-ys," Aryia hisses through clenched teeth, her grey skin paling. "I know that house. Gird yourselves. Last time I was there, I stepped into a fucked up bloody aftermath of a massacre." She goes through a few motions: cracking her neck and rolling her shoulders before taking point. <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
<OOC> Aryia uses Ki: Barkskin <br />
<br />
Dirk gives Skyler a -look-, his bushy white brows furrowing as he tugs at his beard. "I... I'm nae sure it works -quite- like that, lad," he says. "Although there's plenty out there in the wilds that'll do summat if ye piss on it. I dinnae judge." He looks back to Ariya and snaps his fingers. "Och! Yer so right! I heard that too! Just..." He waves a hand around. "All o' -this- is goin' on..." He looks like he might like to elaborate, but then there's that manor rising up out of the gloom. He looks up (and up and up), his eyes getting wide once again as his jaw drops. "Erh?" That's about all he can manage. Fortunately, Ariya's there to fill in the blanks. At her warning, he lifts his thunderbelcher and racks the slide with a satisfying CHK-CHAK. "Right. Let's finish this up an' get back tae Alex. I have tae finish groomin' me beard."<br />
<br />
GAME: Eztli casts Mage Armor. Caster Level: 14 DC: 20<br />
<br />
"There's a whore I know that taught me the *best* balm for frizzy hair!" Skyler tells Dirk brightly, "You are looking a little poofy. Works extra well on bristly, curly hair. We can even add some dyes to make it fun colors! I once committed piracy with a guy that had a purple beard. It got all over everything, especially when it rained, but he said it helped immensely with split ends." <br />
<br />
As he rattles away, his hand reaches up to draw his wickedly curved blade, tossing it into the air and catching it with a flourish before pausing to check his boots for scuffs. One gets wiped away, before he nods at Aryia, ignoring the look. He once dressed in Verdama drag and flirted with one of Her paladins. It takes more than that to rattle him. "Of course it's a trap. But we know it's a trap, so we're springing it on our terms. Who do we wanna send in first, or do we all want to jump in at once so they can't single anyone out?"<br />
<br />
There's warmth in that home, unlike the chill of the place you're in. You can feel it as you get closer. Love, laughter, and light oozing from it at stark odds with the nature of the place.<br />
<br />
And ... <br />
<br />
...music? You can hear it now. Joyous. Lively.<br />
<br />
GAME: Magpie casts Mass Planar Adaptation. Caster Level: 15 DC: 25<br />
<br />
Dirk gives Skyler another -look-. "I do not need a purple beard," he grumbles. "Make me look like one o' those nutty oddbeards. Hrumph!" He mutters and grumbles as he lumbers along, his posture tense as a coiled spring. But then, hearing that cheery music, and seeing how warm and inviting the place looks... it slows the burly old snowbeard's step. "Aye-yup. This is -definitely- a trap," he grumbles.<br />
<br />
As the others begin to gird up for trouble, Magpie stands there, brow furrowed for a moment. Then, she wets the end of a finger and holds it up to the air, nodding slowly... and begins to chant. The words... don't matter much, sliding off ears and brains as she speaks into her cupped hands. Power gathers there, pooling into a roiling, chaotic mass of liquid light of any and all possible colors. Then, at the apex of her chant, she slams her hands together, and the power sprayes out in all directions, settling over herself and her friends in a shimmering ward that soon fades into only the occasional multicolored glimmer.<br />
<br />
"...Been a tour guide out in the Planes for awhile," she says quietly. "Wherever we are, we're plane-lost. I can get us back, but... this feels *important.*<br />
<br />
"I agree, we're not on this plane," Aryia nods towards Magpie, taking the magic with appreciation. The stark contrast of how the home feels now versus how she remembered it is deeply unsettling. Last Aryia was here, it looked like people suddenly left mid-party. But here, it looked like the party was still going on.<br />
<br />
"I can take it. Prepare for Taaranites," she volunteers, stepping forth towards the manor and... she inhales deeply. Lines of energy flare on her skin in a flash. And she opens the door. <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
<OOC> Aryia uses Ki: Diamond Soul, Gain Spell Resist 30<br />
<br />
"Oh, great, cultists, hiding in a plane of darkness, and something warning about corruption. Suppose that explains why people can sound like they're having so much fun in a place like this." Eztli grumbled, waving one hand over her shimmering robes. "You always sleep with your guns and swords on you? Suppose I would too if I didn't have a way to defend myself these days."<br />
<br />
The door opens. <br />
<br />
It looks very inviting! Just waiting for you.<br />
<br />
That can't be bad, right?<br />
<br />
Aryia hesitates at the door, looking back at the others before peering inside. It felt... odd. The carpet wasn't sodden with blood, and music was flowing like the drinks. "Just stay focused." But alas- she enters, eyes darting through the party. On edge.<br />
<br />
Dirk grunts softly as he feels Magpie's protective magicks settle on him. "Glad we've got -you- here wi' us, lassie," he says. "Gods, I've lost track o' how many times yer magicks have come in clutch." He squares up with the manor, swinging his thunderbelcher to rest it over his shoulder. As he lumbers forward, he glances at Etzli. "Nae -usually-, no. I like me gun well an' all--I made it meself after all--but hardly enough tae sleep wi' the thing. That's just weird." He trundles forward, heading for the door, and whatever might lie beyond it.<br />
<br />
And Aryia bounces Skyler, sword held at the ready as he glances left to right with bright eyes and a grin that suggests he's ready for anything.<br />
<br />
Eztli shrugs and doesn't seem too perturbed for the moment by the building before them, and like the others, is quick to enter. "Focused as well as I can be, maybe it'll be easier inside where I can actually see things, hopefully."<br />
<br />
"Don't forget," Magpie says, giving Dirk a distracted grin as he talks her up. "Find the thread. It was important enough for nothing to say, it's important enough to *remember.*"<br />
<br />
But she's still trying to place the voice as she files on in behind the rest... ready to see what needs a little chaos.<br />
<br />
"Welcome, welcome!"<br />
<br />
You're greeted almost immediately by a man in in loosely fitting robes. Silk.<br />
<br />
"It's been so long since we had guests at the door! Come in! Come in! Enjoy! Wine?" Was he holding a platter moments ago? No? <br />
<br />
Does it matter? He is now. Red wine.<br />
<br />
"We're so happy to see you! I'm sure we've been expecting you."<br />
<br />
The home unfolds into a radcuous, hedonistic party. Everyone is singing along, dancing, drinking. It's -merry-.<br />
<br />
Merry everywhere to the heart's desire. Everything is luxurious...<br />
<br />
Dirk wasn't at all certain what to expect out of this alien, otherworldly place. Aside from a couple jaunts into Quel'ynos, he's kept his feet firmly planted on Ea's face. But -this-... it's familiar. -Too- familiar. The old snowbeard swan-dives headfirst into the uncanny valley. His cheeks turn bright red, and his beard bristles as he stumbles and stammers. "Uh... uh... I... uh... that is tae say..." He reaches up to doff his tricorne, glancing around furtively before turning a -desperate- look on Skyler. The sky pirate's the charming one--surely -he- knows what to say? All poor Dirk can think to do is fidget from foot to foot. He doesn't want to be -rude-, really, but he -was- kidnapped, and now he's at a party. Normally something he'd quite enjoy, if not for the circumstances. He's fairly certain he didn't receive an RSVP to -this- particular gathering.<br />
<br />
Eztli looked even more sour than usual, the sorceress not appreciating the party in the slightest. ""Gods, if anyone asks who your parents are, just tell them that they're too important to bother telling them." She grumbled to no one in particular before stepping inside.<br />
<br />
"Oh, hey! Do you guys have oat milk?" Skyler asks brightly as he shoves his way to the front of the crowd, beaming brightly at the party-goers as he glances around, "So glad you knew we were coming, coz we sure as fire didn't!"<br />
<br />
He pauses, and adds, "You'll forgive us if we don't give you our names. It's more fun that way, y'know!" And he grins brightly, "So what's all this about? What's going on? Did someone die?"<br />
<br />
Aryia is stymied briefly at the entrance, such a party rifled old, bittersweet memories. She lingers at some of the luxuries, but she shakes her head, focusing as Skyler pushes his way to the front. He seems far better suited for this environment, so she's back to watching the party for anything remiss.<br />
<br />
Totally just watching.<br />
<br />
"Oat Milk?"<br />
<br />
A beat.<br />
<br />
"Well, I suppose I can check the pantries. They're ... very well stocked? Amazing. It's like a never ending pantry of anything and everything we could want, so perhaps!"<br />
<br />
He smiles warmly at them, then turns to lead them further in.<br />
<br />
It's ... it's a party. There's people singing, laughing, dancing. They all seem to be having a good time. There's no end to it. Every room you pass by, pass through, is filled to the brim with people locked in some sort of eternal festival and they all look like they're having the time of their life. <br />
<br />
And not a knife to be seen anywhere. "There's some space in this room," he says, cheerfully, pointing the way down another hallway. This place is impossible to figure out. The interior makes no sense to the exterior. One gets the impression it doesn't really matter to any of them.<br />
<br />
Dirk shuffles along with the others as they're led inward. He's never one to turn down a good party. No dwarf worth his beard would be. But all of -this- seems to be a bit much for the old ranger. A small gathering of friends in a cheerful inn room is much more his speed. He stares all around as they make their way in. The strange geometries and curious angles has the poor old dwarf's eyes crossing. "Beards o' me sweet tapdancin' fathers. What the hell--"<br />
<br />
He pauses with one foot poised to take a step before he stops in his tracks. Sloooowly he turns his head and leeeeeans back, peering into a room. His eyes get wide, and his cheeks turn red as beets. He swiftly resumes his pace, harrumphing softly as he fans himself with his tricorne. "So ah... heh... quite the er... -lively- gatherin' ye've got goin' on here," he says to their strange host. "There a special occasion? Or are ye all just a naturally happy lot?"<br />
<br />
"Maybe I was too harsh in my judgement. I think they might genuinely just be here to have fun with no ulterior motives. Maybe." Eztli relented as they wandered further into the strange party. "So, what's your name, then? What's the occasion for all of this, anyways?"<br />
<br />
"Hey question!" Magpie calls from much closer to the floor; imposible angles and eldritch geometries... Yeah they're weird, but pay attention to your feet and you'll be fine. "Like he said; what *are* y'all celebrating, anyway? I ain't never seen a party this size without *somethin'* kickin' it off!"<br />
<br />
The gnome seems more... curious, than suspicious, as she examines passed hallways and chambers. Maybe the thread is a literal one?<br />
<br />
This isn't the first or second time that Aryia had been in an otherworldly place where the festivities were eternal. She follows, better to go along with the tide than to fight against it. Especially since they're still trying to sort out what's going on.<br />
<br />
The fact that she hasn't spotted the that knife was both relaxing as it was concerning. A thought that is discarded as she peers into the same room as Dirk. Her brows raise as she whistles lowly, before lazily trailing along with the others after a moment.<br />
<br />
"Hey! When you find the oat milk, maybe also get us the answers to our questions?" Skyler asks brightly, his tone firm but friendly, cheerful even as he squints at the back of the leading figure. "And space for what? Are we having an orgy? I mean, usually I like a little more prep work before group debauchery. And if you think for a second I'm sharing my oat milk, you really are insane."<br />
<br />
He asides to the group, "This is definitely a trap. But, like, is it the kind of fun trap where we all end up naked and covered in cheese, or the kind of trap that ends with us eating someone's flesh? Because I won't do that again. People are kinda gamey." Surely he jests, right?<br />
<br />
Dirk flicks his wide-eyed gaze around at his friends. His friends are safe. The old dwarf is hardly a prude, but even he has his limits. And the heedless abandon permeating this place is a -very- long way beyond that line. If there's anything he can't stand, its losing control of himself. He's had enough of that to last a lifetime.<br />
<br />
But then Skyler has to go and do Skyler things. The old snowbeard's gaze snaps to the swashbuckler. "Naked an' covered in--" He stops in his tracks again, his jaw working for a moment as his cheeks once again turn red as beets. "How's -that- get fun?!" he finally manages in a strangled tone. He doesn't mention the flesh eating. Erotic cheese dip is -so- much easier on his poor frazzled nerves.<br />
<br />
"We are celebrating Taara, of course! How could you not know?" He tilts his head at you, smiling still. "We feast, we sing, we dance, and we tell stories. We lie, we cheat, we manipulte, and we tell stories. All that lives, wants, and all that is dead wants to live. That is why we are here. She has called us to her Side. She is near."<br />
<br />
Oh boy.<br />
<br />
'Find the thread.'<br />
<br />
'Find the thread.''We sing, we dance, we tell stories.'<br />
<br />
'Find the thread.'<br />
<br />
'We lie, we cheat, and we tell stories.'<br />
<br />
In a rush, Magpie draws in a breath, and reaches up to take a glass of wine from the tray. "So, she says, with her most engaging smile, "would you do us the favor of telling us a story? About Taara?"<br />
<br />
"Very gamey," Aryia concurs with a gesture. Was she joking? Does Aryia joke? She glances to Dirk. Shrugs. "Gouda is pretty fun. I can see it."<br />
<br />
Her footfalls stop hard with a stomp. Pales. Gulps. This is Her domain. Magpie comes swooping in with a way forward, grounding the mul'neissa woman that should be completely at ease here. She would have in a different, past life. She is not that woman anymore, and is thankful someone else can fill those shoes. <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
"If I have to explain it, Dirk..." Skyler shakes his head, and jerks his thumb at the dwarf as he addresses the guide, "If we do go cannibal, he's probably a little tough. Probably best to stew him. Low heat, long cook time in an oven." He then cocks his head at Magpie, nodding.<br />
<br />
"Preferably with refreshments. I want oak milk. Warm, maybe, with some honey stirred in? My nanny use to give me a cup every night when she told me stories." He says with a charming, winsome smile, "You'd be surprised at home much I don't know." He says with pride, "I mean, knowing stuff takes so much work. Easier just to vibe! So why don't you get us refreshments and we can listen to your Taaran stories, maybe pull some thread, indulge in pulling Her threads, whatever else we need to do to *party*!"<br />
<br />
"I would rather avoid anything involving cheese or eating people myself." Eztli sighed. "Great, she's near. So, that means we should probably get going, right? Sounds like the case to me, if this is some exclusive Taaran gathering."<br />
<br />
Dirk's eyes get wider still. "Taara. -Taara-? -The- Taara? The goddess of--" He looks for a moment like he'd like to say something -very- unflattering. But he gets ahold of his tongue and snaps his mouth shut. His beard bristles for a moment. "Er. Uh. I mean tae say. The goddess of... things." He gestures lamely all around. That's nice and neutral, right? Surely -that- won't offend a goddess in Her own realm.<br />
<br />
Once again, Skyler gets a -look-. "Och! You lot take it intae yer heads an' cook -me-, I'll go straight tae yer hips, I swear tae fuckin' Dana," he grumbles. It's hardly the first time some nasty beastie or foul fiend has threatened to make a meal of him, but -this- time it feels different. He nods eagerly at Eztli, pointing her way. "-She- gets it!"<br />
<br />
"No, Eztli," Magpie says, shaking a finger next to her head, and beginning to pace. "No... I think we're nearly there. It *feels* close, because what *is* a story? It's the lie that outlines a truth. And they have stories... *and I would hear them.* I want to see the common thread."<br />
<br />
Oh, no, Magpie seems to be locking into her theory, looking up at the revelers with a sort of hunger in her shimmering eyes.<br />
<br />
There's a distinct pause from the young man as the others talk. He tilts his head, adjusting his hood and pulling it down all together. Yep, he's a shadow elf too. Of course he is. <br />
<br />
All smiles.<br />
<br />
"Of COURSE I'll talk to you about Taara. But I think you're here for a reason -- no one gets in uninvited you see -- so why don't you look around and find who invited you?"<br />
<br />
He gestures beyond into the party.<br />
<br />
"Let your journey be the story that warms your hearts in the night or failing that, be worth the hangover."<br />
<br />
While that milk idea sounds pretty good to Aryia, but the weight of what others point make her even more nervous, especially as Magpie seems to hit the mark. An unsettling thing with the normally stoic pugilist. And then-<br />
<br />
She was /invited/ here. Into Taara's domain? Aryia gave up on her over half a century ago. "I tell no more lies, not even to myself anymore," she gestures, looking out to the party proper. "But, fine. Guess we'll have to mingle. Try to not overdo it." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Magpie is just about to say something incredibly clever... when they are put on a scavenger hunt. Words die in her throat, her finger loses it's pointer-y-ness, and she sort of... deflates, just a little. Looking back up at the reveler, she tries on a crooked grin?<br />
<br />
"...A clue, perhaps? Cryptic or plain, honest or red herring, it's momentum that matters, is it not?"<br />
<br />
She *has* her suspicions... but to be wrong might also be blasphemy, so...<br />
<br />
"Wonderful, so we've all got a reason to be here, for something or other. Maybe just the entertainment?" The makari shrugged, not looking to pleased. "So be it, gods I hate mingling at parties,but if that's what we need to do, so be it. Be a bit harder when all I've got to rely on is my winning personality and humility, but we've gotta do something, right?"<br />
<br />
"What if my thread is oat milk?" Skyler asks in a tiny, hopeful little voice before he sighs, scrubs his face with one hand, and shakes his head sadly. "Curses. Fate is a fickle bitch once again."<br />
<br />
He then squares his shoulders, and glances at his party. "Maybe it has something to do with the traumatic visions we heard?" He pauses, and adds to Eztli, "You also have your fiery wit!" And he mimes flames coming out of his mouth, and flails his hands like he's burning. "Crispy."<br />
<br />
Dirk looks up at their host and blinks owlishly. Blink. Blink blink. "Uh..." He looks back towards the room that had just captured his attention moments ago. Of -course- it's still within easy reach, it's fresh in Dirk's mind. "-Taara-? Taara invited -me-? -The- Taara? Och, I'm naebody, why would Taara invite -me-?" He mutters and harrumphs, tugging at his beard as he glances around. Aryia's suggestion has the old ranger boggling slightly. "Mingle? -Me-? Och, but, this is all so... so..." He fumbles for a diplomatic word. "-Lively-," is what he eventually goes with. "I'd just bring the vibe down. You know us dwarves. We're all a bunch o' grounches, us. We'd rather spend our time scowlin' intae a mug o' beer in a gloomy corner. Ayep, that's us, right there." He fidgets with his tricorne, looking around at his friends. Surely they're not suggesting the cardinal sin of splitting the party, are they...?<br />
<br />
"Is that so?" remarks the young man to Aryia, curiously, "Truth is funny thing, you know, that exists in the space between one's story and another's." He takes a step back, smiles at Magpie, and then offers her another glass of wine just because.<br />
<br />
"She waits for all of you." <br />
<br />
And then he disappears into the swirling, dancing crowd.<br />
<br />
Aryia flexes her jaw. "That space is where truth lies, and where truth lies," she replies back with a hand. The mute glances to Magpie. "Momentum matters, it seems. And either we spin this tale in an endless inertia of debauchery or we press forward. Probably has to deal with the horrid shit we saw like Skyler said. So..."<br />
<br />
She rubs her face. Dirk is right, Taara invited /them/? This has to be a sick joke, or and honest plea, and it was frustrating it could be both at the same time. "... let's get into the party or some shit. Fuck me." Aryia moves past the room they peered at, following into the dancing crowd. <Handspeech/Tongues> <br />
<br />
Skyler?<br />
<br />
He's already gone, shrugging out of his coat. "WHO HERE HAS EVER DONE VODKA AND OAT MILK SHOTS?!" He's shouting over the crowd, even as he shakes his ass, "It tastes like hell but oh my god the way it *lingers*! WOOOHOOO!"<br />
<br />
"Does it?" <br />
<br />
"Shit, let's try it!"<br />
<br />
"Let's find some oat milk!"<br />
<br />
"What the hell is oat milk?"<br />
<br />
"WHO KNOWS!"<br />
<br />
"...Okay well since no one got smoten saying it, yeah, pretty sure that's who we have to find, Magpie says, absently swirling the wine... then pausing as Skyler sends a group of Taaranites on a wild oats chase. "Hey, guys? I'm reminded of a saying I heard from a Rosalian... 'In vino, veritas.' This is totally a bad idea, but...."<br />
<br />
Drawing in a short breath, she takes a long swallow of the wine.<br />
<br />
Eztli was left shaking her head awkwardly as some of the others took off. "I was just gonna find a dance floor or pole or something. Seems like the sort of stuff they'd have here." Eztli grumbled. "I don't trust any of the drink here at all, so I'll pass on the oat milk. How do you even milk a plant in the first place? Don't particularly want to know, to be perfectly honest."<br />
<br />
Dirk boggles as their host retreats, leaving them alone. "Oh, beards o' me sweet tapdancin' fathers," he whimpers softly. "How are we goin' tae get back home? We -will- be able to, won't we? Och, Thistle an' Lulu must be so worried..." He fidgets and frets, looking around for something, or anything that might resemble what they're looking for. He's certainly -not- in the mood to party. Usually, he's the one who picks what parties he goes to, and none of the debauchery is doing anything to enhance the burly old ranger's calm.<br />
<br />
As Magpie goes to drink that wine, he startles, reaching out with a "Aggkk--!" But he's too late. "Och, what if it's like in the fae realm? If ye eat or drink what they give ye, they own yer soul, or some nonsense like that," he says. Aaaaand there Skyler goes, doing Skyler things. You really have nobody to blame but yourself, Dirk. You're the one who decided he should do the talking.<br />
<br />
GAME: Aryia rolls perception: (18)+38: 56<br />
GAME: Skyler rolls Perception: (14)+21: 35<br />
GAME: Eztli rolls perception: (14)+5: 19<br />
GAME: Dirk rolls Perception: (19)+22: 41<br />
GAME: Magpie rolls percetion: (20)+percetion: 20<br />
GAME: Magpie rolls perception: (4)+15: 19<br />
<br />
It's loud.<br />
<br />
It's raucous.<br />
<br />
There are people -everywhere-, and talking to them reveals every last one is a Taaran of some kind -- in fact, many of them are actual clergy, or so they say: all too happily.<br />
<br />
They also lie.<br />
<br />
A -lot-.<br />
<br />
It's frustrating. It's annoying. It sends you in circles trying to grasp what's even happenign here, or how you might've goten here. All that is until Aryia in particular hears a voice.<br />
<br />
A familiar laugh, up a set of stairs that seems to have no end.<br />
<br />
There's a touch of old, old habit Aryia falls back into, and that is dance. One of the few vestiges of her old life that still stuck around after the slow fall to rock bottom. She sways from one group to the next, trying to get some iota of information but- she's done this all before- and it's still just as annoying. It seems like it's going to be far too much to deal with-<br />
<br />
A laugh lances through her ears and mind like a shot of old, nostalgic trauma with no ice. A wave of emotions crash against her; fear, rage, apathy, guilty relief. It had been so long to hear that voice, to wield that power. Oh- to taste that once more, the delight of a delivered lie.<br />
<br />
She let the wave crash, spread, and recede. In. Out. She didn't need Her anymore.<br />
<br />
The others. She flits through the party, tapping her friends on the shoulders and gesturing to follow. "Found the thread," she just signs in explanation, pointing to the set of stairs before heading up herself. <Handspeehc/Tongues><br />
<br />
"... And then I told him that it wasn't a banana, it was ME!" Skyler cheerfully tells a group that he's regaling with a story featuring two drunk goblins, an hobgoblin, and a basket of fruit.<br />
<br />
Don't ask.<br />
<br />
In all likelihood it's a lie, and he seems to be attempting to top himself with gusto with each new lie he attempts to tell... Although he also keeps half an eye on each of his party, distracting people attempting to interrupt them or draw trhem away from the mission. When a woman with big ol' knockers and a hungry expression begins to approach Dirk, for example, he calls out, "HEY! DID I EVER TELL YOU ABOUT THE TIME I DRESSED IN DRAG AND TRIED TO SEDUCE A PALADIN OF VARDAMA?!" to draw her away.<br />
<br />
Eztli had searched and searched, but there was nowhere to dance proper she found, outside of just meandering in between the groups of priests that seemed to treat lying like a competitive sport. By the time she was about to threaten to cut out some of their tongues and shove them down their throats, Aryia seemed to recognize something in particular this time, and the sorceress breathed a sigh of relief before reconvening.<br />
<br />
That voice.<br />
<br />
Aryia is leading you towards something she recognizes, up a set of stairs. Up another, longer set of stairs.<br />
<br />
Through narrow and dark hallway, past rooms full of party-goers and increasing levels of hedonism and debauchery. <br />
<br />
Finally, into a lounge, lit by firelight. Shadow Elves in reverent prayer are here -- prayer to Taara. Seated comfortably amongst them is a scarlet-haired shadow elf of, of course, indeterminate age. She rises to her feet, silk robes hanging comfortably on her frame.<br />
<br />
"Well, well, well," she begins, "It's so good to see you and your friends, darling."<br />
<br />
Aryia knows who that is.<br />
<br />
Aryia stops short in the doorframe. Her jaw works, eyes wide at the figure as her throat bobs. "Akorinil," she signs in a blitz of fingerspelling. She clearly is ignoring any pleasantries as the pugilist looks about the room before half looking at the High Priestess. "I take it you invited us here." It wasn't a question. A hand behind her back flashes to the group, "Caution." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
"Oh, golly, I never knew a raven could do *that* with a writing desk." Skyler tells whichever poor soul ended up getting stuck at the rear of the line with him. When the party left the main group, Skyler seemingly appeared out of thin air at the rear of the line holding a goblet of something that is vaguely milky but a little too thin to be actual milk from a cow.<br />
<br />
Is it the fabled oat milk?!<br />
<br />
Despite being by all measures something of a dunderhead, he's not stupid enough to actually drink it, but does seem to be content to carry it with him in the hopes of escaping with it. Oat milk has a longer shelf life than cow's milk, after all. He glances around with bright eyes as they enter the room with the scarlet-haired shadow-elf. He looks prepared to step forward again to take the lead when Aryia begins to wiggle her fingers. He frowns but shrugs, and leans against something after checking it for stickiness. It *is* that kind of place, after all.<br />
<br />
Dirk's eyes get wider and wider as they progress up the stairs. Each new display of hedonism and abandon has the old snowbeard's cheeks turning brighter and brighter red. "Och, if they're tryin' tae sell us, they might be goin' a -wee- bit overboard, wouldn't ye say?" he mutters, giving his beard a tug. But then, they're there, in the company of Taaranites. The redheaded shadow elf has Dirk blinking owlishly. And again when it appears that Aryia -knows- this person. His gaze flicks to the sign behind her back. His shaggy white brows furrow as he takes a step forward. One hand reaches up and over his shoulder to grip the stock of his thunderbelcher. "Right. Let's nae be havin' any biscuit-arsed behavior out o' -you-, lassie," he growls. "It seems a -lovey- party yer havin' here. It'd be such a shame fer there tae be an arse-kickin', now wouldn't it?"<br />
<br />
Eztli continued along with the rest of the group, with some idea of where to go courtesy of Aryia. The makari certainly did not know what to make of the elf, it was just another of many at the party, but she did at least get an inkling to show some manner of wariness.<br />
<br />
Magpie actually giggles at Skyler's commentary; how can one not? he puts such careful work into it, after all, it'd be a shame for his efforts to go unappreciated. She tries not to look into the doors they pass, largely because Dirk is a good enough bellwether, it serves to satisfy her curiosity.<br />
<br />
When the group tops the house to find Akorinil, however... the gnome seems confused. "I... hm... it's good to meet you, your Taarishness? Sorry, never learned many polite modes of address but um... I'm... not familiar?"<br />
<br />
The fabled oat milk is not in evidence at this time.<br />
<br />
But it's not like they aren't looking for it. You can hear them, down below, on the hunt.<br />
<br />
The Shadow Elven woman rises to her full not at all impressive height and gives a very, very warm smile. She's entirely happy to see everyone. "There's no need for any of -that-," she tells Dirk, warmly, "Such distrust, such hostility! It's just like old times, wouldn't you say?" she tells Aryia. <br />
<br />
"I am Akorinil Belvade, and you are a guest in the house that faith built. It is we, here, who sacrifice so that you may live to fight another day -- or perhaps we should say tell another tale?"<br />
<br />
"To be fair, we weren't exactly given the most..." Skyler purses his lips as he considers exactly how to phrase it, "Sanity-preserving wake-up and invitation to the party." His pale eyes drift along the group, taking in Dirk's belligerence, Aryia's discomfort, and Eztli's wariness. "But regardless. You'll have to forgive my little teapot of a friend. His tastes are a little more conservative than you and your followers." He glances over his shoulder, "Although I do have some questions about that one room with the three sea shells myself, to be honest. They certainly looked like they were having fun but..."<br />
<br />
He shakes his head, waving a hand dismissively before checking to see if he spilled the oat milk. Nope. Still safe for Verna or Telamon or someone else to de-cursify for him to enjoy later. "Banger of a party though, Akorrie." He holds up one thumb, "Seriously. So what's this about telling tales? I have an appointment at the bath-house to get my toe nails trimmed and I don't want to be late, so if you could tell us how to get home..."<br />
<br />
Aryia holds up a hand to Dirk, then pushes her hand down in a calming motion. "While I am confident in my abilities, let's not poke this nest." She glances to Skyler, Dirk, Eztli, and Magpie before taking a deep breath and looking back to the Akorinil. "High Priestess of the Lady of Shade, she fails to mention."<br />
<br />
A sigh escapes her. "You can hardly blame us, you know? The distrust. While I appreciate the hospitality, I agree with the fancy man. Can you clear up what the hell's going on here? Because in the material plane this party was... bloody." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Dirk's scowl deepens. "I'm nae Taaranite," he growls. His grip on his thunderbelcher never wavers. "An' -our- tales are -true- ones! Nae those rust-covered lies that -She- spins." Skyler calling him a 'little teapot' has him regarding the swashbuckler with an indignant scowl. "Hrmph! I can cut loose just fine, ye struttin' peacock. But there's a bloody time an' place for it, isn't there?" <br />
<br />
He doesn't miss Ariya's admonition, but he old ranger is tense as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs. He looks back to Akorinil, fixing her with a hairy eyeball. "Ye -kidnapped- us. Forced us here against our will. What on Ea's great green -arse- would make ye think we'd want -anything- tae do wi' ye? We've nae want fer any yarn or tale ye'd want tae spin fer us. Let us go home!" For now, he keeps his voice to a low, surly growl, but he's ready to spring into action at the drop of a hat.<br />
<br />
Eztli sighed, and shook her head a few times. "You've got a real swell way of inviting people to your house of debauchery." Eztli huffed. "Why exactly should we telling you more than we should? It'd be good to know why we should actually tell you anything."<br />
<br />
"It really is a lot of trouble to go to, to bring four random people and also Ariya halfway across the planes," Magpie agrees, and by the very sound of her voice, if she wore glasses she'd be pushing them up their nose.<br />
<br />
"Also I gotta admit, things have been getting ugly and weird for a while now, so I can only guess we're here because we're uniquely suited to help, somehow? Not you, though..."<br />
<br />
Magpie looks down for a moment, then back up, and nods. "So how can we help?"<br />
<br />
Bless her little chaos gremlin heart.<br />
<br />
Skyler snap-points at Magpie, one chaos gremlin to another.<br />
<br />
Clicking her tongue against the roof of her mouth -- a tutt of disappointment -- Akorinil shakes her head with such sadness in her eyes.<br />
<br />
"I am wounded -- so very wounded -- by the accusations and innuendos. Though I like him --" She points at Skyler. "And you," a point at Magpie.<br />
<br />
She smiles at Aryia. <br />
<br />
"I would've thought my station so obvious!"<br />
<br />
A smile at Dirk. <br />
<br />
"Kidnap you? Kidnapping is so gauche. I saved you. The Void consumes all it touches. Do you remember what you were doing before you found yourself here? Do you -really- remember?"<br />
<br />
... come to think of it ... you don't. Not really.<br />
<br />
What do you do when the High Priestess of Lies compliments you? "Thank you, you're pretty swell too! Speaking of swell how do you keep everything so perky with minimal support!" You believe the freakin' lie, of course. It's gauche to point out someone's lie, and she is trying so hard, after all!<br />
<br />
To Dirk, he shakes his head, "Maybe if you calm down, she'll give you some caramel hard candies! Doesn't that sound nice?" And he reaches over to squeeze the dwarf's shoulder warningly, turning to give him a grimace that is as serious as the grave where Akorinil can't see it. And slightly apologetic, as if he's trying to silently apologize for what he's saying.<br />
<br />
Turning back to the Lie Priestess (get it?) he grins. "Nope, but to be fair it wouldn't be the first morning that happened. My partner usually finds me, pays any fees or bounty, and then I start the day. And the Void has been a *bitch* lately, so you'll have to be be more specific. What'd the Void do this time?"<br />
<br />
"And I'm not either, Dirk, but-" Aryia sighs, rubbing her temples. She drops it, stepping deeper into the room and leaning against a wall. "I know how Taaranites work, and those that don't find it kind of maddening to talk in double speak the entire time." She can't help but half cough at Skyler's comment, a rare silent snicker escaping her.<br />
<br />
The pugilist blinks. "The void was... approaching, but we staved it. But before here-..." Aryia stops. Thinks. Frowns. "... alright. Fine. Got me there. Care to elaborate?"<br />
<br />
"Sorry if I don't give much of a crap about impressing you, to be very honest. High Taaranite priest isn't really that high on my list of stations that I care about." The makari snorted. "So, you brought us here, for some reason. I'm sure you did it out of the depth of your heart and compassion, since you know so much about how I'd want to be saved from something like that."<br />
<br />
Dirk's beard bristles angrily. He tenses at Skyler's hand on his shoulder, and he looks about ready to throw it off, possibly with some proper dwarven profanity to help it along. But he's a canny old bear, and he doesn't miss Skyler's expression. It'd be noteworthy enough -without- them being in the very heart of Taara's house of faith. He pulls deep, snorting, snarling breaths through his big dwarven nose. The leather of his gauntlet creaks as he forces his fingers to unclench with visible effort.<br />
<br />
"I'm nae afraid o' the Void," he growls, in a bit more of an even tone.<br />
<br />
He turns his attention back to Akorinil. "Lord Gilead an' the Blessed Lady hold me in their keeping. I trust in Their goodness." He draws another deep breath, fighting for calm. Now is not the time for dwarven tempers. He never was the sharpest marble in the deck. Deep thoughts often evade him. But he possesses deep, homespun wisdom of his own. He forces himself to be calm and cool, like the forest's shade on a clear spring morning. The priestess' question, though, has his hackles springing -right- back up. "Of -course- I remember what I was doin'! I--" He cuts off, lifting a hand to his beard. He gives the majestic snowy white whiskers a tug. "I was... I was... brushin' me beard out..." He pauses. Blink blink. "I -was-, wasn't I...?"<br />
<br />
Confusion darkens his mood back into a surly scowl. He turns his dour gaze back on Akorinil."All right. Fine. Ye brought us here. If we hear yer tale, -then- can we go home? I was... doin' -somethin'- important. I'm fair certain." He actually -isn't- certain, but he's not letting -her- know that.<br />
<br />
"Easy, buddy," Magpie whispers as she rests a hand on Dirk's arm. "I'm not gonna bite the hand that pulls me out of the Void, for certain... But we still need to hear what it is you need from *us.* You can rest assured -- High Priestess? -- we're grateful enough to do what clearly only we could, so... Whaddaya need a tracker, a firelighter, a brawler, and two chaos gremlins for?"<br />
<br />
"You've all done very well in facing the Void, it's true. You've killed the 'villains of the void' -- but do you know what those were made of? Not just void stuff, to be sure. What else were they?"<br />
<br />
The question Akorinil asks each of you is clearly rhetorical, but she's planting her hands on her hips. She needs to hear something from each of you.<br />
<br />
"Pass." Skyler tells the rest of the party, his expression utterly bewildered. "I mean, as far as I know, it's made of nothing because that's what void is, right? Absence of stuff?" He grimaces, "I think I skipped that day with my tutors, or slept through it."<br />
<br />
Aryia nods her head along with Dirk; she wasn't afraid either, having faced it several times herself. She stares at the High Priestess. "... really Akorinil? You were there. You helped me and the group. I fought a corrupted version of myself. A reflection of another timeline. Others I've known have fought the same." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Dirk nods his head firmly at Skyler. "Aye, ye have it exact, laddie," he says with a voice full of conviction. "It's -nothing-. My farts after Gobbo Chili Night have more substance." He pauses, and looks thoughtfully. "Actually, those have a -lot- of substance after Gobbo Chili Night. Errf." He gives himself a shake, looking back to Akorinil. "Sun rises. Rains fall. The forest breathes. An' -good triumphs over evil. That's the way the world bloody works." He grips his belt and nods again. Dwarf Law has been spoken.<br />
<br />
"You've... not been paying too much attention to me, it seems. Guess I was just dragged along for the hell of it." Eztli huffed again, clearly growing a bit more agitated. "But given my second hand knowledge and keeping up with the times, I dunno. They're memories. Void stuff pretending to be something it isn't, because those folks are supposed to be some of the worst known."<br />
<br />
Magpie pauses, then looks over her shoulder at Skyler and Dirk. The others seem to refuse to put much thought into the question, but the Gnome dips her head, beginning to pace.<br />
<br />
"...But the Void isn't nothing," she says, tapping her nose. "If it was, there'd be no Heth. It *is* hungry, and corruptive, but we're not *talking* about Voidstuff. We're talking about the villains."<br />
<br />
Turning back about, she snap-points at Eztli for a moment. "Memories. That's close, but they weren't the *same.* But if the people involved had fallen *to* the Void..."<br />
<br />
She pauses, and looks up at Akorinil. "They're lies. Lies told by the people they were trying to be. 'If only,' 'maybe I could've,' 'if not for that damn skunk...' Memories grasping for ways to remain relevant, come back stronger, get what they deserve."<br />
<br />
Is she holding a mug? Why, yes.<br />
<br />
Was Akorinil holding that mug moments ago?<br />
<br />
No. It's not even clear where she got it -- but she must've gotten it from somewhere. In point of fact, as you each look at her holding it, you begin to -remember- her ssending a servant to fetch it, one bringing it back to her. You're pretty sure that didn't happen... right?<br />
<br />
She holds it out to Skyler. Is it... could it be?<br />
<br />
IS IT THE LEGENDARY OAT MILK?<br />
<br />
In the meantime, she does nod towards Magpie, glancing between each of the others. <br />
<br />
"Tell me, friends -- what is another name for a lie? A fiction. What is a fiction but a story?"<br />
<br />
Her eyes turn towards Aryia, now, "Do you know? Do you know why we were called to her side? It is the same reason you stand here now."<br />
<br />
GAME: Skyler rolls Wisdom: (5)+2: 7<br />
<br />
"Evil is subjective, Dirk. Deforestation is a sin to some, but to others it's a necessary part of fueling progress and forwarding civilization." Skyler says earnestly to Dirk, "I'll grant you there are things that are black and white, but for the most part it's all different colors in between."<br />
<br />
He looks prepared to wax more philosophy when the mug is held out to him. His eyes widen and he bites his lip like a man facing the worst temptation of his life. He knows it's stupid and unwise to drink something handed to him by the Lie Priestess, but...<br />
<br />
"Oat milk." He breathes, and reaches for it, "Gods. It's been so long."<br />
<br />
The others' perspectives paint Aryia another picture of what's going on. She wasn't far off, it seemed: memories, false potentials, all that could have been. She quirks a brow at the offered mug, not really certain where it appeared. But, weirdly, she actually trusted it was the true, one and only: oat milk. Honestly, she can't blame the man for jumping for it, and doesn't stop him.<br />
<br />
She's heard that mantra before: a lie is just fiction, and a story. But she gets a different question. Her eyes grow downcast. "I was called because I was very good at telling the story of Her and His matrimony," her hands are slow. Her fingers curl into tight fists. Tremor. Then release with a breath Out. "But She left me when I needed her most. And now I need no one aside from my friends."<br />
<br />
She glances up to Akorinil, resolved. "But that is not the question you asked. You mean the Mul'neissa. It was..." she tries to remember. "... the original elves. Ancestors. Taara took one, or sheltered them from the other, a long time ago." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Dirk boggles a bit at Skyler as that mug appears out of nowhere. A -fiendish- mug, no less! "-Sky-ler, don't be -thick-!" he can't help exclaiming. "What if it's poison? Ye dinnae have a dwarf belly, poison can -hurt- you!" He grumphs and mutters. "If progress an' civilization comes at the cost of murderin' the forest, then -fuck- 'em both. The Green Word was here long afore anyone put one stone atop another. It'll outlive all of us." He flicks his gaze to Akorinil. "An' -nothin'- can stop -that-."<br />
<br />
He pulls another calming breath. Mutter mutter, grumble grumble. "A'right, so they're -stories-. Just like everything else. Like you an' them, an' -us-." He gestures fro Akorinil, to the other Taarenites, to his comrades. "Get tae yer -point-, lassie. I want tae go -home-." He does try his very best not to sound like a petulant child, but he is -so- far out of his element here.<br />
<br />
"So, stories are being made into reality, and not anything good. Why can't the void just raid Mikilos' library of crimson pen books and do something more fun with that?" Eztli continued to grumble. "Yarn, tale, epic, not sure what you want us to answer here, there's more names than anyone could reasonably guess, everyone's got their name for a story."<br />
<br />
"Dirk," Magpie says, a little more insistently. "C'mon now. I know this is wildly outta your comfort zone, but.. you wouldn't be here if you weren't needed. I believe in you, buddy, okay?"<br />
<br />
Though this is a story she *hasn't* heard, and new stories make for very curious gnomes.<br />
<br />
"Oh, I do wish that it -would-. Nothing can be so self-annihilating as sex," says Akorinil to Eztli, but with a big old smile. She gives Dirk and Magpie sympathetic looks. She certainly understands -- or so she'd like you to think. <br />
<br />
"It's true. You're all here for a reason." She turns her eyes towards Aryia, then, and continues.<br />
<br />
"...ah. The Shadow Elves -- you and me both -- once labored in spiritual bondage to her, as you know. AS everyone knows. That bondage was shattered when the right story was told. Without the weight of their souls, however, the wall against the Void within her weakened. The toll her theft of magic for power took grew. The death of Animus haunted her. The Void found purchase within divinity and sought a new story: a fractured one that would end reality. Without narrative, there is no time, not consciousness, no 'self', and without those things, there can be no desires fulfilled."<br />
<br />
She glances towards Skyler, "... a world without a hunger for oat milk," she says, for emphasis.<br />
<br />
"And so she called her high priests home to her. She called her faithful, so many of us, so that we may rest in the Abyss and support her through it all. She called so many, and we worked until the time was right. We stand on the precipice of the final step. There is but one more villain of the Void to face."<br />
<br />
There is a single, momentary beat as she lets the words wash over you.<br />
<br />
"The goddess of lies herself."<br />
<br />
Beat.<br />
<br />
And then...<br />
<br />
"Thank you for the oat milk, you're Lying'ness, but I think I need to go home." Skyler says in a remarkably steady voice, "I can give you a couple recommendations. Eztli here is awesome. There's also Telamon, and Cor'Lana-Banana, or possibly Verna! She's scary. I just..." He stares at the others helplessly, "I swing a sword good, end of story. Yeah?"<br />
<br />
Dirk listens to Akorinil, beard all a-bristle and his bushy white brows furrowed. It -does- sound like the sort of outlandish, self-aggrandizing tale a creature like the Goddess of Lies would spin about Herself. But then she drops that last bombshell--that they're to face down Taara. His face goes from red to white, and his brows fly towards his hairline as if trying to escape his face altogether. "Heek?!" is about all he can manage to squeak. He looks over at his friends, hopping from foot to foot. "-Me-?! Face down a Goddess? Och! Lassie, I know I'm a right bad-arse but--but--" He fumbles and stammers, trying to think of something, -anything- to say. He snap-points at Skyler with eyes wide as teacups. "Aye, -exactly-! I'm just a simple hunter! I'm nae the sort o' hero who fights -Goddesses-!" he cries in a strangled tone.<br />
<br />
Aryia purses her lips as Akorinil explains her point. She was aware of a good chunk of it, though the forthrightness of it has her questioning the authenticity of it. It's true the High Priestess has done nothing /wrong/ in all the time that she's known her, but it something one has a very hard time shaking the nagging feeling she's going to-<br />
<br />
The mute audibly gasps "Th- f-ck?", which turns into a hacking fit. She rubs at her throat, stepping off the wall as the others try to reason with such a tall ask. "So let me get this right... you want us to...-" she rolls a hand, thinking while trying not to reel from the suggestion. And the faint, faint tinge of vengeance creeping in. "... what? Expose a truth to her so damming it unravels her position? You cannot defeat an entity such as that." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Eztli blinked once, then twice, breathing in, and letting out the longest Exhale she could manage. "Aren't you a priestess of them? Isn't this some horrible, horrible sacrilege? And wouldn't that piss off literally everyone in this building?"<br />
<br />
"...Ah-ha," Magpie say, nodding slowly... for the thirty seconds or so it takes for the magnitude of the ask to sink in. Which poiny the noe-rubbing becomes a long, low whistle. "Oh *wow* you are getting desperate, holy beans..."<br />
<br />
Blinking, she looks up and about at her friends. "...So she can't fight the Void in her anymore. But her own people are *too close*, likely as not to follow her into the Void just out of religious ecstasy, right? So Her High Priestessness casts around for folks also lost in the Void -- us -- who have a shot at doing what they can't; Dirk, think of a bird that gets dunked in an airship's oil tank. You don't clean the oil off, what's gonna happen to the bird?"<br />
<br />
The reactions to her statement have Akorinil smiling. Then smiling even bigger .She's delighted. She loves it. 'Lying'nesa' tickled her especially. She nods solemnly right along and then addresses first Skyler.<br />
<br />
"Oh, I am well aware. But this isn't about power. It's a task that you've been more prepared for than you realize, Skyler." Wait -- where'd she get his name? It's not like he introduced himself to her out the gate.<br />
<br />
Dirk earns a tilt of her head, her crimson eyes focused on him.<br />
<br />
"We do not get to pick our fights, young one." Only an elf can call a dwarf 'young one' succesfully, right?<br />
<br />
"... but you think yourself a hero? Then stay."<br />
<br />
Aryia's reaction forces her to cover her mouth with her hand in abject delight.<br />
<br />
"Oh, oh. We go back such a long way, don't we? To think we're standing here together at the end of the world, with as much as you've seen and as much as you know, prepared to author something new together."<br />
<br />
"What matters is the tale being told," she tells her.<br />
<br />
And then to Magpie, she gets a smile. "Creative! Thoughtful. I like this one."<br />
<br />
"But it's all so linear. What Animus spoke of when he called out for aid is true. He can be saved. Aspects of the blight -- the so-called 'villains of the void' were called for you to confront. What do you suppose they represent in truth? And how do you suppose their defeat helped Animus?"<br />
<br />
Aryia squints at the Highpriestess, growing more weary as Akorinil gets excited. She takes in the information as told to the others, and she pauses. Looks at the crew. Then back to Akorinil. "I guess the villans of the void were aspects that Taara threw out to help weather the weight of the Void? But the way you're talking is making it seem likes we have to make up story that becomes reality, getting Her out of this mess, and... brings Animus to the fore?"<br />
<br />
She blinks. "Is /this/ why you wanted the damn shards??" she jabs at a finger at Akorinil, eyes wide. <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Dirk's day is certainly taking a turn for the strange. And considering some of the things the old snowbeard has seen in his days, that's saying quite a lot, actually. "Wait," he says, looking over to Aryia. "Wait, wait, wait just one anvil-crackin' minute. -We- have tae come up wi' a story?" He pauses, staring at his friend for a moment. "It... it -cannae- be -that- easy. Can it?"<br />
<br />
"They were stories for us to confront and re-tell. Kol and that Snow Bitch weren't defeated brute force; we had to finesse them." Skyler says slowly, a light (however dim and flickery) coming on in the attic, "It's about establishing what reality is strongest. Gods, my head hurts." And he drinks the last of his milk. "More, please?"<br />
<br />
"I still have no clue what we're supposed to be doing here, because if you think that we're supposed to confront the corruption of a god on our own, then, well even if I'll give it a try, I don't particularly welcome my chances." The makari sighed. "So, I don't know. I really, really don't know, and I'm not a fan of trying to get a straight answer out of a pathological liar."<br />
<br />
"I mean, I wouldn't call it *easy,*" Magpie says, scratching her head. "But if it ain't completely linear, then... Beating the villains didn't just show the lie of them for what they are, but told Animus that was *never* how it happened?"<br />
<br />
Magpie is clearly stretching the limits of her comprehension, but trying regardless. "So now we have to... show the lie of the Void to Taara?"<br />
<br />
"Closer, closer," says Akorinil to Aryia and Magpie. Eztli gets a sympathetic look before she remarks, with a smile, "The life of the party, aren't you," she says, amused. There's no mockery in her tone, just earnestness this time around. She tilts her head, letting her long, red hair fall over her face and shoulder.<br />
<br />
"You're closer, as I say. The Goddess of stories looked down the narrative path, the branching tree of a story, if you would. The possibilities. Each choice she made closed one after another, and yet she persisted. Too stubborn to let go of what is rightfully her's. Each villain of the void, as they were called, embodied a portion of the Void within her, yes yes, and in so returning sought to prove the futility of life and meaning. Here you are, having told the story already, and yet you were called again to do what you had already done. Isn't.."<br />
<br />
"It.."<br />
<br />
"Pointless?" she asks. <br />
<br />
"While a story is linear, a means by which we understand the events of our lives, the choices a Goddess makes extend into the past and the future." Her eyes fix on Aryia.<br />
<br />
"Just like the death of Animus."<br />
<br />
"And when we have a story and we don't like how it's going..."<br />
<br />
"Perhaps we can be shown how to author a better ending."<br />
<br />
Her eyes fix on Skyler -- for just a moment.<br />
<br />
And then she turns to Magpie.<br />
<br />
"So. If we must save Animus, how do we save the Goddess of Want from herself -- for the final collapse of meaning rests in failing to do so."<br />
<br />
"Listen, I had a *really* bad trip a while back. Me and a bunch of halflings and goblins took a job babysitting some rich asshole. We got kidnapped by pixies or some shit, shoved through a mushroom ring, and were forced to do some Ye Olde Bullshit Queste and then it became this battle of imagination with the big bad." Skyler scratches his jaw. "It was weird. This seems like the same bullshit: Stories and our perceptions of reality shape what is real or not. We just have to convince the Goddess of Lies and Bullshit that we're telling the truth."<br />
<br />
Skyler pauses and adds, "I doubt I can solve this with imagining she has a cloaca, but I'm willing to try."<br />
<br />
Dirk listens to this great, tangled yarn. All of it speaks of things so far beyond his experience. Like the beasts of the forest that he protects, in many ways, old Dirk is a creature of habit and instinct. When one measures their life in centuries, it becomes easy to forget Tomorrow, even as one recalls Yesterday. He tugs at his beard, glancing around at his comrades. "I mean... -I- can spin a decent enough tall tale when the mood takes me," he says. "But I'm hardly a bard. I cannae create a tale worthy of a Goddess." He scowls a bit. "Even one like Taara," he grumbles. "Och, She's gone an' stacked the deck against me. What kind o' tale should I tell? -Mine-? Hrumph. As if -that's- a tale worth hearin'. I'm nobody."<br />
<br />
Aryia scratches the shaved side of her head. She supposed that makes sense with everything considered. "We make up a tale, Dirk. A bit of collaborative story telling. We make her want something else, I think, instead of clutching so tightly to magic, or something like that," she suggests, thinking she had a serious solution.<br />
<br />
She stares at Skyler. Reaches down for a vacant prayer pillow, and throws it at him. <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
"Because what do the best stories do?" Magpie says, conjuring an illusory copy of Aryia's throw pillow and getting a half dozen tosses in herself. "They take us to a world that's even more wondrous than the one we live in. Make us think that maybe *that* world could stay *here.* So if we've gotten all the silly and skeptical out of our systems... I really want to take a run at this, you guys. After all," she says, looking about and grinning.<br />
<br />
"How many people are gonna get to say they told the Goddess of Lies a story so good, she wanted it to be true?"<br />
<br />
"Absolutely thrilled to be here, doing this." Eztli shrugged. "Whatever, I'll try to do something. Can't go any worse than last time, and it's not like there's anything left to lose at this point."<br />
<br />
Skyler says, “Never." Regarding the silly that is. But he does finish his oat milk again and roll his shoulders...<br />
<br />
Until a pillow hits him in the face, and he spills oat milk all over himself. He gives Aryia a wounded look, and then makes an arcane gesture while muttering something equally arcane before passing his hands over himself. The milk disappears. His shoes are shiny. And he smells faintly of mint and sandalwood. His hair even looks smooth and luxurious!<br />
<br />
Hisrestidigitation: Better than dry shampoo.<br />
<br />
"I'm ready. So we want to discuss parameters? I usually find stories go crazy if we just start spewing details. It's how a door becomes genitalia and weird stuff happens. We gotta keep the narrative neat and follow the proper rules of plot structure." He then snaps and gives finger-guns to Eztli. "That's the spirit! You can keep us grounded so Dirk doesn't give her a poofy beard or something." Aside to Akorinil, "He gets a little obsessive, the old dear.”<br />
<br />
Dirk looks at Skyler with an indignant "-Hey!-" He mutters and grumbles, tugging irritably at his beard. "I am -not- obsessive. I'm a -dwarf-. Nae the same thing at all!" Harrumph harrumph. He looks back to his friends. "An' if we fail, here an' now... then that's it? Everything we've done, all the battles we fought, blastin' Heth out the sky wi' the Spell Cannon... it dinnae count fer anything?" He lifts his hand from his beard to rub his face. "Och. I'm gettin' too bloody -old- fer this bullshit," he grumbles softly under his breath. He sucks a deep breath through his big dwarven nose, turning his face skyward. "A'right. A tale, then." He pauses with his mouth hanging open as Skyler gives his warning about the dangers of unstructured narrative. Slooooowly the old ranger turns to regard the swashbuckler. "Dana's sweet flowery -teats-. If a door turnin' intae a ramrod -isn't- weird then what in all the sugary-sweet world -is-?" He pauses. Lifts a finger. "Do -not- answer that. Please, please, -please- do not answer that."<br />
<br />
"That is the secret of the Void -- it empties you of hope, of ambition. It buries it beneath the greatest lie of all: that you are already the worst version of you. What happens when a being which contains infinite stories, multitudes of selves, believes that there is only -one-?"<br />
<br />
"Everything..."<br />
<br />
"...flattens..."<br />
<br />
"...out."<br />
<br />
There is only darkness.<br />
<br />
And then...<br />
<br />
"CHRISTOPHER!"<br />
<br />
The voice is harsh, shrill, and demanding. The person it belongs to? A young woman of modest appearance in full Myrrish court garb. She is young, but bitterness and a sort of ferret-like leanness to her features makes her quite unpleasant and older than her years. "Your brother, the Duke, has demanded that you attend court on his behalf." She shakes her head and sneers, "It's about all you're good for, isn't it? Being your brother's little toady, nothing but an extension of his will when he, the *actual* important one, deals with the real work."<br />
<br />
A pause, and Skyler Skywalker... no, *Christopher Carl von Wayne of the House of Ashewell* starts as if he'd been drifting off to sleep, a bottle rolling out of his hands with a thud. The woman's lip curls. "Gods, you are useless. The only good you ever were was to get your brother *my* dowery to support you, and even then you can't even get me children!"<br />
<br />
The abuse continues, as Christopher stares at his hands, eyes full of pain, of disappointment, of utter despair...<br />
<br />
Dirk Stormgrip is not a young man. There are few dwarves in Ea who have lived longer than he has. He has watched entire forests rise up from saplings to mighty arbors. He has seen towns spring up from nothing. He has counted himself lucky to be friends to many He even fell in love, and was blissfully married. <br />
<br />
And yet....<br />
<br />
He has outlived many of his kinsmen. He has watched those mighty forests wither and fade, until naught but sour, barren earth remained. He has buried more friends than he's kept. And in the end, his wife of nearly sixty years went the way all mortals must.<br />
<br />
Yet he remains. He comforst himself knowing that, one day, he'll find his own time and place to rest.<br />
<br />
But what if he -doesn't-? What if he just... keeps going?<br />
<br />
What he he outlives -everything-?<br />
<br />
In a dismal cave, many long-forgotten years into the future, Dirk sits at a lonely campfire, surrounded by the skeletal husks of a dead grove. His face, once hearty and cheerful, is gaunt and hollow, awash in misery quiet despair. He's all that remains. There's nothing else left. The bleak, dismal night encroaches ever closer, threatening to snuff out that feeble little flame.<br />
<br />
And yet he knows, that even when the fire fades, he'll still be there. He'll never rest. He'll always be there.<br />
<br />
-Alone-.<br />
<br />
One only truly knows what they have lost once it has been taken from them. Freedom. Self-actualization. Trust. Peace. Usefulness. What if she slipped? What if she fell? What if she consorted with the very things she ripped free of her friends and family? "Wait- Aya, I-I did this all for you!" Aryia /screeches/, audibly, at the back of a mul'neissan woman with a long white braid wearing wrapped in sheets in robes. They don't looks back as they walk into the darkness.<br />
<br />
Aryia is... no where near the same. She's bloody, caked in blood but none of it her own, her scars are gone. But a horrid, demonic presence wafts behind her, like a horrid, stretching shadow. "I did this for you, all of you..!"<br />
<br />
The figure pauses. "No sister of mine would stoop to such lows, I thought you learned from my mistakes." They continue walking into the darkness. "Live with your regrets."<br />
<br />
The corrupted pugilist screams more at the backs of others as they walk away. Many adventurers and kinsmen that had lifted her to new heights: Cor'lana, Telamon, Dirk, Seyardu, Verna, Venom, and so many countless others that her long life had touched.<br />
<br />
Her knees hit the floor. The inner rivers have run dry. The sense of self is hollow. And heart beats of glass like her glazed gaze, sharp and staccato as the sound of manacles being clamped and a iron brand searing flesh sizzles into the dark.<br />
<br />
The thing about being lost in the Planes is, unless you know exactly what you're doing... being lost *forever* is a very, very easy thing to do. And in some places, time moves strange... almost as if it ran in currents not unlike water, to pool and swirl and fold back upon itself and--<br />
<br />
When Magpie made a mistake long ago, and fell into one of the famed planar instabilities of the Vast, she never really.. talked about how she got back. Or how long she truly spent, drifting in formless chaos. Or what she saw and heard, surrounded by the very chaos that so heavily infused her blood.<br />
<br />
The truth was, it was a lucky break, that she found a thin place that allowed her to push back into materiality after a scant dozen subjective years.<br />
<br />
Random chance.<br />
<br />
If she *hadn't* been so lucky, well...<br />
<br />
She'd still be there now. She'd still be there when the Void fell over all.<br />
<br />
Drifting.<br />
<br />
Lonely.<br />
<br />
*Untethered.*<br />
<br />
Unspooling.<br />
<br />
Unraveling.<br />
<br />
Unremembered.<br />
<br />
Uncreated.<br />
<br />
Lost to time, space, matter, and anyone who might have remembered her, Magpie quietly, utterly unzips on any meaningful level of materiality, mentality, and spirituality.<br />
<br />
A nobody, gone to nothing.<br />
<br />
The teleportation wards around Alexandria had one major flaw, one that had been tested before. What happens when normal access failed? <br />
<br />
This time, battered and exhausted, the city reached its breaking point. The undead worms collapsed the walls, the sundered by Heth. <br />
<br />
There was still sounds of combat in the city, but every passing hour they died down, while the screams of those beset upon by the dead grew, until they too quieted. <br />
<br />
Eztli was at the docks, where those who remained hurriedly packed onto the boats. The sorceress had not bothered, even with a faint sliver of hope remaining. There would be nowhere safe to flee to this time, and she watched as the boats sank one by one, with the dying breaths of the city.<br />
<br />
There's no hope. <br />
<br />
There's nothing at all. Just an emptiness, bleak and unyielding that feels like it wants to swallow you up.<br />
<br />
... but then... <br />
<br />
There is something. Perhaps its just a feeling, an inkling that this isn't right. A voice whispering in one ear that you could still be more. That the story isn't over.<br />
<br />
And then... there is.<br />
<br />
Music plays, as people move slowly in a stately dance that is all mathematic precision and no passion. Empty steps, done by learned rote. It's beautiful, but... cold.<br />
<br />
Distant.<br />
<br />
Lifeless.<br />
<br />
Among them, Christopher moves with one hand clasping that of the ferret in a ball gown that he's married to. Who is scowling at him fiercely as she mutters a count under her breath, as if Christopher isn't even capable of stepping in time.<br />
<br />
And then, Christopher takes a left when he should have stepped right.<br />
<br />
Gasps! A shocked silence...<br />
<br />
And Christopher abruptly grabs the hand of a handsome half-orc that was beside him. He looks wild despite the court garments, with a certain primal allure. He moves stiffly at first, staring at Christopher. <br />
<br />
"Skyler."<br />
<br />
Beg pardon?<br />
<br />
"I'm *Skyler*."<br />
<br />
And, okay, *Skyler* gives the half-orc a saucy wink before abruptly dipping him and pressing his lips against the tusked mouth as it falls open in shock. He then twirls him away, and laughs as he stares around. "You people suck!" Skyler declares, shaking his head. And to his 'wife'..? "I'd say I wanted a divorce, but I don't think even Dana recognizes a marriage to a wet fish! C'mon... er... you! Let's boogie!"<br />
<br />
And Skyler begins to bump and grind against the half-orc. Who blinks. Shrugs. And then begins to bump and grind against him in turn.<br />
<br />
Dirk draws a deep, shaky breath and lets it out in a sigh. His shoulders slump. The tear-tracks on his face have long since dried. Nothing matters. How could it, when he'll just outlast everyone and everything he's ever known and loved?<br />
<br />
A shriek for help splits the night. His head snaps up, and he's on his feet, thunderbelcher in hand in an eyeblink. He tears out of the cave, racing and leaping through the underbrush, faster than the most nimble deer. He breaks out into a clearing lit by Eluna's silvery light.<br />
<br />
There. A shadow towers over a terrified young maiden. A stinking stain upon the face of Ea, one that has -no- place in the pure, clear wood. The burly old ranger moves on instinct. He hefts his thunderbelcher to his shoulder and immediately cracks off three shots. CHK-BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! They ring out into the night, splitting the darkness and illuminating the night with Dana and Gilead's blessed light. The shadow-demon's malevolent laughter turns to a howl of agony as the blessed bullets rip its substance apart, sending it screaming back to the Iron Hells<br />
<br />
Dirk lowers his weapon and steps forward. "Yer all right now, lassie. Yer safe."<br />
<br />
The maiden looks up, and his heart freezes. She looks -so- like his beloved Sarah, his beloved wife, whom he buried so long ago. It's -not- her, and yet the resemblance is uncanny. She reaches up to take his outstretched hand, and flings herself at him. "Thank you! You saved my life!" she sobs into his shoulder. "I thought I was all alone out here!"<br />
<br />
Color returns to the old snowbeard's face. Strength fills his heavyset frame. He curls his arm around the lass and hugs her close. Over distant mountains, the sun crests the horizon, turning the sky from inky black to glorious rose.<br />
<br />
"No, lassie. Yer nae alone. -I'm- here now."<br />
<br />
When Magpie was lost in the Planes, only random chance allowed her an opening to find the means to find her own way home.<br />
<br />
But the thing about random chance is, the dice never stop being thrown. Every hour, every minute, every second that passes is a new opportunity for something incredibly unlikely to become inevitability. And Magpie is a *much* different person, now, than when she fell into formless Chaos those few short years ago. She *knows* better. She's *learned* more.<br />
<br />
And given the sheer strength of Chaos in her blood, and how its mutability works on her mind and being... she *has* to have a stronger sense of self, just to be able to exist normally.<br />
<br />
The thinness brushes against her senses, and Magpie responds. Fingers, coherent again, flex. An eye coalesces from yellow-green light, and blinks. A mouth that threatened to drift offon its own, opens and pulls air into lungs.<br />
<br />
'Cogito, ergo sum,' goes the saying in Rune's polymorphing schools. 'I think, therefore I am.' In those classes, it's not just pithy words; it's a *lifeline,* a reminder that no matter what form you take, as long as you can use your mind, you will *always* be you.<br />
<br />
At her current powers, it's almost trivially easy to take hold of the pocket of thinness within the Planes, and tug it open to look out onto Alexandria's Lower Market, at the height of the lunchtime rush.<br />
<br />
Being lost is *hungry* work.<br />
<br />
There is anger. There is self-loathing. There is despair. In that shackled cage that shuts with a deafening click. Aryia Zilstrae Aeldius has hit rock bottom again, where all has left her. Inaction and betrayal has got her here. Her misbegotten actions, undercutting her steadfast morals. But then... there is-<br />
<br />
Will. A will to live. It's a drop in a stagnant lake. The ripples barely nudging nary a waterfly. But it wavers the illusion of hopelessness, distorts it, just enough. She's been here before. Churn the waters. Feel the river flow, the heart beat the breath In.<br />
<br />
Out. "NO CHAIN. WILL /EVER/. BIND ME AGAIN!" she bellows into the empty air, her hands flickering to moonlight once again. Manacled hands bash into iron bars, groaning and shearing with each blow before metal sprays out in a deadly shrapnel, her having thrown herself free of the cage.<br />
<br />
Coming to a roll, Aryia pops up, covered in her own blood and wielding an iron bar as she breaks into a dead sprint towards her retreating friends. The pugilist leaps towards a creeping, demonic shadow that looms over them, tackling it to the ground and pinning it there. The only sound that echoes is the satisfying, echoing and repeated clang of metal and a flashes of moonlight chasing the darkness away.<br />
<br />
Not every ship had sunk, a few remained, perhaps avoiding the worst of it from their smaller size compared to other, much more enticing targets. Could she just stay there, do nothing, and give up? It was certainly an enticing thought, in it's own twisted way. <br />
<br />
The sorceress shook off the feeling, a low growl escaping the makari as her form shifted, longer and larger until a massive brass dragon stood in her place that soared into the sky, crashing through the clouds of undead beasts, drawing their attention away while clawing through as many as they could manage. Hopefully it would take long enough to be taken down to turn a sliver of hope into something greater.<br />
<br />
You deserve a better ending.<br />
<br />
You've staved off the darkness for another day, it's true, but you deserve something better. All those wars. All those sacrifices. Don't you deserve better? Just...<br />
<br />
Comfort?<br />
<br />
Warmth?<br />
<br />
Surely, you do.<br />
<br />
And so the scene changes. There's a disorienting moment. It's all good. <br />
<br />
It's always good.<br />
<br />
"Boogiee...."<br />
<br />
"...e's dead! Duke Austyn is dead." The minor revere Christopher has over the punch bowl, a fantasy of rejecting everything and dancing chaotically with some hunky half-orc wild-man dissolving like the ice in his ridiculously ornate, tiny little glass. And the glass is dropped as his wife grabs his arm, her nails digging in hard enough to tear the fine silk of his doublet.<br />
<br />
Christopher stares dully at his wife. "W.. what?"<br />
<br />
She lets out a sound of disgust, leaning forward to smell his breath before wrinkling her nose. "Really? Gods, how much did you drink, you useless shit?" She shakes her head, and her scowl turns into a wide grin. "I killed him. Your brother's dead. Now I'm the Duchess Ashewell of Gull's Edge!" She smiles cruelly, "And you, husband, will get your freedom." She guides him off to the side, hand still digging hard enough to hurt. "The freedom of the country estate. You can farm, you can hunt, you can drink and debauch yourself to an early grave if you want." She puts a hand over her stomach. "I have the Duke's heir. He looks enough like you no one will know the difference." She sneers, "You're free, you useless lump! Isn't that what you always wanted? Freedom, to be something? Well now you're the Duke's father! And you'll be free to wither away in the countryside."<br />
<br />
It's a happy enough ending, in the cut-throat courts of the Myrrish kingdoms...<br />
<br />
Isn't it?<br />
<br />
Not many people get a second chance at happiness. Dirk is one of those lucky few. The lass he rescued from the shadow demon--Farah is her name--falls in love with him, and he with her. She fills his days with brilliant sunshine and laughter once again. With her at his side, the forest grows strong and clean. The land thrives. He takes up his mantle as the forest's champion once again. And how could he not? After so long, he has something to fight for.<br />
<br />
Weeks pass. Winter blankets the wood in soft, cottony-cold white. Dirk watches the snowfall from his cozy cabin with his arm around Farah's shoulders. He rests a palm atop her belly, made large by new life--the one thing Sarah was never able to give him, all those years ago gone by. Just when he thought his happily-ever-after couldn't -possibly- get any better, his newfound love has made him a father in addition to being a husband.<br />
<br />
They name the baby 'Sarah Leigh', and she's as perfect an angel, as all children are in the eyes of their parents. Dirk gently bounces her in his arms, crooning a quiet dwarven lullabye to her as she gazes up at him with wide, golden eyes. He presses a kiss to her forehead and gently lays her in her crib. "Sleep sweetly, me bonny wee lass," he says soothingly.<br />
<br />
He blows out the candle by the bedside and burrows under the heavy blankets with his beloved Farah. Gloom shrouds the cabin.<br />
<br />
Sarah Leigh's eyes open, now inky black orbs. Her mouth curves into a wicked, too-wide smile. In her baby-babble, the shadow-demon's laughter echos just beyond the range of hearing.<br />
<br />
Being lost is hungry work, and damn it all, Magpie will *never* be hungry. Not again. The first thirty years of her life, she was too small to properly defend her food from the bigger kids at the orphanages.<br />
<br />
Which might have something to do with the frequency of wild-magic fires that seemed to haunt little Magpie's trail...<br />
<br />
...Whatever, it's lunchtime at the Alexandrian markets, and all of her favorites are not just on special, but *free* just for her. Rosemary-pork pocket pies, goblin fireball sweetbreads, candied garlic skewers... Every turn of her head brings new and interesting delicacies into vision. And because it's *her,* because she is so amazing and powerful and respected and adored, she pays for none of it.<br />
<br />
Every morsel that passes her lips, bought by the fame she'd always longed for as a child, where justexisting was enough to be celebrated.<br />
<br />
And in the middle of the Market square, Magpie slowly begins to be buried under a cacophony of treats and sweets and savories, heaped ever higher by her adoring public.<br />
<br />
And so Aryia clawed it all back. Trust. Sense of self. Belonging. Usefulness. Back into the weave with friends. Coaching her team back in the Colosseum. Battling kaiju. Sailing the seas on her boat. Pummeling through mountains through sheer force of tenacity.<br />
<br />
So she sits atop that mountain, her apex, having found her center again. The waters have run so fast they look calm in their laminar flow. Breathing In. Out. In. Out.<br />
<br />
The days morph into weeks, months, years. Decades. Time drags on, yet for this elf it's barely scraping any more etchings into the scars. Others age, but that comes and goes, just like all do in the story that never ends. But does it matter? The peak has been reached. Her vantage is leagues in all directions.<br />
<br />
It is absolute perfection.<br />
<br />
Or is it? It hits in a beat of introspection. Somewhere in all that time, a thought worms its way into her mind. 'What is the point of a mountain, if to not look up at its daunting beauty from below? What is the point of highs? Without the lows?'<br />
<br />
Eztli didn't normally wake up with the sun, but recent work forced the makari reluctantly out of bed. After some time blinking the tiredness out of her eyes, she eventually managed to get over to her closet, where several costumes were hanging. All of them and their accessories were carefully stowed into a pack at her side, before she left for the lower floors. <br />
<br />
"Figured you'd be up before me, rehearsals are going to take most of the day. Say hi to deathless for me, will you, and I'll catch you around dinner, yeah?" She offered to the brown haired hunter who had been in the kitchen. She said nothing, only giving a crooked toothed smile to the sorceress before she was out the door, and not a single word spoken.<br />
<br />
It's better, isn't it? Better this way ...<br />
<br />
... but then the worms turn. A thought, an idea gnaws. And once it's there, it doesn't stop. Each vision seems to splinter, to crack, to fray. Black lines ripping across like spiderwebs.<br />
<br />
And then there's a sense of weightlessness, of being-without-body.<br />
<br />
It is cool here. You sense ... other presences. Then, slowly, the curtain draws back. You're ... somewhere.<br />
<br />
Akorinil Belvade look at each of you, a smile on her face.<br />
<br />
"Do you understand now?" she asks, a cautious yet hopeful tone in her voice.<br />
<br />
GAME: Skyler rolls 1d100: (6): 6<br />
<br />
SPLASH!<br />
<br />
Skyler tosses the cup to the side, expression utterly devoid of emotion as he stares at Akorinil with a hate and fury he's only shown once, in a demi-plane of death while a kyton taunted him on the true meaning of pain and pleasure. <br />
<br />
"You bitch." He says flatly, turning away from her and closing his eyes. And his shoulders rise one, fall, and he speaks up to the others. "We have to do this for her. I don't know what you guys saw, but..." He swallows, "We have to do this. And we *can*. The first vision is non-negotiable, and the third isn't enough."<br />
<br />
Coming back to herself was a shock, especially as she was close to resigning herself to drowning under an ever-growing pile of things a child would think were deserved.<br />
<br />
And not for the first time, does Magpie begin to ask herself how old she was when the world became a certain, predictable thing-- no. No time to unpack that now!<br />
<br />
Shaking her head, she takes a moment to focus on Akorinil, and the milk dripping off her nose. "...Yeah," she says, finally. "Skyler's right too... We *need* to do this, cos that last one... Damn, but the Void's insidious..."<br />
<br />
The expanse contracts, and all those possibilities of time passing collapses into presence and- Aryia rapidly blinks, and her lips move to say something, but she ends up coughing up a lung before spits a glob of blood off to the side. "Well that was fucked," she signs with a scowl and rubbing her throat. There was a certain satisfaction as Skyler acts on her impulses, but she couldn't help but feel a tad guilty. Akorinil was truly, truly trying, for the best of someone she believed in.<br />
<br />
She thought of her found sister, Aya.<br />
<br />
The mute pugilist grimaces. Damn it. "Alright. Fuck. Fine. But I'm not doing it for /Her/. I'm doing it because we have a thing we can teach Her. And hopefully it'll knock some sense into Her." <br />
<br />
She glances to Akorinil, with the first look of genuine empathy. "Congratulations. You convinced this non-believer that it's worth a shot." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Dirk's eyes are wide as teacups as sight and reason returns. He blinks owlishly, his gaze snapping from side to side hard enough to make his beard whip-whap back and forth. "Wha--ah? Hah? What the... och! What the hell -was- that?!" He looks back to Akorinil. His panic turns to anger as his temper riles right back up. "-That's- our story?! BULLSHIT!! That's nae -my- story, an' never will be!"<br />
<br />
He looks back around at his friends, his beard all a-bristle as he scowls and fumes and snorts and snarls. "So what, we -have- tae go through all that? Blessed Dana's flowery -teats-, there -has- tae be another way..."<br />
<br />
Eztli was left speechless as she came back to reality, and she stood their for some time, breathing heavily. "Seems... fucked. I'd like to think the difference is obvious,but I'm no god. And either way, none of it was right. Not in the slightest." They grumbled. "So... what?"<br />
<br />
-To be continued-<br />
<br />
[[Category:PRPs]]</div>Aryiahttp://www.tenebraemush.net/index.php?title=Where%27d_They_Go%3F_That%27s_Where&diff=44513Where'd They Go? That's Where2025-11-13T04:41:23Z<p>Aryia: </p>
<hr />
<div>Darkness.<br />
<br />
Alexandria has been consumed in it for a hot minute, hasn't it? Not the kind of darkness of night's fall and early winter's days, but the more metaphorical kind: a creeping, slowly spreading chill, a tension building of a coming ending: the moment before the boot drops, so to speak.<br />
<br />
You aren't sure what you were doing, or even how long its been, but here you are: painfully aware of that boot, and unsure where you are. There's an expanse of swirling blackness, and you are alone in it.<br />
<br />
... until your hear a voice: people calling out.<br />
<br />
"Five more minutes!" Skyler grouses, as if the call of the voices were people attempting to wake him up, "Mama, I do not want the pony with the fancy forelock, for he bit me when I fed him sugar cubes."<br />
<br />
Beat.<br />
<br />
"Oh wait. I'm not asleep."<br />
<br />
Another beat. "Gods this is getting *weird* in Alexandria."<br />
<br />
Dirk pauses with his brush in mid-stroke, poised over his beard as that darkness overwhelms him. He blinks owlishly, squinting and peering in the gloom. That doesn't seem right. -He- can see in the dark just fine, usually. "What in Dana's flowery green -arse-?" he grumbles. He fumbles his way to the window of his inn room and flings it open. Perhaps if he can see outside, something will make sense. If only it were that easy. "Och, what the hell is this? What the hell is goin' on here?!" he shouts out into the void. Will it help? Maybe not, but it helps to be able to do -something-. It's proof that he's not going deaf as well as blind in his old age.<br />
<br />
Aryia is quite used to the dark. Pitch black, or even darker. Perhaps the last gift of Taara. Or maybe she's just built different. So it is *weird* that she can't even see past her own nose.<br />
<br />
She catches a voice, then two, turning that way and gives a quiet, two toned whistle as she claps her hands together, trying to light up the dark.<br />
<br />
Eztli was left in some state of confusion at the darkness around her. The makari flicked a small flame between two of her fingers, that seemed to do little to actually disperse the darkness. Sound still worked though, right? The sorceress carefully picked her way through the shadows to not trip on anything, trying to find the source of the noise.<br />
<br />
Aryia manages to get her hands alight with moonlight, but still, barely able to catch anything before her reach. A tinge of panic crawls of up her neck, but she locks that down.<br />
<br />
"What a worthless little cretin. Get rid of it." A distance voice rolled by over her shoulder. A man's. She felt a weight land in her hand. It was dropped like hot iron. "What? Scared? They're useless. You will be too if you don't-"<br />
<br />
A whistling streak of moonlight punches the air behind her, her finding herself panting and slowly backing up. What... is that...?<br />
<br />
"...Albus?" Magpie says, turning this way and that, trying to pierce the gloom. "...Is it time for another Crimson Pen book? Or... wait... You're *not* a book anyore, right? Didn't we--"<br />
<br />
Backing away from the calling voice, Magpie does what comes natural; putting a Light spell on the headdress-coin directly over her forehead, because when you need a light you need it close.<br />
<br />
"The.. pony..."<br />
<br />
"Pony..." A voice seems to echo around Skyler, making his eyes widen and his skin to visibly pimple up.<br />
<br />
"Pony..." Or at least, it would if anyone could see him.<br />
<br />
"Pony... would... not bite... if you did... not ride it so harshly..."<br />
<br />
"Harshly... little toadstool.." Again the voice echos, and Skyler spins around with fist raised, eyes dilated in utter terror. "No. You're *dead*. You're dead and *he* killed you!"<br />
<br />
And he hears the sound of a voice crooning a discordant melody, something about 'heal heal little frog' that's equal parts silly but, judging by how Skyler seems to be covering his ears, equally parts terrifying to him at least.<br />
<br />
"Little hunter..." Dirk's face turns white as his beard as the soft, silky-smooth voice reaches him from the darkness. "Let me -in-, little hunter." Dirk swallows hard, his mouth turning dry. "No... it cannae be you..." He slowly backs away from the window, fumbling in the gloom for his thunderbelcher. His flailing palm catches the barrel, making the weapon topple to the floor. The clatter makes Dirk startle back with a squeak. "Yer -dead-, Demontry Kol! Dolan and Andalena put an -end- tae you! Yer dead an' gone -an' ye cannae come back!-" He stoops to snatch up his thunderbelcher and snaps it to his shoulder. He turns this way and that, panting for breath as he fights the panic clawing at his mind. "Yer dead an' gone. Ye cannae come back. Yer dead an' gone. Ye cannae come -back-!" he whispers hoarsely. But the soft, mocking laughter that rings in his ears tell him that no, Dirk, sometimes your worst nightmare really -can- come true.<br />
<br />
Eztli squinted in spite of the darkness, listening closely to the voices. She froze in place as the voices turned guttural and violent, clearly humanoid, but not quite. "I'll burn you all where you stand!" The sorceress shouted, charging off in the irection of the noise to get to the source of it, and eliminate it if need be.<br />
<br />
With her forehead shining like a beacon, Magpie *ought* to be able to see more than nothing. But the darkness is too close, too heavy, and the voice... shifts, subtly. Menace weights it's barely-understood words, a gurgling sound like an indrawn breath around a mouth full of blood.<br />
<br />
The faint crackle of fire.<br />
<br />
Timbers falling to crash into floorboards.<br />
<br />
The crack of bone.<br />
<br />
"Wait... you're not Albus," Magpie whispers... "...You're... oh *hell* no."<br />
<br />
And she turns and just bolts, fleeing in any random direction that is Away From That Ever-To-Be-Damned Wendigo.<br />
<br />
The voices fade away. Silence.<br />
<br />
All of you are alone in the dark for a moment. It's chill settles into your bones. <br />
<br />
And then a new voice, achingly familiar but just out of reach, a memory come and gone.<br />
<br />
"We are all made of stories, little ones. Seek them out."<br />
<br />
Aryia squashes her breathing, forcing it to be an even In and Out as she backs up with glowing hands raised. Focus. Whatever is going on trying to fuck with you. Find your center. That mantra goes through her head again and again until-<br />
<br />
She senses others nearby. She whistles again, a two toned low-high. And.. a voice? It was painful how familiar it was, the ache like a heart being pulled taut.<br />
<br />
"I saw him..." Skyler whispers staring at nothing as he curls up on the ground, hands wrapped around his legs, "He hurt her. He hurt her and she could not have lived through that. If she did..."<br />
<br />
What that would mean remains unknown, as he perks up when he hears the two-toned high-low whistle. Slowly, he surfaces and pulls a small little grey stone out of a small cage braided into his hair. He kisses it softly, hesitantly, and then lets go of it so it's floating around his head like a friendly little moon as he stands up and walks towards the whistles.<br />
<br />
Dirk's eyes blink open as he hears voices. Voices he knows. Voices that aren't -Kol's-. "Blessed Lady, keep an' protect me," he whispers softly as he gingerly makes his way forward. "Halloooo! Skyler! Is that you, laddie?"<br />
<br />
The voices vanished just as suddenly as they had appeared, leaving Eztli alone again with an ever growing frustration. She sighed, perking up just as the voices picked up again. "Dirk? That you over there? Not something impersonating you or something, hopefully?"<br />
<br />
Magpie is... not really paying attention. She is, after all, convinced that there's a people-eating monster in dire -- like Bear -- need of a snack.<br />
<br />
Magpie is also a smol bean. This has long been a source of great frustration, because the bulk of Alexandria is not *built* for smol beans.<br />
<br />
Both of these together may explain why a circular light bobs rapidly out of the gloom, resolving into a Magpie that crashes into Dirk, rebounding almost immediately and looking up, eyes streaming with fear-filled tears. "...D-Dirk? ...Is that *you,* buddy?!"<br />
<br />
The swashbuckling man comes face to face with a scarred-to-the-nines shadow elf with eerie glowing hands and fierce scowl that could cut through rock. She blinks. Her hands move, and understanding follows regardless of knowing the lingua franca. "Who the fuck are you?"<br />
<br />
Aryia looks to the side, hearing closer voices, barely seeing them. "Eztli? Dirk?" She waves, doing that two-toned whistle again. Her way of saying 'hey!'. <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
"Dirk?" Skyler looks *horrid* when the ol' boy finds him, eyes wide and shaking in the dim light of his (not so) happy (anymore) moon. Is he green or is that just the light of the aeon torch? "Wh.. where are we? I wanna go *home*. Jarik was gunna give me a foot rub!"<br />
<br />
He then jerks his head towards the others, and clings to the dwarf's arm. "Oh hey, I know the little one. We took on some demon-lord and she ate his nuts while I skunked his face. And is that Eztli and..."<br />
<br />
He comes face to face with Aryia, lets out a shriek, and falls backwards on his ass. "I'M TOO YOUNG AND PRETTY TO DIE IS WHO I AM!"<br />
<br />
Eztli trudged up over to where everyone else was conversing, the low growl in her throat dying down and out once she actually saw some faces attached to the voices. "Look, no one here is going to die unless there's a reason for that, and I doubt that's the case." The makari grumbled. <br />
<br />
"Now, more importantly, yeah, no clue where the hell we are. If I can get us out of here and you aren't all shadow monsters pretending to be people I know, then I can see what I can do, if it comes down to it."<br />
<br />
Dirk's eyes get wide as he spies Skyler. He doesn't even comment on the arm-clinging. He's in the mood for some clinging himself. He clutches at Skyler, eyes wide as teacups as he looks around fearfully. "Skyler! Praise the -gods- laddie. Ye won't -believe---" But then there's Aryia, and Eztli, and Magpie too. He staggers a bit as Skyler falls away from him. "Ariya! It's a'right, lassie! Skyler's an adventurer, like us!"<br />
<br />
It's about this time that Magpie enters, stage right, and smacks right into him. He sweeps his arm around her to keep her from ass-planting as well. Fortunately, while he is indeed a shortstack, he is no smol bean. He is decidedly more of a thicc bean, and so he does not tumble as easily as some others. "Magpie! It's a'right, lassie, it's me!"<br />
<br />
He looks up and around at his friends, his beard bristling. "What the hell is goin' -on-? Is this more o' Heth's bullshit? I thought we blasted that sheepfucker out the sky!"<br />
<br />
Aryia relaxes as she runs into others she knows - and more importantly trusts. And then there's this screaming man. Her glowing gaze leers down at him, ears flicking at the high pitched noise. "... sure. Pretty. Get up. My bedtime was interrupted and I'm pissed." She reaches down a hand to help hoist Skyler up - it's more like getting thrown to their feet if he accepts.<br />
<br />
She steps closer to Eztli. "Yes. Let's figure this out. I want to get back to bed."<br />
<br />
She gives a firm nod to Dirk, relaxing somewhat. "Don't know. Too dark for that. He's more a zombie dragon." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Upon confirmation of Dirk's reality, Magpie simply lunges out of his grip to wrap her arms perhaps a quarter of the way around his middle, consoling herself with a good few seconds of crying.<br />
<br />
Once big feelings in smol body are satisfied, she leans back, rubbing eyes and nose. "...Yeah no we need to be *anywhere else,* This is lookin' just a little too Void-y for my liking.<br />
<br />
"Evil never dies, Dirk." Skyler says earnestly, as he stares from Dirk to Aryia and then at Eztli and Magpie before accepting the hand to his feet a touch self-consciously as his little moon stalls behind his head. Is it embarrassed to be orbiting the swashbuckler?<br />
<br />
Do they even do that?<br />
<br />
But then it comes around again and he's schooled his face into a grin of amusement. Sure, he's flung to his feet, but he's *Skyler* and manages to twist midair to land nimbly on his feet, brushing off his best feature.<br />
<br />
... His shoulders, duh! "Evil just gets kinda winded and then apparently comes back to throw our deepest trauma at us. Did anyone else see or hear someone or something horrible, or am I just depressed and/or mentally ill?" He scratches his chin consideringly, "Although I think they aren't mutually exclusive. Oh, hey little squirrel!" And he pulls a little lacy bit of fabric out of thin air, and offers it to her, "For your face. You can blow your nose too, 'coz I don't want it back if you use it."<br />
<br />
Dirk wraps Magpie up in his arms and gives her a proper Dwarf Sized hug, a (likely very successful) attempt to crush her soul back into her body. Also, he's trembling himself, and it helps to have someone to cling to. "Easy there lassie. Yer a'right. Fer now, at least. Yer among friends," he says, as soothingly as he can. Once Magpie turns loose, he does the same. He looks up and around at the others. "No, lad, it wasnae just you. I heard... -him-." He shudders, gripping the stock of his thunderbelcher until his knuckles turn white. "Demontry Kol. That rat -bastard- of a vampire. Och, of all the villains I ever fought, he was the -worst-."<br />
<br />
"Th-th Wendigo," Magpie stammers, accepting the lacy cloth with a watery smile and using it to de-gunkify her face. "Thanks... You're *lots* nicer as a person," she says. "...But you made a *heck* of a skunk. Anyway... That's what I was running from. I couldn't see anything... but it sounded like we were back in that in, and just.... no. Nuh-uh."<br />
<br />
"I'm not too confident this is something we can figure out nice and quick, much as I'd like that." Eztli sighed, rubbing the back of her head. "If we're not in Alexandria, teleporting would always work, but I don't know any spells to go cross planes, which is more likely. So, whatever way is out of here, it's on the terms of whatevers got us here."<br />
<br />
"I mean he was a little handsy when *I* ran into him, but after I killed him half a dozen times he got the hint." Skyler says reflectively regarding Dirk's terror, reaching over and patting Magpie on the top of her head. "I don't think I can do a handstand and shake my ass at this problem, alas." He tells the smolbean sadly, "But I'm glad to have you here with me, and we're in some pretty fierce company." He puffs his chest, "Not to brag, but I'm a Gentleman Adventurer, Eztli once sat fire to some stuffed animals, Dirk doesn't shoot blanks despite his age, and she looks terrifying." He jerks his thumb at Ariya. "Surely she's done some dope-ass shit in her time. Silent but *deadly*." Ah, the emotional recovery abilities of a dumbass. They should be studied! He beams around at the group, tucking thumbs in his belt. "We got this!"<br />
<br />
And then Eztli puts a rain on the parade, and he sags. "Spoilsport."<br />
<br />
If Aryia is surprised from the smooth twist and land, she only shows it through a little shrug and a cocked brow. "Yes, I did. Heard my old owner," she answers Skyler. "He should be dead."<br />
<br />
The name Kol catches a tinge of recognition, so she gets closer to everyone to close the ranks. The thumb towards her gets her attention, a snort escaping her. "I simply solve problems by going through them. The others can tell the tales. But we seem competent enough to untangle this."<br />
<br />
She inhales. Out. "So... did anyone hear that other voice?" <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Dirk shakes his head. "He could always get in my head," he says tightly. "I couldnae keep 'im out, nae matter how hard I tried. He could turn me intae his adorin' wee little -slave-. Och." He draws a shaky breath, looking over at Eztli. "Gods, what I wouldnae give tae have Lana or Telamon here. Or Missus Verna, or Master Mikilos. -They'd- know what tae do." He glances back at Aryia, studying the movement of her hands. "Other voice?" he asks, looking back up at her face. "I... I'm nae certain. Could it have been one of us that ye heard, perhaps...?"<br />
<br />
"Something about being made of stories," Aryia replies to Dirk in a quick flit. "Might have been my imagination. This place seems fucked." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
"Maybe we were kidnapped by fairies. I had that happen once." Skyler says brightly, as he glances around, "Anyone see a mushroom circle? They give you hints if you pee on them, the kinky little things."<br />
<br />
There are no mushroom circles.<br />
<br />
Alas, there is only a profound, chilling darkness that seems to extend in all directions.<br />
<br />
And then... <br />
<br />
... there it is.<br />
<br />
That voice.<br />
<br />
Warm, rich, melodious even. "Find the thread. One will bring you to me. A final corruption."<br />
<br />
There, something takes shape. A home rising up out of the dark. Lonely looking, in the sense, but it's a several story manor home from the look of it.<br />
<br />
"I'm not useless, you know, I just don't make it a habit of fucking around with other planes of existence, so I never bothered learning more about it. Which clearly, in hindsight, wasn't a good idea." Eztli huffed, trying not to glare at the comments. "Didn't hear too much, maybe someone's trying to mess with me, since I'd recognize those noises anywhere. Maybe they thought they had more of a hold over me still." <br />
<br />
The makari watched as the building appeared, and sighed. "Well, that's a trap if I ever saw it, but unless anyone has any better leads, or wants to see what happens if we teleport somewhere else at the moment, Doesn't look like much of a choice, does it?"<br />
<br />
Aryia just gives Skyler a /look/. "Okay, fairy pisser. You could just-"<br />
<br />
Her hands still as that voice snakes through the air. Hands drop, looking over to- oh. "-h f-ck m- s-d-w-ys," Aryia hisses through clenched teeth, her grey skin paling. "I know that house. Gird yourselves. Last time I was there, I stepped into a fucked up bloody aftermath of a massacre." She goes through a few motions: cracking her neck and rolling her shoulders before taking point. <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
<OOC> Aryia uses Ki: Barkskin <br />
<br />
Dirk gives Skyler a -look-, his bushy white brows furrowing as he tugs at his beard. "I... I'm nae sure it works -quite- like that, lad," he says. "Although there's plenty out there in the wilds that'll do summat if ye piss on it. I dinnae judge." He looks back to Ariya and snaps his fingers. "Och! Yer so right! I heard that too! Just..." He waves a hand around. "All o' -this- is goin' on..." He looks like he might like to elaborate, but then there's that manor rising up out of the gloom. He looks up (and up and up), his eyes getting wide once again as his jaw drops. "Erh?" That's about all he can manage. Fortunately, Ariya's there to fill in the blanks. At her warning, he lifts his thunderbelcher and racks the slide with a satisfying CHK-CHAK. "Right. Let's finish this up an' get back tae Alex. I have tae finish groomin' me beard."<br />
<br />
GAME: Eztli casts Mage Armor. Caster Level: 14 DC: 20<br />
<br />
"There's a whore I know that taught me the *best* balm for frizzy hair!" Skyler tells Dirk brightly, "You are looking a little poofy. Works extra well on bristly, curly hair. We can even add some dyes to make it fun colors! I once committed piracy with a guy that had a purple beard. It got all over everything, especially when it rained, but he said it helped immensely with split ends." <br />
<br />
As he rattles away, his hand reaches up to draw his wickedly curved blade, tossing it into the air and catching it with a flourish before pausing to check his boots for scuffs. One gets wiped away, before he nods at Aryia, ignoring the look. He once dressed in Verdama drag and flirted with one of Her paladins. It takes more than that to rattle him. "Of course it's a trap. But we know it's a trap, so we're springing it on our terms. Who do we wanna send in first, or do we all want to jump in at once so they can't single anyone out?"<br />
<br />
There's warmth in that home, unlike the chill of the place you're in. You can feel it as you get closer. Love, laughter, and light oozing from it at stark odds with the nature of the place.<br />
<br />
And ... <br />
<br />
...music? You can hear it now. Joyous. Lively.<br />
<br />
GAME: Magpie casts Mass Planar Adaptation. Caster Level: 15 DC: 25<br />
<br />
Dirk gives Skyler another -look-. "I do not need a purple beard," he grumbles. "Make me look like one o' those nutty oddbeards. Hrumph!" He mutters and grumbles as he lumbers along, his posture tense as a coiled spring. But then, hearing that cheery music, and seeing how warm and inviting the place looks... it slows the burly old snowbeard's step. "Aye-yup. This is -definitely- a trap," he grumbles.<br />
<br />
As the others begin to gird up for trouble, Magpie stands there, brow furrowed for a moment. Then, she wets the end of a finger and holds it up to the air, nodding slowly... and begins to chant. The words... don't matter much, sliding off ears and brains as she speaks into her cupped hands. Power gathers there, pooling into a roiling, chaotic mass of liquid light of any and all possible colors. Then, at the apex of her chant, she slams her hands together, and the power sprayes out in all directions, settling over herself and her friends in a shimmering ward that soon fades into only the occasional multicolored glimmer.<br />
<br />
"...Been a tour guide out in the Planes for awhile," she says quietly. "Wherever we are, we're plane-lost. I can get us back, but... this feels *important.*<br />
<br />
"I agree, we're not on this plane," Aryia nods towards Magpie, taking the magic with appreciation. The stark contrast of how the home feels now versus how she remembered it is deeply unsettling. Last Aryia was here, it looked like people suddenly left mid-party. But here, it looked like the party was still going on.<br />
<br />
"I can take it. Prepare for Taaranites," she volunteers, stepping forth towards the manor and... she inhales deeply. Lines of energy flare on her skin in a flash. And she opens the door. <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
<OOC> Aryia uses Ki: Diamond Soul, Gain Spell Resist 30<br />
<br />
"Oh, great, cultists, hiding in a plane of darkness, and something warning about corruption. Suppose that explains why people can sound like they're having so much fun in a place like this." Eztli grumbled, waving one hand over her shimmering robes. "You always sleep with your guns and swords on you? Suppose I would too if I didn't have a way to defend myself these days."<br />
<br />
The door opens. <br />
<br />
It looks very inviting! Just waiting for you.<br />
<br />
That can't be bad, right?<br />
<br />
Aryia hesitates at the door, looking back at the others before peering inside. It felt... odd. The carpet wasn't sodden with blood, and music was flowing like the drinks. "Just stay focused." But alas- she enters, eyes darting through the party. On edge.<br />
<br />
Dirk grunts softly as he feels Magpie's protective magicks settle on him. "Glad we've got -you- here wi' us, lassie," he says. "Gods, I've lost track o' how many times yer magicks have come in clutch." He squares up with the manor, swinging his thunderbelcher to rest it over his shoulder. As he lumbers forward, he glances at Etzli. "Nae -usually-, no. I like me gun well an' all--I made it meself after all--but hardly enough tae sleep wi' the thing. That's just weird." He trundles forward, heading for the door, and whatever might lie beyond it.<br />
<br />
And Aryia bounces Skyler, sword held at the ready as he glances left to right with bright eyes and a grin that suggests he's ready for anything.<br />
<br />
Eztli shrugs and doesn't seem too perturbed for the moment by the building before them, and like the others, is quick to enter. "Focused as well as I can be, maybe it'll be easier inside where I can actually see things, hopefully."<br />
<br />
"Don't forget," Magpie says, giving Dirk a distracted grin as he talks her up. "Find the thread. It was important enough for nothing to say, it's important enough to *remember.*"<br />
<br />
But she's still trying to place the voice as she files on in behind the rest... ready to see what needs a little chaos.<br />
<br />
"Welcome, welcome!"<br />
<br />
You're greeted almost immediately by a man in in loosely fitting robes. Silk.<br />
<br />
"It's been so long since we had guests at the door! Come in! Come in! Enjoy! Wine?" Was he holding a platter moments ago? No? <br />
<br />
Does it matter? He is now. Red wine.<br />
<br />
"We're so happy to see you! I'm sure we've been expecting you."<br />
<br />
The home unfolds into a radcuous, hedonistic party. Everyone is singing along, dancing, drinking. It's -merry-.<br />
<br />
Merry everywhere to the heart's desire. Everything is luxurious...<br />
<br />
Dirk wasn't at all certain what to expect out of this alien, otherworldly place. Aside from a couple jaunts into Quel'ynos, he's kept his feet firmly planted on Ea's face. But -this-... it's familiar. -Too- familiar. The old snowbeard swan-dives headfirst into the uncanny valley. His cheeks turn bright red, and his beard bristles as he stumbles and stammers. "Uh... uh... I... uh... that is tae say..." He reaches up to doff his tricorne, glancing around furtively before turning a -desperate- look on Skyler. The sky pirate's the charming one--surely -he- knows what to say? All poor Dirk can think to do is fidget from foot to foot. He doesn't want to be -rude-, really, but he -was- kidnapped, and now he's at a party. Normally something he'd quite enjoy, if not for the circumstances. He's fairly certain he didn't receive an RSVP to -this- particular gathering.<br />
<br />
Eztli looked even more sour than usual, the sorceress not appreciating the party in the slightest. ""Gods, if anyone asks who your parents are, just tell them that they're too important to bother telling them." She grumbled to no one in particular before stepping inside.<br />
<br />
"Oh, hey! Do you guys have oat milk?" Skyler asks brightly as he shoves his way to the front of the crowd, beaming brightly at the party-goers as he glances around, "So glad you knew we were coming, coz we sure as fire didn't!"<br />
<br />
He pauses, and adds, "You'll forgive us if we don't give you our names. It's more fun that way, y'know!" And he grins brightly, "So what's all this about? What's going on? Did someone die?"<br />
<br />
Aryia is stymied briefly at the entrance, such a party rifled old, bittersweet memories. She lingers at some of the luxuries, but she shakes her head, focusing as Skyler pushes his way to the front. He seems far better suited for this environment, so she's back to watching the party for anything remiss.<br />
<br />
Totally just watching.<br />
<br />
"Oat Milk?"<br />
<br />
A beat.<br />
<br />
"Well, I suppose I can check the pantries. They're ... very well stocked? Amazing. It's like a never ending pantry of anything and everything we could want, so perhaps!"<br />
<br />
He smiles warmly at them, then turns to lead them further in.<br />
<br />
It's ... it's a party. There's people singing, laughing, dancing. They all seem to be having a good time. There's no end to it. Every room you pass by, pass through, is filled to the brim with people locked in some sort of eternal festival and they all look like they're having the time of their life. <br />
<br />
And not a knife to be seen anywhere. "There's some space in this room," he says, cheerfully, pointing the way down another hallway. This place is impossible to figure out. The interior makes no sense to the exterior. One gets the impression it doesn't really matter to any of them.<br />
<br />
Dirk shuffles along with the others as they're led inward. He's never one to turn down a good party. No dwarf worth his beard would be. But all of -this- seems to be a bit much for the old ranger. A small gathering of friends in a cheerful inn room is much more his speed. He stares all around as they make their way in. The strange geometries and curious angles has the poor old dwarf's eyes crossing. "Beards o' me sweet tapdancin' fathers. What the hell--"<br />
<br />
He pauses with one foot poised to take a step before he stops in his tracks. Sloooowly he turns his head and leeeeeans back, peering into a room. His eyes get wide, and his cheeks turn red as beets. He swiftly resumes his pace, harrumphing softly as he fans himself with his tricorne. "So ah... heh... quite the er... -lively- gatherin' ye've got goin' on here," he says to their strange host. "There a special occasion? Or are ye all just a naturally happy lot?"<br />
<br />
"Maybe I was too harsh in my judgement. I think they might genuinely just be here to have fun with no ulterior motives. Maybe." Eztli relented as they wandered further into the strange party. "So, what's your name, then? What's the occasion for all of this, anyways?"<br />
<br />
"Hey question!" Magpie calls from much closer to the floor; imposible angles and eldritch geometries... Yeah they're weird, but pay attention to your feet and you'll be fine. "Like he said; what *are* y'all celebrating, anyway? I ain't never seen a party this size without *somethin'* kickin' it off!"<br />
<br />
The gnome seems more... curious, than suspicious, as she examines passed hallways and chambers. Maybe the thread is a literal one?<br />
<br />
This isn't the first or second time that Aryia had been in an otherworldly place where the festivities were eternal. She follows, better to go along with the tide than to fight against it. Especially since they're still trying to sort out what's going on.<br />
<br />
The fact that she hasn't spotted the that knife was both relaxing as it was concerning. A thought that is discarded as she peers into the same room as Dirk. Her brows raise as she whistles lowly, before lazily trailing along with the others after a moment.<br />
<br />
"Hey! When you find the oat milk, maybe also get us the answers to our questions?" Skyler asks brightly, his tone firm but friendly, cheerful even as he squints at the back of the leading figure. "And space for what? Are we having an orgy? I mean, usually I like a little more prep work before group debauchery. And if you think for a second I'm sharing my oat milk, you really are insane."<br />
<br />
He asides to the group, "This is definitely a trap. But, like, is it the kind of fun trap where we all end up naked and covered in cheese, or the kind of trap that ends with us eating someone's flesh? Because I won't do that again. People are kinda gamey." Surely he jests, right?<br />
<br />
Dirk flicks his wide-eyed gaze around at his friends. His friends are safe. The old dwarf is hardly a prude, but even he has his limits. And the heedless abandon permeating this place is a -very- long way beyond that line. If there's anything he can't stand, its losing control of himself. He's had enough of that to last a lifetime.<br />
<br />
But then Skyler has to go and do Skyler things. The old snowbeard's gaze snaps to the swashbuckler. "Naked an' covered in--" He stops in his tracks again, his jaw working for a moment as his cheeks once again turn red as beets. "How's -that- get fun?!" he finally manages in a strangled tone. He doesn't mention the flesh eating. Erotic cheese dip is -so- much easier on his poor frazzled nerves.<br />
<br />
"We are celebrating Taara, of course! How could you not know?" He tilts his head at you, smiling still. "We feast, we sing, we dance, and we tell stories. We lie, we cheat, we manipulte, and we tell stories. All that lives, wants, and all that is dead wants to live. That is why we are here. She has called us to her Side. She is near."<br />
<br />
Oh boy.<br />
<br />
'Find the thread.'<br />
<br />
'Find the thread.''We sing, we dance, we tell stories.'<br />
<br />
'Find the thread.'<br />
<br />
'We lie, we cheat, and we tell stories.'<br />
<br />
In a rush, Magpie draws in a breath, and reaches up to take a glass of wine from the tray. "So, she says, with her most engaging smile, "would you do us the favor of telling us a story? About Taara?"<br />
<br />
"Very gamey," Aryia concurs with a gesture. Was she joking? Does Aryia joke? She glances to Dirk. Shrugs. "Gouda is pretty fun. I can see it."<br />
<br />
Her footfalls stop hard with a stomp. Pales. Gulps. This is Her domain. Magpie comes swooping in with a way forward, grounding the mul'neissa woman that should be completely at ease here. She would have in a different, past life. She is not that woman anymore, and is thankful someone else can fill those shoes. <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
"If I have to explain it, Dirk..." Skyler shakes his head, and jerks his thumb at the dwarf as he addresses the guide, "If we do go cannibal, he's probably a little tough. Probably best to stew him. Low heat, long cook time in an oven." He then cocks his head at Magpie, nodding.<br />
<br />
"Preferably with refreshments. I want oak milk. Warm, maybe, with some honey stirred in? My nanny use to give me a cup every night when she told me stories." He says with a charming, winsome smile, "You'd be surprised at home much I don't know." He says with pride, "I mean, knowing stuff takes so much work. Easier just to vibe! So why don't you get us refreshments and we can listen to your Taaran stories, maybe pull some thread, indulge in pulling Her threads, whatever else we need to do to *party*!"<br />
<br />
"I would rather avoid anything involving cheese or eating people myself." Eztli sighed. "Great, she's near. So, that means we should probably get going, right? Sounds like the case to me, if this is some exclusive Taaran gathering."<br />
<br />
Dirk's eyes get wider still. "Taara. -Taara-? -The- Taara? The goddess of--" He looks for a moment like he'd like to say something -very- unflattering. But he gets ahold of his tongue and snaps his mouth shut. His beard bristles for a moment. "Er. Uh. I mean tae say. The goddess of... things." He gestures lamely all around. That's nice and neutral, right? Surely -that- won't offend a goddess in Her own realm.<br />
<br />
Once again, Skyler gets a -look-. "Och! You lot take it intae yer heads an' cook -me-, I'll go straight tae yer hips, I swear tae fuckin' Dana," he grumbles. It's hardly the first time some nasty beastie or foul fiend has threatened to make a meal of him, but -this- time it feels different. He nods eagerly at Eztli, pointing her way. "-She- gets it!"<br />
<br />
"No, Eztli," Magpie says, shaking a finger next to her head, and beginning to pace. "No... I think we're nearly there. It *feels* close, because what *is* a story? It's the lie that outlines a truth. And they have stories... *and I would hear them.* I want to see the common thread."<br />
<br />
Oh, no, Magpie seems to be locking into her theory, looking up at the revelers with a sort of hunger in her shimmering eyes.<br />
<br />
There's a distinct pause from the young man as the others talk. He tilts his head, adjusting his hood and pulling it down all together. Yep, he's a shadow elf too. Of course he is. <br />
<br />
All smiles.<br />
<br />
"Of COURSE I'll talk to you about Taara. But I think you're here for a reason -- no one gets in uninvited you see -- so why don't you look around and find who invited you?"<br />
<br />
He gestures beyond into the party.<br />
<br />
"Let your journey be the story that warms your hearts in the night or failing that, be worth the hangover."<br />
<br />
While that milk idea sounds pretty good to Aryia, but the weight of what others point make her even more nervous, especially as Magpie seems to hit the mark. An unsettling thing with the normally stoic pugilist. And then-<br />
<br />
She was /invited/ here. Into Taara's domain? Aryia gave up on her over half a century ago. "I tell no more lies, not even to myself anymore," she gestures, looking out to the party proper. "But, fine. Guess we'll have to mingle. Try to not overdo it." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Magpie is just about to say something incredibly clever... when they are put on a scavenger hunt. Words die in her throat, her finger loses it's pointer-y-ness, and she sort of... deflates, just a little. Looking back up at the reveler, she tries on a crooked grin?<br />
<br />
"...A clue, perhaps? Cryptic or plain, honest or red herring, it's momentum that matters, is it not?"<br />
<br />
She *has* her suspicions... but to be wrong might also be blasphemy, so...<br />
<br />
"Wonderful, so we've all got a reason to be here, for something or other. Maybe just the entertainment?" The makari shrugged, not looking to pleased. "So be it, gods I hate mingling at parties,but if that's what we need to do, so be it. Be a bit harder when all I've got to rely on is my winning personality and humility, but we've gotta do something, right?"<br />
<br />
"What if my thread is oat milk?" Skyler asks in a tiny, hopeful little voice before he sighs, scrubs his face with one hand, and shakes his head sadly. "Curses. Fate is a fickle bitch once again."<br />
<br />
He then squares his shoulders, and glances at his party. "Maybe it has something to do with the traumatic visions we heard?" He pauses, and adds to Eztli, "You also have your fiery wit!" And he mimes flames coming out of his mouth, and flails his hands like he's burning. "Crispy."<br />
<br />
Dirk looks up at their host and blinks owlishly. Blink. Blink blink. "Uh..." He looks back towards the room that had just captured his attention moments ago. Of -course- it's still within easy reach, it's fresh in Dirk's mind. "-Taara-? Taara invited -me-? -The- Taara? Och, I'm naebody, why would Taara invite -me-?" He mutters and harrumphs, tugging at his beard as he glances around. Aryia's suggestion has the old ranger boggling slightly. "Mingle? -Me-? Och, but, this is all so... so..." He fumbles for a diplomatic word. "-Lively-," is what he eventually goes with. "I'd just bring the vibe down. You know us dwarves. We're all a bunch o' grounches, us. We'd rather spend our time scowlin' intae a mug o' beer in a gloomy corner. Ayep, that's us, right there." He fidgets with his tricorne, looking around at his friends. Surely they're not suggesting the cardinal sin of splitting the party, are they...?<br />
<br />
"Is that so?" remarks the young man to Aryia, curiously, "Truth is funny thing, you know, that exists in the space between one's story and another's." He takes a step back, smiles at Magpie, and then offers her another glass of wine just because.<br />
<br />
"She waits for all of you." <br />
<br />
And then he disappears into the swirling, dancing crowd.<br />
<br />
Aryia flexes her jaw. "That space is where truth lies, and where truth lies," she replies back with a hand. The mute glances to Magpie. "Momentum matters, it seems. And either we spin this tale in an endless inertia of debauchery or we press forward. Probably has to deal with the horrid shit we saw like Skyler said. So..."<br />
<br />
She rubs her face. Dirk is right, Taara invited /them/? This has to be a sick joke, or and honest plea, and it was frustrating it could be both at the same time. "... let's get into the party or some shit. Fuck me." Aryia moves past the room they peered at, following into the dancing crowd. <Handspeech/Tongues> <br />
<br />
Skyler?<br />
<br />
He's already gone, shrugging out of his coat. "WHO HERE HAS EVER DONE VODKA AND OAT MILK SHOTS?!" He's shouting over the crowd, even as he shakes his ass, "It tastes like hell but oh my god the way it *lingers*! WOOOHOOO!"<br />
<br />
"Does it?" <br />
<br />
"Shit, let's try it!"<br />
<br />
"Let's find some oat milk!"<br />
<br />
"What the hell is oat milk?"<br />
<br />
"WHO KNOWS!"<br />
<br />
"...Okay well since no one got smoten saying it, yeah, pretty sure that's who we have to find, Magpie says, absently swirling the wine... then pausing as Skyler sends a group of Taaranites on a wild oats chase. "Hey, guys? I'm reminded of a saying I heard from a Rosalian... 'In vino, veritas.' This is totally a bad idea, but...."<br />
<br />
Drawing in a short breath, she takes a long swallow of the wine.<br />
<br />
Eztli was left shaking her head awkwardly as some of the others took off. "I was just gonna find a dance floor or pole or something. Seems like the sort of stuff they'd have here." Eztli grumbled. "I don't trust any of the drink here at all, so I'll pass on the oat milk. How do you even milk a plant in the first place? Don't particularly want to know, to be perfectly honest."<br />
<br />
Dirk boggles as their host retreats, leaving them alone. "Oh, beards o' me sweet tapdancin' fathers," he whimpers softly. "How are we goin' tae get back home? We -will- be able to, won't we? Och, Thistle an' Lulu must be so worried..." He fidgets and frets, looking around for something, or anything that might resemble what they're looking for. He's certainly -not- in the mood to party. Usually, he's the one who picks what parties he goes to, and none of the debauchery is doing anything to enhance the burly old ranger's calm.<br />
<br />
As Magpie goes to drink that wine, he startles, reaching out with a "Aggkk--!" But he's too late. "Och, what if it's like in the fae realm? If ye eat or drink what they give ye, they own yer soul, or some nonsense like that," he says. Aaaaand there Skyler goes, doing Skyler things. You really have nobody to blame but yourself, Dirk. You're the one who decided he should do the talking.<br />
<br />
GAME: Aryia rolls perception: (18)+38: 56<br />
GAME: Skyler rolls Perception: (14)+21: 35<br />
GAME: Eztli rolls perception: (14)+5: 19<br />
GAME: Dirk rolls Perception: (19)+22: 41<br />
GAME: Magpie rolls percetion: (20)+percetion: 20<br />
GAME: Magpie rolls perception: (4)+15: 19<br />
<br />
It's loud.<br />
<br />
It's raucous.<br />
<br />
There are people -everywhere-, and talking to them reveals every last one is a Taaran of some kind -- in fact, many of them are actual clergy, or so they say: all too happily.<br />
<br />
They also lie.<br />
<br />
A -lot-.<br />
<br />
It's frustrating. It's annoying. It sends you in circles trying to grasp what's even happenign here, or how you might've goten here. All that is until Aryia in particular hears a voice.<br />
<br />
A familiar laugh, up a set of stairs that seems to have no end.<br />
<br />
There's a touch of old, old habit Aryia falls back into, and that is dance. One of the few vestiges of her old life that still stuck around after the slow fall to rock bottom. She sways from one group to the next, trying to get some iota of information but- she's done this all before- and it's still just as annoying. It seems like it's going to be far too much to deal with-<br />
<br />
A laugh lances through her ears and mind like a shot of old, nostalgic trauma with no ice. A wave of emotions crash against her; fear, rage, apathy, guilty relief. It had been so long to hear that voice, to wield that power. Oh- to taste that once more, the delight of a delivered lie.<br />
<br />
She let the wave crash, spread, and recede. In. Out. She didn't need Her anymore.<br />
<br />
The others. She flits through the party, tapping her friends on the shoulders and gesturing to follow. "Found the thread," she just signs in explanation, pointing to the set of stairs before heading up herself. <Handspeehc/Tongues><br />
<br />
"... And then I told him that it wasn't a banana, it was ME!" Skyler cheerfully tells a group that he's regaling with a story featuring two drunk goblins, an hobgoblin, and a basket of fruit.<br />
<br />
Don't ask.<br />
<br />
In all likelihood it's a lie, and he seems to be attempting to top himself with gusto with each new lie he attempts to tell... Although he also keeps half an eye on each of his party, distracting people attempting to interrupt them or draw trhem away from the mission. When a woman with big ol' knockers and a hungry expression begins to approach Dirk, for example, he calls out, "HEY! DID I EVER TELL YOU ABOUT THE TIME I DRESSED IN DRAG AND TRIED TO SEDUCE A PALADIN OF VARDAMA?!" to draw her away.<br />
<br />
Eztli had searched and searched, but there was nowhere to dance proper she found, outside of just meandering in between the groups of priests that seemed to treat lying like a competitive sport. By the time she was about to threaten to cut out some of their tongues and shove them down their throats, Aryia seemed to recognize something in particular this time, and the sorceress breathed a sigh of relief before reconvening.<br />
<br />
That voice.<br />
<br />
Aryia is leading you towards something she recognizes, up a set of stairs. Up another, longer set of stairs.<br />
<br />
Through narrow and dark hallway, past rooms full of party-goers and increasing levels of hedonism and debauchery. <br />
<br />
Finally, into a lounge, lit by firelight. Shadow Elves in reverent prayer are here -- prayer to Taara. Seated comfortably amongst them is a scarlet-haired shadow elf of, of course, indeterminate age. She rises to her feet, silk robes hanging comfortably on her frame.<br />
<br />
"Well, well, well," she begins, "It's so good to see you and your friends, darling."<br />
<br />
Aryia knows who that is.<br />
<br />
Aryia stops short in the doorframe. Her jaw works, eyes wide at the figure as her throat bobs. "Akorinil," she signs in a blitz of fingerspelling. She clearly is ignoring any pleasantries as the pugilist looks about the room before half looking at the High Priestess. "I take it you invited us here." It wasn't a question. A hand behind her back flashes to the group, "Caution." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
"Oh, golly, I never knew a raven could do *that* with a writing desk." Skyler tells whichever poor soul ended up getting stuck at the rear of the line with him. When the party left the main group, Skyler seemingly appeared out of thin air at the rear of the line holding a goblet of something that is vaguely milky but a little too thin to be actual milk from a cow.<br />
<br />
Is it the fabled oat milk?!<br />
<br />
Despite being by all measures something of a dunderhead, he's not stupid enough to actually drink it, but does seem to be content to carry it with him in the hopes of escaping with it. Oat milk has a longer shelf life than cow's milk, after all. He glances around with bright eyes as they enter the room with the scarlet-haired shadow-elf. He looks prepared to step forward again to take the lead when Aryia begins to wiggle her fingers. He frowns but shrugs, and leans against something after checking it for stickiness. It *is* that kind of place, after all.<br />
<br />
Dirk's eyes get wider and wider as they progress up the stairs. Each new display of hedonism and abandon has the old snowbeard's cheeks turning brighter and brighter red. "Och, if they're tryin' tae sell us, they might be goin' a -wee- bit overboard, wouldn't ye say?" he mutters, giving his beard a tug. But then, they're there, in the company of Taaranites. The redheaded shadow elf has Dirk blinking owlishly. And again when it appears that Aryia -knows- this person. His gaze flicks to the sign behind her back. His shaggy white brows furrow as he takes a step forward. One hand reaches up and over his shoulder to grip the stock of his thunderbelcher. "Right. Let's nae be havin' any biscuit-arsed behavior out o' -you-, lassie," he growls. "It seems a -lovey- party yer havin' here. It'd be such a shame fer there tae be an arse-kickin', now wouldn't it?"<br />
<br />
Eztli continued along with the rest of the group, with some idea of where to go courtesy of Aryia. The makari certainly did not know what to make of the elf, it was just another of many at the party, but she did at least get an inkling to show some manner of wariness.<br />
<br />
Magpie actually giggles at Skyler's commentary; how can one not? he puts such careful work into it, after all, it'd be a shame for his efforts to go unappreciated. She tries not to look into the doors they pass, largely because Dirk is a good enough bellwether, it serves to satisfy her curiosity.<br />
<br />
When the group tops the house to find Akorinil, however... the gnome seems confused. "I... hm... it's good to meet you, your Taarishness? Sorry, never learned many polite modes of address but um... I'm... not familiar?"<br />
<br />
The fabled oat milk is not in evidence at this time.<br />
<br />
But it's not like they aren't looking for it. You can hear them, down below, on the hunt.<br />
<br />
The Shadow Elven woman rises to her full not at all impressive height and gives a very, very warm smile. She's entirely happy to see everyone. "There's no need for any of -that-," she tells Dirk, warmly, "Such distrust, such hostility! It's just like old times, wouldn't you say?" she tells Aryia. <br />
<br />
"I am Akorinil Belvade, and you are a guest in the house that faith built. It is we, here, who sacrifice so that you may live to fight another day -- or perhaps we should say tell another tale?"<br />
<br />
"To be fair, we weren't exactly given the most..." Skyler purses his lips as he considers exactly how to phrase it, "Sanity-preserving wake-up and invitation to the party." His pale eyes drift along the group, taking in Dirk's belligerence, Aryia's discomfort, and Eztli's wariness. "But regardless. You'll have to forgive my little teapot of a friend. His tastes are a little more conservative than you and your followers." He glances over his shoulder, "Although I do have some questions about that one room with the three sea shells myself, to be honest. They certainly looked like they were having fun but..."<br />
<br />
He shakes his head, waving a hand dismissively before checking to see if he spilled the oat milk. Nope. Still safe for Verna or Telamon or someone else to de-cursify for him to enjoy later. "Banger of a party though, Akorrie." He holds up one thumb, "Seriously. So what's this about telling tales? I have an appointment at the bath-house to get my toe nails trimmed and I don't want to be late, so if you could tell us how to get home..."<br />
<br />
Aryia holds up a hand to Dirk, then pushes her hand down in a calming motion. "While I am confident in my abilities, let's not poke this nest." She glances to Skyler, Dirk, Eztli, and Magpie before taking a deep breath and looking back to the Akorinil. "High Priestess of the Lady of Shade, she fails to mention."<br />
<br />
A sigh escapes her. "You can hardly blame us, you know? The distrust. While I appreciate the hospitality, I agree with the fancy man. Can you clear up what the hell's going on here? Because in the material plane this party was... bloody." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Dirk's scowl deepens. "I'm nae Taaranite," he growls. His grip on his thunderbelcher never wavers. "An' -our- tales are -true- ones! Nae those rust-covered lies that -She- spins." Skyler calling him a 'little teapot' has him regarding the swashbuckler with an indignant scowl. "Hrmph! I can cut loose just fine, ye struttin' peacock. But there's a bloody time an' place for it, isn't there?" <br />
<br />
He doesn't miss Ariya's admonition, but he old ranger is tense as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs. He looks back to Akorinil, fixing her with a hairy eyeball. "Ye -kidnapped- us. Forced us here against our will. What on Ea's great green -arse- would make ye think we'd want -anything- tae do wi' ye? We've nae want fer any yarn or tale ye'd want tae spin fer us. Let us go home!" For now, he keeps his voice to a low, surly growl, but he's ready to spring into action at the drop of a hat.<br />
<br />
Eztli sighed, and shook her head a few times. "You've got a real swell way of inviting people to your house of debauchery." Eztli huffed. "Why exactly should we telling you more than we should? It'd be good to know why we should actually tell you anything."<br />
<br />
"It really is a lot of trouble to go to, to bring four random people and also Ariya halfway across the planes," Magpie agrees, and by the very sound of her voice, if she wore glasses she'd be pushing them up their nose.<br />
<br />
"Also I gotta admit, things have been getting ugly and weird for a while now, so I can only guess we're here because we're uniquely suited to help, somehow? Not you, though..."<br />
<br />
Magpie looks down for a moment, then back up, and nods. "So how can we help?"<br />
<br />
Bless her little chaos gremlin heart.<br />
<br />
Skyler snap-points at Magpie, one chaos gremlin to another.<br />
<br />
Clicking her tongue against the roof of her mouth -- a tutt of disappointment -- Akorinil shakes her head with such sadness in her eyes.<br />
<br />
"I am wounded -- so very wounded -- by the accusations and innuendos. Though I like him --" She points at Skyler. "And you," a point at Magpie.<br />
<br />
She smiles at Aryia. <br />
<br />
"I would've thought my station so obvious!"<br />
<br />
A smile at Dirk. <br />
<br />
"Kidnap you? Kidnapping is so gauche. I saved you. The Void consumes all it touches. Do you remember what you were doing before you found yourself here? Do you -really- remember?"<br />
<br />
... come to think of it ... you don't. Not really.<br />
<br />
What do you do when the High Priestess of Lies compliments you? "Thank you, you're pretty swell too! Speaking of swell how do you keep everything so perky with minimal support!" You believe the freakin' lie, of course. It's gauche to point out someone's lie, and she is trying so hard, after all!<br />
<br />
To Dirk, he shakes his head, "Maybe if you calm down, she'll give you some caramel hard candies! Doesn't that sound nice?" And he reaches over to squeeze the dwarf's shoulder warningly, turning to give him a grimace that is as serious as the grave where Akorinil can't see it. And slightly apologetic, as if he's trying to silently apologize for what he's saying.<br />
<br />
Turning back to the Lie Priestess (get it?) he grins. "Nope, but to be fair it wouldn't be the first morning that happened. My partner usually finds me, pays any fees or bounty, and then I start the day. And the Void has been a *bitch* lately, so you'll have to be be more specific. What'd the Void do this time?"<br />
<br />
"And I'm not either, Dirk, but-" Aryia sighs, rubbing her temples. She drops it, stepping deeper into the room and leaning against a wall. "I know how Taaranites work, and those that don't find it kind of maddening to talk in double speak the entire time." She can't help but half cough at Skyler's comment, a rare silent snicker escaping her.<br />
<br />
The pugilist blinks. "The void was... approaching, but we staved it. But before here-..." Aryia stops. Thinks. Frowns. "... alright. Fine. Got me there. Care to elaborate?"<br />
<br />
"Sorry if I don't give much of a crap about impressing you, to be very honest. High Taaranite priest isn't really that high on my list of stations that I care about." The makari snorted. "So, you brought us here, for some reason. I'm sure you did it out of the depth of your heart and compassion, since you know so much about how I'd want to be saved from something like that."<br />
<br />
Dirk's beard bristles angrily. He tenses at Skyler's hand on his shoulder, and he looks about ready to throw it off, possibly with some proper dwarven profanity to help it along. But he's a canny old bear, and he doesn't miss Skyler's expression. It'd be noteworthy enough -without- them being in the very heart of Taara's house of faith. He pulls deep, snorting, snarling breaths through his big dwarven nose. The leather of his gauntlet creaks as he forces his fingers to unclench with visible effort.<br />
<br />
"I'm nae afraid o' the Void," he growls, in a bit more of an even tone.<br />
<br />
He turns his attention back to Akorinil. "Lord Gilead an' the Blessed Lady hold me in their keeping. I trust in Their goodness." He draws another deep breath, fighting for calm. Now is not the time for dwarven tempers. He never was the sharpest marble in the deck. Deep thoughts often evade him. But he possesses deep, homespun wisdom of his own. He forces himself to be calm and cool, like the forest's shade on a clear spring morning. The priestess' question, though, has his hackles springing -right- back up. "Of -course- I remember what I was doin'! I--" He cuts off, lifting a hand to his beard. He gives the majestic snowy white whiskers a tug. "I was... I was... brushin' me beard out..." He pauses. Blink blink. "I -was-, wasn't I...?"<br />
<br />
Confusion darkens his mood back into a surly scowl. He turns his dour gaze back on Akorinil."All right. Fine. Ye brought us here. If we hear yer tale, -then- can we go home? I was... doin' -somethin'- important. I'm fair certain." He actually -isn't- certain, but he's not letting -her- know that.<br />
<br />
"Easy, buddy," Magpie whispers as she rests a hand on Dirk's arm. "I'm not gonna bite the hand that pulls me out of the Void, for certain... But we still need to hear what it is you need from *us.* You can rest assured -- High Priestess? -- we're grateful enough to do what clearly only we could, so... Whaddaya need a tracker, a firelighter, a brawler, and two chaos gremlins for?"<br />
<br />
"You've all done very well in facing the Void, it's true. You've killed the 'villains of the void' -- but do you know what those were made of? Not just void stuff, to be sure. What else were they?"<br />
<br />
The question Akorinil asks each of you is clearly rhetorical, but she's planting her hands on her hips. She needs to hear something from each of you.<br />
<br />
"Pass." Skyler tells the rest of the party, his expression utterly bewildered. "I mean, as far as I know, it's made of nothing because that's what void is, right? Absence of stuff?" He grimaces, "I think I skipped that day with my tutors, or slept through it."<br />
<br />
Aryia nods her head along with Dirk; she wasn't afraid either, having faced it several times herself. She stares at the High Priestess. "... really Akorinil? You were there. You helped me and the group. I fought a corrupted version of myself. A reflection of another timeline. Others I've known have fought the same." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Dirk nods his head firmly at Skyler. "Aye, ye have it exact, laddie," he says with a voice full of conviction. "It's -nothing-. My farts after Gobbo Chili Night have more substance." He pauses, and looks thoughtfully. "Actually, those have a -lot- of substance after Gobbo Chili Night. Errf." He gives himself a shake, looking back to Akorinil. "Sun rises. Rains fall. The forest breathes. An' -good triumphs over evil. That's the way the world bloody works." He grips his belt and nods again. Dwarf Law has been spoken.<br />
<br />
"You've... not been paying too much attention to me, it seems. Guess I was just dragged along for the hell of it." Eztli huffed again, clearly growing a bit more agitated. "But given my second hand knowledge and keeping up with the times, I dunno. They're memories. Void stuff pretending to be something it isn't, because those folks are supposed to be some of the worst known."<br />
<br />
Magpie pauses, then looks over her shoulder at Skyler and Dirk. The others seem to refuse to put much thought into the question, but the Gnome dips her head, beginning to pace.<br />
<br />
"...But the Void isn't nothing," she says, tapping her nose. "If it was, there'd be no Heth. It *is* hungry, and corruptive, but we're not *talking* about Voidstuff. We're talking about the villains."<br />
<br />
Turning back about, she snap-points at Eztli for a moment. "Memories. That's close, but they weren't the *same.* But if the people involved had fallen *to* the Void..."<br />
<br />
She pauses, and looks up at Akorinil. "They're lies. Lies told by the people they were trying to be. 'If only,' 'maybe I could've,' 'if not for that damn skunk...' Memories grasping for ways to remain relevant, come back stronger, get what they deserve."<br />
<br />
Is she holding a mug? Why, yes.<br />
<br />
Was Akorinil holding that mug moments ago?<br />
<br />
No. It's not even clear where she got it -- but she must've gotten it from somewhere. In point of fact, as you each look at her holding it, you begin to -remember- her ssending a servant to fetch it, one bringing it back to her. You're pretty sure that didn't happen... right?<br />
<br />
She holds it out to Skyler. Is it... could it be?<br />
<br />
IS IT THE LEGENDARY OAT MILK?<br />
<br />
In the meantime, she does nod towards Magpie, glancing between each of the others. <br />
<br />
"Tell me, friends -- what is another name for a lie? A fiction. What is a fiction but a story?"<br />
<br />
Her eyes turn towards Aryia, now, "Do you know? Do you know why we were called to her side? It is the same reason you stand here now."<br />
<br />
GAME: Skyler rolls Wisdom: (5)+2: 7<br />
<br />
"Evil is subjective, Dirk. Deforestation is a sin to some, but to others it's a necessary part of fueling progress and forwarding civilization." Skyler says earnestly to Dirk, "I'll grant you there are things that are black and white, but for the most part it's all different colors in between."<br />
<br />
He looks prepared to wax more philosophy when the mug is held out to him. His eyes widen and he bites his lip like a man facing the worst temptation of his life. He knows it's stupid and unwise to drink something handed to him by the Lie Priestess, but...<br />
<br />
"Oat milk." He breathes, and reaches for it, "Gods. It's been so long."<br />
<br />
The others' perspectives paint Aryia another picture of what's going on. She wasn't far off, it seemed: memories, false potentials, all that could have been. She quirks a brow at the offered mug, not really certain where it appeared. But, weirdly, she actually trusted it was the true, one and only: oat milk. Honestly, she can't blame the man for jumping for it, and doesn't stop him.<br />
<br />
She's heard that mantra before: a lie is just fiction, and a story. But she gets a different question. Her eyes grow downcast. "I was called because I was very good at telling the story of Her and His matrimony," her hands are slow. Her fingers curl into tight fists. Tremor. Then release with a breath Out. "But She left me when I needed her most. And now I need no one aside from my friends."<br />
<br />
She glances up to Akorinil, resolved. "But that is not the question you asked. You mean the Mul'neissa. It was..." she tries to remember. "... the original elves. Ancestors. Taara took one, or sheltered them from the other, a long time ago." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Dirk boggles a bit at Skyler as that mug appears out of nowhere. A -fiendish- mug, no less! "-Sky-ler, don't be -thick-!" he can't help exclaiming. "What if it's poison? Ye dinnae have a dwarf belly, poison can -hurt- you!" He grumphs and mutters. "If progress an' civilization comes at the cost of murderin' the forest, then -fuck- 'em both. The Green Word was here long afore anyone put one stone atop another. It'll outlive all of us." He flicks his gaze to Akorinil. "An' -nothin'- can stop -that-."<br />
<br />
He pulls another calming breath. Mutter mutter, grumble grumble. "A'right, so they're -stories-. Just like everything else. Like you an' them, an' -us-." He gestures fro Akorinil, to the other Taarenites, to his comrades. "Get tae yer -point-, lassie. I want tae go -home-." He does try his very best not to sound like a petulant child, but he is -so- far out of his element here.<br />
<br />
"So, stories are being made into reality, and not anything good. Why can't the void just raid Mikilos' library of crimson pen books and do something more fun with that?" Eztli continued to grumble. "Yarn, tale, epic, not sure what you want us to answer here, there's more names than anyone could reasonably guess, everyone's got their name for a story."<br />
<br />
"Dirk," Magpie says, a little more insistently. "C'mon now. I know this is wildly outta your comfort zone, but.. you wouldn't be here if you weren't needed. I believe in you, buddy, okay?"<br />
<br />
Though this is a story she *hasn't* heard, and new stories make for very curious gnomes.<br />
<br />
"Oh, I do wish that it -would-. Nothing can be so self-annihilating as sex," says Akorinil to Eztli, but with a big old smile. She gives Dirk and Magpie sympathetic looks. She certainly understands -- or so she'd like you to think. <br />
<br />
"It's true. You're all here for a reason." She turns her eyes towards Aryia, then, and continues.<br />
<br />
"...ah. The Shadow Elves -- you and me both -- once labored in spiritual bondage to her, as you know. AS everyone knows. That bondage was shattered when the right story was told. Without the weight of their souls, however, the wall against the Void within her weakened. The toll her theft of magic for power took grew. The death of Animus haunted her. The Void found purchase within divinity and sought a new story: a fractured one that would end reality. Without narrative, there is no time, not consciousness, no 'self', and without those things, there can be no desires fulfilled."<br />
<br />
She glances towards Skyler, "... a world without a hunger for oat milk," she says, for emphasis.<br />
<br />
"And so she called her high priests home to her. She called her faithful, so many of us, so that we may rest in the Abyss and support her through it all. She called so many, and we worked until the time was right. We stand on the precipice of the final step. There is but one more villain of the Void to face."<br />
<br />
There is a single, momentary beat as she lets the words wash over you.<br />
<br />
"The goddess of lies herself."<br />
<br />
Beat.<br />
<br />
And then...<br />
<br />
"Thank you for the oat milk, you're Lying'ness, but I think I need to go home." Skyler says in a remarkably steady voice, "I can give you a couple recommendations. Eztli here is awesome. There's also Telamon, and Cor'Lana-Banana, or possibly Verna! She's scary. I just..." He stares at the others helplessly, "I swing a sword good, end of story. Yeah?"<br />
<br />
Dirk listens to Akorinil, beard all a-bristle and his bushy white brows furrowed. It -does- sound like the sort of outlandish, self-aggrandizing tale a creature like the Goddess of Lies would spin about Herself. But then she drops that last bombshell--that they're to face down Taara. His face goes from red to white, and his brows fly towards his hairline as if trying to escape his face altogether. "Heek?!" is about all he can manage to squeak. He looks over at his friends, hopping from foot to foot. "-Me-?! Face down a Goddess? Och! Lassie, I know I'm a right bad-arse but--but--" He fumbles and stammers, trying to think of something, -anything- to say. He snap-points at Skyler with eyes wide as teacups. "Aye, -exactly-! I'm just a simple hunter! I'm nae the sort o' hero who fights -Goddesses-!" he cries in a strangled tone.<br />
<br />
Aryia purses her lips as Akorinil explains her point. She was aware of a good chunk of it, though the forthrightness of it has her questioning the authenticity of it. It's true the High Priestess has done nothing /wrong/ in all the time that she's known her, but it something one has a very hard time shaking the nagging feeling she's going to-<br />
<br />
The mute audibly gasps "Th- f-ck?", which turns into a hacking fit. She rubs at her throat, stepping off the wall as the others try to reason with such a tall ask. "So let me get this right... you want us to...-" she rolls a hand, thinking while trying not to reel from the suggestion. And the faint, faint tinge of vengeance creeping in. "... what? Expose a truth to her so damming it unravels her position? You cannot defeat an entity such as that." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Eztli blinked once, then twice, breathing in, and letting out the longest Exhale she could manage. "Aren't you a priestess of them? Isn't this some horrible, horrible sacrilege? And wouldn't that piss off literally everyone in this building?"<br />
<br />
"...Ah-ha," Magpie say, nodding slowly... for the thirty seconds or so it takes for the magnitude of the ask to sink in. Which poiny the noe-rubbing becomes a long, low whistle. "Oh *wow* you are getting desperate, holy beans..."<br />
<br />
Blinking, she looks up and about at her friends. "...So she can't fight the Void in her anymore. But her own people are *too close*, likely as not to follow her into the Void just out of religious ecstasy, right? So Her High Priestessness casts around for folks also lost in the Void -- us -- who have a shot at doing what they can't; Dirk, think of a bird that gets dunked in an airship's oil tank. You don't clean the oil off, what's gonna happen to the bird?"<br />
<br />
The reactions to her statement have Akorinil smiling. Then smiling even bigger .She's delighted. She loves it. 'Lying'nesa' tickled her especially. She nods solemnly right along and then addresses first Skyler.<br />
<br />
"Oh, I am well aware. But this isn't about power. It's a task that you've been more prepared for than you realize, Skyler." Wait -- where'd she get his name? It's not like he introduced himself to her out the gate.<br />
<br />
Dirk earns a tilt of her head, her crimson eyes focused on him.<br />
<br />
"We do not get to pick our fights, young one." Only an elf can call a dwarf 'young one' succesfully, right?<br />
<br />
"... but you think yourself a hero? Then stay."<br />
<br />
Aryia's reaction forces her to cover her mouth with her hand in abject delight.<br />
<br />
"Oh, oh. We go back such a long way, don't we? To think we're standing here together at the end of the world, with as much as you've seen and as much as you know, prepared to author something new together."<br />
<br />
"What matters is the tale being told," she tells her.<br />
<br />
And then to Magpie, she gets a smile. "Creative! Thoughtful. I like this one."<br />
<br />
"But it's all so linear. What Animus spoke of when he called out for aid is true. He can be saved. Aspects of the blight -- the so-called 'villains of the void' were called for you to confront. What do you suppose they represent in truth? And how do you suppose their defeat helped Animus?"<br />
<br />
Aryia squints at the Highpriestess, growing more weary as Akorinil gets excited. She takes in the information as told to the others, and she pauses. Looks at the crew. Then back to Akorinil. "I guess the villans of the void were aspects that Taara threw out to help weather the weight of the Void? But the way you're talking is making it seem likes we have to make up story that becomes reality, getting Her out of this mess, and... brings Animus to the fore?"<br />
<br />
She blinks. "Is /this/ why you wanted the damn shards??" she jabs at a finger at Akorinil, eyes wide. <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Dirk's day is certainly taking a turn for the strange. And considering some of the things the old snowbeard has seen in his days, that's saying quite a lot, actually. "Wait," he says, looking over to Aryia. "Wait, wait, wait just one anvil-crackin' minute. -We- have tae come up wi' a story?" He pauses, staring at his friend for a moment. "It... it -cannae- be -that- easy. Can it?"<br />
<br />
"They were stories for us to confront and re-tell. Kol and that Snow Bitch weren't defeated brute force; we had to finesse them." Skyler says slowly, a light (however dim and flickery) coming on in the attic, "It's about establishing what reality is strongest. Gods, my head hurts." And he drinks the last of his milk. "More, please?"<br />
<br />
"I still have no clue what we're supposed to be doing here, because if you think that we're supposed to confront the corruption of a god on our own, then, well even if I'll give it a try, I don't particularly welcome my chances." The makari sighed. "So, I don't know. I really, really don't know, and I'm not a fan of trying to get a straight answer out of a pathological liar."<br />
<br />
"I mean, I wouldn't call it *easy,*" Magpie says, scratching her head. "But if it ain't completely linear, then... Beating the villains didn't just show the lie of them for what they are, but told Animus that was *never* how it happened?"<br />
<br />
Magpie is clearly stretching the limits of her comprehension, but trying regardless. "So now we have to... show the lie of the Void to Taara?"<br />
<br />
"Closer, closer," says Akorinil to Aryia and Magpie. Eztli gets a sympathetic look before she remarks, with a smile, "The life of the party, aren't you," she says, amused. There's no mockery in her tone, just earnestness this time around. She tilts her head, letting her long, red hair fall over her face and shoulder.<br />
<br />
"You're closer, as I say. The Goddess of stories looked down the narrative path, the branching tree of a story, if you would. The possibilities. Each choice she made closed one after another, and yet she persisted. Too stubborn to let go of what is rightfully her's. Each villain of the void, as they were called, embodied a portion of the Void within her, yes yes, and in so returning sought to prove the futility of life and meaning. Here you are, having told the story already, and yet you were called again to do what you had already done. Isn't.."<br />
<br />
"It.."<br />
<br />
"Pointless?" she asks. <br />
<br />
"While a story is linear, a means by which we understand the events of our lives, the choices a Goddess makes extend into the past and the future." Her eyes fix on Aryia.<br />
<br />
"Just like the death of Animus."<br />
<br />
"And when we have a story and we don't like how it's going..."<br />
<br />
"Perhaps we can be shown how to author a better ending."<br />
<br />
Her eyes fix on Skyler -- for just a moment.<br />
<br />
And then she turns to Magpie.<br />
<br />
"So. If we must save Animus, how do we save the Goddess of Want from herself -- for the final collapse of meaning rests in failing to do so."<br />
<br />
"Listen, I had a *really* bad trip a while back. Me and a bunch of halflings and goblins took a job babysitting some rich asshole. We got kidnapped by pixies or some shit, shoved through a mushroom ring, and were forced to do some Ye Olde Bullshit Queste and then it became this battle of imagination with the big bad." Skyler scratches his jaw. "It was weird. This seems like the same bullshit: Stories and our perceptions of reality shape what is real or not. We just have to convince the Goddess of Lies and Bullshit that we're telling the truth."<br />
<br />
Skyler pauses and adds, "I doubt I can solve this with imagining she has a cloaca, but I'm willing to try."<br />
<br />
Dirk listens to this great, tangled yarn. All of it speaks of things so far beyond his experience. Like the beasts of the forest that he protects, in many ways, old Dirk is a creature of habit and instinct. When one measures their life in centuries, it becomes easy to forget Tomorrow, even as one recalls Yesterday. He tugs at his beard, glancing around at his comrades. "I mean... -I- can spin a decent enough tall tale when the mood takes me," he says. "But I'm hardly a bard. I cannae create a tale worthy of a Goddess." He scowls a bit. "Even one like Taara," he grumbles. "Och, She's gone an' stacked the deck against me. What kind o' tale should I tell? -Mine-? Hrumph. As if -that's- a tale worth hearin'. I'm nobody."<br />
<br />
Aryia scratches the shaved side of her head. She supposed that makes sense with everything considered. "We make up a tale, Dirk. A bit of collaborative story telling. We make her want something else, I think, instead of clutching so tightly to magic, or something like that," she suggests, thinking she had a serious solution.<br />
<br />
She stares at Skyler. Reaches down for a vacant prayer pillow, and throws it at him. <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
"Because what do the best stories do?" Magpie says, conjuring an illusory copy of Aryia's throw pillow and getting a half dozen tosses in herself. "They take us to a world that's even more wondrous than the one we live in. Make us think that maybe *that* world could stay *here.* So if we've gotten all the silly and skeptical out of our systems... I really want to take a run at this, you guys. After all," she says, looking about and grinning.<br />
<br />
"How many people are gonna get to say they told the Goddess of Lies a story so good, she wanted it to be true?"<br />
<br />
"Absolutely thrilled to be here, doing this." Eztli shrugged. "Whatever, I'll try to do something. Can't go any worse than last time, and it's not like there's anything left to lose at this point."<br />
<br />
Skyler says, “Never." Regarding the silly that is. But he does finish his oat milk again and roll his shoulders...<br />
<br />
Until a pillow hits him in the face, and he spills oat milk all over himself. He gives Aryia a wounded look, and then makes an arcane gesture while muttering something equally arcane before passing his hands over himself. The milk disappears. His shoes are shiny. And he smells faintly of mint and sandalwood. His hair even looks smooth and luxurious!<br />
<br />
Hisrestidigitation: Better than dry shampoo.<br />
<br />
"I'm ready. So we want to discuss parameters? I usually find stories go crazy if we just start spewing details. It's how a door becomes genitalia and weird stuff happens. We gotta keep the narrative neat and follow the proper rules of plot structure." He then snaps and gives finger-guns to Eztli. "That's the spirit! You can keep us grounded so Dirk doesn't give her a poofy beard or something." Aside to Akorinil, "He gets a little obsessive, the old dear.”<br />
<br />
Dirk looks at Skyler with an indignant "-Hey!-" He mutters and grumbles, tugging irritably at his beard. "I am -not- obsessive. I'm a -dwarf-. Nae the same thing at all!" Harrumph harrumph. He looks back to his friends. "An' if we fail, here an' now... then that's it? Everything we've done, all the battles we fought, blastin' Heth out the sky wi' the Spell Cannon... it dinnae count fer anything?" He lifts his hand from his beard to rub his face. "Och. I'm gettin' too bloody -old- fer this bullshit," he grumbles softly under his breath. He sucks a deep breath through his big dwarven nose, turning his face skyward. "A'right. A tale, then." He pauses with his mouth hanging open as Skyler gives his warning about the dangers of unstructured narrative. Slooooowly the old ranger turns to regard the swashbuckler. "Dana's sweet flowery -teats-. If a door turnin' intae a ramrod -isn't- weird then what in all the sugary-sweet world -is-?" He pauses. Lifts a finger. "Do -not- answer that. Please, please, -please- do not answer that."<br />
<br />
<br />
-To be continued-<br />
<br />
[[Category:PRPs]]</div>Aryiahttp://www.tenebraemush.net/index.php?title=Where%27d_They_Go%3F_That%27s_Where&diff=44512Where'd They Go? That's Where2025-11-11T05:00:33Z<p>Aryia: Created page with "Darkness. Alexandria has been consumed in it for a hot minute, hasn't it? Not the kind of darkness of night's fall and early winter's days, but the more metaphorical kind: a creeping, slowly spreading chill, a tension building of a coming ending: the moment before the boot drops, so to speak. You aren't sure what you were doing, or even how long its been, but here you are: painfully aware of that boot, and unsure where you are. There's an expanse of swirling blackness,..."</p>
<hr />
<div>Darkness.<br />
<br />
Alexandria has been consumed in it for a hot minute, hasn't it? Not the kind of darkness of night's fall and early winter's days, but the more metaphorical kind: a creeping, slowly spreading chill, a tension building of a coming ending: the moment before the boot drops, so to speak.<br />
<br />
You aren't sure what you were doing, or even how long its been, but here you are: painfully aware of that boot, and unsure where you are. There's an expanse of swirling blackness, and you are alone in it.<br />
<br />
... until your hear a voice: people calling out.<br />
<br />
"Five more minutes!" Skyler grouses, as if the call of the voices were people attempting to wake him up, "Mama, I do not want the pony with the fancy forelock, for he bit me when I fed him sugar cubes."<br />
<br />
Beat.<br />
<br />
"Oh wait. I'm not asleep."<br />
<br />
Another beat. "Gods this is getting *weird* in Alexandria."<br />
<br />
Dirk pauses with his brush in mid-stroke, poised over his beard as that darkness overwhelms him. He blinks owlishly, squinting and peering in the gloom. That doesn't seem right. -He- can see in the dark just fine, usually. "What in Dana's flowery green -arse-?" he grumbles. He fumbles his way to the window of his inn room and flings it open. Perhaps if he can see outside, something will make sense. If only it were that easy. "Och, what the hell is this? What the hell is goin' on here?!" he shouts out into the void. Will it help? Maybe not, but it helps to be able to do -something-. It's proof that he's not going deaf as well as blind in his old age.<br />
<br />
Aryia is quite used to the dark. Pitch black, or even darker. Perhaps the last gift of Taara. Or maybe she's just built different. So it is *weird* that she can't even see past her own nose.<br />
<br />
She catches a voice, then two, turning that way and gives a quiet, two toned whistle as she claps her hands together, trying to light up the dark.<br />
<br />
Eztli was left in some state of confusion at the darkness around her. The makari flicked a small flame between two of her fingers, that seemed to do little to actually disperse the darkness. Sound still worked though, right? The sorceress carefully picked her way through the shadows to not trip on anything, trying to find the source of the noise.<br />
<br />
Aryia manages to get her hands alight with moonlight, but still, barely able to catch anything before her reach. A tinge of panic crawls of up her neck, but she locks that down.<br />
<br />
"What a worthless little cretin. Get rid of it." A distance voice rolled by over her shoulder. A man's. She felt a weight land in her hand. It was dropped like hot iron. "What? Scared? They're useless. You will be too if you don't-"<br />
<br />
A whistling streak of moonlight punches the air behind her, her finding herself panting and slowly backing up. What... is that...?<br />
<br />
"...Albus?" Magpie says, turning this way and that, trying to pierce the gloom. "...Is it time for another Crimson Pen book? Or... wait... You're *not* a book anyore, right? Didn't we--"<br />
<br />
Backing away from the calling voice, Magpie does what comes natural; putting a Light spell on the headdress-coin directly over her forehead, because when you need a light you need it close.<br />
<br />
"The.. pony..."<br />
<br />
"Pony..." A voice seems to echo around Skyler, making his eyes widen and his skin to visibly pimple up.<br />
<br />
"Pony..." Or at least, it would if anyone could see him.<br />
<br />
"Pony... would... not bite... if you did... not ride it so harshly..."<br />
<br />
"Harshly... little toadstool.." Again the voice echos, and Skyler spins around with fist raised, eyes dilated in utter terror. "No. You're *dead*. You're dead and *he* killed you!"<br />
<br />
And he hears the sound of a voice crooning a discordant melody, something about 'heal heal little frog' that's equal parts silly but, judging by how Skyler seems to be covering his ears, equally parts terrifying to him at least.<br />
<br />
"Little hunter..." Dirk's face turns white as his beard as the soft, silky-smooth voice reaches him from the darkness. "Let me -in-, little hunter." Dirk swallows hard, his mouth turning dry. "No... it cannae be you..." He slowly backs away from the window, fumbling in the gloom for his thunderbelcher. His flailing palm catches the barrel, making the weapon topple to the floor. The clatter makes Dirk startle back with a squeak. "Yer -dead-, Demontry Kol! Dolan and Andalena put an -end- tae you! Yer dead an' gone -an' ye cannae come back!-" He stoops to snatch up his thunderbelcher and snaps it to his shoulder. He turns this way and that, panting for breath as he fights the panic clawing at his mind. "Yer dead an' gone. Ye cannae come back. Yer dead an' gone. Ye cannae come -back-!" he whispers hoarsely. But the soft, mocking laughter that rings in his ears tell him that no, Dirk, sometimes your worst nightmare really -can- come true.<br />
<br />
Eztli squinted in spite of the darkness, listening closely to the voices. She froze in place as the voices turned guttural and violent, clearly humanoid, but not quite. "I'll burn you all where you stand!" The sorceress shouted, charging off in the irection of the noise to get to the source of it, and eliminate it if need be.<br />
<br />
With her forehead shining like a beacon, Magpie *ought* to be able to see more than nothing. But the darkness is too close, too heavy, and the voice... shifts, subtly. Menace weights it's barely-understood words, a gurgling sound like an indrawn breath around a mouth full of blood.<br />
<br />
The faint crackle of fire.<br />
<br />
Timbers falling to crash into floorboards.<br />
<br />
The crack of bone.<br />
<br />
"Wait... you're not Albus," Magpie whispers... "...You're... oh *hell* no."<br />
<br />
And she turns and just bolts, fleeing in any random direction that is Away From That Ever-To-Be-Damned Wendigo.<br />
<br />
The voices fade away. Silence.<br />
<br />
All of you are alone in the dark for a moment. It's chill settles into your bones. <br />
<br />
And then a new voice, achingly familiar but just out of reach, a memory come and gone.<br />
<br />
"We are all made of stories, little ones. Seek them out."<br />
<br />
Aryia squashes her breathing, forcing it to be an even In and Out as she backs up with glowing hands raised. Focus. Whatever is going on trying to fuck with you. Find your center. That mantra goes through her head again and again until-<br />
<br />
She senses others nearby. She whistles again, a two toned low-high. And.. a voice? It was painful how familiar it was, the ache like a heart being pulled taut.<br />
<br />
"I saw him..." Skyler whispers staring at nothing as he curls up on the ground, hands wrapped around his legs, "He hurt her. He hurt her and she could not have lived through that. If she did..."<br />
<br />
What that would mean remains unknown, as he perks up when he hears the two-toned high-low whistle. Slowly, he surfaces and pulls a small little grey stone out of a small cage braided into his hair. He kisses it softly, hesitantly, and then lets go of it so it's floating around his head like a friendly little moon as he stands up and walks towards the whistles.<br />
<br />
Dirk's eyes blink open as he hears voices. Voices he knows. Voices that aren't -Kol's-. "Blessed Lady, keep an' protect me," he whispers softly as he gingerly makes his way forward. "Halloooo! Skyler! Is that you, laddie?"<br />
<br />
The voices vanished just as suddenly as they had appeared, leaving Eztli alone again with an ever growing frustration. She sighed, perking up just as the voices picked up again. "Dirk? That you over there? Not something impersonating you or something, hopefully?"<br />
<br />
Magpie is... not really paying attention. She is, after all, convinced that there's a people-eating monster in dire -- like Bear -- need of a snack.<br />
<br />
Magpie is also a smol bean. This has long been a source of great frustration, because the bulk of Alexandria is not *built* for smol beans.<br />
<br />
Both of these together may explain why a circular light bobs rapidly out of the gloom, resolving into a Magpie that crashes into Dirk, rebounding almost immediately and looking up, eyes streaming with fear-filled tears. "...D-Dirk? ...Is that *you,* buddy?!"<br />
<br />
The swashbuckling man comes face to face with a scarred-to-the-nines shadow elf with eerie glowing hands and fierce scowl that could cut through rock. She blinks. Her hands move, and understanding follows regardless of knowing the lingua franca. "Who the fuck are you?"<br />
<br />
Aryia looks to the side, hearing closer voices, barely seeing them. "Eztli? Dirk?" She waves, doing that two-toned whistle again. Her way of saying 'hey!'. <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
"Dirk?" Skyler looks *horrid* when the ol' boy finds him, eyes wide and shaking in the dim light of his (not so) happy (anymore) moon. Is he green or is that just the light of the aeon torch? "Wh.. where are we? I wanna go *home*. Jarik was gunna give me a foot rub!"<br />
<br />
He then jerks his head towards the others, and clings to the dwarf's arm. "Oh hey, I know the little one. We took on some demon-lord and she ate his nuts while I skunked his face. And is that Eztli and..."<br />
<br />
He comes face to face with Aryia, lets out a shriek, and falls backwards on his ass. "I'M TOO YOUNG AND PRETTY TO DIE IS WHO I AM!"<br />
<br />
Eztli trudged up over to where everyone else was conversing, the low growl in her throat dying down and out once she actually saw some faces attached to the voices. "Look, no one here is going to die unless there's a reason for that, and I doubt that's the case." The makari grumbled. <br />
<br />
"Now, more importantly, yeah, no clue where the hell we are. If I can get us out of here and you aren't all shadow monsters pretending to be people I know, then I can see what I can do, if it comes down to it."<br />
<br />
Dirk's eyes get wide as he spies Skyler. He doesn't even comment on the arm-clinging. He's in the mood for some clinging himself. He clutches at Skyler, eyes wide as teacups as he looks around fearfully. "Skyler! Praise the -gods- laddie. Ye won't -believe---" But then there's Aryia, and Eztli, and Magpie too. He staggers a bit as Skyler falls away from him. "Ariya! It's a'right, lassie! Skyler's an adventurer, like us!"<br />
<br />
It's about this time that Magpie enters, stage right, and smacks right into him. He sweeps his arm around her to keep her from ass-planting as well. Fortunately, while he is indeed a shortstack, he is no smol bean. He is decidedly more of a thicc bean, and so he does not tumble as easily as some others. "Magpie! It's a'right, lassie, it's me!"<br />
<br />
He looks up and around at his friends, his beard bristling. "What the hell is goin' -on-? Is this more o' Heth's bullshit? I thought we blasted that sheepfucker out the sky!"<br />
<br />
Aryia relaxes as she runs into others she knows - and more importantly trusts. And then there's this screaming man. Her glowing gaze leers down at him, ears flicking at the high pitched noise. "... sure. Pretty. Get up. My bedtime was interrupted and I'm pissed." She reaches down a hand to help hoist Skyler up - it's more like getting thrown to their feet if he accepts.<br />
<br />
She steps closer to Eztli. "Yes. Let's figure this out. I want to get back to bed."<br />
<br />
She gives a firm nod to Dirk, relaxing somewhat. "Don't know. Too dark for that. He's more a zombie dragon." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Upon confirmation of Dirk's reality, Magpie simply lunges out of his grip to wrap her arms perhaps a quarter of the way around his middle, consoling herself with a good few seconds of crying.<br />
<br />
Once big feelings in smol body are satisfied, she leans back, rubbing eyes and nose. "...Yeah no we need to be *anywhere else,* This is lookin' just a little too Void-y for my liking.<br />
<br />
"Evil never dies, Dirk." Skyler says earnestly, as he stares from Dirk to Aryia and then at Eztli and Magpie before accepting the hand to his feet a touch self-consciously as his little moon stalls behind his head. Is it embarrassed to be orbiting the swashbuckler?<br />
<br />
Do they even do that?<br />
<br />
But then it comes around again and he's schooled his face into a grin of amusement. Sure, he's flung to his feet, but he's *Skyler* and manages to twist midair to land nimbly on his feet, brushing off his best feature.<br />
<br />
... His shoulders, duh! "Evil just gets kinda winded and then apparently comes back to throw our deepest trauma at us. Did anyone else see or hear someone or something horrible, or am I just depressed and/or mentally ill?" He scratches his chin consideringly, "Although I think they aren't mutually exclusive. Oh, hey little squirrel!" And he pulls a little lacy bit of fabric out of thin air, and offers it to her, "For your face. You can blow your nose too, 'coz I don't want it back if you use it."<br />
<br />
Dirk wraps Magpie up in his arms and gives her a proper Dwarf Sized hug, a (likely very successful) attempt to crush her soul back into her body. Also, he's trembling himself, and it helps to have someone to cling to. "Easy there lassie. Yer a'right. Fer now, at least. Yer among friends," he says, as soothingly as he can. Once Magpie turns loose, he does the same. He looks up and around at the others. "No, lad, it wasnae just you. I heard... -him-." He shudders, gripping the stock of his thunderbelcher until his knuckles turn white. "Demontry Kol. That rat -bastard- of a vampire. Och, of all the villains I ever fought, he was the -worst-."<br />
<br />
"Th-th Wendigo," Magpie stammers, accepting the lacy cloth with a watery smile and using it to de-gunkify her face. "Thanks... You're *lots* nicer as a person," she says. "...But you made a *heck* of a skunk. Anyway... That's what I was running from. I couldn't see anything... but it sounded like we were back in that in, and just.... no. Nuh-uh."<br />
<br />
"I'm not too confident this is something we can figure out nice and quick, much as I'd like that." Eztli sighed, rubbing the back of her head. "If we're not in Alexandria, teleporting would always work, but I don't know any spells to go cross planes, which is more likely. So, whatever way is out of here, it's on the terms of whatevers got us here."<br />
<br />
"I mean he was a little handsy when *I* ran into him, but after I killed him half a dozen times he got the hint." Skyler says reflectively regarding Dirk's terror, reaching over and patting Magpie on the top of her head. "I don't think I can do a handstand and shake my ass at this problem, alas." He tells the smolbean sadly, "But I'm glad to have you here with me, and we're in some pretty fierce company." He puffs his chest, "Not to brag, but I'm a Gentleman Adventurer, Eztli once sat fire to some stuffed animals, Dirk doesn't shoot blanks despite his age, and she looks terrifying." He jerks his thumb at Ariya. "Surely she's done some dope-ass shit in her time. Silent but *deadly*." Ah, the emotional recovery abilities of a dumbass. They should be studied! He beams around at the group, tucking thumbs in his belt. "We got this!"<br />
<br />
And then Eztli puts a rain on the parade, and he sags. "Spoilsport."<br />
<br />
If Aryia is surprised from the smooth twist and land, she only shows it through a little shrug and a cocked brow. "Yes, I did. Heard my old owner," she answers Skyler. "He should be dead."<br />
<br />
The name Kol catches a tinge of recognition, so she gets closer to everyone to close the ranks. The thumb towards her gets her attention, a snort escaping her. "I simply solve problems by going through them. The others can tell the tales. But we seem competent enough to untangle this."<br />
<br />
She inhales. Out. "So... did anyone hear that other voice?" <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Dirk shakes his head. "He could always get in my head," he says tightly. "I couldnae keep 'im out, nae matter how hard I tried. He could turn me intae his adorin' wee little -slave-. Och." He draws a shaky breath, looking over at Eztli. "Gods, what I wouldnae give tae have Lana or Telamon here. Or Missus Verna, or Master Mikilos. -They'd- know what tae do." He glances back at Aryia, studying the movement of her hands. "Other voice?" he asks, looking back up at her face. "I... I'm nae certain. Could it have been one of us that ye heard, perhaps...?"<br />
<br />
"Something about being made of stories," Aryia replies to Dirk in a quick flit. "Might have been my imagination. This place seems fucked." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
"Maybe we were kidnapped by fairies. I had that happen once." Skyler says brightly, as he glances around, "Anyone see a mushroom circle? They give you hints if you pee on them, the kinky little things."<br />
<br />
There are no mushroom circles.<br />
<br />
Alas, there is only a profound, chilling darkness that seems to extend in all directions.<br />
<br />
And then... <br />
<br />
... there it is.<br />
<br />
That voice.<br />
<br />
Warm, rich, melodious even. "Find the thread. One will bring you to me. A final corruption."<br />
<br />
There, something takes shape. A home rising up out of the dark. Lonely looking, in the sense, but it's a several story manor home from the look of it.<br />
<br />
"I'm not useless, you know, I just don't make it a habit of fucking around with other planes of existence, so I never bothered learning more about it. Which clearly, in hindsight, wasn't a good idea." Eztli huffed, trying not to glare at the comments. "Didn't hear too much, maybe someone's trying to mess with me, since I'd recognize those noises anywhere. Maybe they thought they had more of a hold over me still." <br />
<br />
The makari watched as the building appeared, and sighed. "Well, that's a trap if I ever saw it, but unless anyone has any better leads, or wants to see what happens if we teleport somewhere else at the moment, Doesn't look like much of a choice, does it?"<br />
<br />
Aryia just gives Skyler a /look/. "Okay, fairy pisser. You could just-"<br />
<br />
Her hands still as that voice snakes through the air. Hands drop, looking over to- oh. "-h f-ck m- s-d-w-ys," Aryia hisses through clenched teeth, her grey skin paling. "I know that house. Gird yourselves. Last time I was there, I stepped into a fucked up bloody aftermath of a massacre." She goes through a few motions: cracking her neck and rolling her shoulders before taking point. <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
<OOC> Aryia uses Ki: Barkskin <br />
<br />
Dirk gives Skyler a -look-, his bushy white brows furrowing as he tugs at his beard. "I... I'm nae sure it works -quite- like that, lad," he says. "Although there's plenty out there in the wilds that'll do summat if ye piss on it. I dinnae judge." He looks back to Ariya and snaps his fingers. "Och! Yer so right! I heard that too! Just..." He waves a hand around. "All o' -this- is goin' on..." He looks like he might like to elaborate, but then there's that manor rising up out of the gloom. He looks up (and up and up), his eyes getting wide once again as his jaw drops. "Erh?" That's about all he can manage. Fortunately, Ariya's there to fill in the blanks. At her warning, he lifts his thunderbelcher and racks the slide with a satisfying CHK-CHAK. "Right. Let's finish this up an' get back tae Alex. I have tae finish groomin' me beard."<br />
<br />
GAME: Eztli casts Mage Armor. Caster Level: 14 DC: 20<br />
<br />
"There's a whore I know that taught me the *best* balm for frizzy hair!" Skyler tells Dirk brightly, "You are looking a little poofy. Works extra well on bristly, curly hair. We can even add some dyes to make it fun colors! I once committed piracy with a guy that had a purple beard. It got all over everything, especially when it rained, but he said it helped immensely with split ends." <br />
<br />
As he rattles away, his hand reaches up to draw his wickedly curved blade, tossing it into the air and catching it with a flourish before pausing to check his boots for scuffs. One gets wiped away, before he nods at Aryia, ignoring the look. He once dressed in Verdama drag and flirted with one of Her paladins. It takes more than that to rattle him. "Of course it's a trap. But we know it's a trap, so we're springing it on our terms. Who do we wanna send in first, or do we all want to jump in at once so they can't single anyone out?"<br />
<br />
There's warmth in that home, unlike the chill of the place you're in. You can feel it as you get closer. Love, laughter, and light oozing from it at stark odds with the nature of the place.<br />
<br />
And ... <br />
<br />
...music? You can hear it now. Joyous. Lively.<br />
<br />
GAME: Magpie casts Mass Planar Adaptation. Caster Level: 15 DC: 25<br />
<br />
Dirk gives Skyler another -look-. "I do not need a purple beard," he grumbles. "Make me look like one o' those nutty oddbeards. Hrumph!" He mutters and grumbles as he lumbers along, his posture tense as a coiled spring. But then, hearing that cheery music, and seeing how warm and inviting the place looks... it slows the burly old snowbeard's step. "Aye-yup. This is -definitely- a trap," he grumbles.<br />
<br />
As the others begin to gird up for trouble, Magpie stands there, brow furrowed for a moment. Then, she wets the end of a finger and holds it up to the air, nodding slowly... and begins to chant. The words... don't matter much, sliding off ears and brains as she speaks into her cupped hands. Power gathers there, pooling into a roiling, chaotic mass of liquid light of any and all possible colors. Then, at the apex of her chant, she slams her hands together, and the power sprayes out in all directions, settling over herself and her friends in a shimmering ward that soon fades into only the occasional multicolored glimmer.<br />
<br />
"...Been a tour guide out in the Planes for awhile," she says quietly. "Wherever we are, we're plane-lost. I can get us back, but... this feels *important.*<br />
<br />
"I agree, we're not on this plane," Aryia nods towards Magpie, taking the magic with appreciation. The stark contrast of how the home feels now versus how she remembered it is deeply unsettling. Last Aryia was here, it looked like people suddenly left mid-party. But here, it looked like the party was still going on.<br />
<br />
"I can take it. Prepare for Taaranites," she volunteers, stepping forth towards the manor and... she inhales deeply. Lines of energy flare on her skin in a flash. And she opens the door. <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
<OOC> Aryia uses Ki: Diamond Soul, Gain Spell Resist 30<br />
<br />
"Oh, great, cultists, hiding in a plane of darkness, and something warning about corruption. Suppose that explains why people can sound like they're having so much fun in a place like this." Eztli grumbled, waving one hand over her shimmering robes. "You always sleep with your guns and swords on you? Suppose I would too if I didn't have a way to defend myself these days."<br />
<br />
The door opens. <br />
<br />
It looks very inviting! Just waiting for you.<br />
<br />
That can't be bad, right?<br />
<br />
Aryia hesitates at the door, looking back at the others before peering inside. It felt... odd. The carpet wasn't sodden with blood, and music was flowing like the drinks. "Just stay focused." But alas- she enters, eyes darting through the party. On edge.<br />
<br />
Dirk grunts softly as he feels Magpie's protective magicks settle on him. "Glad we've got -you- here wi' us, lassie," he says. "Gods, I've lost track o' how many times yer magicks have come in clutch." He squares up with the manor, swinging his thunderbelcher to rest it over his shoulder. As he lumbers forward, he glances at Etzli. "Nae -usually-, no. I like me gun well an' all--I made it meself after all--but hardly enough tae sleep wi' the thing. That's just weird." He trundles forward, heading for the door, and whatever might lie beyond it.<br />
<br />
And Aryia bounces Skyler, sword held at the ready as he glances left to right with bright eyes and a grin that suggests he's ready for anything.<br />
<br />
Eztli shrugs and doesn't seem too perturbed for the moment by the building before them, and like the others, is quick to enter. "Focused as well as I can be, maybe it'll be easier inside where I can actually see things, hopefully."<br />
<br />
"Don't forget," Magpie says, giving Dirk a distracted grin as he talks her up. "Find the thread. It was important enough for nothing to say, it's important enough to *remember.*"<br />
<br />
But she's still trying to place the voice as she files on in behind the rest... ready to see what needs a little chaos.<br />
<br />
"Welcome, welcome!"<br />
<br />
You're greeted almost immediately by a man in in loosely fitting robes. Silk.<br />
<br />
"It's been so long since we had guests at the door! Come in! Come in! Enjoy! Wine?" Was he holding a platter moments ago? No? <br />
<br />
Does it matter? He is now. Red wine.<br />
<br />
"We're so happy to see you! I'm sure we've been expecting you."<br />
<br />
The home unfolds into a radcuous, hedonistic party. Everyone is singing along, dancing, drinking. It's -merry-.<br />
<br />
Merry everywhere to the heart's desire. Everything is luxurious...<br />
<br />
Dirk wasn't at all certain what to expect out of this alien, otherworldly place. Aside from a couple jaunts into Quel'ynos, he's kept his feet firmly planted on Ea's face. But -this-... it's familiar. -Too- familiar. The old snowbeard swan-dives headfirst into the uncanny valley. His cheeks turn bright red, and his beard bristles as he stumbles and stammers. "Uh... uh... I... uh... that is tae say..." He reaches up to doff his tricorne, glancing around furtively before turning a -desperate- look on Skyler. The sky pirate's the charming one--surely -he- knows what to say? All poor Dirk can think to do is fidget from foot to foot. He doesn't want to be -rude-, really, but he -was- kidnapped, and now he's at a party. Normally something he'd quite enjoy, if not for the circumstances. He's fairly certain he didn't receive an RSVP to -this- particular gathering.<br />
<br />
Eztli looked even more sour than usual, the sorceress not appreciating the party in the slightest. ""Gods, if anyone asks who your parents are, just tell them that they're too important to bother telling them." She grumbled to no one in particular before stepping inside.<br />
<br />
"Oh, hey! Do you guys have oat milk?" Skyler asks brightly as he shoves his way to the front of the crowd, beaming brightly at the party-goers as he glances around, "So glad you knew we were coming, coz we sure as fire didn't!"<br />
<br />
He pauses, and adds, "You'll forgive us if we don't give you our names. It's more fun that way, y'know!" And he grins brightly, "So what's all this about? What's going on? Did someone die?"<br />
<br />
Aryia is stymied briefly at the entrance, such a party rifled old, bittersweet memories. She lingers at some of the luxuries, but she shakes her head, focusing as Skyler pushes his way to the front. He seems far better suited for this environment, so she's back to watching the party for anything remiss.<br />
<br />
Totally just watching.<br />
<br />
"Oat Milk?"<br />
<br />
A beat.<br />
<br />
"Well, I suppose I can check the pantries. They're ... very well stocked? Amazing. It's like a never ending pantry of anything and everything we could want, so perhaps!"<br />
<br />
He smiles warmly at them, then turns to lead them further in.<br />
<br />
It's ... it's a party. There's people singing, laughing, dancing. They all seem to be having a good time. There's no end to it. Every room you pass by, pass through, is filled to the brim with people locked in some sort of eternal festival and they all look like they're having the time of their life. <br />
<br />
And not a knife to be seen anywhere. "There's some space in this room," he says, cheerfully, pointing the way down another hallway. This place is impossible to figure out. The interior makes no sense to the exterior. One gets the impression it doesn't really matter to any of them.<br />
<br />
Dirk shuffles along with the others as they're led inward. He's never one to turn down a good party. No dwarf worth his beard would be. But all of -this- seems to be a bit much for the old ranger. A small gathering of friends in a cheerful inn room is much more his speed. He stares all around as they make their way in. The strange geometries and curious angles has the poor old dwarf's eyes crossing. "Beards o' me sweet tapdancin' fathers. What the hell--"<br />
<br />
He pauses with one foot poised to take a step before he stops in his tracks. Sloooowly he turns his head and leeeeeans back, peering into a room. His eyes get wide, and his cheeks turn red as beets. He swiftly resumes his pace, harrumphing softly as he fans himself with his tricorne. "So ah... heh... quite the er... -lively- gatherin' ye've got goin' on here," he says to their strange host. "There a special occasion? Or are ye all just a naturally happy lot?"<br />
<br />
"Maybe I was too harsh in my judgement. I think they might genuinely just be here to have fun with no ulterior motives. Maybe." Eztli relented as they wandered further into the strange party. "So, what's your name, then? What's the occasion for all of this, anyways?"<br />
<br />
"Hey question!" Magpie calls from much closer to the floor; imposible angles and eldritch geometries... Yeah they're weird, but pay attention to your feet and you'll be fine. "Like he said; what *are* y'all celebrating, anyway? I ain't never seen a party this size without *somethin'* kickin' it off!"<br />
<br />
The gnome seems more... curious, than suspicious, as she examines passed hallways and chambers. Maybe the thread is a literal one?<br />
<br />
This isn't the first or second time that Aryia had been in an otherworldly place where the festivities were eternal. She follows, better to go along with the tide than to fight against it. Especially since they're still trying to sort out what's going on.<br />
<br />
The fact that she hasn't spotted the that knife was both relaxing as it was concerning. A thought that is discarded as she peers into the same room as Dirk. Her brows raise as she whistles lowly, before lazily trailing along with the others after a moment.<br />
<br />
"Hey! When you find the oat milk, maybe also get us the answers to our questions?" Skyler asks brightly, his tone firm but friendly, cheerful even as he squints at the back of the leading figure. "And space for what? Are we having an orgy? I mean, usually I like a little more prep work before group debauchery. And if you think for a second I'm sharing my oat milk, you really are insane."<br />
<br />
He asides to the group, "This is definitely a trap. But, like, is it the kind of fun trap where we all end up naked and covered in cheese, or the kind of trap that ends with us eating someone's flesh? Because I won't do that again. People are kinda gamey." Surely he jests, right?<br />
<br />
Dirk flicks his wide-eyed gaze around at his friends. His friends are safe. The old dwarf is hardly a prude, but even he has his limits. And the heedless abandon permeating this place is a -very- long way beyond that line. If there's anything he can't stand, its losing control of himself. He's had enough of that to last a lifetime.<br />
<br />
But then Skyler has to go and do Skyler things. The old snowbeard's gaze snaps to the swashbuckler. "Naked an' covered in--" He stops in his tracks again, his jaw working for a moment as his cheeks once again turn red as beets. "How's -that- get fun?!" he finally manages in a strangled tone. He doesn't mention the flesh eating. Erotic cheese dip is -so- much easier on his poor frazzled nerves.<br />
<br />
"We are celebrating Taara, of course! How could you not know?" He tilts his head at you, smiling still. "We feast, we sing, we dance, and we tell stories. We lie, we cheat, we manipulte, and we tell stories. All that lives, wants, and all that is dead wants to live. That is why we are here. She has called us to her Side. She is near."<br />
<br />
Oh boy.<br />
<br />
'Find the thread.'<br />
<br />
'Find the thread.''We sing, we dance, we tell stories.'<br />
<br />
'Find the thread.'<br />
<br />
'We lie, we cheat, and we tell stories.'<br />
<br />
In a rush, Magpie draws in a breath, and reaches up to take a glass of wine from the tray. "So, she says, with her most engaging smile, "would you do us the favor of telling us a story? About Taara?"<br />
<br />
"Very gamey," Aryia concurs with a gesture. Was she joking? Does Aryia joke? She glances to Dirk. Shrugs. "Gouda is pretty fun. I can see it."<br />
<br />
Her footfalls stop hard with a stomp. Pales. Gulps. This is Her domain. Magpie comes swooping in with a way forward, grounding the mul'neissa woman that should be completely at ease here. She would have in a different, past life. She is not that woman anymore, and is thankful someone else can fill those shoes. <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
"If I have to explain it, Dirk..." Skyler shakes his head, and jerks his thumb at the dwarf as he addresses the guide, "If we do go cannibal, he's probably a little tough. Probably best to stew him. Low heat, long cook time in an oven." He then cocks his head at Magpie, nodding.<br />
<br />
"Preferably with refreshments. I want oak milk. Warm, maybe, with some honey stirred in? My nanny use to give me a cup every night when she told me stories." He says with a charming, winsome smile, "You'd be surprised at home much I don't know." He says with pride, "I mean, knowing stuff takes so much work. Easier just to vibe! So why don't you get us refreshments and we can listen to your Taaran stories, maybe pull some thread, indulge in pulling Her threads, whatever else we need to do to *party*!"<br />
<br />
"I would rather avoid anything involving cheese or eating people myself." Eztli sighed. "Great, she's near. So, that means we should probably get going, right? Sounds like the case to me, if this is some exclusive Taaran gathering."<br />
<br />
Dirk's eyes get wider still. "Taara. -Taara-? -The- Taara? The goddess of--" He looks for a moment like he'd like to say something -very- unflattering. But he gets ahold of his tongue and snaps his mouth shut. His beard bristles for a moment. "Er. Uh. I mean tae say. The goddess of... things." He gestures lamely all around. That's nice and neutral, right? Surely -that- won't offend a goddess in Her own realm.<br />
<br />
Once again, Skyler gets a -look-. "Och! You lot take it intae yer heads an' cook -me-, I'll go straight tae yer hips, I swear tae fuckin' Dana," he grumbles. It's hardly the first time some nasty beastie or foul fiend has threatened to make a meal of him, but -this- time it feels different. He nods eagerly at Eztli, pointing her way. "-She- gets it!"<br />
<br />
"No, Eztli," Magpie says, shaking a finger next to her head, and beginning to pace. "No... I think we're nearly there. It *feels* close, because what *is* a story? It's the lie that outlines a truth. And they have stories... *and I would hear them.* I want to see the common thread."<br />
<br />
Oh, no, Magpie seems to be locking into her theory, looking up at the revelers with a sort of hunger in her shimmering eyes.<br />
<br />
There's a distinct pause from the young man as the others talk. He tilts his head, adjusting his hood and pulling it down all together. Yep, he's a shadow elf too. Of course he is. <br />
<br />
All smiles.<br />
<br />
"Of COURSE I'll talk to you about Taara. But I think you're here for a reason -- no one gets in uninvited you see -- so why don't you look around and find who invited you?"<br />
<br />
He gestures beyond into the party.<br />
<br />
"Let your journey be the story that warms your hearts in the night or failing that, be worth the hangover."<br />
<br />
While that milk idea sounds pretty good to Aryia, but the weight of what others point make her even more nervous, especially as Magpie seems to hit the mark. An unsettling thing with the normally stoic pugilist. And then-<br />
<br />
She was /invited/ here. Into Taara's domain? Aryia gave up on her over half a century ago. "I tell no more lies, not even to myself anymore," she gestures, looking out to the party proper. "But, fine. Guess we'll have to mingle. Try to not overdo it." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Magpie is just about to say something incredibly clever... when they are put on a scavenger hunt. Words die in her throat, her finger loses it's pointer-y-ness, and she sort of... deflates, just a little. Looking back up at the reveler, she tries on a crooked grin?<br />
<br />
"...A clue, perhaps? Cryptic or plain, honest or red herring, it's momentum that matters, is it not?"<br />
<br />
She *has* her suspicions... but to be wrong might also be blasphemy, so...<br />
<br />
"Wonderful, so we've all got a reason to be here, for something or other. Maybe just the entertainment?" The makari shrugged, not looking to pleased. "So be it, gods I hate mingling at parties,but if that's what we need to do, so be it. Be a bit harder when all I've got to rely on is my winning personality and humility, but we've gotta do something, right?"<br />
<br />
"What if my thread is oat milk?" Skyler asks in a tiny, hopeful little voice before he sighs, scrubs his face with one hand, and shakes his head sadly. "Curses. Fate is a fickle bitch once again."<br />
<br />
He then squares his shoulders, and glances at his party. "Maybe it has something to do with the traumatic visions we heard?" He pauses, and adds to Eztli, "You also have your fiery wit!" And he mimes flames coming out of his mouth, and flails his hands like he's burning. "Crispy."<br />
<br />
Dirk looks up at their host and blinks owlishly. Blink. Blink blink. "Uh..." He looks back towards the room that had just captured his attention moments ago. Of -course- it's still within easy reach, it's fresh in Dirk's mind. "-Taara-? Taara invited -me-? -The- Taara? Och, I'm naebody, why would Taara invite -me-?" He mutters and harrumphs, tugging at his beard as he glances around. Aryia's suggestion has the old ranger boggling slightly. "Mingle? -Me-? Och, but, this is all so... so..." He fumbles for a diplomatic word. "-Lively-," is what he eventually goes with. "I'd just bring the vibe down. You know us dwarves. We're all a bunch o' grounches, us. We'd rather spend our time scowlin' intae a mug o' beer in a gloomy corner. Ayep, that's us, right there." He fidgets with his tricorne, looking around at his friends. Surely they're not suggesting the cardinal sin of splitting the party, are they...?<br />
<br />
"Is that so?" remarks the young man to Aryia, curiously, "Truth is funny thing, you know, that exists in the space between one's story and another's." He takes a step back, smiles at Magpie, and then offers her another glass of wine just because.<br />
<br />
"She waits for all of you." <br />
<br />
And then he disappears into the swirling, dancing crowd.<br />
<br />
Aryia flexes her jaw. "That space is where truth lies, and where truth lies," she replies back with a hand. The mute glances to Magpie. "Momentum matters, it seems. And either we spin this tale in an endless inertia of debauchery or we press forward. Probably has to deal with the horrid shit we saw like Skyler said. So..."<br />
<br />
She rubs her face. Dirk is right, Taara invited /them/? This has to be a sick joke, or and honest plea, and it was frustrating it could be both at the same time. "... let's get into the party or some shit. Fuck me." Aryia moves past the room they peered at, following into the dancing crowd. <Handspeech/Tongues> <br />
<br />
Skyler?<br />
<br />
He's already gone, shrugging out of his coat. "WHO HERE HAS EVER DONE VODKA AND OAT MILK SHOTS?!" He's shouting over the crowd, even as he shakes his ass, "It tastes like hell but oh my god the way it *lingers*! WOOOHOOO!"<br />
<br />
"Does it?" <br />
<br />
"Shit, let's try it!"<br />
<br />
"Let's find some oat milk!"<br />
<br />
"What the hell is oat milk?"<br />
<br />
"WHO KNOWS!"<br />
<br />
"...Okay well since no one got smoten saying it, yeah, pretty sure that's who we have to find, Magpie says, absently swirling the wine... then pausing as Skyler sends a group of Taaranites on a wild oats chase. "Hey, guys? I'm reminded of a saying I heard from a Rosalian... 'In vino, veritas.' This is totally a bad idea, but...."<br />
<br />
Drawing in a short breath, she takes a long swallow of the wine.<br />
<br />
Eztli was left shaking her head awkwardly as some of the others took off. "I was just gonna find a dance floor or pole or something. Seems like the sort of stuff they'd have here." Eztli grumbled. "I don't trust any of the drink here at all, so I'll pass on the oat milk. How do you even milk a plant in the first place? Don't particularly want to know, to be perfectly honest."<br />
<br />
Dirk boggles as their host retreats, leaving them alone. "Oh, beards o' me sweet tapdancin' fathers," he whimpers softly. "How are we goin' tae get back home? We -will- be able to, won't we? Och, Thistle an' Lulu must be so worried..." He fidgets and frets, looking around for something, or anything that might resemble what they're looking for. He's certainly -not- in the mood to party. Usually, he's the one who picks what parties he goes to, and none of the debauchery is doing anything to enhance the burly old ranger's calm.<br />
<br />
As Magpie goes to drink that wine, he startles, reaching out with a "Aggkk--!" But he's too late. "Och, what if it's like in the fae realm? If ye eat or drink what they give ye, they own yer soul, or some nonsense like that," he says. Aaaaand there Skyler goes, doing Skyler things. You really have nobody to blame but yourself, Dirk. You're the one who decided he should do the talking.<br />
<br />
GAME: Aryia rolls perception: (18)+38: 56<br />
GAME: Skyler rolls Perception: (14)+21: 35<br />
GAME: Eztli rolls perception: (14)+5: 19<br />
GAME: Dirk rolls Perception: (19)+22: 41<br />
GAME: Magpie rolls percetion: (20)+percetion: 20<br />
GAME: Magpie rolls perception: (4)+15: 19<br />
<br />
It's loud.<br />
<br />
It's raucous.<br />
<br />
There are people -everywhere-, and talking to them reveals every last one is a Taaran of some kind -- in fact, many of them are actual clergy, or so they say: all too happily.<br />
<br />
They also lie.<br />
<br />
A -lot-.<br />
<br />
It's frustrating. It's annoying. It sends you in circles trying to grasp what's even happenign here, or how you might've goten here. All that is until Aryia in particular hears a voice.<br />
<br />
A familiar laugh, up a set of stairs that seems to have no end.<br />
<br />
There's a touch of old, old habit Aryia falls back into, and that is dance. One of the few vestiges of her old life that still stuck around after the slow fall to rock bottom. She sways from one group to the next, trying to get some iota of information but- she's done this all before- and it's still just as annoying. It seems like it's going to be far too much to deal with-<br />
<br />
A laugh lances through her ears and mind like a shot of old, nostalgic trauma with no ice. A wave of emotions crash against her; fear, rage, apathy, guilty relief. It had been so long to hear that voice, to wield that power. Oh- to taste that once more, the delight of a delivered lie.<br />
<br />
She let the wave crash, spread, and recede. In. Out. She didn't need Her anymore.<br />
<br />
The others. She flits through the party, tapping her friends on the shoulders and gesturing to follow. "Found the thread," she just signs in explanation, pointing to the set of stairs before heading up herself. <Handspeehc/Tongues><br />
<br />
"... And then I told him that it wasn't a banana, it was ME!" Skyler cheerfully tells a group that he's regaling with a story featuring two drunk goblins, an hobgoblin, and a basket of fruit.<br />
<br />
Don't ask.<br />
<br />
In all likelihood it's a lie, and he seems to be attempting to top himself with gusto with each new lie he attempts to tell... Although he also keeps half an eye on each of his party, distracting people attempting to interrupt them or draw trhem away from the mission. When a woman with big ol' knockers and a hungry expression begins to approach Dirk, for example, he calls out, "HEY! DID I EVER TELL YOU ABOUT THE TIME I DRESSED IN DRAG AND TRIED TO SEDUCE A PALADIN OF VARDAMA?!" to draw her away.<br />
<br />
Eztli had searched and searched, but there was nowhere to dance proper she found, outside of just meandering in between the groups of priests that seemed to treat lying like a competitive sport. By the time she was about to threaten to cut out some of their tongues and shove them down their throats, Aryia seemed to recognize something in particular this time, and the sorceress breathed a sigh of relief before reconvening.<br />
<br />
That voice.<br />
<br />
Aryia is leading you towards something she recognizes, up a set of stairs. Up another, longer set of stairs.<br />
<br />
Through narrow and dark hallway, past rooms full of party-goers and increasing levels of hedonism and debauchery. <br />
<br />
Finally, into a lounge, lit by firelight. Shadow Elves in reverent prayer are here -- prayer to Taara. Seated comfortably amongst them is a scarlet-haired shadow elf of, of course, indeterminate age. She rises to her feet, silk robes hanging comfortably on her frame.<br />
<br />
"Well, well, well," she begins, "It's so good to see you and your friends, darling."<br />
<br />
Aryia knows who that is.<br />
<br />
Aryia stops short in the doorframe. Her jaw works, eyes wide at the figure as her throat bobs. "Akorinil," she signs in a blitz of fingerspelling. She clearly is ignoring any pleasantries as the pugilist looks about the room before half looking at the High Priestess. "I take it you invited us here." It wasn't a question. A hand behind her back flashes to the group, "Caution." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
"Oh, golly, I never knew a raven could do *that* with a writing desk." Skyler tells whichever poor soul ended up getting stuck at the rear of the line with him. When the party left the main group, Skyler seemingly appeared out of thin air at the rear of the line holding a goblet of something that is vaguely milky but a little too thin to be actual milk from a cow.<br />
<br />
Is it the fabled oat milk?!<br />
<br />
Despite being by all measures something of a dunderhead, he's not stupid enough to actually drink it, but does seem to be content to carry it with him in the hopes of escaping with it. Oat milk has a longer shelf life than cow's milk, after all. He glances around with bright eyes as they enter the room with the scarlet-haired shadow-elf. He looks prepared to step forward again to take the lead when Aryia begins to wiggle her fingers. He frowns but shrugs, and leans against something after checking it for stickiness. It *is* that kind of place, after all.<br />
<br />
Dirk's eyes get wider and wider as they progress up the stairs. Each new display of hedonism and abandon has the old snowbeard's cheeks turning brighter and brighter red. "Och, if they're tryin' tae sell us, they might be goin' a -wee- bit overboard, wouldn't ye say?" he mutters, giving his beard a tug. But then, they're there, in the company of Taaranites. The redheaded shadow elf has Dirk blinking owlishly. And again when it appears that Aryia -knows- this person. His gaze flicks to the sign behind her back. His shaggy white brows furrow as he takes a step forward. One hand reaches up and over his shoulder to grip the stock of his thunderbelcher. "Right. Let's nae be havin' any biscuit-arsed behavior out o' -you-, lassie," he growls. "It seems a -lovey- party yer havin' here. It'd be such a shame fer there tae be an arse-kickin', now wouldn't it?"<br />
<br />
Eztli continued along with the rest of the group, with some idea of where to go courtesy of Aryia. The makari certainly did not know what to make of the elf, it was just another of many at the party, but she did at least get an inkling to show some manner of wariness.<br />
<br />
Magpie actually giggles at Skyler's commentary; how can one not? he puts such careful work into it, after all, it'd be a shame for his efforts to go unappreciated. She tries not to look into the doors they pass, largely because Dirk is a good enough bellwether, it serves to satisfy her curiosity.<br />
<br />
When the group tops the house to find Akorinil, however... the gnome seems confused. "I... hm... it's good to meet you, your Taarishness? Sorry, never learned many polite modes of address but um... I'm... not familiar?"<br />
<br />
The fabled oat milk is not in evidence at this time.<br />
<br />
But it's not like they aren't looking for it. You can hear them, down below, on the hunt.<br />
<br />
The Shadow Elven woman rises to her full not at all impressive height and gives a very, very warm smile. She's entirely happy to see everyone. "There's no need for any of -that-," she tells Dirk, warmly, "Such distrust, such hostility! It's just like old times, wouldn't you say?" she tells Aryia. <br />
<br />
"I am Akorinil Belvade, and you are a guest in the house that faith built. It is we, here, who sacrifice so that you may live to fight another day -- or perhaps we should say tell another tale?"<br />
<br />
"To be fair, we weren't exactly given the most..." Skyler purses his lips as he considers exactly how to phrase it, "Sanity-preserving wake-up and invitation to the party." His pale eyes drift along the group, taking in Dirk's belligerence, Aryia's discomfort, and Eztli's wariness. "But regardless. You'll have to forgive my little teapot of a friend. His tastes are a little more conservative than you and your followers." He glances over his shoulder, "Although I do have some questions about that one room with the three sea shells myself, to be honest. They certainly looked like they were having fun but..."<br />
<br />
He shakes his head, waving a hand dismissively before checking to see if he spilled the oat milk. Nope. Still safe for Verna or Telamon or someone else to de-cursify for him to enjoy later. "Banger of a party though, Akorrie." He holds up one thumb, "Seriously. So what's this about telling tales? I have an appointment at the bath-house to get my toe nails trimmed and I don't want to be late, so if you could tell us how to get home..."<br />
<br />
Aryia holds up a hand to Dirk, then pushes her hand down in a calming motion. "While I am confident in my abilities, let's not poke this nest." She glances to Skyler, Dirk, Eztli, and Magpie before taking a deep breath and looking back to the Akorinil. "High Priestess of the Lady of Shade, she fails to mention."<br />
<br />
A sigh escapes her. "You can hardly blame us, you know? The distrust. While I appreciate the hospitality, I agree with the fancy man. Can you clear up what the hell's going on here? Because in the material plane this party was... bloody." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Dirk's scowl deepens. "I'm nae Taaranite," he growls. His grip on his thunderbelcher never wavers. "An' -our- tales are -true- ones! Nae those rust-covered lies that -She- spins." Skyler calling him a 'little teapot' has him regarding the swashbuckler with an indignant scowl. "Hrmph! I can cut loose just fine, ye struttin' peacock. But there's a bloody time an' place for it, isn't there?" <br />
<br />
He doesn't miss Ariya's admonition, but he old ranger is tense as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs. He looks back to Akorinil, fixing her with a hairy eyeball. "Ye -kidnapped- us. Forced us here against our will. What on Ea's great green -arse- would make ye think we'd want -anything- tae do wi' ye? We've nae want fer any yarn or tale ye'd want tae spin fer us. Let us go home!" For now, he keeps his voice to a low, surly growl, but he's ready to spring into action at the drop of a hat.<br />
<br />
Eztli sighed, and shook her head a few times. "You've got a real swell way of inviting people to your house of debauchery." Eztli huffed. "Why exactly should we telling you more than we should? It'd be good to know why we should actually tell you anything."<br />
<br />
"It really is a lot of trouble to go to, to bring four random people and also Ariya halfway across the planes," Magpie agrees, and by the very sound of her voice, if she wore glasses she'd be pushing them up their nose.<br />
<br />
"Also I gotta admit, things have been getting ugly and weird for a while now, so I can only guess we're here because we're uniquely suited to help, somehow? Not you, though..."<br />
<br />
Magpie looks down for a moment, then back up, and nods. "So how can we help?"<br />
<br />
Bless her little chaos gremlin heart.<br />
<br />
Skyler snap-points at Magpie, one chaos gremlin to another.<br />
<br />
Clicking her tongue against the roof of her mouth -- a tutt of disappointment -- Akorinil shakes her head with such sadness in her eyes.<br />
<br />
"I am wounded -- so very wounded -- by the accusations and innuendos. Though I like him --" She points at Skyler. "And you," a point at Magpie.<br />
<br />
She smiles at Aryia. <br />
<br />
"I would've thought my station so obvious!"<br />
<br />
A smile at Dirk. <br />
<br />
"Kidnap you? Kidnapping is so gauche. I saved you. The Void consumes all it touches. Do you remember what you were doing before you found yourself here? Do you -really- remember?"<br />
<br />
... come to think of it ... you don't. Not really.<br />
<br />
What do you do when the High Priestess of Lies compliments you? "Thank you, you're pretty swell too! Speaking of swell how do you keep everything so perky with minimal support!" You believe the freakin' lie, of course. It's gauche to point out someone's lie, and she is trying so hard, after all!<br />
<br />
To Dirk, he shakes his head, "Maybe if you calm down, she'll give you some caramel hard candies! Doesn't that sound nice?" And he reaches over to squeeze the dwarf's shoulder warningly, turning to give him a grimace that is as serious as the grave where Akorinil can't see it. And slightly apologetic, as if he's trying to silently apologize for what he's saying.<br />
<br />
Turning back to the Lie Priestess (get it?) he grins. "Nope, but to be fair it wouldn't be the first morning that happened. My partner usually finds me, pays any fees or bounty, and then I start the day. And the Void has been a *bitch* lately, so you'll have to be be more specific. What'd the Void do this time?"<br />
<br />
"And I'm not either, Dirk, but-" Aryia sighs, rubbing her temples. She drops it, stepping deeper into the room and leaning against a wall. "I know how Taaranites work, and those that don't find it kind of maddening to talk in double speak the entire time." She can't help but half cough at Skyler's comment, a rare silent snicker escaping her.<br />
<br />
The pugilist blinks. "The void was... approaching, but we staved it. But before here-..." Aryia stops. Thinks. Frowns. "... alright. Fine. Got me there. Care to elaborate?"<br />
<br />
"Sorry if I don't give much of a crap about impressing you, to be very honest. High Taaranite priest isn't really that high on my list of stations that I care about." The makari snorted. "So, you brought us here, for some reason. I'm sure you did it out of the depth of your heart and compassion, since you know so much about how I'd want to be saved from something like that."<br />
<br />
Dirk's beard bristles angrily. He tenses at Skyler's hand on his shoulder, and he looks about ready to throw it off, possibly with some proper dwarven profanity to help it along. But he's a canny old bear, and he doesn't miss Skyler's expression. It'd be noteworthy enough -without- them being in the very heart of Taara's house of faith. He pulls deep, snorting, snarling breaths through his big dwarven nose. The leather of his gauntlet creaks as he forces his fingers to unclench with visible effort.<br />
<br />
"I'm nae afraid o' the Void," he growls, in a bit more of an even tone.<br />
<br />
He turns his attention back to Akorinil. "Lord Gilead an' the Blessed Lady hold me in their keeping. I trust in Their goodness." He draws another deep breath, fighting for calm. Now is not the time for dwarven tempers. He never was the sharpest marble in the deck. Deep thoughts often evade him. But he possesses deep, homespun wisdom of his own. He forces himself to be calm and cool, like the forest's shade on a clear spring morning. The priestess' question, though, has his hackles springing -right- back up. "Of -course- I remember what I was doin'! I--" He cuts off, lifting a hand to his beard. He gives the majestic snowy white whiskers a tug. "I was... I was... brushin' me beard out..." He pauses. Blink blink. "I -was-, wasn't I...?"<br />
<br />
Confusion darkens his mood back into a surly scowl. He turns his dour gaze back on Akorinil."All right. Fine. Ye brought us here. If we hear yer tale, -then- can we go home? I was... doin' -somethin'- important. I'm fair certain." He actually -isn't- certain, but he's not letting -her- know that.<br />
<br />
"Easy, buddy," Magpie whispers as she rests a hand on Dirk's arm. "I'm not gonna bite the hand that pulls me out of the Void, for certain... But we still need to hear what it is you need from *us.* You can rest assured -- High Priestess? -- we're grateful enough to do what clearly only we could, so... Whaddaya need a tracker, a firelighter, a brawler, and two chaos gremlins for?"<br />
<br />
"You've all done very well in facing the Void, it's true. You've killed the 'villains of the void' -- but do you know what those were made of? Not just void stuff, to be sure. What else were they?"<br />
<br />
The question Akorinil asks each of you is clearly rhetorical, but she's planting her hands on her hips. She needs to hear something from each of you.<br />
<br />
"Pass." Skyler tells the rest of the party, his expression utterly bewildered. "I mean, as far as I know, it's made of nothing because that's what void is, right? Absence of stuff?" He grimaces, "I think I skipped that day with my tutors, or slept through it."<br />
<br />
Aryia nods her head along with Dirk; she wasn't afraid either, having faced it several times herself. She stares at the High Priestess. "... really Akorinil? You were there. You helped me and the group. I fought a corrupted version of myself. A reflection of another timeline. Others I've known have fought the same." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Dirk nods his head firmly at Skyler. "Aye, ye have it exact, laddie," he says with a voice full of conviction. "It's -nothing-. My farts after Gobbo Chili Night have more substance." He pauses, and looks thoughtfully. "Actually, those have a -lot- of substance after Gobbo Chili Night. Errf." He gives himself a shake, looking back to Akorinil. "Sun rises. Rains fall. The forest breathes. An' -good triumphs over evil. That's the way the world bloody works." He grips his belt and nods again. Dwarf Law has been spoken.<br />
<br />
"You've... not been paying too much attention to me, it seems. Guess I was just dragged along for the hell of it." Eztli huffed again, clearly growing a bit more agitated. "But given my second hand knowledge and keeping up with the times, I dunno. They're memories. Void stuff pretending to be something it isn't, because those folks are supposed to be some of the worst known."<br />
<br />
Magpie pauses, then looks over her shoulder at Skyler and Dirk. The others seem to refuse to put much thought into the question, but the Gnome dips her head, beginning to pace.<br />
<br />
"...But the Void isn't nothing," she says, tapping her nose. "If it was, there'd be no Heth. It *is* hungry, and corruptive, but we're not *talking* about Voidstuff. We're talking about the villains."<br />
<br />
Turning back about, she snap-points at Eztli for a moment. "Memories. That's close, but they weren't the *same.* But if the people involved had fallen *to* the Void..."<br />
<br />
She pauses, and looks up at Akorinil. "They're lies. Lies told by the people they were trying to be. 'If only,' 'maybe I could've,' 'if not for that damn skunk...' Memories grasping for ways to remain relevant, come back stronger, get what they deserve."<br />
<br />
Is she holding a mug? Why, yes.<br />
<br />
Was Akorinil holding that mug moments ago?<br />
<br />
No. It's not even clear where she got it -- but she must've gotten it from somewhere. In point of fact, as you each look at her holding it, you begin to -remember- her ssending a servant to fetch it, one bringing it back to her. You're pretty sure that didn't happen... right?<br />
<br />
She holds it out to Skyler. Is it... could it be?<br />
<br />
IS IT THE LEGENDARY OAT MILK?<br />
<br />
In the meantime, she does nod towards Magpie, glancing between each of the others. <br />
<br />
"Tell me, friends -- what is another name for a lie? A fiction. What is a fiction but a story?"<br />
<br />
Her eyes turn towards Aryia, now, "Do you know? Do you know why we were called to her side? It is the same reason you stand here now."<br />
<br />
GAME: Skyler rolls Wisdom: (5)+2: 7<br />
<br />
"Evil is subjective, Dirk. Deforestation is a sin to some, but to others it's a necessary part of fueling progress and forwarding civilization." Skyler says earnestly to Dirk, "I'll grant you there are things that are black and white, but for the most part it's all different colors in between."<br />
<br />
He looks prepared to wax more philosophy when the mug is held out to him. His eyes widen and he bites his lip like a man facing the worst temptation of his life. He knows it's stupid and unwise to drink something handed to him by the Lie Priestess, but...<br />
<br />
"Oat milk." He breathes, and reaches for it, "Gods. It's been so long."<br />
<br />
The others' perspectives paint Aryia another picture of what's going on. She wasn't far off, it seemed: memories, false potentials, all that could have been. She quirks a brow at the offered mug, not really certain where it appeared. But, weirdly, she actually trusted it was the true, one and only: oat milk. Honestly, she can't blame the man for jumping for it, and doesn't stop him.<br />
<br />
She's heard that mantra before: a lie is just fiction, and a story. But she gets a different question. Her eyes grow downcast. "I was called because I was very good at telling the story of Her and His matrimony," her hands are slow. Her fingers curl into tight fists. Tremor. Then release with a breath Out. "But She left me when I needed her most. And now I need no one aside from my friends."<br />
<br />
She glances up to Akorinil, resolved. "But that is not the question you asked. You mean the Mul'neissa. It was..." she tries to remember. "... the original elves. Ancestors. Taara took one, or sheltered them from the other, a long time ago." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Dirk boggles a bit at Skyler as that mug appears out of nowhere. A -fiendish- mug, no less! "-Sky-ler, don't be -thick-!" he can't help exclaiming. "What if it's poison? Ye dinnae have a dwarf belly, poison can -hurt- you!" He grumphs and mutters. "If progress an' civilization comes at the cost of murderin' the forest, then -fuck- 'em both. The Green Word was here long afore anyone put one stone atop another. It'll outlive all of us." He flicks his gaze to Akorinil. "An' -nothin'- can stop -that-."<br />
<br />
He pulls another calming breath. Mutter mutter, grumble grumble. "A'right, so they're -stories-. Just like everything else. Like you an' them, an' -us-." He gestures fro Akorinil, to the other Taarenites, to his comrades. "Get tae yer -point-, lassie. I want tae go -home-." He does try his very best not to sound like a petulant child, but he is -so- far out of his element here.<br />
<br />
"So, stories are being made into reality, and not anything good. Why can't the void just raid Mikilos' library of crimson pen books and do something more fun with that?" Eztli continued to grumble. "Yarn, tale, epic, not sure what you want us to answer here, there's more names than anyone could reasonably guess, everyone's got their name for a story."<br />
<br />
"Dirk," Magpie says, a little more insistently. "C'mon now. I know this is wildly outta your comfort zone, but.. you wouldn't be here if you weren't needed. I believe in you, buddy, okay?"<br />
<br />
Though this is a story she *hasn't* heard, and new stories make for very curious gnomes.<br />
<br />
"Oh, I do wish that it -would-. Nothing can be so self-annihilating as sex," says Akorinil to Eztli, but with a big old smile. She gives Dirk and Magpie sympathetic looks. She certainly understands -- or so she'd like you to think. <br />
<br />
"It's true. You're all here for a reason." She turns her eyes towards Aryia, then, and continues.<br />
<br />
"...ah. The Shadow Elves -- you and me both -- once labored in spiritual bondage to her, as you know. AS everyone knows. That bondage was shattered when the right story was told. Without the weight of their souls, however, the wall against the Void within her weakened. The toll her theft of magic for power took grew. The death of Animus haunted her. The Void found purchase within divinity and sought a new story: a fractured one that would end reality. Without narrative, there is no time, not consciousness, no 'self', and without those things, there can be no desires fulfilled."<br />
<br />
She glances towards Skyler, "... a world without a hunger for oat milk," she says, for emphasis.<br />
<br />
"And so she called her high priests home to her. She called her faithful, so many of us, so that we may rest in the Abyss and support her through it all. She called so many, and we worked until the time was right. We stand on the precipice of the final step. There is but one more villain of the Void to face."<br />
<br />
There is a single, momentary beat as she lets the words wash over you.<br />
<br />
"The goddess of lies herself."<br />
<br />
<br />
-To be continued-<br />
<br />
[[Category:PRPs]]</div>Aryiahttp://www.tenebraemush.net/index.php?title=Recent_Logs&diff=44511Recent Logs2025-11-11T04:53:42Z<p>Aryia: /* November */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{AboutLogs}}<br />
<br />
'''[[Archived_Logs|For 2024 and earlier, see the Archives]].'''<br />
<br />
==2025 Logs==<br />
===January===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|January 1, 2025<br />
|[[The Spectacle of the Century]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Alec]], [[Bryn]], [[Mikilos]] [[Murder]], [[Skyler]] <br />
|-<br />
|January 4, 2025<br />
|[[A Final Word on the Spires]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Rune]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Eztli]], [[Skyler]], [[Bryn]], GM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|January 5, 2025<br />
|[[Hooves of Steel (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Harshad]], [[Skyler]], [[Bryn]], [[Reithak]], [[Jarik]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 6, 2025<br />
|[[Working Hands]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Carver]], [[Simony]], [[Skyler]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|January 7, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 11)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|January 8, 2025<br />
|[[Flight of Intrigue]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Haggerty]], [[Palomas]], [[Skyler]], GM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 9, 2025<br />
|[[Scaling and Weeping]]<br />
|[[Verna]], [[Aryia]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Temple Festivities]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Telamon]], [[Irshya]], [[Jarik]], [[Menel]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Skyler]], [[Bryn]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 10, 2025<br />
|[[Sins of the Past: A Confrontation]]<br />
|[[Jarik]], [[Skyler]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 11, 2025<br />
|[[Slapbet]]<br />
|[[Aragos]], [[Rocky]], [[Skyler]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 12, 2025<br />
|[[Sewers and Saviors]]<br />
|[[Dirk]], [[Crik]], [[Jarik]], [[Bryn]], [[Ulthan]], [[Sjach]], with GM: [[Skyler]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 13, 2025<br />
|[[Graven Images]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Telamon]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Verna]], [[Skyler]], GM: [[Aftershock]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 14, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 12)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|January 15, 2025<br />
|[[Tough Hands]]<br />
|[[Warrick]], [[Bryn]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 17, 2025<br />
|[[The Power of Flour]]<br />
|[[Harshad]], [[Skyler]], [[Choler]], [[Munch]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 18, 2025<br />
|[[Grim Deed (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Culix]], [[Carver]], [[Jarik]], [[Skyler]], GM: [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Back in Technicolor]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Magpie]]; GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|January 19, 2025<br />
|[[Sewers and Saviors 2]]<br />
|[[Sjach]], [[Haggerty]], [[Crik]], [[Dirk]], [[Jarik]], [[Bryn]], GM: [[Skyler]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Vacation and the Pen]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 20, 2025<br />
|[[Meeting Eli]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Gramarye]], [[Haggerty]], [[Khepri]]; GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Pothy Problems]]<br />
|[[Murder]], [[Skyler]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 21, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 13)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|January 23, 2025<br />
|[[The Dream Quest of the Archmage Part 1]]<br />
|[[Skyler]], [[Warrick]], [[Palomas]], [[Haggerty]], GM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 26, 2025<br />
|[[Sewers and Saviors Part 3]]<br />
|[[Sjach]], [[Dirk]], [[Bryn]], [[Jarik]], [[Crik]], GM: [[Skyler]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 27, 2025<br />
|[[Golden Box]]<br />
|[[Cuemoni]], [[Gr'lk'tosst]], [[Halia]], [[Jarik]], [[Skyler]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 28, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 14)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|January 30, 2025<br />
|[[The Dream Quest of the Archmage Part 2]]<br />
|[[Skyler]], [[Warrick]], [[Palomas]], [[Haggerty]], GM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[A Polite Request]]<br />
|[[Harkashan]], [[Rune]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 31, 2025<br />
|[[Here But For You]]<br />
|[[Halia]], [[Skyler]], [[Rocky]], [[Tonameyo]], [[Carver]]<br />
|}<br />
<br />
===February===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|February 1, 2025<br />
|[[Grim Deeds 2]]<br />
|[[Culix]], [[Skyler]], [[Carver]], [[Jarik]], [[Reithak]], GM: [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 2, 2025<br />
|[[Beyond the Pale 1]]<br />
|[[Ulthan]], [[Bryn]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Burai]], GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 3, 2025<br />
|[[The Quest of Eli]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Gramarye]], [[Haggerty]], [[Khepri]], GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|February 4, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 15)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|February 6, 2025<br />
|[[A Handful of Dust]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Carver]], [[Corey]], [[Simony]], GM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 8, 2025<br />
|[[Grim Deed Part 3]]<br />
|[[Culix]], [[Skyler]], [[Carver]], [[Jarik]], [[Reithak]], GM: [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 9, 2025<br />
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 2]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Burai]], [[Crik]], [[Skyler]], [[Ulthan]], GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 11, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 16)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|February 14, 2025<br />
|[[Mages of Daeus]]<br />
|[[Telamon]], [[Skyler]], [[Eztli]], [[Carver]], GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|February 16, 2025<br />
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 3]]<br />
|[[Ulthan]], [[Bryn]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Burai]], GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 20, 2025<br />
|[[Moonstone Absconded]]<br />
|[[Dirk]], [[Carver]], [[Corey]], [[Magpie]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 21, 2025<br />
|[[Pursuit Through Dreams]]<br />
|[[Skyler]], [[Carver]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], NPC: Amenara Paki (played by Aftershock)<br />
|-<br />
|February 22, 2025<br />
|[[Grim Deed Part 4]]<br />
|[[Culix]], [[Skyler]], [[Carver]], [[Jarik]], [[Reithak]], GM: [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[A Gift Lost to the Shadows]]<br />
|[[Kaj]], [[Murder]], [[Telamon]], [[Carver]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 23, 2025<br />
|[[Conspiracy to Murder]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 4]]<br />
|[[Ulthan]], [[Bryn]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Burai]], GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 24, 2025<br />
|[[Of Tests and Trials]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Haggerty]], [[Khepri]], GM: Riptide & Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|February 25, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 17)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
===March===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|March 2, 2025<br />
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 5]]<br />
|[[Ulthan]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Burai]], GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 3, 2025<br />
|[[Moonstone Absconded (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Corey]], [[Dirk]], [[Magpie]]; GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|March 4, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 18)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|March 7, 2025<br />
|[[Crystal Tower]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Magpie]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]], GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|March 8, 2025<br />
|[[Grim Deed Part 5]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Culix]], [[Reithak]], [[Skyler]], GM: Aelwyn<br />
|-<br />
|March 9, 2025<br />
|[[Sins of the Past: Masquerade Mayhem]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Auranar]], [[Irshya]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]] DM: [[Jarik]] & [[Skyler]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Crystal Tower (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Magpie]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]], GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|March 10, 2025<br />
|[[Moonstone Absconded (Part 3)]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Corey]], [[Dirk]], [[Magpie]]; GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Cashew by Cashew]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Skyler]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 11, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 19)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|March 13, 2025<br />
|[[Dance of the Watchlings]]<br />
|[[Telamon]], [[Carver]], [[Skyler]], [[Simony]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 15, 2025<br />
|[[Grim Deed Part 6]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Culix]], [[Reithak]], [[Skyler]], GM: Aelwyn<br />
|-<br />
|March 16, 2025<br />
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 6]]<br />
|[[Ulthan]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Burai]], GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 18, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 20)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|March 19, 2025<br />
|[[The Sickle's Edge]]<br />
|[[Choler]], [[Harshad]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 20, 2025<br />
|[[Fluffy the Fey]]<br />
|[[Aragos]], [[Bryn]], [[Gramarye]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]] GM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 21, 2025<br />
|[[A Lost Fey Puppy]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 23, 2025<br />
|[[Of Staves and Stones]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Crystal Tower (Part 3)]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Magpie]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]], GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 7]]<br />
|[[Ulthan]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Bryn]], GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 24, 2025<br />
|[[Archmage Asking]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Telamon]], [[Murder]], Riptide (as Faphinae), GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|March 25, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 21)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|March 29, 2025<br />
|[[Grim Deed Part 7]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Culix]], [[Reithak]], [[Skyler]], GM: Aelwyn<br />
|-<br />
|March 30, 2025<br />
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 8]]<br />
|[[Ulthan]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Burai]], [[Bryn]], GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 31, 2025<br />
|[[Red Matrimony]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
<br />
===April===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|April 1, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 22)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|April 3, 2025<br />
|[[Inspector Fritzgilbert and the Ploughing Goat]]<br />
|[[Skyler]], [[Zigrun]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 4, 2025<br />
|[[The Golden Songbird]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Skyler]], [[Telamon]], GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|April 6, 2025<br />
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 9]]<br />
|[[Ulthan]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Burai]], GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 8, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 23)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|April 9, 2025<br />
|[[With Vast Love (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Cuemoni]], [[Haggerty]], [[Harshad]], [[Skyler]]; GM: [[Carver]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 11, 2025<br />
|[[Four Floozies]]<br />
|[[Khepri]], [[Carver]], [[Bryn]], [[Rocky]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 13, 2025<br />
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 10]]<br />
|[[Ulthan]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Bryn]], GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Nary for Nereid]]<br />
|[[Aragos]], [[Carver]], [[Mikilos]], [[Skyler]], [[Telamon]] GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|April 14, 2025<br />
|[[Running Up That Hill]]<br />
|[[Aragos]] GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Bring a Little Fae]]<br />
|[[Atrid]], [[Carver]], [[Gramarye]], [[Khepri]]; GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|April 15, 2025<br />
|[[A Grove Pit Stop]]<br />
|[[Slixvah]] [[Atrid]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Homegrown Confessional]]<br />
|[[Warrick]], [[Carver]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 19, 2025<br />
|[[Neva Gonna Give You Up]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Carver]], [[Eztli]] GM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Grim Deed Part 8]]<br />
|[[Culix]], [[Skyler]], [[Reithak]], [[Carver]], GM: [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 20, 2025<br />
|[[The Dukes Knight]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Auranar]], [[Dirk]], [[Rhar]], [[Thurid]] GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|April 22, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 24)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|April 23, 2025<br />
|[[With Vast Love (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Cuemoni]], [[Harshad]], [[Skyler]]; GM: [[Carver]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 27, 2025<br />
|[[Faeology 101]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 29, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 25)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
===May===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|May 1, 2025<br />
|[[Strawberries For All]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Khepri]], [[Carver]], [[Simony]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 2, 2025<br />
|[[Bootleg Bounty]]<br />
|[[Warrick]], [[Bryn]], [[Haggerty]], [[Aragos]], [[Crik]] GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 4, 2025<br />
|[[Cleiuin's Confession]]<br />
|[[Thurid]], [[Riptide]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 5, 2025<br />
|[[Grim Deed Part 9]]<br />
|[[Culix]], [[Skyler]], [[Carver]], [[Reithak]], GM: [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 6, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 26)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|May 9, 2025<br />
|[[Bootleg Bounty Part 2]]<br />
|[[Warrick]], [[Haggerty]], [[Aragos]], [[Crik]] GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 10, 2025<br />
|[[Rainy days, hair loss and full bellies]]<br />
|[[Murder]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 11, 2025<br />
|[[Whispers of the Withering Wood]]<br />
|[[Atzi]], [[Harshad]], [[Mist]], [[Tonameyo]]; GM: [[Dirk]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 12, 2025<br />
|[[Lament of Vilarus]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Magpie]], [[Murder]]; GM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 17, 2025<br />
|[[Something Fae-shy]]<br />
|[[Aragos]], [[Bryn]], [[Myoides]], [[Skyler]]; GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|May 18, 2025<br />
|[[Fire of the Sun]]<br />
|[[Thurid]], [[Bryn]], [[Skyler]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Irysha]], [[Khepri]], [[Haggerty]], [[Carver]]; GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|May 19, 2025<br />
|[[Lament of Vilarus (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Magpie]], [[Murder]]; GM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 22, 2025<br />
|[[Akimitsu Sori (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 23, 2025<br />
|[[Bootleg Bounty (Part 3)]]<br />
|[[Aragos]], [[Crik]], [[Warrick]]; GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Sisters Strange]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Corey]], [[Dirk]], [[Skyler]]; GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|May 25, 2025<br />
|[[Grim Deed Part 10]]<br />
|[[Culix]], [[Skyler]], [[Carver]], [[Reithak]], GM: [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[The Work of Brewing and Crafting]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 19, 2025<br />
|[[Lament of Vilarus (Part 3)]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Magpie]], [[Murder]]; GM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 27, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 27)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
===June===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|June 1, 2025<br />
|[[River Fishing]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Free Soup]]<br />
|[[Ulthan]], [[Khepri]], [[Skyler]], [[Bryn]], [[Carver]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 2, 2025<br />
|[[Lament of Vilarus (Part 4)]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Magpie]], [[Murder]]; GM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 5, 2025<br />
|[[Akimitsu Sori (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 8, 2025<br />
|[[Seaside Yearnings]]<br />
|[[Aragos]], [[Crik]], [[Khepri]], [[Skyler]]; GM: [[Carver]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 9, 2025<br />
|[[Lament of Vilarus (Part 5)]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Magpie]], [[Murder]]; GM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 10, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 28)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|June 13, 2025<br />
|[[Akimitsu Sori (Part 3)]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 17, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 29)]]<br />
|[[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|June 21, 2025<br />
|[[Grim Deed Part 11]]<br />
|[[Culix]], [[Skyler]], [[Carver]], [[Reithak]], GM: [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 23, 2025<br />
|[[Lament of Vilarus (Part 6)]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Magpie]], [[Murder]]; GM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 24, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 30)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|June 26, 2025<br />
|[[Akimitsu Sori (Part 4)]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 27, 2025<br />
|[[In Search of Rolls]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Skyler]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 26, 2025<br />
|[[Reincarnation]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 30, 2025<br />
|[[Lament of Vilarus (Part 7)]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Magpie]], [[Murder]]; GM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
===July===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|July 1, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 31)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|July 7th, 2025<br />
|[[Lament of Vilarus (Part 8)]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Magpie]], [[Murder]], GM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 8, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 32)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|July 10, 2025<br />
|[[Defending the Spell Cannon G1]]<br />
|[[Aragos]], [[Gramarye]], [[Lanier]], [[Schara]], [[Warrick]], GM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|July 11, 2025<br />
|[[Defending the Spell Cannon G2]]<br />
|[[Braelnoir]], [[Dirk]], [[Simony]], [[Skielstregar]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|July 12, 2025<br />
|[[Defending the Spell Cannon G3]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Carver]], [[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Irshya]], [[Jarik]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Skyler]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 14, 2025<br />
|[[Lament of Vilarus (Part 9)]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Magpie]], [[Murder]], GM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 17, 2025<br />
|[[Hands of Herman]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Carver]], [[Corey]], [[Skyler]], GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|July 19, 2025<br />
|[[Grim Deed: Finale]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Skyler]], [[Culix]], [[Reithak]], GM: [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 20, 2025<br />
|[[Fire Wrestling]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Skyler]], [[Cesran]], [[Jarik]], [[Myoides]], [[Harshad]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 21, 2025<br />
|[[Info Exchange at the Fernwood Pub]]<br />
|[[Cesran]], [[Murder]], [[Skyler]] <br />
|-<br />
|July 23, 2025<br />
|[[Archmages Meet at the Observatory]]<br />
|[[Cesran]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 26, 2025<br />
|[[Void-Friend of Taara]]<br />
|[[Aragos]], [[Bryn]], [[Jarik]], [[Warrick]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|July 27, 2025<br />
|[[The Void-Eater]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Auranar]], [[Cesran]], [[Harkashan]], [[Murder]], [[Rune]], [[Skyler]], [[Telamon]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|July 28, 2025<br />
|[[The Last of Seven Sisters]]<br />
|[[Eztli]], [[Carver]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 28, 2025<br />
|[[Run Free Forever ]]<br />
|[[Cesran]], [[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Skyler]], [[Telamon]], GM: [[Carver]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 29, 2025<br />
|[[Saving the Archivist]]<br />
|[[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], Meet Up Runner: [[Cesran]]<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
<br />
===August===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|August 4, 2025<br />
|[[Void by the Sea (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Cesran]], [[Murder]], [[Skyler]], GM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|August 11, 2025<br />
|[[Void by the Sea (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Cesran]], [[Dirk]], [[Murder]], [[Skyler]], GM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|August 20, 2025<br />
|[[Void by the Sea (Part 3)]]<br />
|[[Cesran]], [[Dirk]], [[Murder]], [[Skyler]], GM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
===November===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|November 3rd, 2025<br />
|[[Where'd They Go? That's Where]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Eztli]], [[Skyler]], [[Magpie]], [[Dirk]] GM: [[Whirlpool]]<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Logs]]</div>Aryiahttp://www.tenebraemush.net/index.php?title=Recent_Logs&diff=44510Recent Logs2025-11-11T04:53:19Z<p>Aryia: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{AboutLogs}}<br />
<br />
'''[[Archived_Logs|For 2024 and earlier, see the Archives]].'''<br />
<br />
==2025 Logs==<br />
===January===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|January 1, 2025<br />
|[[The Spectacle of the Century]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Alec]], [[Bryn]], [[Mikilos]] [[Murder]], [[Skyler]] <br />
|-<br />
|January 4, 2025<br />
|[[A Final Word on the Spires]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Rune]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Eztli]], [[Skyler]], [[Bryn]], GM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|January 5, 2025<br />
|[[Hooves of Steel (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Harshad]], [[Skyler]], [[Bryn]], [[Reithak]], [[Jarik]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 6, 2025<br />
|[[Working Hands]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Carver]], [[Simony]], [[Skyler]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|January 7, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 11)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|January 8, 2025<br />
|[[Flight of Intrigue]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Haggerty]], [[Palomas]], [[Skyler]], GM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 9, 2025<br />
|[[Scaling and Weeping]]<br />
|[[Verna]], [[Aryia]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Temple Festivities]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Telamon]], [[Irshya]], [[Jarik]], [[Menel]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Skyler]], [[Bryn]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 10, 2025<br />
|[[Sins of the Past: A Confrontation]]<br />
|[[Jarik]], [[Skyler]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 11, 2025<br />
|[[Slapbet]]<br />
|[[Aragos]], [[Rocky]], [[Skyler]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 12, 2025<br />
|[[Sewers and Saviors]]<br />
|[[Dirk]], [[Crik]], [[Jarik]], [[Bryn]], [[Ulthan]], [[Sjach]], with GM: [[Skyler]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 13, 2025<br />
|[[Graven Images]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Telamon]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Verna]], [[Skyler]], GM: [[Aftershock]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 14, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 12)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|January 15, 2025<br />
|[[Tough Hands]]<br />
|[[Warrick]], [[Bryn]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 17, 2025<br />
|[[The Power of Flour]]<br />
|[[Harshad]], [[Skyler]], [[Choler]], [[Munch]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 18, 2025<br />
|[[Grim Deed (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Culix]], [[Carver]], [[Jarik]], [[Skyler]], GM: [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Back in Technicolor]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Magpie]]; GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|January 19, 2025<br />
|[[Sewers and Saviors 2]]<br />
|[[Sjach]], [[Haggerty]], [[Crik]], [[Dirk]], [[Jarik]], [[Bryn]], GM: [[Skyler]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Vacation and the Pen]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 20, 2025<br />
|[[Meeting Eli]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Gramarye]], [[Haggerty]], [[Khepri]]; GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Pothy Problems]]<br />
|[[Murder]], [[Skyler]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 21, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 13)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|January 23, 2025<br />
|[[The Dream Quest of the Archmage Part 1]]<br />
|[[Skyler]], [[Warrick]], [[Palomas]], [[Haggerty]], GM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 26, 2025<br />
|[[Sewers and Saviors Part 3]]<br />
|[[Sjach]], [[Dirk]], [[Bryn]], [[Jarik]], [[Crik]], GM: [[Skyler]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 27, 2025<br />
|[[Golden Box]]<br />
|[[Cuemoni]], [[Gr'lk'tosst]], [[Halia]], [[Jarik]], [[Skyler]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 28, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 14)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|January 30, 2025<br />
|[[The Dream Quest of the Archmage Part 2]]<br />
|[[Skyler]], [[Warrick]], [[Palomas]], [[Haggerty]], GM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[A Polite Request]]<br />
|[[Harkashan]], [[Rune]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 31, 2025<br />
|[[Here But For You]]<br />
|[[Halia]], [[Skyler]], [[Rocky]], [[Tonameyo]], [[Carver]]<br />
|}<br />
<br />
===February===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|February 1, 2025<br />
|[[Grim Deeds 2]]<br />
|[[Culix]], [[Skyler]], [[Carver]], [[Jarik]], [[Reithak]], GM: [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 2, 2025<br />
|[[Beyond the Pale 1]]<br />
|[[Ulthan]], [[Bryn]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Burai]], GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 3, 2025<br />
|[[The Quest of Eli]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Gramarye]], [[Haggerty]], [[Khepri]], GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|February 4, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 15)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|February 6, 2025<br />
|[[A Handful of Dust]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Carver]], [[Corey]], [[Simony]], GM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 8, 2025<br />
|[[Grim Deed Part 3]]<br />
|[[Culix]], [[Skyler]], [[Carver]], [[Jarik]], [[Reithak]], GM: [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 9, 2025<br />
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 2]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Burai]], [[Crik]], [[Skyler]], [[Ulthan]], GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 11, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 16)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|February 14, 2025<br />
|[[Mages of Daeus]]<br />
|[[Telamon]], [[Skyler]], [[Eztli]], [[Carver]], GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|February 16, 2025<br />
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 3]]<br />
|[[Ulthan]], [[Bryn]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Burai]], GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 20, 2025<br />
|[[Moonstone Absconded]]<br />
|[[Dirk]], [[Carver]], [[Corey]], [[Magpie]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 21, 2025<br />
|[[Pursuit Through Dreams]]<br />
|[[Skyler]], [[Carver]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], NPC: Amenara Paki (played by Aftershock)<br />
|-<br />
|February 22, 2025<br />
|[[Grim Deed Part 4]]<br />
|[[Culix]], [[Skyler]], [[Carver]], [[Jarik]], [[Reithak]], GM: [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[A Gift Lost to the Shadows]]<br />
|[[Kaj]], [[Murder]], [[Telamon]], [[Carver]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 23, 2025<br />
|[[Conspiracy to Murder]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 4]]<br />
|[[Ulthan]], [[Bryn]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Burai]], GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 24, 2025<br />
|[[Of Tests and Trials]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Haggerty]], [[Khepri]], GM: Riptide & Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|February 25, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 17)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
===March===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|March 2, 2025<br />
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 5]]<br />
|[[Ulthan]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Burai]], GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 3, 2025<br />
|[[Moonstone Absconded (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Corey]], [[Dirk]], [[Magpie]]; GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|March 4, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 18)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|March 7, 2025<br />
|[[Crystal Tower]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Magpie]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]], GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|March 8, 2025<br />
|[[Grim Deed Part 5]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Culix]], [[Reithak]], [[Skyler]], GM: Aelwyn<br />
|-<br />
|March 9, 2025<br />
|[[Sins of the Past: Masquerade Mayhem]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Auranar]], [[Irshya]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]] DM: [[Jarik]] & [[Skyler]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Crystal Tower (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Magpie]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]], GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|March 10, 2025<br />
|[[Moonstone Absconded (Part 3)]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Corey]], [[Dirk]], [[Magpie]]; GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Cashew by Cashew]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Skyler]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 11, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 19)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|March 13, 2025<br />
|[[Dance of the Watchlings]]<br />
|[[Telamon]], [[Carver]], [[Skyler]], [[Simony]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 15, 2025<br />
|[[Grim Deed Part 6]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Culix]], [[Reithak]], [[Skyler]], GM: Aelwyn<br />
|-<br />
|March 16, 2025<br />
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 6]]<br />
|[[Ulthan]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Burai]], GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 18, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 20)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|March 19, 2025<br />
|[[The Sickle's Edge]]<br />
|[[Choler]], [[Harshad]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 20, 2025<br />
|[[Fluffy the Fey]]<br />
|[[Aragos]], [[Bryn]], [[Gramarye]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]] GM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 21, 2025<br />
|[[A Lost Fey Puppy]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 23, 2025<br />
|[[Of Staves and Stones]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Crystal Tower (Part 3)]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Magpie]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]], GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 7]]<br />
|[[Ulthan]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Bryn]], GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 24, 2025<br />
|[[Archmage Asking]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Telamon]], [[Murder]], Riptide (as Faphinae), GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|March 25, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 21)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|March 29, 2025<br />
|[[Grim Deed Part 7]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Culix]], [[Reithak]], [[Skyler]], GM: Aelwyn<br />
|-<br />
|March 30, 2025<br />
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 8]]<br />
|[[Ulthan]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Burai]], [[Bryn]], GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 31, 2025<br />
|[[Red Matrimony]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
<br />
===April===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|April 1, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 22)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|April 3, 2025<br />
|[[Inspector Fritzgilbert and the Ploughing Goat]]<br />
|[[Skyler]], [[Zigrun]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 4, 2025<br />
|[[The Golden Songbird]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Skyler]], [[Telamon]], GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|April 6, 2025<br />
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 9]]<br />
|[[Ulthan]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Burai]], GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 8, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 23)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|April 9, 2025<br />
|[[With Vast Love (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Cuemoni]], [[Haggerty]], [[Harshad]], [[Skyler]]; GM: [[Carver]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 11, 2025<br />
|[[Four Floozies]]<br />
|[[Khepri]], [[Carver]], [[Bryn]], [[Rocky]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 13, 2025<br />
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 10]]<br />
|[[Ulthan]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Bryn]], GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Nary for Nereid]]<br />
|[[Aragos]], [[Carver]], [[Mikilos]], [[Skyler]], [[Telamon]] GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|April 14, 2025<br />
|[[Running Up That Hill]]<br />
|[[Aragos]] GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Bring a Little Fae]]<br />
|[[Atrid]], [[Carver]], [[Gramarye]], [[Khepri]]; GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|April 15, 2025<br />
|[[A Grove Pit Stop]]<br />
|[[Slixvah]] [[Atrid]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Homegrown Confessional]]<br />
|[[Warrick]], [[Carver]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 19, 2025<br />
|[[Neva Gonna Give You Up]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Carver]], [[Eztli]] GM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Grim Deed Part 8]]<br />
|[[Culix]], [[Skyler]], [[Reithak]], [[Carver]], GM: [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 20, 2025<br />
|[[The Dukes Knight]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Auranar]], [[Dirk]], [[Rhar]], [[Thurid]] GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|April 22, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 24)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|April 23, 2025<br />
|[[With Vast Love (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Cuemoni]], [[Harshad]], [[Skyler]]; GM: [[Carver]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 27, 2025<br />
|[[Faeology 101]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 29, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 25)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
===May===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|May 1, 2025<br />
|[[Strawberries For All]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Khepri]], [[Carver]], [[Simony]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 2, 2025<br />
|[[Bootleg Bounty]]<br />
|[[Warrick]], [[Bryn]], [[Haggerty]], [[Aragos]], [[Crik]] GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 4, 2025<br />
|[[Cleiuin's Confession]]<br />
|[[Thurid]], [[Riptide]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 5, 2025<br />
|[[Grim Deed Part 9]]<br />
|[[Culix]], [[Skyler]], [[Carver]], [[Reithak]], GM: [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 6, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 26)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|May 9, 2025<br />
|[[Bootleg Bounty Part 2]]<br />
|[[Warrick]], [[Haggerty]], [[Aragos]], [[Crik]] GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 10, 2025<br />
|[[Rainy days, hair loss and full bellies]]<br />
|[[Murder]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 11, 2025<br />
|[[Whispers of the Withering Wood]]<br />
|[[Atzi]], [[Harshad]], [[Mist]], [[Tonameyo]]; GM: [[Dirk]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 12, 2025<br />
|[[Lament of Vilarus]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Magpie]], [[Murder]]; GM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 17, 2025<br />
|[[Something Fae-shy]]<br />
|[[Aragos]], [[Bryn]], [[Myoides]], [[Skyler]]; GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|May 18, 2025<br />
|[[Fire of the Sun]]<br />
|[[Thurid]], [[Bryn]], [[Skyler]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Irysha]], [[Khepri]], [[Haggerty]], [[Carver]]; GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|May 19, 2025<br />
|[[Lament of Vilarus (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Magpie]], [[Murder]]; GM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 22, 2025<br />
|[[Akimitsu Sori (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 23, 2025<br />
|[[Bootleg Bounty (Part 3)]]<br />
|[[Aragos]], [[Crik]], [[Warrick]]; GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Sisters Strange]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Corey]], [[Dirk]], [[Skyler]]; GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|May 25, 2025<br />
|[[Grim Deed Part 10]]<br />
|[[Culix]], [[Skyler]], [[Carver]], [[Reithak]], GM: [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[The Work of Brewing and Crafting]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 19, 2025<br />
|[[Lament of Vilarus (Part 3)]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Magpie]], [[Murder]]; GM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 27, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 27)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
===June===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|June 1, 2025<br />
|[[River Fishing]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Free Soup]]<br />
|[[Ulthan]], [[Khepri]], [[Skyler]], [[Bryn]], [[Carver]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 2, 2025<br />
|[[Lament of Vilarus (Part 4)]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Magpie]], [[Murder]]; GM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 5, 2025<br />
|[[Akimitsu Sori (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 8, 2025<br />
|[[Seaside Yearnings]]<br />
|[[Aragos]], [[Crik]], [[Khepri]], [[Skyler]]; GM: [[Carver]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 9, 2025<br />
|[[Lament of Vilarus (Part 5)]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Magpie]], [[Murder]]; GM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 10, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 28)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|June 13, 2025<br />
|[[Akimitsu Sori (Part 3)]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 17, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 29)]]<br />
|[[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|June 21, 2025<br />
|[[Grim Deed Part 11]]<br />
|[[Culix]], [[Skyler]], [[Carver]], [[Reithak]], GM: [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 23, 2025<br />
|[[Lament of Vilarus (Part 6)]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Magpie]], [[Murder]]; GM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 24, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 30)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|June 26, 2025<br />
|[[Akimitsu Sori (Part 4)]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 27, 2025<br />
|[[In Search of Rolls]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Skyler]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 26, 2025<br />
|[[Reincarnation]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 30, 2025<br />
|[[Lament of Vilarus (Part 7)]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Magpie]], [[Murder]]; GM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
===July===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|July 1, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 31)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|July 7th, 2025<br />
|[[Lament of Vilarus (Part 8)]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Magpie]], [[Murder]], GM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 8, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 32)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|July 10, 2025<br />
|[[Defending the Spell Cannon G1]]<br />
|[[Aragos]], [[Gramarye]], [[Lanier]], [[Schara]], [[Warrick]], GM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|July 11, 2025<br />
|[[Defending the Spell Cannon G2]]<br />
|[[Braelnoir]], [[Dirk]], [[Simony]], [[Skielstregar]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|July 12, 2025<br />
|[[Defending the Spell Cannon G3]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Carver]], [[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Irshya]], [[Jarik]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Skyler]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 14, 2025<br />
|[[Lament of Vilarus (Part 9)]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Magpie]], [[Murder]], GM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 17, 2025<br />
|[[Hands of Herman]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Carver]], [[Corey]], [[Skyler]], GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|July 19, 2025<br />
|[[Grim Deed: Finale]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Skyler]], [[Culix]], [[Reithak]], GM: [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 20, 2025<br />
|[[Fire Wrestling]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Skyler]], [[Cesran]], [[Jarik]], [[Myoides]], [[Harshad]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 21, 2025<br />
|[[Info Exchange at the Fernwood Pub]]<br />
|[[Cesran]], [[Murder]], [[Skyler]] <br />
|-<br />
|July 23, 2025<br />
|[[Archmages Meet at the Observatory]]<br />
|[[Cesran]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 26, 2025<br />
|[[Void-Friend of Taara]]<br />
|[[Aragos]], [[Bryn]], [[Jarik]], [[Warrick]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|July 27, 2025<br />
|[[The Void-Eater]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Auranar]], [[Cesran]], [[Harkashan]], [[Murder]], [[Rune]], [[Skyler]], [[Telamon]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|July 28, 2025<br />
|[[The Last of Seven Sisters]]<br />
|[[Eztli]], [[Carver]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 28, 2025<br />
|[[Run Free Forever ]]<br />
|[[Cesran]], [[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Skyler]], [[Telamon]], GM: [[Carver]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 29, 2025<br />
|[[Saving the Archivist]]<br />
|[[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], Meet Up Runner: [[Cesran]]<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
<br />
===August===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|August 4, 2025<br />
|[[Void by the Sea (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Cesran]], [[Murder]], [[Skyler]], GM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|August 11, 2025<br />
|[[Void by the Sea (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Cesran]], [[Dirk]], [[Murder]], [[Skyler]], GM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|August 20, 2025<br />
|[[Void by the Sea (Part 3)]]<br />
|[[Cesran]], [[Dirk]], [[Murder]], [[Skyler]], GM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
===November===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|November 3rd, 2025<br />
|[[Where'd They Go? That's Where)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Eztli]], [[Skyler]], [[Magpie]], [[Dirk]] GM: [[Whirlpool]]<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Logs]]</div>Aryiahttp://www.tenebraemush.net/index.php?title=Warrick&diff=44406Warrick2025-05-29T15:24:56Z<p>Aryia: </p>
<hr />
<div><div style="position:relative; top:0px; height: 50px; width: 875px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; background-image: linear-gradient(to right, #DC143C, transparent);"><br />
<p style="color: black; font-size: 220%; padding-left: 20px; font-weight: light; font-family: Constantia;">''Warrick''</p></div><br />
<br/><br />
<br />
<div style="width: 875px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><br />
<span style="color: #DC143C ; font-size: 180%; font-weight: bold; font-family: Constantia;">''Physical Description''</span><br />
{| class="infobox" style="float:right; border:0px solid; margin: 5px; background-image: linear-gradient(to right, #DC143C, transparent); background-origin: border-box; border-spacing: 2px; border: 2px solid transparent; "<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="3" | [[Image:Warrick.jpg|300px|Warrick looking past the viewer, wearing plated armor. Created by Bing AI Image Generator.]] <br />
|-<br />
! colspan="3" style="border-bottom:2px solid; background:white;"| Character Details<br />
|-<br />
| style="text-align:right; background:white;" | '''Race:'''<br />
| style="background:white;" | [[Humans|Eldanar]]<br />
|-<br />
| style="text-align:right; background:white;" | '''Class/Level:'''<br />
| style="background:white;" | Fighter (7)<br />
|-<br />
| style="text-align:right; background:white;" | '''Gender:'''<br />
| style="background:white;" | Male<br />
|-<br />
| style="text-align:right; background:white;" | '''Deity:'''<br />
| style="background:white;" | [[Serriel]]<br />
|-<br />
| style="text-align:right; background:white;" | '''Alignment:'''<br />
| style="background:white;" | Lawful Neutral<br />
|-<br />
| style="text-align:right; background:white;" | '''Age:'''<br />
| style="background:white;" | 37<br />
|-<br />
|}Standing at roughly five ten, this middle aged, fair skinned Eldanar man is built fit and muscular, erring more on the lean side. Sunken slate gray eyes are kept free of hair by a tied up knot of reddish gold hair, his face and the sides of his head shaved clean. When not covered, his left arm sports four long gouges of a scar, which cuts through a tattoo of Serriel’s holy symbol.<br />
<br />
When armored and ready, he’s in a modified scale mail of blackened steel, the left arm is plated while the right has only the sleeve of a gambeson. Alexandria’s hues of red and gold are present in the trim. An armet helmet typically sits on his head, the visor pulled down. A large, well worn crossbow is slung over his back, and a couple of bandoliers across his chest hold various tools and weapons of the trade dangle freely and ready for use. A number of weapons dangle from his belt: a longsword, a sap, a mace.<br />
<br />
Without his armor, he’s typically in a grey overcoat with a sword strapped to his back.<br />
<br />
<p style="color: #DC143C; font-size: 180%; font-weight: bold; font-family: Constantia;">''About''</p><br />
Born and raised Alexandrian, Warrick's upbringing is almost textbook. Family owns a general store, joins the guard, finds a wife and has a daughter. But things only go down from there. Now a widower, he joined the arbalest division of the Alexandrian guard. Which felt the brunt of the Wight Invasion. Quietly discharged from service, he still serves in his own way: by keeping the Exploerer's Guild in check.<br />
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<p style="color: #DC143C; font-size: 180%; font-weight: bold; font-family: Constantia;">''Roleplay Hooks''</p><br />
* '''Ex-Watch''': Old habits from his time on the Watch is still present, but his time served is quite helpful in navigating Alexandrian Bureaucracy.<br />
* '''News Savvy''': Warrick tends to know what the current hubub is, as well as more prominent adventurers. Though, he regards such with suspicion.<br />
* '''Arbalest''': Trained for volley measures, Warrick treats missions with a rigid professionalism.<br />
* '''Family''': He's a soft spot for family, and can occasionally be seen enjoying the city with his daughter Cynthia.<br />
<br />
<p style="color: #DC143C; font-size: 180%; font-weight: bold; font-family: Constantia;">''Badges''</p><br />
<br />
{{Badge}}<br />
{{Badge-Icon|Fighter.png}} <br />
{{Badge-Content}}<br />
{{Badge-Title|Fighter PC Badge}}<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Master of Arms}} Warrick's experience with the Watch and Alexandrian Military has given him proper, professional training with just about any weapon.<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Fighting Style}} Being specially trained in mixed squad tactics, Warrick tends to wade into the fray with a heavy crossbow in the midline. But he can easily switch to shield and any weapon needed and get into the front line.<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Weapon Training}} The heavy crossbow is Warrick's weapon of choice, and has learned to use it better than a sword, even when foes are right in front of him.<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Role}} Warrick is best described as a tactician, barking orders in the middle of a fight as he keeps an eye on the battlefield.<br />
{{Badge-End}} <br />
<br />
{{Badge}}<br />
{{Badge-Icon|Humans08_eldanar.jpg}} <br />
{{Badge-Content}}<br />
{{Badge-Title|Human PC Badge}}<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Ancestry}}Alexandros born, though parents moved from Myrddion.<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Associated With}}Alexandrian Watch, Alexandrian Military<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Faith}}Serriel<br />
{{Badge-End}}<br />
<br />
{{Badge}}<br />
{{Badge-Icon|Scroll_med.png}} <br />
{{Badge-Content}}<br />
{{Badge-Title|Homeland PC Badge}}<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Homeland}} Alexandros<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Tier}} Tier 2<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Family History}} Warrick's family has been in Alexandria for a couple of generations at this point. And for him, there's no other place he'd rather be or protect.<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Politics}} "Current rulers do their job decently well, but these Adventurer will either be our salvation or the death of us."<br />
{{Badge-End}}<br />
<br />
{{Badge}}<br />
{{Badge-Icon|Aspect02.jpg}} <br />
{{Badge-Content}}<br />
{{Badge-Title|Aspect PC Badge}}<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Aspect}}War-Touched<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Tier}}Tier 2<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Development}} Despite how much he tries to steer clear of getting into a fight, there's no denying Warrick has the mind for it. Always barking suggestions and orders in the middle of the fray that comes so naturally to him. So easily...<br />
{{Badge-End}}<br />
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<div style="position:relative; top:0px; height: 50px; width: 875px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; background-image: linear-gradient(to left, #DC143C, transparent);"><br />
<p style="color: black; font-size: 220%; text-align: right; padding-right: 20px; font-weight: light; font-family: Constantia;">''"Please be civil."''</p></div><br />
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[[Category:Alexandran]]<br />
[[Category:Fighter]]<br />
[[Category:Player]]<br />
[[Category:Serrielite]]</div>Aryiahttp://www.tenebraemush.net/index.php?title=Bootleg_Bounty_Part_2&diff=44373Bootleg Bounty Part 22025-05-09T22:05:23Z<p>Aryia: Created page with "The otyugh is dispatched, and the goblin lookout who tried to stab Haggerty in the back has surrendered- for real this time, after faking his initial surrender in order to set off a thunderstone and warm his apparent friends that he's been made. He now waits, hands on his head, and a shit-eating grin on his toothy mug (revealing several gold caps on said teeth) as he waits for the party to take him to the guards. He definitely doesn't seem particularly worried about bei..."</p>
<hr />
<div>The otyugh is dispatched, and the goblin lookout who tried to stab Haggerty in the back has surrendered- for real this time, after faking his initial surrender in order to set off a thunderstone and warm his apparent friends that he's been made. He now waits, hands on his head, and a shit-eating grin on his toothy mug (revealing several gold caps on said teeth) as he waits for the party to take him to the guards.<br />
<br />
He definitely doesn't seem particularly worried about being taken in by the adventurers, perhaps assuming that he'll be rescued, or at least looked after in the big house.<br />
<br />
Haggerty pats the goblin on the head -hold the little wastrel's mitts at the same time- and emphatically whispers with a voice full of fervor, "It is good that you are willing to atone through lifelong work in the holy projects of Our Knight Lady. Serriel. Roads are what brings civilization together! Rain, sizzling shine or snow. I will pray for your strength." He waits a handful of breaths, "On the other hand.."<br />
<br />
Warrick finishes locking the manacles after clasping them to the gobber's wrists. It's clear he doesn't seem pleased that this criminal seems so confident in being locked up. He gives Haggerty a sharp nod in agreement. "On the other hand, I'd wipe that smile off your face, the Watch has cracks for sure, but they sure as shit don't like guard killers in the jail house," he gruffs. "Talk more about your friends and I'll put in a good word to shift a few charges."<br />
<br />
Aragos eyes the goblin, then looks at Warrick. "I doubt they'll waste a rescue on him. Personally if I were him I'd be eager to talk to us over the town guard considering what his friend did to 'em." Aragos rubs his hands together, the metal of his gauntlets whining as it grinds together. "Like you said Warrick. They don't treat guard-killers or their friends very well in jail. Guards'll make your last days mighty uncomfortable."<br />
<br />
GAME: Aragos rolls Intimidate: (14)+15: 29<br />
<br />
Crik makes sure to secure the knife he had been fumbling with into his belt, and then turns to look at the goblin. A small tiny black notebook appears, and he flips over the pages, making a brief note. Then he flips the notebook around, and makes another note, before snapping it shut. It is full of gibberish. "Planned but not planned." He looks at the corpse of the otyugh, then back around, then at the corpse, back at the others, at the goblin, the ceiling, back at the corpse. "Killing guards and holding monsters is noisy." He looks at his notes. "Amateurish operation. Unwarranted confidence. Must be someone higher up, distanced."<br />
<br />
Then the corvid looks at the goblin. "Were you all disposable, or just most of you?" Stub of a pencil held at the ready for more notetaking!<br />
<br />
The Goblin allows himself to be clapped in irons without resistance, and he simply chuckles and shakes his head at Haggerty and Warricks words. However, his smile is beginning to falter by the time Aragos and Crik come to speak. His one good eye darts around, and then he says, "We're not expendable. We're important." he insists then. "We're gonna- aahhh, I see what you're doing, just trying to get me to talk huh?" he says. "Well listen, I aint afraid of you. Leastwise, I'm more afraid of the bosses than you or any of your guards. So go on. Turn me over." he says and casts a furtive glance back. He's starting to sweat.<br />
<br />
Aragos smiles meanly, letting himself lean back and motions to Warrick. "I say we let him go. He's small fish." His eyes glitter. "We'll make real sure though that his friends know that he talked to us. Because we'll find the next location easily enough, and when we do, who do you think they'll blame?"<br />
<br />
He leans in and grabs the manacles like he means to let the goblin go. "What's it going to be? Talk and we'll send you to jail and no one's the wiser as to the fact you blabbed. Or don't, and we'll spread it around that you have a big mouth."<br />
<br />
GAME: Warrick rolls perception: (9)+7: 16<br />
GAME: Thurid rolls 13: (19)+13: 32<br />
GAME: Thurid rolls 13-10: (11)+13+-10: 14<br />
<br />
Haggerty shares watching work with the dodgy pug who squints from the opened top of his little shoulder bag space. The wizard nods to guard friend, paladin, notes taking birdman. "I agree, good Vardamite. But let me expound here." Quick breath. "Riddle me this, please? How is it great to have any offspring or family see you with steelwrapped wrists of the law?" The Aesir grins, "We should get him fine clothes, a little pouch with silvers and set him out where everyone can see. With hugs and friendly pats on the shoulder. Nobody likes proverbial rats. How do you call them in Goblin-Talk again? Was it elf kisser or paladin kisser?" The redhead comments the key finding with a big show of teeth. "Any markers on the keys?"<br />
<br />
Warrick cocks a brow at Aragos, but can't help but fault that logic. "Good point." He passes the manacles over, but quickly goes to a knee and gives a brisky pat down along the gobber's frame. He pulls out a few things stashed away: a set of keys on a ring, a hidden dagger, as well as a coinpurse. The latter he only checks briefly - along with a small frown- before returning it back to its hiding place. "They're clean," Warrick says rote, stuffing the dagger into his bandolier and holding on to the keys. "As much as I'd love for someone to turn a new leaf for the Battle Madien's sake, trust me when I say Syndicate folks aren't going to do that in the slightest without a lot of trauma and probably dying."<br />
<br />
GAME: Haggerty rolls +3: (20)++3: 23<br />
<br />
Crik stares at the goblin for a while. "Ah, the fall guys." He then taps his beak with his pencil. "Bosses... plural..." He stares down at his notes, the corpse, the goblin, Warrick, Haggerty, Aragos, the notes, the goblin, the ceiling, back at the goblin. "Were you promised a promotion in the Syndicate? A turf of your own? Someone that looks after you?" He taps his beak again with the pencil. "The bosses must be aware. Maybe if we are fast enough, we can catch up to rest of the group before they disappear permanently. Or they are waiting until the loose ends are all in jail..." More beak tapping.<br />
<br />
The goblin wriggles a little as he's patted down, "Oi you're enjoying this too much." he complains to Warrick, but eventually the threats start to wear him down. He shakes his head, "No fuck that, you tell people I'm a snitch and I won't live through the night. You're supposed to be the good guys, yeah? You wouldn't just... hang me out to dry like that... right?" he asks, craning his neck to search the party members eyes for signs of a bluff. "Alright, listen, the sewers here drain into a cove. They're probably tossing the evidence into the water right now, that's what the thunderstone was for. I wasn't kidding when I said you'd be wasting time on me. That was my job. Tie you up for a bit so they can scarper. That's it, I swear. It wasn't me what shanked them guards. It was that crazy bitch Sinshy."<br />
<br />
"Well then." Aragos releases the goblin but leaves the manacles in place on his wrists. "Seems like we've a cove to get to." He stands up straight and pulls the little goblin up to his feet. "Let's bring him along. Just in case." He makes for the door then to follow the goblin's advice and head toward where the sewers drain into this cove. He brings his little friend along with him.<br />
<br />
"The only enjoyment I get is less paperwork I have to fill out, so your cooperation is helpful," Warrick deadpans while the others wring more information out of them. That's a lot of info, Crik is writing things down. Hopefully. "Cove. Them. Sinshy. Evidence." He glances up to Aragos, nods sharply, and rises while switching tongues. "Lead the way, and make us avoid traps. Otherwise your manacle key is getting thrown in the shit creek." <Goblin-Talk><br />
<br />
Crik's beak opens as he glances around the party. "Somebody called me good-" He suddenly shuts his notebook and stares blankly ahead. "A breakthrough in the case." He flatly states. "The cove, like all muck in this city, it all drains away into the abyss of nothing in the end. Just like the dark of our souls." He stiffly waits, before leaning over to whisper to the goblin. "Next time do not make a show of the signal, it made it all seem organized." He's a good adventurer with helpful advice!<br />
<br />
GAME: Crik rolls perception+2: (19)+11+2: 32<br />
<br />
Haggerty grunts and cants his pointy hat. "If I were a more traditionally minded man of the North, I would say we thing with Cuddles on how the Syndicate now chains and hurts otyugh-kind. How about that? What will you do when no more of them cooperate with your foul designs? But no, no, no. I am not that way. I am better than to sic every trash heap your relatives and gang colleagues would normally hide behind.. on them. This is me being nice and I am glad you understand. Sinshy. Good. Know that nets are. As are webs. We can filter the water that way, get the evidence back. Beg your lazy heart you speak the truth!" Arcanist ponders where the closest feasible point of off-dropping would be. And if he heard the name of one mean Sinshy? A glance over to Warrick, then to Crik. Aaand Aragos. Maybe Sinshy is a fugitive graverobber, after all. "Bind his mouth, but so he cannot chew easily, please."<br />
<br />
The goblin grunts as he's dragged to his feet, and then his eyes widen and he shakes his head. "No if they see me with you I'm good as dead. You might as well just gut me now." he says, then pauses as he realizes that might be an actual possibility. "Listen, I'll show you part of the way. But don't let them see me with you. Come on man, I'm begging here." he asks then, looking between Warrick and Aragos as he leads the way.<br />
<br />
First back across that bridge he first fled over, and then to another locked door. There are signs of vermin living here, but no signs of the vermin themselves right now- empty egg sacks clinging to walls, smears of unidentifiable mulch gathered in corners. "Brass key, for this one. No trap, I swear."<br />
<br />
Aragos says nothing for the moment, simply letting the goblin lead the way through the maze of rooms. When it comes time for the key, he lets Warrick handle it. His eyes are trained on the little goblin lest he try something. The room opens up to another room, and he nods to Warrick. So far, so good.<br />
<br />
GAME: Crik rolls knowledge/nature: Trained Use Only: 0<br />
GAME: Haggerty rolls knowledge/nature: (5)+9: 14<br />
<br />
Crik's beak opens widely - and with sudden glee, he pulls out one of his cloaks and hands it off to the goblin. "Now... pretend to be a sack. Perfect disguise, works every time."<br />
<br />
When the party reaches the door, the corvid rogue turns to look at the other party members and nods his head. No traps. The statement is reinforced with incomprehensible finger motions.<br />
<br />
GAME: Haggerty rolls knowledge/local: (12)+9: 21<br />
<br />
Warrick walks behind with loaded crossbow in hand, peering at the walls and floor. The eggs and mulch are filed away the the back of his mind, but there's more pressing issues at hand than to stop and discuss it. Brass key in hand, he pops the door open, peers about briefly before reaching into a pouch and tossing a small key at the gobber. "Deal's a deal. Get out of here," he advises. "And run quick." There's a brief glance to Crik before shaking his head at the eglarin's antics. "We haven't much time, let's press. Stealth's out the window."<br />
<br />
This second room, as the party head into it, has crates stacked up against one wall- most of the crates have been pried open and emptied of their former contents, though a few odd pieces of jewelry remain here and there. They are mostly simple, cheap things- copper, brass or silver rings, armbands, pendants, broaches. Nothing especially valuable, though they do seem to be genuine at a glance.<br />
<br />
No signs of any of the former vermin occupants still being here- though there are stains of ichor here and there, likely the critters were wiped out by the abandoned cellars' new occupants.<br />
<br />
"Alright, here." Glasseye says, his voice a low whisper, as he points out to the south. "Cove is that way. I mean it, I aint going no further. Let me free an' I'll tell you what key, else jus' kill me now and figure it out yourself." he insists.<br />
<br />
When Warrick gives him the manacle key, he drops down to pick it up from the floor and works at getting his manacles off. "Iron key, with the circle." he calls out as he's already legging it as he unlocks his manacles.<br />
<br />
Aragos watches the goblin make good his escape and marches to the last door between them and the ones that they're looking for. He nods to Warrick to bring the key over, and readies his sword in case there's anything nasty - or thieves - on the other side.<br />
<br />
Haggerty has not heard of too many mentions of egg sacs laid by centipedes, but he has only seen woolly ones about a foot long with any regularity. The blue eyed mage shall make time with the Union and the grand library to plaster this gap in learning! "I have not heard of this Sinshy, but she could be a priest of Illotha." He smiles kindly to the potential sacking of the gobber. "Mind the ichor, please. We should not step into that. I vote we fetch the valuables on the way back." A pat and a snackly bitelet for the tiny pooch who arfles quietly. The man of many braids smiles tensely, "Press we do!"<br />
<br />
"Good to know, Haggerty. We might be dealing with a cleric," Warrick whispers as he watches as Glasseye scurries off, nodding briskly and finding the circle-holed iron key on the ring. The once-guard signs, "We're hitting this hard and fast. Storm the room." <Handspeech> Seeing as Aragos steps up to breach, he easily follows up with stacking up beside the door. The key is slotted in. Counts down on his fingers. Three, two, one- key turns to unlock, and he shoves the door open with a hand for Aragos!<br />
<br />
Crik bobs his head at Warrick - and then he pulls over a dark, sickly green cloak over his head. The corvid then slips into the dark with a hand crossbow held up; the others might not do stealth but he certainly was going to. Especially with the others' violent entry.<br />
<br />
GAME: Crik rolls stealth: (5)+13: 18<br />
GAME: Haggerty rolls 6: (18)+6: 24<br />
<br />
The door opens up from the ramshackle but man-made cellars and into a broad opening. The sound of flowing water and lapping waves as well as shouting coming from further in indicate they've found the right way. A strangely sillibant, femenine voice calls out. "Hurry you oaf, they will be here ssooon!" it hisses. There's a grunt, and the terse response. "More like now." from a gruffer, masculine voice. There's the sound of a splash, and then a shouted curse.<br />
<br />
GAME: Haggerty rolls Perception+2: (3)+7+2: 12<br />
<br />
A third voice joins the others the party has already heard, a gurgling inhuman voice, and yet it speaks words as it calls upon some strange power. There is a flash of light deeper in the cave that illuminates, but briefly, a fish-like humanoid as it draws a trident from over its back with one hand- the other clutching something worn about its neck as it chants. The shimmering light surrounds it for a moment before fading.<br />
<br />
Haggerty hopes for a simple long step ahead to be a perspective gamechanger. It is not quite. The man with the canine friend only learns little. He frowns and drops, "They are due South. That is a large space here. There will be more palpable assistance ASAP."<br />
<br />
Aragos charges into the room as he intended to do, nodding his thanks only a heartbeat before rushing into the room to Warrick. He keeps moving when he doesn't immediately see anyone in the room, heading for the nearest source of light and grinning when he sees its a torch that he can snag. He grabs it up for his own, just in case it gets darker inside. Indeed, by the light of the torch he can see that it does get darker, and he frowns at the sight of a Sahuagin with an unholy symbol raised. "Great. Like the other guy said. A cleric."<br />
<br />
His voice is dry and displeased, but he grins after a moment. "Goodie. I've always wanted to take one of the dark gods' own on."<br />
<br />
GAME: Warrick rolls weapon16: (5)+12: 17<br />
GAME: Warrick rolls 1d100: (64): 64<br />
<br />
GAME: Thurid rolls 10: (10)+10: 20<br />
GAME: Warrick rolls perception: (20)+7: 27<br />
GAME: Aragos rolls Perception: (13)+2: 15<br />
GAME: Crik rolls perception: (8)+11: 19<br />
<br />
There's a faint rustling of scale against stone as an ophidian creature slithers along the stones, currently unseen by all but Warrick, towards Aragos. Yellow slitted eyes and a long forked tongue emerging from her mouth are the only signs on her upper body of her inhuman heritage, but from the waist down there's no mistaking it- her lower body is composed of a long coiling scaled serpent's hindsection which moves along stone with deadly grace.<br />
<br />
Warrick slips past the others, following on Aragos's heels as they run into the dark cove, the floating Ioun torch by his head putting in work. Though, as Aragos draws near with his recently liberated torch and points out the cleric, Warrick barely spots them at the edge of the torch light.<br />
<br />
He flicks his head down, making the visor clamp shut on his helmet as he raises his crossbow. "Loose!" he warns, firing a shot past Aragos, towards the sahaugin. The bolt shatters from something invisible. "Defensive magic, you'll have to hit them hard- shit, Aragos watch the floor, some snake is ambushing!" he points out.<br />
<br />
GAME: Thurid rolls 9-2: (15)+9+-2: 22<br />
GAME: Thurid rolls 1d6+3: (6)+3: 9<br />
<br />
Warricks bolt is answered by the creaking of a bowstring and then the thwip of an arrow which leaps out of the gloom and catches the former guardsman in the shoulder, but unlike Warricks own projectile this one lands true and sinks into the flesh. A smirking hobgoblin steps into the flickering shadows at the edge of their torchlight, and is already drawing a fresh arrow.<br />
<br />
GAME: Thurid rolls 10: (20)+10: 30<br />
GAME: Thurid rolls 5: (2)+5: 7<br />
GAME: Thurid rolls 3: (18)+3: 21<br />
GAME: Crik rolls knowledge/religion: (2)+3: 5<br />
<br />
Crik starts hopping forward with his notes - but he seems to have gotten distracted by the weird sounds. The visions, the sounds, vibrations! His notebook is pulled out in a frenzy and he spills some pens, trying to scribble down as he 'sneaks' forward. Yes, this was a cult. A cult of cults.<br />
<br />
GAME: Haggerty rolls perception+2: (7)+7+2: 16<br />
GAME: Haggerty casts Glitterdust. Caster Level: 6 DC: 18<br />
GAME: Thurid rolls 3: (19)+3: 22<br />
GAME: Thurid rolls 10: (2)+10: 12<br />
GAME: Thurid rolls 5+3: (5)+5+3: 13<br />
<br />
Haggerty goes to the going. Because he sees naught. Walking does change the situation up! With but two in the fight on the other side as far as the spellslinger can see, he raises both hands to power through the finger motions and rub a little something between his digits. The Eldritch goes off without a hitch, even when strained by his extra training. The drizzle of glittery sparks rains from above and catches two opponents. The fishy enemy is troubled more by the magic than arrows chucking arvek.<br />
<br />
The Sahaugin shrieks as its eyes are burned by the sudden brightness, and it covers them but too late. Squinting, it gestures back the way the offending spray of magical glitter came from, and a ghostly trident hurtles out of thin air towards Haggerty- it strikes the stone at Haggerty's feet, and then whirls around- apparently it's going to keep attacking.<br />
<br />
Aragos tosses the torch into the room, hoping to light up the darkness for his allies who can't see in the dark. Tossing it toward one of the indistinct shapes he can make out. Then he lifts his sword, bowing his head. "Listen spirits, and heed my call, aid me in bringing about the fall..." he lifts his head, purple eyes glittering and his sword burning with bright light which gives it a ghostly aura. "Of my enemies."<br />
<br />
GAME: Warrick rolls weapon16: (1)+12: 13 (EPIC FAIL)<br />
GAME: Warrick rolls weapon16: (17)+12: 29<br />
GAME: Warrick rolls xbowdamage: aliased to 1d10+4: (1)+4: 5<br />
GAME: Warrick rolls knowledge/local: (14)+5: 19<br />
<br />
The serpentine woman's eyes narrow at the sudden bright light, and she hisses at Aragos- her eyes taking him in, studying him carefully, before she bears down and rushes towards him long tail undulating behind him, Scimitar and Kukri held ready and brandished towards him.<br />
<br />
Warrick is a bit too late to duck out of the way from hearing the twang of a bow, his prize an arrow in the shoulder. He growls, snapping the arrow out of the under chainmail as he advances forward to form a line with Aragos. Noting his prayers, Warrick covers for him by loosing another bolt at the unholy priest, trying to knock out the backline. It only scrapes them, but another bolt is slotted in. "We got a nagaji," he warns the others. "Tough scales!"<br />
<br />
GAME: Thurid rolls 7: (5)+7: 12<br />
GAME: Thurid rolls 7: (3)+7: 10<br />
GAME: Thurid rolls 2: (2)+2: 4<br />
<br />
The Arvek muscle in the back takes another step forwards, squinting as his eyes slowly adjust to the sudden light. He growls as he's covered in glittery dust, and then draws three arrows from his quiver. He looses them one after the other, each of them sailing close to Warrick but failing to land true- his aim is affected by the sudden brightness, it seems.<br />
<br />
GAME: Crik rolls weapon2: (12)+8: 20<br />
GAME: Crik rolls stealth: (12)+13: 25<br />
GAME: Thurid rolls 10: (4)+10: 14<br />
GAME: Crik rolls weapon2+3d6: 8+(12): 20<br />
GAME: Crik rolls damage2: aliased to 1d4+0: (2)+0: 2<br />
<br />
As others charge into fray, Crik bends down to pick up his shiny pens from the ground and then gets back up. Light! The corvid raises his hand crossbow and with blank look on his eyes, fires into the melee with a solid hit on the snake lady. Without watching for reaction, he moves moving further ahead with a flutter of cloaks, hiding back into the shadows. And pretends to be a sack.<br />
<br />
GAME: Haggerty used a Rod of Lesser Extend.<br />
GAME: Haggerty casts Acid Arrow. Caster Level: 6 DC: 18<br />
GAME: Haggerty rolls ranged: (5)+5: 10<br />
GAME: Thurid advances the initiative order.<br />
GAME: Thurid rolls 10: (15)+10: 25<br />
GAME: Thurid rolls 5+3: (6)+5+3: 14<br />
<br />
The Sahuagin blinks away the remaining glitter in her eyes and then skulks forwards, clutching their magic symbol once more. The tip of the trident they hold glows with malevolent violet light as they advance towards the party. The spiritual trident they summoned lunges at Haggerty again, once more skimming past the wizard and scraping against the rock floor.<br />
<br />
GAME: Aragos rolls 1d20+13+1+2: (14)+13+1+2: 30<br />
GAME: Aragos rolls 1d20+8+1+2: (20)+8+1+2: 31<br />
GAME: Aragos rolls 1d20+13+1+2: (1)+13+1+2: 17 (EPIC FAIL)<br />
GAME: Aragos rolls 1d20+8+1+2: (18)+8+1+2: 29<br />
<br />
Haggerty takes several steps mostly ahead. He needs to coordinate the heaping hindrance, arrow shooty vectors, plucking a wonky rhubarb strip wound with a snake's innards, and the little rod of bolstering his spells. The wizard sheds a drop of salty drip when he knows the summoned pest of a trident will make another pass too soon. Haggs clings to the scenery when he aims the spell which is transformed into a green, glowing projectile. Only it does not hit the chest to then gnaw and bore through the arvek. It lands to the side. Fu.. make that light a mossy candle to Master Hunter sooner rather than later. Ahum.<br />
<br />
GAME: Aragos rolls 2d6+6+1+2: (5)+6+1+2: 14<br />
GAME: Aragos rolls 2d6+6+1+2+2d6+6+1+2: (8)+6+1+2+(6)+6+1+2: 32<br />
<br />
Aragos swings his sword down at the woman before him, grinning. "You know what I love best about this job? That I get to kill evil things like *you*." His second swing lops her head off and he laughs over at Warrick. "I was gonna say you might want to step away from her before you shoot that cleric again, but you know what? Just take your time and take one of them deep breaths before you sight her? Oh, and watch for my ass when I rush her in a moment here." He laughs again.<br />
<br />
GAME: Warrick rolls weapon16+1+2: (6)+12+1+2: 21<br />
GAME: Thurid rolls 7+1: (19)+7+1: 27<br />
GAME: Thurid rolls 7+1: (12)+7+1: 20<br />
GAME: Thurid rolls 2+1: (4)+2+1: 7<br />
GAME: Thurid rolls 1d6+4: (6)+4: 10<br />
<br />
Guidid balks when the Sinshy's head is lopped off in one swoop, "Oh bugger this." the Arvek hisses, and once again looses a rapid fire volley of arrows Warricks way- two of the arrows sail wide, but one of them lands in the guardsman's flank and sinks deep into the flesh. The Arvec glances back towards the boats and then takes a step back towards them, though he keeps an eye on the party as he backs away, reaching to his quiver once again.<br />
<br />
Warrick drops to a knee as arrows come flying out towards him, avoiding the hail of missiles. He's about to turn toward the snake woman, but Aragos's declaration and devastating follow through has him blinking, and not from the ichor splashing the front of his visor. "Right, I'll get in and cover you!" he affirms, rushing around a broken box, only to slide to a knee and take aim. The heavy bolt has little distance to cross, slamming into the invisible barrier and skirting off the just donned shield. "Goddess damn it, it's like trying to find a hole in plate!"<br />
<br />
GAME: Crik rolls weapon2: (11)+8: 19<br />
GAME: Crik rolls stealth: (16)+13: 29<br />
GAME: Thurid rolls 5: (20)+5: 25<br />
GAME: Thurid rolls 3: (5)+3: 8<br />
<br />
Crik's focus is already moving towards the next combatant when heads get lobbed off. He carefully aims at one of the other targets; firing off a bolt from the dark before slowly crawling forwards under his cloaks.<br />
<br />
GAME: Haggerty casts Web. Caster Level: 6 DC: 18<br />
GAME: Thurid rolls 6: (10)+6: 16<br />
<br />
Haggerty clambers ahead for another bit of distance between arcanist and ghostly trident. He whews and locks eyes with the amphibious cultist. The Stormgardian leans down once he can feel the sticky icky of the white to gray component. Two sentences in Eldritch and a little bit of a flicking motion, then the magic infused spidersilk spreads between stalagmite, priest and a small upturned boat. Someone is caught up!<br />
<br />
GAME: Thurid rolls 4: (13)+4: 17<br />
GAME: Thurid rolls 5+3: (8)+5+3: 16<br />
GAME: Thurid rolls 1d8+1: (5)+1: 6<br />
GAME: Thurid rolls 9: (8)+9: 17<br />
<br />
Blinded, glittered, and now beset by webs. "I'll kill you all!" the frustrated Sahuagin shrieks, "Consign you to the deeps! May your bloated corpses feed the sharks!" she hisses impotently as she struggles against the webbing that binds her limbs.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, however, the spiritual trident launches at Haggerty again- and this time finds its mark, cutting a gash in the spellcaster's leg.<br />
<br />
GAME: Aragos rolls Reflex: (18)+10: 28<br />
<br />
Aragos forges ahead, in spite of the webbing on the floor, and makes for the evil cleric who thrashes ineffectually against it. "This is inconvenient." He mutters to himself, then louder. "Maybe shoot the guy with the crossbow? The cleric seems to have some kind of shield against them!" He manages to not get stuck himself in the webbing, but he doesn't like it very much.<br />
<br />
GAME: Warrick rolls weapon16+1: (9)+12+1: 22<br />
GAME: Warrick rolls xbowDamage: aliased to 1d10+4: (2)+4: 6<br />
GAME: Thurid rolls 9: (18)+9: 27<br />
<br />
Warrick takes a few steps back as the magical web encroaches his space, he watches Aragos wade into the fray. While yes, the deep-water creature was wrapped up in a nice bundle, all those loose threads in the air proved a difficult shot to make. He glances over. Oh. That guy is stuck to the boat. "I'll get the other guy! That's a hard shot!"<br />
<br />
He jogs over, rounding the corner with his heavy crossbow at his hip and firing off a shot to slam into Guidid's leg. "Oi! Drop your shit and put your hands up! You're surrounded!" he jabbers off in their native tongue. <Goblin-Talk><br />
<br />
The Arvek curses as the sticky webs entangle him and his Sahuagin companion. He drops his bow and the arrows he had been preparing to knock, and then he struggles against the webbing, tearing himself free enough to draw his longsword and hack at several more strands. He takes a crossbow bolt in the back as he does so, which drives the wind out of him, but then he growls and wheels to face Warrick. "Bugger it all, this is that crazy bitch's fault. Couldn't keep her damn knife to herself." he growls as he faces off against Warrick. Although the man's words do give him pause. He glances back towards Aragos, and then back to Warrick. He did just see the mean-faced paladin decapitate his ally in one swing. He seems on the fence about throwing in the towel.<br />
<br />
-To Be Continued-<br />
<br />
[[Category:Logs]]<br />
[[Category:PRPs]]</div>Aryiahttp://www.tenebraemush.net/index.php?title=Recent_Logs&diff=44372Recent Logs2025-05-09T19:42:54Z<p>Aryia: /* May */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{AboutLogs}}<br />
<br />
'''[[Archived_Logs|For 2024 and earlier, see the Archives]].'''<br />
<br />
==2025 Logs==<br />
===January===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|January 1, 2025<br />
|[[The Spectacle of the Century]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Alec]], [[Bryn]], [[Mikilos]] [[Murder]], [[Skyler]] <br />
|-<br />
|January 4, 2025<br />
|[[A Final Word on the Spires]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Rune]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Eztli]], [[Skyler]], [[Bryn]], GM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|January 5, 2025<br />
|[[Hooves of Steel (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Harshad]], [[Skyler]], [[Bryn]], [[Reithak]], [[Jarik]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 6, 2025<br />
|[[Working Hands]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Carver]], [[Simony]], [[Skyler]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|January 7, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 11)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|January 8, 2025<br />
|[[Flight of Intrigue]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Haggerty]], [[Palomas]], [[Skyler]], GM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 9, 2025<br />
|[[Scaling and Weeping]]<br />
|[[Verna]], [[Aryia]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Temple Festivities]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Telamon]], [[Irshya]], [[Jarik]], [[Menel]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Skyler]], [[Bryn]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 10, 2025<br />
|[[Sins of the Past: A Confrontation]]<br />
|[[Jarik]], [[Skyler]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 11, 2025<br />
|[[Slapbet]]<br />
|[[Aragos]], [[Rocky]], [[Skyler]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 12, 2025<br />
|[[Sewers and Saviors]]<br />
|[[Dirk]], [[Crik]], [[Jarik]], [[Bryn]], [[Ulthan]], [[Sjach]], with GM: [[Skyler]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 13, 2025<br />
|[[Graven Images]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Telamon]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Verna]], [[Skyler]], GM: [[Aftershock]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 14, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 12)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|January 15, 2025<br />
|[[Tough Hands]]<br />
|[[Warrick]], [[Bryn]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 17, 2025<br />
|[[The Power of Flour]]<br />
|[[Harshad]], [[Skyler]], [[Choler]], [[Munch]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 18, 2025<br />
|[[Grim Deed (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Culix]], [[Carver]], [[Jarik]], [[Skyler]], GM: [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Back in Technicolor]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Magpie]]; GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|January 19, 2025<br />
|[[Sewers and Saviors 2]]<br />
|[[Sjach]], [[Haggerty]], [[Crik]], [[Dirk]], [[Jarik]], [[Bryn]], GM: [[Skyler]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Vacation and the Pen]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 20, 2025<br />
|[[Meeting Eli]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Gramarye]], [[Haggerty]], [[Khepri]]; GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Pothy Problems]]<br />
|[[Murder]], [[Skyler]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 21, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 13)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|January 23, 2025<br />
|[[The Dream Quest of the Archmage Part 1]]<br />
|[[Skyler]], [[Warrick]], [[Palomas]], [[Haggerty]], GM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 26, 2025<br />
|[[Sewers and Saviors Part 3]]<br />
|[[Sjach]], [[Dirk]], [[Bryn]], [[Jarik]], [[Crik]], GM: [[Skyler]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 27, 2025<br />
|[[Golden Box]]<br />
|[[Cuemoni]], [[Gr'lk'tosst]], [[Halia]], [[Jarik]], [[Skyler]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 28, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 14)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|January 30, 2025<br />
|[[The Dream Quest of the Archmage Part 2]]<br />
|[[Skyler]], [[Warrick]], [[Palomas]], [[Haggerty]], GM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[A Polite Request]]<br />
|[[Harkashan]], [[Rune]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 31, 2025<br />
|[[Here But For You]]<br />
|[[Halia]], [[Skyler]], [[Rocky]], [[Tonameyo]], [[Carver]]<br />
|}<br />
<br />
===February===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|February 1, 2025<br />
|[[Grim Deeds 2]]<br />
|[[Culix]], [[Skyler]], [[Carver]], [[Jarik]], [[Reithak]], GM: [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 2, 2025<br />
|[[Beyond the Pale 1]]<br />
|[[Ulthan]], [[Bryn]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Burai]], GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 3, 2025<br />
|[[The Quest of Eli]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Gramarye]], [[Haggerty]], [[Khepri]], GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|February 4, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 15)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|February 6, 2025<br />
|[[A Handful of Dust]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Carver]], [[Corey]], [[Simony]], GM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 8, 2025<br />
|[[Grim Deed Part 3]]<br />
|[[Culix]], [[Skyler]], [[Carver]], [[Jarik]], [[Reithak]], GM: [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 9, 2025<br />
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 2]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Burai]], [[Crik]], [[Skyler]], [[Ulthan]], GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 11, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 16)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|February 14, 2025<br />
|[[Mages of Daeus]]<br />
|[[Telamon]], [[Skyler]], [[Eztli]], [[Carver]], GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|February 16, 2025<br />
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 3]]<br />
|[[Ulthan]], [[Bryn]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Burai]], GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 20, 2025<br />
|[[Moonstone Absconded]]<br />
|[[Dirk]], [[Carver]], [[Corey]], [[Magpie]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 21, 2025<br />
|[[Pursuit Through Dreams]]<br />
|[[Skyler]], [[Carver]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], NPC: Amenara Paki (played by Aftershock)<br />
|-<br />
|February 22, 2025<br />
|[[Grim Deed Part 4]]<br />
|[[Culix]], [[Skyler]], [[Carver]], [[Jarik]], [[Reithak]], GM: [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[A Gift Lost to the Shadows]]<br />
|[[Kaj]], [[Murder]], [[Telamon]], [[Carver]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 23, 2025<br />
|[[Conspiracy to Murder]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 4]]<br />
|[[Ulthan]], [[Bryn]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Burai]], GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 24, 2025<br />
|[[Of Tests and Trials]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Haggerty]], [[Khepri]], GM: Riptide & Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|February 25, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 17)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
===March===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|March 2, 2025<br />
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 5]]<br />
|[[Ulthan]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Burai]], GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 3, 2025<br />
|[[Moonstone Absconded (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Corey]], [[Dirk]], [[Magpie]]; GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|March 4, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 18)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|March 7, 2025<br />
|[[Crystal Tower]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Magpie]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]], GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|March 8, 2025<br />
|[[Grim Deed Part 5]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Culix]], [[Reithak]], [[Skyler]], GM: Aelwyn<br />
|-<br />
|March 9, 2025<br />
|[[Sins of the Past: Masquerade Mayhem]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Auranar]], [[Irshya]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]] DM: [[Jarik]] & [[Skyler]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Crystal Tower (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Magpie]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]], GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|March 10, 2025<br />
|[[Moonstone Absconded (Part 3)]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Corey]], [[Dirk]], [[Magpie]]; GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Cashew by Cashew]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Skyler]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 11, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 19)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|March 13, 2025<br />
|[[Dance of the Watchlings]]<br />
|[[Telamon]], [[Carver]], [[Skyler]], [[Simony]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 15, 2025<br />
|[[Grim Deed Part 6]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Culix]], [[Reithak]], [[Skyler]], GM: Aelwyn<br />
|-<br />
|March 16, 2025<br />
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 6]]<br />
|[[Ulthan]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Burai]], GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 18, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 20)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|March 19, 2025<br />
|[[The Sickle's Edge]]<br />
|[[Choler]], [[Harshad]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 20, 2025<br />
|[[Fluffy the Fey]]<br />
|[[Aragos]], [[Bryn]], [[Gramarye]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]] GM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 21, 2025<br />
|[[A Lost Fey Puppy]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 23, 2025<br />
|[[Of Staves and Stones]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Crystal Tower (Part 3)]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Magpie]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]], GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 7]]<br />
|[[Ulthan]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Bryn]], GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 24, 2025<br />
|[[Archmage Asking]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Telamon]], [[Murder]], Riptide (as Faphinae), GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|March 25, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 21)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|March 29, 2025<br />
|[[Grim Deed Part 7]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Culix]], [[Reithak]], [[Skyler]], GM: Aelwyn<br />
|-<br />
|March 30, 2025<br />
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 8]]<br />
|[[Ulthan]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Burai]], [[Bryn]], GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 31, 2025<br />
|[[Red Matrimony]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
<br />
===April===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|April 1, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 22)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|April 3, 2025<br />
|[[Inspector Fritzgilbert and the Ploughing Goat]]<br />
|[[Skyler]], [[Zigrun]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 4, 2025<br />
|[[The Golden Songbird]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Skyler]], [[Telamon]], GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|April 6, 2025<br />
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 9]]<br />
|[[Ulthan]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Burai]], GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 8, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 23)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|April 9, 2025<br />
|[[With Vast Love (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Cuemoni]], [[Haggerty]], [[Harshad]], [[Skyler]]; GM: [[Carver]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 11, 2025<br />
|[[Four Floozies]]<br />
|[[Khepri]], [[Carver]], [[Bryn]], [[Rocky]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 13, 2025<br />
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 10]]<br />
|[[Ulthan]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Bryn]], GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Nary for Nereid]]<br />
|[[Aragos]], [[Carver]], [[Mikilos]], [[Skyler]], [[Telamon]] GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|April 14, 2025<br />
|[[Running Up That Hill]]<br />
|[[Aragos]] GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Bring a Little Fae]]<br />
|[[Atrid]], [[Carver]], [[Gramarye]], [[Khepri]]; GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|April 15, 2025<br />
|[[A Grove Pit Stop]]<br />
|[[Slixvah]] [[Atrid]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Homegrown Confessional]]<br />
|[[Warrick]], [[Carver]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 19, 2025<br />
|[[Neva Gonna Give You Up]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Carver]], [[Eztli]] GM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Grim Deed Part 8]]<br />
|[[Culix]], [[Skyler]], [[Reithak]], [[Carver]], GM: [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 20, 2025<br />
|[[The Dukes Knight]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Auranar]], [[Dirk]], [[Rhar]], [[Thurid]] GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|April 22, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 24)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|April 23, 2025<br />
|[[With Vast Love (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Cuemoni]], [[Harshad]], [[Skyler]]; GM: [[Carver]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 27, 2025<br />
|[[Faeology 101]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 29, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 25)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
===May===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|May 1, 2025<br />
|[[Strawberries For All]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Khepri]], [[Carver]], [[Simony]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 2, 2025<br />
|[[Bootleg Bounty]]<br />
|[[Warrick]], [[Bryn]], [[Haggerty]], [[Aragos]], [[Crik]] GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 4, 2025<br />
|[[Cleiuin's Confession]]<br />
|[[Thurid]], [[Riptide]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 6, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 26)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|May 9, 2025<br />
|[[Bootleg Bounty Part 2]]<br />
|[[Warrick]], [[Haggerty]], [[Aragos]], [[Crik]] GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Logs]]</div>Aryiahttp://www.tenebraemush.net/index.php?title=Bootleg_Bounty&diff=44363Bootleg Bounty2025-05-02T22:02:43Z<p>Aryia: Created page with "Dead Watchmen in the heart of the city. Always a grim tiding. Grimmer still that they were apparently killed without much of a fight, throats slit in the dark of one of Alexandria's alleyways. Two stout men of Alexandria who thought they were chasing a simple bootlegger, only to be cut down. The local watchhouse is still in mourning over the deaths, and many of them were at first resistant to the idea of handing the investigation over to the guild. But while the watch ar..."</p>
<hr />
<div>Dead Watchmen in the heart of the city. Always a grim tiding. Grimmer still that they were apparently killed without much of a fight, throats slit in the dark of one of Alexandria's alleyways. Two stout men of Alexandria who thought they were chasing a simple bootlegger, only to be cut down. The local watchhouse is still in mourning over the deaths, and many of them were at first resistant to the idea of handing the investigation over to the guild. But while the watch are adept at dealing with run of the mill pick pockets, cut throats and bandits- the deadliness of this adversary calls for individuals with more varied talents.<br />
<br />
And so the team is assembled, and dispatched with what information the watch can provide- the guards chased the bootlegger into an alleyway, an alleyway that the party have been given a map to. They didn't find their bootlegger, who had seemingly vanished, and were promptly killed by an unseen assailant at least, so the testimony of one of the departed held, under interrogation by the Harpist's priesthood.<br />
<br />
Warrick completely understood the hesitation - two of their own had been cut down - and it's a hit to the pride that the Watch wouldn't be the ones that would get to the bottom of this murder. So perhaps an ex-guard would allay that worry. It's not like Warrick rushed to sign up for this mission after reading it.<br />
<br />
An arbalest in blacked armor with the visor on his armor raised holds a glowing sphere in one hand, and an unloaded-yet-cocked large crossbow in the other, it dangling from a strap. "Back alleys like this have a lot of hidden nooks and crannies that may go to another location," he grunts, squinting down the alleyway. "Hard to squeeze through and give chase when you're in standard issue."<br />
<br />
Aragos stands in the alleyway with the others, running one gauntleted hand over the wall of the alleyway. "If the person we're hunting down managed to get a jump on the guard, then it seems likely that there's a secret passage here." It seems likely to him in any case. Thus he is looking for one.<br />
<br />
Who watches the watchers? Or watches after the watchers? This go 'round, seemto be the adventurers. Bryn may not be a paragon of law and order, but that don't mean she wants murderers running 'round.<br />
<br />
The small alley makes her a bit uneasy, especially after Warrick's comment. "Hope the crannies ain too small. Some of us squeeze better'n others..."<br />
<br />
GAME: Aragos rolls Perception: (10)+2: 12<br />
GAME: Warrick rolls perception: (2)+7: 9<br />
GAME: Crik rolls perception: (14)+11: 25<br />
<br />
Haggerty carefully steps into the side way where the deadly event took place, light at his belt and pugly compatriot close. He does not want to set his boot(s) into anything awful while outside a sewer or dungeon. The redhead squints his blues here and there, supported by his knack to see magical residue and live mana weaverworks. "Anyone good with tracks, please? Who here can make sense of any strategical pitons, grappling hook scratches and the like, please?" The Aesir nods to the arbalestist, "Pride would only cause a rampage by the watch. It is perfectly understandable, yes, but not helpful when they create more work for the Altheans." Wince by the little doge which wins a pat on the cute head. "We should look for access points to the sewers and the web of cellars et al under the streets. Who here is familiar, please, because I only dabble in such insights."<br />
<br />
GAME: Haggerty rolls Perception+2: (8)+7+2: 17<br />
<br />
The alleyway is blind- either side of it are tall and rather shabby tenement buildings, and at its end is a brick wall about ten feet high, on the other side of which is a small yard mostly occupied by a midden heap, and adjoining similar tenements on the far side.<br />
<br />
There is a sewer grate in roughly the center of the alleyway, and the brickwork is still stained dark with blood that wouldn't easily scrub out after the bodies were discovered.<br />
<br />
Warrick steps in deeper into the alleyway, raising the light higher to make the shadows play differently. "Rather more work for Aletheans than more work for the Harpists," the crossbowman shakes his head.<br />
<br />
He looks one way, another, then peers off to the mountains to the east and sighs lightly. "This wasn't my beat, not familiar with these alleys. Was more towards the gates and the Trades, not here. I can track a little bit. Only thing they found Crik-" he regards the egalrin, "-was slit throats. So, expect an ambush once we find the way."<br />
<br />
Aragos points to the sewer grate when Haggerty asks after one. "Likely the point of escape. I'm more concerned about where the assailant hid, but any one of these areas could be it." He sighs in displeasure at the idea of going into the sewer as he thumps one of the wooden boarded up areas. "Unless someone's found a secret passage that I overlooked, it seems like into the sewers we go." His least favorite prospect ever since he nearly died there once.<br />
<br />
Crik looks around the area, briefly looking at Warrick, then around the area, then back towards Warrick. At his feet. Finally he settles staring at some of the boarded up brickwork. "... there is something behind there." He points at the wall. "Curiosity never slit anyone's throat." He opens up his beak, looks around - then quickly shuts it down before moving to peer towards the planks. "... and maybe it will lead somewhere that is not sewers..."<br />
<br />
GAME: Haggerty rolls knowledge/engineering: (9)+9: 18<br />
<br />
Haggerty grunts and lowers his head at the crowman, "I did not query the watch officers for a result of an accurate postvital examination for clues of cause. I presumed it was too early. Most spells are wonderfully functional like asking the dead, but science can be highly efficient. Uhhm, can any of you spot the bloodspatter and can even see dir..?" The thin man looks between the others, clears his throat. "That caught my attention. It beats jimmying the sewer lid. The boards only stop the worst of any weather. The mortar is weak, too. I have no pitons on me. If one of you does, we could use those to assist climbing for our friends in heavy cuirasses."<br />
<br />
Bryn eyes the alley, but doesn't find anything inconspicuous. The sewer grate and potential to go spoolunking isn't great, but she shrugs. "Only been down there once. Weren' THAT bad. Course I weren' the one't fell into a river o' crap, neither..." Then Warrick and Crik seem to find ... something else so now she moves thattaways. "Whatcha find?"<br />
<br />
The boards seem loose enough to pry off with one's bare hands where Crik points them out. What lays beyond is shrouded in darkness- the alley isn't particularly bright, shaded as it is by the tall tenement buildings that surround it, but the planks do a decent job of preventing even that sparse light from seeping in to illuminate what lays beyond. Rapping on the planks reveals that there is indeed a space behind them, though, and no brickwork. It also elicits a muffled "Fuck!" from the other side, and then the sound of a slamming door.<br />
<br />
GAME: Aragos rolls Strength: (10)+4: 14<br />
GAME: Aragos rolls Reflex: (17)+10: 27<br />
<br />
Haggerty shrugs his narrow shoulders after a quick laugh at the lady minstrel's wordplay. He pulls a goblin army knife from the wealth of pockets on his gear belts, if any extra hands and tools are called for. "Do we survey the other side of the walls or do we stride into the dark ahead, please?" Oh. He quickly stows the handy set of tools and will 'go in' with the others. Only. "We should look for surprises first. The slamming was a bait, I say." Canine snort and nod so pugness seconds the notion. Then two blue eyes and two large, impossibly cute eyes watch Aragos's dynamic entry.<br />
<br />
Aragos hears the sound of a voice and decides that action is the best course of the day, and gives little warning before slamming his shoulder into the wood. It cracks easily under the pressure of his weight, and he has to balance himself quickly due to the narrow ledge on the other side. He hops down onto the walkway that is on the other side, making quickly for the door he just heard shut with a broad grin on his face. "Found something!" He calls out cheerfully. Little pieces of wood hang off the spikes on his armor, dripping off as he saunters down the walkway.<br />
<br />
Warrick helps Crik with the boards, only to pause for a beat at hearing the cursing and the door thud shutting. "... and there's our probable cause." The orb in his hand is released, floating by his head and shedding a soft white light to see. "No time for thinking, only doing," he gruffs to Haggerty before he marches in right after Aragos's forward thinking. Seems like both of them are of the same mind. He glances about and gives a low whistle. "See? This is what I was saying earlier. Good find."<br />
<br />
It's a sewer. Of course it's a sewer. It doesn't smell horrendous, surprisingly It smells bad, no mistake, but it seems to mainly be a rainwater gutter. Along either length of the subterranean gutter, filled only a couple of inches deep with stagnant, algae-infested water in the dry weather, are wooden walkways, somewhat mouldering but mostly sound. There is also a battered wooden door which is barely hanging onto its hinges, and a bridge to cross a Tee ion the gutter which branches off to the south.<br />
<br />
"If a good solid 'fuck' is considered a good omen, they may not have had time to set up a good ambush." Crik says - holding his beak open for a moment before hiding it underneat his hands. But then he hops along with the others, sliding a crow's mask over his beak to hide away the worst of the smell. "Anyone have loud bombs?" He asks, starting to peer around the sewer. "... maybe the gas will explode and smoke them out."<br />
<br />
GAME: Crik rolls perception: (6)+11: 17<br />
<br />
Bryn blinks as Aragos charges in, though its immediately followed by a wide, tusky grin. "Ye! Le's go! Get 'em 'fore they's ready!" She's definitely a doer rather than a thinker, so the situation (as described by Warrick) is perfect. She steps in after Aragos (and maybe on ahead), with or without the illumination from the handy floating orb of light.<br />
<br />
Haggerty something might die in most wizards who have not succumbed to the realities of towerless life. Haggs is a Northman from a country where Kor and Angoron are the principal faiths. He smiles cheerfully, "Doing while thinking is not too bad, good bowman." He waits while the others widen the breach. "I concur on the find." Waders time so the arcanist slips into those and gets the tiny black friend into his carrying bag. "The walls are weak here. I disadvise on the use of area explosives for now. I would like to use a smoke out tactic, but we do not know which other ways are down there." The freckly human ensures his magic torch is not covered by his protective cloak.<br />
<br />
As Aragos comes charging after the diminuative figure who is at present unlocking a door, the figure yelps out to a dark corner of the room. "Handsy! Get 'em!" the command is met with a wet, gurgling growl and the sound of fleshy appendages slapping against the carved stone floor of this apparently abandoned storage cellar.<br />
<br />
Haggerty hustles as well as the waders permit to reach the space from whence the wizard may look around the valiant emissary of the forces of justice. There is the little guy. The blue hatted man raises his voice to speak strongly. Well, as much as he can. "You there! Desist! On your knees!"<br />
<br />
GAME: Aragos rolls Intimidate: (17)+15: 32<br />
GAME: Haggerty rolls Intimidation: (17)+Intimidation: 17 (20 total)<br />
<br />
Aragos moves forward, drawing his sword on the person - he's guessing goblin really - and growls low in his throat at them. "I'd listen to the man if I were you, on your knees, or I'll cut you down shorter." The words have the sound of a promise to them, and the individual squeaks in terror, fumbling with a set of keys that make Aragos narrow his eyes further.<br />
<br />
The diminutive figure finally finds the key he is after, a process made no easier by looking wide-eyed over his shoulder at a very scary paladin. As soon as he finds the right one the door is opened and he continues his flight, forgetting to close the door after him in his panic.<br />
<br />
GAME: Crik rolls stealth: (17)+13: 30<br />
<br />
"Ey! Ain' gettin' 'way that easy!" Bryn doesn't clarify whether she's talking about the (little) 'shit'er, or Aragos. Either way, she picks up speed and momentum as she jobs after him, past Warrick and through the door into the hall... then down through the next door.<br />
<br />
GAME: Thurid rolls 16: (13)+16: 29<br />
GAME: Warrick rolls perception: (4)+7: 11<br />
GAME: Thurid rolls 14+2: (12)+14+2: 28<br />
<br />
Crik pulls up his cloak and runs - mostly hops - after the others, before he slowly disappears into the shadows. Crik was there - then he was not! He was just a bundle of cloaks on the corner of the room. Pay no attention to him. Him? It. The bundle of cloaks. Just regular clutter in the room. Clutter. Nothing to see here.<br />
<br />
"I got bangs and flashes," Warrick answers Crik, referring to Thunderstones and Flash Powders as he piles up next to the door with Aragos. He nods to Haggerty. "Noted."<br />
<br />
One, two- crash! He wastes no time stepping in behind the Vardamite to fill the room. Which... he slips on some mossy wood, making him do a brief split. "... Serriel's mercy, that's gonna smart in the morning..." he grunts. He glances tot he side, scrabbling up to the turn and peering around the corner. Squinting down the way, he doubles back, and joins up with the rest of the group, armor clanking softly. "Bridge ahead, goes into a larger room!" he tells the party as he approaches. "Watch out for a hasty ambus- oh shit, contact--!"<br />
<br />
GAME: Thurid rolls 1d8+6: (3)+6: 9<br />
<br />
As Warrick approaches with his light source, the wet, gurgling, snarling, fleshy sound resolves into a large creature in the corner of the room. It has a spiked iron collar around it's neck, which is attached to a long chain bolted sturdily to the wall. It recoils against the light, one of its thick tentacles- bearing eyeballs- recoilling for a moment- and then it lunges towards the party. It thunders across the room, the chain long enough for it to reach the doorway the party are piling in through- but not any further than that. It seems this creature might be a pet of whatever brigands use these cellars, but not one they trust to roam freely.<br />
<br />
It crashes into Aragos and its massive maw clamps onto the paladin, long teeth finding their way through armor to penetrate flesh. Its breath is indescribably foul, a mix of sewage, rotting flesh, and non-existant dental hygeine.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Haggerty decides to brave the planks of the walkway a mere few steps, detours thusly, views the large canal with but a glance, rushes through door(s). He comes to a halt in the line of heroes. Cuddles better not learn of the possible restraint of one of his stinky peers..<br />
<br />
GAME: Aragos rolls 1d20+13+1: (1)+13+1: 15 (EPIC FAIL)<br />
GAME: Aragos rolls 1d20+13+1: (18)+13+1: 32<br />
GAME: Aragos rolls 1d20+8+1: (14)+8+1: 23<br />
GAME: Aragos rolls 2d6+6+1: (7)+6+1: 14<br />
GAME: Aragos rolls 2d6+6+1: (8)+6+1: 15<br />
GAME: Thurid advances the initiative order.<br />
<br />
Round Two - Init 16.<br />
<br />
It is now Glasseye's turn! Bryn is next!<br />
<br />
Aragos slams his sword into the creature, not once but twice, cutting furrows in its tentacles. "Go on after the guy! I'll be after you in a minute!" He's certain he can handle the creature alone, and he doesn't want the suspect to get away just because of their pet.<br />
<br />
GAME: Thurid rolls 20: (3)+20: 23<br />
<br />
Having broken line of sight thanks to his pet, the fleeing goblin wastes no time in continuing to put more distance between himself and the adventurer party, slipping into the shadows on the far side of the bridge that Haggerty and Warrick spotted crossing the southern gutter.<br />
<br />
GAME: Thurid rolls 10: (16)+10: 26<br />
GAME: Thurid rolls 1d6+3: (2)+3: 5<br />
GAME: Thurid rolls 20: (14)+20: 34<br />
GAME: Crik rolls weapon2: (5)+8: 13<br />
<br />
Bryn hesitates, looks at the squishy tentacled thing, then to Aragos at his urging. The look on her face may say 'But... big monster!' though she only asks a be rehtorically, "Ye sure? Alright..." She steps around him to start regainingspeed. "On we g-rkk!"<br />
<br />
She doesn't get far when one of those eyestalk/tentacleye/..appendages warpos around her neck and halts any momentum she was gaining.<br />
<br />
GAME: Crik rolls knowledge/dungeoneering: (10)+7: 17<br />
<br />
The pile of trash pushes a hand crossbow and aims it at the beast in the darkness. However, garbage bolts do garbage nothing. Then Crik appears out of nowhere and quickly moves around the beast. "Flash them!" He caws, holding his hands over his head. "Then grab one of the bodies!" He calls out - looking his usual panicked self.<br />
<br />
GAME: Warrick used a Flash Powder.<br />
GAME: Warrick rolls ranged: (14)+9: 23<br />
<br />
"Copy that!" Warrick acknowledges to Aragos and Crik, ripping free a pouch from his bandolier. There's a moment of hesitation as he see's Bryn get yanked back, but he presses, ducking under the tentacle and smashing the pack against the wall. It starts to glow.<br />
<br />
"Flash out!" he barks out in a coded tongue, spinning towards Handsy and chucking the pouch towards them. It quietly explodes in a 'paff!', a viciously bright light flashing in front of the fetid creature. <Merctalk><br />
<br />
The disgusting creature growls and continues gnawing on Aragos even as the paladin strikes at its tentacles, it's teeth grinding against the metal of his armor but failing to sneak between the plates to deal any further damage though they creak and squeal under the tremendous force of the creature's bite. The flashpowder sparks near the creture and its eyestalks recoil reflexively against the sudden bright light- but sadly fail to blind it, and its tentacles lash out with renwed vigor, flailing at those flanking it- Bryn deftly avoids a strike, but Crick is not so lucky and the tentacle crashes heavily into the Elgarin's thigh, but fails to wrap around it to drag him into a crushing embrace.<br />
<br />
GAME: Thurid rolls 7-2: (17)+7+-2: 22<br />
GAME: Thurid rolls 14: (10)+14: 24<br />
GAME: Thurid rolls 10: (3)+10: 13<br />
GAME: Thurid rolls 10: (14)+10: 24<br />
GAME: Thurid rolls 1d6+3: (2)+3: 5<br />
GAME: Thurid rolls 20-20: (17)+20+-20: 17<br />
<br />
GAME: Haggerty casts Magic Missile. Caster Level: 6 DC: 16<br />
GAME: Haggerty rolls 3d4+3: (7)+3: 10<br />
<br />
GAME: Aragos rolls 1d20+13+1: (13)+13+1: 27<br />
GAME: Aragos rolls 1d20+8+1: (9)+8+1: 18<br />
GAME: Aragos rolls 2d6+6+1: (4)+6+1: 11<br />
<br />
Aragos slams his sword into the creature, trying to end it's pathetic existence, but it remains standing despite him. "If you're going to stick around..." He says, lifting his sword for a second strike that misses it's tentacle. "Aim for the eyes!"<br />
<br />
GAME: Aragos rolls Perception: (6)+2: 8<br />
<br />
Haggerty would have preferred to rush right through, but when the mighty oruch is held like a toy by a flailing infant, the spellslinger decides to hold out a hand with index, middle and ring fingers pointing at the three tentacled thing. He speeds through a phrase in Eldritch and looses a trio of silvery blue bolts. Impolite. At least he wears gloves. The arcane missiles smack into the sewer resident for some decent damage.<br />
<br />
GAME: Haggerty rolls perception+2: (16)+7+2: 25<br />
GAME: Thurid rolls 12: (8)+12: 20<br />
<br />
The fleeing goblin seems to have somehow gotten behind the party- how, exactly, is unclear given that none of them saw any alternate route into the room he fled into. He is creeping along the hallway behind them, dagger out, glinting in the torchlight- just a few feet behind Haggerty when the wizard sees him. The rest of the party haven't spotted him yet.<br />
<br />
GAME: Bryn rolls weapon1-2: (11)+11+-2: 20<br />
<br />
Bryn is released, but that doesn't means she's happy. "No grabbin!" Aragos' encouragement makes her grin, though. "Alright!" The big curved blade is pulled off her back and swung heavily at the things eyes. Unfortunately, there are alot of eyes to choose from, so she misses all of them. "Uh... which ones?!"<br />
<br />
GAME: Crik rolls weapon1+2: (7)+9+2: 18<br />
<br />
Crik lets out a caw as he gets hit by the beast, looking even more shocked as the beast was still flailing. He momentarily pulls out a tiny notebook and rapidly flips it through. "Ot... light... bar..." He shakes his head rapidly. "O-oh!" He looks up at Aragorn, then leaves his hand crossbow hanging on its cord. The thick, flat bladed dagger (probably a fat kitchen knife) is pulled out and slashes at one of the eye tentacles. "It-it is not working!" He unhelpfully calls out.<br />
<br />
GAME: Aragos rolls Fortitude: (11)+14: 25<br />
GAME: Haggerty rolls fortitude: (11)+5: 16<br />
GAME: Thurid rolls 1d4: (1): 1<br />
GAME: Haggerty rolls fort: (15)+5: 20<br />
<br />
Warrick glances back to the battle, shouldering his crossbow before stepping into the next room. And... a fork! Quick, think! Sitrep: four on one, fleeing target, multiple paths. What would criminal scum do. The tighter the vice of the watch, the more pressure in the cracks...<br />
<br />
Half a stutter step, he shifts course left, leaping over broken furniture. "The path doubles back!" he shouts behind him, yanking the concealed door open. The quickest way out of the vice is where they came from -- if the perp gets into the city, they're good as gone!<br />
<br />
The hulking Otyugh begins to shudder as it strains against its leash. Its body jolts and the wet gurgling growling vocalizations become a riotous belch as it ejects the contents of its stomach. Effluence, chunks of rotting meat, bile and bones- some of them humanoid- spray from its maw completely covering Aragos and Haggerty from heat to toe. The stench is unbearable, enough to turn even the strongest stomachs.<br />
<br />
GAME: Haggerty casts Hold Person. Caster Level: 6 DC: 18<br />
GAME: Thurid rolls 3: (2)+3: 5<br />
<br />
Haggerty is caught up in the disgusting cascade of vile spew. The pug abides by hiding in the bag he paws close. Call it evasion. The Stormgardian has been thrown up on before. It simply happens when the partying goes on 'way into the night. Or it simply is night all day long!? Something! Now for the trouble. A few words more in Eldritch. Two sentences, actually, more than it would take a priest. He wills the incoming pokesy not-pal to freeze with a actinic blue glitter to his eyes and an imploring gesture to halt themselves. The redhead holds middle his quarterstaff to hopefully intercept incoming stabs, if the spell fails. The little troublemaker freezes.<br />
<br />
GAME: Aragos rolls 1d20+13+1: (6)+13+1: 20<br />
GAME: Aragos rolls 1d20+13+1: (13)+13+1: 27<br />
GAME: Aragos rolls 1d20+8+1: (18)+8+1: 27<br />
GAME: Aragos rolls 2d6+6+1: (5)+6+1: 12<br />
GAME: Aragos rolls 2d6+6+1: (3)+6+1: 10<br />
<br />
Being thrown up on puts Aragos in a foul mood, so he slams his sword into the creature's eye - one of them. "Like this!" He says, showing Bryn how its done. "IN THE GODDESS-LOVING EYE!" The curse leaves him in a shout of rage as he slams his sword into the creature for yet another time. "Vardama take you, you rotten beast!"<br />
<br />
GAME: Thurid rolls 3: (19)+3: 22<br />
<br />
When he realizes he's been made, the goblin- Who appears to have an artificial eye, given that one of them is a featureless black sphere- starts, "Double FU-" he begins to exclaim, before Haggerty's spell takes hold and he is paralyzed on the spot. His eyes dart about, panic rising once again, his breath coming in short sharp gasps against the spell binding him. He swallows several times, adams apple bobbing. And then a finger twitches, as he begins to work his way free of the spell. "CK!" he finishes his sentence, and looks ready to dart again, though his legs are taking the longest to wake back up.<br />
<br />
GAME: Bryn spends ONE use of BARDIC PERFORMANCE.<br />
GAME: Bryn rolls weapon1+2+2-2: (5)+11+2+2+-2: 18<br />
GAME: Bryn rolls weapon1+2+2-2: (19)+11+2+2+-2: 32 (THREAT)<br />
GAME: Bryn rolls weapon1+2+2-2: (1)+11+2+2+-2: 14 (EPIC FAIL)<br />
GAME: Bryn rolls damage1+2+6: aliased to 2d4+7+2+6: (4)+7+2+6: 19<br />
<br />
Bryn's wrinkles her nose at the stuff spewing out, even if its aimed just far enough over that it doesn't get on her. "Right. All the eyes! Stab 'em, jab 'em, poke 'em, slice 'em right off!" Whether mantra or chant, she's her own hype-woman and gets her blood pumping. This time when her blade comes down it hits the thing. Maybe not right in one eye, but almost cleaving off a tentacle with an eye on it still counts, right?<br />
<br />
GAME: Crik rolls weapon1+2: (4)+9+2: 15<br />
GAME: Crik rolls weapon1+2: (1)+9+2: 12 (EPIC FAIL)<br />
<br />
Crik hears the shouts from the guard, the shouting from Bryn, the vomit, refuse - and he pauses, knife mid air. His black eyes see things from times beyond. Instincts take place. For a moment, he sees a life that was and life that could have-<br />
<br />
"AGH!" The corvid rogue shouts suddenly, fumbling with his knife. "Try not to sound like a guard Warrick!"<br />
<br />
GAME: Thurid rolls 14: (6)+14: 20<br />
GAME: Thurid rolls 10: (11)+10: 21<br />
GAME: Thurid rolls 10: (5)+10: 15<br />
<br />
The creature bellows in pain and rage under the party's relentless assault, and launches itself at Aragos- apparently keen on refilling its stomach. It bites into the armor once again, heedless of the spikes tearing at the roof of its mouth, and its tentacles flail and batter at the paladin, enveloping him in a writhing assault that fails to find purchase.<br />
<br />
GAME: Haggerty casts Hideous Laughter. Caster Level: 6 DC: 17<br />
GAME: Thurid rolls 3: (17)+3: 20<br />
<br />
Haggerty uses only one hand for the sticky defenses momentarily. He has more Eldritch for the willful wastrel, and a tiny pie. And a little feather. So the Aesir composes the spell which is meant to instill an uncomfortable, wracking fit. Meant to. The little guy with the piercing and cutting item only gobbles or gobbers up the edible and does little else.<br />
<br />
Warrick rushes down the creaky wooden structure, worried about falling through. But a hand reaches once more for another alchemical item, a tanglefoot bag- but then drops to the sap to yank free as he sees the slinking runner. "HEY!" he barks in gibbering tongue. "Drop your weapons and come peacefully, and you won't be harmed! By order of the Watch!" <Goblin-talk><br />
<br />
GAME: Warrick rolls sense motive: (6)+5: 11<br />
GAME: Thurid rolls 9: (8)+9: 17<br />
GAME: Aragos rolls 1d20+13+1+2: (17)+13+1+2: 33<br />
GAME: Aragos rolls 1d20+8+1+2: (9)+8+1+2: 20<br />
GAME: Aragos rolls 2d6+6+1: (5)+6+1: 12<br />
<br />
The poor monster falls off of Aragos's blade with one final blow, and covered in blood, gore, spew, and human bones (there's a skull attached to one of his spikes), he moves toward the little guy who set the creature on him. "Lest you end your life here, you will surrender." His purple eyes are fixated and almost luminous with his rage. He smiles. "Though I'll be just as happy to fight you too."<br />
<br />
GAME: Aragos rolls Sense Motive: (6)+2: 8<br />
GAME: Bryn rolls perform/sing: (13)+14: 27<br />
GAME: Haggerty rolls sense motive: (18)+1: 19<br />
<br />
"Alright, alright, sod it- I give!" the Goblin says, dropping his kinfe and raising his hands up above his head. "Ain' gettin' a big enough cut anyway..." he grumbles. As the adventurers approach, he furtively slips a hand behind one of his enlarged ears, and then suddenly flings a small round thing he produced from behind it to the ground. The little pebble-like alchemical contrivance strikes the hard ground, and explodes- not with smoke or fire, but with sound. A thunderous whip-crack that resonates throughout the complex of gutters and cellars. Then he drops to his knees, smirking with his hands on his head. "Course, my buddies will be long gone by the time you get around to turning me in, yeah?" he taunts.<br />
<br />
GAME: Warrick rolls urban local: aliased to knowledge/local+2: (6)+5+2: 13<br />
GAME: Warrick rolls urban local: aliased to knowledge/local+2: (19)+5+2: 26<br />
<br />
Warrick keeps the sap raised while putting the crossbow up, only to grimace as the loud bang goes out. "Oh, so you do have buddies?" he growls, pulling out a pair of manacles. There's a glance to their neck. He scowls. "Don't worry, Syndicate rats only have so many holes to hide in. Hands behind your back. Everything you say will be used against you. You're also probably getting a fine for disrupting the sewer system ecosystem, but we can probably drop that if you talk."<br />
<br />
Manacles clack shut.<br />
<br />
-To Be Continued-<br />
<br />
[[Category:PRPs]]<br />
[[Category:Logs]]</div>Aryiahttp://www.tenebraemush.net/index.php?title=Recent_Logs&diff=44362Recent Logs2025-05-02T17:58:14Z<p>Aryia: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{AboutLogs}}<br />
<br />
'''[[Archived_Logs|For 2024 and earlier, see the Archives]].'''<br />
<br />
==2025 Logs==<br />
===January===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|January 1, 2025<br />
|[[The Spectacle of the Century]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Alec]], [[Bryn]], [[Mikilos]] [[Murder]], [[Skyler]] <br />
|-<br />
|January 4, 2025<br />
|[[A Final Word on the Spires]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Rune]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Eztli]], [[Skyler]], [[Bryn]], GM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|January 5, 2025<br />
|[[Hooves of Steel (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Harshad]], [[Skyler]], [[Bryn]], [[Reithak]], [[Jarik]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 6, 2025<br />
|[[Working Hands]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Carver]], [[Simony]], [[Skyler]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|January 7, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 11)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|January 8, 2025<br />
|[[Flight of Intrigue]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Haggerty]], [[Palomas]], [[Skyler]], GM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 9, 2025<br />
|[[Scaling and Weeping]]<br />
|[[Verna]], [[Aryia]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Temple Festivities]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Telamon]], [[Irshya]], [[Jarik]], [[Menel]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Skyler]], [[Bryn]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 10, 2025<br />
|[[Sins of the Past: A Confrontation]]<br />
|[[Jarik]], [[Skyler]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 11, 2025<br />
|[[Slapbet]]<br />
|[[Aragos]], [[Rocky]], [[Skyler]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 12, 2025<br />
|[[Sewers and Saviors]]<br />
|[[Dirk]], [[Crik]], [[Jarik]], [[Bryn]], [[Ulthan]], [[Sjach]], with GM: [[Skyler]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 13, 2025<br />
|[[Graven Images]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Telamon]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Verna]], [[Skyler]], GM: [[Aftershock]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 14, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 12)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|January 15, 2025<br />
|[[Tough Hands]]<br />
|[[Warrick]], [[Bryn]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 17, 2025<br />
|[[The Power of Flour]]<br />
|[[Harshad]], [[Skyler]], [[Choler]], [[Munch]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 18, 2025<br />
|[[Grim Deed (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Culix]], [[Carver]], [[Jarik]], [[Skyler]], GM: [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Back in Technicolor]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Magpie]]; GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|January 19, 2025<br />
|[[Sewers and Saviors 2]]<br />
|[[Sjach]], [[Haggerty]], [[Crik]], [[Dirk]], [[Jarik]], [[Bryn]], GM: [[Skyler]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Vacation and the Pen]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 20, 2025<br />
|[[Meeting Eli]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Gramarye]], [[Haggerty]], [[Khepri]]; GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Pothy Problems]]<br />
|[[Murder]], [[Skyler]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 21, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 13)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|January 23, 2025<br />
|[[The Dream Quest of the Archmage Part 1]]<br />
|[[Skyler]], [[Warrick]], [[Palomas]], [[Haggerty]], GM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 26, 2025<br />
|[[Sewers and Saviors Part 3]]<br />
|[[Sjach]], [[Dirk]], [[Bryn]], [[Jarik]], [[Crik]], GM: [[Skyler]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 27, 2025<br />
|[[Golden Box]]<br />
|[[Cuemoni]], [[Gr'lk'tosst]], [[Halia]], [[Jarik]], [[Skyler]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 28, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 14)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|January 30, 2025<br />
|[[The Dream Quest of the Archmage Part 2]]<br />
|[[Skyler]], [[Warrick]], [[Palomas]], [[Haggerty]], GM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[A Polite Request]]<br />
|[[Harkashan]], [[Rune]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 31, 2025<br />
|[[Here But For You]]<br />
|[[Halia]], [[Skyler]], [[Rocky]], [[Tonameyo]], [[Carver]]<br />
|}<br />
<br />
===February===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|February 1, 2025<br />
|[[Grim Deeds 2]]<br />
|[[Culix]], [[Skyler]], [[Carver]], [[Jarik]], [[Reithak]], GM: [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 2, 2025<br />
|[[Beyond the Pale 1]]<br />
|[[Ulthan]], [[Bryn]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Burai]], GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 3, 2025<br />
|[[The Quest of Eli]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Gramarye]], [[Haggerty]], [[Khepri]], GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|February 4, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 15)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|February 6, 2025<br />
|[[A Handful of Dust]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Carver]], [[Corey]], [[Simony]], GM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 8, 2025<br />
|[[Grim Deed Part 3]]<br />
|[[Culix]], [[Skyler]], [[Carver]], [[Jarik]], [[Reithak]], GM: [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 9, 2025<br />
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 2]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Burai]], [[Crik]], [[Skyler]], [[Ulthan]], GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 11, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 16)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|February 14, 2025<br />
|[[Mages of Daeus]]<br />
|[[Telamon]], [[Skyler]], [[Eztli]], [[Carver]], GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|February 16, 2025<br />
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 3]]<br />
|[[Ulthan]], [[Bryn]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Burai]], GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 20, 2025<br />
|[[Moonstone Absconded]]<br />
|[[Dirk]], [[Carver]], [[Corey]], [[Magpie]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 21, 2025<br />
|[[Pursuit Through Dreams]]<br />
|[[Skyler]], [[Carver]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], NPC: Amenara Paki (played by Aftershock)<br />
|-<br />
|February 22, 2025<br />
|[[Grim Deed Part 4]]<br />
|[[Culix]], [[Skyler]], [[Carver]], [[Jarik]], [[Reithak]], GM: [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[A Gift Lost to the Shadows]]<br />
|[[Kaj]], [[Murder]], [[Telamon]], [[Carver]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 23, 2025<br />
|[[Conspiracy to Murder]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 4]]<br />
|[[Ulthan]], [[Bryn]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Burai]], GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 24, 2025<br />
|[[Of Tests and Trials]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Haggerty]], [[Khepri]], GM: Riptide & Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|February 25, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 17)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
===March===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|March 2, 2025<br />
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 5]]<br />
|[[Ulthan]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Burai]], GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 3, 2025<br />
|[[Moonstone Absconded (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Corey]], [[Dirk]], [[Magpie]]; GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|March 4, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 18)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|March 7, 2025<br />
|[[Crystal Tower]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Magpie]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]], GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|March 8, 2025<br />
|[[Grim Deed Part 5]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Culix]], [[Reithak]], [[Skyler]], GM: Aelwyn<br />
|-<br />
|March 9, 2025<br />
|[[Sins of the Past: Masquerade Mayhem]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Auranar]], [[Irshya]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]] DM: [[Jarik]] & [[Skyler]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Crystal Tower (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Magpie]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]], GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|March 10, 2025<br />
|[[Moonstone Absconded (Part 3)]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Corey]], [[Dirk]], [[Magpie]]; GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Cashew by Cashew]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Skyler]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 11, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 19)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|March 13, 2025<br />
|[[Dance of the Watchlings]]<br />
|[[Telamon]], [[Carver]], [[Skyler]], [[Simony]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 15, 2025<br />
|[[Grim Deed Part 6]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Culix]], [[Reithak]], [[Skyler]], GM: Aelwyn<br />
|-<br />
|March 16, 2025<br />
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 6]]<br />
|[[Ulthan]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Burai]], GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 18, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 20)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|March 19, 2025<br />
|[[The Sickle's Edge]]<br />
|[[Choler]], [[Harshad]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 20, 2025<br />
|[[Fluffy the Fey]]<br />
|[[Aragos]], [[Bryn]], [[Gramarye]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]] GM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 21, 2025<br />
|[[A Lost Fey Puppy]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 23, 2025<br />
|[[Of Staves and Stones]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Crystal Tower (Part 3)]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Magpie]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]], GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 7]]<br />
|[[Ulthan]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Bryn]], GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 24, 2025<br />
|[[Archmage Asking]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Telamon]], [[Murder]], Riptide (as Faphinae), GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|March 25, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 21)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|March 29, 2025<br />
|[[Grim Deed Part 7]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Culix]], [[Reithak]], [[Skyler]], GM: Aelwyn<br />
|-<br />
|March 30, 2025<br />
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 8]]<br />
|[[Ulthan]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Burai]], [[Bryn]], GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 31, 2025<br />
|[[Red Matrimony]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
<br />
===April===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|April 1, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 22)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|April 3, 2025<br />
|[[Inspector Fritzgilbert and the Ploughing Goat]]<br />
|[[Skyler]], [[Zigrun]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 4, 2025<br />
|[[The Golden Songbird]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Skyler]], [[Telamon]], GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|April 6, 2025<br />
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 9]]<br />
|[[Ulthan]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Burai]], GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 8, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 23)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|April 9, 2025<br />
|[[With Vast Love (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Cuemoni]], [[Haggerty]], [[Harshad]], [[Skyler]]; GM: [[Carver]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 11, 2025<br />
|[[Four Floozies]]<br />
|[[Khepri]], [[Carver]], [[Bryn]], [[Rocky]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 13, 2025<br />
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 10]]<br />
|[[Ulthan]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Bryn]], GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Nary for Nereid]]<br />
|[[Aragos]], [[Carver]], [[Mikilos]], [[Skyler]], [[Telamon]] GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|April 14, 2025<br />
|[[Running Up That Hill]]<br />
|[[Aragos]] GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Bring a Little Fae]]<br />
|[[Atrid]], [[Carver]], [[Gramarye]], [[Khepri]]; GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|April 15, 2025<br />
|[[A Grove Pit Stop]]<br />
|[[Slixvah]] [[Atrid]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Homegrown Confessional]]<br />
|[[Warrick]], [[Carver]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 19, 2025<br />
|[[Neva Gonna Give You Up]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Carver]], [[Eztli]] GM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Grim Deed Part 8]]<br />
|[[Culix]], [[Skyler]], [[Reithak]], [[Carver]], GM: [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 20, 2025<br />
|[[The Dukes Knight]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Auranar]], [[Dirk]], [[Rhar]], [[Thurid]] GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|April 22, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 24)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|April 23, 2025<br />
|[[With Vast Love (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Cuemoni]], [[Harshad]], [[Skyler]]; GM: [[Carver]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 27, 2025<br />
|[[Faeology 101]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 29, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 25)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
===May===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|May 2, 2025<br />
|[[Bootleg Bounty]]<br />
|[[Warrick]], [[Bryn]], [[Haggerty]], GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Logs]]</div>Aryiahttp://www.tenebraemush.net/index.php?title=Recent_Logs&diff=44361Recent Logs2025-05-02T17:57:49Z<p>Aryia: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{AboutLogs}}<br />
<br />
'''[[Archived_Logs|For 2024 and earlier, see the Archives]].'''<br />
<br />
==2025 Logs==<br />
===January===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|January 1, 2025<br />
|[[The Spectacle of the Century]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Alec]], [[Bryn]], [[Mikilos]] [[Murder]], [[Skyler]] <br />
|-<br />
|January 4, 2025<br />
|[[A Final Word on the Spires]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Rune]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Eztli]], [[Skyler]], [[Bryn]], GM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|January 5, 2025<br />
|[[Hooves of Steel (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Harshad]], [[Skyler]], [[Bryn]], [[Reithak]], [[Jarik]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 6, 2025<br />
|[[Working Hands]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Carver]], [[Simony]], [[Skyler]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|January 7, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 11)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|January 8, 2025<br />
|[[Flight of Intrigue]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Haggerty]], [[Palomas]], [[Skyler]], GM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 9, 2025<br />
|[[Scaling and Weeping]]<br />
|[[Verna]], [[Aryia]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Temple Festivities]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Telamon]], [[Irshya]], [[Jarik]], [[Menel]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Skyler]], [[Bryn]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 10, 2025<br />
|[[Sins of the Past: A Confrontation]]<br />
|[[Jarik]], [[Skyler]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 11, 2025<br />
|[[Slapbet]]<br />
|[[Aragos]], [[Rocky]], [[Skyler]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 12, 2025<br />
|[[Sewers and Saviors]]<br />
|[[Dirk]], [[Crik]], [[Jarik]], [[Bryn]], [[Ulthan]], [[Sjach]], with GM: [[Skyler]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 13, 2025<br />
|[[Graven Images]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Telamon]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Verna]], [[Skyler]], GM: [[Aftershock]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 14, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 12)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|January 15, 2025<br />
|[[Tough Hands]]<br />
|[[Warrick]], [[Bryn]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 17, 2025<br />
|[[The Power of Flour]]<br />
|[[Harshad]], [[Skyler]], [[Choler]], [[Munch]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 18, 2025<br />
|[[Grim Deed (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Culix]], [[Carver]], [[Jarik]], [[Skyler]], GM: [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Back in Technicolor]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Magpie]]; GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|January 19, 2025<br />
|[[Sewers and Saviors 2]]<br />
|[[Sjach]], [[Haggerty]], [[Crik]], [[Dirk]], [[Jarik]], [[Bryn]], GM: [[Skyler]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Vacation and the Pen]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 20, 2025<br />
|[[Meeting Eli]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Gramarye]], [[Haggerty]], [[Khepri]]; GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Pothy Problems]]<br />
|[[Murder]], [[Skyler]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 21, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 13)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|January 23, 2025<br />
|[[The Dream Quest of the Archmage Part 1]]<br />
|[[Skyler]], [[Warrick]], [[Palomas]], [[Haggerty]], GM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 26, 2025<br />
|[[Sewers and Saviors Part 3]]<br />
|[[Sjach]], [[Dirk]], [[Bryn]], [[Jarik]], [[Crik]], GM: [[Skyler]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 27, 2025<br />
|[[Golden Box]]<br />
|[[Cuemoni]], [[Gr'lk'tosst]], [[Halia]], [[Jarik]], [[Skyler]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 28, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 14)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|January 30, 2025<br />
|[[The Dream Quest of the Archmage Part 2]]<br />
|[[Skyler]], [[Warrick]], [[Palomas]], [[Haggerty]], GM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[A Polite Request]]<br />
|[[Harkashan]], [[Rune]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 31, 2025<br />
|[[Here But For You]]<br />
|[[Halia]], [[Skyler]], [[Rocky]], [[Tonameyo]], [[Carver]]<br />
|}<br />
<br />
===February===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|February 1, 2025<br />
|[[Grim Deeds 2]]<br />
|[[Culix]], [[Skyler]], [[Carver]], [[Jarik]], [[Reithak]], GM: [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 2, 2025<br />
|[[Beyond the Pale 1]]<br />
|[[Ulthan]], [[Bryn]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Burai]], GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 3, 2025<br />
|[[The Quest of Eli]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Gramarye]], [[Haggerty]], [[Khepri]], GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|February 4, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 15)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|February 6, 2025<br />
|[[A Handful of Dust]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Carver]], [[Corey]], [[Simony]], GM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 8, 2025<br />
|[[Grim Deed Part 3]]<br />
|[[Culix]], [[Skyler]], [[Carver]], [[Jarik]], [[Reithak]], GM: [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 9, 2025<br />
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 2]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Burai]], [[Crik]], [[Skyler]], [[Ulthan]], GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 11, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 16)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|February 14, 2025<br />
|[[Mages of Daeus]]<br />
|[[Telamon]], [[Skyler]], [[Eztli]], [[Carver]], GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|February 16, 2025<br />
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 3]]<br />
|[[Ulthan]], [[Bryn]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Burai]], GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 20, 2025<br />
|[[Moonstone Absconded]]<br />
|[[Dirk]], [[Carver]], [[Corey]], [[Magpie]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 21, 2025<br />
|[[Pursuit Through Dreams]]<br />
|[[Skyler]], [[Carver]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], NPC: Amenara Paki (played by Aftershock)<br />
|-<br />
|February 22, 2025<br />
|[[Grim Deed Part 4]]<br />
|[[Culix]], [[Skyler]], [[Carver]], [[Jarik]], [[Reithak]], GM: [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[A Gift Lost to the Shadows]]<br />
|[[Kaj]], [[Murder]], [[Telamon]], [[Carver]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 23, 2025<br />
|[[Conspiracy to Murder]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 4]]<br />
|[[Ulthan]], [[Bryn]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Burai]], GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 24, 2025<br />
|[[Of Tests and Trials]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Haggerty]], [[Khepri]], GM: Riptide & Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|February 25, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 17)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
===March===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|March 2, 2025<br />
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 5]]<br />
|[[Ulthan]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Burai]], GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 3, 2025<br />
|[[Moonstone Absconded (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Corey]], [[Dirk]], [[Magpie]]; GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|March 4, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 18)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|March 7, 2025<br />
|[[Crystal Tower]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Magpie]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]], GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|March 8, 2025<br />
|[[Grim Deed Part 5]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Culix]], [[Reithak]], [[Skyler]], GM: Aelwyn<br />
|-<br />
|March 9, 2025<br />
|[[Sins of the Past: Masquerade Mayhem]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Auranar]], [[Irshya]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]] DM: [[Jarik]] & [[Skyler]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Crystal Tower (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Magpie]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]], GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|March 10, 2025<br />
|[[Moonstone Absconded (Part 3)]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Corey]], [[Dirk]], [[Magpie]]; GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Cashew by Cashew]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Skyler]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 11, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 19)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|March 13, 2025<br />
|[[Dance of the Watchlings]]<br />
|[[Telamon]], [[Carver]], [[Skyler]], [[Simony]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 15, 2025<br />
|[[Grim Deed Part 6]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Culix]], [[Reithak]], [[Skyler]], GM: Aelwyn<br />
|-<br />
|March 16, 2025<br />
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 6]]<br />
|[[Ulthan]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Burai]], GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 18, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 20)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|March 19, 2025<br />
|[[The Sickle's Edge]]<br />
|[[Choler]], [[Harshad]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 20, 2025<br />
|[[Fluffy the Fey]]<br />
|[[Aragos]], [[Bryn]], [[Gramarye]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]] GM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 21, 2025<br />
|[[A Lost Fey Puppy]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 23, 2025<br />
|[[Of Staves and Stones]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Crystal Tower (Part 3)]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Magpie]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]], GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 7]]<br />
|[[Ulthan]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Bryn]], GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 24, 2025<br />
|[[Archmage Asking]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Telamon]], [[Murder]], Riptide (as Faphinae), GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|March 25, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 21)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|March 29, 2025<br />
|[[Grim Deed Part 7]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Culix]], [[Reithak]], [[Skyler]], GM: Aelwyn<br />
|-<br />
|March 30, 2025<br />
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 8]]<br />
|[[Ulthan]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Burai]], [[Bryn]], GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 31, 2025<br />
|[[Red Matrimony]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
<br />
===April===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|April 1, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 22)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|April 3, 2025<br />
|[[Inspector Fritzgilbert and the Ploughing Goat]]<br />
|[[Skyler]], [[Zigrun]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 4, 2025<br />
|[[The Golden Songbird]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Skyler]], [[Telamon]], GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|April 6, 2025<br />
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 9]]<br />
|[[Ulthan]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Burai]], GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 8, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 23)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|April 9, 2025<br />
|[[With Vast Love (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Cuemoni]], [[Haggerty]], [[Harshad]], [[Skyler]]; GM: [[Carver]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 11, 2025<br />
|[[Four Floozies]]<br />
|[[Khepri]], [[Carver]], [[Bryn]], [[Rocky]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 13, 2025<br />
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 10]]<br />
|[[Ulthan]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Bryn]], GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Nary for Nereid]]<br />
|[[Aragos]], [[Carver]], [[Mikilos]], [[Skyler]], [[Telamon]] GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|April 14, 2025<br />
|[[Running Up That Hill]]<br />
|[[Aragos]] GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Bring a Little Fae]]<br />
|[[Atrid]], [[Carver]], [[Gramarye]], [[Khepri]]; GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|April 15, 2025<br />
|[[A Grove Pit Stop]]<br />
|[[Slixvah]] [[Atrid]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Homegrown Confessional]]<br />
|[[Warrick]], [[Carver]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 19, 2025<br />
|[[Neva Gonna Give You Up]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Carver]], [[Eztli]] GM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Grim Deed Part 8]]<br />
|[[Culix]], [[Skyler]], [[Reithak]], [[Carver]], GM: [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 20, 2025<br />
|[[The Dukes Knight]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Auranar]], [[Dirk]], [[Rhar]], [[Thurid]] GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|April 22, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 24)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|April 23, 2025<br />
|[[With Vast Love (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Cuemoni]], [[Harshad]], [[Skyler]]; GM: [[Carver]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 27, 2025<br />
|[[Faeology 101]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 29, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 25)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
<br />
<br />
===May===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|May 2, 2025<br />
|[[Bootleg Bounty]]<br />
|[[Warrick]], [[Bryn]], [[Haggerty]], GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Logs]]</div>Aryiahttp://www.tenebraemush.net/index.php?title=Homegrown_Confessional&diff=44341Homegrown Confessional2025-04-15T21:54:26Z<p>Aryia: </p>
<hr />
<div>:: ''Lower Trades, just before Goblintown. Midday.''<br />
<br />
On a lightly rainy day, where the Trades and the chaos of Goblintown meet lies a narrow two story abode with a little iron fence, waist high gate closed yet no lock is present on it.<br />
<br />
On the front porch, sipping from a porcelain mug with a copy of the Tribune in hand is none other than a middle aged Eldanar man in slouchy pants and a grey shirt.<br />
<br />
The front door flies open, two teenagers peeling out: a human girl and a arvek nar girl. "Dadwe'regoingtotheriverbebacklaterIhavefoodmoneyloveyou!"<br />
<br />
He sips loudly without looking up. "Don't drown!" he shouts back at them. He turns a page. "And here I thought the alligator would deter that but... eh."<br />
<br />
The two teens are three blocks down and out of sight, not even stopping their dead sprint despite the slippery walkways.<br />
<br />
The high gate creaks, which is more than enough warning for a former guard to be alerted. She would have liked to say hello to Cynthia and her boon companion, but she was a little late for that. Her silhouette can be difficult to recognize at first as her slicked poncho is hood up and quivers covered against the rain as well, but the bundle of equipment reads very clearly: Adventurer.<br />
<br />
Warrick's favorite kind of people. The soft-foot padding of the ranger barely seems to leave even a mark. "Hey Dad." The deeper voice is recognizable at least, as is the eventually exposed face when the hood is pulled back, Carver's long trailing headband now spilling out alongside her hair. "Uh, do you have time to talk?"<br />
<br />
Warrick squints at the article that he's on. What's this about a prison break? From the arcane dungeons? Fiends? Well shit. A journal is opened on the nearby coffee table, thumbing out a map and cross referencing-<br />
<br />
Creak. He glances over at the gate, folding up his newspaper and closing the book. "Can I help-.." he trails off. Silently reading Carvers face. She wouldn't go out of her way to come talk to him if it wasn't something serious. "Yes. Let's go inside, Cinny's out for a bit."<br />
<br />
He rises, shouldering the door open and holding it for Carver.<br />
<br />
Inside is a warm yet comfortable abode. It spills immediately into a living area with a large sofa and an artifice powered heating contraption running with a low hum. Past a doorway is a well worn kitchen, and to the left is stairs that are in dire need of a new coat of varnish. The walls are filled to the brim with paintings of different parts of Alexandria, of Warrick when he was much younger, as well as Cynthia when she was a child. Another woman dots the paintings here and there, looking strikingly like an older Cynthia.<br />
<br />
"Feel free to sit anywhere," he grunts, kicking off his house shoes and meandering to the kitchen. "Want anything? Coffee? Water? Beer?"<br />
<br />
"I would not min' a beer." Carver says, stepping inside the warmth of the home. First time for her, and she hesitates, looking about. She has gotten used to the ideas of home but as a Dran, and then as a refugee, it was not something she had. Or had much understanding of. She reaches to her cloak, removing it, followed by the pair of quivers. Silver here, Cold-Iron there, a strange new one whose feathers smell softly like dreams. Though that makes little sense. They are hung with the cloak with the bow the last to be sat aside. Larger than her last one, made of a soft white oak of rare beauty with decorative feathers of some-many bird of preys.<br />
<br />
Her hands wring anxiously. She looks about for a lead. How to comfortably broach why she's here. Her gaze hesitates on the unknown woman, recognition from assumption coming quickly. "She... was very pretty."<br />
<br />
"You got it," Warrick calls from the kitchen, bottles clinking and corks popping. He returns, offering an opened bottle (clearly something from the TarRaCe nearby) and drops into the couch, the spot fitting him near perfectly. He's eyeing the new weaponry with a interest. But any question he may have asked is countered with an observation from Carver. "Yeah, Persephone was," he nods with a wistful sigh. There's no pain in his face nor tone. "Cynthia is practically a copy of her, despite not really knowing her that much. She passed about twelve years ago. Had a sickness from since she was a kid. Loved art. Terrible at making plans."<br />
<br />
He laughs. The sternness that seems to always come from him is absent. "Battle Maiden preserve her, she forgot that our wedding was happening until we were walking up to the church of Serriel."<br />
<br />
He takes a drink. "It's alright, Carver. She's at peace. I'm at peace with it. Cynthia is at peace with it. Hell, she's probably going to come back with a cold, and if Persi was here, Persi would have a cold too from joining in jumping in the river during rain. And that's alright."<br />
<br />
He doesn't make a nudge for Carver to speak about whatever it is that she wanted to talk about, instead making the abode as inviting as possible.<br />
<br />
"My Mada, she wasn't so pretty. I got her nose." She reaches up and touches the tip of it, tracing the severe slope with an absent smile. For those gone. For what they leave behind. "Uh, righ'. Sorry." She turns away from the painting with her bottle, slowly joining him on the couch with a slow uncoiling of tense muscles.<br />
<br />
She sips from the bottle mindlessly, without appreciating quality or even aware of the taste. "I think... well, do you remember the Elune's Temple job? Weird crystals, fiends in the walls, god's blessing and all. The heroes, the uh-- like, Telamon's wife and that tall Deathsinger fought and killed a Lich? I was there. I wasn't much use. Very humblin'." She looks down at the bottle.<br />
<br />
"Anyway. I was there. While fightin' it, I touched something, and it made me experience somethin' that really effected me. I saw me, thousand times, lived many lives. Some of the memory sticks but most faded. I thought it would all pass. You tol' me to go to Soldier's Rest an' I didn't. Sorry. I never listen. It always jus' worked out if I kept moving things woul' be fine. Until yesterday."<br />
<br />
"We killed during that little Princeling's revolt but not like what happened. I was in control. Yesterday, I wasn't." She examines her callused palm. No answers there. Just dirt under the nails and fading bruises.<br />
<br />
Warrick shakes his head. "I'd complain to my father about not giving me the last few inches to be just all enough for six paces but he'd bar me from getting goods from his general store for a week," he jokes back, tapping his nose.<br />
<br />
He looks up to the ceiling, thinking. "Yeah, I remember that job. Remember when you just got out of it too. Had a snowball battle with me and Cinny."<br />
<br />
He turns to face her, arm slung over the rest, legs cross. Listening. Wincing slightly, not in discomfort, but in empathy as he rubs his scarred arm. There is but a brief glance to the newspaper, the article of the happenings seen. He idly flips it over to a TarRaCe ad.<br />
<br />
"Didn't feel like it was you pulling the strings?" he asks, raising a brow and leaving it open ended.<br />
<br />
"I wasn't. It's not the firs' time." Carver admits. "It was the worst example of it. Recently, especially when dealing with really... unpleasant foes, or those I feel personally adamant about hurting, it feels like another 'ME' snaps into place. I don't really know how to explain it." She reaches up and rubs her brow. "So I am aware of everythin' but it feels like I am equally observing than anythin' else. Yesterday, we tracked down some Fey nobility. Lord and Lady 'Tamlin'." She scoffs at the name. "Petty little troublemakers who worked through a patsy. Long story, but... when chasing one, I meant to just take his knee out. Hobble 'em."<br />
<br />
"Next blink, he's dead." She mimes a body falling over with her hand with a flat affectation. "I killed before. Got used to it. This noble, his little games? They led to people dying. But..." Well, she shot a fleeing foe to kill. A Fey Noble at that. "I killed him in the Summer World. No More Springs." Dead-Dead.<br />
<br />
Warrick listens. Truly. "I know what you mean about snapping-to. Did that in the guard. In the military. Have to make snap judgements on reflex all the time. Some of them there's no winning."<br />
<br />
A breath. "What makes this different? Was it because you meant to maim, but instead it was a kill? Or...?" he asks, looking into his own drink. "Ending something that is supposed to be never ending?"<br />
<br />
"I dunno, both?" Carver says. "No... jus' that it didn't feel like I made the choice. It wasn't my reasoning. I wanted to take him alive, but between that though' and the actual action, it's like that didn't matter anymore. That I had to kill. 'Cause they were a monster and that's what you do." She sets the bottle down. "An' that's the thing. It wasn't my choice. Or it didn't feel like it was. Even now I feel it. Like little scraping thoughts. That murderer got free into Alexandria an' even now, I got this thought wriggling around that I shoul' be hunting. Not to get him back in jail. Not even to kill. 'cause /I/ am a hunter." She scowls,<br />
<br />
"Mos' people. They think I am. I'm not. I was a guide. I led people across the wilderness. I hunted sure but it's not like it was any callin' of mine. Until after whatever happened in the temple. Now I want to find monsters. Seek them out. /Hunt/ them."<br />
<br />
"Sorry... I dunno what I want to hear. That I'm crazy. That I'm not."<br />
<br />
Warrick takes a moment to think in silence, staring out the rain spattered window. He takes a large breath. "Maybe you knew, deep down, its what needed to be done in that moment. The other selves, while you may not remember them easily, all still impart wisdom and knowledge unto you. Knowing how dangerous a rogue fey being, or a fiend."<br />
<br />
He shifts, sliding over to the coffee table and sitting on it across from Carver. "I was just a guard. Breaking up petty brawls, solving complaints, wall duty-" mentioned with the driest of tones, "-but more bad shit kept happening in Alexandria. Was in a bad rut at that time, Persi was gone. Had to keep Cinny safe, so I went with the military. It was the best of times, and the worst of times."<br />
<br />
The once-guard looks directly at Carver, putting a hand on her shoulder. "Everyone has moments that make them crazy. I have my own demons too. But ask yourself this: you were a guide. But now you, be it the touch from the temple or spurred by it, want to hunt monsters. You need to ask yourself why you want this. Is it to keep yourself and others safe? Is it because they are abominations? Or something else?"<br />
<br />
He gives the shoulder a gentle squeeze, slate eyes softening. "You're young. You're growing. You're trying to figure out what makes you, you. And frankly, you've gone through just as much shit as I have at way too young, and that makes it all the harder or try and swallow all of this."<br />
<br />
He gives a wan smile. "What you want to hear differs from what you need to hear. And what you need to hear is- it's alright to feel crazy. But can you understand the crazy enough to make it not feel like that?"<br />
<br />
"When I foun' out Mudgett got free, I remember... I was scared, but I was also so glad. Scared cause I know what he can do an' how much harm he can cause, but I knew that this time, I would be the one hunting." Carver admits. "An' I felt pleased. An' I hated it. An' like a little drunk, spent two days digging and rooting for his trail even after it had long gone cold. I was doin' it. Right when I saw your house." Warrick isn't a priest and she has not been seemingly very religious but here she is, full confessional. "I felt it when I chased down that Fey too. An' I hated enjoying it."<br />
<br />
The hand on her shoulder has her flinching, looking up and expecting judgement. She listens. Some life bleeds back into her eyes. Maybe he just is saying this so he can report the future Mudgett before she can become like him. He touches on something. Why does she want this? Finding out why is her goal. She smiles at him, a flash of big buck teeth and painfully young still. Baby fat still there.<br />
<br />
She invades his personal space suddenly to wrap arms about, squeezing into a hug. Can you understand the crazy?<br />
<br />
"I can try."<br />
<br />
Warrick nods along as Carver confesses her sins. "I understand. There's a certain feeling of control that since you are on the job, it's not going to go wrong. You can't have it go wrong. As long as you keep yourself rooted and are aware that you feel like this, you can work on keeping that in check."<br />
<br />
He grins as he sees some life fill her features. "Even if you don't wear a damn helmet."<br />
<br />
The hug completely catches him off guard. But it's quickly and readily returned, and has no lack of warmth, many years of fatherly perfection. "Trying is all I ask," he murmurs.<br />
<br />
He holds it for it a while, then pulls away, relaxed. "Feel free to crash on the couch now and whenever you want. Siding on the house next to the door is loose, spare key is in there. Just knock before you enter. You want some food?"<br />
<br />
Does she have a home now? Carver considers the offer, then nods. "I'd love somethin' to eat." The helmet thing? Well, kids are stubborn. One thing at a time.<br />
<br />
-End Scene-<br />
<br />
[[Category:Logs]]</div>Aryiahttp://www.tenebraemush.net/index.php?title=Homegrown_Confessional&diff=44340Homegrown Confessional2025-04-15T21:52:41Z<p>Aryia: Created page with ":: ''Lower Trades, just before Goblintown. Midday.'' On a lightly rainy day, where the Trades and the chaos of Goblintown meet lies a narrow two story abode with a little iron fence, waist high gate closed yet no lock is present on it. On the front porch, sipping from a porcelain mug with a copy of the Tribune in hand is none other than a middle aged Eldanar man in slouchy pants and a grey shirt. The front door flies open, two teenagers peeling out: a human girl and a..."</p>
<hr />
<div>:: ''Lower Trades, just before Goblintown. Midday.''<br />
<br />
On a lightly rainy day, where the Trades and the chaos of Goblintown meet lies a narrow two story abode with a little iron fence, waist high gate closed yet no lock is present on it.<br />
<br />
On the front porch, sipping from a porcelain mug with a copy of the Tribune in hand is none other than a middle aged Eldanar man in slouchy pants and a grey shirt.<br />
<br />
The front door flies open, two teenagers peeling out: a human girl and a arvek nar girl. "Dadwe'regoingtotheriverbebacklaterIhavefoodmoneyloveyou!"<br />
<br />
He sips loudly without looking up. "Don't drown!" he shouts back at them. He turns a page. "And here I thought the alligator would deter that but... eh."<br />
<br />
The two teens are three blocks down and out of sight, not even stopping their dead sprint despite the slippery walkways.<br />
<br />
The high gate creaks, which is more than enough warning for a former guard to be alerted. She would have liked to say hello to Cynthia and her boon companion, but she was a little late for that. Her silhouette can be difficult to recognize at first as her slicked poncho is hood up and quivers covered against the rain as well, but the bundle of equipment reads very clearly: Adventurer.<br />
<br />
Warrick's favorite kind of people. The soft-foot padding of the ranger barely seems to leave even a mark. "Hey Dad." The deeper voice is recognizable at least, as is the eventually exposed face when the hood is pulled back, Carver's long trailing headband now spilling out alongside her hair. "Uh, do you have time to talk?"<br />
<br />
Warrick squints at the article that he's on. What's this about a prison break? From the arcane dungeons? Fiends? Well shit. A journal is opened on the nearby coffee table, thumbing out a map and cross referencing-<br />
<br />
Creak. He glances over at the gate, folding up his newspaper and closing the book. "Can I help-.." he trails off. Silently reading Carvers face. She wouldn't go out of her way to come talk to him if it wasn't something serious. "Yes. Let's go inside, Cinny's out for a bit."<br />
<br />
He rises, shouldering the door open and holding it for Carver.<br />
<br />
Inside is a warm yet comfortable abode. It spills immediately into a living area with a large sofa and an artifice powered heating contraption running with a low hum. Past a doorway is a well worn kitchen, and to the left is stairs that are in dire need of a new coat of varnish. The walls are filled to the brim with paintings of different parts of Alexandria, of Warrick when he was much younger, as well as Cynthia when she was a child. Another woman dots the paintings here and there, looking strikingly like an older Cynthia.<br />
<br />
"Feel free to sit anywhere," he grunts, kicking off his house shoes and meandering to the kitchen. "Want anything? Coffee? Water? Beer?"<br />
<br />
"I would not min' a beer." Carver says, stepping inside the warmth of the home. First time for her, and she hesitates, looking about. She has gotten used to the ideas of home but as a Dran, and then as a refugee, it was not something she had. Or had much understanding of. She reaches to her cloak, removing it, followed by the pair of quivers. Silver here, Cold-Iron there, a strange new one whose feathers smell softly like dreams. Though that makes little sense. They are hung with the cloak with the bow the last to be sat aside. Larger than her last one, made of a soft white oak of rare beauty with decorative feathers of some-many bird of preys.<br />
<br />
Her hands wring anxiously. She looks about for a lead. How to comfortably broach why she's here. Her gaze hesitates on the unknown woman, recognition from assumption coming quickly. "She... was very pretty."<br />
<br />
"You got it," Warrick calls from the kitchen, bottles clinking and corks popping. He returns, offering an opened bottle (clearly something from the TarRaCe nearby) and drops into the couch, the spot fitting him near perfectly. He's eyeing the new weaponry with a interest. But any question he may have asked is countered with an observation from Carver. "Yeah, Persephone was," he nods with a wistful sigh. There's no pain in his face nor tone. "Cynthia is practically a copy of her, despite not really knowing her that much. She passed about twelve years ago. Had a sickness from since she was a kid. Loved art. Terrible at making plans."<br />
<br />
He laughs. The sternness that seems to always come from him is absent. "Battle Maiden preserve her, she forgot that our wedding was happening until we were walking up to the church of Serriel."<br />
<br />
He takes a drink. "It's alright, Carver. She's at peace. I'm at peace with it. Cynthia is at peace with it. Hell, she's probably going to come back with a cold, and if Persi was here, Persi would have a cold too from joining in jumping in the river during rain. And that's alright."<br />
<br />
He doesn't make a nudge for Carver to speak about whatever it is that she wanted to talk about, instead making the abode as inviting as possible.<br />
<br />
"My Mada, she wasn't so pretty. I got her nose." She reaches up and touches the tip of it, tracing the severe slope with an absent smile. For those gone. For what they leave behind. "Uh, righ'. Sorry." She turns away from the painting with her bottle, slowly joining him on the couch with a slow uncoiling of tense muscles.<br />
<br />
She sips from the bottle mindlessly, without appreciating quality or even aware of the taste. "I think... well, do you remember the Elune's Temple job? Weird crystals, fiends in the walls, god's blessing and all. The heroes, the uh-- like, Telamon's wife and that tall Deathsinger fought and killed a Lich? I was there. I wasn't much use. Very humblin'." She looks down at the bottle.<br />
<br />
"Anyway. I was there. While fightin' it, I touched something, and it made me experience somethin' that really effected me. I saw me, thousand times, lived many lives. Some of the memory sticks but most faded. I thought it would all pass. You tol' me to go to Soldier's Rest an' I didn't. Sorry. I never listen. It always jus' worked out if I kept moving things woul' be fine. Until yesterday."<br />
<br />
"We killed during that little Princeling's revolt but not like what happened. I was in control. Yesterday, I wasn't." She examines her callused palm. No answers there. Just dirt under the nails and fading bruises.<br />
<br />
Warrick shakes his head. "I'd complain to my father about not giving me the last few inches to be just all enough for six paces but he'd bar me from getting goods from his general store for a week," he jokes back, tapping his nose.<br />
<br />
He looks up to the ceiling, thinking. "Yeah, I remember that job. Remember when you just got out of it too. Had a snowball battle with me and Cinny."<br />
<br />
He turns to face her, arm slung over the rest, legs cross. Listening. Wincing slightly, not in discomfort, but in empathy as he rubs his scarred arm. There is but a brief glance to the newspaper, the article of the happenings seen. He idly flips it over to a TarRaCe ad.<br />
<br />
"Didn't feel like it was you pulling the strings?" he asks, raising a brow and leaving it open ended.<br />
<br />
"I wasn't. It's not the firs' time." Carver admits. "It was the worst example of it. Recently, especially when dealing with really... unpleasant foes, or those I feel personally adamant about hurting, it feels like another 'ME' snaps into place. I don't really know how to explain it." She reaches up and rubs her brow. "So I am aware of everythin' but it feels like I am equally observing than anythin' else. Yesterday, we tracked down some Fey nobility. Lord and Lady 'Tamlin'." She scoffs at the name. "Petty little troublemakers who worked through a patsy. Long story, but... when chasing one, I meant to just take his knee out. Hobble 'em."<br />
<br />
"Next blink, he's dead." She mimes a body falling over with her hand with a flat affectation. "I killed before. Got used to it. This noble, his little games? They led to people dying. But..." Well, she shot a fleeing foe to kill. A Fey Noble at that. "I killed him in the Summer World. No More Springs." Dead-Dead.<br />
<br />
Tarsh has arrived.<br />
<br />
Tarsh goes South <S>.<br />
<br />
Tarsh has left.<br />
<br />
Warrick listens. Truly. "I know what you mean about snapping-to. Did that in the guard. In the military. Have to make snap judgements on reflex all the time. Some of them there's no winning."<br />
<br />
A breath. "What makes this different? Was it because you meant to maim, but instead it was a kill? Or...?" he asks, looking into his own drink. "Ending something that is supposed to be never ending?"<br />
<br />
"I dunno, both?" Carver says. "No... jus' that it didn't feel like I made the choice. It wasn't my reasoning. I wanted to take him alive, but between that though' and the actual action, it's like that didn't matter anymore. That I had to kill. 'Cause they were a monster and that's what you do." She sets the bottle down. "An' that's the thing. It wasn't my choice. Or it didn't feel like it was. Even now I feel it. Like little scraping thoughts. That murderer got free into Alexandria an' even now, I got this thought wriggling around that I shoul' be hunting. Not to get him back in jail. Not even to kill. 'cause /I/ am a hunter." She scowls,<br />
<br />
"Mos' people. They think I am. I'm not. I was a guide. I led people across the wilderness. I hunted sure but it's not like it was any callin' of mine. Until after whatever happened in the temple. Now I want to find monsters. Seek them out. /Hunt/ them."<br />
<br />
"Sorry... I dunno what I want to hear. That I'm crazy. That I'm not."<br />
<br />
Warrick takes a moment to think in silence, staring out the rain spattered window. He takes a large breath. "Maybe you knew, deep down, its what needed to be done in that moment. The other selves, while you may not remember them easily, all still impart wisdom and knowledge unto you. Knowing how dangerous a rogue fey being, or a fiend."<br />
<br />
He shifts, sliding over to the coffee table and sitting on it across from Carver. "I was just a guard. Breaking up petty brawls, solving complaints, wall duty-" mentioned with the driest of tones, "-but more bad shit kept happening in Alexandria. Was in a bad rut at that time, Persi was gone. Had to keep Cinny safe, so I went with the military. It was the best of times, and the worst of times."<br />
<br />
The once-guard looks directly at Carver, putting a hand on her shoulder. "Everyone has moments that make them crazy. I have my own demons too. But ask yourself this: you were a guide. But now you, be it the touch from the temple or spurred by it, want to hunt monsters. You need to ask yourself why you want this. Is it to keep yourself and others safe? Is it because they are abominations? Or something else?"<br />
<br />
He gives the shoulder a gentle squeeze, slate eyes softening. "You're young. You're growing. You're trying to figure out what makes you, you. And frankly, you've gone through just as much shit as I have at way too young, and that makes it all the harder or try and swallow all of this."<br />
<br />
He gives a wan smile. "What you want to hear differs from what you need to hear. And what you need to hear is- it's alright to feel crazy. But can you understand the crazy enough to make it not feel like that?"<br />
<br />
"When I foun' out Mudgett got free, I remember... I was scared, but I was also so glad. Scared cause I know what he can do an' how much harm he can cause, but I knew that this time, I would be the one hunting." Carver admits. "An' I felt pleased. An' I hated it. An' like a little drunk, spent two days digging and rooting for his trail even after it had long gone cold. I was doin' it. Right when I saw your house." Warrick isn't a priest and she has not been seemingly very religious but here she is, full confessional. "I felt it when I chased down that Fey too. An' I hated enjoying it."<br />
<br />
The hand on her shoulder has her flinching, looking up and expecting judgement. She listens. Some life bleeds back into her eyes. Maybe he just is saying this so he can report the future Mudgett before she can become like him. He touches on something. Why does she want this? Finding out why is her goal. She smiles at him, a flash of big buck teeth and painfully young still. Baby fat still there.<br />
<br />
She invades his personal space suddenly to wrap arms about, squeezing into a hug. Can you understand the crazy?<br />
<br />
"I can try."<br />
<br />
Warrick nods along as Carver confesses her sins. "I understand. There's a certain feeling of control that since you are on the job, it's not going to go wrong. You can't have it go wrong. As long as you keep yourself rooted and are aware that you feel like this, you can work on keeping that in check."<br />
<br />
He grins as he sees some life fill her features. "Even if you don't wear a damn helmet."<br />
<br />
The hug completely catches him off guard. But it's quickly and readily returned, and has no lack of warmth, many years of fatherly perfection. "Trying is all I ask," he murmurs.<br />
<br />
He holds it for it a while, then pulls away, relaxed. "Feel free to crash on the couch now and whenever you want. Siding on the house next to the door is loose, spare key is in there. Just knock before you enter. You want some food?"<br />
<br />
Does she have a home now? Carver considers the offer, then nods. "I'd love somethin' to eat." The helmet thing? Well, kids are stubborn. One thing at a time.<br />
<br />
-End Scene-<br />
<br />
[[Category:Logs]]</div>Aryiahttp://www.tenebraemush.net/index.php?title=Recent_Logs&diff=44339Recent Logs2025-04-15T21:51:37Z<p>Aryia: /* April */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{AboutLogs}}<br />
<br />
'''[[Archived_Logs|For 2024 and earlier, see the Archives]].'''<br />
<br />
==2025 Logs==<br />
===January===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|January 1, 2025<br />
|[[The Spectacle of the Century]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Alec]], [[Bryn]], [[Mikilos]] [[Murder]], [[Skyler]] <br />
|-<br />
|January 4, 2025<br />
|[[A Final Word on the Spires]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Rune]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Eztli]], [[Skyler]], [[Bryn]], GM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|January 5, 2025<br />
|[[Hooves of Steel (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Harshad]], [[Skyler]], [[Bryn]], [[Reithak]], [[Jarik]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 6, 2025<br />
|[[Working Hands]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Carver]], [[Simony]], [[Skyler]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|January 7, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 11)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|January 8, 2025<br />
|[[Flight of Intrigue]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Haggerty]], [[Palomas]], [[Skyler]], GM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 9, 2025<br />
|[[Scaling and Weeping]]<br />
|[[Verna]], [[Aryia]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Temple Festivities]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Telamon]], [[Irshya]], [[Jarik]], [[Menel]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Skyler]], [[Bryn]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 10, 2025<br />
|[[Sins of the Past: A Confrontation]]<br />
|[[Jarik]], [[Skyler]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 11, 2025<br />
|[[Slapbet]]<br />
|[[Aragos]], [[Rocky]], [[Skyler]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 12, 2025<br />
|[[Sewers and Saviors]]<br />
|[[Dirk]], [[Crik]], [[Jarik]], [[Bryn]], [[Ulthan]], [[Sjach]], with GM: [[Skyler]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 13, 2025<br />
|[[Graven Images]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Telamon]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Verna]], [[Skyler]], GM: [[Aftershock]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 14, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 12)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|January 15, 2025<br />
|[[Tough Hands]]<br />
|[[Warrick]], [[Bryn]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 17, 2025<br />
|[[The Power of Flour]]<br />
|[[Harshad]], [[Skyler]], [[Choler]], [[Munch]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 18, 2025<br />
|[[Grim Deed (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Culix]], [[Carver]], [[Jarik]], [[Skyler]], GM: [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Back in Technicolor]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Magpie]]; GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|January 19, 2025<br />
|[[Sewers and Saviors 2]]<br />
|[[Sjach]], [[Haggerty]], [[Crik]], [[Dirk]], [[Jarik]], [[Bryn]], GM: [[Skyler]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Vacation and the Pen]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 20, 2025<br />
|[[Meeting Eli]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Gramarye]], [[Haggerty]], [[Khepri]]; GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Pothy Problems]]<br />
|[[Murder]], [[Skyler]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 21, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 13)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|January 23, 2025<br />
|[[The Dream Quest of the Archmage Part 1]]<br />
|[[Skyler]], [[Warrick]], [[Palomas]], [[Haggerty]], GM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 26, 2025<br />
|[[Sewers and Saviors Part 3]]<br />
|[[Sjach]], [[Dirk]], [[Bryn]], [[Jarik]], [[Crik]], GM: [[Skyler]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 27, 2025<br />
|[[Golden Box]]<br />
|[[Cuemoni]], [[Gr'lk'tosst]], [[Halia]], [[Jarik]], [[Skyler]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 28, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 14)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|January 30, 2025<br />
|[[The Dream Quest of the Archmage Part 2]]<br />
|[[Skyler]], [[Warrick]], [[Palomas]], [[Haggerty]], GM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[A Polite Request]]<br />
|[[Harkashan]], [[Rune]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 31, 2025<br />
|[[Here But For You]]<br />
|[[Halia]], [[Skyler]], [[Rocky]], [[Tonameyo]], [[Carver]]<br />
|}<br />
<br />
===February===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|February 1, 2025<br />
|[[Grim Deeds 2]]<br />
|[[Culix]], [[Skyler]], [[Carver]], [[Jarik]], [[Reithak]], GM: [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 2, 2025<br />
|[[Beyond the Pale 1]]<br />
|[[Ulthan]], [[Bryn]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Burai]], GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 3, 2025<br />
|[[The Quest of Eli]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Gramarye]], [[Haggerty]], [[Khepri]], GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|February 4, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 15)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|February 6, 2025<br />
|[[A Handful of Dust]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Carver]], [[Corey]], [[Simony]], GM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 8, 2025<br />
|[[Grim Deed Part 3]]<br />
|[[Culix]], [[Skyler]], [[Carver]], [[Jarik]], [[Reithak]], GM: [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 9, 2025<br />
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 2]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Burai]], [[Crik]], [[Skyler]], [[Ulthan]], GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 11, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 16)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|February 14, 2025<br />
|[[Mages of Daeus]]<br />
|[[Telamon]], [[Skyler]], [[Eztli]], [[Carver]], GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|February 16, 2025<br />
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 3]]<br />
|[[Ulthan]], [[Bryn]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Burai]], GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 20, 2025<br />
|[[Moonstone Absconded]]<br />
|[[Dirk]], [[Carver]], [[Corey]], [[Magpie]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 21, 2025<br />
|[[Pursuit Through Dreams]]<br />
|[[Skyler]], [[Carver]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], NPC: Amenara Paki (played by Aftershock)<br />
|-<br />
|February 22, 2025<br />
|[[Grim Deed Part 4]]<br />
|[[Culix]], [[Skyler]], [[Carver]], [[Jarik]], [[Reithak]], GM: [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[A Gift Lost to the Shadows]]<br />
|[[Kaj]], [[Murder]], [[Telamon]], [[Carver]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 23, 2025<br />
|[[Conspiracy to Murder]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 4]]<br />
|[[Ulthan]], [[Bryn]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Burai]], GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 24, 2025<br />
|[[Of Tests and Trials]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Haggerty]], [[Khepri]], GM: Riptide & Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|February 25, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 17)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
===March===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|March 2, 2025<br />
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 5]]<br />
|[[Ulthan]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Burai]], GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 3, 2025<br />
|[[Moonstone Absconded (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Corey]], [[Dirk]], [[Magpie]]; GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|March 4, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 18)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|March 7, 2025<br />
|[[Crystal Tower]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Magpie]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]], GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|March 8, 2025<br />
|[[Grim Deed Part 5]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Culix]], [[Reithak]], [[Skyler]], GM: Aelwyn<br />
|-<br />
|March 9, 2025<br />
|[[Sins of the Past: Masquerade Mayhem]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Auranar]], [[Irshya]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]] DM: [[Jarik]] & [[Skyler]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Crystal Tower (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Magpie]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]], GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|March 10, 2025<br />
|[[Moonstone Absconded (Part 3)]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Corey]], [[Dirk]], [[Magpie]]; GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Cashew by Cashew]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Skyler]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 11, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 19)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|March 13, 2025<br />
|[[Dance of the Watchlings]]<br />
|[[Telamon]], [[Carver]], [[Skyler]], [[Simony]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 15, 2025<br />
|[[Grim Deed Part 6]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Culix]], [[Reithak]], [[Skyler]], GM: Aelwyn<br />
|-<br />
|March 16, 2025<br />
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 6]]<br />
|[[Ulthan]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Burai]], GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 18, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 20)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|March 19, 2025<br />
|[[The Sickle's Edge]]<br />
|[[Choler]], [[Harshad]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 20, 2025<br />
|[[Fluffy the Fey]]<br />
|[[Aragos]], [[Bryn]], [[Gramarye]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]] GM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 21, 2025<br />
|[[A Lost Fey Puppy]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 23, 2025<br />
|[[Of Staves and Stones]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Crystal Tower (Part 3)]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Magpie]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]], GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 7]]<br />
|[[Ulthan]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Bryn]], GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 24, 2025<br />
|[[Archmage Asking]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Telamon]], [[Murder]], Riptide (as Faphinae), GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|March 25, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 21)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|March 29, 2025<br />
|[[Grim Deed Part 7]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Culix]], [[Reithak]], [[Skyler]], GM: Aelwyn<br />
|-<br />
|March 30, 2025<br />
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 8]]<br />
|[[Ulthan]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Burai]], [[Bryn]], GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 31, 2025<br />
|[[Red Matrimony]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
<br />
===April===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|April 1, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 22)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|April 3, 2025<br />
|[[Inspector Fritzgilbert and the Ploughing Goat]]<br />
|[[Skyler]], [[Zigrun]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 4, 2025<br />
|[[The Golden Songbird]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Skyler]], [[Telamon]], GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|April 6, 2025<br />
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 9]]<br />
|[[Ulthan]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Burai]], GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 8, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 23)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|April 9, 2025<br />
|[[With Vast Love (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Cuemoni]], [[Haggerty]], [[Harshad]], [[Skyler]]; GM: [[Carver]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 11, 2025<br />
|[[Four Floozies]]<br />
|[[Khepri]], [[Carver]], [[Bryn]], [[Rocky]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 13, 2025<br />
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 10]]<br />
|[[Ulthan]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Bryn]], GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Nary for Nereid]]<br />
|[[Aragos]], [[Carver]], [[Mikilos]], [[Skyler]], [[Telamon]] GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|April 14, 2025<br />
|[[Running Up That Hill]]<br />
|[[Aragos]] GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Bring a Little Fae]]<br />
|[[Atrid]], [[Carver]], [[Gramarye]], [[Khepri]]; GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|April 15, 2025<br />
|[[A Grove Pit Stop]]<br />
|[[Slixvah]] [[Atrid]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Homegrown Confessional]]<br />
|[[Warrick]], [[Carver]]<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Logs]]</div>Aryiahttp://www.tenebraemush.net/index.php?title=Aryia&diff=44328Aryia2025-04-15T20:49:37Z<p>Aryia: </p>
<hr />
<div><!-- HEADER BAR, replace #957d9b with the color of your choice --><br />
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<p style="color: black; font-size: 220%; padding-left: 20px; font-weight: light; font-family: Constantia;"><br />
<!-- CHARACTER NAME in header bar, replace with your character's name --><br />
''Aryia''<br />
<!-- END OF CHARACTER NAME --><br />
</p></div><br />
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<!-- HEADING TEXT, replace #12674a with the color of your choice --><br />
<p style="color: #12674a; font-size: 180%; font-weight: bold; font-family: Constantia;">''Physical Description''</p><br />
<br />
<!-- INFOBOX --><br />
{| class="infobox" style="float:right; border:0px solid; margin: 5px; background-image: linear-gradient(to right, #12674a, transparent); background-origin: border-box; border-spacing: 2px; border: 2px solid transparent; "<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="3" | [[Image:Aryia.jpg|300px|Aryia in a green jacket, glaring at the viewer. Created by Bing AI Image Generator.]] <br />
|-<br />
! colspan="3" style="border-bottom:2px solid; background:white;"| Character Details<br />
|-<br />
| style="text-align:right; background:white;" | '''Race:'''<br />
| style="background:white;" | [[Mul'niessa]]<br />
|-<br />
| style="text-align:right; background:white;" | '''Class/Level:'''<br />
| style="background:white;" | Monk (20)<br />
|-<br />
| style="text-align:right; background:white;" | '''Gender:'''<br />
| style="background:white;" | Female<br />
|-<br />
| style="text-align:right; background:white;" | '''Deity:'''<br />
| style="background:white;" | None<br />
|-<br />
| style="text-align:right; background:white;" | '''Alignment:'''<br />
| style="background:white;" | Lawful Neutral<br />
|-<br />
| style="text-align:right; background:white;" | '''Age:'''<br />
| style="background:white;" | 112 lived, 101 naturally<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<!-- END OF INFOBOX --><br />
<br />
<!-- PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION TEXT --><br />
This mul woman holds an unnerving and menacing presence, as it’s clear that she needs no weapon nor magic to rend anything asunder. Lithe and muscular, her entire body screams that she is a walking weapon, even despite the fact her stature barely comes up to the shoulder on most.<br />
<br />
Scars from countless trials line nearly every inch of exposed dim gray flesh. Underneath the hardened veneer belies youth for an elf, yet the steel in her glowing milky eyes and marrings upon her skin age her in more than just time. Half-shaved, moon hued hair that wafts over her right shoulder makes it easy to spot a deeper-than-skin scar that runs jagged across the front of her throat.<br />
<br />
Silver trimmed black pants and a sleeveless black shirt expose glowing runed leather cords that wrap from shoulder to wrist against taut muscles. A silver pockmarked medallion dangles from her neck, matching the wide, silver framed shades that rests on her nose. A verdant buckle jacket sits shoulder robed, somehow always staying in place, as the silver chain clasp on it doesn’t seem to be doing much work.<br />
<!-- END OF PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION TEXT --><br />
<br />
<p style="color: #12674a; font-size: 180%; font-weight: bold; font-family: Constantia;">''About''</p><br />
<br />
A heavily scarred mul'neissa woman that works the Alexandrian docks, who tends to speak more with her fists than any words she could write down. She arrived to Alexandria to escape the clutches of Charn, yet keeps finding such atrocities creeping back up on her. Thrust into the adventuring life, she tends to see most with open suspicion lest they are vetted by those she's come to trust. She has also taken up the role of coach of a newfounded team in the Colosseum called The Crucible!<br />
<br />
<!-- ROLEPLAY HOOKS HEADING TEXT, replace #957d9b with the color of your choice --><br />
<p style="color: #12674a; font-size: 180%; font-weight: bold; font-family: Constantia;">''Roleplay Hooks''</p><br />
<!-- ROLEPLAY HOOKS --><br />
<br />
* '''Dock Hand:''' Aryia tends to work the ships that come to and fro from the ports, having been a sailor after her escape for some time.<br />
* '''Runaway:''' Fleeing from the underbelly of Charn has its own problems that constantly arise.<br />
* '''Pugilist:''' Aryia talks with her fists often, her training consisting of an unorthodox mishmash of various mentors, desperation, and grit. Not quite a proper monk, but close enough to get the gist of it.<br />
* '''Seamstress:''' From jackets to cloaks, to wedding dresses and suits, if one needs clothes, she can make it, and make it well. Just... don't get her for a last minute formal wear.<br />
* '''Colosseum Coach:''' Aryia's efforts of training fighters and pugilists in Alexandria's Colosseum has earned her a spot as one of the coaches for tournaments.<br />
<!-- END OF ROLEPLAY HOOKS --><br />
<br />
<p style="color: #12674a; font-size: 180%; font-weight: bold; font-family: Constantia;">''Punch-it List''</p><br />
<br />
Aryia has a non-exhaustive list of things she wants to slug and get away with. This includes but is in no way limited to:<br />
<br />
* A dragon<br />
* <s>A leader figure</s><br />
* <s>Herself</s><br />
* <s>A kaiju</s><br />
* <s>An angel</s><br />
* <s>A demon</s><br />
* <s>A devil</s><br />
* <s>An army</s><br />
* <s>A massive monster</s><br />
<br />
<p style="color: #12674a; font-size: 180%; font-weight: bold; font-family: Constantia;">''Ki Powers and Style Strikes''</p><br />
<br />
Aryia has an extensive list of abilities that focus on defense and maneuverability:<br />
<br />
Ki Powers:<br />
<br />
* Deny Death<br />
* Barkskin<br />
* Diamond Mind<br />
* Water Sprint<br />
* Abundant Step<br />
* Restoration<br />
* Diamond Resilience<br />
* Diamond Soul<br />
* Quivering Palm<br />
<br />
Style Strike:<br />
<br />
* Defensive Spin<br />
* Flying Kick<br />
* Shattering Punch<br />
* Spin Kick<br />
<br />
<p style="color: #12674a; font-size: 180%; font-weight: bold; font-family: Constantia;">''Quotes''</p><br />
<br />
* "The apex is only yourself and those you surround yourself with. And gods damn do you look small down there."<br />
<br />
</div><br />
<br />
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<br />
{{Badge}}<br />
{{Badge-Icon|Monk.png}} <br />
{{Badge-Content}}<br />
{{Badge-Title|Monk PC Badge}}<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Honed Weapon}} Aryia fights solely with her body, and focuses on enduring even the worst of blows.<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Structured Dogma}} Various meditation methods, philosophies, and training routines keep her mind and body in check.<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Monastic Order}} Belonging to no order, Aryia's discipline is standoffish. But results speak for themselves.<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Ki Powers}} Typically manifesting as moonlit energies, Aryia's ki powers focus more on endurance and mobility. Hardening skin and body, negating magic, defying death, and short range teleporting.<br />
{{Badge-End}} <br />
<br />
{{Badge}}<br />
{{Badge-Icon|Darkelf02.jpg}} <br />
{{Badge-Content}}<br />
{{Badge-Title|Mul'niessa PC Badge}}<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Full Name}} Aryia Zilstrae Aelduis<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Role}} A fisticuffs brawler that doesn't mind going head first into a scrap.<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Faith}} None. "I threw myself before any and every god during my most desperate times and all I got was silence."<br />
<br />
{{Badge-End}}<br />
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{{Badge-Title|Flaws PC Badge}}<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Flaw}} Mute.<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Development}}Physical silence bestows it's own slew of problems. One that Aryia has no desire to get fixed any time soon.<br />
<br />
{{Badge-End}}<br />
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{{Badge-Title|Aspect PC Badge}}<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Aspect}}Sun-Touched<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Tier}}Tier 3 + Major Tattoos<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Development}} Odd it is that a mul'neissa is aligned with the moonlight, yet still retains their touch of shadows. Either the coin landed on its side on the flip, or something else manifests. The tattoo manifest as moon hued lines of light across her body when the Aspect is used or Ki abilities are tapped. This aspect is highly apparent when using her mythic abilities, as skin turns onyx and scars crack into marble and shine.<br />
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{{Badge-Icon|Influence01.jpg}} <br />
{{Badge-Content}}<br />
{{Badge-Title|(RPP) Influence PC Badge}}<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Tier}} Tier 3<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Major Spheres}} The Colosseum.<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Minor Spheres}} None yet.<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Rival}} Ubaki - a half-oruch Korite monk that has grown frustrated at their plateau. Now upon seeing Aryia's success, they've sworn to surpass the mul'neissan coach.<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Apprentice}} None yet.<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Other Landmarks}} Being a popular coach in The Colosseum without revering Angoron and Kor is strange and noteworthy for tournament goers.<br />
{{Badge-End}}<br />
<br />
{{Badge}}<br />
{{Badge-Icon|Mythic20.png}} <br />
{{Badge-Content}}<br />
{{Badge-Title|Mythic Paths PC Badge}}<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Tier}} Tier 10<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Progression}} Epic Rise: d12, Ki-Healing, Extinguishment of Pain, Healing Stand, Fist of the Moonsoul. Feats: Wall Run, Aerial Assault<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Development}} Playing cards with a god, fighting demonic kaiju, delving into time loops, being wreathed in otherworldly energy, and being overall bull headed has manifested itself to a point where her physical prowess has a higher apex than previously thought possible. Aryia possesses the ability to force her tenacity into the material, able to shove life into wounds and unlife, as well as obliterate the horrid.<br />
{{Badge-End}}<br />
<!-- END OF BADGE AREA --><br />
</div><br />
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<!-- FOOTER BAR, replace #957d9b with the color of your choice --><br />
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''"F*** off, I'm punching rocks."''<br />
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<br />
[[Category:Monk]]<br />
[[Category:Mul'niessa]]<br />
[[Category:Player]]</div>Aryiahttp://www.tenebraemush.net/index.php?title=A_Grove_Pit_Stop&diff=44325A Grove Pit Stop2025-04-15T19:56:56Z<p>Aryia: Created page with "::''Druid Grove, Midday'' "First endless snow, and now, rain! Bah! An' I jus' finally got outta da den!" The light pattering of rain that drums across the canopy of the Druid Grove runs contrast to the bemoaning of the rainbow-ribboned egalrin woman. She's on the slow down from a sharp run, drag lines in the mud bely her landing as she finishes the jog under a large branch for shelter. There's a ruffling of feathers and a bag strapped to her hip, checking the contents...."</p>
<hr />
<div>::''Druid Grove, Midday''<br />
<br />
"First endless snow, and now, rain! Bah! An' I jus' finally got outta da den!"<br />
<br />
The light pattering of rain that drums across the canopy of the Druid Grove runs contrast to the bemoaning of the rainbow-ribboned egalrin woman. She's on the slow down from a sharp run, drag lines in the mud bely her landing as she finishes the jog under a large branch for shelter. There's a ruffling of feathers and a bag strapped to her hip, checking the contents. "'kay, da goods. Dry? Yep. Cashmere, silk, birdie-" a tinny tweet comes from her bag, only for her to yank a tiny bird out and jam it into her robes, "-wrong place goober- aaand cotton, good good. And now I gotta find...."<br />
<br />
The egalrin looks looks about the grove. Random animals and people resting in shelter. Bird and critters splashing in puddles. "... well dis is gon' be messy. And I forgo' m'brella."<br />
<br />
The bird chirps.<br />
<br />
"Shut it."<br />
<br />
Atrid chuckles as he watches the Egalrin girl finish her landing, he has a fire going cooking some sort of deer or Elk there's a raven upon his shoulder, and a tent nearby. "Hello there lass, ye hungry? I got plenty, I'm makin' a stew, have some hot caf here too." He calls and the Oruch doesn't seem to mind the rain at all, rubbing the world tree and raven tattoos on either side of his head. "Im Atrid."<br />
<br />
It looked as if the eglarin was steeling herself to get back into the rain, but that is quickly discarded at the invitation as she spins about. "Food?! Ey yo, fo' sho' shug!" she beams, all but throwing herself at the ground near the fire. "I tells ya, glidin' from th' mountain all th' way ta here works up on heck of an appetite! Especialy in da rain!"<br />
<br />
She jabs a hand out towards Atrid. "Pleasure ta meet'chu Atrid! One of the best-y, east ta impress me, name's Slixvah Unmesi!" she happily chirps, all the dour of getting rained on discarded. The tiny bird, a white thrush, peers out from her robe, glaring at the raven.<br />
<br />
Atrid laughs and takes the hand giving it a firm shake. "Well hello there Slixvah Unmesi, a pleasure ta meet such a pretty Birb lady." He says with a grin before chopping up some veggies throwing them into the cauldron like pot of water adding the venison to it as well some salt, pepper and some other seasonings. "Ye want some bread with the stew?" He asks as he pours a hot cup of caf for Slixvah. "Since ye gave me her family name, Ill tell ye that I am Atrid o the Earth Warder's clan."<br />
<br />
The raven caws and hops down looking at the white tiny Birb, it cocks it's head and stretches a wing over the little birb's head. "Look like Hugin has made a wee friend or in tryin' ta."<br />
<br />
Slixvah returns the shake. "Oh hush, but thank you!" she winks before looming over the cauldron. "Yush! Bread's good shtuff." Taking the cup of caf, she leans back into a seat with a thankful nod. "Ah. Family's important in th' Aeries." She clears her throat. "Pleased to properly meet you, much peace and prosperity for you and your clan," she says, changing her tongue from the light and airy to the rough and tumble of Yrch-Speak.<br />
<br />
She swaps back to Trade, looking down at the tiny bird. Said bird is squished up, golden eyes hostile at the offending wing. "Oh my god Fiadh, not ever frickin' corvid is out to get you."<br />
<br />
"Lies," it chirps tinnily. "Unweaver of fates and detriment to-"<br />
<br />
"That's gobbly gook, go say hi," Slix huffs, grabbing Fiadh and holding them towards Hugin. Fiadh sighs, resigned.<br />
<br />
Atrid laughs and nods his head switching to Yrch-speak. "You speak the language of my people, and are a beautiful Birb? And why should I stop, it's true I happen to find your coloring rather stunning." He says before continuing to speak. "And it is a pleasure to meet you proper, though peace is a bit tough to come by amongst Oruch even of my clan." He switches back to trade speak ladeling out a bowl of thick hearty stew and a couple of slices of bread and offering it to Slixva and winks back at her. "Besides, do ye really have a problem with flirtation?" Atrid asks with a playful wink.<br />
<br />
"Yes yes Hugin be nice, show the little one ye just want ta be his friend. He's apparently had some issues with other corvids, so yer Job is ta show the little one ye dont all want to harm him."<br />
<br />
Hugin gives a caw and and hops excitedly, still using his wing to try and shield little Birb from the rain.<br />
<br />
"Well thank ya regardless, ya flatter me," Slixvah snickers. "I can feel ya on dat shug, m'fam's had th' same hard times." Accepting the food readily after downing some of the caf. She's got half a slice of bread laden with soup half jammed in her beak before being asked a question. "Mmmrhph?" Swallow. "Oh hell naw, shug. Dana said let da world be pretty and hi hello I'm da world, bask in my glorious beauty wit' as much flirtiness as ya want!"<br />
<br />
"Compliments inflate her ego to astronomical levels. The fallout is upon thyself now," Fiadh's tinny voice warns before peering up at Hugin. "... I will allow it," they grumble, closing their eyes and resting under the shielding wing.<br />
<br />
Atrid smiles and nods his head. "And if I want to do more than just flirtin'? Say take ye out get ta know ye?" He asks with a smile taking a long sip of his own car before filling his own bowl with stew and two slices of bread, using the bread like a spoon and slurping/chomping it down. He looks at Fiadh. "Ye know li'le one tha' Oruchs have a thing fer the rough and tumble, tough, survivalist types right?" He gestures to Slixvah. "Egalrin Druid, who...." He looks at her. "Wait did ye say Dana?!?!" Atrid laughs pulling out his own symbol of Dana that hangs about his neck. "Aye Dana does say ta bask in all the beauty of the world, does this mean ye too think there is beauty in me too?" Atrid grins and tosses her a wink as Hugin curls a wing around Fiadh with a happy caw.<br />
<br />
Slixvah laughs, waving a dismissing hand. "Oh, ya a hoot, Atrid. That'll take several months, a few life and death adventures, and a handful of parties! Flattered tho'!"<br />
<br />
She grins. "Eyy, Ceiwen- Dana- get a lotta praise fro' me. But not close on tha'- Ain't druid. Think mo' like a purveyor of oddities and occultly things, I like th' mojo tha' makes most people a lil' cray cray."<br />
<br />
Fiadh makes a grunt of annoyance at being hugged.<br />
<br />
She looks over at Atrid before nodding once. "I mean, I see beauty in all peoples, so yeah. I also see it in stories and places, and all th' in between spaces. Li', did y'know ya can use two feathers ta make a bolt of lightin'? It works better if ya scream somethin' goofy!"<br />
<br />
Oh. She's lowkey crazy.<br />
<br />
Atrid laughs and nods his head a bit. "Did I say more fer this second? I said get ta know ye lass which takes time indeed. I can give it several months o hangin out and gettin ta know each other and a few loife and death adventures, Parties well I do enjoy Mead and lots o mead, though I will no' deny tha' when I par'y I tend ta ye know dance around a foire." He teases with a smirk and he takes another bite. "I mean there is beauty in all things just as there is darkness and ugliness in all things too." He says with a firm nod. "And who cares what makes most a bit cray cray I like nature, but occulty things are rather fun too!"<br />
<br />
"Shall see if fate tumbles down tha' way o' not. Ri' now I'm mo' focused on my wings aching like hell and fixin' it with dis bomb soup," Slixvah snickers. "Well yuh o'course. Can't have pretty wit'out ugly. Can't have happy wit'out sad. Life wit'out death. Sanity wit'out madness."<br />
<br />
There's a long pause as she makes a loud slurping from her stew. Egalrin woman tilts her head. "Oh do ya now? I'd be interested in know wha' ya know! How long you been out 'ere in th' Grove? I don' come here too often."<br />
<br />
Atrid smiles and shakes his head as he eats more step chewing and swallowing. "Oh sweet beau'iful Birb ye want me ta spill my secrets." He mock gasps. "Well what would ye say if I told ye I just tinker and dabble and like the idea o it, it interests me. See people think that jus' because Druidry is of nature that there's no occult to it. But is not all things that Cannae be explained occult? Strange and weird?" He asks with a playful wink. "I mean...if yer wings be sore and achin' I can always give them a massage ta try and help, if tha's agreeable to ye."<br />
<br />
Slix snaps her fingers. "Drat, ya figured me out. I'mma secret hunta!" she laughs. "Oh no fo sho. Dere's occult in everythin'. It's th' inbetween. Th' unpenned. Th' unspoken. Druidry gets all of them vibes and puts 'em ta real work," she gestures out to the Grove itself. "But I figure out da inbetweens, tie 'em inta knots, make a pretty bow outta them and somethin' blows up. Sometimes."<br />
<br />
Fiadh grumbles, "A mockery of The Tapestry with all your string tying and cutting-"<br />
<br />
"Buuuuuuuuuuuut it works!" Slix counters, poking the little bird on the forehead until they're squished into a white fluff ball. "Hm? Naw I'm good, shug. Thanks tho!"<br />
<br />
Hugin hops in front of fiadh. "No Pokes...pokes rude.." He caws out mimicking the speech of Atrid as best as he can. "Oi Hugin, be nice fish is her pal she's not gonna hurt the wee one." He rolls his eyes. "But ye see there's the natural order, the order o loife and death and the loike. But what would ye say if I told ye that what I loike researchin' is ways ta try and circumvent it lookin' inta the stories, o bringing things back and such.<br />
<br />
Fiadh unfloofs and points a wing at Slixvah. "Even my sworn adversaries come to mine aid for your transgressions," they declare in a tinny, deadpane tone.<br />
<br />
"Trus' me Hugin, you ain' gotta be around Fifi all day. If I don' knock 'em down a peg every ten minutes they's gonna be mo' annoyin' than me!"<br />
<br />
"Slander."<br />
<br />
The eglarin pulls her eyelid down at Fiadh and makes the sound of blowing a raspberry. "Anywho! I'd say... Das sounds ri' up m'alley! What kinda things ya lookin' to bring back an' such? Spirits? Animals? M'dead houseplant that despite me waterin' decides ta crap out on me?" A pause. "No zombies tho' otherwise I'm gettin' a priest and I'm gonna smite somethin'."<br />
<br />
"We have past with the undeath."<br />
<br />
"My homies /hate/ the undead."<br />
<br />
Atrid smirks and scoots closer hip bumping her. "I mean all o it, and if I can raisem, I can turnem too, tha's the beauty o the necromantic arts. Ye can raise a minion or two or wha'ever ta stand between ye and yer enemies, ta be fodder fer em ye know?" He says with a wicked grin. "I know I know Necromancy, not very druidic o me ta be talkin' about, nor very much in the ways o honorin' Dana but there be somethin' about it ye know?"<br />
<br />
Hugin looks at Slix and if a corvid could he'd be blowing a raspberry at her before Cawing at Fiadh, a sound that says clearly I'm not your sworn Adversary I'm friend.<br />
<br />
Seems like Fiadh clearly understands Hugin, as she chirps back at them just as clearly. "Bold of you to assume friendship, but I shall allow acquaintance for the time at present."<br />
<br />
Slix looks dubious, scooting and leaning a bit away. "I mean, yuh, I use necromancy too. And I ain' gonna lie an' say I ain' know 'bout risin' minions, but be right careful. Das a slippery slope to a loads of stuff. Main thing wit' me tho' is that if I screw 'round in bad stuff that lil' goober over there will prolly kill me."<br />
<br />
Fiadh simply tweets once.<br />
<br />
"It don't look it but they's the scariest thing."<br />
<br />
Atrid chuckles and slides a bit further away from Slix raising his hands. "My apologies, lass I wasnt meanin ta freak ye out, just bein' playful and flirty is all." Atrid says slipping back closer to the pot to show he's giving the space. Finally finishing his stew and making himself another bowl. "Aye I know how slippery a slope it can, be but maybe ye and I can keep each other grounded so as not ta fall too far inta the darkness." He than looks to the little floof. "Ye aren' tha' scary little Birb, no' even Hugin is scared oh ye." And as if to prove the point he caws saying fine acquaintance but you know you like me and want friends.<br />
<br />
Slixvah relaxes, skulling her stew and caf as she gives a crumb of bread over to Fiadh. Fiadh simply stares at it. "I am a magical being, I don't need-"<br />
<br />
She gives it to Hugin readily.<br />
<br />
"-betrayal of the highest order."<br />
<br />
"Ahhh. Good stuff, thanks Atrid!" She shrugs once. "Maybes! Gonna need a lil' rapport built befo' we figure somethin' like tha'."<br />
<br />
Fiadh puffs up. "I tolerate Unmesi because she is useful for the Tapestry. I am the culmination of wisdom and all that is to come. Akin to a canary in a mine, I am- *tweet*!"<br />
<br />
Slixvah stuffs Fiadh into her robes. "Alright, das 'nuff outta you, Soz, they's act like a mighty wise dragon ninety nine percent of da time. Aaaanyways-!" she gets to her feet and rolls her shoulders. "Atrid, m'guy, thanks fo' da delish food, refresh, meet, greet, chat, and gab! I gotta get dis bag delivered ta a literal bear that's prolly also a druid 'fore too long now. Pleasure ta meetcha!"<br />
<br />
Atrid nods his head. "But o'course I was just meanin' ta be friendly, I hope I didn't make ye uncomfortable. I ain't been in this place long, recen'ly arrived actually." He says with a chuckle. Laughing at Fiadh's response to Hugin getting bread. "Oh he really doesn' loike ravens do he?" Atrid says before nodding again. "Aye ye take care and be safe, and yer welcome. I hope ta see ye again soon, the pleasure was all Moine."<br />
<br />
-End Scene-<br />
<br />
[[Category:Logs]]</div>Aryiahttp://www.tenebraemush.net/index.php?title=Recent_Logs&diff=44324Recent Logs2025-04-15T19:55:17Z<p>Aryia: /* April */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{AboutLogs}}<br />
<br />
'''[[Archived_Logs|For 2024 and earlier, see the Archives]].'''<br />
<br />
==2025 Logs==<br />
===January===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|January 1, 2025<br />
|[[The Spectacle of the Century]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Alec]], [[Bryn]], [[Mikilos]] [[Murder]], [[Skyler]] <br />
|-<br />
|January 4, 2025<br />
|[[A Final Word on the Spires]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Rune]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Eztli]], [[Skyler]], [[Bryn]], GM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|January 5, 2025<br />
|[[Hooves of Steel (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Harshad]], [[Skyler]], [[Bryn]], [[Reithak]], [[Jarik]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 6, 2025<br />
|[[Working Hands]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Carver]], [[Simony]], [[Skyler]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|January 7, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 11)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|January 8, 2025<br />
|[[Flight of Intrigue]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Haggerty]], [[Palomas]], [[Skyler]], GM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 9, 2025<br />
|[[Scaling and Weeping]]<br />
|[[Verna]], [[Aryia]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Temple Festivities]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Telamon]], [[Irshya]], [[Jarik]], [[Menel]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Skyler]], [[Bryn]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 10, 2025<br />
|[[Sins of the Past: A Confrontation]]<br />
|[[Jarik]], [[Skyler]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 11, 2025<br />
|[[Slapbet]]<br />
|[[Aragos]], [[Rocky]], [[Skyler]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 12, 2025<br />
|[[Sewers and Saviors]]<br />
|[[Dirk]], [[Crik]], [[Jarik]], [[Bryn]], [[Ulthan]], [[Sjach]], with GM: [[Skyler]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 13, 2025<br />
|[[Graven Images]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Telamon]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Verna]], [[Skyler]], GM: [[Aftershock]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 14, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 12)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|January 15, 2025<br />
|[[Tough Hands]]<br />
|[[Warrick]], [[Bryn]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 17, 2025<br />
|[[The Power of Flour]]<br />
|[[Harshad]], [[Skyler]], [[Choler]], [[Munch]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 18, 2025<br />
|[[Grim Deed (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Culix]], [[Carver]], [[Jarik]], [[Skyler]], GM: [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Back in Technicolor]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Magpie]]; GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|January 19, 2025<br />
|[[Sewers and Saviors 2]]<br />
|[[Sjach]], [[Haggerty]], [[Crik]], [[Dirk]], [[Jarik]], [[Bryn]], GM: [[Skyler]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Vacation and the Pen]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 20, 2025<br />
|[[Meeting Eli]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Gramarye]], [[Haggerty]], [[Khepri]]; GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Pothy Problems]]<br />
|[[Murder]], [[Skyler]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 21, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 13)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|January 23, 2025<br />
|[[The Dream Quest of the Archmage Part 1]]<br />
|[[Skyler]], [[Warrick]], [[Palomas]], [[Haggerty]], GM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 26, 2025<br />
|[[Sewers and Saviors Part 3]]<br />
|[[Sjach]], [[Dirk]], [[Bryn]], [[Jarik]], [[Crik]], GM: [[Skyler]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 27, 2025<br />
|[[Golden Box]]<br />
|[[Cuemoni]], [[Gr'lk'tosst]], [[Halia]], [[Jarik]], [[Skyler]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 28, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 14)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|January 30, 2025<br />
|[[The Dream Quest of the Archmage Part 2]]<br />
|[[Skyler]], [[Warrick]], [[Palomas]], [[Haggerty]], GM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[A Polite Request]]<br />
|[[Harkashan]], [[Rune]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 31, 2025<br />
|[[Here But For You]]<br />
|[[Halia]], [[Skyler]], [[Rocky]], [[Tonameyo]], [[Carver]]<br />
|}<br />
<br />
===February===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|February 1, 2025<br />
|[[Grim Deeds 2]]<br />
|[[Culix]], [[Skyler]], [[Carver]], [[Jarik]], [[Reithak]], GM: [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 2, 2025<br />
|[[Beyond the Pale 1]]<br />
|[[Ulthan]], [[Bryn]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Burai]], GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 3, 2025<br />
|[[The Quest of Eli]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Gramarye]], [[Haggerty]], [[Khepri]], GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|February 4, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 15)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|February 6, 2025<br />
|[[A Handful of Dust]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Carver]], [[Corey]], [[Simony]], GM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 8, 2025<br />
|[[Grim Deed Part 3]]<br />
|[[Culix]], [[Skyler]], [[Carver]], [[Jarik]], [[Reithak]], GM: [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 9, 2025<br />
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 2]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Burai]], [[Crik]], [[Skyler]], [[Ulthan]], GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 11, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 16)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|February 14, 2025<br />
|[[Mages of Daeus]]<br />
|[[Telamon]], [[Skyler]], [[Eztli]], [[Carver]], GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|February 16, 2025<br />
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 3]]<br />
|[[Ulthan]], [[Bryn]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Burai]], GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 20, 2025<br />
|[[Moonstone Absconded]]<br />
|[[Dirk]], [[Carver]], [[Corey]], [[Magpie]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 21, 2025<br />
|[[Pursuit Through Dreams]]<br />
|[[Skyler]], [[Carver]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], NPC: Amenara Paki (played by Aftershock)<br />
|-<br />
|February 22, 2025<br />
|[[Grim Deed Part 4]]<br />
|[[Culix]], [[Skyler]], [[Carver]], [[Jarik]], [[Reithak]], GM: [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[A Gift Lost to the Shadows]]<br />
|[[Kaj]], [[Murder]], [[Telamon]], [[Carver]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 23, 2025<br />
|[[Conspiracy to Murder]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 4]]<br />
|[[Ulthan]], [[Bryn]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Burai]], GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 24, 2025<br />
|[[Of Tests and Trials]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Haggerty]], [[Khepri]], GM: Riptide & Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|February 25, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 17)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
===March===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|March 2, 2025<br />
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 5]]<br />
|[[Ulthan]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Burai]], GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 3, 2025<br />
|[[Moonstone Absconded (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Corey]], [[Dirk]], [[Magpie]]; GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|March 4, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 18)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|March 7, 2025<br />
|[[Crystal Tower]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Magpie]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]], GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|March 8, 2025<br />
|[[Grim Deed Part 5]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Culix]], [[Reithak]], [[Skyler]], GM: Aelwyn<br />
|-<br />
|March 9, 2025<br />
|[[Sins of the Past: Masquerade Mayhem]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Auranar]], [[Irshya]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]] DM: [[Jarik]] & [[Skyler]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Crystal Tower (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Magpie]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]], GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|March 10, 2025<br />
|[[Moonstone Absconded (Part 3)]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Corey]], [[Dirk]], [[Magpie]]; GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Cashew by Cashew]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Skyler]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 11, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 19)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|March 13, 2025<br />
|[[Dance of the Watchlings]]<br />
|[[Telamon]], [[Carver]], [[Skyler]], [[Simony]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 15, 2025<br />
|[[Grim Deed Part 6]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Culix]], [[Reithak]], [[Skyler]], GM: Aelwyn<br />
|-<br />
|March 16, 2025<br />
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 6]]<br />
|[[Ulthan]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Burai]], GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 18, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 20)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|March 19, 2025<br />
|[[The Sickle's Edge]]<br />
|[[Choler]], [[Harshad]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 20, 2025<br />
|[[Fluffy the Fey]]<br />
|[[Aragos]], [[Bryn]], [[Gramarye]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]] GM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 21, 2025<br />
|[[A Lost Fey Puppy]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 23, 2025<br />
|[[Of Staves and Stones]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Crystal Tower (Part 3)]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Magpie]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]], GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 7]]<br />
|[[Ulthan]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Bryn]], GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 24, 2025<br />
|[[Archmage Asking]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Telamon]], [[Murder]], Riptide (as Faphinae), GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|March 25, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 21)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|March 29, 2025<br />
|[[Grim Deed Part 7]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Culix]], [[Reithak]], [[Skyler]], GM: Aelwyn<br />
|-<br />
|March 30, 2025<br />
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 8]]<br />
|[[Ulthan]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Burai]], [[Bryn]], GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 31, 2025<br />
|[[Red Matrimony]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
<br />
===April===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|April 1, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 22)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|April 3, 2025<br />
|[[Inspector Fritzgilbert and the Ploughing Goat]]<br />
|[[Skyler]], [[Zigrun]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 4, 2025<br />
|[[The Golden Songbird]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Skyler]], [[Telamon]], GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|April 6, 2025<br />
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 9]]<br />
|[[Ulthan]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Burai]], GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 8, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 23)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|April 9, 2025<br />
|[[With Vast Love (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Cuemoni]], [[Haggerty]], [[Harshad]], [[Skyler]]; GM: [[Carver]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 11, 2025<br />
|[[Four Floozies]]<br />
|[[Khepri]], [[Carver]], [[Bryn]], [[Rocky]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 13, 2025<br />
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 10]]<br />
|[[Ulthan]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Bryn]], GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Nary for Nereid]]<br />
|[[Aragos]], [[Carver]], [[Mikilos]], [[Skyler]], [[Telamon]] GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|April 14, 2025<br />
|[[Running Up That Hill]]<br />
|[[Aragos]] GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Bring a Little Fae]]<br />
|[[Atrid]], [[Carver]], [[Gramarye]], [[Khepri]]; GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|April 15, 2025<br />
|[[A Grove Pit Stop]]<br />
|[[Slixvah]] [[Atrid]]<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Logs]]</div>Aryiahttp://www.tenebraemush.net/index.php?title=The_Dream_Quest_of_the_Archmage_Part_2&diff=44111The Dream Quest of the Archmage Part 22025-01-31T04:04:48Z<p>Aryia: Created page with ":: ''The Dreamtime'' After disembarking from Rafael Prince's wagon, you find yourself on foot. In theory, it shouldn't be any different from a march in the waking world, right? Wrong. As the party advances into the deep wilds of the Dreamtime, the terrain continues to change with disturbing regularity and no real pattern to it. The rocky plain dissolves and molds itself into a noisome swamp, but instead of insects, the terrain itself seems bent on messing with you. Lo..."</p>
<hr />
<div>:: ''The Dreamtime''<br />
<br />
After disembarking from Rafael Prince's wagon, you find yourself on foot. In theory, it shouldn't be any different from a march in the waking world, right?<br />
<br />
Wrong.<br />
<br />
As the party advances into the deep wilds of the Dreamtime, the terrain continues to change with disturbing regularity and no real pattern to it. The rocky plain dissolves and molds itself into a noisome swamp, but instead of insects, the terrain itself seems bent on messing with you. Looking into the puddles and pools of water as you cross does not show reflections, but instead ghostly forms just below the surface. They vanish if you disturb the water, but as soon as you're past they reform. Staring at you with strange, alien eyes.<br />
<br />
"I think this place tops the mushroom land with the flumph in terms of strange," Warrick idly comments, voice mildly muffled from the closed armet helmet. His marching is easily broken into wary walking with the rapidly shifting unfamiliar terrain. "And we're supposed to find a weapon in the midst of all this...?"<br />
<br />
He shakes his head, glancing to a puddle to look at the ghostly figures.<br />
<br />
It is passing strange for one step to sink into the murk of a swamp, only for the next to shift across grains of sands.<br />
<br />
Palomas is sweating despite all the shifting geozones, tugging once at his collar and taking a drink of dreamwater. Or just regular water of his in a dream. "I don't think I'll take another job to the dreamlands anytime soon, heh-heh." He clears his throat as he tightens the flask once more. He spots some of the watching eyes and kicks dirt onto them, scowling. "Maybe not ever again."<br />
<br />
Haggerty listens to muttered snarfles and yips, smiles at the all black canine close to him and verbally agrees, "You are correct, Kuno. It does look like the ice blocks used to store the catch back home." The pointy hat crowned Aesir chuckles and marches on. "We may want to rope together. If you wish?"<br />
<br />
"God, I wish Jarik were here." Skyler sighs when they're faced with a swamp, "Whenever we encounter swampland, he usually gives me uppies and carries me so I don't get my feet muddy."<br />
<br />
Not quite the sacrifice it sounds, given the half-Oruch witch's ability to walk on the surface of mud and scum, but it's still *romantic*. <br />
<br />
Pale grey-green eyes shoot to Warrick consideringly, as if thinking about wanting to ask *him* for uppies. But Skyler's eyes cut over to Haggerty at his discussion, brow furrowing slightly. "Probably best." He says slowly, adding, "And maybe Warrick or I should take point. View's shite regardless, either watch an swampy ass or watch an assy swamp. The other can take rearguard."<br />
<br />
The swamp has that disturbing tendency to clutch at your feet, much the same way it feels when you're caught in a nightmare and trying to run from something but can't quite move quickly.<br />
<br />
This may be where that feeling comes from, in fact.<br />
<br />
But soon enough, the swamp seems to drain out of the landscape like a runny watercolor, leaving behind a yawning cave mouth. A soft wind blows out of it, carrying with it indistinct murmurs and whispers. Nothing intelligible, but more than just noise. A scent is carried along as well, something dolorous and gray, not rot but what comes after. Dust, perhaps.<br />
<br />
"I am in agreement; not my favorite place, too wibbly wobbly for my tastes," Warrick concurs to the sole Lucht of the group. "Roping together may help, but to be honest, it may hamper us more than aid."<br />
<br />
Falling in line to be behind Palamos, he resettles his large crossbow into the crook of his shoulder. "If only one could carry us," he grumbles, pulling his foot free of the latching swamp. The feeling behind it is... far too close to his own nightmares. And then they spill out into a cave entrance. "I can deal with a cave," he sighs in relief, pulling out a small dull orb from a pocket and releasing it. It floats up beside his head, shedding a soft white light.<br />
<br />
"Useful," The Lucht says at the pale light. He takes a deep breath then checks to make sure his own helmet is firmly in place. One last quick check of his gear as he considers his options, before finally settling on the strange ribbon'd stick, loading a pale river stone into his sling.<br />
<br />
"Good luck to everyone. No panic."<br />
<br />
"Make like the Sanctified Maiden! Procure the best destrier you may, Master Archer!" The redheaded Northman speaks with religious verve. "There are positives and negatives to my suggestion, surely so. He muck and dust and elsewalks steadily, until the group closes in on the cave. He leans forward and whiffs which is mimicked by the tiny doge. Hagg kindles his magic torch in his belt on the side.<br />
<br />
"Oh *amazing*!" Skyler breathes at Warrick's glowing little moon, eyes wide and glittering with something almost hungry. "I was pricing one of those at the Market before we met up."<br />
<br />
He shakes his head like a dog shaking off water. Anywho! "Cave's a lot better! Just did a gig in a cave with a creepy child and a wizard with *amazing* skincare and a box." He chuckles, "Still got some acid burns from it!" He draws the curved sword on his back, twirling it one-handed with half his attention on making sure his buckler is settled securely and he can reach into his coat for a series of vials and a dagger. He grins over his shoulder at Pal, winking at him, "Panic's for people with a brain. I'm brainless so... To adventure!"<br />
<br />
GAME: Haggerty rolls craft/alchemy: (17)+5: 22<br />
<br />
The cave is actually quite spacious, the floor level and coated in white sand. Here and there can be seen small fragments of stone that look like bits of statues -- a finger, a bit of carved nose, that sort of thing. Disturbing. At the far end of the cavern is a small altar, upon which rests a mace or scepter with a head in the shape of a snarling tiger -- but you are not alone.<br />
<br />
Kneeling before the altar is a humanoid figure, its back to you. As you approach, it rises silently, and turns to face you. When it looks at you, you realize its skin is gaunt over its skeleton, eyes shriveled away, mouth gaping open. What comes from its lips, though, is even worse. A sad voice, a woman's, whispering, "You left me behind."<br />
<br />
And out of the shadows, a dull blue spider and a large worm-like creature emerge to flank the corpse. Voices come from them as well. "No one escapes death." "You can't run from your past." "Your magic can't save you."<br />
<br />
Haggerty shares the find of his amateurish smellery, "Something died in there. Long ago. I wager dead dreams, undead dreams, dreams of composting entities. Strangeness awaits us, so I mind for a trace of care. You know, a little bit..." He sighs. Sighs again. The freckled man rolls his blue eyes and spits out some of that dusty grime. He is quick to follow the group into the cave, likely half pulled by the reckless. "I disagree!" shouts the spellcaster.<br />
<br />
<br />
The trio of dream-spawned horrors begin to advance in a steady, deliberate pace on the heroes. The dead man draws a long, curving sword of Tian manufacture from his back, hefting it as he stalks towards the quarter. The spider, and the snake-like abomination, move in as well, covering the warrior's flanks.<br />
<br />
"Flee this place, if you can." "No one will mourn you." "Why have you abandoned our daughter?"<br />
<br />
GAME: Skyler rolls acrobatics+5: (19)+12+5: 36<br />
GAME: Skyler rolls weapon1: (17)+12: 29 (THREAT)<br />
GAME: Skyler rolls weapon1: (12)+12: 24<br />
GAME: Skyler rolls damage1+damage1+10: aliased to 1d6+5+1d6+5+10: (4)+5+(3)+5+10: 27<br />
GAME: Skyler spends ONE point of PANACHE.<br />
<br />
At first, Skyler blanches at what they're faced with, almost caught uncharacteristically flat-footed. He grits his jaw, brow furrowing before he charges forward with a snarl that turns into an almost *insane* laugh. He skids to a stop and holds up his empty hand. "BURNING HANDS!"<br />
<br />
Um, what?<br />
<br />
When nothing happens, Skyler looks nonplussed, and shakes his head. "Well. It was worth a try." And then he clicks his heels, boots shimmering with fiery energy as he ducks, bounces with a brisk kick-flip and then lashes out with his sword in a *wicked* blow mid-air before landing with a thud. "They're resistant to slashing hits!"<br />
<br />
GAME: Skyler gains ONE point of PANACHE.<br />
GAME: Warrick rolls weapon16+1: (6)+12+1-2: 17<br />
GAME: Warrick rolls weapon16+1-2: (18)+12+1+-2: 29<br />
GAME: Warrick rolls xbowDamage+1: aliased to 1d10+4+1: (1)+4+1: 6<br />
GAME: Warrick rolls xbowDamage+1: aliased to 1d10+4+1: (8)+4+1: 13<br />
<br />
The religious zeal gets Warrick to stand up a little straighter. "Worry not, there will be no panic," he reassures. A quick nod is thrown towards Skyler, along with a raised brow (the helmet blocks it). "It's helpful when your hands are full." A mechanical and bassy *ka-chunk* punctuates that as the large crossbow is winched back and loaded. And in they go.<br />
<br />
Haggerty's warning gets Warrick a touch uneasy. Dead and undead dreams mean..- he stops flat footed. The voices. Gods those voices again- Focus up! Skyler's flamboyant entrance into the fight roots him, his clashes with a Dragoon having him appreciate the flair of a fight before he slides out of rank and clutches the crossbow at the hip, one hand on the trigger with a fistful of bolts and racking the crank. Two shots thud out back to back, slamming into the horrid tentacle like creature. "Stay focused! They're using your insecurities! Objective sighted!"<br />
<br />
GAME: Haggerty casts Hideous Laughter. Caster Level: 5 DC: 17<br />
<br />
Haggerty shares the find of his amateurish smellery, "Something died in there. Long ago. I wager dead dreams, undead dreams, dreams of composting entities. Strangeness awaits us, so I mind for a trace of care. You know, a little bit..." He sighs. Sighs again. The freckled man rolls his blue eyes and spits out some of that dusty grime. He is quick to follow the group into the cave, likely half pulled by the reckless. "I disagree!" shouts the spellcaster. The monsters then advance on them and it takes a while for the studious arcanist to go through the motions. Fly away, little tart and whiffle whiffle little feather. He concludes with words in Eldritch.<br />
<br />
GAME: Palomas rolls weapon2-2: (8)+7+-2: 13<br />
GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20+10: (20)+10: 30<br />
GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20+10: (9)+10: 19<br />
GAME: Telamon rolls 1d10+10: (4)+10: 14 <br />
GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20+5: (16)+5: 21<br />
GAME: Telamon rolls 1d6+3: (6)+3: 9<br />
GAME: Haggerty rolls Fortitude: (5)+3: 8<br />
GAME: Haggerty rolls Fortitude: (9)+3: 12<br />
GAME: Telamon rolls 1d3: (3): 3<br />
GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20+4: (1)+4: 5 (EPIC FAIL)<br />
<br />
The guardians are not taken aback by the adventurers' initial assault. The undead swordsman turns slowly to stare at Skyler, before dealing him a brutal blow with his long sword. Meanwhile, the blue-hued spider scuttles towards Haggerty, biting the wizard and leaving him with a poisoned wound. And the serpentine monster charges Warrick, but its bite snaps on empty air, failing to do more than deal emotional damage as the voices continue to spout from the monsters.<br />
<br />
"You'll always be a thief and a reaver." "You should've died with me." "None of this will matter."<br />
<br />
GAME: Skyler rolls Acrobatics+5: (2)+12+5: 19<br />
GAME: Skyler rolls Acrobatics+5: (13)+12+5: 30 <br />
GAME: Skyler rolls weapon1+1+2: (5)+12+1+2: 20<br />
GAME: Skyler spends ONE point of PANACHE.<br />
GAME: Skyler rolls weapon1+2+10: (8)+12+2+10: 32<br />
GAME: Skyler rolls damage1+2+10: aliased to 1d6+5+2+10: (2)+5+2+10: 19<br />
<br />
"I'm also... *sexy*!" Skyler snarls as he takes the blow across his chest where the mithril armor opens like on a romance cover. Blood splatters, but rather than continuing to engage he again clicks his heels and does an wicked barrel roll mid-air, dodging away and hitting into a forward surge that makes him grasp his scimitar by the hilt to slice across the spider. "I gotcha, dude!"<br />
<br />
GAME: Warrick rolls weapon16+1-2: (5)+12+1+-2: 16<br />
GAME: Warrick rolls weapon16+1-2: (16)+12+1+-2: 27<br />
GAME: Warrick rolls xbowDamage+1: aliased to 1d10+4+1: (2)+4+1: 7<br />
<br />
Warrick ducks under the snap, pivoting around and looking over his shoulder, getting a gauge for everything. Seeing as Skyler has the mage covered, the arbalest drops to a knee and pelts out suppressing fire at the undead creature with the large sword and no eyes. "Oi! The can probably use the objective to hit stuff if we gotta!" he barks out. Only glancing shots, but it's something.<br />
<br />
GAME: Haggerty casts Burning Hands. Caster Level: 5 DC: 16<br />
<br />
Haggerty undulates meekly when his body is pinched by those pedipalp pliers which feel like a smith's red hot crafting means clenching down on the now torn blue clad midsection. The undersized bulldog winces and yarps. He scuffles back another step, stretches a hand forward while he attempts some do(d)gey moves. Fire sparks from his hand and bathes the sp00derperson, not the jumpy former pirate.<br />
<br />
GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20+6: (11)+6: 17<br />
GAME: Haggerty rolls 5d4: (11): 11<br />
GAME: Palomas rolls weapon2: (5)+7: 12<br />
<br />
Palomas quickly turns his head to try to determine if his allies are in trouble, but seeing them handling it, instead goes to hold the line. He does not swap to his blade but instead goes to smash a kneecap, only to find that his blow lacks the strength to cause true harm. "Eh-heh-heh," His nervous chuckle from inside the helmet says a lot.<br />
<br />
GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20+8: (11)+8: 19 <br />
GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20+5: (6)+5: 11<br />
GAME: Skyler spends ONE point of PANACHE.<br />
GAME: Skyler rolls weapon1: (14)+12: 26<br />
GAME: Skyler rolls weapon1: (8)+12: 20<br />
GAME: Skyler rolls damage1+5: aliased to 1d6+5+5: (4)+5+5: 14<br />
GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20+4: (19)+4: 23<br />
GAME: Skyler gains ONE point of PANACHE.<br />
GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20-1: (7)+-1: 6<br />
GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20-1: (11)+-1: 0<br />
GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20-1: (5)+-1: 4<br />
GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20-1: (6)+-1: 5<br />
GAME: Telamon rolls 1d4+1: (3)+1: 4<br />
<br />
The undead swordsman looks down at Palomas, and something like contempt crosses its face. A voice wafts from its mouth, "Who do you think you are fooling?" as the creature tries to simply kick Palomas aside, but the lucht nimbly dodges away.<br />
<br />
The blue-hued spider, set aflame and wounded, whirls on Skyler, its mandibles snapping -- only for Skyler to spin aside, his scimitar whirling in an arc that ends with the point imbedded in the spider's face. It freezes, and then slumps to the ground before starting to dissolve into sand.<br />
<br />
The snake-like grick tries to snap at Warrick, drawing a flesh wound but little else, and the voices sound more desperate as if trying to grind down the party's emotional defenses. "You don't belong here! No one does! You'll never be found!"<br />
<br />
GAME: Skyler rolls Acrobatics+5: (6)+12+5: 23<br />
GAME: Skyler rolls weapon1+2+1: (10)+12+2+1: 25<br />
GAME: Skyler rolls damage1+5+2: aliased to 1d6+5+5+2: (1)+5+5+2: 13<br />
<br />
For a moment, Skyler's content to bask in the glory of his absolutely *insane* kill. It's either that or take a moment to piss himself as the spider swings at him and his body reacts almost quicker than his (admittedly slow) mind.<br />
<br />
But he does eventually grin, winking at Haggerty and cockily turning towards the Zombie just in time to see Palomas close, and then the zombie almost crush him.<br />
<br />
Talk of a father wanting presents for his kids, and memories of a snake on a mo' fo' plane make him grit his teeth and launch himself forward with sword still pointed back. He skids in the sand, dodges behind the creature, and stabs his sword through it before bisecting it. "They don't know *shit* about us." He growls.<br />
<br />
GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20+4: (10)+4: 14<br />
GAME: Warrick rolls cmb: (2)+7: 9<br />
GAME: Warrick rolls cmb: (2)+7: 9<br />
<br />
Warrick gasps as the tentacles slam into him, but pokes refuse to jab into the helmet. Knowing that the mage was close, he had to keep its attention. He growls, "Oh shut up, I've had worse nightmares!" The crossbow tumbles to the ground as he lunges his full body at the snake like creature, haphazardly wrassling with it. "Stand still you ugly son of a...-!"<br />
<br />
Haggerty is releaved off the eight legged menace. The weakened man takes just a step to the side, away from threats as well as his aching muscles allow. The pug hops in concert. He points index middle and ring finger at the snake tentacle creeper abomination, and zots with a trio of silvery white darts while he utters a few common words in wizardspeech. Go go homing force bolts!<br />
<br />
GAME: Haggerty casts Magic Missile. Caster Level: 5 DC: 16<br />
GAME: Haggerty rolls 3d4+3: (11)+3: 14<br />
<br />
And then, abruptly, there's silence. The trio of guardians have returned to the sand underfoot, but there's a sense of tension still in the air. Waiting. The whispers have died down but they're still heard just at the edge of awareness. All that waits is the tiger-headed scepter lying on the altar.<br />
<br />
Palomas lifts up his visor and puffs out some sand. "... Seemed like he knew at least a little bit." A bare foot pushes around the dust with an absent frown, before he shakes his head, bringing his staff up to his shoulder. "Oh well. Who, uh, claims the prize?" Not me!<br />
<br />
"Ow."<br />
<br />
The sky pirate turned (hopeful) Gentleman Adventurer collapses to one knee as the rush of adrenaline hits and he realizes just how hurt he was by that one wicked blow. "That fucking *hurt*." He groans, falling rigidly backwards like a fainting goat. He reaches up, touches the blood on his chest, and rolls his eyes to look at the scepter.<br />
<br />
"Not it." He tells Palomas, and with a groan pushes himself up to brush sand out of hair. "Warrick? Haggerty? Anyone particularly deft at seeing the sign of traps?"<br />
<br />
Warrick stumbles a bit as the being turns to sand. Righting himself and scooping his weapon up, a lofty sigh escapes him. "Clear. That was clean, good work everyone." He looks over at the scepter that Palomas points out. "I trust Telamon. I can grab it."<br />
<br />
Making good on that, he walks over to the altar. Briefly checking it over, and picks it up if nothing awry is spotted.<br />
<br />
GAME: Warrick rolls perception: (19)+7: 26<br />
<br />
Haggerty sinks to a knee, and pulls himself back up after a goodly slobbering gesture of affection from the canine support. "Let us look at the altar for safety measures first, please. We do not want to trigger a trap now. At least not without some distance to the altar. What can we do, please?" He would shrug, but his shoulders are slumped.<br />
<br />
"Yeah, trust." Palomas takes another step back.<br />
<br />
The altar is just a block of plain stone. No signs of tripwires, pressure plates, or ominous magical sigils. Harmless.<br />
<br />
Maybe that's what made it the perfect place to rest this mace. When Warrick lifts the artifact, the tiger's head animates, turning to lock ruby eyes with his. And in a voice like that of a hundred big, big cats, it roars.<br />
<br />
"FACE. YOUR. FEARS."<br />
<br />
And with that there's a thunderclap, and a wave of light bursts out of the tiger's maw. The sand turns to glass, then to stone as the cave roof is peeled away like the wrapper off a sweetbun, revealing a starry sky above. And when the party looks around... they stand on a ash-gray landscape, devoid of greenery or water, with a blue-and-green world hanging just over the horizon. Not far away is the familiar wagon, with Rafael Prince leaning against it, smoking... something that's definitely not pipe-weed or tobacco.<br />
<br />
"Took you long enough. Was it cloakers? This really did look like cloaker country."<br />
<br />
"Where the hell are the dreams of endless glory and splendor? Nubile maids and dashing gladiators to feed us grapes?" Skyler demands of the Prince, eyes narrowed as he gets to his feet quickly and winces. "I'd settle for a meadow of breads with rivers of milk, and I can't do milk." <br />
<br />
Beat.<br />
<br />
"Got any more of the drugs? I nearly got gutted *and* had some fancy stick apparently try to channel my parents and be disappointed." Skyler glances around at the party, and more seriously, "Everyone ok?"<br />
<br />
"Unlike the last round of snakes," Palomas says as he flashes a thumbs up. It took a few minutes of shaking his head out as the world rips open like a broken box, but he gets there, and a Lucht is nothing if not adaptable. "Eager to be home, with all due respect, your highness."<br />
<br />
And Warrick takes the lion headed scepter. His eyes widen behind the helmet. Face locked in a grimace from the loud bellowing of lions. So much happens that his visor slams back up from the thunderclap, the world melting and molting, unwrapping and splaying about around and above.<br />
<br />
And the ex-guard stands there, holding the scepter in hand, staring at it. His fingers twitch, adjusting the grip, and he sucks in a breath, relaxing. "Y-yeah. Yeah, I'm good." He shakes his head, peeling away to look at the group. "Better now."<br />
<br />
He looks down at the scepter. "... powerful thing. Good thing."<br />
<br />
Haggerty mutters something about broad shouldered maidens who can give a nice bone sorting massage or birch slapping in a sauna. He shakes his head at the questions in the familiar's big eyes. No play fetch a birch branch now! The poochlet sads and waddles more than the bug bitten redhead. The spellslinger moves his head up and waves at Raffy. The shouting is good enough to motivate Hagg to get going, "Whatever may be. I do not want to end frozen like that snake did. I am not well, but we must go."<br />
<br />
"Help yourself to the stash," Prince jerks his thumb at the wagon. "But for now, let's load up and get back to better dreams. This is probably one of the more stable ones out here, and at least it's quiet, but..." He glances around. "It's kinda dull."<br />
<br />
The trip back is just as surreal as the trip into the deep Dreamtime. One 'shortcut' has you passing through what seems like a king's ransom of gold and jewels, with a dragon sprawled half-buried in it. "Don't bother grabbing anything. It's his dream. Besides, right now that fucker is about..." Rafael holds his hands about three feet apart. "That long. Big dreams, little guy."<br />
<br />
Soon enough, the wagon is rolling along a dirt road, coming to a crossroads carved into a meadow. "You lot should be okay from here. Probably gonna wake up soon. Tell the kid I said hello."<br />
<br />
"We'll get you seen to," Warrick tells Haggerty. "You're looking a little rough." He clambers into the wagon, peeling off his helmet to reveal the sweat stained face underneath. While he does watch the surreal surroundings, as well as looking genuinely surprised at the half-buried dragon, his thumb keeps rubbing the side of the scepter, unconsciously feeling a little attached to its purpose.<br />
<br />
"I see. Thanks for the ride and the help, sir Prince. This has been an... experience," Warrick slowly says.<br />
<br />
Skyler says, “Will do, try not to... do whatever you shouldn't in a dream?" Skyler shakes his head as if he couldn't begin to imagine what the Prince does with his free time. While quite cunning on the battlefield, it's apparently the limit of his intellect. <br />
<br />
To Haggerty, he suggests with a faint hint of his previous enthusiasm about everything, "Hey, I know a banging bathhouse if we take all this back with us. I swear the masseuses are giantborn that hate everyone! I'm sure Telamon'll spot us all a round."<br />
<br />
Which remembering the half-elf sorcerer's eyeroll he pauses, and asks quietly, "D.. do you think he did anything with our bodies? Like stuck our hands in bowls of warm water? I hope we don't wake up having pissed ourselves."<br />
<br />
Haggerty answers with some heaviness to his tongue, "Word for word, Good Prince! Serriel's Speed!" He knows better than to try anything in the stash, but.. Curiosity wins out! It is for science, don't you know!? The tiny dragon is worth a chuckle, but are not all small and in need at some point? No, it would not be fair to laugh! "Thanks go to you! I appreciate this. First round will be on me!" He rolls off the wagon, supported by his staff. The pale man's eyes light up like sapphires in fiery shine, "Oh, the perfect spot for me!"<br />
<br />
<br />
== OOC ==<br />
<br />
Map: https://www.mipui.net/app/index.html?mid=mshqwsr6ett<br />
<br />
[[Category:Logs]]<br />
[[Category:PRPs]]</div>Aryiahttp://www.tenebraemush.net/index.php?title=Recent_Logs&diff=44108Recent Logs2025-01-31T01:04:57Z<p>Aryia: /* January */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{AboutLogs}}<br />
<br />
'''[[Archived_Logs|For 2024 and earlier, see the Archives]].'''<br />
<br />
==2025 Logs==<br />
===January===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|January 1, 2025<br />
|[[The Spectacle of the Century]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Alec]], [[Bryn]], [[Mikilos]] [[Murder]], [[Skyler]] <br />
|-<br />
|January 4, 2025<br />
|[[A Final Word on the Spires]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Rune]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Eztli]], [[Skyler]], [[Bryn]], GM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|January 5, 2025<br />
|[[Hooves of Steel (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Harshad]], [[Skyler]], [[Bryn]], [[Reithak]], [[Jarik]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 6, 2025<br />
|[[Working Hands]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Carver]], [[Simony]], [[Skyler]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|January 7, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 11)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|January 8, 2025<br />
|[[Flight of Intrigue]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Haggerty]], [[Palomas]], [[Skyler]], GM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 9, 2025<br />
|[[Scaling and Weeping]]<br />
|[[Verna]], [[Aryia]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Temple Festivities]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Telamon]], [[Irshya]], [[Jarik]], [[Menel]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Skyler]], [[Bryn]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 10, 2025<br />
|[[Sins of the Past: A Confrontation]]<br />
|[[Jarik]], [[Skyler]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 11, 2025<br />
|[[Slapbet]]<br />
|[[Aragos]], [[Rocky]], [[Skyler]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 12, 2025<br />
|[[Sewers and Saviors]]<br />
|[[Dirk]], [[Crik]], [[Jarik]], [[Bryn]], [[Ulthan]], [[Sjach]], with GM: [[Skyler]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 13, 2025<br />
|[[Graven Images]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Telamon]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Verna]], [[Skyler]], GM: [[Aftershock]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 14, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 12)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|January 15, 2025<br />
|[[Tough Hands]]<br />
|[[Warrick]], [[Bryn]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 17, 2025<br />
|[[The Power of Flour]]<br />
|[[Harshad]], [[Skyler]], [[Choler]], [[Munch]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 18, 2025<br />
|[[Grim Deed (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Culix]], [[Carver]], [[Jarik]], [[Skyler]], GM: [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Back in Technicolor]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Magpie]]; GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|January 19, 2025<br />
|[[Sewers and Saviors 2]]<br />
|[[Sjach]], [[Haggerty]], [[Crik]], [[Dirk]], [[Jarik]], [[Bryn]], GM: [[Skyler]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Vacation and the Pen]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 20, 2025<br />
|[[Meeting Eli]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Gramarye]], [[Haggerty]], [[Khepri]]; GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Pothy Problems]]<br />
|[[Murder]], [[Skyler]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 21, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 13)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|January 23, 2025<br />
|[[The Dream Quest of the Archmage Part 1]]<br />
|[[Skyler]], [[Warrick]], [[Palomas]], [[Haggerty]], GM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 26, 2025<br />
|[[Sewers and Saviors Part 3]]<br />
|[[Sjach]], [[Dirk]], [[Bryn]], [[Jarik]], [[Crik]], GM: [[Skyler]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 27, 2025<br />
|[[Golden Box]]<br />
|[[Cuemoni]], [[Gr'lk'tosst]], [[Halia]], [[Jarik]], [[Skyler]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 28, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 14)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|January 30, 2025<br />
|[[The Dream Quest of the Archmage Part 2]]<br />
|[[Skyler]], [[Warrick]], [[Palomas]], [[Haggerty]], GM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|}</div>Aryiahttp://www.tenebraemush.net/index.php?title=The_Dream_Quest_of_the_Archmage_Part_1&diff=44096The Dream Quest of the Archmage Part 12025-01-24T03:36:17Z<p>Aryia: Created page with "Shining Chalice Chapterhouse, early evening People will tell you it's a mistake to get mixed up with wizards and sorcerers. Arcane power is all too often only restrained by the will and morals of its user, which can be... dubious at best. Still, a job from Telamon Lupecyll-Atlon is probably not going to involve something illegal or immoral. And so you have come to the meeting house of the Shining Chalice, the lavish townhouse adorned with fine furnishings, mage-light f..."</p>
<hr />
<div>Shining Chalice Chapterhouse, early evening<br />
<br />
People will tell you it's a mistake to get mixed up with wizards and sorcerers. Arcane power is all too often only restrained by the will and morals of its user, which can be... dubious at best.<br />
<br />
Still, a job from Telamon Lupecyll-Atlon is probably not going to involve something illegal or immoral. And so you have come to the meeting house of the Shining Chalice, the lavish townhouse adorned with fine furnishings, mage-light fixtures, and animated portraits. Ushered into a parlor where the Archmage awaits, along with a small sideboard of refreshments.<br />
<br />
Once you're all seated, Telamon begins, "This is not a complex assignment, but it is esoteric. I need something retrieved in the Dreamlands. Normally, due to my own power and affinity for such I would handle it myself -- the problem, though, is that I cannot get close without 'churning the waters', so to speak." The half-elf's expression is wry. "It's a lot like being a dragon and trying to reach down a small hole to retrieve a bauble -- except I can't simply excavate the hole to simplify matters."<br />
<br />
This isn't the first job Warrick has done through the Chalice, let alone with this archemage. At least, this mage was on the up and up. The Eldanar arbalest sits as best he can in blackened armor, large crossbow leaning against the side of a sofa, and is awkwardly holding a cup of tea in a gauntleted hand.<br />
<br />
"Alright," he grunts, scratching his head. "So... what is this... Dreamland? And what might get in the way?" he inquires, popping open a journal to rest on a leg. It's quite obvious he hasn't the slightest idea what it's about, nor anything surrounding it. But information is power, so...<br />
<br />
"So... we're going to sleep?" Skyler asks blankly, and adds, "Also, I think that was an insult or something, but I can't *quite* figure out how." That's said to the rest of the group.<br />
<br />
The buckler of swashing is in his usual work clothes: Greatcoat over a mithril shirt, tight pants and his high leather boots, scimitar strapped across back and buckler on his shirt. He's also wearing a new bit of attire, a sash bearing the sigil of the Dapper Society of Dagger Dames and Gentleman Adventurers or whatever they call themselves. Tea was gratefully accepted, and after a sip promptly poured into the nearest potted plant when Telamon isn't looking. He frowns, cocking his head, "Should we be wearing pajamas? I mean, I sleep naked, but I'm sure Cor'lana has a nightgown or something I can fit in."<br />
<br />
Palomas whistles as he arrives at the front of the manor, the little Lucht standing in snow that goes well up to his knees. "Tastefully rich! The best kind, really. Look at that architecture, sweeping pallisades and all. I bet they even got an open concept kitchen just stuffed with magical iceboxes. I seen one of those in a house once."<br />
<br />
They are led through the estate, with him occasionally lingering to admire a bit of artistry here or there, but buttons his collar once they arrive for the meet. "Can't say I have much experience in the dreamworld. Excited for the opportunity."<br />
<br />
The Aesir carries his waddly friend with the bent ears and large black eyes inside. The canine on the pointy hatted man's arm snarfs. The pair walks along to the fancy booth or such until they see the fey prince of much arcane might. Hagg then waves a greeting, "Salutations! Dreamlands sounds interesting, Master Telamon." He grabs himself a seat and sits. Should it happen to be a fancy armchair, the wizard jostles the thing with some effort before rear parking is to be. "It is another plane of existence. One of the more esoteric ones."<br />
<br />
"Indeed," Telamon nods to Haggerty. "The Dimension of Dreams. The Dreamtime. All the same thing, really -- where do you go, when you slumber? The dangers are generally limited, depending on where you go. As you move beyond the dreams of thinking humanoids, the visions can become more and more disturbing. After all, all that lives and sleeps can dream."<br />
<br />
"Unfortunately, you will have to head into the latter part. The good news is that I can smooth the way -- I will place you in slumber, surrounded by a ward to protect you. Yes, I have used it before myself -- so I won't entrust you to anything I've not tested."<br />
<br />
A sigh escapes Warrick's nose, eyeing the dumped out tea before scribbling in his notebook. "Don't think it was an insult, the archemage is beyond my caliber manyfold," he mentions to Skyler before nodding a greeting towards the other two. Giving a glance to the dog, he sinks into the sofa and rubs at his face. "I'm not going to try and even make heads or tales of this dreamland thing."<br />
<br />
Going into an actual dream? "Uh... so. I don't have a lick of magic in me, so how does one defend themselves in this dreamland?" Says the walking armory.<br />
<br />
"That goes double for me, not even a nice pair of magic walking shoes." Palomas says. "Just a few odds-and-ends you'd expect of a modest man making a living, dealing with not Dreamland guardwork. Respectfully!" He smiles, laugh lines appearing briefly. "Just meaning, do we just act the same as we would if the world was our own? Or does this all follow something a little more strange?"<br />
<br />
Skyler says, “I warn you now, I'm a cuddler." Skyler tells the party, squinting at each of them as if trying to figure out which one would probably be the least likely to get offended. "Jarek says I kick, too, but I think he's lying to divert attention from his snoring."<br />
<br />
To Telamon, he nods. "I use to wonder if war golems dreamed, but then I met one that told me he shits. If they can shit, why not dream? What is a dream if not the shitting of your day?" He taps his nose, and looks almost pleased before he blinks at Warrick's comment. "Maybe Telamon's going to summon us dream stuff? He's really good, when he's not casting magic missile at the empty air for no reason."”<br />
<br />
Haggerty is quick to dip the blue hat in assent. He helps himself to some snus from a small whalebone box and offers to the others, "Very good. I am up to the task, but it will be completely new grounds. My first steps into another plane. I have of course read about it!" The redhead sneezes into a bucket and gets himself some mead to quaff. "It will be an astral journey, a plane shift or we will be placed into a lucid dream. Of sorts." A shrug of narrow shoulders.<br />
<br />
Telamon just looks at Skyler with a long suffering expression. Taking a deep breath, he forges ahead. "It will be akin to a lucid dream. I have a potion that will place you into the dreamtime. While you sleep, you will be well protected."<br />
<br />
"The nature of the potion, and the dream-ward, is that your skills and abilities will translate into the dream. Your equipment as well -- though sadly, it is very difficult to alter your gear, and impossible to bring such dream-items out." His lips quirk up. "I tested both, before you ask."<br />
<br />
"While you are in the Dreamtime, it is best that you treat threats as real. Most will be mere phantasms, but there are entities that dwell there that could pose a danger to you."<br />
<br />
"I'm not," Warrick flatly says in response to Skyler. There's a blink-blink at the story of the war golem, but at that, he just deeply sighs. "... yeah I know the one you're talking about..."<br />
<br />
Page flip. He shakes his head and politely turns down the offered snus. He shoulders lax. "Well that's a relief. I do not feel like fighting anything without armor. Again. Again again." Scribble scribble. "I figured you'd get more than just one's brain frying. What is it we are fetching?"<br />
<br />
Haggerty rubs his mouth with the back of his arm, burps heartily. The blue-eyed fellow's little dog arfs with a little annoyance, wags his tiny tail. The wizard waits for the Prince to explain and tell more. He smiles to the lucht, the Eldanar and the half-elves in turn. "You do not know the eperience you are missing, Master Bowman. Magnificent. And indeed. What do you send us after respectively for, please?"<br />
<br />
"He offered to show me his poop-hatch, but it felt weird without buying him a drink first." Skyler tells Warrick with a shake of his head, "But then the flour bomb went off and I had to catch the invisible pickpocket." He then grins at Telamon as if his soul were fed by the man's frustration. And winks one pale grey-green eye before turning back to the others.<br />
<br />
The snus is accepted politely with one pinky nail, and the moment Haggerty isn't looking at him he dumps it onto a chair and covers with a pillow before sitting on the pillow. Nothing to see here! "Yes, what are we after? And how quiet do we need to be?"<br />
<br />
"Oh, and is the famous Tempt--mmm, the famous Lady Indigo and the White Raven about? My kids would love an autograph from you both." Palomas says, "After... I mean, of course." Skyler's brand of run-on humor does not seem to perturb or even upset him. He even accepts one of Haggerty's offered treat with a generous bob of his head in thanks. His appetite is only slightly put off when Skyler continues to berate them about a wargolem's defecating protocols. Hmmm. "Yes, right. A fine question. If we cannot take things from the dreamland, how is it we can have an objective. Unless we need to remember the contents of something?"<br />
<br />
Telamon chuckles. "True. When you locate the item, you will convey it to a... friend of mine. He will bear it to a place which borders the Dreamtime, somewhere I can go, and put it to use." He muses, "Though the Strange Prince is an... unusual guardian. You may also encounter him en route. I don't advise imbibing anything he offers you."<br />
<br />
The item appears to be a light mace, with a head crafted into the shape of a snarling tiger's head. It was lost centuries back in the dreamtime and has only now come to light again."<br />
<br />
He cocks an eyebrow at Palomas. "Cor'lana and Pothy are not in residence, but I can convey your desire for an autograph." His lips quirk upwards again. "I'm not used to the idea myself, but I've had to sign a few."<br />
<br />
Haggerty cants his head in a rustle of red braids, "Strange Prince, you say. We shall mind your warning, Master Telamon." The thing shown looks peculiar to say the least. Is it a religious artefact, the weapon of a known heroic edda?<br />
<br />
GAME: Haggerty rolls knowledge/the planes: (1)+9: 10 (EPIC FAIL)<br />
<br />
Warrick doesn't bother inquiring further on the shenanigans of that story. It would be a never ending pit. "I'm keenly aware of the experience," he waves Haggerty off. "Alright. Noted. Don't drink anything offered." Scribble.<br />
<br />
He nods along, writing down the description before closing his journal. Seems like any pertinent questions have been answered on his end. But he's not really sure what to ask. This completely out of the ex-guard's wheelhouse.<br />
<br />
Skyler gets to his feet, careful not to let the pillow slide off the snus he's hiding. Maybe Telamon won't see it, just his housekeeper. Who probably thinks everyone's insane already, given the company she keeps. He brushes off his seat, and rolls his shoulders while tugging on his lapels, settling his coat nicely.<br />
<br />
"Right, no eating or drinking. Find the kitty-mace, don't talk to strangers, and get it to your contact." He says brightly, and cocks his head at Palomas. "I know a guy that sells Pothy stuffed animals." He suggests, "We can track him down to get your kids one signed by Pothy, I'll put in a good word. The chance of them coming to life is almost none and some of them *huge*!"<br />
<br />
"Sounds like a plan. They would love that." Palomas says with another grin. "Well, I'm as ready as I'd like to be able to be. Just in brief, I consider myself decent with blade or with my slingshot, happy to fall in line where I might be needed most."<br />
<br />
"Very well then. Come with me." Telamon rises from his seat, beckoning, and he leads the group out of the parlor, down a hallway to a larger room. The furnishings are interesting -- there are four simple beds, set side-by-side, with a comfortable chair near the door. A stack of books on a table by the chair, as well as a large jug and a cup.<br />
<br />
Of more interest is the magic circle laid into the smooth stone floor, inscribed with careful precision and attention to detail. The beds all lie within the circle, but the chair does not. As you enter, Telamon explains, "Please don't disturb the circle. That's the ward that will protect you." He reaches into his haversack, drawing out four small bottles, which he hands out. "Go to the beds, drink these, and lie down. You'll be asleep before you know it."<br />
<br />
Haggerty casts a quick, doubtful look at the mighty arcanist and locks eyes with the minuscule bulldog of the cute oculars. The dog sniffles, gives the oddest of doggo shrugs and sprawls out along the thin arm of the wizard. "I should get one of those. The knotted rope is almost chewn through." He pecks the head of the pug lounging on his arm. "We have to sleep by the seats of our pants, if you will. We are as ready as we can be."<br />
<br />
Warrick rises to his feet, following after the Archmage into the furnished room. He eyes the circle, careful to tip toe around to sit on the bed. "... my back is going to hurt after this." Sleeping in armor is never fun.<br />
<br />
Taking the proffered bottle, he dips his head in thanks. "Understood." Corked popped, he waits for the others to down his before skulling it and laying down. "Bleh..." The taste was no good, smacking his mouth as he manages to wriggle his helmet on in the bed.<br />
<br />
"I mean, I've never done wrong drinking strange bottles you've given me before!" Skyler says brightly to Telamon, giving the rest of his party a distressingly empty-eyed smile before he smoothly pops the cork, and starts to take a drink the moment he gets it, not bothering to wait until he's sitting on a bed.<br />
<br />
He gags, head bobbing forward and he gives Telamon an down-right hurt look. "Navos' tits, man. Surely you could have mixed it with the plum stuff that makes you see stars." <br />
<br />
His protests mean that he barely makes it to his bed in time, eyes rolling into the back of his head as he falls face first onto the mattress, feet hanging off and one foot twitching.<br />
<br />
Palomas doesn't even need to remove his boots! He hups as he is forced to jump up onto the bed, just a fact of life of a Lucht. He considers the bottle of sleepy juice with a thoughtful look. "Best to close your eyes before you leap. And you really should get to the bed before you drin-" Skyler's collapse into his own sofa is met with a chuckle. "If nothing else, Archmage, at least must thank you for planning ahead with the soft bed." He knocks ack his drink and shivers through the taste before laying down and letting the bitter medicine lull him to sleep....<br />
<br />
Haggerty finds the remaining bed and lets the companion rest on his chest. He wiggles on the bed, and drinks down the potion. It is not so bad, really. Somehwere between cured dire walrus fat, buried fish in a jar and extra spicy licorice with fir honey. The Aesir rests and zonks out.<br />
<br />
The Dreamtime<br />
<br />
After what seems like a long period of slumber, you find yourself slowly coming to awareness. You're riding in a open-topped wagon along a snow-rimed mountain path, and as the four of you look at each other, a voice comes from the front of the wagon.<br />
<br />
"Hey. You. You're finally asleep." Then there's a harsh laugh as the driver turns to look at you. He's a small man, wearing a funny hat like a small mushroom, a simple tunic emblazoned with flower patterns, and breeches in an indeterminate color somewhere between dust and sand. On his nose are perched large, oddly tinted spectacles, and he grins at you in a slightly disturbing way.<br />
<br />
"Well, I figured I'd have to stop to pick you up and he drops you right in the wagon. Least I was expecting you." The little man waves a hand, the other holding the reins of the beast pulling the wagon. "He told you about me, I s'pose. I was Rafael Prince, but nowadays every fuckwit writing a book calls me the 'Strange Prince'." He smirks. "Never trust a historian."<br />
<br />
Warrick has had his fare share of sleeping mixes to try and get proper sleep, but he's out cold, curling against his crossbow. But he soon blinks, lucid and aware, the armet helm sweeping left and right. They're... ìn a wagon? "Uh... yes. Hello," he awkwardly greets, patting himself over to make sure he has everything with him, as he takes in the small man. "Pleasure to meet you, Prince. As much as I hate to ask like my daughter does so often- how close are we?"<br />
<br />
"To be fair, you're pretty damn strange." Skyler admits, as he blinks himself awake, "Err.. Your highness." He adds, as the sleep's blinking out of his grey-green eyes. He yawns, makes a face, and says, "I swear, my mouth is so dry and there's the foulest taste, got anything to get the taste out?" <br />
<br />
To Warrick, he offers another yawn and a nod of greeting, stretching out and then scratching his stomach. It may seem like an idle gesture, but a closer eye can see he's testing if the mithril shirt's on under his waistcoat, and his eyes are sharp.<br />
<br />
"I was expecting more of a hangover," Palomas admits as they wake upon the bumpy ride. He does not recognize this mountain range, which is neither a surprise nor a disappointment. They are decidely somewhere very different even if it looks like it belongs in their world. He does take a quick check of his equipment before taking his footman's helmet off his backpack and plunking it on his head. "Why'd they start calling you that?"<br />
<br />
Haggerty stifles a yawn, sits up and eyes the pug on his chest while the four legged friend slides down to rest in the pale man's lap. Huh? How? It's share spells, okay. "Uhmm.." Another yawn from the wizard's mouth. A big hop and the all black being is on the mage's shoulder to peek at the wagon guy and what else is beyond. "Master Prince. Or Raffy? You know what we mean. What's with the fun landscape outside, please? I am Erik or Haggerty, pick your poison." He chuckles to the hangover comment, "It has not been good fun without a hangover and a bloody nose, right!?"<br />
<br />
"Fucked if I know," Rafael grumbles. "I know I used to have visions. Tried to keep 'em at bay with all sorts of things. Sometimes I tried to encourage them the same way. Never quite worked the way I wanted it to, but I saw a whole lot of wild shit." He waves his hand to a large case in the back. "Help yourself. I've got two bags of deepweed, seventy-five doses of sparkle-eye, five vials of high-powered sage brew, there's a saltcellar in there half full of Charnethi battle powdered, a whole bunch of goblin alchemical fun. Quart of te'qila, quart of rum... take your pick."<br />
<br />
The landscape outside the wagon looks... odd. Like it's sliding by in a way landscapes normally don't. "Well, I think we're in some silver dragon's dream at the moment. He's dreamin' of home. Big mountains. Next up is..." <br />
<br />
There's a vaguely unpleasant twitch, and the mountainside slithers away, replaced by a desert with dozens of obelists breaking the sand. "Fuckin' hell, the girtablilu always dream of this shit. Someone needs to sell them some Crimson Pen novels or something... anyways, we're making good time, I'm taking a shortcut that avoids the fuckin' decapus dreams. Those are terrible shit, ask Telamon sometime."<br />
<br />
Warrick catches the glimmer of mithril, him glancing to the others and their gear before turning his attention back to the Prince. "I don't drink on the job, but thanks," he shrugs, looking out to the landscape. A hand slides his visor up, squinting. And then things change. Eyes grow wide in surprise. "I... don't know half of what you said, sir."<br />
<br />
"Ah, don't... mm," Palomas thinks to repeat Telamon's warning and just muzzles himself. "Well." He reaches into his own bag and draws out a flask to wash back the lingering taste of their sleeping dose. Only when it is gone does he look back around as he screws the top back on, eyes wide as their very surrondings change. Even the Prince's hurried explanation is met with bewilderment in the face of it. He doesn't know anything about dreams much less what a decapus dreams could possibly be.<br />
<br />
Haggerty recalls the warning and sits himself on the chest with the illicit substances. Actually, though? Not. That researcher personality kicks in FAR too hard. The pointy hatted man about leans over the shoulder of the reins holding oddball, because this is just too interesting by any stretch of the word. He rambles distractedly, "Surely so, Raffy! Decapi are vile beasties! Uhmm, not up for a drink or fancy powder. Remember to stop when we are at the space and wait out until we get back, please."<br />
<br />
The man said help yourself, so Skyler helps himself! Into the larder of the strange man the ex-Sky Pirate goes, surfacing with some dried meat jerky. "Is this gluten free?" He asks, waving the jerky around as he gets back into his seat, swaying with the wagon effortlessly.<br />
<br />
He wrinkles his nose at the surroundings. "I read a Crimson Pen novel called the Sand That Rodded Me. Maybe whoever's dreaming was a fan? Little dry for my taste, I think the author was trying to hard to be gritty."<br />
<br />
He sits back, considering his new friends gravely, "What can you tell us about what we'll encounter?"<br />
<br />
"Tentacles. Lots of fuckin' tentacles. I'd rather deal with cloakers." Rafael picks up a bottle from beside his seat, taking a long pull off it. "Anyways. Girtablilu are religious cultists, mostly in the desert. Always dream of sand and monuments. I think it's because they're half scorpion, but what do I know?"<br />
<br />
The desert is smoothing out into a rocky plain, and the heavyset beast -- some kind of bull, judging from the horns -- snorts a bit. "As far as 'what you'll encounter' we're out on the fuckin' fringes here. The good news is that it's hard for dreams without dreamers to keep their form. They just kinda... dissolve back into the place. The bad news is that anything you find out here is not gonna want to go away just 'cause you ask nicely. Be ready to fight." He spits off to the side. "I'd go with you, but it's the same problem Telamon's got. I'm too fuckin' big."<br />
<br />
Warrick keeps watching out of the wagon, his large crossbow sliding to his lap at the mention of tentacles. Yeah. This place is strange. A sigh escapes him, all the sand puns. But before he could say anything, the landscape changes once again.<br />
<br />
"Pretty sure you're small," he dryly quips to the prince, metal 'ka-chunk'ing as he latching the heavy crossbow into a fully wound set. "But I get it."<br />
<br />
Palomas tries to follow where the world shifts, to see any warning signs but... like turning a page in an artist's journal, it's just one moment a thing then the next another thing entirely with no believable or natural transition. Not even a quick one. Just a change and his mind left to fill in the realization they are somewhere else. He exhales, taking a polished river stone with a painted bluebird on it from his pouch, tucking it into his slingstaff's arming band. Then he goes to hop off the back of the cart. "Let's get to work before the world changes again!"<br />
<br />
"Let's do this." Skyler agrees, following Palomas off the wagon and giving Warrick a cocky grin as he does so. Perhaps the ex-pirate has realized the ex-guard is both his natural predator in the wild and wants to fuck with him, or perhaps he's marked him as an easy mark, but it seems Warrick is going to be the focus of his prattle now.<br />
<br />
Yay for Warrick.<br />
<br />
"Hey, be nice! He makes good jerky." Skyler says with a grin as he draws his scimitar, twirling the blade briefly before checking his buckler to make sure it's on firmly and prepared for the chaos ahead. "Did someone wake up on the wrong side of the wagon?" He asks in a sing-song voice, pouting, "I'm sure our mighty wizard can fix it." And he nods towards Haggerty.<br />
<br />
"Tentacles. Wonderful. That was ironic." Hagg groans silently which is echoed by his smol friend. "You know what size you are. Metaphysically speaking." The pug pulls a pawlet over his eyes. "Let's all get off the wagon. We will be seeing you, Master Prince." He nods to the lucht and disem-barks.<br />
<br />
Haggerty chest puffs a little. A little a lot, really. "I can only try, Skyler." Wait, that was praise by the former pirate. Deflate. He gets ready to march.<br />
<br />
-To Be Continued-<br />
<br />
[[Category:PRPs]]<br />
[[Category:Logs]]</div>Aryiahttp://www.tenebraemush.net/index.php?title=Recent_Logs&diff=44095Recent Logs2025-01-24T03:35:27Z<p>Aryia: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{AboutLogs}}<br />
<br />
'''[[Archived_Logs|For 2024 and earlier, see the Archives]].'''<br />
<br />
==2025 Logs==<br />
===January===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|January 1, 2025<br />
|[[The Spectacle of the Century]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Alec]], [[Bryn]], [[Mikilos]] [[Murder]], [[Skyler]] <br />
|-<br />
|January 4, 2025<br />
|[[A Final Word on the Spires]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Rune]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Eztli]], [[Skyler]], [[Bryn]], GM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|January 5, 2025<br />
|[[Hooves of Steel (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Harshad]], [[Skyler]], [[Bryn]], [[Reithak]], [[Jarik]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 6, 2025<br />
|[[Working Hands]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Carver]], [[Simony]], [[Skyler]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|January 7, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 11)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|January 8, 2025<br />
|[[Flight of Intrigue]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Haggerty]], [[Palomas]], [[Skyler]], GM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 9, 2025<br />
|[[Scaling and Weeping]]<br />
|[[Verna]], [[Aryia]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Temple Festivities]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Telamon]], [[Irshya]], [[Jarik]], [[Menel]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Skyler]], [[Bryn]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 10, 2025<br />
|[[Sins of the Past: A Confrontation]]<br />
|[[Jarik]], [[Skyler]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 11, 2025<br />
|[[Slapbet]]<br />
|[[Aragos]], [[Rocky]], [[Skyler]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 12, 2025<br />
|[[Sewers and Saviors]]<br />
|[[Dirk]], [[Crik]], [[Jarik]], [[Bryn]], [[Ulthan]], [[Sjach]], with GM: [[Skyler]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 13, 2025<br />
|[[Graven Images]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Telamon]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Verna]], [[Skyler]], GM: [[Aftershock]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 14, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 12)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|January 15, 2025<br />
|[[Tough Hands]]<br />
|[[Warrick]], [[Bryn]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 17, 2025<br />
|[[The Power of Flour]]<br />
|[[Harshad]], [[Skyler]], [[Choler]], [[Munch]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 18, 2025<br />
|[[Grim Deed (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Culix]], [[Carver]], [[Jarik]], [[Skyler]], GM: [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Back in Technicolor]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Magpie]]; GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|January 19, 2025<br />
|[[Sewers and Saviors 2]]<br />
|[[Sjach]], [[Haggerty]], [[Crik]], [[Dirk]], [[Jarik]], [[Bryn]], GM: [[Skyler]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Vacation and the Pen]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 20, 2025<br />
|[[Meeting Eli]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Gramarye]], [[Haggerty]], [[Khepri]]; GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Pothy Problems]]<br />
|[[Murder]], [[Skyler]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 21, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 13)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|January 23, 2025<br />
|[[The Dream Quest of the Archmage Part 1]]<br />
|[[Skyler]], [[Warrick]], [[Palomas]], [[Haggerty]], GM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|}</div>Aryiahttp://www.tenebraemush.net/index.php?title=Tough_Hands&diff=44072Tough Hands2025-01-15T20:52:16Z<p>Aryia: Created page with ":: ''Festival Grounds, Late Morning'' It's still snowing. The steady blizzard is making things difficult, but the constant efforts of the Angorite temple making fun in the snow is helping with the dourness. Currently at the festival grounds, a veritable wall of ice and snow is piled up wide and thick on one side, with dozens of targets strewn about the place. Most are occupied, with snowballs and little toy bows being used to hit targets, the backwall littered with miss..."</p>
<hr />
<div>:: ''Festival Grounds, Late Morning''<br />
<br />
It's still snowing. The steady blizzard is making things difficult, but the constant efforts of the Angorite temple making fun in the snow is helping with the dourness. Currently at the festival grounds, a veritable wall of ice and snow is piled up wide and thick on one side, with dozens of targets strewn about the place. Most are occupied, with snowballs and little toy bows being used to hit targets, the backwall littered with missed shots. The targets with actual weaponry is spaced further away, and one man sits with his grey overcoat and a cap pulled down tight, watching a teen girl in a pink parka with a shortbow struggle with pulling an arrow back.<br />
<br />
"Keep your elbows tucked in," Warrick grunts to his daughter.<br />
<br />
"My fingies hurt though...!" she bemoans.<br />
<br />
"You're the one that wanted to do this instead of staying inside. Keep your back straight and-"<br />
<br />
Cynthia releases the arrow. It lands with a thunk two feet in front of her. She pouts.<br />
<br />
There probably aren't too many people out in the snow. Just those who have to be, really want to be, or don't have the sense to get out of it. Bryn wanders into the grounds from the road to the north, absently whistling. She has a few chunks remaining on her Meat-on-a-Stick(tm) from one of the vendors a few streets back... until another chomp and pull cleans it off.<br />
<br />
Then she spots the pink and plunk. Remembering to chew before opening her mouth again, she lifts her left hand high and calls out, "Ey!" as she heads thattaways.<br />
<br />
Father and daughter turn to the callout at the same time, Warrick raising a hand while Cynthia grins and runs through the powder to meet Bryn halfway. "Hii!" she chirps. "Whatcha' doin'?"<br />
<br />
Warrick grunts getting to his feet, putting his hands in his pockets. "Bryn," he nods, eyeing the metal hand, as if checking the condition of it.<br />
<br />
Bryn grins broadly, and tuskily, crouching down when Cynthia nears. "Eya, Cyn! Out shootin everythin?" Her metal hand/arm looks to be in great shape; spit and polished. No, she hasn't broken it yet (or someone hasn't complained about having to fix it). "Or jus out 'ere ta make 'im all cold 'n grumpy?" The thumb on the hand proves it works as it jabs towards Warrick.<br />
<br />
work slowed at times."<br />
<br />
Cynthia goes for a full on hug as Bryn crouches down (the teen is still growing after all, being nearly a foot and a half shorter than the oruch) and practically latches on with the short bow still in hand. "Yep! I'm a crack shot!"<br />
<br />
Warrick doesn't say anything, but he does side eye the small field of wooden shafts jutting out of the ground. He chuckles to himself. "She was getting cabin fever staying inside the house the entire time. Told her she could hang out at the forge, she didn't want to do that, and wanted to shoot things, and well. It's good practice. It's not always going to be perfect conditions."<br />
<br />
Cynthia dangles from Bryn's neck with her free arm looking defeated. "Why does it suuuuuck...!"<br />
<br />
"Warming stones in the gloves, you're not putting your hands back on it after every shot and you keep trying to make snowballs."<br />
<br />
"Shuut uuuuuup..."<br />
<br />
He shakes his head, smiling. "Your hand looks good. Working well too."<br />
<br />
Bryn gives Warrick a waggle of the metal one in agreement while she puts the other around Cynthia to help with the dangling. Especially since the oruch stands back up. She laughs at the exchange. "ye know, yer da's right." A pause and conspiratorial side-eye at Warrick. "Sometimes. Can' use't well with the gloves on, so yer fingers gonna get cold. N worn onna string. Gotta tough 'em up! Then won' be so bad. Tough hands'll make better snowballs, too, eh?"<br />
<br />
Now she looks full on to Warrick with a half shrug and more moving of the hand. "Ye. 'S good work. So it works good. Good 'nough fer holdin blade, bow, 'n beer. Don' need't for too much else."<br />
<br />
Cynthia squeals as she's lifted up off the ground, scrabbling a bit before she ends clinging off the back of Bryn. "Ooooh, this is a much better angle! I'mma shoot it!"<br />
<br />
"With what? You left your quiver-... where were you keeping that?"<br />
<br />
Cinny sticks her tongue out at him as she has an arrow pulled from somewhere, and works on getting her balance right in this odd piggy-back position. "Tough hands throw tough hands!" she decides, reinvigorated.<br />
<br />
Warrick gives a long sigh and shrugs, looking back to Bryn. "Glad to hear they're working out well. Cap does good work." He tilts his head to the side, thinking. "You know, I had this one guy on my squad. Gnomish guy, Paloumu. And I have another friend, Schara. Both really good with artifice. Both missing some limbs. Holding stuff is good, but if you want to do something a bit more with it, you can do some rather fun things with a metal limb. Metal and wood takes magic enchantments." He rolls a hand, as if that's all the explanation that was needed.<br />
<br />
Bryn has met a goblin or two, so is not unaccustomed to being a perch for others. Her flesh hand reaches up and back to try and help steady Cyn while the other points out at a(the?) target to help with that, too. "There ye go! ye got this! Tough hands!" She can be, well, inspirational, afterall. "Think mebbe I met a Schara, once? Idea o' magic'n this up ain' bad at all. So long's she don' yank it off me 'n smack me wit'it fer messin up her work." She can't help but laugh at her own joke, even if it might be deterimental to steady aim.<br />
<br />
GAME: Warrick rolls 1d20: (3): 3<br />
<br />
Cynthia gets steady with the help. "I see it! Winds are... wimdy! Distance is uh... sorta close! Tough hands!" she rallies nocking and pulling at the bow, fletching touching her cheek as it steadies over Bryn's shoulder. Aims. Sloooowly starts falling back. Compensates. Laughter. Faster. Compensate. Faster. Shot!<br />
<br />
The arrow goes straight up into the air.<br />
<br />
Warrick cranes his head up. Frowns. And sidesteps.<br />
<br />
Cynthia falls over into the snow, peeling off Bryn. "Bleh."<br />
<br />
"Schara isn't one to smack you with it, though she may overexplain your ears off on how it works," Warrick elaborate, smiling. "Though, Cap may do that if you fuss it up enough."<br />
<br />
The arrow lands where was standing.<br />
<br />
"What's the second rule, Cynthia?"<br />
<br />
Murmbled from the snow below, "Don't shoot unless you're sure..."<br />
<br />
"Correct. You're grounded until you do a shift at Grans."<br />
<br />
"Bleh."<br />
<br />
Bryn is more focused on Cynthia's loosing for the moment. The arrow, that is. Though then her loosing herself from Bryn follows. It's then that it's the oruch's turn to loose; a chuckle. "Ey, don'tcha worry none, Cyn. Gettin better takes work, but ye'll get it!" She offers one hand down to the sinking and/or sulking Cyn and waves the other at Warrick. "Ye, the second one. Don' mind explainin, but don' wanna angry khazad at me. Ain' no fun. 'N ain nothin wrong bout 'er work, neither. I'll make sure nobody mucks it up."<br />
<br />
With no more shooting or riders, she eyes Warrick a moment, curious and evaluating. "What else ye been doin? Any more sky pirates 'r whatnot? Keepin warm?"<br />
<br />
Cynthia grumbles as she takes the offered hand to pull herself up. She mutters a thanks, going out into the wooden flower field to collect all her missed shots. Warrick watches her go, then steps a little closer to Bryn so that he wouldn't be overheard. "She's getting better. Just hasn't done this in a minute, and the conditions are terrible. Though I can't look past basic rule violations. So. She's stuck at mom and dad's shop for the day."<br />
<br />
He chuckles. "Honestly, Cap would be fine if it gets mucked up from blocking a hit or something worthy. Tools aren't meant to last forever. She just hates it when I overuse a tool. I go through a lot of helmets."<br />
<br />
He catches her glance. A small shrug. "Nothing much, honestly. As much as I'd love to take down some sky pirates, there haven't been any. I do the occasional odd job of paid bodyguard here and there, since moving around the city in the snow can be dangerous if you're left out for too long. But nothing adventurous. Mostly staying home and staying warm. Little artifice heater does wonders."<br />
<br />
He looks back to Cynthia in the field. She's opted to throwing arrows at the target now. Venting frustration. "And what's new with you? You're seemingly coming back with some new scar or what not."<br />
<br />
Bryn gives a short laugh. "Scars're good fer yet. Proof of deed 'n that y'ain' dead." Cyn gets a glance, and a grin at her ingenuity and determination; if you can't shoot them, throw them. At least that's how Bryn takes it. "Eh, better helmets than yer head, eh? Not as hard, but easier ta knock the dents out." A bigger grin.<br />
<br />
"Guess ye don' gotta worry bout gettin bored inside so much," a tilt of head at Cyn. "I gotta keep busy. Ain' used ta so much standin, round, ye know? Elsewise, just eatin, drinkin, tusslin, 'n ruttin ta make the time go by... not that those're bad."<br />
<br />
It was Warrick's turn to give a short laugh. "Tell Carver that. I tell her to wear /something/ on her head but she doesn't listen. It'll bite her one day. But, fair. Scars are just evidence of what didn't kill you."<br />
<br />
He shakes his head. "I don't. I've got books to read, things to tinker with, a house to tidy. And whatever shenanigans she wants to get up to fills up the rest of it."<br />
<br />
The man gives a wan sort of smile. "I know that well. I was like that growing up. Then had Cinny and it made me realize I was being a bit too reckless." But he chuckles with a shrug. "But nothing wrong with all that. I sort of did my adventuring already. I guess I'm back in the saddle. Since I... really don't have much I can do if I don't. Least, that's what I think Serriel is hinting at me."<br />
<br />
"'Xactly!" Bryn agrees with the 'didn't kill you' part wholeheartedly, and probably more, besides. "I'll tell her. I ain' so worried bout one. Gotta head like a rock." She even raises up the hand to rap metal knuckles on her side of her skull. Then she follows his talk of changing things, turning her head to look from the arrow-retriever and back to him.<br />
<br />
"Heh. Ain't right the same, there. What I'm used to, I mean. Whole clan was always onna go: mas, das, grammas, kids, babes, alla us. Jus more folks ta watch 'n help go from one spot ta the next. Never stayed in one place more'n a couple nights, 'n those were at the tradin towns. Ta stock up on good ale, good food, go comp'ny."<br />
<br />
Warrick laughs. "Good luck with that. Her skull is as thick as yours," he teases before looking out and tucking his hands in his pockets. "Honestly, if I grew up that way, I'd probably be the same way. Always looking and searching for something new. But I was born here. Grew up here. I know these streets from running them the same exact way that she is now-" he gestures at Cynthia, who's collected all the arrows and is currently climbing up the audience stands, "-just now I know what's good to learn and what's bad to learn. But I get it. I think Carver's the same- always moving. Don't think its for me. Cynthia though... she'd probably like that more. I think she's going stir crazy in more than just being stuck inside."<br />
<br />
He quietly chuckles. "And, honestly, I probably wouldn't mind trying that for a few months. Change things up a little bit."<br />
<br />
Bryn's perks up, posture and fuzzy brows alike. "Ha! Sounds great!" What does? She explains after giving him a hearty swat on the shoulder. "We can go out, run the wilds for a bit! Get yer legs stretched, let 'er run 'round a bunch. Been wantin ta see more o' things, too." She looks up. "Mebbe after the snow quits some. Meantime, mebbe ye can share more about what ta learn round 'ere?" A wry, tusky smirk. "Or what not to."<br />
<br />
Warrick's a little lost in thought, the smack on the shoulder jostling him a half step. But he's quick to recover with a grin. "A woods trip honestly sound like a good idea. Deal. Once this all blows over we can go to the woods to the north. There's a good hunting lodge up there. And, if you're lucky, might run into Mictlan."<br />
<br />
He gives a side eye, but chuckles. "I can show you the good spots around here. Lot of places you can just walk right into and have something to do."<br />
<br />
"In fact-" Warrick whistles sharply and loud, cutting the distance to Cynthia. Who's currently half clambered up the back of the bleachers. She pauses, "-Cinny! Noodles!"<br />
<br />
The teen all but nearly falls down the bleachers, scrabbling down and jogging up to them. "Letsgoooooo-"<br />
<br />
"You're still grounded. I'm legally obliged to feed you."<br />
<br />
"-ooooooohhh man." She falls into the ground.<br />
<br />
Warrick leans down, and scoops her up, throwing her over a shoulder with a grunt. She flails. Ignoring her, he turns to Bryn. "Noodle stall down from my house is good on a cold day. After that, the Colosseum has been holding some sports matches, might be up your alley. Can show you."<br />
<br />
"Food!" Bryn sounds just as excited as Cynthia, though she doesn't have to run down bleachers. And she isn't thrown over Warrick's shoulder. Then it gets even better. "Wrasslin!" she woots. "Ye, le's go!" The nice thing about simple pleasures in life is that its simple to be pleased.<br />
<br />
-End Scene-<br />
<br />
[[Category:Logs]]</div>Aryiahttp://www.tenebraemush.net/index.php?title=Recent_Logs&diff=44071Recent Logs2025-01-15T20:47:23Z<p>Aryia: /* 2025 Logs */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{AboutLogs}}<br />
<br />
'''[[Archived_Logs|For 2024 and earlier, see the Archives]].'''<br />
<br />
==2025 Logs==<br />
===January===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|January 1, 2025<br />
|[[The Spectacle of the Century]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Alec]], [[Bryn]], [[Mikilos]] [[Murder]], [[Skyler]] <br />
|-<br />
|January 4, 2025<br />
|[[A Final Word on the Spires]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Rune]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Eztli]], [[Skyler]], [[Bryn]], GM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|January 5, 2025<br />
|[[Hooves of Steel (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Harshad]], [[Skyler]], [[Bryn]], [[Reithak]], [[Jarik]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 6, 2025<br />
|[[Working Hands]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Carver]], [[Simony]], [[Skyler]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|January 7, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 11)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|January 8, 2025<br />
|[[Flight of Intrigue]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Haggerty]], [[Palomas]], [[Skyler]], GM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 9, 2025<br />
|[[Scaling and Weeping]]<br />
|[[Verna]], [[Aryia]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Temple Festivities]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Telamon]], [[Irshya]], [[Jarik]], [[Menel]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Skyler]], [[Bryn]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 10, 2025<br />
|[[Sins of the Past: A Confrontation]]<br />
|[[Jarik]], [[Skyler]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 11, 2025<br />
|[[Slapbet]]<br />
|[[Aragos]], [[Rocky]], [[Skyler]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 12, 2025<br />
|[[Sewers and Saviors]]<br />
|[[Dirk]], [[Crik]], [[Jarik]], [[Bryn]], [[Ulthan]], [[Sjach]], with GM: [[Skyler]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 13, 2025<br />
|[[Graven Images]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Telamon]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Verna]], [[Skyler]], GM: [[Aftershock]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 14, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 12)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|January 15, 2025<br />
|[[Tough Hands]]<br />
|[[Warrick]], [[Bryn]]<br />
|-<br />
|}</div>Aryiahttp://www.tenebraemush.net/index.php?title=Aryia&diff=44070Aryia2025-01-15T03:47:37Z<p>Aryia: </p>
<hr />
<div><!-- HEADER BAR, replace #957d9b with the color of your choice --><br />
<div style="position:relative; top:0px; height: 50px; width: 875px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; background-image: linear-gradient(to right, #12674a, transparent);"><br />
<p style="color: black; font-size: 220%; padding-left: 20px; font-weight: light; font-family: Constantia;"><br />
<!-- CHARACTER NAME in header bar, replace with your character's name --><br />
''Aryia''<br />
<!-- END OF CHARACTER NAME --><br />
</p></div><br />
<br />
<div style="width: 875px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><br />
<!-- HEADING TEXT, replace #12674a with the color of your choice --><br />
<p style="color: #12674a; font-size: 180%; font-weight: bold; font-family: Constantia;">''Physical Description''</p><br />
<br />
<!-- INFOBOX --><br />
{| class="infobox" style="float:right; border:0px solid; margin: 5px; background-image: linear-gradient(to right, #12674a, transparent); background-origin: border-box; border-spacing: 2px; border: 2px solid transparent; "<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="3" | [[Image:Aryia.jpg|300px|Aryia in a green jacket, glaring at the viewer. Created by Bing AI Image Generator.]] <br />
|-<br />
! colspan="3" style="border-bottom:2px solid; background:white;"| Character Details<br />
|-<br />
| style="text-align:right; background:white;" | '''Race:'''<br />
| style="background:white;" | [[Mul'niessa]]<br />
|-<br />
| style="text-align:right; background:white;" | '''Class/Level:'''<br />
| style="background:white;" | Monk (20)<br />
|-<br />
| style="text-align:right; background:white;" | '''Gender:'''<br />
| style="background:white;" | Female<br />
|-<br />
| style="text-align:right; background:white;" | '''Deity:'''<br />
| style="background:white;" | None<br />
|-<br />
| style="text-align:right; background:white;" | '''Alignment:'''<br />
| style="background:white;" | Lawful Neutral<br />
|-<br />
| style="text-align:right; background:white;" | '''Age:'''<br />
| style="background:white;" | 112 lived, 101 naturally<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<!-- END OF INFOBOX --><br />
<br />
<!-- PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION TEXT --><br />
This mul woman holds an unnerving and menacing presence, as it’s clear that she needs no weapon nor magic to rend anything asunder. Lithe and muscular, her entire body screams that she is a walking weapon, even despite the fact her stature barely comes up to the shoulder on most.<br />
<br />
Scars from countless trials line nearly every inch of exposed dim gray flesh. Underneath the hardened veneer belies youth for an elf, yet the steel in her glowing milky eyes and marrings upon her skin age her in more than just time. Half-shaved, moon hued hair that wafts over her right shoulder makes it easy to spot a deeper-than-skin scar that runs jagged across the front of her throat.<br />
<br />
Silver trimmed black pants and a sleeveless black shirt expose glowing runed leather cords that wrap from shoulder to wrist against taut muscles. A silver pockmarked medallion dangles from her neck, matching the wide, silver framed shades that rests on her nose. A verdant buckle jacket sits shoulder robed, somehow always staying in place, as the silver chain clasp on it doesn’t seem to be doing much work.<br />
<!-- END OF PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION TEXT --><br />
<br />
<p style="color: #12674a; font-size: 180%; font-weight: bold; font-family: Constantia;">''About''</p><br />
<br />
A heavily scarred mul'neissa woman that works the Alexandrian docks, who tends to speak more with her fists than any words she could write down. She arrived to Alexandria to escape the clutches of Charn, yet keeps finding such atrocities creeping back up on her. Thrust into the adventuring life, she tends to see most with open suspicion lest they are vetted by those she's come to trust. She has also taken up the role of coach of a newfounded team in the Colosseum called The Crucible!<br />
<br />
<!-- ROLEPLAY HOOKS HEADING TEXT, replace #957d9b with the color of your choice --><br />
<p style="color: #12674a; font-size: 180%; font-weight: bold; font-family: Constantia;">''Roleplay Hooks''</p><br />
<!-- ROLEPLAY HOOKS --><br />
<br />
* '''Dock Hand:''' Aryia tends to work the ships that come to and fro from the ports, having been a sailor after her escape for some time.<br />
* '''Runaway:''' Fleeing from the underbelly of Charn has its own problems that constantly arise.<br />
* '''Pugilist:''' Aryia talks with her fists often, her training consisting of an unorthodox mishmash of various mentors, desperation, and grit. Not quite a proper monk, but close enough to get the gist of it.<br />
* '''Seamstress:''' From jackets to cloaks, to wedding dresses and suits, if one needs clothes, she can make it, and make it well. Just... don't get her for a last minute formal wear.<br />
* '''Colosseum Coach:''' Aryia's efforts of training fighters and pugilists in Alexandria's Colosseum has earned her a spot as one of the coaches for tournaments.<br />
<!-- END OF ROLEPLAY HOOKS --><br />
<br />
<p style="color: #12674a; font-size: 180%; font-weight: bold; font-family: Constantia;">''Punch-it List''</p><br />
<br />
Aryia has a non-exhaustive list of things she wants to slug and get away with. This includes but is in no way limited to:<br />
<br />
* A dragon<br />
* <s>A leader figure</s><br />
* <s>Herself</s><br />
* <s>A kaiju</s><br />
* <s>An angel</s><br />
* <s>A demon</s><br />
* <s>A devil</s><br />
* <s>An army</s><br />
* <s>A massive monster</s><br />
<br />
<p style="color: #12674a; font-size: 180%; font-weight: bold; font-family: Constantia;">''Ki Powers and Style Strikes''</p><br />
<br />
Aryia has an extensive list of abilities that focus on defense and maneuverability:<br />
<br />
Ki Powers:<br />
<br />
* Deny Death<br />
* Barkskin<br />
* Diamond Mind<br />
* Water Sprint<br />
* Abundant Step<br />
* Restoration<br />
* Diamond Resilience<br />
* Diamond Soul<br />
* Quivering Palm<br />
<br />
Style Strike:<br />
<br />
* Defensive Spin<br />
* Flying Kick<br />
* Shattering Punch<br />
* Spin Kick<br />
<br />
<p style="color: #12674a; font-size: 180%; font-weight: bold; font-family: Constantia;">''Quotes''</p><br />
<br />
* "The apex is only yourself and those you surround yourself with. And gods damn do you look small down there."<br />
<br />
</div><br />
<br />
<!-- BADGES go here if you want them --><br />
<div style="width: 775px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 20px;"><br />
<br />
{{Badge}}<br />
{{Badge-Icon|Monk.png}} <br />
{{Badge-Content}}<br />
{{Badge-Title|Monk PC Badge}}<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Honed Weapon}} Aryia fights solely with her body, and focuses on enduring even the worst of blows.<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Structured Dogma}} Various meditation methods, philosophies, and training routines keep her mind and body in check.<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Monastic Order}} Belonging to no order, Aryia's discipline is standoffish. But results speak for themselves.<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Ki Powers}} Typically manifesting as moonlit energies, Aryia's ki powers focus more on endurance and mobility. Hardening skin and body, negating magic, defying death, and short range teleporting.<br />
{{Badge-End}} <br />
<br />
{{Badge}}<br />
{{Badge-Icon|Darkelf02.jpg}} <br />
{{Badge-Content}}<br />
{{Badge-Title|Mul'niessa PC Badge}}<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Full Name}} Aryia Zilstrae Aelduis<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Role}} A fisticuffs brawler that doesn't mind going head first into a scrap.<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Faith}} None. "I threw myself before any and every god during my most desperate times and all I got was silence."<br />
<br />
{{Badge-End}}<br />
<br />
{{Badge}}<br />
{{Badge-Icon|Flaws02.jpg}} <br />
{{Badge-Content}}<br />
{{Badge-Title|Flaws PC Badge}}<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Flaw}} Mute.<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Development}}Physical silence bestows it's own slew of problems. One that Aryia has no desire to get fixed any time soon.<br />
<br />
{{Badge-End}}<br />
<br />
{{Badge}}<br />
{{Badge-Icon|Aspect02.jpg}} <br />
{{Badge-Content}}<br />
{{Badge-Title|Aspect PC Badge}}<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Aspect}}Sun-Touched<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Tier}}Tier 3 + Major Tattoos<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Development}} Odd it is that a mul'neissa is aligned with the moonlight, yet still retains their touch of shadows. Either the coin landed on its side on the flip, or something else manifests. The tattoo manifest as moon hued lines of light across her body when the Aspect is used or Ki abilities are tapped. This aspect is highly apparent when using her mythic abilities, as skin turns onyx and scars crack into marble and shine.<br />
{{Badge-End}}<br />
<br />
{{Badge}}<br />
{{Badge-Icon|Influence01.jpg}} <br />
{{Badge-Content}}<br />
{{Badge-Title|(RPP) Influence PC Badge}}<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Tier}} Tier 3<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Major Spheres}} The Colosseum.<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Minor Spheres}} None yet.<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Rival}} Ubaki - a half-oruch Korite monk that has grown frustrated at their plateau. Now upon seeing Aryia's success, they've sworn to surpass the mul'neissan coach.<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Apprentice}} None yet.<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Other Landmarks}} Being a popular coach in The Colosseum without revering Angoron and Kor is strange and noteworthy for tournament goers.<br />
{{Badge-End}}<br />
<br />
{{Badge}}<br />
{{Badge-Icon|Mythic20.png}} <br />
{{Badge-Content}}<br />
{{Badge-Title|Mythic Paths PC Badge}}<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Tier}} Tier 8<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Progression}} Epic Rise: d10, Ki-Healing, Extinguishment of Pain, Healing Stand. Feats: Wall Run, Aerial Assault<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Development}} Playing cards with a god, fighting demonic kaiju, delving into time loops, being wreathed in otherworldly energy, and being overall bull headed has manifested itself to a point where her physical prowess has a higher apex than previously thought possible. Aryia possesses the ability to force her tenacity into the material, able to shove life into wounds and unlife.<br />
{{Badge-End}}<br />
<!-- END OF BADGE AREA --><br />
</div><br />
<br />
<!-- FOOTER BAR, replace #957d9b with the color of your choice --><br />
<div style="position:relative; top:0px; height: 50px; width: 875px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; background-image: linear-gradient(to left, #12674a, transparent);"><br />
<p style="color: black; font-size: 220%; text-align: right; padding-right: 20px; font-weight: light; font-family: Constantia;"><br />
<!-- FOOTER TEXT, replace with a character quote or something snazzy --><br />
''"F*** off, I'm punching rocks."''<br />
<!-- END OF FOOTER TEXT --><br />
</p></div><br />
<br />
[[Category:Monk]]<br />
[[Category:Mul'niessa]]<br />
[[Category:Player]]</div>Aryiahttp://www.tenebraemush.net/index.php?title=Aryia&diff=44069Aryia2025-01-15T03:45:59Z<p>Aryia: </p>
<hr />
<div><!-- HEADER BAR, replace #957d9b with the color of your choice --><br />
<div style="position:relative; top:0px; height: 50px; width: 875px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; background-image: linear-gradient(to right, #12674a, transparent);"><br />
<p style="color: black; font-size: 220%; padding-left: 20px; font-weight: light; font-family: Constantia;"><br />
<!-- CHARACTER NAME in header bar, replace with your character's name --><br />
''Aryia''<br />
<!-- END OF CHARACTER NAME --><br />
</p></div><br />
<br />
<div style="width: 875px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><br />
<!-- HEADING TEXT, replace #12674a with the color of your choice --><br />
<p style="color: #12674a; font-size: 180%; font-weight: bold; font-family: Constantia;">''Physical Description''</p><br />
<br />
<!-- INFOBOX --><br />
{| class="infobox" style="float:right; border:0px solid; margin: 5px; background-image: linear-gradient(to right, #12674a, transparent); background-origin: border-box; border-spacing: 2px; border: 2px solid transparent; "<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="3" | [[Image:Aryia.jpg|300px|Aryia in a green jacket, glaring at the viewer. Created by Bing AI Image Generator.]] <br />
|-<br />
! colspan="3" style="border-bottom:2px solid; background:white;"| Character Details<br />
|-<br />
| style="text-align:right; background:white;" | '''Race:'''<br />
| style="background:white;" | [[Mul'niessa]]<br />
|-<br />
| style="text-align:right; background:white;" | '''Class/Level:'''<br />
| style="background:white;" | Monk (20)<br />
|-<br />
| style="text-align:right; background:white;" | '''Gender:'''<br />
| style="background:white;" | Female<br />
|-<br />
| style="text-align:right; background:white;" | '''Deity:'''<br />
| style="background:white;" | None<br />
|-<br />
| style="text-align:right; background:white;" | '''Alignment:'''<br />
| style="background:white;" | Lawful Neutral<br />
|-<br />
| style="text-align:right; background:white;" | '''Age:'''<br />
| style="background:white;" | 112 lived, 101 naturally<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<!-- END OF INFOBOX --><br />
<br />
<!-- PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION TEXT --><br />
This mul woman holds an unnerving and menacing presence, as it’s clear that she needs no weapon nor magic to rend anything asunder. Lithe and muscular, her entire body screams that she is a walking weapon, even despite the fact her stature barely comes up to the shoulder on most.<br />
<br />
Scars from countless trials line nearly every inch of exposed dim gray flesh. Underneath the hardened veneer belies youth for an elf, yet the steel in her glowing milky eyes and marrings upon her skin age her in more than just time. Half-shaved, moon hued hair that wafts over her right shoulder makes it easy to spot a deeper-than-skin scar that runs jagged across the front of her throat.<br />
<br />
Silver trimmed black pants and a sleeveless black shirt expose glowing runed leather cords that wrap from shoulder to wrist against taut muscles. A silver pockmarked medallion dangles from her neck, matching the wide, silver framed shades that rests on her nose. A verdant buckle jacket sits shoulder robed, somehow always staying in place, as the silver chain clasp on it doesn’t seem to be doing much work.<br />
<!-- END OF PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION TEXT --><br />
<br />
<p style="color: #12674a; font-size: 180%; font-weight: bold; font-family: Constantia;">''About''</p><br />
<br />
A heavily scarred mul'neissa woman that works the Alexandrian docks, who tends to speak more with her fists than any words she could write down. She arrived to Alexandria to escape the clutches of Charn, yet keeps finding such atrocities creeping back up on her. Thrust into the adventuring life, she tends to see most with open suspicion lest they are vetted by those she's come to trust. She has also taken up the role of coach of a newfounded team in the Colosseum called The Crucible!<br />
<br />
<!-- ROLEPLAY HOOKS HEADING TEXT, replace #957d9b with the color of your choice --><br />
<p style="color: #12674a; font-size: 180%; font-weight: bold; font-family: Constantia;">''Roleplay Hooks''</p><br />
<!-- ROLEPLAY HOOKS --><br />
<br />
* '''Dock Hand:''' Aryia tends to work the ships that come to and fro from the ports, having been a sailor after her escape for some time.<br />
* '''Runaway:''' Fleeing from the underbelly of Charn has its own problems that constantly arise.<br />
* '''Pugilist:''' Aryia talks with her fists often, her training consisting of an unorthodox mishmash of various mentors, desperation, and grit. Not quite a proper monk, but close enough to get the gist of it.<br />
* '''Seamstress:''' From jackets to cloaks, to wedding dresses and suits, if one needs clothes, she can make it, and make it well. Just... don't get her for a last minute formal wear.<br />
* '''Colosseum Coach:''' Aryia's efforts of training fighters and pugilists in Alexandria's Colosseum has earned her a spot as one of the coaches for tournaments.<br />
<!-- END OF ROLEPLAY HOOKS --><br />
<br />
<p style="color: #12674a; font-size: 180%; font-weight: bold; font-family: Constantia;">''Punch-it List''</p><br />
<br />
Aryia has a non-exhaustive list of things she wants to slug and get away with. This includes but is in no way limited to:<br />
<br />
* A dragon<br />
* <s>A leader figure</s><br />
* <s>Herself</s><br />
* <s>A kaiju</s><br />
* <s>An angel</s><br />
* <s>A demon</s><br />
* <s>A devil</s><br />
* <s>An army</s><br />
* <s>A massive monster</s><br />
<br />
<p style="color: #12674a; font-size: 180%; font-weight: bold; font-family: Constantia;">''Ki Powers and Style Strikes''</p><br />
<br />
Aryia has an extensive list of abilities that focus on defense and maneuverability:<br />
<br />
Ki Powers:<br />
<br />
* Deny Death<br />
* Barkskin<br />
* Diamond Mind<br />
* Water Sprint<br />
* Abundant Step<br />
* Restoration<br />
* Diamond Resilience<br />
* Diamond Soul<br />
* Quivering Palm<br />
<br />
Style Strike:<br />
<br />
* Defensive Spin<br />
* Flying Kick<br />
* Shattering Punch<br />
* Spin Kick<br />
<br />
</div><br />
<br />
<!-- BADGES go here if you want them --><br />
<div style="width: 775px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 20px;"><br />
<br />
{{Badge}}<br />
{{Badge-Icon|Monk.png}} <br />
{{Badge-Content}}<br />
{{Badge-Title|Monk PC Badge}}<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Honed Weapon}} Aryia fights solely with her body, and focuses on enduring even the worst of blows.<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Structured Dogma}} Various meditation methods, philosophies, and training routines keep her mind and body in check.<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Monastic Order}} Belonging to no order, Aryia's discipline is standoffish. But results speak for themselves.<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Ki Powers}} Typically manifesting as moonlit energies, Aryia's ki powers focus more on endurance and mobility. Hardening skin and body, negating magic, defying death, and short range teleporting.<br />
{{Badge-End}} <br />
<br />
{{Badge}}<br />
{{Badge-Icon|Darkelf02.jpg}} <br />
{{Badge-Content}}<br />
{{Badge-Title|Mul'niessa PC Badge}}<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Full Name}} Aryia Zilstrae Aelduis<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Role}} A fisticuffs brawler that doesn't mind going head first into a scrap.<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Faith}} None. "I threw myself before any and every god during my most desperate times and all I got was silence."<br />
<br />
{{Badge-End}}<br />
<br />
{{Badge}}<br />
{{Badge-Icon|Flaws02.jpg}} <br />
{{Badge-Content}}<br />
{{Badge-Title|Flaws PC Badge}}<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Flaw}} Mute.<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Development}}Physical silence bestows it's own slew of problems. One that Aryia has no desire to get fixed any time soon.<br />
<br />
{{Badge-End}}<br />
<br />
{{Badge}}<br />
{{Badge-Icon|Aspect02.jpg}} <br />
{{Badge-Content}}<br />
{{Badge-Title|Aspect PC Badge}}<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Aspect}}Sun-Touched<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Tier}}Tier 3 + Major Tattoos<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Development}} Odd it is that a mul'neissa is aligned with the moonlight, yet still retains their touch of shadows. Either the coin landed on its side on the flip, or something else manifests. The tattoo manifest as moon hued lines of light across her body when the Aspect is used or Ki abilities are tapped. This aspect is highly apparent when using her mythic abilities, as skin turns onyx and scars crack into marble and shine.<br />
{{Badge-End}}<br />
<br />
{{Badge}}<br />
{{Badge-Icon|Influence01.jpg}} <br />
{{Badge-Content}}<br />
{{Badge-Title|(RPP) Influence PC Badge}}<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Tier}} Tier 3<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Major Spheres}} The Colosseum.<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Minor Spheres}} None yet.<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Rival}} Ubaki - a half-oruch Korite monk that has grown frustrated at their plateau. Now upon seeing Aryia's success, they've sworn to surpass the mul'neissan coach.<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Apprentice}} None yet.<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Other Landmarks}} Being a popular coach in The Colosseum without revering Angoron and Kor is strange and noteworthy for tournament goers.<br />
{{Badge-End}}<br />
<br />
{{Badge}}<br />
{{Badge-Icon|Mythic20.png}} <br />
{{Badge-Content}}<br />
{{Badge-Title|Mythic Paths PC Badge}}<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Tier}} Tier 8<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Progression}} Epic Rise: d10, Ki-Healing, Extinguishment of Pain, Healing Stand. Feats: Wall Run, Aerial Assault<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Development}} Playing cards with a god, fighting demonic kaiju, delving into time loops, being wreathed in otherworldly energy, and being overall bull headed has manifested itself to a point where her physical prowess has a higher apex than previously thought possible. Aryia possesses the ability to force her tenacity into the material, able to shove life into wounds and unlife.<br />
{{Badge-End}}<br />
<!-- END OF BADGE AREA --><br />
</div><br />
<br />
<!-- FOOTER BAR, replace #957d9b with the color of your choice --><br />
<div style="position:relative; top:0px; height: 50px; width: 875px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; background-image: linear-gradient(to left, #12674a, transparent);"><br />
<p style="color: black; font-size: 220%; text-align: right; padding-right: 20px; font-weight: light; font-family: Constantia;"><br />
<!-- FOOTER TEXT, replace with a character quote or something snazzy --><br />
''"F*** off, I'm punching rocks."''<br />
<!-- END OF FOOTER TEXT --><br />
</p></div><br />
<br />
[[Category:Monk]]<br />
[[Category:Mul'niessa]]<br />
[[Category:Player]]</div>Aryiahttp://www.tenebraemush.net/index.php?title=Aryia&diff=44052Aryia2025-01-10T00:56:20Z<p>Aryia: </p>
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<div><!-- HEADER BAR, replace #957d9b with the color of your choice --><br />
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''Aryia''<br />
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<p style="color: #12674a; font-size: 180%; font-weight: bold; font-family: Constantia;">''Physical Description''</p><br />
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! colspan="3" | [[Image:Aryia.jpg|300px|Aryia in a green jacket, glaring at the viewer. Created by Bing AI Image Generator.]] <br />
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! colspan="3" style="border-bottom:2px solid; background:white;"| Character Details<br />
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| style="text-align:right; background:white;" | '''Race:'''<br />
| style="background:white;" | [[Mul'niessa]]<br />
|-<br />
| style="text-align:right; background:white;" | '''Class/Level:'''<br />
| style="background:white;" | Monk (20)<br />
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| style="text-align:right; background:white;" | '''Gender:'''<br />
| style="background:white;" | Female<br />
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| style="text-align:right; background:white;" | '''Deity:'''<br />
| style="background:white;" | None<br />
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| style="text-align:right; background:white;" | '''Alignment:'''<br />
| style="background:white;" | Lawful Neutral<br />
|-<br />
| style="text-align:right; background:white;" | '''Age:'''<br />
| style="background:white;" | 112 lived, 101 naturally<br />
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This mul woman holds an unnerving and menacing presence, as it’s clear that she needs no weapon nor magic to rend anything asunder. Lithe and muscular, her entire body screams that she is a walking weapon, even despite the fact her stature barely comes up to the shoulder on most.<br />
<br />
Scars from countless trials line nearly every inch of exposed dim gray flesh. Underneath the hardened veneer belies youth for an elf, yet the steel in her glowing milky eyes and marrings upon her skin age her in more than just time. Half-shaved, moon hued hair that wafts over her right shoulder makes it easy to spot a deeper-than-skin scar that runs jagged across the front of her throat.<br />
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Silver trimmed black pants and a sleeveless black shirt expose glowing runed leather cords that wrap from shoulder to wrist against taut muscles. A silver pockmarked medallion dangles from her neck, matching the wide, silver framed shades that rests on her nose. A verdant buckle jacket sits shoulder robed, somehow always staying in place, as the silver chain clasp on it doesn’t seem to be doing much work.<br />
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<p style="color: #12674a; font-size: 180%; font-weight: bold; font-family: Constantia;">''About''</p><br />
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A heavily scarred mul'neissa woman that works the Alexandrian docks, who tends to speak more with her fists than any words she could write down. She arrived to Alexandria to escape the clutches of Charn, yet keeps finding such atrocities creeping back up on her. Thrust into the adventuring life, she tends to see most with open suspicion lest they are vetted by those she's come to trust. She has also taken up the role of coach of a newfounded team in the Colosseum called The Crucible!<br />
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<p style="color: #12674a; font-size: 180%; font-weight: bold; font-family: Constantia;">''Roleplay Hooks''</p><br />
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* '''Dock Hand:''' Aryia tends to work the ships that come to and fro from the ports, having been a sailor after her escape for some time.<br />
* '''Runaway:''' Fleeing from the underbelly of Charn has its own problems that constantly arise.<br />
* '''Pugilist:''' Aryia talks with her fists often, her training consisting of an unorthodox mishmash of various mentors, desperation, and grit. Not quite a proper monk, but close enough to get the gist of it.<br />
* '''Seamstress:''' From jackets to cloaks, to wedding dresses and suits, if one needs clothes, she can make it, and make it well. Just... don't get her for a last minute formal wear.<br />
* '''Colosseum Coach:''' Aryia's efforts of training fighters and pugilists in Alexandria's Colosseum has earned her a spot as one of the coaches for tournaments.<br />
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<p style="color: #12674a; font-size: 180%; font-weight: bold; font-family: Constantia;">''Punch-it List''</p><br />
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Aryia has a non-exhaustive list of things she wants to slug and get away with. This includes but is in no way limited to:<br />
<br />
* A dragon<br />
* A leader figure - Done, just need to get away.<br />
* <s>A kaiju</s><br />
* <s>An angel</s><br />
* <s>A demon</s><br />
* <s>A devil</s><br />
* <s>An army</s><br />
* <s>A massive monster</s><br />
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<p style="color: #12674a; font-size: 180%; font-weight: bold; font-family: Constantia;">''Ki Powers and Style Strikes''</p><br />
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Aryia has an extensive list of abilities that focus on defense and maneuverability:<br />
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Ki Powers:<br />
<br />
* Deny Death<br />
* Barkskin<br />
* Diamond Mind<br />
* Water Sprint<br />
* Abundant Step<br />
* Restoration<br />
* Diamond Resilience<br />
* Diamond Soul<br />
* Quivering Palm<br />
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Style Strike:<br />
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* Defensive Spin<br />
* Flying Kick<br />
* Shattering Punch<br />
* Spin Kick<br />
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{{Badge}}<br />
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{{Badge-Entry|Honed Weapon}} Aryia fights solely with her body, and focuses on enduring even the worst of blows.<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Structured Dogma}} Various meditation methods, philosophies, and training routines keep her mind and body in check.<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Monastic Order}} Belonging to no order, Aryia's discipline is standoffish. But results speak for themselves.<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Ki Powers}} Typically manifesting as moonlit energies, Aryia's ki powers focus more on endurance and mobility. Hardening skin and body, negating magic, defying death, and short range teleporting.<br />
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{{Badge-Entry|Full Name}} Aryia Zilstrae Aelduis<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Role}} A fisticuffs brawler that doesn't mind going head first into a scrap.<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Faith}} None. "I threw myself before any and every god during my most desperate times and all I got was silence."<br />
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{{Badge-Entry|Flaw}} Mute.<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Development}}Physical silence bestows it's own slew of problems. One that Aryia has no desire to get fixed any time soon.<br />
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{{Badge-Entry|Aspect}}Sun-Touched<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Tier}}Tier 3 + Major Tattoos<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Development}} Odd it is that a mul'neissa is aligned with the moonlight, yet still retains their touch of shadows. Either the coin landed on its side on the flip, or something else manifests. The tattoo manifest as moon hued lines of light across her body when the Aspect is used or Ki abilities are tapped. This aspect is highly apparent when using her mythic abilities, as skin turns onyx and scars crack into marble and shine.<br />
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{{Badge-Entry|Tier}} Tier 3<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Major Spheres}} The Colosseum.<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Minor Spheres}} None yet.<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Rival}} Ubaki - a half-oruch Korite monk that has grown frustrated at their plateau. Now upon seeing Aryia's success, they've sworn to surpass the mul'neissan coach.<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Apprentice}} None yet.<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Other Landmarks}} Being a popular coach in The Colosseum without revering Angoron and Kor is strange and noteworthy for tournament goers.<br />
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{{Badge-Title|Mythic Paths PC Badge}}<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Tier}} Tier 8<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Progression}} Epic Rise: d10, Ki-Healing, Extinguishment of Pain, Healing Stand. Feats: Wall Run, Aerial Assault<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Development}} Playing cards with a god, fighting demonic kaiju, delving into time loops, being wreathed in otherworldly energy, and being overall bull headed has manifested itself to a point where her physical prowess has a higher apex than previously thought possible. Aryia possesses the ability to force her tenacity into the material, able to shove life into wounds and unlife.<br />
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''"F*** off, I'm punching rocks."''<br />
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[[Category:Monk]]<br />
[[Category:Mul'niessa]]<br />
[[Category:Player]]</div>Aryiahttp://www.tenebraemush.net/index.php?title=Scaling_and_Weeping&diff=44048Scaling and Weeping2025-01-09T21:09:58Z<p>Aryia: Created page with "A chill wind gusts along the mountain road, tossing about the ever-falling snow across the exposed landscape. The city below has the comparative shelter of the ridge, itself, but atop it is not the case. Activity to and from the airstation and/or temple does keep the roadway relatively clear; whether by necessary maintenance work or the passing of travellers, themselves. Perhaps the only other sheltered location, the stone residence upon the ridge between the other two..."</p>
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<div>A chill wind gusts along the mountain road, tossing about the ever-falling snow across the exposed landscape. The city below has the comparative shelter of the ridge, itself, but atop it is not the case. Activity to and from the airstation and/or temple does keep the roadway relatively clear; whether by necessary maintenance work or the passing of travellers, themselves.<br />
<br />
Perhaps the only other sheltered location, the stone residence upon the ridge between the other two landmarks releases woodsmoke from its chimney along with the scents of freshly-baked goods. While the portico's table and chairs are currently unoccupied, they are sheltered from the snow (less so from the wind).<br />
<br />
Ice and winds, unceasing snow. That's a long way to get up there. What better way than to go as the crow flies. Or as the monkey climbs?<br />
<br />
There is a knock at the window. The one that is over the kitchen. At the back of the abode. A scarred mul woman with glowing eye is peering in, the top of a white pom-pom of a knitted hat bobbing as she stands on her tip toes, frost caking her eyerbrows. It's Aryia.<br />
<br />
A knock at the door would be more expected, if not so frequent given the current weather. One upon the window (and on the cliff-facing side!) is rather unsettling. Verna looks from her tidying of dishes with a start and a small clatter. She stares at the window and face therein for a moment before recognition and reason resume.<br />
<br />
Her expression softens to a slight smile as she dries her hands on her apron and moves towards the door to the rear patio and garden adjacent to the window. "You should be aware that the doors are perfectly functional," she offers through the window with gestures of now-dry hands before she uses them to unlock and unlatch the door.<br />
<br />
Aryia gives a toothy grin as she seems to aptly startle the Mourner. "I'm aware."<br />
<br />
The cliff racer promptly slides inside after being let in. "Besides, if you weren't here, I would have let myself in," she jokes before dusting herself off of snow and ice. "I hope you're well?" <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
work is a known thing."<br />
<br />
Verna steps back to allow her guest entry (and to shed snow). While she is aware that Aryia is jesting about self-entry, her prior slender smile presses to a line. "I do not recommend inviting one's self inside. Many of the defensive measures in place do not readily differentiate between one unexpected visitor and another. Not to mention the highly-capable guard animal patrolling the residence." One hand gestures to Hunter sprawled upon her chair near the burning hearth, basking in its radiance.<br />
<br />
Regarding her inquiry, Verna takes a moment to consider before noting (both in gesture and aloud), "Well enough, if not as much as I would prefer."<br />
<br />
"I'm sure I can deal with whatever defensive measures you have, but that thing will beat my ass," Aryia jabs a thumb over to the apex predator. Speaking of, she ambles over to the little creature, kneeling and giving them a single digit scritch behind the ear.<br />
<br />
She looks over her shoulder, quirking a brow. "That is the primary reason why I clambered up here, since you left with some poetically vague shit when I was knitting." Scritch. <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
The notion of Hunter and Aryia engaged in battle and the former utterly paralyzing the latter by simply curling up upon her lap is... quite feasible, from Verna's experence. Not to mention from Aryia's current doting. The slender smile returns, though only for a fleeting moment.<br />
<br />
"My apologies," Verna offers, again in both gesture and word. "I was especially morose that day. A number of events occurred as of late. Events that require corrective action, which we currently arrange to take. Your presence here is always welcome, of course, yet now also convenient. I intended to converse with you on matters, yet within the park whilst you were knitting was neither the proper location nor situation."<br />
<br />
Aryia gives Hunter a final stroke, ending with a brush down the danger belly, but leaving them alone for the time being otherwise as she all but throws herself on the couch. Boots are kicked off, as is jacket and hat. "It was a rather terrible place to talk about anything of substance," the lounging pugilist agrees, eyeing the hearth for a beat before looking over towards Verna. "So... why is Vardama sad?" she rolls a hand questioningly. Damn, right to the point. <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
"Indeed," Verna concurs. "I did not wish to dampen the Yuletide spirt, as one might state." She moves to the the table to acquire the tea service as well as a plate of recently-fashioned fruit pastries. All are set within reach of Aryia at the low table near the couch. It is more efficient than inquiring of her wants and then acting: she is welcome to indulge or not as she wishes. She is, in Verna's mind, family in all but name.<br />
<br />
"The Great Cycle is disrupted. The Scales are imbalanced," Verna explains as she takes a seat in a chair opposite the couch. "It is for that that She weeps..." a pause before she adds, "and that the cause is a theft from one of Her Own faithful."<br />
<br />
"Fair point," Aryia concurs, slowly shifting to have her legs over the back of the couch. The platter of pastries certainly grabs her attention, and a few are taken readily, one being consumed while partially inverted. She gives a grateful grunt.<br />
<br />
The explanation makes a brows furrow. "So something has gotten immortality or something? Did you like, swipe the Hourglass of Life or some shit?" she asks, throwing things out there. <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Verna shakes her head slightly. "No. While evasion of death is the most common blasphemy against The Cycle, such is not the case in this instance." She regards the somewhat inverted Aryia a moment as she organizes her thoughts. She then shifts slightly from explanatory statements to, presumably, expositional context... and with a return inquiry of her own. "How familiar are you with the fae Queen of Air and Darkness?"<br />
<br />
The name gets Aryia's relaxed yet pensive visage and posture to sinch up tightly. "I've met them. Borrowed something from them for a little while to deal with some fiend shit. Her mere presence was..." she shudders. "Made me act in ways I intensely dislike. What does this have to deal with that-" she stops herself. Shifting the sign to something more... acceptable. "-Person." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
"We discovered that she had ties to another fiend, a daemon," Verna returns to statements. "The same one that was active here in Alexandria and was involved in my own abduction. Such also aligned the fae Queen with Lady Varyssa, all of which appeared quite unusual." She pauses, collecting a pastry for herself, though she regards it more than consumes any of it.<br />
<br />
"It was further unveiled that the Queen's son and heir, who by all accounts is rather reprehensible perhaps even by fae standards, is infertile. Her line would be unable to continue. Thus she sought unholy efforts to alter this future fate." Now a small bite is taken, chewed, swallowed. "When the fiend was subsequently destroyed or banished," Verna may remain uncertain as to the ultimate fate, "she took further action. A thief was sent, empowered to travel within The Dreaming yet effect change in our realm. That individual stole from me the spark that enables one to create new life, thus disrupting The Cycle."<br />
<br />
Not even the gods could stop the eye roll that went to the back of Aryia's skull at the mention of daemon consorting. "And I thought man was stupid, I thought fae were supposed to be clever with their deals."<br />
<br />
She stops chewing on her third pastry (where did the second one go?), blinking at Verna. "... firstly, that sucks, I'm sorry. Second- how in the fuck does someone /steal/ that? Third, do I need to curb stomp this dumb fucker?" she quickly signs, growing more frustrated at the situation. <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Verna nod slightly at the first comment, lips pursing. "Thank you. It is not an aspect that I had considered, much less its loss. Admittedly, it is the fact that my Matron weeps for -me- that I find most distressing..." She does not offer an answer to the second, and may not have any more insight on that than Aryia.<br />
<br />
"We intend to venture to her realm to confront the Queen," she notes concerning the last inquiry. "If you wished to aid us, your presence is ever welcome. Alternatively, if you might keep alert on the residence while we are away, it would be appreciated. All of the Lupecyl-Atlons intend to venture there. While I do not expect us to be away long, Quelynos and related realms do not experience time in the same manner as the material."<br />
<br />
"That is.. concerning," Aryia gestures slowly. "I don't want to think of the implications."<br />
<br />
She rights herself, leaning forth to partake of tea to wash it down. "I would not mind aiding, however-" she holds up a finger. "-In order to resist her presence, only those that have their true love with them can counter it. Last time I saw her, I was..." She trails off before shaking her head. "... I had this overwhelming urge to impress her, and I failed to sew her a new dress."<br />
<br />
"I would be defenseless," she finishes, frowning. "While I am great, I know my limits, and having myself mind controlled versus the Lupecyl-Atlons, uh... I respect all of your respective power but if I land a single blow on any of you will true intent to harm, you all would fold. So unless you know away around that..." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
"I can presume only that she would corrupt and pervert what was taken for her own ends," Verna concurs, her words more quiet than those prior. While she may not wish to think upon such, either, she likely has done so, regardless.<br />
<br />
Aryia's subsequent revelations concerning the queen cause her brows to lift: it appears that she may know far more of this fae than Verna. "Intriguing. I was not aware that she possessed such ... influence." Her lips purse now in concern.<br />
<br />
"Whilst I consider you far from defenseless, I fully acknowledge and understand your concerns. I found myself in similar situations more than once." Her purse becomes a frown. "Oft within one of the fae realms, as well..."<br />
<br />
Her dwelling on the thought is sidelined for the moment as she regards Aryia. "I am personally acquainted with the force of your blows, Aryia, and certainly did not forget as much. I cannot guarantee the safety of any on this venture, though we will take all possible steps to gird ourselves against all conceived threats."<br />
<br />
"Her sheer presence is enough to bring low those that do not have that stipulation present," Aryia affirms before scoffing. "Trust me, you haven't been hit by full force. Since I know my limits, I know my heights, and those heights would be devastating if aimed in the wrong direction."<br />
<br />
She rubs her cheek. "I am willing to attempt to be with on this venture- you lot do need someone in the front after all. But understand having me with you is a massive liability." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Verna nods once more at this valuable information, even if it also deepens her frown. "Understood, and I will certainly take measures against such influence, as well as necessary steps to remediate such a potential situation. I will not allow any to harm one another, to include themselves, as best as I am able to prevent."<br />
<br />
She is quiet for a few beats to further formulate before she advises, "This venture shall not be to seek her aid, of course, but rather direct confrontation. Some seek to despose her, if not to destry her outright. Given this shall occur within her demenses, I expect that she shall be far from the only threat with which me must contend." A sigh is loosed. "While I am not joyous that all whom I hold dear shall be involved, I welcome your presence and aid."<br />
<br />
The frown wobbles and upturns for a moment. "She is most assuredly deserving of a blow to the face, if not several."<br />
<br />
Aryia takes the information in, leaning back against the couch and mulling with her teacup. It's a long silence, the kind that seems a touch too long for normal conversation, but is a norm in such talks with Sildanyari.<br />
<br />
She raises a hand. "I would /really/ enjoy decking that smug fucking face," she muses 'aloud'. Aryia smirks at Verna. "If I can then, I'll help." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
"Indeed, I expect that you would," Verna affirms, if redundantly. "I will keep you informed of our plans and itinerary." She now takes an indulgent bite from her loitering pastry, posture and expression softening as she consumes it. "How have you fared these past weeks? A quiet and productive time, I hope?" she inquires with no small amount of curiosity. Some time has passed since they conversed, especially in a casual fashion.<br />
<br />
Aryia gives a crisp thumbs up before going back to sprawling out on the couch in no manner dissimilar to that of Hunter. "Been okay. Snow has kept the tournaments out, but there seems to be a lot to do in the snow. Been making clothes for people in the meantime to help ward off the chill."<br />
<br />
The Mul takes a large breath. "Aside from that, kind of bored. Was wanting to sail to the Jade Islands, but the portmaster isn't letting anyone out until this passes. Haven't let up on training though. Got some tricks up my sleeve." She jabs a thumb towards where she came in from. "Getting to your balcony is good practice." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Verna's eyes shift to the window. "Scaling the Redridge is a challenge, I expect. To some. To others, impossible without magical means." Admittedly, her tone suggests she has not attempted such. "I have come to relish more quiet and peaceful days; I learned long ago to readily occupy myself. Though perhaps I became complacent, given that I was quite limited in mobility for a time. I am pleased that you do well."<br />
<br />
A consideration or recollection and then brows lift. "You mentioned before that you were defenseless. Does that imply that you have no true love to shield yourself? Or simply that you would not endanger them?"<br />
<br />
Aryia looks back briefly. Then grins. "Turns out, if you go fast enough, even cliffs are just things to run on," she signs. "I agree though, I do enjoy the quiet and peace. I will take it over the suffering wholesale. I can help you be get out of being complacent. We can go on a run?" She smiles.<br />
<br />
The pugilist's lips drop a touch. "At the time, I hadn't anyone. And presently, I haven't anyone. My abode is very quiet." She glances down briefly, but shrugs. "It's what it is. I have friends and, importantly, myself." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
"Perhaps it is far overdue that I visit your abode, perhaps to present confections in barter for clothing?" Verna offers... while intentionally making no mention of running. "As well as remind that a lack of partner does not mean you are not loved."<br />
<br />
Now at that, Aryia gives a simple smile. No cockiness, and no smugness. "Worry not, Verna. I know that very well. It's not the first, nor will it be the last. These things come and go. It is a fact that I am well versed in."<br />
<br />
Peering outside at the weather, she pulls forward a small bag, pulling out a length of string. "You can come visit. But it seems I am stuck here for the time being. I need to update your measurements, so we can properly barter. I have a desire for many cookies. And scones." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
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-End Scene-<br />
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[[Category:Logs]]</div>Aryiahttp://www.tenebraemush.net/index.php?title=Recent_Logs&diff=44047Recent Logs2025-01-09T21:09:30Z<p>Aryia: /* January */</p>
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<div>{{AboutLogs}}<br />
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'''[[Archived_Logs|For 2024 and earlier, see the Archives]].'''<br />
<br />
==2025 Logs==<br />
===January===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|January 1, 2025<br />
|[[The Spectacle of the Century]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Alec]], [[Bryn]], [[Mikilos]] [[Murder]], [[Skyler]] <br />
|-<br />
|January 4, 2025<br />
|[[A Final Word on the Spires]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Rune]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Eztli]], [[Skyler]], [[Bryn]], GM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|January 6, 2025<br />
|[[Working Hands]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Carver]], [[Simony]], [[Skyler]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|January 7, 2025<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 11)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|January 8, 2025<br />
|[[Flight of Intrigue]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Haggerty]], [[Palomas]], [[Skyler]], GM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 9, 2025<br />
|[[Scaling and Weeping]]<br />
|[[Verna]], [[Aryia]]<br />
|-<br />
|}</div>Aryiahttp://www.tenebraemush.net/index.php?title=Festive_Web&diff=43999Festive Web2024-12-23T22:06:31Z<p>Aryia: Created page with "Amongst the warded warmth and shelter of the gardens, the path bears little snow accumulation. The trees and flowers are dusted by the same yet unhindered. All the same, the snow continues to fall. Verna makes her way unhurriedly along the path, a basket in the crook of her elbow. Her cloakhood is doffed and her eyes focus upwards to the descending precipitation as often as they rest upon the colorful foliage in her vicinity. Amongst the grey sky is a small festive web..."</p>
<hr />
<div>Amongst the warded warmth and shelter of the gardens, the path bears little snow accumulation. The trees and flowers are dusted by the same yet unhindered. All the same, the snow continues to fall.<br />
<br />
Verna makes her way unhurriedly along the path, a basket in the crook of her elbow. Her cloakhood is doffed and her eyes focus upwards to the descending precipitation as often as they rest upon the colorful foliage in her vicinity.<br />
<br />
Amongst the grey sky is a small festive web. About ten feet or so off the ground, above the flora next to the walking path, is a knitted web of greens, reds, and yellows anchored to two metal rods that seemingly float in the middle of the air, unmoving.<br />
<br />
Bowing out the bottom of the knitted web is a heavily scarred mul'neissa woman in an equally festive sweater, a long sock hat covering her head with fittings for her long ears. Her feet dangle over the edge, eyes closed while her hands move in a slow yet steady motion with two needles in hand. A loooooong sock taking form. She pauses. Looks down. Then over the hammock, frowning at the ground. A ball of yellow yarn nestled in a brush. Aryia lazily grunts as she tries to reach down for it, but alas. She is short.<br />
<br />
The yellow ball is deposited into Aryia's hand after a moment. The hand that moves it is small and green, belonging to a Goblin dressed all in leather and fur.<br />
<br />
"Y'dropped this.", says her scratchy little voice.<br />
<br />
Murder glances around at the snow intruding upon the Gardens. "Isn't it not supposed t'snow in here?", she wonders of no one in particular. "Has someone sent a prayer to Althea about this? I think she might be mad to see this. At least, th'priests might be, for all the work they did to make the aura of this place."<br />
<br />
Verna cannot help but notice the 'web' and Aryia (and subsequently Murder) with her gaze skyward. "The wards upon the gardens mediate temperature and weather, lessening their effects, " she clarifies. "They do not prevent such outright." She then exhales a breath. "The snow shall continue to fall until my Mistress deems otherwise."<br />
<br />
Aryia blinks, dangling upside down as the ball is handed back to her. She gives a brief gesture of 'thanks' before tossing it into her nest. She waves hello.<br />
<br />
Still hanging, her attention shifts towards Verna. Brows raise (lower?), and a smile cracks her face. "Hey, good to see you're not old as hell anymore," she signs with a hand. Verna's explanation is met with Aryia vaguely motioning something akin to 'what she said' before she rolls herself back up into her hammock. She peers over at Murder, sizing her up briefly before going back to her knitting. The sock gets wider, now with yellow. <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
"Yeah, but it's supposed ta melt!", the GOblin complains.<br />
<br />
She nods at Aryia, "No problem. Short people need all the help they can get." Her grin is full of cheek and teeth.<br />
<br />
The Goblin looks back at Verna. "An' why does your Mistress get ta determine that? Is too much snow!"<br />
<br />
Another look to Aryia. "That's an oddly shaped hat..."<br />
<br />
Aryia's greeting and observation pull Verna from her thoughts. "Indeed, I am not, and grateful. Auranar was inspired, resourceful, and kind enough to employ the means take the years upon herself for a time. The efects were subsquently nullified upon herself and others affected; due to the fiend's demise, as I understand." She takes a long moment to study Aryia's garment-in-progress. "Is that a stocking? Perhaps intended for a Bebilith or Retriever, by the dimensions, yet I presume it must be for some other purpose." Not only are such creatures disinclined to wear apparel, are inured to cold, but Verna imagines they are not high upon Aryia's list of gifting recipients nor customers.<br />
<br />
She then looks to Murder, lips turning down at the corners. "It is not that The Harpist determines nor desires the snow, but that She brings it. She mourns. She weeps that The Cycle is affronted." One gloved hand lifts towards the sky. "These are Her tears."<br />
<br />
Well, if the gods were unhappy, then perhaps Eztli would need to upset them more often, as having the gardens frosted in a pleasant snow was more than welcome to the small makari slowly plodding her way through the district. <br />
<br />
Seemed like there was some commotion nearby. A giant spider in the grounds Verna and Murder were here to eliminate? No, just Aryia lounging in a hammock. "Evening, all of you! I was hoping I could run into Aryia, actually, must be good luck!" The makari laughs. "Hope you are all doing well today."<br />
<br />
The sock gets jabbed a few more times, the crook getting more crooked, the opening getting wider with a brim. She clips the string, then makes a small ball of yarn before attaching it to the top of the 'sock'. Well, it's no longer a sock at this point. To answer Verna's question, the transformed hat is shaken out, pulled a few times to stretch it, and then Aryia throw it down at Murder, plopping the hat right on her head. A yellow, green and red hat with a yellow ball of yearn atop it.<br />
<br />
She sighs in relief at hearing what Verna and company are alright, as well as the fiend being vanquished. "I'm glad to hear that," she signs, pulling more yarn free. A stocking is a good idea. Knitting needles work faster. Less in the relaxed manner as before, and more in getting something done. The yellow ball unfurls quickly in the web.<br />
<br />
The floating hammock in the air shifts slightly. Aryia with a long, festive hat on peers down. "Hello. I'm good." A pause. Squint. "If you're wanting another dress, I have to take your measurements again, otherwise it'll get ripped to shit." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
The Goblin mirrors Verna's frown, though the corners of her mouth turn down much more. "Oh?" She peers up at the sky, and squints. "So what is She crying over, exactly? Which cycle are ya talking about? And can She cry elsewhere a bit, She's going to snow us under if she keeps at it."<br />
<br />
Her head cants sideways and she eyes Eztli for a few moments. "Good enough, I guess. How're you, Ez...."<br />
<br />
The Goblin pauses midsentence, staring upwards at the object that's just plopped onto her head. Her eyes cross, her expression one of puzzlement and growing concern.<br />
<br />
Carver was just taking a stroll through the gardens, bundled again in her great layers of fur. Just sightseeing. An' what's more of a sight than a few legendary local heroes all discussing in the snow. She keeps back, lounging in the shadow of the great monument, bracing her shoulder into the stone... and observes.<br />
<br />
GAME: Eztli rolls perception: (14)+5: 19<br />
<br />
"I am well enough for the moment," Verna responds to Eztli and confirms for Aryia, though her flat tone and slight frown grant no more positive connotation than her words. She then expounds to Murder, "The inifinite cycle of life and death. My Mistress', and our, duties may revolve predominantly around one aspect, yet the maintenance of The Cycle lies at the pinnacle. Such is why undead are anethema as they are abominations in defiance of The Cycle."<br />
<br />
"Hey, nice hat! Looks good on you, real festive." Eztli laughs, resisting a sudden urge to pull the hat down over the gobber's eyes. "Nice spot for some knitting." <br />
<br />
"Well keep that moment and run with it I say, might as well keep doing well." she nods to Verna, looking over one shoulder. "Ah, well, I still love that dress of yours, but I don't need any at the moment. I was hoping you could make something else for me, or show me how to do some sewing some time."<br />
<br />
Aryia doesn't have anything to add to the conversation- Verna was far better vetted to explain all of this- she just keeps knitting a large yellow sock. Color change, now forming red. She glances at Murder. "It's not going to strangle you," the mute signs offhandedly, her looking back to Verna. A brow raises. "Sounds like some bullshit is going on."<br />
<br />
She bobs her head once in agreement- it is a good spot- but her knitting pauses briefly. Glances up to the statue. Then back down. "Okay. Go on. What do you want?"<br />
<br />
Then back up to the statue once more, and she gestures wide and large, so the distance didn't matter. "Standing in shade is fucking useless against Mul'neissa." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
The Goblin's expression remains concerned. Somehow, one eye remains peering up at the hat, while the other stares at Aryia. "How do I know it's not a mimic trying to eat my brains?"<br />
<br />
Both of her eyes turn to look at Verna. "So she's been crying since forever, then, or is this a new thing? 'Cause it's been snowing a bit too much for a bit too long, yanno? As 'Ria says... smells like some bee ess is going on."<br />
<br />
Murder frowns at Eztli momentarily, her hands going up to the hat to preemptively defend against a hatsing. "And standing in the shade doesn't really work against a Gobbo either."<br />
<br />
Carver frowns, trying to make sense of the gestures clearly meant for her. Without the knowledge though, she can only presume the webbed seamstress is waving her forward.<br />
<br />
Very slowly she slinks into view, then conversing distance, giving a wave for those she recognizes. Eztli gets a warmer gaptoothed smile.<br />
<br />
"Ah, well, you see, it involvessomeonewhoIjustsawcomingandIdontwanttospoilitsotalklater?" Eztli responds, quickly running off the rest as she could manage quietly, before turning to grin. "Hey Carver! Having a good day?" She asks, rubbing one of her horns awkwardly. "Yeah, I guess the snow is weird, I like it, but it's still not great if it keeps up excessively."<br />
<br />
Verna exhales a breath as not one, but two note the high probability and proliferation of verancular bovine excrement. She then nods with a simple, "Indeed" before clarifying, "though no bovines are directly involved and the issue is, instead, the work of fae. I presume that the most correct term, in balance of fact and vernacular, could be 'fae bullshit.'"<br />
<br />
She shakes her head to Murder. "While She has ever mourned, this predicament is far more recent and far more ..." Verna pauses, frowning more deeply as she considers a proper adjective. "Heinous..." is what she ultimately decides. "Work is underway to resolve the matter. Once resolved, the snowfall should return to the norm."<br />
<br />
"Do I look like a fucking wizard that knows how to make a mimic?" Aryia signs back at Murder. "Enjoy the hat."<br />
<br />
The knitter is almost done with a red and yellow sock, a large stocking, her adding a lip to the opening and making a loop for a hook. She gives a side at Eztli, one of the covered ears twitching before glancing up to the approaching Carver and simply nodding. A sigh escapes her. "Of course it's fae bullshit."<br />
<br />
She looks up to the sky briefly, contemplating what Verna is speaking of, as it sounds like there is more going on that it seems, before adding the finishing touches and completes the yellow and red stocking. It has a large 'V' in green stitched into the front of it. It gets tossed towards Verna's basket.<br />
<br />
She squints at Carver, holds up two fingers, as if pinching her head sideways. There's a pause in thought, and she nods to herself, pulling free more red and green yarn. Knitting resumes faster. <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
"Well... if you need another sword, I'd b'glad t'help out.", the Goblin offers to Verna. "My blade works on demons and fae alike, somethin' Alexandria has suffered from for ages. If it would make the Deathgoddess stop crying, 'm'wiling to risk it." Murder waves to Carver, blinks at Eztli, and finally looks to Aryia.<br />
<br />
She grins a fang-filled smile. "Well I dunno, you are a Mul'meissa after all and awfully good at that finger-wiggling stuff. There a snort and a giggle follows. "Thanks fer the hat!" Murder begins searching through a pouch on her belt, and pulls out a large-ish spider that squirms and wiggles in her hand. She shudders but offers it up to Aryia. "Chocolate?"<br />
<br />
Eztli nods gratefully. "Ah, some fae causing problems? Well, I hope it gets sorted soon. I'm no good with diplomacy, and I feel burning things there would not go over well." Eztli shrugs. "She's good at punching people and dealing with unreasonable tailoring comissions. I think most of the finger waggling is mostly natural."<br />
<br />
Verna blinks as she suddenly finders herself in possession of a monogramed, gifted garment(?). It is the speed of craft and the accuracy of through which surprise, though a moment of hindsight makes her realize that neither is unusual for Aryia. "I am grateful, Aryia."<br />
<br />
She then turns to Murder, "And to you, as well, for your offer of aid. I expect that the involvement of fae royalty shall make this no easy matter to resolve." After a moment of pause, she adds, "I further expect direct action to be more involved than diplomacy." Verna then stows the stocking carefully into the basket. Before closing it, she looks to all with an inquiry, "Would any care for a cookie?"<br />
<br />
Aryia snorts, rolling her eyes at Murder's jab and nodding with Eztli before she looks over. She frowns at the offer. Squints. Actual.. chocolate? Aryia does have a soft spot for spiders, buuut..."<br />
<br />
She leans out, grabs it, and shoves it in her mouth without a moment of hesitation. Crunch! There's a pause as tilts her head, one of the chocolate spider legs sticking out of her mouth. "Not going to lie, that's probably the best spider I've eaten." <br />
<br />
Verna gets a thumbs up in acknowledgement before morphing into a thanks towards Murder. She pauses. Another snack? The knitting pugilist holds up a finger, wanting one. "Direct action tends to work far better, in my opinion." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
The Goblin gives another shudder as Aryia just... eats the spider, and manages to speak with her mouth full. The leg twitch causes another, her expression one of disgust. But she snorts and giggles. "It's either your first eaten spider ever... or you've got a harrowing tale of survival that I dunno if I wanna know about."<br />
<br />
Murder looks at Eztli, and rolls her eyes. "Yes, I know Aryia's not a wizard, but she talks with her hands, so she's always wiggling her fingers. That's the whole joke... gods it completely removes the funny t'have to explain it." The sound of a stomach gurgling causes Murder to squirm a little, and she holds up two fingers. "Two please!"<br />
<br />
With a cookie in each hand, the Goblin runs off into the city.<br />
<br />
Carver ends with her standing next to Eztli, even as Murders becomes frustrated with her. She pats the shorter sorceress on the shoulder in solidarity. Closer, she finds she can understand the gesturing. Finds them to contain words. <br />
<br />
Her expression says what she does not immediately. Huh, how you doing that reads very clear in her expression. No tongue spell needed.<br />
<br />
"mm. Don't think it came across, sorry." Eztli shrugs. "Sure, I wouldn't mind a cookie! You want one, Carver?" She asks. "Though, I should get going. I need to go buy... things."<br />
<br />
Thurid has arrived.<br />
<br />
The prior haste of Aryia appears to pale in comparison to Murder and food. The offered sweets vanish, along with the gobber, before Verna can even offer the accompanying "Here." Well, if naught else, that leaves more for Aryia and the others?<br />
<br />
Another small parcel of wrapped confections ais retrieved and, with a brief incantation and gesture from Verna's unoccupied hand, floats and rises to Aryia. Verna does not hold faith in her throwing might nor accuracy to appropriately deliver. A third is retrieved and offered to Eztli.<br />
<br />
There's heaving. There's ho'ing. There's urgh-ing. There's a (relatively) small (for the rest of his kin) sith-makari (who are notoriously tall) carrying a large haysack (and not struggling due to his smaller size) making his way across the gardens (and easily at that too!), before with a loud exhale he drops the sack. Taking in his surroundings, he then notices the group gathered near the strange web attraction.<br />
<br />
"Spel-", The draconian starts, then stops. "Pri-", another attempt, and then he puts his hand on his chin and clicks his tongue. "Spirits?" He finally settles on, and waves his hand. "Sheltering from the white curse as well?"<br />
<br />
Aryia makes the uncouth move of slurping down the last leg. "It's the latter. You don't want to know," she signs, shrugging and wiping her lips free. She waves as Murder runs off, before clocking Carver's confusion. Seems like she's really, really used to this conundrum. The mute continues to gesture, and while the signs themselves don't make sense, the gist is enough to get across. "You're confused. I can explain." She offers a thankful nod towards Verna from the cookie being floated up to her and monches on it with a satisfied sigh. She points to Carver. "I lied. I don't know how it works. Just know if your gut says I'm calling someone a bitch, you're probably right."<br />
<br />
The rest of the cookie is inhaled, and she resumes her hat making project up atop her floating, knitted festive web hammock. This one more dome shaped then a long sock. She glances at Aelwyn, raises a brow, and gives and up-nod. <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Thurid makes her way into the gardens with a dusting of snow still clinging to her shoulders and hair. She doesn't seem to mind it, and it somewhat suits her- it makes her look like a mighty mountain. At least, in her own mind it does. She spies a cogegation of people she knows, and lifts one of her large hands to offer them a wave, before she starts heading over towards the Web which seems to be collecting adventurers by the minute. "Hail, all." she calls out once she's near enough for her voice to carry without startling.<br />
<br />
"Curse?" she wonders, catching the tail end of Aelwyn's comment. "It's anything but! It's rare we get so much snow in the city. I've been enjoying it! Although roads up to the mountain pass and airship dock have grown perilously slippery." she admits. "Although, I did see a pair of goblins sledding down the path at frankly irresponsible speeds, so at least someone is enjoying it!"<br />
<br />
Eztli takes the offered cookie, and promptly snaps it in half, sticking part of it in Carver's mouth, the other disappearing quickly into her maw. <br />
<br />
"Hey Aelwyn! I'm enjoying the snow a ton, but I've gotta run." She laughs, waving to the Dragoon and the others, before promptly taking off.<br />
<br />
Carver was opening her mouth after another second of deliberation only for Eztli to fill the void with one of the mourners treats.<br />
<br />
If anything, between the polite muting and the poor explanation, she is even more bewildered. Hey, the cookie is pretty good though. She nods at the newest party members.<br />
<br />
Verna's brief respite of culinary gift-giving fades at mention of the curse. She closes the basket, though bids "Greetings" to the latest arrivals. Afterwards, she falls Aryia-silent as she looks up to regard the falling frozen precipitation.<br />
<br />
Aelwyn turns at Thurid, who was one of those exceptionally tall people. Never mind giantborn tend to be, well, giants. "Ah, Hero!" He flashes his teeth and then makes a face. "Tch, it is a curse upon this one's soles, the curse upon those who desire the sun, and curse upon this delivery," He gestures at the large sack he was lugging about. The goblins make him shake his head, spinning the long red ribbons tied around his straight horns. "Ah, but they shall find a way to cause havoc regardless. Besides, this one always found riding the dunes more enjoyable." He clicks his tongue.<br />
<br />
The sack is hoisted back over his shoulder and he starts to make his way over, doing his best to balance the oversized thing, before he stops by the webbing. He glances around, then looks up at Aryia. A moment later he looks at Carver instead. "This one is missing something, yes?"<br />
<br />
Aryia silently huffs in a laugh as her knitting needles continue to move faster, a helix of greens and reds mixing in the fabric. It gets completed, stretched out a few times, a ball of red is added to the top. She tosses the green and red knitted beanie at the dazed Carver, letting it land on her head. "Enjoy."<br />
<br />
She grins as Thurid comes up, her giving a wave and reaching a hand out for a high-five as a greeting. "It's nice for a while, but it's cold as shit and I can't take my boat out. It's stuck in dock."<br />
<br />
She looks down at Aelwyn. Squints. Pinches her fingers in the air at him at his head, then nods to herself and pulls more red yarn. She knits. <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Thurid slaps Aelwyn on the back as he hefts up the sack once again- and though it might threaten to over topple him, instead she imparts a surge of strength to lighten his task for a short time. She continues her stride over towards Aryia, one-upping her offered greeting with a firm dap, grasping the other woman's hand for a moment after the percussive snap of palm against palm. "It's been a while!" she says. "And I'm sorry to hear about your boat. Is it the ice? I could bring my hammer and break you a path some time." she suggests and laughs again.<br />
<br />
She peers over towards Verna, then, who seems to have become pensive. "What is it? Worried there might be substance to this being a curse, after all?" she asks. "I suppose it is a drain on the fuel stores, but Alexandria is well stocked- I'm sure we'll be fine."<br />
<br />
Plap.<br />
<br />
Carver is just collecting gifts without saying a single word. Her cheeks are still swollen and merry from the cold and the too large bite of a cookie, so if she has any complaints about her new beanie it is silenced.<br />
<br />
Her amber eyes shift toward Aelwyn and she chews faster to try to get anything out, likely too late to not receive yet another blessing.<br />
<br />
Aelwyn had no concern over the fuel stores. "Tch, this one is certain this town shan't starve over a bit of that white," He gestures dismissively. "A caravan travels months with far less." The Dragoon pauses to look at Carver when the beanie lands on her, and he leans over - actually slightly up - to look at it. "Fine commission work, certainly. Planning to ride it into the battle?" It is hard to say if he was jesting.<br />
<br />
Straightening, he flashes his teeth at Thurid again. "If the path way is close enough to the heated sweat room, this one can lend some of his fire." He gestures at the flaming glaive. "That room is keeping a non-significant part of the city alive."<br />
<br />
Verna's frown deepens as she looks to Thurid. "It is a curse," she confirms without further exposition. Her hands lift to don her cloakhood over her head. "My goddess weeps, and I am the cause." The hood then pivots, along with the rest of her, as she turns to reverse her steps along the path.<br />
<br />
Aryia is quick to adjust, meeting the large hand with equal force, making the percussive snap deepen to a bassy thud. "Good to see you as well! I appreciate the offer, but the port master doesn't want other people getting the wrong idea of trying to go out there until this cold snap passes."<br />
<br />
She keeps working quickly. Smirking to herself as Aelwyn mentions the good work on the beanie. She looks over briefly, what's this about a sweat room? Though, she pauses, a covered ear twitching at Verna's mention. A sigh slowly escapes her. "Let me know if you need help. I owe Her," the mute gestures to the retreating Mourner. But she doesn't stop Verna's retreat. Solitude is important. <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Thurids jovial mood cools immediately at Verna's words, "The Harpist weeps?" she asks, and then shakes her head slowly, quickly realizing that it is perhaps a topic best not pried at she simply offers a nod of agreement with Aryia's sentiment. She does offer a smile Aelwyn's way, "I'm glad people are enjoying it! Even if a certain goblin is accusing me of trying to steal business from under her nose." she says then, and folds her arms over her chest to watch as Verna leaves.<br />
<br />
"A shame." she says to Aryia then, "I've never really been much for rules- but I suppose I see his point. The reckless are not always the hardy." she adds.<br />
<br />
Carver mumbles something sharp to Aelwyn, something that vaguely sounds like go get your own. Verna sours some of the spirit of the conversation, though having come out of their own anguish recently, she nods thoughtfully.<br />
<br />
She has some stuff to work through. Still, there is one thing she would like to know. ?Tell Hunter I love him.?<br />
<br />
Aelwyn clicks his tongue as Verna makes that statement and starts to head out, making him look on after her. "... tch, this one is surprised someone agrees with him." Which actually makes him worried. Twisting his lips in thought, he turns his attention back towards Thurid, flashing his teeth. "She has not had enough competition to improve, worry not, it is only good for the establishment. Perhaps come lure more customers from the baths?" He flickers his tongue. "A heroic presence would certainly inspire."<br />
<br />
The Dragoon then turns towards the rest of the group. "What has happened to Mourner?"<br />
<br />
Aryia shrugs at the questions about Verna, not interrupting the clacking of knitting needles. She has no clue. "Irshya's place is for a completely different time. I need to check out this steam house, I'd love to go in that, sounds right up my alley."<br />
<br />
"It's what it is," she gestures about the port master. "Tournaments aren't being held due to the snow, sailing is out. So my ass is up here just making random shit. Speaking of-" She holds up a new creation. Two thin tubes connected by a knitted bridge with a string to tie under the chin. The mute hooks a leg over one of the floating rods in the air, and pulls herself out, dangling freely over Aelwyn as she slides them onto his horns- them stopping just before the ribbons- and lets the ends dangle at the sides of his face. Looks like little red and orange hats for his horns.<br />
<br />
she curls back into the hammock, squinting at Thurid briefly, looks at her hands, nods and pulls out more yarn: white and yellow. <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
?What, all yous hear about the fight near the fountain? Some fellow she knew from the past came back to haunt her, seems like to me. Turned into a blinkin devil right before me eyes, smoke and whips like Taara sexy dungeon in that one book? Carver blabbers. ?He and, uh, she knew each other. Wish could remember his name. Elclaven? Elder Craven??. She frowns, beanie tipping forward as she thinks.<br />
<br />
She gives up with a helpless shrug.<br />
<br />
Thurid's grin is back, "It's down by the river, northern bank. We built it a few days ago. It's mostly bring your own coal, but folks have been dropping off the odd donation. Food too." she says then, sounding quite pleased with that. "It's good to know there's plenty of good folks in the city even when no one's watching. As for competing with the TarRaCe? Not my intention. I use the baths often enough I don't want to worry about losing a toe to a vengeful pool shark." she says then.<br />
<br />
She looks Carver's way and her brows furrow, "A devil? The wards aught to stop that... although I suppose they might have been brought into this plane elsewhere and got to the city more conventionally." she says then. "I've not slain a Devil yet- demons, yes." she adds a moment later. "But she knew him? That's troubling indeed." she admits.<br />
<br />
Aelwyn's face grows long - if it can - at the sound of the news. "... another?" The draconian takes in a deep breath, crossing his arms. The new tiny hats for his horns goes completely unnoticed. "Mourner does indeed have it difficult. Even if one were from a sexy dungeon." He clicks his tongue, then turns towards Thurid. "How long does this white fall last, regardless? It has been days now, has it not?"<br />
<br />
And subtly, he leans over towards Carver. "... was the book illustrated?" He quietly whispers.<br />
<br />
Aryia's knitting stops. Not in thought. Not in ponderance. Her face twists into a deep frown, and her hands curl into fists, the wood in the needles cracking. She deeply breathes Out. Releases her grip. "What in the ever living fuck is that fucking prick doing back. His ass is dead. Removed from existence. His echoes, dead. His remnants, dead. Even his fanbase, dead." Every 'dead' sign hits her legs with an audible thud. "He was the epitome of lies, torture, and cruelty. Verna, and others around her endured far much from that dick."<br />
<br />
She rubs the bridge of her nose. "So yes. She knows him. I know him. This is not good news. It must be something pretending to be him, or having an echo of him." Aryia pats her cheeks, focusing on getting the work done with slightly bent knitting needles. "I will visit this steam house." <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
Carver is about to go into a spiel, about just how incredibly hot the Taara stand-in is in their ridiculous book but the spark of rage from Aryia stuns her into silence.<br />
<br />
She breaks the awkward silence with a snotty sniff. It cold out here.<br />
<br />
Thurid raises her eyebrows at Aryia's sudden anger, and she reaches out to place a hand on the other woman's forearm. "Your knitting needles aren't him. Save your anger for those deserving of it." she says to her then. "And if you need my hammer, I'll offer it gladly." she tells the Mul. She turns her attention back to the other two talking about saucy demonic books and tuts, "You know there are more wholesome tomes to titilaate." she tells them.<br />
<br />
She looks back to Aryia and nods her head, "Good! It's good for the muscles, and the skin. Maybe I can even talk you into a snow bath or an ice plunge after. Most of the visitors have been squeamish about that part." she says, offering a small smile as she tries to bring a bit of humor back.<br />
<br />
Thurid calms Aryia readily, her bowing her head and nodding slowly. Looking a tad silly with her festive sweater and long hat bobbing as she does so. "I understand," she signs once, holding up her finished work- large white mittens with yellow lightning bolts on the backs of them. The seamstress hands it them over to Thurid. "Here you go. Happy Yule."<br />
<br />
She glances between the three of them, her shaking her head. "Sure. Wholesome." She taps her temple. Knowing exactly which one they're speaking of.<br />
<br />
Aryia grins. "Now that sounds like a great idea. Let's do that!" She starts to pack up. Ice plunge time. <Handspeech/Tongues><br />
<br />
-End Scene-<br />
<br />
[[Category:Logs]]</div>Aryiahttp://www.tenebraemush.net/index.php?title=Recent_Logs&diff=43998Recent Logs2024-12-23T21:49:54Z<p>Aryia: /* December */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{AboutLogs}}<br />
<br />
'''[[Archived_Logs|For 2023 and earlier, see the Archives]]'''<br />
<br />
==2024 Logs==<br />
===January===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|January 1, 2024<br />
|[[New Face in Town]]<br />
|[[Kadlin]], [[Murder]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[What is in a Name]]<br />
|[[Khepri]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Triangulating Assumptions]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Eztli]], [[Dirk]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Magic and Archmages]]<br />
|[[Aragos]], [[Kadlin]], [[Mikilos]], [[Murder]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 2, 2024<br />
|[[In Search of a Forge]]<br />
|[[Kadlin]], [[Harshad]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Tales of Redemption and Grief]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Seldan]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 5, 2024<br />
|[[Song and Holy Violence]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Aryia]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 8, 2024<br />
|[[An Ask of Mental Fortitude]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Leirune|Rune]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Axochitl's Aid]]<br />
|[[Seldan]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 9, 2024<br />
|[[Snowballs in the Gardens]]<br />
|[[Acedia]], [[Eztli]], [[Mikilos]], [[Ness]], [[Ous]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 10, 2024<br />
|[[A Meeting In The Wintry Woods]]<br />
|[[Acedia]], [[Kadlin]], [[Munch]], [[Seldan]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 11, 2024<br />
|[[Shenanigans on Ice]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Irshya]], [[Slixvah]], [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Raiders of the Lost Tomb, Part 2]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Fidget]], [[Slixvah]], [[Irshya]], [[Aimarra]], [[Carver]], GM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 14, 2024<br />
|[[Phantom Thieves - The Heist]]<br />
|[[Crik]], [[Reithak]], [[Warrick]], [[Merith]], [[Thoth]], GM: [[Fidget]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Testing Synonie]]<br />
|[[Seldan]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 15, 2024<br />
|[[Raiders of the Lost Tomb Part 3]]<br />
|[[Aimarra]], [[Slixvah]], [[Irshya]], [[Carver]], [[Fidget]], [[Aelwyn]] ('''DM:''' Telamon)<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Chronolark - Part 1]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Aznara]], [[Reithak]], [[Tlanexhuani]], ('''DM:''' Whirlpool)<br />
|-<br />
|January 18, 2024<br />
|[[Workouts and Distractions]]<br />
|[[Choler]], [[Thurid]], [[Eztli]], [[Slixvah]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 19, 2024<br />
|[[World Peace and Hunky Boys]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Dolan]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 21, 2024<br />
|[[Quarry Quarrel, Part 1]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Crik]], [[Khepri]], [[Reithak]], GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 22, 2024<br />
|[[Chronolark - Part 2]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Aznara]], [[Reithak]], [[Tlanexhuani]], GM: [[Whirlpool]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 23, 2024<br />
|[[Prisoner Transfer - Part 1]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Magpie]], GM: [[Whirlpool]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 25, 2024<br />
|[[Silencing the Unloved King]]<br />
|[[Seldan]], [[Dirk]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 27, 2024<br />
|[[Forgotten Blood Finale - Beneath]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Culix]], [[Schara]] GM: [[Harkashan]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 28, 2024<br />
|[[Phantom Thieves - The Heist Pt2]]<br />
|[[Crik]], [[Reithak]], [[Warrick]], [[Merith]], [[Thoth]], GM: [[Fidget]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 29, 2024<br />
|[[Raiders of the Lost Tomb Part 4]]<br />
|[[Aimarra]], [[Slixvah]], [[Irshya]], [[Carver]], [[Fidget]], [[Aelwyn]] ('''DM:''' Telamon)<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Wraps and Hiccups]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Chronolark - Part 3]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Tlanexhuani]], [[Reithak]], [[Aznara]] ('''DM:''' Whirlpool)<br />
|-<br />
|January 30, 2024<br />
|[[Prisoner Transfer - Part 2]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Magpie]], GM: [[Whirlpool]]<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
===February===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|February 1, 2024<br />
|[[Cat Scratch Chills]]<br />
|[[Reithak]], [[Simony]], [[Teppus]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 2, 2024<br />
|[[Raiders of the Lost Tomb Part 5]]<br />
|[[Aimarra]], [[Slixvah]], [[Irshya]], [[Carver]], [[Aelwyn]] ('''DM:''' Telamon)<br />
|-<br />
|February 4, 2024<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Seldan]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 5, 2024<br />
|[[Answers in Amantli (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Cuemoni]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Chronolark - Part 4]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Tlanexhuani]], [[Reithak]] ('''DM:''' Whirlpool)<br />
|-<br />
|February 6, 2024<br />
|[[Prisoner Transfer - Part 3]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Magpie]], GM: [[Whirlpool]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 7, 2024<br />
|[[Mushrooms and Man Left Behind]]<br />
|[[Culix]], [[Irshya]], [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 11, 2024<br />
|[[Quarry Quarrel, Part 2]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Reithak]], [[Crik]], [[Khepri]], GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Cultivating Humility]]<br />
|[[Alfrik]], [[Munch]], [[Murder]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Seldan]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 12, 2024<br />
|[[Chronolark - Part 5]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Tlanexhuani]], [[Reithak]] ('''DM:''' Whirlpool)<br />
|-<br />
|February 13, 2024<br />
|[[Sound Mind]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Harkashan]], [[Simony]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Answers in Amantli (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Cuemoni]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 14, 2024<br />
|[[Fire birds and sharp sticks]]<br />
|[[Crik]], [[Eztli]], [[Rhar]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Simony's Haven]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 15, 2024<br />
|[[Cold Winter Encounters]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 16, 2024<br />
|[[Summoning Aid]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 18, 2024<br />
|[[The show must drag on]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Culix]], [[Eztli]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 18, 2024<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 3)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Seldan]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Quarry Quarrel Part 3]]<br />
|[[Khepri]], [[Thoth]], [[Reithak]], [[Crik]], GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 19, 2024<br />
|[[Temple District Ruminations]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Simony]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[The Weight of Responsibility]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Chronolark - Part 6]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Tlanexhuani]], [[Reithak]], [[Aznara]] ('''DM:''' Whirlpool)<br />
|-<br />
|February 20, 2024<br />
|[[Dead Men]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Harkashan]], [[Simony]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[A Single Nail]]<br />
|[[SImony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 22, 2024<br />
|[[Creation of Ash]]<br />
|[[Cuemoni]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 23, 2024<br />
|[[Expect the Unexpected]]<br />
|[[Harkashan]], [[Simony]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[To Stalk The Fiend]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 25, 2024<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 4)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Seldan]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 26, 2024<br />
|[[Serpentine Showing]]<br />
|[[Alfrik]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 28, 2024<br />
|[[Ten Year Step]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Alfrik]], [[Auranar]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Forgotten Blood Finale - Assassins]]<br />
|[[Reithak]], [[Crik]], [[Aznara]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 29, 2024<br />
|[[Make Cookies Not War]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Demand a Favor]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Golfbag of Glaives]]<br />
|[[Verna]], [[Culix]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Alfrik]]<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
===March===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|March 1, 2024<br />
|[[Releasing the Hounds]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 3, 2024<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 5)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Seldan]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Personal Hero]]<br />
|[[Harkashan]], [[Rune]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 4, 2024<br />
|[[Chronolark - Part 8]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Aznara]], [[Reithak]], [[Tlanexhuani]], ('''DM:''' Whirlpool)<br />
|-<br />
|March 5, 2024<br />
|[[Golden Coast Cruise]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Slixvah]], [[Simony]], [[Tlanexhuani]], [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 6, 2024<br />
|[[Unlock, Unbind, Hide]]<br />
|[[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Leirune|Rune]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Body Guard]]<br />
|[[Alfrik]], [[Harshad]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 9, 2024<br />
|[[Adventure's End?]]<br />
|[[Acedia]], [[Seldan]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 10, 2024<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 6)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Seldan]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 11, 2024<br />
|[[Facing Another Trial]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Harkashan]], [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 12, 2024<br />
|[[Chronolark - Part 9]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Reithak]], [[Tlanexhuani]], ('''DM:''' Whirlpool)<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[You Won't Be Alone]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Slixvah]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 14, 2024<br />
|[[To the Victor Go the Spoils]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]; DM: [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 15, 2024<br />
|[[Forearmed is Forwarned]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Warrick]], [[Schara]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[The Eve Before Death]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Harkashan]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 17, 2024<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 7): The Poetry Corner]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Seldan]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]]; DM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|March 18, 2024<br />
|[[A Golden Ending (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Slixvah]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 19, 2024<br />
|[[A Morning At The Ox]]<br />
|[[Harshad]], [[Murder]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 20, 2024<br />
|[[Fantasy Gladiator League]]<br />
|[[Irshya]], [[Slixvah]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Aspiring Aspire-ations ]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Faranmidahn]], [[Irshya]] DM: [[Whirlpool]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 23, 2024<br />
|[[Go Home History You're Drunk]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Crik]], [[Mikilos]], [[Reithak]], DM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|March 24, 2024<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 8)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Seldan]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]]; DM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|March 25, 2024<br />
|[[A Golden Ending (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Slixvah]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 26, 2024<br />
|[[To Find a Mourner (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Auranar]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]; DM: Verna<br />
|-<br />
|March 27, 2024<br />
|[[Aspiring Aspire-ations, Pt2]]<br />
|[[Fidget]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Irshya]], [[Faranmidahn]]; DM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|March 31, 2024<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 9)]]<br />
|[[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Seldan]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]]; DM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
<br />
===April===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|April 1, 2024<br />
|[[A Golden Ending (Part 3)]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Slixvah]], [[Telamon]]; DM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|April 2, 2024<br />
|[[Aspiring Aspire-ations, Pt3]]<br />
|[[Fidget]], [[Irshya]], [[Etzli]], [[Aelwyn]]; GM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|April 3, 2024<br />
|[[Welcome Warden]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Murder]], [[Rhar]], [[Leirune|Rune]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 5, 2024<br />
|[[Cover Letter]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Slixvah]], [[Eztli]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Noodles and Sake]]<br />
|[[Choler]], [[Harshad]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 8, 2024<br />
|[[Frozen Veins]]<br />
|[[Aragos]], [[Harshad]], [[Palomas]], [[Reithak]], [[Quinn]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 10, 2024<br />
|[[Stop Me if You Have Heard This One]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Irshya]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 11, 2024<br />
|[[A Courier for a Page]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], Npcs: [[Slixvah]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 12, 2024<br />
|[[Needles And News]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Choler]], [[Eztli]], [[Slixvah]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 14, 2024<br />
|[[Three Assassins]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Reithak]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 10)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Seldan]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 15, 2024<br />
|[[A Golden Ending (Part 4)]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Slixvah]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 17, 2024<br />
|[[Aspiring Aspire-ations, Part 4]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Carver]], [[Eztli]], [[Faranmidahn]], [[Irshya]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 18, 2024<br />
|[[Repose in Two Forms]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[To Find a Mourner (Part 3)]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Auranar]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]] DM [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 20, 2024<br />
|[[Tears of Death]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Corey]], [[Rhar]], [[Rune]], [[Thoth]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 21, 2024<br />
|[[Whilst You Lay Dreaming]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 11)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Seldan]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]]; GM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|April 22, 2024<br />
|[[Birds of another Feather]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Reithak]], [[Sabina]], [[Xasany]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Revelation Raven]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Of Spring and Gardening]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 23, 2024<br />
|[[Cutscene: Sins of the Father]]<br />
|Caeles Miranore, Kiira Theran, Caeleil Miranore (NPCs by [[Leirune|Rune]] and [[Simony]])<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Return of the Bina]]<br />
|[[Slixvah]], [[Irshya]], [[Sabina]], [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[To Find a Mourner (Part 4)]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Auranar]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]; DM [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 24, 2024<br />
|[[Aspiring Aspire-ations, Part 5]]<br />
|[[Fidget]], [[Carver]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Faranmidahn]]; GM: [[Whirlpool]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 25, 2024<br />
|[[Hunting Urvis (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[MAC-B1G]], [[Leirune|Rune]]; DM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 27, 2024<br />
|[[Feel the Groove]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Eztli]], [[MAC-B1G]], [[Magpie]]; DM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|April 28, 2024<br />
|[[Morning in Goblintown]]<br />
|[[Harshad]], [[Choler]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 12)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Seldan]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]]; GM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|April 29, 2024<br />
|[[The Stage Is Set]]<br />
|[[Sabina]]; GM: Derecho<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Rider of Decisions]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]]; GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
<br />
===May===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|May 1, 2024<br />
|[[Silver Misses Snow]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Choler]], [[Corey]], [[Eztli]], [[Skielstregar]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Warnings on Deaf Ears]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Fidget]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 2, 2024<br />
|[[Hunting Urvis (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[MAC-B1G]], [[Leirune|Rune]]; DM: Telamon<br />
|-<br />
|May 3, 2024<br />
|[[Trade Off]]<br />
|[[Harshad]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 5, 2024<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 13)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Seldan]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]]; DM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|May 6, 2024<br />
|[[Maybe Fae-be]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 7, 2024<br />
|[[A Happy Dance]]<br />
|[[Karasu]], [[Ravenstongue]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[A Close Shave]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Simony]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[At Nothing We See]]<br />
|[[Choler]], [[Cuemoni]], [[Fidget]], [[Tlanexhuani]], [[Zeke]]; DM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|May 8, 2024<br />
|[[Fashion Shopping Preperusal ]]<br />
|[[Eztli]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Aryia]], [[Simony]], [[Aznara]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[To Find a Mourner (Part 5)]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Auranar]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]; DM [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 10, 2024<br />
|[[Piecing Together Me]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Corey]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Tlanexhuani]]; DM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|May 12, 2024<br />
|[[Hunting Urvis (Part 3)]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[MAC-B1G]], [[Leirune|Rune]]; DM: Telamon<br />
|-<br />
|May 14, 2024<br />
|[[A Fiend In Plain Sight]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 15, 2024<br />
|[[To Find a Mourner (Part 6)]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Auranar]], [[Harkashan]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]; DM [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 16, 2024<br />
|[[Fab Fabric and Fire]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Noodles and a Future Heist]]<br />
|[[Choler]], [[Harshad]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 18, 2024<br />
|[[Honey Do]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Magpie]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
| <br />
|[[Mothers and Patrons]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Harkashan]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 19, 2024<br />
|[[Hunting Urvis (Part 4)]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[MAC-B1G]], [[Leirune|Rune]]; DM: Telamon<br />
|-<br />
|May 20, 2024<br />
|[[We Are Seen]]<br />
|[[Cuemoni]], [[Fidget]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Tlanexhuani]], [[Zeke]]; DM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Rain and Bath House]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Leirune|Rune]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 21, 2024<br />
|[[Simpler Things]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 22, 2024<br />
|[[The Name-Stealer]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[The Final Spires, Part 1]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Fidget|NAME UNKNOWN]], [[Tlanexhuani]]; DM: Whirlpool<br />
|- <br />
|May 23, 2024<br />
|[[Never Even]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Slixvah]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[The Urvis Update]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[MAC-B1G]], [[Rune]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 24, 2024<br />
|[[Unpleasant News at the Noodle Stand]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Stained Glass Butterfly]]<br />
|[[Choler]], [[Harshad]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 26, 2024<br />
|[[Warning the Mislead]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Thoth]], Nameless ([[Fidget]])<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[To Find a Mourner (Part 7)]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Auranar]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 27, 2024<br />
|[[Changing Seasons and Hearts]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Aragos]], [[Eztli]]. [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 28, 2024<br />
|[[He Says]]<br />
|[[Sabina]], [[Thoth]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Whatamelons and Wanderers]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Irshya]], [[Sabina]], [[Slixvah]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Crimson to Show Off]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Aryia]], [[Irshya]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 30, 2024<br />
|[[The Final Spires, Part 2]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Fidget|NAME UNKNOWN]], [[Tlanexhuani]]; DM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[What Troubles Those in the Market]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Simony]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Slixvah]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 30, 2024<br />
|[[A Stealthy Inquest]]<br />
|[[Choler]], [[Harshad]]<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
<br />
===June===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|June 2, 2024<br />
|[[Noodles After The Heist]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Choler]], [[Harshad]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 4, 2024<br />
|[[He Says (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Sabina]], [[Thoth]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[What Makes A Cavalier Attitude?]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Zofija]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 5, 2024<br />
|[[Down the River]]<br />
|[[Skielstregar]], [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[The Final Spires, Part 3]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Fidget|NAME UNKNOWN]], [[Tlanexhuani]]; DM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[A Castle In My Dreams]]<br />
|[[Telamon]] (vignette)<br />
|-<br />
|June 7, 2024<br />
|[[Break the Mold]]<br />
|[[Aeson]], [[Eztli]], [[MAC-B1G]], [[Mikilos]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 8, 2024<br />
|[[Fictitious - I]] <br />
|[[Aragos]], [[Fidget|NAME UNKNOWN]] , [[Gramarye]], [[Lanier]], [[Vaera]]; DM: Thoth<br />
|-<br />
|June 9, 2024<br />
|[[To Find a Mourner (Part 8)]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Auranar]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]; DM: Verna<br />
|-<br />
|June 10, 2024<br />
|[[Bedtime Butterflies]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Eztli]], [[Lanier]]; DM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|June 12, 2024<br />
|[[The Castle on the Edge of Waking]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[The Final Spires, Part 4]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Fidget|NAME UNKNOWN]], [[Tlanexhuani]]; DM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|June 13, 2024<br />
|[[Forearmed is Forwarned Part 2]]<br />
|[[Warrick]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Schara]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 14, 2024<br />
|[[Grand Induction]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Culix]], [[Eztli]], [[Simony]], DM: [[Aryia]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Five Nightmares]]<br />
|[[Aeson]], [[Carver]], [[Eztli]], [[MAC-B1G]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 15, 2024<br />
|[[Five Nightmares (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Eztli]], [[MAC-B1G]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Dwarf Fortress: Deepest Depths - I]]<br />
|[[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Garden Lectures Under the Sun]]<br />
|[[Aeson]], [[Mikilos]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 16, 2024<br />
|[[To Find a Mourner (Part 9)]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Auranar]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 17, 2024<br />
|[[When you Wish Upon a Fish]]<br />
|[[Dirk]], [[Magpie]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 18, 2024<br />
|[[Wasted Years]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[He Says (Part 3)]]<br />
|[[Sabina]], [[Thoth]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 19, 2024<br />
|[[A Warriors Instinct]]<br />
|[[Aragos]], [[Gramarye]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Pillory Blues]]<br />
|[[Eztli]], [[Telamon]], [[Yazlo]], [[Zeke]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Ashes on the Ground]]<br />
|[[Gramarye]], [[Thoth]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 20, 2024<br />
|[[For A Few Potions More]]<br />
|[[Choler]], [[Cuemoni]], [[Warrick]]; GM: Telamon<br />
|-<br />
|June 21, 2024<br />
|[[Nonlinear Pie]]<br />
|[[Verna]], [[Auranar]], [[Aryia]], [[Eztli]], [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Forearmed is Forwarned Part 3]]<br />
|[[Warrick]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Schara]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 22, 2024<br />
|[[Best Boy]]<br />
|[[Crik]], [[Menel]], [[Zofija]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 23, 2024<br />
|[[A Warning Not A Gift]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Harshad]], NPC Sori - [[Karasu]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Dwarf Fortress: Deepest Depths - II]]<br />
|[[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], DM: [[Culix]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[One Thousand Cranes]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 24, 2024<br />
|[[The Price of Fish]]<br />
|[[Arzhela]], [[Crik]], [[Cuemoni]], [[Murder]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[The Weight of Expectations]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[He Says (Part 4)]]<br />
|[[Sabina]], [[Thoth]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 25, 2024<br />
|[[Full Day at the Baths]]<br />
|[[Slixvah]], [[Irshya]], [[Culix]], [[Leirune|Rune]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Upon the Koz-way]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Aryia]], [[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 26, 2024<br />
|[[The Final Spires, Part 5]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Carver]], [[Eztli]], [[Fidget|NAME UNKNOWN]]; DM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|June 27, 2024<br />
|[[Faphinae's Fanfare]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Simony]], [[Reithak]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Gearsmasher]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Corey]], [[Eztli]], [[MAC-B1G]], [[Skielstregar]]; guest star: [[Telamon]]; GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|June 28, 2024<br />
|[[Soul Food]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Aryia]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Fiends and Fae]]<br />
|[[Telamon]], [[Ravenstongue]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[The Never-ending Story]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Leirune|Rune]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 29, 2024<br />
|[[Game On!]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Eztli]], [[Karasu]], [[Leirune|Rune]] ;GM: [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 30, 2024<br />
|[[Fragile Like Trust]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[A Will to Kill]]<br />
|Faphinae & Sori [[Corey]], [[Karasu]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Silent Sanitorium]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Dirk]], [[Harkashan]], [[MAC-B1G]], [[Rune]]; DM: [[Culix]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|}<br />
<br />
<br />
===July===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|July 1, 2024<br />
|[[Hunting Lore in the Library]]<br />
|[[Alaric]], [[Simony]], [[Verna]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 2, 2024<br />
|[[Death Comes Another Day]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Unravel Their Riddles]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 3, 2024<br />
|[[Mist and Magic]]<br />
|[[Alaric]], [[Crik]], [[Murder]], [[Slixvah]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 4, 2024<br />
|[[A Lesson in Forgiveness]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 5, 2024<br />
|[[Silence in the Library]]<br />
|[[Harshad]], [[Menel]], [[Palomas]], [[Reithak]], [[Warrick]], [[Zigrun]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 6, 2024<br />
|[[Spelunking]]<br />
|[[Crik]], [[Cuemoni]], [[Harshad]], [[Menel]], [[Reithak]], [[Sjach]]; GM: [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 7, 2024<br />
|[[A Story Born of Hope]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 9, 2024<br />
|[[Sands through the Hourglass]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Culix]], [[Eztli]], [[Menel]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 10, 2024<br />
|[[Forlorn Moon (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]; GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[The Final Spires, Part 6]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Carver]], [[Eztli]], [[Fidget|NAME UNKNOWN]]; DM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
| [[Tornmawr Torpedo]]<br />
|[[Culix]], [[Aryia]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Bryn]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 11, 2024<br />
|[[Boogle Boogle]]<br />
|[[Aragos]], [[Thoth]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Forlorn Moon (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]; GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|July 12, 2024<br />
|[[Name Exchange ]]<br />
|[[Gramarye]], [[Thoth]]; GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|July 13, 2024<br />
|[[Moment of the Future]]<br />
|[[Gramarye]], [[Thoth]]; GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|July 14, 2024<br />
|[[Silent Sanitorium Part 2]]<br />
|[[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Aelwyn]], [[MAC-B1G]], Dirk, GM: Culix<br />
|-<br />
|July 15, 2024<br />
|[[Explosions and Slaying]]<br />
|[[Warrick]], [[Bryn]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Heir to the Throne - Beginning]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Cuemoni]], [[Harshad]], [[Menel]], [[Warrick]], [[Zofija]]; GM: Harkashan<br />
|-<br />
|July 19, 2024<br />
|[[Summer Days]]<br />
|[[Warrick]], [[Sjach]], [[Aznara]], DM: [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 21, 2024<br />
|[[Vagrant Tower - Void Engine 1]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Rune]], [[Eztli]], [[Iskandar]], [[Harkashan]], GM: Culix<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Following a Portent]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 22, 2024<br />
|[[Heir to the Throne: Trouble in Unbundun Part 1]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Crik]], [[Harshad]], [[Warrick]], [[Zofija]]; GM: Harkashan<br />
|-<br />
|July 23, 2024<br />
|[[Tales of Wrassling and Cages]]<br />
|[[Warrick]], [[Bryn]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Mountaineering Investigations]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Eztli]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Garak]], GM: [[Aryia]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 24, 2024<br />
|[[A Consecration]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Nameless|Fidget]], [[Carver]], [[Eztli]], [[Delilah]], [[Harkashan]], GM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|July 25, 2024<br />
|[[Turning Reputation into Charity]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 26, 2024<br />
|[[Can't Sleep]]<br />
|[[Nameless|Fidget]], [[Simony]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Craven Match]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Bryn]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Aurum Among Thieves]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Eztli]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 29, 2024<br />
|[[It's Easy Being Green]]<br />
|[[Bryn]]; NPC: Cynthia<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Heir to the Throne: Trouble in Unbundun Part 2]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Crik]], [[Warrick]], [[Zofija]]; GM: [[Harkashan]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 30, 2024<br />
|[[Mountaineering Explanations]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Garak]], [[Rune]], [[Slixvah]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 31, 2024<br />
|[[Paint Ponderings]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Skielstregar]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|}<br />
<br />
<br />
===August===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|August 04, 2024<br />
|[[Fair Pixie]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Vagrant Tower: Void Engine Part 2]]<br />
|[[Eztli]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Rune]], [[Harkashan]], [[Iskandar]], '''GM''': Culix<br />
|-<br />
|August 5, 2024<br />
|[[Heir to the Throne: Trouble in Unbundun Part 3]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Crik]], [[Harshad]], [[Warrick]], [[Zofija]], '''GM''': [[Harkashan]]<br />
|-<br />
|August 8, 2024<br />
|[[I Know the Pieces Fit]]<br />
|[[Warrick]], [[Crik]], [[Bryn]]<br />
|-<br />
|August 9, 2024<br />
|[[Litigation]]<br />
|[[Fidget]], [[Khepri]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|August 11, 2024<br />
|[[Silent Sanitorium - Part 3]]<br />
|[[Harkashan]], [[Dirk]], [[Rune]], [[Aelwyn]] '''GM''': [[Culix]]<br />
|-<br />
|August 18, 2024<br />
|[[On the Edge of Living]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|August 19, 2024<br />
|[[Heir to the Throne - Far Beneath Part 1]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Crik]], [[Harshad]], [[Warrick]], [[Zofija]], [[Stena]] '''GM''': [[Harkashan]]<br />
|-<br />
|August 20, 2024<br />
|[[Happiness in Knowledge]]<br />
|[[Aeson]], [[Eztli]], [[Ravenstongue]]<br />
|-<br />
|August 22, 2024<br />
|[[Death With a View]]<br />
|[[Aragos]], [[Khepri]], [[Nameless]], [[Slixvah]]<br />
|-<br />
|August 23, 2024<br />
|[[Toge Means Thorn]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Litigation (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Khepri]], [[Nameless]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Into The Temple - Part 1]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Silmeria]], '''GM''': Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|August 25, 2024<br />
|[[Dusk Blooming Vines]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Cuemoni]], [[Harshad]], [[Lani'kua]], [[Reithak]], [[Sjach]]; '''GM''': Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Apparently Heir]]<br />
|[[Aeson]], [[Eztli]]<br />
|-<br />
|August 26, 2024<br />
|[[Jiji Kiku]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|August 29, 2024<br />
|[[Into The Temple - Part 2]]<br />
| [[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Silmeria]], '''GM''': Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
===September===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|September 1, 2024<br />
|[[Delivery in the Dark]]<br />
|[[Cuemoni]], [[Reithak]], [[Ulthan]]; '''GM''': Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|September 2, 2024<br />
|[[Heir to the Throne - Far Beneath Part 2]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Crik]], [[Stena]], [[Warrick]], [[Zofija]]; ; '''GM''': [[Harkashan]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 4, 2024<br />
|[[Into The Temple - Part 3]]<br />
| [[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Silmeria]], '''GM''': Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|September 6, 2024<br />
|[[Dinner for Four and a Pothy]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 7, 2024<br />
|[[Whispers of Rebellion]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Corey]], with Ansir and Faphinae<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Plotting in the Gardens]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Vex]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Three Old Friends]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Corey]], [[Thoth]], [[Vex]], [[Victor]]; '''GM:''' Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|September 8, 2024<br />
|[[How a Queen is Made]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]]; '''GM:''' Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|September 9, 2024<br />
|[[A Friend for Magpie and Wizard]]<br />
|[[Magpie]], [[Corey]]; '''GM:''' Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|September 10, 2024<br />
|[[Fight for Us]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 11, 2024<br />
|[[Love in Every Moment]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[The Good, The Bad, and the Alchemy]]<br />
|[[Lani'kua]], [[Bryn]], and [[Vex]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 12, 2024<br />
|[[Into The Temple - Part 4]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Silmeria]], '''GM''': Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|September 13, 2024<br />
|[[Simony Signs Up]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 14, 2024<br />
|[[Everyone Needs a Hobby]]<br />
|[[Corey]] (and Faphinae), [[Karasu]], [[Rhar]]; '''GM''': Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|September 15, 2024<br />
|[[Bad Lies, Good People]]<br />
|[[Jezzara]]. [[Auranar]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Sunlight Revelation]]<br />
|[[Schara]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Warrick]], DM: [[Riptide]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 16, 2024<br />
|[[Gratitude]]<br />
|[[Cuemoni]], [[Zeke]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 17, 2024<br />
|[[A Prelude To Revelry]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was - I]]<br />
| [[Harkashan]], [[Simony]], [[Rune]], [[Aryia]], [[Zeke]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 19, 2024<br />
|[[A Storied Working Lunch]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Magpie]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Daily Affirmation]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Verna]], Grandfather (Alud'rigan) '''GM:''' [[Riptide]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Suspicious Stalker (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Corey]], [[Magpie]], [[Simony]]; '''GM:''' Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Into The Temple - Part 5]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Silmeria]], '''GM''': Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|September 20, 2024<br />
|[[Pastries and Purchases]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 21, 2024<br />
|[[If You Love Me]]<br />
|[[Aragos]], [[Gramarye]] - Grandfather (Alud'rigan)<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Pretty in Pink]]<br />
|[[Eztli]], [[Simony]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 22, 2024<br />
|[[Sunlight Revelation Part 2]]<br />
|[[Schara]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Warrick]], DM: [[Riptide]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 23, 2024<br />
|[[Suspicious Stalker (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Corey]], [[Magpie]], [[Simony]]; '''GM:''' Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|September 24, 2024<br />
|[[Gnawing on Metal]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Rhar]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Shiny Hunt]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Auranar]], [[Rune]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 26, 2024<br />
|[[Hunter's Quarry Part 1]]<br />
|[[Reithak]], [[Carver]], [[Warrick]], DM:[[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 27, 2024<br />
|[[Return of the Orchard Artificer]]<br />
|[[Schara]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Warrick]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 29, 2024<br />
|[[Hunter's Quarry Part 2]]<br />
|[[Reithak]], [[Carver]], [[Warrick]], DM:[[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 29, 2024<br />
|[[Wrench in the Works]]<br />
|[[Crik]], [[Ulthan]], DM:[[Culix]]<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
===October===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|October 1, 2024<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]; '''GM''': Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|October 6, 2024<br />
|[[Connect the Dots (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Corey]], [[Magpie]], [[Telamon]]; '''GM''': Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|October 8, 2024<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 3)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]; '''GM''': Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|October 10, 2024<br />
|[[Connect the Dots (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Corey]], [[Magpie]], [[Telamon]]; '''GM''': Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Into the Temple - Part 6]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Silmeria]], '''GM''': Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|October 12, 2024<br />
|[[Home is Where the Truth is]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|October 14, 2024<br />
|[[Connect the Dots (Part 3)]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Corey]], [[Magpie]], [[Telamon]]; '''GM''': Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|October 15, 2024<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 4)]]<br />
|[[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]; '''GM''': Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|October 17, 2024<br />
|[[Into the Temple - Part 7]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Silmeria]], '''GM''': Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[A New Face in the TarRaCe]]<br />
|[[Fayde]], [[Murder]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|October 18, 2024<br />
|[[Little Children]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]]; '''GM''': Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|October 21, 2024<br />
|[[Connect the Dots (Part 4)]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Corey]], [[Magpie]], [[Telamon]]; '''GM''': Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Heir to the Throne - Retake Urah]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Fidget]], [[Zofija]]; '''GM''': Harkashan<br />
|-<br />
|October 22, 2024<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 5)]]<br />
|[[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]; '''GM''': Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|October 23, 2024<br />
|[[Her Biggest Fan (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Dirk]], [[Karasu]], [[Murder]]; DM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|October 24, 2024<br />
|[[Into the Temple - Part 8]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Silmeria]], '''GM''': Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[The Fiend Defeated]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|October 28, 2024<br />
|[[Foxes and Ravens]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]]<br />
|-<br />
|October 29, 2024<br />
|[[Apples of Forgivness]]<br />
|[[Schara]], [[Verna]], [[Zeke]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 6)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]; '''GM''': Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|October 30, 2024<br />
|[[Her Biggest Fan (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Dirk]], [[Karasu]], [[Murder]]; DM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|October 31, 2024<br />
|[[Reunite Once Again]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Into the Temple - Part 9]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Silmeria]], '''GM''': Whirlpool<br />
|}<br />
<br />
<br />
===November===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|November 1, 2024<br />
|[[Caanan Returns]]<br />
|[[Murder]], [[Carver]], [[Schara]], [[Telamon]] (as emitter)<br />
|-<br />
|November 2, 2024<br />
|[[Ravenkeeper's Tidings]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|November 4, 2024<br />
|[[Talking Work Shop]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Schara]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|November 4, 2024<br />
|[[Heir to the Throne - (Re)take Urah]]<br />
|[[Fidget]], [[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Warrick]], [[Zofija]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Her Biggest Fan (Part 3)]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Dirk]], [[Karasu]], [[Murder]]; DM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|November 5, 2024<br />
|[[Posted Notice (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Crik]], [[Schara]], [[Bryn]], [[Ulthan]]; DM: [[Carver]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 7)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]; '''GM''': Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|November 6, 2024<br />
|[[Into the Temple - Part 10]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Harkashan]], [[Eztli]], [[Bryn]], [[Silmeria]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Carver]]; '''GM''': Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|November 11, 2024<br />
|[[Her Biggest Fan (Part 4)]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Dirk]], [[Karasu]], [[Murder]]; DM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|- <br />
|<br />
|[[Posted Notice (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Crik]], [[Schara]], [[Ulthan]]; DM: [[Carver]]<br />
|-<br />
|November 12, 2024<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 8)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]; '''GM''': Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|November 14, 2024<br />
|[[Into the Temple - Part 11]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Harkashan]], [[Eztli]], [[Silmeria]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Carver]]; '''GM''': Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|November 15, 2024<br />
|[[Becoming a Teacher]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|November 16, 2024<br />
|[[Apple Daredevils]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Cuemoni]], [[Culix]], [[Eztli]], [[Irshya]], [[Zeke]]<br />
|-<br />
|November 17, 2024<br />
|[[A Bottle of Dust]]<br />
|[[Zeke]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Winter Strawberries]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Gramarye]], [[Khepri]]; '''GM''': Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|November 18, 2024<br />
|[[Her Biggest Fan (Part 5)]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Dirk]], [[Karasu]], [[Murder]]; DM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|November 19, 2024<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 9)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]; '''GM''': Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|November 20, 2024<br />
|[[Into the Temple - Part 12]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Harkashan]], [[Eztli]], [[Silmeria]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Carver]]; '''GM''': Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|November 22, 2024<br />
|[[Welcome Tarsh]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Tarsh]], [[Zeke]]<br />
|-<br />
|November 24, 2024<br />
|[[All Hands]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Tarsh]], [[Ulthan]]; '''GM''': Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Silent Sanitorium - Part 4]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Harkashan]], [[MAC-B1G]], [[Rune]]; DM: [[Culix]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Meetings and Clans]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Murder]], [[Tarsh]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Familiar Faces]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Khepri]], [[Gramarye]]. [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|November 26, 2024<br />
|[[Setting the Stage]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Eztli]], [[Warrick]], [[Murder]], [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|November 27, 2024<br />
|[[A Misplaced Case]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Lani'kua]], [[Menel]]; '''GM''': Telamon<br />
|-<br />
|November 28, 2024<br />
|[[A Lucky Meeting]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Schara]]<br />
|-<br />
|November 29, 2024<br />
|[[Harvest Dance]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Auranar]], [[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Eztli]], [[Murder]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Slixvah]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[It's Probably Pirates - Part 1]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Warrick]], [[Zelany]]; '''GM''': [[Culix]]<br />
|-<br />
|November 28, 2024<br />
|[[Cruel Fear]]<br />
|[[Lani'kua]], [[Menel]]<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
<br />
===December===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|December 1, 2024<br />
|[[Captain Repairioum]]<br />
|[[Warrick]], [[Bryn]], [[Carver]]<br />
|-<br />
|December 2, 2024<br />
|[[Waylaid Delivery]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Carver]], [[Gramarye]], [[Tlanexhuani]]; '''GM''': Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|December 3, 2024<br />
|[[Barding for Bardlings]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Carver]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Blood, Sand, Water, and Booze]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Bryn]]<br />
|-<br />
|December 03, 2024<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 10)]]<br />
|[[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]; '''GM''': Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|December 4, 2024<br />
|[[The Setting For Questioning]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Tlanexhuani]], [[Zeke]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[A Serpentine Catch]]<br />
|[[Irshya]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|December 5, 2024<br />
|[[First Snow Day]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|December 7, 2024<br />
|[[Day Three]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Verna]], Alud'rigan<br />
|-<br />
|December 8, 2024<br />
|[[Seven]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Tidings of the Dolls]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|December 9, 2024<br />
|[[Fashion, Fangs, and Fiends]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Irshya]]<br />
|-<br />
|December 12, 2024<br />
|[[Little Demontry]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Dirk]], [[Eztli]], [[Murder]]<br />
|-<br />
|December 13, 2024<br />
|[[It's Probably Pirates - Part 2]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Zelany]], [[Warrick]], DM: [[Culix]]<br />
|-<br />
|December 14, 2024<br />
|[[MEETUP: Sauna Day!]]<br />
|[[Mikilos]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Irshya]], [[Carver]], [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|December 15, 2024<br />
|[[Calling on Cerberus]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Khepri]], [[Tlanexhuani]]; '''GM''': Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Bandit Season]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Mikilos]], [[Tlanexhuani]]; '''GM''': Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|December 16, 2024<br />
|[[Mount Freeze Massacre]]<br />
|[[Warrick]], [[Simony]], [[Carver]], [[Bryn]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Tiny but Evil]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Telamon]], [[Tunk]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|December 18, 2024<br />
|[[Against The Chill]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Eztli]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Drinks On The TarRaCe]]<br />
|[[Skyler]], [[Jarik]], [[Aznara]], [[Irshya]], [[Bryn]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|December 19, 2024<br />
|[[The Strong and the Mighty]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Thurid]], [[Irshya]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Jackals at Our Gate]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Jarik]], [[Sjach]], [[Skyler]] '''GM''': [[Carver]]<br />
|-<br />
|December 21, 2024<br />
|[[River Reunion]]<br />
|[[Sjach]], [[Seyardu]]<br />
|-<br />
|December 23, 2024<br />
|[[Festive Web]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Verna]], [[Murder]], [[Eztli]], [[Carver]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|}</div>Aryiahttp://www.tenebraemush.net/index.php?title=Mount_Freeze_Massacre&diff=43971Mount Freeze Massacre2024-12-16T22:08:46Z<p>Aryia: Created page with ":: ''Lower Gardens, Midday'' Even within the Lower Gardens, which is usually magically warmer for the plants, is feeling the brunt of the constant snowfall. A light dusting of snow peppering the grounds, a chill snakes its way through the air, creeping in from the heavy snow outside the grounds itself. It's good refuge, but still needs one to be bundled up. A tea stall stands outside a gazeebo, one red haired Eldanar man cups a steaming mug in his hands while clad in a..."</p>
<hr />
<div>:: ''Lower Gardens, Midday''<br />
<br />
Even within the Lower Gardens, which is usually magically warmer for the plants, is feeling the brunt of the constant snowfall. A light dusting of snow peppering the grounds, a chill snakes its way through the air, creeping in from the heavy snow outside the grounds itself. It's good refuge, but still needs one to be bundled up.<br />
<br />
A tea stall stands outside a gazeebo, one red haired Eldanar man cups a steaming mug in his hands while clad in a grey overcoat. He watches with mild amusement towards two bundled up teens, a Nar and human girl just outside the grounds. The Nar is pulling a flat wooden board with a rope tied through it up the hill, while the human pushing it, then vanish out of sight.<br />
<br />
A few moments later, a sip of tea. They pass on by in a gleeful shout and a blur on the wooden board. A paff of snow erupts over a garden wall. Warrick doesn't seem concerned in the slightest.<br />
<br />
Simony wanders the grounds with a mix of curiosity and concern in her expression. The snow encroaching upon the Garden's warmth and greenness is as unnatural seeming as the green glade's perpetual greenness itself.<br />
<br />
The rowdy teens' progress on a sled is noted, the Gobbo slowing to watch them hurtle down the hill. Slipping both her hands into her rabbit-fur muff, she begins heading towards Warrick.<br />
<br />
"Well hello Stranger, it has been a while, has it not?", she inquires, as she gets within a few dozen footsteps of the ex-Guardsman.<br />
<br />
Carver shakes off a dusting of snow as she enters the garden, her ever-companion still not in view. Perhaps she had been forced to put 'Deathless' up in a livery stable with the unsettling snows. Without the trusted friend and with other friends buried in their personal or public pursuits, she is left to... well, wander the city. To truly take in all the places she would not visit before.<br />
<br />
Unconciously, she wanders to the sound of laughter and roughing, curiosity having her peek in and observe the two teenagers at play about the shed.<br />
<br />
It's the most wonderful time of the year! Or something. The gardens do make for a nice change of scenery, even with the snow that seems to show no signs of stopping. It's a nice place to walk, as some people are doing. Or to drink, as others are doing.<br />
<br />
That means it is even better for walking AND drinking... which is exactly what Bryn is doing as she heads in from the trades district to the west, a stein of khazad stout in each hand. Her tusks stick out prominently from the grin that split her from ear to ear.<br />
<br />
GAME: Warrick rolls 1d4: (4): 4<br />
<br />
Warrick peers over over his mug, brows shooting up. "Oh! Hello Simony," the once-guard lightly smiles. "It has been a minute. I hope that minute has treated you well?"<br />
<br />
None too far away, the grey Arvek Nar and black haired human teen burst out from a snow pile that their makeshift sled crashed into, cackling. The latter being Warrick's daughter, Cynthia. The former, Lomi, for those that have met her. Cynthia shoves her mitted hands into the pile, shoveling it at Lomi's face, who sputters and flails at the air, only for them to pick the sled up and use that is a massive shovel, dumping a whole pile onto Cynthia and burying them in one scoop.<br />
<br />
Warrick glances over, checking on them briefly before spotting Carver. "Got hot tea over here," he calls out, beckoning. "You're going to get dragged into that if you linger for long."<br />
<br />
Someone throws a snowball. One of the two teens did it. It arcs high, and then lands directly on top of Warrick's dome. He sighs.<br />
<br />
The Goblin's grin is broad, and she steps forward to hug at the man's waist. Nodding, she releases the man and grins. "It has had its ups and downs. Even one who is in the God of Time's good graces can not avoid the trials and tribulations of the city of Alexandria."<br />
<br />
The wet thwap of the snowball hitting Warrick in the head causes her to pause. Slowblink. It's his world-weary sigh that sets her off, Simony toppling backwards as she giggles madly, holding her sides.<br />
<br />
Carver watches the younger teenagers with an expression of nostalgia, strange on a young face. It's clear that she's at least considering joining for a few minutes until Warrick's call distracts her. Right, too grown up for that.<br />
<br />
Splat. She pauses as she eyes the former guardsmen as a loose snowball's remains slowly drip from his head.<br />
<br />
She looks back to the offending duo. Then in a blur of motion, combat reflexes honed over two years of adventuring kicks in. Dip, duck, collect. The ammunition is quickly balled and she launches her counterattack at the young hobgoblin male.<br />
<br />
Bryn's eye is drawn to the laughter and she spies the familiar teens. Then she follows the arc of the snowball to discover Warrick. And more laughter. Make that even more as Bryn adds her own. Loudly.<br />
<br />
"Ha! Get 'em!" She doesn't make it clear who she's ecouraging to get whom, but maybe that isn't necessary. She then takes a big gulp from one mug before wandering over to Warrick and company's table, still watching the snow battle. "Out havin fun, eh?" she asks.<br />
<br />
Warrick returns the gesture with one arm and a pat on the back. "I feel that. A lot of things take me out of the city these days. But at least it keeps me busy. How's your paintings coming alon-"<br />
<br />
Snowballed. He looks down at the cackling goblin, rubbing his hair to be free of snow. Save for grabbing a small blob of it, holding it over Simony, and dropping it on her.<br />
<br />
Unsuspecting, Lomi is balling up a shot, only to be nailed in her back from Carver's adventurer honed assault. Her yellow eyes look over, only for them to dive to the ground and hold up the sled as cover. "Cinny, we've got company..!"<br />
<br />
Cynthia busts out of the pile with a handful of snowballs in hand, throwing them haphazardly in Carver's direction! "Hah!"<br />
<br />
This is turning into a battlefield.<br />
<br />
Warrick side steps as one of the snowballs lands nearby. "Oh- hey Bryn. Just relaxing a bit. Glad to see you're doing alri- hey!" he grins. "Hand looks like its working pretty well!"<br />
<br />
The Goblin pauses in her laughter, an answer being formulated in her head to responded to Warrick, but the giggles return, and it is into her open mouth that the small, cold and wet piece of snowball falls.<br />
<br />
Her eyes open wide and she gluurks, coughing and sitting up. "HEY!" Standing, she stalks her way towards where the two teenagers have a horde of snowballs on hand.<br />
<br />
She's distracted by Bryn, and her fancy new hand. "Oh hey, Bryn! You have a fancy, new hand! How's it working out?" Simony glances at Warrick, remembering that vengeance is at hand, and runs towards Cynthia.<br />
<br />
"Load me up!"<br />
<br />
GAME: Bryn rolls 1d20: (8): 8<br />
<br />
"Yep! Great, ain'it?! Works 'mazin!" Bryn hefts the right mug up in salute, victory, and a bit of showcasing. It does seem to work well, and does exatly what it's told to do.<br />
<br />
Except that after being hoisted, Bryn's wrist rotates almost 180 to promptly dump out whatever was left. This leaves Bryn blinking. "Uh.. meant to do that?" So maybe the her telling it still needs some work.<br />
<br />
She motions with her other mug at the growing battle. "Looks like its gettin bigger. Gonna be allout waugh inna minute!"<br />
<br />
Carver weaves the first snowball from Cyn, but uses her arm to block the second. Her dark face and darker hair gleam wetly from melting snow and her smile is wide, gap-toothed, manic almost. "I helped kill a lich! I slay trolls! A HOUSE ATE ME ONCE AND I GOT VOMITED OUT." Duck, rearm, fire. Duck, rearm, fire. It's just like how she fights and is a bit unfair but at least it is unfamiliar weapon. It lacks the finesse and expertise she'd bring to a bow, it's simply fast and thus even more inaccurate.<br />
<br />
Snowballs are more like snowsprays, and she gives up after another few wild attempts and charges the embankment her 'enemies' splat her from.<br />
<br />
Warrick snickers to himself as Simony heads into the fray.<br />
<br />
Cynthia grins as Simony joins in. "Sure thing!" The gobber is loaded up, by being pelted from the teen standing atop the snow mound. "Mount F-Freeze remains to be ours!<br />
<br />
Lomi peeks out from behind her makeshift cover, only to get a ball smashed into her face, and she topples over from Caver's might. Cynthia takes a few shots to the limbs and center mass, but she manages to stick atop Mount Freeze. "Oh yeah?! I uh- I can make smoke bombs! A-And I don't even know w-what a lich is- OH SERRIEL SHE'S CHARGING!" She unloads the rest of her supply, no where near as accurate and a bit panicked as the decorated adventurer rushes her tactical (three foot high) position.<br />
<br />
Warrick, bemused, continues to watch on, but is more focused on Bryn's new hand. "That is really nifty, I'm not going to lie-" He blinks, side stepping as the cup is dumped out. He chuckles. "Spoke too soon. But still, even then, that's quite great that the Cap was able to get you sorted out. And uh... yeah. It's going to go until they flop over in exhaustion."<br />
<br />
"Or if Carver and Simony take them out," Warricks adds, peering.<br />
<br />
The Goblin is not really accurate with her throws. But her throws are fast, obviously using a little of her God's strength to send the snowballs Carver's way in rapid succession. Then Carver charges.<br />
<br />
"PREPARE TO REPEL BOARDERS!', the diminutive woman hollers, and begins gathering snow. In a short period of time, Simony has a snowman's head-sized snowball rolled and she grunts as she sends it Carver's way in a somewhat lazy arc.<br />
<br />
GAME: Carver rolls reflex: (17)+13: 30<br />
<br />
Bryn bellows out another laugh as she watches. Is she tempted to join? Yes. Does she still have ale to finish? Also yes. Another swig goes down after the laugh dies to chuckles. "But ye win eitha way, eh?" She gives Warrick a wink. "Ev'rybody has a good time 'n all."<br />
<br />
Running through snow. Not the easiest, or most graceful thing to do. More ungainly stumbling. Still, her advance is powered with recklessness and that goes a long way. Until Carver sees Simony struggle back up from behind cover, little arms quivering, holding the mother of all snowballs over their head.<br />
<br />
Blink. She does not risk the devestation that will follow should the blessed holy snow hit her and instead dives into a nearby snowdrift to avoid it. Her head pops up a minute later, dark hair streaming down and a halo of white powder dusting off of her.<br />
<br />
GAME: Warrick rolls ranged: (1)+9: 10 (EPIC FAIL)<br />
<br />
Warrick snickers as the snowball brawl grows into absurdity. "Absolutely. In fact, I think someone needs to get taken down a peg." He skulls his tea, setting the mug back on the stall before stepping forward and stooping to get a ball formed.<br />
<br />
Cynthia whoops in a cheer as Simony's massive snowball deters Carver to dive out of the way, herself stopping to reload as much as possible during brief moment of ceasefire. Lomi stumbles to her feet, scrabbling over to Simony and picking her up and setting her on her own shoulders. "Height advantage," she explains in a deadpan tone, holding up a armfull of snowballs to arm the gobber.<br />
<br />
Warrick takes aim, dials it in towards his daughter and thr- he slips on some ice, topples over, and chucks it straight into Bryn's face.<br />
<br />
The Goblin cackles madly as Carver's imminent doom is written all over the Ranger's face, even if the snowman's head misses. She lets out an indignant squeak as she's lifted up and placed upon Lomi's shoulders. Her frown is placated by a selection of snowballs to throw. Adjusting her pince-nez, Simony lets out another barrage. These are fast, hard-thrown and unerringly accurate given her previous throws. These snowballs seek out the behinds of Warrick, Bryn and Carver.<br />
<br />
And so Bryn is hit at both ends nearly simultaneously. That leaves her blinking a moment. Then her drink is forgotten and the cup dropped. "This is war!"<br />
<br />
Of course, she doesn't have any snowballs handy, or even much snow in reach. What she does have? A Warrick. So, rather than bring the snow to him, she grabs him up to bring him to the snow! It's less a throw and more of pushing charge that takes them both for the heavier snow at the base of Mount Freeze.<br />
<br />
"Bryn, you got your hand?" Carver asks, catching on to this detail moments before she is pelted again by more magic(?) snowballs. She scowls, and rises to her feet, joining her two allies's death charge into s'no'w'man' land.<br />
<br />
Warrick gets a snowball in the backside, making him topple over, and gives him only has a moment to stare up at Bryn looms over him and grabs his overcoat. "Oh Seriel," is all he's able to get out as the two come barreling towards Mount Freeze.<br />
<br />
Lomi and Cynthia's eyes widen as their position is stormed by all three enemies. "Oh crap, uh, uh, L-Lomi we gotta-"<br />
<br />
"Later nerd," Lomi quips, tossing Simony onto the mountain, turning and running to get out of the way, abandoning Mount Freeze.<br />
<br />
Warrick and Bryn crash into the base of Mount Freeze, Cynthia yelping and toppling over as the top micro-avalanches across the street.<br />
<br />
Warrick is sprawled out on the ground, dazed. Cynthia is half sticking out of the ground.<br />
<br />
Simony squeaks as she's tossed aside, but she has an ace up her sleeve. As the mountain collapses, a pair of angelic wings sprout from her shoulders. They flap almost lazily as they keep her held in place. She giggles at the CARNAGE below, and then tsks, flying down to grab Lomi's leg.<br />
<br />
"And where do you think /you'/re going, young miss?" The Goblin is strong enough pull Lomi through the snow, dragging her by the feet back to the fallen mountain. Where she's plopped next to Cynthia. As a favour to the Warrick, the Goblin pulls Cynthia free of the snow, to leave her sprawled in the mountain's remains.<br />
<br />
Bryn is flopped briefly in the process, but pushes herself up (another benefit to the new hand) to a straddle-sit atop one slightly vanquished(?) and/or weaponized Warrick. Both fists are then raised in victory. "Ha! Got 'em!" Once more, she breaks into deep, hearty laughter.<br />
<br />
Who did she get? Who knows? But she didn't even throw any snow!<br />
<br />
Carver rises from the snow as well, dark hair streaming. She lifts her left hand, forming a fist, to the sky. Victory. Snowcrusted and absolute. Other then a flying Simony but she was on their side now after the betrayal most foul.<br />
<br />
Warrick grunt-sighs as Bryn keeps him pinned face-to-ground as she laughs. Lomi is easily dragged and dropped into the powder next so Cynthia. Grumbling something about "that's cheating". "Whup-pah..!" Cynthia grunts as she's deposited back into fresh air.<br />
<br />
The Mount Freeze Bandits have been defeated by adventurers.<br />
<br />
There's a beat of silence. Only to be interrupted as Simony and Lomi break into a fit of laughter.<br />
<br />
Simony dusts her hands off, and bares a skinny arm, flexing. "Hmmph. Cheating? I am not sure what you mean." The Goblin checks on Cynthia, "You okay?" A warm hand pats at the teenager's cheek. "Oh good. Now let's go see if someone has to perform mouth to mouth on your father."<br />
<br />
And so, Warrick is soon seeing a pair of booted feet. "You okay down there, Warrick?" She holds up a wee hand for Bryn to high-five. "Nicely done with your Warrick-sized battering ram.."<br />
<br />
"Nobody cheated!" Bryn echoes with the final bits of her laughter. Simony's little five gets a big five in return and an almost-as-big tusky grin. "Was fun!" She then rises up to her feet before reaching down a hand (the left, fleshy one) to offer Warrick help up. "C'mon up. Dinnit squish ye?"<br />
<br />
Carver joins into the laughter, shoulders bobbing beneath her furs. She wipes at streaming eyes, steaming in the cold, nodding in agreement. Fun. She had exactly that. She goes to introduce herself to both Lomi and Cynthia, having not done so in the past.<br />
<br />
Cynthia and Lomi are left breathless from all the laughter, but Cynthia flashes a thumbs up toward Simony for getting checked up on.<br />
<br />
Warrick sucks in a breath as he's freed from the Bryn-pin. He takes the offered fleshy hand, grunting as he's helped up. "Only a little bit. Thanks."<br />
<br />
Speaking of fun havers, the two teens pick themselves up, grinning to themselves and turning to Carver. "Hi! Cynthia waves excitedly. Her face is flushed red from the cold, her black hair is all over the place from the snow and a smattering of freckles adorn her face, Warrick's slate eyes squint against the sun. "I'm Cynthia! This is Lomi!"<br />
<br />
"I'm Lomi," the nar teen deadpans emotionless, but smiling.<br />
<br />
"That's my dad," Cynthia points at Warrick.<br />
<br />
"That's not my dad," Lomi points at Warrick. "But pretty much is anyways."<br />
<br />
"With how much you eat through my larder, yes," Warrick grunts, dusting himself off.<br />
<br />
"I have an idea to warm everyone up. Let's go over to the TarRaCe, and I'll treat everyone to some hot cocoa, or cider, depending on whether you're an adult or not.", Simony offers. "We can warm up by the fire, and maybe get something to eat!" Her stomach gurgles in agreement with this course of action.<br />
<br />
"I'm Asana," Carver says with a matching smile, her only warpaint the pale residue of the snowballs that had struck her. "He's my work-dad."<br />
<br />
"Bryn," she joins the introductions, though she already knows everyone here and vice-versa. She also joins the trend and jabs a metal thumb towards Warrick. "Not dad. Jus lets me follow 'im round lots."<br />
<br />
"Nice to meet you Asana!" Cynthia grins, reaching out for an energetic, mitted handshake. Lomi simply nods, digging the sled out from the snow.<br />
<br />
Warrick quirks a brow at the name, filing that away for later, but he ends up shrugging about the title with a chuckle. "Hard not to be when you lot don't wear a helmet." He lightly laughs at Bryn. "Preeeetty sure I'm the one having to follow you into a mess. But anyways- Simony brings up a good point. If I'm being dad, then you lot need food after all that mess. It's freezing out here."<br />
<br />
It is, in fact, still snowing heavily.<br />
<br />
Carver shakes the hand with both of hers, "I know!" Everyone always loves meeting her. She nods at Warrick's suggestion, as adrenaline cools, so does her internal temperature. She is no less prone to thermal loss than any normal person. Still, she does look down at Bryn's hand curiously again. "Do you..., er, can you feel through that?" She will fall into step with everyone as they prep to head somewhere warmer.<br />
<br />
Bryn's bushy brows perk up at the idea of drinks and heat. "Always time fer more drinkin!" Then she glances at Carver and shrugs. "Eh. Nah. Not really? Still gettin used ta it. Be a bit 'fore I'm scratchin my arse with it. Don' wannt break nothin. Le's go, da!" She gives Warrick a pat on the shoulder with the mentioned metal hand. A light one. She thinks.<br />
<br />
Warrick glances to the metal hand as Carver asks the question, then nods slightly at the information before stumbling a bit from the 'pat'. He chuckles, shaking his head. "Alright, lets get going-"<br />
<br />
"LAST ONE THERE HAS TO EAT THE SPECIAL!" Cynthia shouts suddenly before Lomi and her start scrambling forward through the snow towards the TarRaCe.<br />
<br />
Warrick frowns. Thinks. And then picks up the pace. "... I am not eating ghost pepper basilisk."<br />
<br />
Mount Freeze lies in ruins behind the group. Only to be slowly built up once again from the falling snow.<br />
<br />
-End Scene-<br />
<br />
[[Category:Logs]]</div>Aryiahttp://www.tenebraemush.net/index.php?title=Recent_Logs&diff=43970Recent Logs2024-12-16T22:08:30Z<p>Aryia: /* December */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{AboutLogs}}<br />
<br />
'''[[Archived_Logs|For 2023 and earlier, see the Archives]]'''<br />
<br />
==2024 Logs==<br />
===January===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|January 1, 2024<br />
|[[New Face in Town]]<br />
|[[Kadlin]], [[Murder]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[What is in a Name]]<br />
|[[Khepri]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Triangulating Assumptions]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Eztli]], [[Dirk]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Magic and Archmages]]<br />
|[[Aragos]], [[Kadlin]], [[Mikilos]], [[Murder]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 2, 2024<br />
|[[In Search of a Forge]]<br />
|[[Kadlin]], [[Harshad]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Tales of Redemption and Grief]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Seldan]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 5, 2024<br />
|[[Song and Holy Violence]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Aryia]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 8, 2024<br />
|[[An Ask of Mental Fortitude]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Leirune|Rune]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Axochitl's Aid]]<br />
|[[Seldan]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 9, 2024<br />
|[[Snowballs in the Gardens]]<br />
|[[Acedia]], [[Eztli]], [[Mikilos]], [[Ness]], [[Ous]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 10, 2024<br />
|[[A Meeting In The Wintry Woods]]<br />
|[[Acedia]], [[Kadlin]], [[Munch]], [[Seldan]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 11, 2024<br />
|[[Shenanigans on Ice]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Irshya]], [[Slixvah]], [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Raiders of the Lost Tomb, Part 2]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Fidget]], [[Slixvah]], [[Irshya]], [[Aimarra]], [[Carver]], GM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 14, 2024<br />
|[[Phantom Thieves - The Heist]]<br />
|[[Crik]], [[Reithak]], [[Warrick]], [[Merith]], [[Thoth]], GM: [[Fidget]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Testing Synonie]]<br />
|[[Seldan]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 15, 2024<br />
|[[Raiders of the Lost Tomb Part 3]]<br />
|[[Aimarra]], [[Slixvah]], [[Irshya]], [[Carver]], [[Fidget]], [[Aelwyn]] ('''DM:''' Telamon)<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Chronolark - Part 1]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Aznara]], [[Reithak]], [[Tlanexhuani]], ('''DM:''' Whirlpool)<br />
|-<br />
|January 18, 2024<br />
|[[Workouts and Distractions]]<br />
|[[Choler]], [[Thurid]], [[Eztli]], [[Slixvah]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 19, 2024<br />
|[[World Peace and Hunky Boys]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Dolan]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 21, 2024<br />
|[[Quarry Quarrel, Part 1]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Crik]], [[Khepri]], [[Reithak]], GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 22, 2024<br />
|[[Chronolark - Part 2]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Aznara]], [[Reithak]], [[Tlanexhuani]], GM: [[Whirlpool]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 23, 2024<br />
|[[Prisoner Transfer - Part 1]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Magpie]], GM: [[Whirlpool]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 25, 2024<br />
|[[Silencing the Unloved King]]<br />
|[[Seldan]], [[Dirk]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 27, 2024<br />
|[[Forgotten Blood Finale - Beneath]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Culix]], [[Schara]] GM: [[Harkashan]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 28, 2024<br />
|[[Phantom Thieves - The Heist Pt2]]<br />
|[[Crik]], [[Reithak]], [[Warrick]], [[Merith]], [[Thoth]], GM: [[Fidget]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 29, 2024<br />
|[[Raiders of the Lost Tomb Part 4]]<br />
|[[Aimarra]], [[Slixvah]], [[Irshya]], [[Carver]], [[Fidget]], [[Aelwyn]] ('''DM:''' Telamon)<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Wraps and Hiccups]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Chronolark - Part 3]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Tlanexhuani]], [[Reithak]], [[Aznara]] ('''DM:''' Whirlpool)<br />
|-<br />
|January 30, 2024<br />
|[[Prisoner Transfer - Part 2]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Magpie]], GM: [[Whirlpool]]<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
===February===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|February 1, 2024<br />
|[[Cat Scratch Chills]]<br />
|[[Reithak]], [[Simony]], [[Teppus]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 2, 2024<br />
|[[Raiders of the Lost Tomb Part 5]]<br />
|[[Aimarra]], [[Slixvah]], [[Irshya]], [[Carver]], [[Aelwyn]] ('''DM:''' Telamon)<br />
|-<br />
|February 4, 2024<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Seldan]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 5, 2024<br />
|[[Answers in Amantli (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Cuemoni]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Chronolark - Part 4]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Tlanexhuani]], [[Reithak]] ('''DM:''' Whirlpool)<br />
|-<br />
|February 6, 2024<br />
|[[Prisoner Transfer - Part 3]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Magpie]], GM: [[Whirlpool]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 7, 2024<br />
|[[Mushrooms and Man Left Behind]]<br />
|[[Culix]], [[Irshya]], [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 11, 2024<br />
|[[Quarry Quarrel, Part 2]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Reithak]], [[Crik]], [[Khepri]], GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Cultivating Humility]]<br />
|[[Alfrik]], [[Munch]], [[Murder]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Seldan]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 12, 2024<br />
|[[Chronolark - Part 5]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Tlanexhuani]], [[Reithak]] ('''DM:''' Whirlpool)<br />
|-<br />
|February 13, 2024<br />
|[[Sound Mind]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Harkashan]], [[Simony]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Answers in Amantli (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Cuemoni]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 14, 2024<br />
|[[Fire birds and sharp sticks]]<br />
|[[Crik]], [[Eztli]], [[Rhar]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Simony's Haven]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 15, 2024<br />
|[[Cold Winter Encounters]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 16, 2024<br />
|[[Summoning Aid]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 18, 2024<br />
|[[The show must drag on]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Culix]], [[Eztli]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 18, 2024<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 3)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Seldan]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Quarry Quarrel Part 3]]<br />
|[[Khepri]], [[Thoth]], [[Reithak]], [[Crik]], GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 19, 2024<br />
|[[Temple District Ruminations]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Simony]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[The Weight of Responsibility]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Chronolark - Part 6]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Tlanexhuani]], [[Reithak]], [[Aznara]] ('''DM:''' Whirlpool)<br />
|-<br />
|February 20, 2024<br />
|[[Dead Men]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Harkashan]], [[Simony]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[A Single Nail]]<br />
|[[SImony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 22, 2024<br />
|[[Creation of Ash]]<br />
|[[Cuemoni]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 23, 2024<br />
|[[Expect the Unexpected]]<br />
|[[Harkashan]], [[Simony]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[To Stalk The Fiend]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 25, 2024<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 4)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Seldan]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 26, 2024<br />
|[[Serpentine Showing]]<br />
|[[Alfrik]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 28, 2024<br />
|[[Ten Year Step]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Alfrik]], [[Auranar]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Forgotten Blood Finale - Assassins]]<br />
|[[Reithak]], [[Crik]], [[Aznara]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 29, 2024<br />
|[[Make Cookies Not War]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Demand a Favor]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Golfbag of Glaives]]<br />
|[[Verna]], [[Culix]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Alfrik]]<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
===March===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|March 1, 2024<br />
|[[Releasing the Hounds]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 3, 2024<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 5)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Seldan]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Personal Hero]]<br />
|[[Harkashan]], [[Rune]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 4, 2024<br />
|[[Chronolark - Part 8]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Aznara]], [[Reithak]], [[Tlanexhuani]], ('''DM:''' Whirlpool)<br />
|-<br />
|March 5, 2024<br />
|[[Golden Coast Cruise]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Slixvah]], [[Simony]], [[Tlanexhuani]], [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 6, 2024<br />
|[[Unlock, Unbind, Hide]]<br />
|[[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Leirune|Rune]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Body Guard]]<br />
|[[Alfrik]], [[Harshad]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 9, 2024<br />
|[[Adventure's End?]]<br />
|[[Acedia]], [[Seldan]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 10, 2024<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 6)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Seldan]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 11, 2024<br />
|[[Facing Another Trial]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Harkashan]], [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 12, 2024<br />
|[[Chronolark - Part 9]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Reithak]], [[Tlanexhuani]], ('''DM:''' Whirlpool)<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[You Won't Be Alone]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Slixvah]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 14, 2024<br />
|[[To the Victor Go the Spoils]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]; DM: [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 15, 2024<br />
|[[Forearmed is Forwarned]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Warrick]], [[Schara]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[The Eve Before Death]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Harkashan]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 17, 2024<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 7): The Poetry Corner]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Seldan]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]]; DM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|March 18, 2024<br />
|[[A Golden Ending (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Slixvah]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 19, 2024<br />
|[[A Morning At The Ox]]<br />
|[[Harshad]], [[Murder]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 20, 2024<br />
|[[Fantasy Gladiator League]]<br />
|[[Irshya]], [[Slixvah]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Aspiring Aspire-ations ]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Faranmidahn]], [[Irshya]] DM: [[Whirlpool]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 23, 2024<br />
|[[Go Home History You're Drunk]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Crik]], [[Mikilos]], [[Reithak]], DM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|March 24, 2024<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 8)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Seldan]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]]; DM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|March 25, 2024<br />
|[[A Golden Ending (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Slixvah]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 26, 2024<br />
|[[To Find a Mourner (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Auranar]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]; DM: Verna<br />
|-<br />
|March 27, 2024<br />
|[[Aspiring Aspire-ations, Pt2]]<br />
|[[Fidget]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Irshya]], [[Faranmidahn]]; DM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|March 31, 2024<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 9)]]<br />
|[[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Seldan]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]]; DM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
<br />
===April===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|April 1, 2024<br />
|[[A Golden Ending (Part 3)]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Slixvah]], [[Telamon]]; DM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|April 2, 2024<br />
|[[Aspiring Aspire-ations, Pt3]]<br />
|[[Fidget]], [[Irshya]], [[Etzli]], [[Aelwyn]]; GM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|April 3, 2024<br />
|[[Welcome Warden]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Murder]], [[Rhar]], [[Leirune|Rune]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 5, 2024<br />
|[[Cover Letter]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Slixvah]], [[Eztli]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Noodles and Sake]]<br />
|[[Choler]], [[Harshad]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 8, 2024<br />
|[[Frozen Veins]]<br />
|[[Aragos]], [[Harshad]], [[Palomas]], [[Reithak]], [[Quinn]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 10, 2024<br />
|[[Stop Me if You Have Heard This One]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Irshya]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 11, 2024<br />
|[[A Courier for a Page]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], Npcs: [[Slixvah]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 12, 2024<br />
|[[Needles And News]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Choler]], [[Eztli]], [[Slixvah]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 14, 2024<br />
|[[Three Assassins]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Reithak]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 10)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Seldan]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 15, 2024<br />
|[[A Golden Ending (Part 4)]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Slixvah]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 17, 2024<br />
|[[Aspiring Aspire-ations, Part 4]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Carver]], [[Eztli]], [[Faranmidahn]], [[Irshya]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 18, 2024<br />
|[[Repose in Two Forms]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[To Find a Mourner (Part 3)]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Auranar]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]] DM [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 20, 2024<br />
|[[Tears of Death]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Corey]], [[Rhar]], [[Rune]], [[Thoth]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 21, 2024<br />
|[[Whilst You Lay Dreaming]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 11)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Seldan]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]]; GM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|April 22, 2024<br />
|[[Birds of another Feather]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Reithak]], [[Sabina]], [[Xasany]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Revelation Raven]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Of Spring and Gardening]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 23, 2024<br />
|[[Cutscene: Sins of the Father]]<br />
|Caeles Miranore, Kiira Theran, Caeleil Miranore (NPCs by [[Leirune|Rune]] and [[Simony]])<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Return of the Bina]]<br />
|[[Slixvah]], [[Irshya]], [[Sabina]], [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[To Find a Mourner (Part 4)]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Auranar]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]; DM [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 24, 2024<br />
|[[Aspiring Aspire-ations, Part 5]]<br />
|[[Fidget]], [[Carver]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Faranmidahn]]; GM: [[Whirlpool]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 25, 2024<br />
|[[Hunting Urvis (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[MAC-B1G]], [[Leirune|Rune]]; DM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 27, 2024<br />
|[[Feel the Groove]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Eztli]], [[MAC-B1G]], [[Magpie]]; DM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|April 28, 2024<br />
|[[Morning in Goblintown]]<br />
|[[Harshad]], [[Choler]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 12)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Seldan]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]]; GM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|April 29, 2024<br />
|[[The Stage Is Set]]<br />
|[[Sabina]]; GM: Derecho<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Rider of Decisions]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]]; GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
<br />
===May===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|May 1, 2024<br />
|[[Silver Misses Snow]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Choler]], [[Corey]], [[Eztli]], [[Skielstregar]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Warnings on Deaf Ears]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Fidget]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 2, 2024<br />
|[[Hunting Urvis (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[MAC-B1G]], [[Leirune|Rune]]; DM: Telamon<br />
|-<br />
|May 3, 2024<br />
|[[Trade Off]]<br />
|[[Harshad]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 5, 2024<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 13)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Seldan]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]]; DM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|May 6, 2024<br />
|[[Maybe Fae-be]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 7, 2024<br />
|[[A Happy Dance]]<br />
|[[Karasu]], [[Ravenstongue]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[A Close Shave]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Simony]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[At Nothing We See]]<br />
|[[Choler]], [[Cuemoni]], [[Fidget]], [[Tlanexhuani]], [[Zeke]]; DM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|May 8, 2024<br />
|[[Fashion Shopping Preperusal ]]<br />
|[[Eztli]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Aryia]], [[Simony]], [[Aznara]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[To Find a Mourner (Part 5)]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Auranar]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]; DM [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 10, 2024<br />
|[[Piecing Together Me]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Corey]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Tlanexhuani]]; DM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|May 12, 2024<br />
|[[Hunting Urvis (Part 3)]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[MAC-B1G]], [[Leirune|Rune]]; DM: Telamon<br />
|-<br />
|May 14, 2024<br />
|[[A Fiend In Plain Sight]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 15, 2024<br />
|[[To Find a Mourner (Part 6)]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Auranar]], [[Harkashan]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]; DM [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 16, 2024<br />
|[[Fab Fabric and Fire]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Noodles and a Future Heist]]<br />
|[[Choler]], [[Harshad]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 18, 2024<br />
|[[Honey Do]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Magpie]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
| <br />
|[[Mothers and Patrons]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Harkashan]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 19, 2024<br />
|[[Hunting Urvis (Part 4)]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[MAC-B1G]], [[Leirune|Rune]]; DM: Telamon<br />
|-<br />
|May 20, 2024<br />
|[[We Are Seen]]<br />
|[[Cuemoni]], [[Fidget]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Tlanexhuani]], [[Zeke]]; DM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Rain and Bath House]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Leirune|Rune]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 21, 2024<br />
|[[Simpler Things]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 22, 2024<br />
|[[The Name-Stealer]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[The Final Spires, Part 1]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Fidget|NAME UNKNOWN]], [[Tlanexhuani]]; DM: Whirlpool<br />
|- <br />
|May 23, 2024<br />
|[[Never Even]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Slixvah]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[The Urvis Update]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[MAC-B1G]], [[Rune]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 24, 2024<br />
|[[Unpleasant News at the Noodle Stand]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Stained Glass Butterfly]]<br />
|[[Choler]], [[Harshad]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 26, 2024<br />
|[[Warning the Mislead]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Thoth]], Nameless ([[Fidget]])<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[To Find a Mourner (Part 7)]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Auranar]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 27, 2024<br />
|[[Changing Seasons and Hearts]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Aragos]], [[Eztli]]. [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 28, 2024<br />
|[[He Says]]<br />
|[[Sabina]], [[Thoth]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Whatamelons and Wanderers]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Irshya]], [[Sabina]], [[Slixvah]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Crimson to Show Off]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Aryia]], [[Irshya]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 30, 2024<br />
|[[The Final Spires, Part 2]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Fidget|NAME UNKNOWN]], [[Tlanexhuani]]; DM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[What Troubles Those in the Market]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Simony]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Slixvah]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 30, 2024<br />
|[[A Stealthy Inquest]]<br />
|[[Choler]], [[Harshad]]<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
<br />
===June===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|June 2, 2024<br />
|[[Noodles After The Heist]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Choler]], [[Harshad]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 4, 2024<br />
|[[He Says (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Sabina]], [[Thoth]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[What Makes A Cavalier Attitude?]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Zofija]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 5, 2024<br />
|[[Down the River]]<br />
|[[Skielstregar]], [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[The Final Spires, Part 3]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Fidget|NAME UNKNOWN]], [[Tlanexhuani]]; DM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[A Castle In My Dreams]]<br />
|[[Telamon]] (vignette)<br />
|-<br />
|June 7, 2024<br />
|[[Break the Mold]]<br />
|[[Aeson]], [[Eztli]], [[MAC-B1G]], [[Mikilos]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 8, 2024<br />
|[[Fictitious - I]] <br />
|[[Aragos]], [[Fidget|NAME UNKNOWN]] , [[Gramarye]], [[Lanier]], [[Vaera]]; DM: Thoth<br />
|-<br />
|June 9, 2024<br />
|[[To Find a Mourner (Part 8)]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Auranar]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]; DM: Verna<br />
|-<br />
|June 10, 2024<br />
|[[Bedtime Butterflies]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Eztli]], [[Lanier]]; DM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|June 12, 2024<br />
|[[The Castle on the Edge of Waking]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[The Final Spires, Part 4]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Fidget|NAME UNKNOWN]], [[Tlanexhuani]]; DM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|June 13, 2024<br />
|[[Forearmed is Forwarned Part 2]]<br />
|[[Warrick]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Schara]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 14, 2024<br />
|[[Grand Induction]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Culix]], [[Eztli]], [[Simony]], DM: [[Aryia]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Five Nightmares]]<br />
|[[Aeson]], [[Carver]], [[Eztli]], [[MAC-B1G]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 15, 2024<br />
|[[Five Nightmares (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Eztli]], [[MAC-B1G]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Dwarf Fortress: Deepest Depths - I]]<br />
|[[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Garden Lectures Under the Sun]]<br />
|[[Aeson]], [[Mikilos]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 16, 2024<br />
|[[To Find a Mourner (Part 9)]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Auranar]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 17, 2024<br />
|[[When you Wish Upon a Fish]]<br />
|[[Dirk]], [[Magpie]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 18, 2024<br />
|[[Wasted Years]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[He Says (Part 3)]]<br />
|[[Sabina]], [[Thoth]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 19, 2024<br />
|[[A Warriors Instinct]]<br />
|[[Aragos]], [[Gramarye]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Pillory Blues]]<br />
|[[Eztli]], [[Telamon]], [[Yazlo]], [[Zeke]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Ashes on the Ground]]<br />
|[[Gramarye]], [[Thoth]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 20, 2024<br />
|[[For A Few Potions More]]<br />
|[[Choler]], [[Cuemoni]], [[Warrick]]; GM: Telamon<br />
|-<br />
|June 21, 2024<br />
|[[Nonlinear Pie]]<br />
|[[Verna]], [[Auranar]], [[Aryia]], [[Eztli]], [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Forearmed is Forwarned Part 3]]<br />
|[[Warrick]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Schara]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 22, 2024<br />
|[[Best Boy]]<br />
|[[Crik]], [[Menel]], [[Zofija]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 23, 2024<br />
|[[A Warning Not A Gift]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Harshad]], NPC Sori - [[Karasu]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Dwarf Fortress: Deepest Depths - II]]<br />
|[[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], DM: [[Culix]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[One Thousand Cranes]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 24, 2024<br />
|[[The Price of Fish]]<br />
|[[Arzhela]], [[Crik]], [[Cuemoni]], [[Murder]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[The Weight of Expectations]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[He Says (Part 4)]]<br />
|[[Sabina]], [[Thoth]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 25, 2024<br />
|[[Full Day at the Baths]]<br />
|[[Slixvah]], [[Irshya]], [[Culix]], [[Leirune|Rune]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Upon the Koz-way]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Aryia]], [[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 26, 2024<br />
|[[The Final Spires, Part 5]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Carver]], [[Eztli]], [[Fidget|NAME UNKNOWN]]; DM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|June 27, 2024<br />
|[[Faphinae's Fanfare]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Simony]], [[Reithak]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Gearsmasher]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Corey]], [[Eztli]], [[MAC-B1G]], [[Skielstregar]]; guest star: [[Telamon]]; GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|June 28, 2024<br />
|[[Soul Food]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Aryia]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Fiends and Fae]]<br />
|[[Telamon]], [[Ravenstongue]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[The Never-ending Story]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Leirune|Rune]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 29, 2024<br />
|[[Game On!]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Eztli]], [[Karasu]], [[Leirune|Rune]] ;GM: [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 30, 2024<br />
|[[Fragile Like Trust]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[A Will to Kill]]<br />
|Faphinae & Sori [[Corey]], [[Karasu]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Silent Sanitorium]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Dirk]], [[Harkashan]], [[MAC-B1G]], [[Rune]]; DM: [[Culix]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|}<br />
<br />
<br />
===July===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|July 1, 2024<br />
|[[Hunting Lore in the Library]]<br />
|[[Alaric]], [[Simony]], [[Verna]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 2, 2024<br />
|[[Death Comes Another Day]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Unravel Their Riddles]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 3, 2024<br />
|[[Mist and Magic]]<br />
|[[Alaric]], [[Crik]], [[Murder]], [[Slixvah]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 4, 2024<br />
|[[A Lesson in Forgiveness]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 5, 2024<br />
|[[Silence in the Library]]<br />
|[[Harshad]], [[Menel]], [[Palomas]], [[Reithak]], [[Warrick]], [[Zigrun]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 6, 2024<br />
|[[Spelunking]]<br />
|[[Crik]], [[Cuemoni]], [[Harshad]], [[Menel]], [[Reithak]], [[Sjach]]; GM: [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 7, 2024<br />
|[[A Story Born of Hope]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 9, 2024<br />
|[[Sands through the Hourglass]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Culix]], [[Eztli]], [[Menel]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 10, 2024<br />
|[[Forlorn Moon (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]; GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[The Final Spires, Part 6]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Carver]], [[Eztli]], [[Fidget|NAME UNKNOWN]]; DM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
| [[Tornmawr Torpedo]]<br />
|[[Culix]], [[Aryia]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Bryn]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 11, 2024<br />
|[[Boogle Boogle]]<br />
|[[Aragos]], [[Thoth]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Forlorn Moon (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]; GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|July 12, 2024<br />
|[[Name Exchange ]]<br />
|[[Gramarye]], [[Thoth]]; GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|July 13, 2024<br />
|[[Moment of the Future]]<br />
|[[Gramarye]], [[Thoth]]; GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|July 14, 2024<br />
|[[Silent Sanitorium Part 2]]<br />
|[[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Aelwyn]], [[MAC-B1G]], Dirk, GM: Culix<br />
|-<br />
|July 15, 2024<br />
|[[Explosions and Slaying]]<br />
|[[Warrick]], [[Bryn]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Heir to the Throne - Beginning]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Cuemoni]], [[Harshad]], [[Menel]], [[Warrick]], [[Zofija]]; GM: Harkashan<br />
|-<br />
|July 19, 2024<br />
|[[Summer Days]]<br />
|[[Warrick]], [[Sjach]], [[Aznara]], DM: [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 21, 2024<br />
|[[Vagrant Tower - Void Engine 1]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Rune]], [[Eztli]], [[Iskandar]], [[Harkashan]], GM: Culix<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Following a Portent]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 22, 2024<br />
|[[Heir to the Throne: Trouble in Unbundun Part 1]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Crik]], [[Harshad]], [[Warrick]], [[Zofija]]; GM: Harkashan<br />
|-<br />
|July 23, 2024<br />
|[[Tales of Wrassling and Cages]]<br />
|[[Warrick]], [[Bryn]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Mountaineering Investigations]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Eztli]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Garak]], GM: [[Aryia]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 24, 2024<br />
|[[A Consecration]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Nameless|Fidget]], [[Carver]], [[Eztli]], [[Delilah]], [[Harkashan]], GM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|July 25, 2024<br />
|[[Turning Reputation into Charity]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 26, 2024<br />
|[[Can't Sleep]]<br />
|[[Nameless|Fidget]], [[Simony]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Craven Match]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Bryn]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Aurum Among Thieves]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Eztli]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 29, 2024<br />
|[[It's Easy Being Green]]<br />
|[[Bryn]]; NPC: Cynthia<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Heir to the Throne: Trouble in Unbundun Part 2]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Crik]], [[Warrick]], [[Zofija]]; GM: [[Harkashan]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 30, 2024<br />
|[[Mountaineering Explanations]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Garak]], [[Rune]], [[Slixvah]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 31, 2024<br />
|[[Paint Ponderings]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Skielstregar]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|}<br />
<br />
<br />
===August===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|August 04, 2024<br />
|[[Fair Pixie]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Vagrant Tower: Void Engine Part 2]]<br />
|[[Eztli]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Rune]], [[Harkashan]], [[Iskandar]], '''GM''': Culix<br />
|-<br />
|August 5, 2024<br />
|[[Heir to the Throne: Trouble in Unbundun Part 3]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Crik]], [[Harshad]], [[Warrick]], [[Zofija]], '''GM''': [[Harkashan]]<br />
|-<br />
|August 8, 2024<br />
|[[I Know the Pieces Fit]]<br />
|[[Warrick]], [[Crik]], [[Bryn]]<br />
|-<br />
|August 9, 2024<br />
|[[Litigation]]<br />
|[[Fidget]], [[Khepri]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|August 11, 2024<br />
|[[Silent Sanitorium - Part 3]]<br />
|[[Harkashan]], [[Dirk]], [[Rune]], [[Aelwyn]] '''GM''': [[Culix]]<br />
|-<br />
|August 18, 2024<br />
|[[On the Edge of Living]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|August 19, 2024<br />
|[[Heir to the Throne - Far Beneath Part 1]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Crik]], [[Harshad]], [[Warrick]], [[Zofija]], [[Stena]] '''GM''': [[Harkashan]]<br />
|-<br />
|August 20, 2024<br />
|[[Happiness in Knowledge]]<br />
|[[Aeson]], [[Eztli]], [[Ravenstongue]]<br />
|-<br />
|August 22, 2024<br />
|[[Death With a View]]<br />
|[[Aragos]], [[Khepri]], [[Nameless]], [[Slixvah]]<br />
|-<br />
|August 23, 2024<br />
|[[Toge Means Thorn]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Litigation (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Khepri]], [[Nameless]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Into The Temple - Part 1]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Silmeria]], '''GM''': Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|August 25, 2024<br />
|[[Dusk Blooming Vines]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Cuemoni]], [[Harshad]], [[Lani'kua]], [[Reithak]], [[Sjach]]; '''GM''': Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Apparently Heir]]<br />
|[[Aeson]], [[Eztli]]<br />
|-<br />
|August 26, 2024<br />
|[[Jiji Kiku]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|August 29, 2024<br />
|[[Into The Temple - Part 2]]<br />
| [[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Silmeria]], '''GM''': Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
===September===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|September 1, 2024<br />
|[[Delivery in the Dark]]<br />
|[[Cuemoni]], [[Reithak]], [[Ulthan]]; '''GM''': Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|September 2, 2024<br />
|[[Heir to the Throne - Far Beneath Part 2]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Crik]], [[Stena]], [[Warrick]], [[Zofija]]; ; '''GM''': [[Harkashan]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 4, 2024<br />
|[[Into The Temple - Part 3]]<br />
| [[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Silmeria]], '''GM''': Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|September 6, 2024<br />
|[[Dinner for Four and a Pothy]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 7, 2024<br />
|[[Whispers of Rebellion]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Corey]], with Ansir and Faphinae<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Plotting in the Gardens]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Vex]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Three Old Friends]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Corey]], [[Thoth]], [[Vex]], [[Victor]]; '''GM:''' Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|September 8, 2024<br />
|[[How a Queen is Made]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]]; '''GM:''' Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|September 9, 2024<br />
|[[A Friend for Magpie and Wizard]]<br />
|[[Magpie]], [[Corey]]; '''GM:''' Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|September 10, 2024<br />
|[[Fight for Us]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 11, 2024<br />
|[[Love in Every Moment]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[The Good, The Bad, and the Alchemy]]<br />
|[[Lani'kua]], [[Bryn]], and [[Vex]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 12, 2024<br />
|[[Into The Temple - Part 4]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Silmeria]], '''GM''': Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|September 13, 2024<br />
|[[Simony Signs Up]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 14, 2024<br />
|[[Everyone Needs a Hobby]]<br />
|[[Corey]] (and Faphinae), [[Karasu]], [[Rhar]]; '''GM''': Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|September 15, 2024<br />
|[[Bad Lies, Good People]]<br />
|[[Jezzara]]. [[Auranar]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Sunlight Revelation]]<br />
|[[Schara]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Warrick]], DM: [[Riptide]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 16, 2024<br />
|[[Gratitude]]<br />
|[[Cuemoni]], [[Zeke]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 17, 2024<br />
|[[A Prelude To Revelry]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was - I]]<br />
| [[Harkashan]], [[Simony]], [[Rune]], [[Aryia]], [[Zeke]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 19, 2024<br />
|[[A Storied Working Lunch]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Magpie]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Daily Affirmation]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Verna]], Grandfather (Alud'rigan) '''GM:''' [[Riptide]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Suspicious Stalker (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Corey]], [[Magpie]], [[Simony]]; '''GM:''' Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Into The Temple - Part 5]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Silmeria]], '''GM''': Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|September 20, 2024<br />
|[[Pastries and Purchases]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 21, 2024<br />
|[[If You Love Me]]<br />
|[[Aragos]], [[Gramarye]] - Grandfather (Alud'rigan)<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Pretty in Pink]]<br />
|[[Eztli]], [[Simony]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 22, 2024<br />
|[[Sunlight Revelation Part 2]]<br />
|[[Schara]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Warrick]], DM: [[Riptide]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 23, 2024<br />
|[[Suspicious Stalker (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Corey]], [[Magpie]], [[Simony]]; '''GM:''' Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|September 24, 2024<br />
|[[Gnawing on Metal]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Rhar]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Shiny Hunt]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Auranar]], [[Rune]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 26, 2024<br />
|[[Hunter's Quarry Part 1]]<br />
|[[Reithak]], [[Carver]], [[Warrick]], DM:[[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 27, 2024<br />
|[[Return of the Orchard Artificer]]<br />
|[[Schara]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Warrick]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 29, 2024<br />
|[[Hunter's Quarry Part 2]]<br />
|[[Reithak]], [[Carver]], [[Warrick]], DM:[[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 29, 2024<br />
|[[Wrench in the Works]]<br />
|[[Crik]], [[Ulthan]], DM:[[Culix]]<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
===October===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|October 1, 2024<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]; '''GM''': Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|October 6, 2024<br />
|[[Connect the Dots (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Corey]], [[Magpie]], [[Telamon]]; '''GM''': Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|October 8, 2024<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 3)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]; '''GM''': Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|October 10, 2024<br />
|[[Connect the Dots (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Corey]], [[Magpie]], [[Telamon]]; '''GM''': Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Into the Temple - Part 6]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Silmeria]], '''GM''': Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|October 12, 2024<br />
|[[Home is Where the Truth is]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|October 14, 2024<br />
|[[Connect the Dots (Part 3)]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Corey]], [[Magpie]], [[Telamon]]; '''GM''': Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|October 15, 2024<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 4)]]<br />
|[[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]; '''GM''': Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|October 17, 2024<br />
|[[Into the Temple - Part 7]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Silmeria]], '''GM''': Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[A New Face in the TarRaCe]]<br />
|[[Fayde]], [[Murder]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|October 18, 2024<br />
|[[Little Children]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]]; '''GM''': Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|October 21, 2024<br />
|[[Connect the Dots (Part 4)]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Corey]], [[Magpie]], [[Telamon]]; '''GM''': Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Heir to the Throne - Retake Urah]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Fidget]], [[Zofija]]; '''GM''': Harkashan<br />
|-<br />
|October 22, 2024<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 5)]]<br />
|[[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]; '''GM''': Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|October 23, 2024<br />
|[[Her Biggest Fan (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Dirk]], [[Karasu]], [[Murder]]; DM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|October 24, 2024<br />
|[[Into the Temple - Part 8]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Silmeria]], '''GM''': Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[The Fiend Defeated]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|October 28, 2024<br />
|[[Foxes and Ravens]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]]<br />
|-<br />
|October 29, 2024<br />
|[[Apples of Forgivness]]<br />
|[[Schara]], [[Verna]], [[Zeke]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 6)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]; '''GM''': Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|October 30, 2024<br />
|[[Her Biggest Fan (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Dirk]], [[Karasu]], [[Murder]]; DM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|October 31, 2024<br />
|[[Reunite Once Again]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Into the Temple - Part 9]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Silmeria]], '''GM''': Whirlpool<br />
|}<br />
<br />
<br />
===November===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|November 1, 2024<br />
|[[Caanan Returns]]<br />
|[[Murder]], [[Carver]], [[Schara]], [[Telamon]] (as emitter)<br />
|-<br />
|November 2, 2024<br />
|[[Ravenkeeper's Tidings]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|November 4, 2024<br />
|[[Talking Work Shop]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Schara]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|November 4, 2024<br />
|[[Heir to the Throne - (Re)take Urah]]<br />
|[[Fidget]], [[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Warrick]], [[Zofija]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Her Biggest Fan (Part 3)]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Dirk]], [[Karasu]], [[Murder]]; DM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|November 5, 2024<br />
|[[Posted Notice (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Crik]], [[Schara]], [[Bryn]], [[Ulthan]]; DM: [[Carver]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 7)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]; '''GM''': Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|November 6, 2024<br />
|[[Into the Temple - Part 10]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Harkashan]], [[Eztli]], [[Bryn]], [[Silmeria]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Carver]]; '''GM''': Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|November 11, 2024<br />
|[[Her Biggest Fan (Part 4)]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Dirk]], [[Karasu]], [[Murder]]; DM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|- <br />
|<br />
|[[Posted Notice (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Crik]], [[Schara]], [[Ulthan]]; DM: [[Carver]]<br />
|-<br />
|November 12, 2024<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 8)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]; '''GM''': Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|November 14, 2024<br />
|[[Into the Temple - Part 11]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Harkashan]], [[Eztli]], [[Silmeria]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Carver]]; '''GM''': Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|November 15, 2024<br />
|[[Becoming a Teacher]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|November 16, 2024<br />
|[[Apple Daredevils]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Cuemoni]], [[Culix]], [[Eztli]], [[Irshya]], [[Zeke]]<br />
|-<br />
|November 17, 2024<br />
|[[A Bottle of Dust]]<br />
|[[Zeke]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Winter Strawberries]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Gramarye]], [[Khepri]]; '''GM''': Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|November 18, 2024<br />
|[[Her Biggest Fan (Part 5)]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Dirk]], [[Karasu]], [[Murder]]; DM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|November 19, 2024<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 9)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]; '''GM''': Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|November 20, 2024<br />
|[[Into the Temple - Part 12]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Harkashan]], [[Eztli]], [[Silmeria]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Carver]]; '''GM''': Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|November 22, 2024<br />
|[[Welcome Tarsh]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Tarsh]], [[Zeke]]<br />
|-<br />
|November 24, 2024<br />
|[[All Hands]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Tarsh]], [[Ulthan]]; '''GM''': Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Silent Sanitorium - Part 4]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Harkashan]], [[MAC-B1G]], [[Rune]]; DM: [[Culix]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Meetings and Clans]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Murder]], [[Tarsh]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Familiar Faces]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Khepri]], [[Gramarye]]. [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|November 26, 2024<br />
|[[Setting the Stage]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Eztli]], [[Warrick]], [[Murder]], [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|November 27, 2024<br />
|[[A Misplaced Case]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Lani'kua]], [[Menel]]; '''GM''': Telamon<br />
|-<br />
|November 28, 2024<br />
|[[A Lucky Meeting]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Schara]]<br />
|-<br />
|November 29, 2024<br />
|[[Harvest Dance]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Auranar]], [[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Eztli]], [[Murder]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Slixvah]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[It's Probably Pirates - Part 1]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Warrick]], [[Zelany]]; '''GM''': [[Culix]]<br />
|-<br />
|November 28, 2024<br />
|[[Cruel Fear]]<br />
|[[Lani'kua]], [[Menel]]<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
<br />
===December===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|December 1, 2024<br />
|[[Captain Repairioum]]<br />
|[[Warrick]], [[Bryn]], [[Carver]]<br />
|-<br />
|December 2, 2024<br />
|[[Waylaid Delivery]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Carver]], [[Gramarye]], [[Tlanexhuani]]; '''GM''': Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|December 3, 2024<br />
|[[Barding for Bardlings]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Carver]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Blood, Sand, Water, and Booze]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Bryn]]<br />
|-<br />
|December 03, 2024<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 10)]]<br />
|[[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]; '''GM''': Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|December 4, 2024<br />
|[[The Setting For Questioning]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Tlanexhuani]], [[Zeke]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[A Serpentine Catch]]<br />
|[[Irshya]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|December 5, 2024<br />
|[[First Snow Day]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|December 7, 2024<br />
|[[Day Three]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Verna]], Alud'rigan<br />
|-<br />
|December 8, 2024<br />
|[[Seven]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Tidings of the Dolls]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|December 9, 2024<br />
|[[Fashion, Fangs, and Fiends]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Irshya]]<br />
|-<br />
|December 12, 2024<br />
|[[Little Demontry]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Dirk]], [[Eztli]], [[Murder]]<br />
|-<br />
|December 13, 2024<br />
|[[It's Probably Pirates - Part 2]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Zelany]], [[Warrick]], DM: [[Culix]]<br />
|-<br />
|December 14, 2024<br />
|[[MEETUP: Sauna Day!]]<br />
|[[Mikilos]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Irshya]], [[Carver]], [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|December 15, 2024<br />
|[[Calling on Cerberus]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Khepri]], [[Tlanexhuani]]; '''GM''': Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Bandit Season]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Mikilos]], [[Tlanexhuani]]; '''GM''': Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|December 16, 2024<br />
|[[Mount Freeze Massacre]]<br />
|[[Warrick]], [[Simony]], [[Carver]], [[Bryn]]<br />
|-<br />
|}</div>Aryiahttp://www.tenebraemush.net/index.php?title=Aryia&diff=43969Aryia2024-12-16T21:12:13Z<p>Aryia: </p>
<hr />
<div><!-- HEADER BAR, replace #957d9b with the color of your choice --><br />
<div style="position:relative; top:0px; height: 50px; width: 875px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; background-image: linear-gradient(to right, #12674a, transparent);"><br />
<p style="color: black; font-size: 220%; padding-left: 20px; font-weight: light; font-family: Constantia;"><br />
<!-- CHARACTER NAME in header bar, replace with your character's name --><br />
''Aryia''<br />
<!-- END OF CHARACTER NAME --><br />
</p></div><br />
<br />
<div style="width: 875px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><br />
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<p style="color: #12674a; font-size: 180%; font-weight: bold; font-family: Constantia;">''Physical Description''</p><br />
<br />
<!-- INFOBOX --><br />
{| class="infobox" style="float:right; border:0px solid; margin: 5px; background-image: linear-gradient(to right, #12674a, transparent); background-origin: border-box; border-spacing: 2px; border: 2px solid transparent; "<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="3" | [[Image:Aryia.jpg|300px|Aryia in a green jacket, glaring at the viewer. Created by Bing AI Image Generator.]] <br />
|-<br />
! colspan="3" style="border-bottom:2px solid; background:white;"| Character Details<br />
|-<br />
| style="text-align:right; background:white;" | '''Race:'''<br />
| style="background:white;" | [[Mul'niessa]]<br />
|-<br />
| style="text-align:right; background:white;" | '''Class/Level:'''<br />
| style="background:white;" | Monk (20)<br />
|-<br />
| style="text-align:right; background:white;" | '''Gender:'''<br />
| style="background:white;" | Female<br />
|-<br />
| style="text-align:right; background:white;" | '''Deity:'''<br />
| style="background:white;" | None<br />
|-<br />
| style="text-align:right; background:white;" | '''Alignment:'''<br />
| style="background:white;" | Lawful Neutral<br />
|-<br />
| style="text-align:right; background:white;" | '''Age:'''<br />
| style="background:white;" | 112 lived, 101 naturally<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<!-- END OF INFOBOX --><br />
<br />
<!-- PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION TEXT --><br />
This mul woman holds an unnerving and menacing presence, as it’s clear that she needs no weapon nor magic to rend anything asunder. Lithe and muscular, her entire body screams that she is a walking weapon, even despite the fact her stature barely comes up to the shoulder on most.<br />
<br />
Scars from countless trials line nearly every inch of exposed dim gray flesh. Underneath the hardened veneer belies youth for an elf, yet the steel in her glowing milky eyes and marrings upon her skin age her in more than just time. Half-shaved, moon hued hair that wafts over her right shoulder makes it easy to spot a deeper-than-skin scar that runs jagged across the front of her throat.<br />
<br />
Silver trimmed black pants and a sleeveless black shirt expose glowing runed leather cords that wrap from shoulder to wrist against taut muscles. A silver pockmarked medallion dangles from her neck, matching the wide, silver framed shades that rests on her nose. A verdant buckle jacket sits shoulder robed, somehow always staying in place, as the silver chain clasp on it doesn’t seem to be doing much work.<br />
<!-- END OF PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION TEXT --><br />
<br />
<p style="color: #12674a; font-size: 180%; font-weight: bold; font-family: Constantia;">''About''</p><br />
<br />
A heavily scarred mul'neissa woman that works the Alexandrian docks, who tends to speak more with her fists than any words she could write down. She arrived to Alexandria to escape the clutches of Charn, yet keeps finding such atrocities creeping back up on her. Thrust into the adventuring life, she tends to see most with open suspicion lest they are vetted by those she's come to trust. She has also taken up the role of coach of a newfounded team in the Colosseum called The Crucible!<br />
<br />
<!-- ROLEPLAY HOOKS HEADING TEXT, replace #957d9b with the color of your choice --><br />
<p style="color: #12674a; font-size: 180%; font-weight: bold; font-family: Constantia;">''Roleplay Hooks''</p><br />
<!-- ROLEPLAY HOOKS --><br />
<br />
* '''Dock Hand:''' Aryia tends to work the ships that come to and fro from the ports, having been a sailor after her escape for some time.<br />
* '''Runaway:''' Fleeing from the underbelly of Charn has its own problems that constantly arise.<br />
* '''Pugilist:''' Aryia talks with her fists often, her training consisting of an unorthodox mishmash of various mentors, desperation, and grit. Not quite a proper monk, but close enough to get the gist of it.<br />
* '''Seamstress:''' From jackets to cloaks, to wedding dresses and suits, if one needs clothes, she can make it, and make it well. Just... don't get her for a last minute formal wear.<br />
* '''Colosseum Coach:''' Aryia's efforts of training fighters and pugilists in Alexandria's Colosseum has earned her a spot as one of the coaches for tournaments.<br />
<!-- END OF ROLEPLAY HOOKS --><br />
<br />
<p style="color: #12674a; font-size: 180%; font-weight: bold; font-family: Constantia;">''Punch-it List''</p><br />
<br />
Aryia has a non-exhaustive list of things she wants to slug and get away with. This includes but is in no way limited to:<br />
<br />
* A dragon<br />
* A leader figure - Done, just need to get away.<br />
* <s>A kaiju</s><br />
* <s>An angel</s><br />
* <s>A demon</s><br />
* <s>A devil</s><br />
* <s>An army</s><br />
* <s>A massive monster</s><br />
<br />
<p style="color: #12674a; font-size: 180%; font-weight: bold; font-family: Constantia;">''Ki Powers and Style Strikes''</p><br />
<br />
Aryia has an extensive list of abilities that focus on defense and maneuverability:<br />
<br />
Ki Powers:<br />
<br />
* Deny Death<br />
* Barkskin<br />
* Diamond Mind<br />
* Water Sprint<br />
* Abundant Step<br />
* Restoration<br />
* Diamond Resilience<br />
* Diamond Soul<br />
* Quivering Palm<br />
<br />
Style Strike:<br />
<br />
* Defensive Spin<br />
* Flying Kick<br />
* Shattering Punch<br />
* Spin Kick<br />
<br />
</div><br />
<br />
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<div style="width: 775px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 20px;"><br />
<br />
{{Badge}}<br />
{{Badge-Icon|Monk.png}} <br />
{{Badge-Content}}<br />
{{Badge-Title|Monk PC Badge}}<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Honed Weapon}} Aryia fights solely with her body, and focuses on enduring even the worst of blows.<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Structured Dogma}} Various meditation methods, philosophies, and training routines keep her mind and body in check.<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Monastic Order}} Belonging to no order, Aryia's discipline is standoffish. But results speak for themselves.<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Ki Powers}} Typically manifesting as moonlit energies, Aryia's ki powers focus more on endurance and mobility. Hardening skin and body, negating magic, defying death, and short range teleporting.<br />
{{Badge-End}} <br />
<br />
{{Badge}}<br />
{{Badge-Icon|Darkelf02.jpg}} <br />
{{Badge-Content}}<br />
{{Badge-Title|Mul'niessa PC Badge}}<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Full Name}} Aryia Zilstrae Aelduis<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Role}} A fisticuffs brawler that doesn't mind going head first into a scrap.<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Faith}} None. "I threw myself before any and every god during my most desperate times and all I got was silence."<br />
<br />
{{Badge-End}}<br />
<br />
{{Badge}}<br />
{{Badge-Icon|Flaws02.jpg}} <br />
{{Badge-Content}}<br />
{{Badge-Title|Flaws PC Badge}}<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Flaw}} Mute.<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Development}}Physical silence bestows it's own slew of problems. One that Aryia has no desire to get fixed any time soon.<br />
<br />
{{Badge-End}}<br />
<br />
{{Badge}}<br />
{{Badge-Icon|Aspect02.jpg}} <br />
{{Badge-Content}}<br />
{{Badge-Title|Aspect PC Badge}}<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Aspect}}Sun-Touched<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Tier}}Tier 3 + Major Tattoos<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Development}} Odd it is that a mul'neissa is aligned with the moonlight, yet still retains their touch of shadows. Either the coin landed on its side on the flip, or something else manifests. The tattoo manifest as moon hued lines of light across her body when the Aspect is used or Ki abilities are tapped. This aspect is highly apparent when using her mythic abilities, as skin turns onyx and scars crack into marble and shine.<br />
{{Badge-End}}<br />
<br />
{{Badge}}<br />
{{Badge-Icon|Influence01.jpg}} <br />
{{Badge-Content}}<br />
{{Badge-Title|(RPP) Influence PC Badge}}<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Tier}} Tier 3<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Major Spheres}} The Colosseum.<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Minor Spheres}} None yet.<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Rival}} Ubaki - a half-oruch Korite monk that has grown frustrated at their plateau. Now upon seeing Aryia's success, they've sworn to surpass the mul'neissan coach.<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Apprentice}} None yet.<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Other Landmarks}} Being a popular coach in The Colosseum without revering Angoron and Kor is strange and noteworthy for tournament goers.<br />
{{Badge-End}}<br />
<br />
{{Badge}}<br />
{{Badge-Icon|Mythic20.png}} <br />
{{Badge-Content}}<br />
{{Badge-Title|Mythic Paths PC Badge}}<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Tier}} Tier 8<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Progression}} Epic Rise: d10, Ki-Healing, Extinguishment of Pain, Feats: Wall Run, Aerial Assault<br />
{{Badge-Entry|Development}} Playing cards with a god, fighting demonic kaiju, delving into time loops, being wreathed in otherworldly energy, and being overall bull headed has manifested itself to a point where her physical prowess has a higher apex than previously thought possible. Aryia possesses the ability to force her tenacity into the material, able to shove life into wounds and unlife.<br />
{{Badge-End}}<br />
<!-- END OF BADGE AREA --><br />
</div><br />
<br />
<!-- FOOTER BAR, replace #957d9b with the color of your choice --><br />
<div style="position:relative; top:0px; height: 50px; width: 875px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; background-image: linear-gradient(to left, #12674a, transparent);"><br />
<p style="color: black; font-size: 220%; text-align: right; padding-right: 20px; font-weight: light; font-family: Constantia;"><br />
<!-- FOOTER TEXT, replace with a character quote or something snazzy --><br />
''"F*** off, I'm punching rocks."''<br />
<!-- END OF FOOTER TEXT --><br />
</p></div><br />
<br />
[[Category:Monk]]<br />
[[Category:Mul'niessa]]<br />
[[Category:Player]]</div>Aryiahttp://www.tenebraemush.net/index.php?title=Recent_Logs&diff=43968Recent Logs2024-12-16T21:11:25Z<p>Aryia: /* December */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{AboutLogs}}<br />
<br />
'''[[Archived_Logs|For 2023 and earlier, see the Archives]]'''<br />
<br />
==2024 Logs==<br />
===January===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|January 1, 2024<br />
|[[New Face in Town]]<br />
|[[Kadlin]], [[Murder]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[What is in a Name]]<br />
|[[Khepri]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Triangulating Assumptions]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Eztli]], [[Dirk]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Magic and Archmages]]<br />
|[[Aragos]], [[Kadlin]], [[Mikilos]], [[Murder]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 2, 2024<br />
|[[In Search of a Forge]]<br />
|[[Kadlin]], [[Harshad]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Tales of Redemption and Grief]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Seldan]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 5, 2024<br />
|[[Song and Holy Violence]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Aryia]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 8, 2024<br />
|[[An Ask of Mental Fortitude]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Leirune|Rune]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Axochitl's Aid]]<br />
|[[Seldan]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 9, 2024<br />
|[[Snowballs in the Gardens]]<br />
|[[Acedia]], [[Eztli]], [[Mikilos]], [[Ness]], [[Ous]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 10, 2024<br />
|[[A Meeting In The Wintry Woods]]<br />
|[[Acedia]], [[Kadlin]], [[Munch]], [[Seldan]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 11, 2024<br />
|[[Shenanigans on Ice]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Irshya]], [[Slixvah]], [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Raiders of the Lost Tomb, Part 2]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Fidget]], [[Slixvah]], [[Irshya]], [[Aimarra]], [[Carver]], GM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 14, 2024<br />
|[[Phantom Thieves - The Heist]]<br />
|[[Crik]], [[Reithak]], [[Warrick]], [[Merith]], [[Thoth]], GM: [[Fidget]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Testing Synonie]]<br />
|[[Seldan]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 15, 2024<br />
|[[Raiders of the Lost Tomb Part 3]]<br />
|[[Aimarra]], [[Slixvah]], [[Irshya]], [[Carver]], [[Fidget]], [[Aelwyn]] ('''DM:''' Telamon)<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Chronolark - Part 1]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Aznara]], [[Reithak]], [[Tlanexhuani]], ('''DM:''' Whirlpool)<br />
|-<br />
|January 18, 2024<br />
|[[Workouts and Distractions]]<br />
|[[Choler]], [[Thurid]], [[Eztli]], [[Slixvah]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 19, 2024<br />
|[[World Peace and Hunky Boys]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Dolan]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 21, 2024<br />
|[[Quarry Quarrel, Part 1]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Crik]], [[Khepri]], [[Reithak]], GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 22, 2024<br />
|[[Chronolark - Part 2]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Aznara]], [[Reithak]], [[Tlanexhuani]], GM: [[Whirlpool]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 23, 2024<br />
|[[Prisoner Transfer - Part 1]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Magpie]], GM: [[Whirlpool]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 25, 2024<br />
|[[Silencing the Unloved King]]<br />
|[[Seldan]], [[Dirk]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 27, 2024<br />
|[[Forgotten Blood Finale - Beneath]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Culix]], [[Schara]] GM: [[Harkashan]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 28, 2024<br />
|[[Phantom Thieves - The Heist Pt2]]<br />
|[[Crik]], [[Reithak]], [[Warrick]], [[Merith]], [[Thoth]], GM: [[Fidget]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 29, 2024<br />
|[[Raiders of the Lost Tomb Part 4]]<br />
|[[Aimarra]], [[Slixvah]], [[Irshya]], [[Carver]], [[Fidget]], [[Aelwyn]] ('''DM:''' Telamon)<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Wraps and Hiccups]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Chronolark - Part 3]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Tlanexhuani]], [[Reithak]], [[Aznara]] ('''DM:''' Whirlpool)<br />
|-<br />
|January 30, 2024<br />
|[[Prisoner Transfer - Part 2]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Magpie]], GM: [[Whirlpool]]<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
===February===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|February 1, 2024<br />
|[[Cat Scratch Chills]]<br />
|[[Reithak]], [[Simony]], [[Teppus]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 2, 2024<br />
|[[Raiders of the Lost Tomb Part 5]]<br />
|[[Aimarra]], [[Slixvah]], [[Irshya]], [[Carver]], [[Aelwyn]] ('''DM:''' Telamon)<br />
|-<br />
|February 4, 2024<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Seldan]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 5, 2024<br />
|[[Answers in Amantli (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Cuemoni]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Chronolark - Part 4]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Tlanexhuani]], [[Reithak]] ('''DM:''' Whirlpool)<br />
|-<br />
|February 6, 2024<br />
|[[Prisoner Transfer - Part 3]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Magpie]], GM: [[Whirlpool]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 7, 2024<br />
|[[Mushrooms and Man Left Behind]]<br />
|[[Culix]], [[Irshya]], [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 11, 2024<br />
|[[Quarry Quarrel, Part 2]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Reithak]], [[Crik]], [[Khepri]], GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Cultivating Humility]]<br />
|[[Alfrik]], [[Munch]], [[Murder]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Seldan]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 12, 2024<br />
|[[Chronolark - Part 5]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Tlanexhuani]], [[Reithak]] ('''DM:''' Whirlpool)<br />
|-<br />
|February 13, 2024<br />
|[[Sound Mind]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Harkashan]], [[Simony]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Answers in Amantli (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Cuemoni]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 14, 2024<br />
|[[Fire birds and sharp sticks]]<br />
|[[Crik]], [[Eztli]], [[Rhar]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Simony's Haven]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 15, 2024<br />
|[[Cold Winter Encounters]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 16, 2024<br />
|[[Summoning Aid]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 18, 2024<br />
|[[The show must drag on]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Culix]], [[Eztli]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 18, 2024<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 3)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Seldan]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Quarry Quarrel Part 3]]<br />
|[[Khepri]], [[Thoth]], [[Reithak]], [[Crik]], GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 19, 2024<br />
|[[Temple District Ruminations]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Simony]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[The Weight of Responsibility]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Chronolark - Part 6]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Tlanexhuani]], [[Reithak]], [[Aznara]] ('''DM:''' Whirlpool)<br />
|-<br />
|February 20, 2024<br />
|[[Dead Men]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Harkashan]], [[Simony]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[A Single Nail]]<br />
|[[SImony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 22, 2024<br />
|[[Creation of Ash]]<br />
|[[Cuemoni]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 23, 2024<br />
|[[Expect the Unexpected]]<br />
|[[Harkashan]], [[Simony]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[To Stalk The Fiend]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 25, 2024<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 4)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Seldan]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 26, 2024<br />
|[[Serpentine Showing]]<br />
|[[Alfrik]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 28, 2024<br />
|[[Ten Year Step]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Alfrik]], [[Auranar]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Forgotten Blood Finale - Assassins]]<br />
|[[Reithak]], [[Crik]], [[Aznara]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 29, 2024<br />
|[[Make Cookies Not War]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Demand a Favor]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Golfbag of Glaives]]<br />
|[[Verna]], [[Culix]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Alfrik]]<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
===March===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|March 1, 2024<br />
|[[Releasing the Hounds]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 3, 2024<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 5)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Seldan]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Personal Hero]]<br />
|[[Harkashan]], [[Rune]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 4, 2024<br />
|[[Chronolark - Part 8]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Aznara]], [[Reithak]], [[Tlanexhuani]], ('''DM:''' Whirlpool)<br />
|-<br />
|March 5, 2024<br />
|[[Golden Coast Cruise]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Slixvah]], [[Simony]], [[Tlanexhuani]], [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 6, 2024<br />
|[[Unlock, Unbind, Hide]]<br />
|[[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Leirune|Rune]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Body Guard]]<br />
|[[Alfrik]], [[Harshad]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 9, 2024<br />
|[[Adventure's End?]]<br />
|[[Acedia]], [[Seldan]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 10, 2024<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 6)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Seldan]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 11, 2024<br />
|[[Facing Another Trial]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Harkashan]], [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 12, 2024<br />
|[[Chronolark - Part 9]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Reithak]], [[Tlanexhuani]], ('''DM:''' Whirlpool)<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[You Won't Be Alone]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Slixvah]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 14, 2024<br />
|[[To the Victor Go the Spoils]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]; DM: [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 15, 2024<br />
|[[Forearmed is Forwarned]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Warrick]], [[Schara]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[The Eve Before Death]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Harkashan]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 17, 2024<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 7): The Poetry Corner]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Seldan]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]]; DM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|March 18, 2024<br />
|[[A Golden Ending (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Slixvah]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 19, 2024<br />
|[[A Morning At The Ox]]<br />
|[[Harshad]], [[Murder]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 20, 2024<br />
|[[Fantasy Gladiator League]]<br />
|[[Irshya]], [[Slixvah]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Aspiring Aspire-ations ]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Faranmidahn]], [[Irshya]] DM: [[Whirlpool]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 23, 2024<br />
|[[Go Home History You're Drunk]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Crik]], [[Mikilos]], [[Reithak]], DM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|March 24, 2024<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 8)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Seldan]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]]; DM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|March 25, 2024<br />
|[[A Golden Ending (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Slixvah]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 26, 2024<br />
|[[To Find a Mourner (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Auranar]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]; DM: Verna<br />
|-<br />
|March 27, 2024<br />
|[[Aspiring Aspire-ations, Pt2]]<br />
|[[Fidget]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Irshya]], [[Faranmidahn]]; DM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|March 31, 2024<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 9)]]<br />
|[[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Seldan]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]]; DM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
<br />
===April===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|April 1, 2024<br />
|[[A Golden Ending (Part 3)]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Slixvah]], [[Telamon]]; DM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|April 2, 2024<br />
|[[Aspiring Aspire-ations, Pt3]]<br />
|[[Fidget]], [[Irshya]], [[Etzli]], [[Aelwyn]]; GM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|April 3, 2024<br />
|[[Welcome Warden]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Murder]], [[Rhar]], [[Leirune|Rune]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 5, 2024<br />
|[[Cover Letter]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Slixvah]], [[Eztli]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Noodles and Sake]]<br />
|[[Choler]], [[Harshad]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 8, 2024<br />
|[[Frozen Veins]]<br />
|[[Aragos]], [[Harshad]], [[Palomas]], [[Reithak]], [[Quinn]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 10, 2024<br />
|[[Stop Me if You Have Heard This One]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Irshya]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 11, 2024<br />
|[[A Courier for a Page]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], Npcs: [[Slixvah]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 12, 2024<br />
|[[Needles And News]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Choler]], [[Eztli]], [[Slixvah]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 14, 2024<br />
|[[Three Assassins]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Reithak]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 10)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Seldan]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 15, 2024<br />
|[[A Golden Ending (Part 4)]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Slixvah]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 17, 2024<br />
|[[Aspiring Aspire-ations, Part 4]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Carver]], [[Eztli]], [[Faranmidahn]], [[Irshya]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 18, 2024<br />
|[[Repose in Two Forms]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[To Find a Mourner (Part 3)]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Auranar]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]] DM [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 20, 2024<br />
|[[Tears of Death]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Corey]], [[Rhar]], [[Rune]], [[Thoth]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 21, 2024<br />
|[[Whilst You Lay Dreaming]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 11)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Seldan]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]]; GM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|April 22, 2024<br />
|[[Birds of another Feather]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Reithak]], [[Sabina]], [[Xasany]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Revelation Raven]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Of Spring and Gardening]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 23, 2024<br />
|[[Cutscene: Sins of the Father]]<br />
|Caeles Miranore, Kiira Theran, Caeleil Miranore (NPCs by [[Leirune|Rune]] and [[Simony]])<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Return of the Bina]]<br />
|[[Slixvah]], [[Irshya]], [[Sabina]], [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[To Find a Mourner (Part 4)]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Auranar]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]; DM [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 24, 2024<br />
|[[Aspiring Aspire-ations, Part 5]]<br />
|[[Fidget]], [[Carver]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Faranmidahn]]; GM: [[Whirlpool]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 25, 2024<br />
|[[Hunting Urvis (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[MAC-B1G]], [[Leirune|Rune]]; DM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 27, 2024<br />
|[[Feel the Groove]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Eztli]], [[MAC-B1G]], [[Magpie]]; DM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|April 28, 2024<br />
|[[Morning in Goblintown]]<br />
|[[Harshad]], [[Choler]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 12)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Seldan]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]]; GM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|April 29, 2024<br />
|[[The Stage Is Set]]<br />
|[[Sabina]]; GM: Derecho<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Rider of Decisions]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]]; GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
<br />
===May===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|May 1, 2024<br />
|[[Silver Misses Snow]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Choler]], [[Corey]], [[Eztli]], [[Skielstregar]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Warnings on Deaf Ears]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Fidget]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 2, 2024<br />
|[[Hunting Urvis (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[MAC-B1G]], [[Leirune|Rune]]; DM: Telamon<br />
|-<br />
|May 3, 2024<br />
|[[Trade Off]]<br />
|[[Harshad]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 5, 2024<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 13)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Seldan]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]]; DM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|May 6, 2024<br />
|[[Maybe Fae-be]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 7, 2024<br />
|[[A Happy Dance]]<br />
|[[Karasu]], [[Ravenstongue]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[A Close Shave]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Simony]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[At Nothing We See]]<br />
|[[Choler]], [[Cuemoni]], [[Fidget]], [[Tlanexhuani]], [[Zeke]]; DM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|May 8, 2024<br />
|[[Fashion Shopping Preperusal ]]<br />
|[[Eztli]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Aryia]], [[Simony]], [[Aznara]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[To Find a Mourner (Part 5)]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Auranar]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]; DM [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 10, 2024<br />
|[[Piecing Together Me]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Corey]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Tlanexhuani]]; DM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|May 12, 2024<br />
|[[Hunting Urvis (Part 3)]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[MAC-B1G]], [[Leirune|Rune]]; DM: Telamon<br />
|-<br />
|May 14, 2024<br />
|[[A Fiend In Plain Sight]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 15, 2024<br />
|[[To Find a Mourner (Part 6)]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Auranar]], [[Harkashan]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]; DM [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 16, 2024<br />
|[[Fab Fabric and Fire]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Noodles and a Future Heist]]<br />
|[[Choler]], [[Harshad]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 18, 2024<br />
|[[Honey Do]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Magpie]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
| <br />
|[[Mothers and Patrons]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Harkashan]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 19, 2024<br />
|[[Hunting Urvis (Part 4)]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[MAC-B1G]], [[Leirune|Rune]]; DM: Telamon<br />
|-<br />
|May 20, 2024<br />
|[[We Are Seen]]<br />
|[[Cuemoni]], [[Fidget]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Tlanexhuani]], [[Zeke]]; DM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Rain and Bath House]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Leirune|Rune]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 21, 2024<br />
|[[Simpler Things]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 22, 2024<br />
|[[The Name-Stealer]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[The Final Spires, Part 1]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Fidget|NAME UNKNOWN]], [[Tlanexhuani]]; DM: Whirlpool<br />
|- <br />
|May 23, 2024<br />
|[[Never Even]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Slixvah]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[The Urvis Update]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[MAC-B1G]], [[Rune]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 24, 2024<br />
|[[Unpleasant News at the Noodle Stand]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Stained Glass Butterfly]]<br />
|[[Choler]], [[Harshad]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 26, 2024<br />
|[[Warning the Mislead]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Thoth]], Nameless ([[Fidget]])<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[To Find a Mourner (Part 7)]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Auranar]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 27, 2024<br />
|[[Changing Seasons and Hearts]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Aragos]], [[Eztli]]. [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 28, 2024<br />
|[[He Says]]<br />
|[[Sabina]], [[Thoth]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Whatamelons and Wanderers]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Irshya]], [[Sabina]], [[Slixvah]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Crimson to Show Off]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Aryia]], [[Irshya]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 30, 2024<br />
|[[The Final Spires, Part 2]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Fidget|NAME UNKNOWN]], [[Tlanexhuani]]; DM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[What Troubles Those in the Market]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Simony]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Slixvah]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 30, 2024<br />
|[[A Stealthy Inquest]]<br />
|[[Choler]], [[Harshad]]<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
<br />
===June===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|June 2, 2024<br />
|[[Noodles After The Heist]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Choler]], [[Harshad]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 4, 2024<br />
|[[He Says (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Sabina]], [[Thoth]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[What Makes A Cavalier Attitude?]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Zofija]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 5, 2024<br />
|[[Down the River]]<br />
|[[Skielstregar]], [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[The Final Spires, Part 3]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Fidget|NAME UNKNOWN]], [[Tlanexhuani]]; DM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[A Castle In My Dreams]]<br />
|[[Telamon]] (vignette)<br />
|-<br />
|June 7, 2024<br />
|[[Break the Mold]]<br />
|[[Aeson]], [[Eztli]], [[MAC-B1G]], [[Mikilos]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 8, 2024<br />
|[[Fictitious - I]] <br />
|[[Aragos]], [[Fidget|NAME UNKNOWN]] , [[Gramarye]], [[Lanier]], [[Vaera]]; DM: Thoth<br />
|-<br />
|June 9, 2024<br />
|[[To Find a Mourner (Part 8)]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Auranar]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]; DM: Verna<br />
|-<br />
|June 10, 2024<br />
|[[Bedtime Butterflies]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Eztli]], [[Lanier]]; DM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|June 12, 2024<br />
|[[The Castle on the Edge of Waking]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[The Final Spires, Part 4]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Fidget|NAME UNKNOWN]], [[Tlanexhuani]]; DM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|June 13, 2024<br />
|[[Forearmed is Forwarned Part 2]]<br />
|[[Warrick]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Schara]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 14, 2024<br />
|[[Grand Induction]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Culix]], [[Eztli]], [[Simony]], DM: [[Aryia]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Five Nightmares]]<br />
|[[Aeson]], [[Carver]], [[Eztli]], [[MAC-B1G]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 15, 2024<br />
|[[Five Nightmares (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Eztli]], [[MAC-B1G]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Dwarf Fortress: Deepest Depths - I]]<br />
|[[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Garden Lectures Under the Sun]]<br />
|[[Aeson]], [[Mikilos]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 16, 2024<br />
|[[To Find a Mourner (Part 9)]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Auranar]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 17, 2024<br />
|[[When you Wish Upon a Fish]]<br />
|[[Dirk]], [[Magpie]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 18, 2024<br />
|[[Wasted Years]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[He Says (Part 3)]]<br />
|[[Sabina]], [[Thoth]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 19, 2024<br />
|[[A Warriors Instinct]]<br />
|[[Aragos]], [[Gramarye]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Pillory Blues]]<br />
|[[Eztli]], [[Telamon]], [[Yazlo]], [[Zeke]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Ashes on the Ground]]<br />
|[[Gramarye]], [[Thoth]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 20, 2024<br />
|[[For A Few Potions More]]<br />
|[[Choler]], [[Cuemoni]], [[Warrick]]; GM: Telamon<br />
|-<br />
|June 21, 2024<br />
|[[Nonlinear Pie]]<br />
|[[Verna]], [[Auranar]], [[Aryia]], [[Eztli]], [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Forearmed is Forwarned Part 3]]<br />
|[[Warrick]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Schara]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 22, 2024<br />
|[[Best Boy]]<br />
|[[Crik]], [[Menel]], [[Zofija]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 23, 2024<br />
|[[A Warning Not A Gift]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Harshad]], NPC Sori - [[Karasu]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Dwarf Fortress: Deepest Depths - II]]<br />
|[[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], DM: [[Culix]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[One Thousand Cranes]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 24, 2024<br />
|[[The Price of Fish]]<br />
|[[Arzhela]], [[Crik]], [[Cuemoni]], [[Murder]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[The Weight of Expectations]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[He Says (Part 4)]]<br />
|[[Sabina]], [[Thoth]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 25, 2024<br />
|[[Full Day at the Baths]]<br />
|[[Slixvah]], [[Irshya]], [[Culix]], [[Leirune|Rune]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Upon the Koz-way]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Aryia]], [[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 26, 2024<br />
|[[The Final Spires, Part 5]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Carver]], [[Eztli]], [[Fidget|NAME UNKNOWN]]; DM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|June 27, 2024<br />
|[[Faphinae's Fanfare]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Simony]], [[Reithak]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Gearsmasher]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Corey]], [[Eztli]], [[MAC-B1G]], [[Skielstregar]]; guest star: [[Telamon]]; GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|June 28, 2024<br />
|[[Soul Food]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Aryia]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Fiends and Fae]]<br />
|[[Telamon]], [[Ravenstongue]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[The Never-ending Story]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Leirune|Rune]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 29, 2024<br />
|[[Game On!]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Eztli]], [[Karasu]], [[Leirune|Rune]] ;GM: [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 30, 2024<br />
|[[Fragile Like Trust]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[A Will to Kill]]<br />
|Faphinae & Sori [[Corey]], [[Karasu]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Silent Sanitorium]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Dirk]], [[Harkashan]], [[MAC-B1G]], [[Rune]]; DM: [[Culix]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|}<br />
<br />
<br />
===July===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|July 1, 2024<br />
|[[Hunting Lore in the Library]]<br />
|[[Alaric]], [[Simony]], [[Verna]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 2, 2024<br />
|[[Death Comes Another Day]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Unravel Their Riddles]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 3, 2024<br />
|[[Mist and Magic]]<br />
|[[Alaric]], [[Crik]], [[Murder]], [[Slixvah]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 4, 2024<br />
|[[A Lesson in Forgiveness]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 5, 2024<br />
|[[Silence in the Library]]<br />
|[[Harshad]], [[Menel]], [[Palomas]], [[Reithak]], [[Warrick]], [[Zigrun]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 6, 2024<br />
|[[Spelunking]]<br />
|[[Crik]], [[Cuemoni]], [[Harshad]], [[Menel]], [[Reithak]], [[Sjach]]; GM: [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 7, 2024<br />
|[[A Story Born of Hope]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 9, 2024<br />
|[[Sands through the Hourglass]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Culix]], [[Eztli]], [[Menel]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 10, 2024<br />
|[[Forlorn Moon (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]; GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[The Final Spires, Part 6]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Carver]], [[Eztli]], [[Fidget|NAME UNKNOWN]]; DM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
| [[Tornmawr Torpedo]]<br />
|[[Culix]], [[Aryia]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Bryn]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 11, 2024<br />
|[[Boogle Boogle]]<br />
|[[Aragos]], [[Thoth]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Forlorn Moon (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]; GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|July 12, 2024<br />
|[[Name Exchange ]]<br />
|[[Gramarye]], [[Thoth]]; GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|July 13, 2024<br />
|[[Moment of the Future]]<br />
|[[Gramarye]], [[Thoth]]; GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|July 14, 2024<br />
|[[Silent Sanitorium Part 2]]<br />
|[[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Aelwyn]], [[MAC-B1G]], Dirk, GM: Culix<br />
|-<br />
|July 15, 2024<br />
|[[Explosions and Slaying]]<br />
|[[Warrick]], [[Bryn]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Heir to the Throne - Beginning]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Cuemoni]], [[Harshad]], [[Menel]], [[Warrick]], [[Zofija]]; GM: Harkashan<br />
|-<br />
|July 19, 2024<br />
|[[Summer Days]]<br />
|[[Warrick]], [[Sjach]], [[Aznara]], DM: [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 21, 2024<br />
|[[Vagrant Tower - Void Engine 1]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Rune]], [[Eztli]], [[Iskandar]], [[Harkashan]], GM: Culix<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Following a Portent]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 22, 2024<br />
|[[Heir to the Throne: Trouble in Unbundun Part 1]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Crik]], [[Harshad]], [[Warrick]], [[Zofija]]; GM: Harkashan<br />
|-<br />
|July 23, 2024<br />
|[[Tales of Wrassling and Cages]]<br />
|[[Warrick]], [[Bryn]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Mountaineering Investigations]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Eztli]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Garak]], GM: [[Aryia]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 24, 2024<br />
|[[A Consecration]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Nameless|Fidget]], [[Carver]], [[Eztli]], [[Delilah]], [[Harkashan]], GM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|July 25, 2024<br />
|[[Turning Reputation into Charity]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 26, 2024<br />
|[[Can't Sleep]]<br />
|[[Nameless|Fidget]], [[Simony]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Craven Match]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Bryn]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Aurum Among Thieves]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Eztli]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 29, 2024<br />
|[[It's Easy Being Green]]<br />
|[[Bryn]]; NPC: Cynthia<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Heir to the Throne: Trouble in Unbundun Part 2]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Crik]], [[Warrick]], [[Zofija]]; GM: [[Harkashan]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 30, 2024<br />
|[[Mountaineering Explanations]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Garak]], [[Rune]], [[Slixvah]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 31, 2024<br />
|[[Paint Ponderings]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Skielstregar]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|}<br />
<br />
<br />
===August===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|August 04, 2024<br />
|[[Fair Pixie]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Vagrant Tower: Void Engine Part 2]]<br />
|[[Eztli]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Rune]], [[Harkashan]], [[Iskandar]], '''GM''': Culix<br />
|-<br />
|August 5, 2024<br />
|[[Heir to the Throne: Trouble in Unbundun Part 3]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Crik]], [[Harshad]], [[Warrick]], [[Zofija]], '''GM''': [[Harkashan]]<br />
|-<br />
|August 8, 2024<br />
|[[I Know the Pieces Fit]]<br />
|[[Warrick]], [[Crik]], [[Bryn]]<br />
|-<br />
|August 9, 2024<br />
|[[Litigation]]<br />
|[[Fidget]], [[Khepri]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|August 11, 2024<br />
|[[Silent Sanitorium - Part 3]]<br />
|[[Harkashan]], [[Dirk]], [[Rune]], [[Aelwyn]] '''GM''': [[Culix]]<br />
|-<br />
|August 18, 2024<br />
|[[On the Edge of Living]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|August 19, 2024<br />
|[[Heir to the Throne - Far Beneath Part 1]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Crik]], [[Harshad]], [[Warrick]], [[Zofija]], [[Stena]] '''GM''': [[Harkashan]]<br />
|-<br />
|August 20, 2024<br />
|[[Happiness in Knowledge]]<br />
|[[Aeson]], [[Eztli]], [[Ravenstongue]]<br />
|-<br />
|August 22, 2024<br />
|[[Death With a View]]<br />
|[[Aragos]], [[Khepri]], [[Nameless]], [[Slixvah]]<br />
|-<br />
|August 23, 2024<br />
|[[Toge Means Thorn]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Litigation (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Khepri]], [[Nameless]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Into The Temple - Part 1]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Silmeria]], '''GM''': Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|August 25, 2024<br />
|[[Dusk Blooming Vines]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Cuemoni]], [[Harshad]], [[Lani'kua]], [[Reithak]], [[Sjach]]; '''GM''': Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Apparently Heir]]<br />
|[[Aeson]], [[Eztli]]<br />
|-<br />
|August 26, 2024<br />
|[[Jiji Kiku]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|August 29, 2024<br />
|[[Into The Temple - Part 2]]<br />
| [[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Silmeria]], '''GM''': Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
===September===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|September 1, 2024<br />
|[[Delivery in the Dark]]<br />
|[[Cuemoni]], [[Reithak]], [[Ulthan]]; '''GM''': Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|September 2, 2024<br />
|[[Heir to the Throne - Far Beneath Part 2]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Crik]], [[Stena]], [[Warrick]], [[Zofija]]; ; '''GM''': [[Harkashan]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 4, 2024<br />
|[[Into The Temple - Part 3]]<br />
| [[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Silmeria]], '''GM''': Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|September 6, 2024<br />
|[[Dinner for Four and a Pothy]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 7, 2024<br />
|[[Whispers of Rebellion]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Corey]], with Ansir and Faphinae<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Plotting in the Gardens]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Vex]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Three Old Friends]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Corey]], [[Thoth]], [[Vex]], [[Victor]]; '''GM:''' Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|September 8, 2024<br />
|[[How a Queen is Made]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]]; '''GM:''' Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|September 9, 2024<br />
|[[A Friend for Magpie and Wizard]]<br />
|[[Magpie]], [[Corey]]; '''GM:''' Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|September 10, 2024<br />
|[[Fight for Us]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 11, 2024<br />
|[[Love in Every Moment]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[The Good, The Bad, and the Alchemy]]<br />
|[[Lani'kua]], [[Bryn]], and [[Vex]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 12, 2024<br />
|[[Into The Temple - Part 4]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Silmeria]], '''GM''': Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|September 13, 2024<br />
|[[Simony Signs Up]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 14, 2024<br />
|[[Everyone Needs a Hobby]]<br />
|[[Corey]] (and Faphinae), [[Karasu]], [[Rhar]]; '''GM''': Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|September 15, 2024<br />
|[[Bad Lies, Good People]]<br />
|[[Jezzara]]. [[Auranar]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Sunlight Revelation]]<br />
|[[Schara]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Warrick]], DM: [[Riptide]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 16, 2024<br />
|[[Gratitude]]<br />
|[[Cuemoni]], [[Zeke]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 17, 2024<br />
|[[A Prelude To Revelry]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was - I]]<br />
| [[Harkashan]], [[Simony]], [[Rune]], [[Aryia]], [[Zeke]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 19, 2024<br />
|[[A Storied Working Lunch]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Magpie]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Daily Affirmation]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Verna]], Grandfather (Alud'rigan) '''GM:''' [[Riptide]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Suspicious Stalker (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Corey]], [[Magpie]], [[Simony]]; '''GM:''' Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Into The Temple - Part 5]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Silmeria]], '''GM''': Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|September 20, 2024<br />
|[[Pastries and Purchases]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 21, 2024<br />
|[[If You Love Me]]<br />
|[[Aragos]], [[Gramarye]] - Grandfather (Alud'rigan)<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Pretty in Pink]]<br />
|[[Eztli]], [[Simony]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 22, 2024<br />
|[[Sunlight Revelation Part 2]]<br />
|[[Schara]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Warrick]], DM: [[Riptide]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 23, 2024<br />
|[[Suspicious Stalker (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Corey]], [[Magpie]], [[Simony]]; '''GM:''' Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|September 24, 2024<br />
|[[Gnawing on Metal]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Rhar]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Shiny Hunt]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Auranar]], [[Rune]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 26, 2024<br />
|[[Hunter's Quarry Part 1]]<br />
|[[Reithak]], [[Carver]], [[Warrick]], DM:[[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 27, 2024<br />
|[[Return of the Orchard Artificer]]<br />
|[[Schara]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Warrick]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 29, 2024<br />
|[[Hunter's Quarry Part 2]]<br />
|[[Reithak]], [[Carver]], [[Warrick]], DM:[[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 29, 2024<br />
|[[Wrench in the Works]]<br />
|[[Crik]], [[Ulthan]], DM:[[Culix]]<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
===October===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|October 1, 2024<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]; '''GM''': Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|October 6, 2024<br />
|[[Connect the Dots (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Corey]], [[Magpie]], [[Telamon]]; '''GM''': Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|October 8, 2024<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 3)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]; '''GM''': Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|October 10, 2024<br />
|[[Connect the Dots (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Corey]], [[Magpie]], [[Telamon]]; '''GM''': Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Into the Temple - Part 6]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Silmeria]], '''GM''': Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|October 12, 2024<br />
|[[Home is Where the Truth is]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|October 14, 2024<br />
|[[Connect the Dots (Part 3)]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Corey]], [[Magpie]], [[Telamon]]; '''GM''': Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|October 15, 2024<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 4)]]<br />
|[[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]; '''GM''': Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|October 17, 2024<br />
|[[Into the Temple - Part 7]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Silmeria]], '''GM''': Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[A New Face in the TarRaCe]]<br />
|[[Fayde]], [[Murder]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|October 18, 2024<br />
|[[Little Children]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]]; '''GM''': Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|October 21, 2024<br />
|[[Connect the Dots (Part 4)]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Corey]], [[Magpie]], [[Telamon]]; '''GM''': Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Heir to the Throne - Retake Urah]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Fidget]], [[Zofija]]; '''GM''': Harkashan<br />
|-<br />
|October 22, 2024<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 5)]]<br />
|[[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]; '''GM''': Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|October 23, 2024<br />
|[[Her Biggest Fan (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Dirk]], [[Karasu]], [[Murder]]; DM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|October 24, 2024<br />
|[[Into the Temple - Part 8]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Silmeria]], '''GM''': Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[The Fiend Defeated]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|October 28, 2024<br />
|[[Foxes and Ravens]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]]<br />
|-<br />
|October 29, 2024<br />
|[[Apples of Forgivness]]<br />
|[[Schara]], [[Verna]], [[Zeke]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 6)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]; '''GM''': Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|October 30, 2024<br />
|[[Her Biggest Fan (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Dirk]], [[Karasu]], [[Murder]]; DM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|October 31, 2024<br />
|[[Reunite Once Again]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Into the Temple - Part 9]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Silmeria]], '''GM''': Whirlpool<br />
|}<br />
<br />
<br />
===November===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|November 1, 2024<br />
|[[Caanan Returns]]<br />
|[[Murder]], [[Carver]], [[Schara]], [[Telamon]] (as emitter)<br />
|-<br />
|November 2, 2024<br />
|[[Ravenkeeper's Tidings]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|November 4, 2024<br />
|[[Talking Work Shop]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Schara]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|November 4, 2024<br />
|[[Heir to the Throne - (Re)take Urah]]<br />
|[[Fidget]], [[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Warrick]], [[Zofija]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Her Biggest Fan (Part 3)]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Dirk]], [[Karasu]], [[Murder]]; DM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|November 5, 2024<br />
|[[Posted Notice (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Crik]], [[Schara]], [[Bryn]], [[Ulthan]]; DM: [[Carver]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 7)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]; '''GM''': Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|November 6, 2024<br />
|[[Into the Temple - Part 10]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Harkashan]], [[Eztli]], [[Bryn]], [[Silmeria]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Carver]]; '''GM''': Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|November 11, 2024<br />
|[[Her Biggest Fan (Part 4)]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Dirk]], [[Karasu]], [[Murder]]; DM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|- <br />
|<br />
|[[Posted Notice (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Crik]], [[Schara]], [[Ulthan]]; DM: [[Carver]]<br />
|-<br />
|November 12, 2024<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 8)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]; '''GM''': Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|November 14, 2024<br />
|[[Into the Temple - Part 11]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Harkashan]], [[Eztli]], [[Silmeria]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Carver]]; '''GM''': Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|November 15, 2024<br />
|[[Becoming a Teacher]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|November 16, 2024<br />
|[[Apple Daredevils]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Cuemoni]], [[Culix]], [[Eztli]], [[Irshya]], [[Zeke]]<br />
|-<br />
|November 17, 2024<br />
|[[A Bottle of Dust]]<br />
|[[Zeke]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Winter Strawberries]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Gramarye]], [[Khepri]]; '''GM''': Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|November 18, 2024<br />
|[[Her Biggest Fan (Part 5)]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Dirk]], [[Karasu]], [[Murder]]; DM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|November 19, 2024<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 9)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]; '''GM''': Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|November 20, 2024<br />
|[[Into the Temple - Part 12]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Harkashan]], [[Eztli]], [[Silmeria]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Carver]]; '''GM''': Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|November 22, 2024<br />
|[[Welcome Tarsh]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Tarsh]], [[Zeke]]<br />
|-<br />
|November 24, 2024<br />
|[[All Hands]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Tarsh]], [[Ulthan]]; '''GM''': Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Silent Sanitorium - Part 4]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Harkashan]], [[MAC-B1G]], [[Rune]]; DM: [[Culix]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Meetings and Clans]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Murder]], [[Tarsh]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Familiar Faces]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Khepri]], [[Gramarye]]. [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|November 26, 2024<br />
|[[Setting the Stage]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Eztli]], [[Warrick]], [[Murder]], [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|November 27, 2024<br />
|[[A Misplaced Case]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Lani'kua]], [[Menel]]; '''GM''': Telamon<br />
|-<br />
|November 28, 2024<br />
|[[A Lucky Meeting]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Schara]]<br />
|-<br />
|November 29, 2024<br />
|[[Harvest Dance]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Auranar]], [[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Eztli]], [[Murder]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Slixvah]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[It's Probably Pirates - Part 1]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Warrick]], [[Zelany]]; '''GM''': [[Culix]]<br />
|-<br />
|November 28, 2024<br />
|[[Cruel Fear]]<br />
|[[Lani'kua]], [[Menel]]<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
<br />
===December===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|December 1, 2024<br />
|[[Captain Repairioum]]<br />
|[[Warrick]], [[Bryn]], [[Carver]]<br />
|-<br />
|December 2, 2024<br />
|[[Waylaid Delivery]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Carver]], [[Gramarye]], [[Tlanexhuani]]; '''GM''': Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|December 3, 2024<br />
|[[Barding for Bardlings]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Carver]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Blood, Sand, Water, and Booze]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Bryn]]<br />
|-<br />
|December 03, 2024<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 10)]]<br />
|[[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]; '''GM''': Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|December 4, 2024<br />
|[[The Setting For Questioning]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Tlanexhuani]], [[Zeke]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[A Serpentine Catch]]<br />
|[[Irshya]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|December 5, 2024<br />
|[[First Snow Day]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|December 7, 2024<br />
|[[Day Three]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Verna]], Alud'rigan<br />
|-<br />
|December 8, 2024<br />
|[[Seven]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Tidings of the Dolls]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|December 9, 2024<br />
|[[Fashion, Fangs, and Fiends]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Irshya]]<br />
|-<br />
|December 12, 2024<br />
|[[Little Demontry]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Dirk]], [[Eztli]], [[Murder]]<br />
|-<br />
|December 13, 2024<br />
|[[It's Probably Pirates - Part 2]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Zelany]], [[Warrick]], DM: [[Culix]]<br />
|-<br />
|December 14, 2024<br />
|[[MEETUP: Sauna Day!]]<br />
|[[Mikilos]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Irshya]], [[Carver]], [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|December 15, 2024<br />
|[[Calling on Cerberus]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Khepri]], [[Tlanexhuani]]; '''GM''': Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Bandit Season]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Mikilos]], [[Tlanexhuani]]; '''GM''': Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|December 16, 2024<br />
|[[Mount Freeze]]<br />
|[[Warrick]], [[Simony]], [[Carver]], [[Bryn]]<br />
|-<br />
|}</div>Aryiahttp://www.tenebraemush.net/index.php?title=It%27s_Probably_Pirates_-_Part_2&diff=43960It's Probably Pirates - Part 22024-12-13T23:24:14Z<p>Aryia: Created page with " GAME: Warrick rolls fortitude: (11)+6: 17 GAME: Bryn rolls fort: (13)+4: 17 GAME: Zelany rolls fortitude: (11)+4: 15 The captain of the Draugr longboat jumps overboard- unlike the other raiders, swimming towards the merchant vessel, he simply strides across the surface of the water kicking up spray as he crests the shallow doldrum waves. The thick green fog continues to billow from his mouth as he strides, obscuring him from sight as it crawls its way up the side of..."</p>
<hr />
<div> GAME: Warrick rolls fortitude: (11)+6: 17<br />
GAME: Bryn rolls fort: (13)+4: 17<br />
GAME: Zelany rolls fortitude: (11)+4: 15<br />
<br />
The captain of the Draugr longboat jumps overboard- unlike the other raiders, swimming towards the merchant vessel, he simply strides across the surface of the water kicking up spray as he crests the shallow doldrum waves. The thick green fog continues to billow from his mouth as he strides, obscuring him from sight as it crawls its way up the side of the taller merchant vessel and begins to roll across the deck. The party are caught in the edge of it, and their visibility is harshly cut back to just a few feet from them. Worse, the cloud stinks of rotten seaweed and waterlogged flesh. And it's peturnaturally cold, the sort of cold that bites to the bone and saps the strength. The party are able to fight through it, but the fog remains making it impossible to see the captain.<br />
<br />
GAME: Warrick rolls 1d100: (88): 88<br />
GAME: Warrick rolls weapon13+1: (16)+8+1: 25<br />
GAME: Warrick rolls damage13+1: aliased to 1d8+2+1: (4)+2+1: 7<br />
GAME: Culix rolls 1d100: (12): 12<br />
<br />
The Draugr on the deck, it seems, are not impervious to their captain's supernatural attack- though rotten and milky, it seems they still see, and as such the one facing off against Bryn swings his axe wide through the cloying fog and misses his mark, splintering the deck before dragging it out with a gurgle of effort.<br />
<br />
"Yes!" Warrick says quickly, parrying the axe that comes down towards him. "But you use magic and have no armor!" He ducks under a javelin, looking back where it lands- only to see the start of the flank. "Watch for pincer!" he barks out. But a green fog rolls over them, he coughs and hacks, just managing to slice into the undead pirate through the difficult fog.<br />
<br />
The arbalest slides back and out, tossing his crossbow to the deck with a clatter and thunk before sliding on a heavy shield. "Close ranks!"<br />
<br />
GAME: Zelany rolls 1d20+1+3+1: (4)+1+3+1: 9<br />
GAME: Bryn casts Gallant Inspiration. Caster Level: 5 DC: 15<br />
GAME: Zelany casts Disrupt Undead. Caster Level: 3 DC: 13<br />
GAME: Zelany rolls 2d4: (5): 5<br />
GAME: Zelany rolls 1d6: (3): 3<br />
GAME: Culix rolls 6: (18)+6: 24<br />
GAME: Culix rolls 1d6+3: (2)+3: 5<br />
GAME: Warrick rolls fortitude: (15)+6: 21<br />
<br />
The Gnome coughs and gags a little at the noxious cloud, and backpedals her way out of it. "GAH! Smells like my roommate's socks after they've been out hunting fungi from the swamps all week, and left them to dry on the radiator again!" She huffs out a breath through her nose to clear the remnants of the smell, and eyes the situation. "Get out of there, Bryn!"<br />
<br />
Leaning on her staff, Zelany extends a hand, and begins tracing precise movements in the air, whispering little snippets of arcane language that practically drips with doom and dread. A final shape drawn and a jab of her finger later, a beam of sickly green energy spears through the dragur coming up the opposite side of the ship, leaving a small hole and momentarily halting it with a jolt.<br />
<br />
"This is going to get dicey right quick!"<br />
<br />
GAME: Culix rolls 1d100: (95): 95<br />
<br />
As Warrick steps from the mist, the Raider follows suit stepping up out of the obscuring fog. He brings his shield up and with a yellow-toothed grimace he swings his barnacle encrusted handaxe at Warrick. The blow catches the guardsman just as he's drawing his own shield, and bites into the armor, crushing it against the flesh beneath. The stench is abhorent, but Warricks stomach does not enter open revolt just yet.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, one of the other raiders- the one which boarded the rear part of the ship, hauls itself towards the stairs leading down- to where the crew are. Sensing living flesh beyond.<br />
<br />
GAME: Bryn rolls 1d100: (3): 3<br />
GAME: Culix rolls 6+2: (3)+6+2: 11<br />
<br />
Bryn's head is whipping this way and that to try and keep tabs on all the un-drowned enemies. She steps back out of most of the fog to better follow and guard her allies. "Shite! Goin fer the crew, or the goods! Somebody go! I got this!" It isn't quite shouted, not entirely sung, but somewhere in between as she synchronizes it with the beat of her prior belting.<br />
<br />
It sounds inspiring! Assuring! Confident! Hopefully it still does after her swing with the small(er than she's used to) blade misses the one focused on Warrick.<br />
<br />
GAME: Culix rolls 3: (20)+3: 23<br />
<br />
The Draugr's flesh rapidly decays and drops off, revealing yellowed ribs where Zelany's bolt strikes true, and he brings his shield and axe up and barrels down towards her in retalliation. His wild swing is wide, though it almost catches the tip of her hat he fails to find his mark.<br />
<br />
The last remaining Draugr on the boat picks up a length of rope with a sturdy three pronged hook from the deck, swings it overhead, and then casts it towards the merchant vessel. It lands true, wrapping around a railing before biting into the wood of the deck and tying their vessels together.<br />
<br />
Finally, the captain steps out from the mist- eyes aglow with unholy rage as it steps up towards Bryn, hauling its oversized greataxe from its back. Warrick's bolt still protrudes from its throat, but that doesn't seem to deter him.<br />
<br />
GAME: Culix rolls 6: (7)+6: 13<br />
GAME: Warrick rolls acrobatics+1: (12)+5+1: 18<br />
<br />
Warrick grimaces as the axe digs into his armor, the metal groaning. He shoves the undead back with his shield, his helmet pivoting around just as fast as Bryn's head. "I got it!- Fuck- we're getting pinched! Fall back!" he shouts, rushing towards the railing and ducking under an errant blade.<br />
<br />
He gets up to the railing, keeping his speed. "Serriel I'm going to regret this--" And vaults! Landing with a crunch on the stairs before getting his stance back up with shield and sword. "Gah, my knees-- alright, come on you nasty son a bitch!"<br />
<br />
GAME: Culix rolls 6+2: (14)+6+2: 22<br />
GAME: Culix rolls 1d20: (6): 6<br />
GAME: Culix rolls 1d100: (25): 25<br />
GAME: Culix rolls 1d6+3: (2)+3: 5<br />
GAME: Bryn rolls fort: (6)+4: 10<br />
<br />
Bryn and Zelany find themselves growing increasingly surrounded against the railing of the ship, and the raiders take advantage of their advantagous positioning to close in and attack. One of them swings their axe for Bryn while she is distracted by its companion, and lands a blow in her flank. The creature lears close, it's rotting stench overpowering in such close proximity.<br />
<br />
GAME: Zelany rolls 1d20+3+3+4: (14)+3+3+4: 24<br />
GAME: Zelany casts Chill Touch. Caster Level: 3 DC: 14<br />
GAME: Zelany rolls melee+1: (11)+2+1: 14<br />
GAME: Zelany rolls melee+1: (13)+2+1: 16<br />
GAME: Zelany rolls melee+1: (9)+2+1: 12<br />
GAME: Culix rolls 3: (1)+3: 4 (EPIC FAIL)<br />
GAME: Culix rolls 3: (9)+3: 12<br />
GAME: Culix rolls 3: (19)+3: 22<br />
GAME: Zelany rolls 1d4+3: (4)+3: 7<br />
GAME: Zelany rolls weapon1: (9)+2: 11<br />
GAME: Culix rolls 6: (17)+6: 23<br />
GAME: Culix rolls 1d6+3: (4)+3: 7<br />
GAME: Warrick rolls fortitude: (1)+6: 7 (EPIC FAIL)<br />
GAME: Warrick rolls fortitude: (5)+6: 11<br />
<br />
Zel looks a little distraught as Warrick makes the call to retreat. A sensible plan... but.<br />
<br />
"I'm not running unless we all are." She eyes Bryn as the captain climbs up, and the draugr close in. Her nose wrinkles as a few are uncomfortably close, and she shudders.<br />
<br />
The Gnome straightens then, her resolve found, hugged and encouraged. Delicate fingers quickly trace out more arcane symbols as more arcane words are spoken. She ducks in low, smacking the three closest undead in quick succession. "BEGONE FOUL CREATURES!" She blinks in surprise as one quickly turns, and she attempts a feeble swing, with her staff, at it's back but whiffs. As a second one runs overboard, she eyes the captain. "You are hurt, and your crew abandons you. Best that you flee, and call this venture a wash."<br />
<br />
The Draugr making its way down the stairs suddenly finds its path blocked by Warrick. It doesn't seem to care about the man suddenly interposing himself in the way of its intended target, as any target is as good as the next. It swings at Warrick again, shouldering the man's shield aside and landing another solid blow with his boarding axe across the front of Warrick's chestplate.<br />
<br />
"Ha! Go get 'em!" Bryn cackles out an encouragement as she watches Warrick go. Despite her prior whiff, and taking another hit from the slimy, putrid, not-quite-dead thing, she's confident. She's an or- "Urrk. We got th-urrk." Ok, this is her first time on a ship. Also the first time facing off with ... wet dead things like this. The splatter from the last one probably didn't help, either, and she starts half-retching.<br />
<br />
Two of the Draugr turn tail and flee, their shields and axes clattering to the deck as they bolt directly away from Zelany. They barely pause at the railings, throwing themselves overboard and swimming away.<br />
<br />
GAME: Culix rolls 1d100: (19): 19<br />
<br />
The captain lets out a choked, gurgling laugh at Zelany's words and takes a step up. It stares at the little wizard for a moment, but then brings his axe up, swinging it for Bryn's neck as she wretches, like a headsman at the block. The Oruch feels a rush of wind next to her head before the greataxe crashes into the deck next to her and tears a gouge into the woodwork.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, the last of the raiders is hauling itself up onto the deck over the railing and closing in on Warrick.<br />
<br />
GAME: Warrick rolls weapon13+1: (18)+8+1: 27<br />
GAME: Warrick rolls damage13+1: aliased to 1d8+2+1: (7)+2+1: 10<br />
GAME: Culix rolls 6+2-2: (4)+6+2+-2: 10<br />
<br />
Warrick grimaces as the axe smashes into his breastplate, but he takes that failure to defend to go on offense, hacking into the draugur once, twice. Still guts spill the wood on the floor, but nefarious magic keeps it together. "Would you just die again already!" Warrick growls, glancing over at the boarding raider. "Hey! Ugly! You gobshites can't even give no quarter! Get your ass over here and make it a half!"<br />
<br />
He can't really see what's going on at the upper deck, but there was no blood curdling screams yet.<br />
<br />
If theze creatures are capable of frustration, it certainly seems those surrounding Bryn are growing frustrated. By some twist of fate, several near lethal blows have fallen wide through the obscuring mist or due to the rocking of the ship. The raider who struck her before swings again, a guttaral growl issuing from its rotten lips as it puts all of its undead strength behind the swing- but it falls wide once again.<br />
<br />
GAME: Culix rolls 1d100: (54): 54<br />
GAME: Culix rolls 6-2: (9)+6+-2: 13<br />
GAME: Culix rolls 6-2: (12)+6+-2: 16<br />
<br />
Zelany looks quite nervous as the captain steps forward, pushing away her ... suggestion with a drowned laugh. She shrugs her shoulders as she backpedals. "It be on you, then." Those too long fingers trace more arcane paths in the air, a fog welling up at her feet as she does so. A quick flurry of words ends with a sweeping gesture, and the fog puffs out to cover a sizable area around the Gnome.<br />
<br />
"Miss Bryn we really ought to get to Warrick's side, this open deck is not the easiest to defend."<br />
<br />
The mists seem to aid the adventurers more than they aid their assailants- the raiders begin to close in once more, one them stwiding through the mist and swinging his axe towards Zelany just as he comes into her view, but the deft mage is able to dodge the attack.<br />
<br />
Warricks own battle out in the relatively clear air goes much the same- this time he's able to raise his shield and klnock aside the axe swinging his way.<br />
<br />
GAME: Bryn rolls 1d100: (60): 60<br />
GAME: Bryn rolls weapon8+1: (9)+6+1: 16<br />
GAME: Bryn rolls weapon8+1: (11)+6+1: 18<br />
GAME: Culix rolls 6+2-2: (20)+6+2+-2: 26<br />
GAME: Culix rolls 6+2-2: (3)+6+2+-2: 9<br />
GAME: Warrick rolls fortitude: (16)+6: 22<br />
GAME: Culix rolls 1d6+3+2: (3)+3+2: 8<br />
<br />
With some of the stench gone, Bryn recovers. Her stomach, that is; her bluster never seemed to wane. "Ha! Leavin so soon! We ain' done killin y'again!" She calls out to those fleeing or already gone. "Don' ferget the boss man, neither!" She takes a swing at El Capitain, but her swing is wide. Even using one arm, it's still too much oruch and not enough blade compared to what she's used to.<br />
<br />
GAME: Culix rolls 11+2-2: (16)+11+2+-2: 27<br />
GAME: Bryn spends TWO uses of BARDIC PERFORMANCE.<br />
GAME: Culix rolls 1d100: (98): 98<br />
GAME: Culix rolls 1d10+12+3: (5)+12+3: 20<br />
GAME: Bryn rolls fort: (10)+4: 14<br />
<br />
The raider captain swats aside the blade coming his way with the haft of his oversized greataxe, and then he shoulders Bryn back- driving her towards the other raider at her back. So harried, she hasn't the time to avoid the captain's follow up swing, and he brings the axe down hard into the shoulder of her good arm, biting into flesh and bone alike. He leans close, and exhales that same eerie green mist which saps the strength and drains the vital essence of those it touches- but Bryn's soul proves too resillient once again to the negative energy.<br />
<br />
GAME: Warrick rolls weapon13+1: (19)+8+1: 28 (THREAT)<br />
GAME: Warrick rolls weapon13+1: (15)+8+1: 24<br />
GAME: Warrick rolls damage13+damage13+2: aliased to 1d8+2+1d8+2+2: (3)+2+(4)+2+2: 13<br />
GAME: Culix rolls 1d100: (72): 72<br />
GAME: Culix rolls 6+2-2: (1)+6+2+-2: 7 (EPIC FAIL)<br />
<br />
The captain's resounding blow is folloed by another swing of the raider harrying Bryn from the other side, but the boat rocks and the Draugr loses its footing momentarily- just long enough that its swing falls short of its target.<br />
<br />
Warrick parries one axes with his shield, only to catch one in the back as the axe manages to crack into his should. He gags briefly, only to turn at the ambusher, shove them back with the shield, and flip his sword upside down and jabbing blindly behind him. Skewering the draugur and rending it sideways to make it fall into two pieces. "One down!" he yells into the air. "Status!"<br />
<br />
GAME: Zelany rolls 1d20+3+3+4+1: (15)+3+3+4+1: 26<br />
GAME: Zelany rolls 1d100: (46): 46<br />
GAME: Zelany rolls 1d20+1+1: (8)+1+1: 10<br />
GAME: Zelany casts Disrupt Undead. Caster Level: 3 DC: 13<br />
GAME: Zelany rolls 1d6: (3): 3<br />
GAME: Zelany rolls weapon1: (4)+2: 6<br />
GAME: Culix rolls 6+2-2: (17)+6+2+-2: 23<br />
GAME: Culix rolls 1d6+5: (6)+5: 11<br />
GAME: Culix advances the initiative order.<br />
<br />
"How are you holding out, Warrick!?", the Gnome calls out, while wincing as Bryn gets hacked at by the captain. Once more, she draws upon her magical repertoire, her fingers tracing out the symbols required, while her voice intones the words that bring the spell to a close. A sickly green ray jumps from her fingertips and lances the captain.<br />
<br />
"Once more, you should consider backing up, Bryn..."<br />
<br />
GAME: Zelany rolls fortitude: (7)+4: 11<br />
<br />
The raider in the mist with Zelany takes advantage of her being distracted attacking the captain, and steps up behind her. He brings his axe into her back with a furious swing that bites greedily into her and draws fresh blood which mingles with the spilled rotting veiscera on the deck. The smell is overbearing.<br />
<br />
GAME: Bryn rolls 1d100: (98): 98<br />
GAME: Bryn rolls weapon8+1: (13)+6+1: 20<br />
GAME: Bryn rolls damage8+1: aliased to 1d8+3+1: (6)+3+1: 10<br />
GAME: Culix advances the initiative order.<br />
GAME: Culix rolls 6-2: (11)+6+-2: 15<br />
GAME: Warrick rolls weapon13+1: (19)+8+1: 28 (THREAT)<br />
GAME: Warrick rolls weapon13+1: (6)+8+1: 15<br />
GAME: Warrick rolls damage13+1: aliased to 1d8+2+1: (2)+2+1: 5<br />
<br />
"Workin onnit!" Bryn calls to Warrick, adding a "Ye, ye, I gotcha!" to Zelany. Falling back isn't a bad plan. Mostly. She just hesitates long enough to get one more swing on the drippy old sea salt of a caption. this time she connects, and it's enough to finally make him stop moving. "Ha! Bossman's done!"<br />
<br />
-Now- she falls back towards Warrick, though that puts her between the two remaining mostly dead things on their end of the boat.<br />
<br />
GAME: Culix rolls 6+2-2: (17)+6+2+-2: 23<br />
<br />
"I'm holding up!" Warrick answers back to Zelany. "Got one left here, and then I'll run back!" He ducks against the axe behind his shield, letting the hit crack against the wood as his blade slashes at ankles under his mobile cover. A bit more life gets in his limbs at hearing the captain is down. "Alright! Good!"<br />
<br />
GAME: Culix rolls 1d100: (16): 16<br />
GAME: Zelany rolls 1d20+3+3+4+1: (1)+3+3+4+1: 12 (EPIC FAIL)<br />
<br />
The captains head sails off from Bryn's last blow, and lands on the deck with a thud. Still it moves, the mouth opening in a silent scream of rage and the balefire burning in his eyes for one last moment, before growing dark. The body collapses to its knees, fog spilling from the stump of its neck. The rest of the Draugr shudder in place, their movements becoming more sluggish after their captain is slain, and the green lanterns on the ghost ship they rode in on flicker out. The fog that has been hanging in the air all night begins to thin around them, and a light breeze whips at the furled sail of the ship.<br />
<br />
GAME: Zelany rolls 1d20+3+3+4+1: (15)+3+3+4+1: 26<br />
GAME: Zelany rolls 1d20: (8): 8<br />
GAME: Zelany rolls 1d100: (10): 10<br />
GAME: Culix rolls 6+2-2: (14)+6+2+-2: 20<br />
GAME: Culix rolls 1d100: (74): 74<br />
GAME: Culix rolls 1d6+5: (5)+5: 10<br />
GAME: Bryn rolls fort: (14)+4: 18<br />
<br />
What a difference a moment makes.<br />
<br />
The Gnome screams as the axe bites into her, and she staggers forward, going to one knee. she gasps in pain.<br />
<br />
Then with a mighty swing, Bryn brings down the captain. It thuds down onto the deck beside Zelany and she recoils, struggling to her feet.<br />
<br />
"You have downed him!", she croaks. "We might have a chance now!" Once again, a little green bolt flies from her fingertips, but she struggles to remain upright, leaning on her staff as the bolt goes wide.<br />
<br />
THough the most dangerous threat is dispatched, and the remaining Daugr have grown more sluggish, they still pose a threat- which they are all to eagre to remind Bryn of as she steps into their midst, and one of them catches her in the small of her back with a horizontal swipe of its axe.<br />
<br />
GAME: Bryn rolls 1d100: (6): 6<br />
<br />
"Hang on!" She hears the scream more clearly than she sees Zelany in the fog. She moves, but not very far. Just enough to not be surrounded for the moment and attempt a little surrounding of her own. Worry about the bleeding back will come later; right now, she ain't got time for it.<br />
<br />
It seems to have time for her, though, as it conspires with the fog to throw off her swing.<br />
<br />
GAME: Culix rolls 6-2: (6)+6+-2: 10<br />
GAME: Warrick rolls weapon13+1: (20)+8+1: 29 (THREAT)<br />
GAME: Warrick rolls weapon13+1: (17)+8+1: 26<br />
GAME: Warrick rolls damage13+damage13+2: aliased to 1d8+2+1d8+2+2: (5)+2+(5)+2+2: 16<br />
GAME: Culix rolls 1d2: (1): 1<br />
GAME: Culix rolls 6-2: (11)+6+-2: 15<br />
GAME: Zelany rolls 1d20+3+3+4+1: (4)+3+3+4+1: 15<br />
<br />
That relief that the captain is dealt with vanishes as he hears screams from the woman mage. His stomach flips. "Hang on!" Warrick shouts, snarling at the undead pirate as he pins them against the railing of the stairs. The blade aligns the top of it, and then runs across like a guide as the longsword carves their head off. "Down two!" the arbalest barks, shoving the corpse off and sprinting towards the conjured fog. "I'm coming! Fall back if you must!"<br />
<br />
GAME: Zelany rolls 1d100: (47): 47<br />
GAME: Zelany rolls 1d20+2+1: (3)+2+1: 6<br />
<br />
Even with the fog clearing, the two Draugr that fled are no where to be seen. Probably descending back into the depths of the ocean, or at least beneath the waves as they continue their compelled dlight away from the object of terror for the undead that is Zelany. The remaining raiders continue the fight, though, with no morale to break even as the adventurers are turning the tide in their favor. One of them continues his to and fro with Warrick, jostling up and down the steps for an advantageous position before swinging and finding only steel- before being promptly cut down by the guardsman.<br />
<br />
Likewise, the one which had been caught between Zelany and Bryn steps out to give itself more room to move, and then brings its axe towards the Oruch- but once more fails to find it's mark, finding her too deft for its sluggish attacks.<br />
<br />
GAME: Zelany rolls 1d20+2+1: (20)+2+1: 23<br />
GAME: Zelany rolls 1d20+2+1: (12)+2+1: 15<br />
GAME: Zelany rolls 1d6+1d6: (5)+(3): 8<br />
GAME: Culix rolls 6-2: (14)+6+-2: 18<br />
GAME: Culix rolls 1d100: (27): 27<br />
GAME: Culix rolls 1d6+5: (5)+5: 10<br />
GAME: Zelany rolls fortitude: (4)+4: 8<br />
GAME: Zelany rolls fort: (7)+4: 11<br />
<br />
The Gnome can't even reach the spot the axe hit her, nothing she can do to dull the pain. With tears in her eyes, she remains upright, leaning heavily upon her staff. Her expression brightens to see that Warrick is indeed on the way, and the draugr have still failed to fell the Oruch.<br />
<br />
She traces out the symbols once more, though pain colours every movement. "Just fall over already... please?", she pleads, as another sickly green ray lances out from her fingertips. The beam punches a chunky hole clean through the undead. It looks down at its chest, a hand beginning to move to the wound, before it keels over onto its undead face.<br />
<br />
Then the axe descends upon the Gnome.<br />
<br />
GAME: Bryn rolls 1d100: (29): 29<br />
GAME: Bryn casts Cure Light Wounds. Caster Level: 5 DC: 14<br />
GAME: Bryn rolls 1d8+5: (5)+5: 10<br />
GAME: Warrick rolls 1d100: (8): 8<br />
GAME: Culix rolls 1d100: (33): 33<br />
GAME: Culix rolls 6-2: (6)+6+-2: 10<br />
<br />
"Shite!" Bryn hears another sound; less yelling and more moist thud. That's usually a bad thing (at least when its allies). "Kor ain done with us, yet!" She begins to sing a surprisingly calm tune for a moment, calling mana to herself and, after some reaching around the deck, infuses Zelany with some of the good stuff."<br />
<br />
Warrick barely makes out the silhouette of an axe coming down on a small figure. Blood sprays. He has to get in there and get the creature's attention! "FOR THE PHEONIX!" he bellows, all but throwing himself at the deathless being. His sword whistles wide, shield tucked in as he collides into them.<br />
<br />
The tables have turned, but the last remaining Draugr is not willing to let the adventurer's impending victory go unchallenged. After seeing its companion practically dissintegrated by the beam of positive energy from Zelany, it rushes towards her and swings its axe mightly down into the little mage, almost decapitating her in turn.<br />
<br />
It is preparing to finish the job, when Warrick bursts through the miss and strikes at it, but the strike is wide- the beguiling mist foiling yet another blow. It turns and swings back at him, thankfully distracted from finishging off Zleany while Bryn works her healing magic- and it has no more luck with Warrick than he had with the Draugr, its axe finds only wind.<br />
<br />
GAME: Bryn rolls 1d100: (73): 73<br />
<br />
Zelany barely has the breath to move, but move she must, as self preservation kicks in. Trailing a streak of blood across the deck as she goes, she slowly staggers away. Upright only due to her dependable staff.<br />
<br />
GAME: Bryn rolls 1d100: (77): 77<br />
GAME: Culix rolls 1d100: (67): 67<br />
GAME: Culix rolls 6-2: (6)+6+-2: 10<br />
GAME: Bryn rolls cmb: (3)+6: 9<br />
<br />
Bryn seems... perturbed. That would be one way to describe it. Zelany is up and behind her now, but she doesn't look (or sound) overly relieved. Gone is the lullaby-like song a moment before, and any song, in fact. Instead, with a snarl, she launches herself at the remaining undead. Blade or no blade. Hand or no hand. Not that it is terribly effective.<br />
<br />
GAME: Warrick rolls weapon13: (16)+8: 24<br />
GAME: Warrick rolls 1d100: (89): 89<br />
GAME: Warrick rolls damage12+1: aliased to +2+1: (10)++2+1: 13<br />
GAME: Warrick rolls damage13+1: aliased to 1d8+2+1: (4)+2+1: 7<br />
<br />
Warrick feels a touch off as Bryn's song reaches its end, but he doesn't letup on the aid she provides and drawing their attention. He unravels the straps from his shield, throwing it aside as he grabs the blade with both hands and swings it in a large cleave at the dead pirate. "Rally! One more!" he barks, getting in the draugr's space. He's the one armored head to toe, better for him to get the beatings. The other two look horrid.<br />
<br />
GAME: Culix rolls 6-2: (5)+6+-2: 9<br />
<br />
The last Draugr matches Warrick move for move- dropping its own tattered shield and swinging for him furiously- but Warrick has the advantage in lively vigor and skill, and is able to deftly avoid the counter swing. The last raider on the deck is coming apart, thanks to Warricks previous blow- and its attacks grow more enraged and desperate with each failed strike.<br />
<br />
GAME: Bryn rolls weapon8: (7)+6: 13<br />
GAME: Culix rolls 6-2: (8)+6+-2: 12<br />
GAME: Warrick rolls weapon13+2: (2)+8+2: 12<br />
GAME: Culix rolls 6-2: (4)+6+-2: 8<br />
GAME: Warrick rolls weapon13+2: (6)+8+2: 16<br />
GAME: Warrick rolls damage13+1: aliased to 1d8+2+1: (1)+2+1: 4<br />
<br />
Much of Bryn's momentary savagery vents after her flailing. With the return of her senses, she now stoops to snatch up her dropped blade before swinging it at the draugr. Not all the hasty chaos left her, though, and the swing is passionate yet not precise enough even without a shield in the way.<br />
<br />
Warrick ducks under the telegraphed axe, clashing his sword against it with his own upward slash. He keeps the clash ongoing, shoving against them as he swings around wide to get them between Bryn and himself. As the oruch gets the draugr's attention, he kicks out the back of the knee, grabs his blade with his gauntlets, and horizontal swings the crossguard straight into their skull with a gross crunch.<br />
<br />
He pants, pushing them off. "... c... clear..!" he tiredly shouts aloud.<br />
<br />
With the last of the draugr dispatched or driven back to the depths, the crew of the ship eventually emerge. There is a bout of gagging at the smell, even hardy sailors have their limits, but eventually the discussion of what to do with the bodies comes up. It's suggested they should be loaded back onto their own boat which should be set alight, and Warrick is offered a pitch-dipped bolt to do the honors.<br />
<br />
The ships barber offers to sew up any wounds for the party. He is alarmingly insistant about it, in fact, and emphatically insists that traditional medicine is the better option over Bryn's healing magics.<br />
<br />
And with the eerie doldrums dispelled, and the sun rising on the horizon, the sails are unfurled and the ship begins its return to Alexandria.<br />
<br />
-End Scene-<br />
<br />
[[Category:Logs]]<br />
[[Category:PRPs]]</div>Aryiahttp://www.tenebraemush.net/index.php?title=Recent_Logs&diff=43959Recent Logs2024-12-13T21:48:35Z<p>Aryia: /* December */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{AboutLogs}}<br />
<br />
'''[[Archived_Logs|For 2023 and earlier, see the Archives]]'''<br />
<br />
==2024 Logs==<br />
===January===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|January 1, 2024<br />
|[[New Face in Town]]<br />
|[[Kadlin]], [[Murder]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[What is in a Name]]<br />
|[[Khepri]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Triangulating Assumptions]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Eztli]], [[Dirk]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Magic and Archmages]]<br />
|[[Aragos]], [[Kadlin]], [[Mikilos]], [[Murder]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 2, 2024<br />
|[[In Search of a Forge]]<br />
|[[Kadlin]], [[Harshad]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Tales of Redemption and Grief]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Seldan]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 5, 2024<br />
|[[Song and Holy Violence]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Aryia]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 8, 2024<br />
|[[An Ask of Mental Fortitude]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Leirune|Rune]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Axochitl's Aid]]<br />
|[[Seldan]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 9, 2024<br />
|[[Snowballs in the Gardens]]<br />
|[[Acedia]], [[Eztli]], [[Mikilos]], [[Ness]], [[Ous]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 10, 2024<br />
|[[A Meeting In The Wintry Woods]]<br />
|[[Acedia]], [[Kadlin]], [[Munch]], [[Seldan]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 11, 2024<br />
|[[Shenanigans on Ice]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Irshya]], [[Slixvah]], [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Raiders of the Lost Tomb, Part 2]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Fidget]], [[Slixvah]], [[Irshya]], [[Aimarra]], [[Carver]], GM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 14, 2024<br />
|[[Phantom Thieves - The Heist]]<br />
|[[Crik]], [[Reithak]], [[Warrick]], [[Merith]], [[Thoth]], GM: [[Fidget]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Testing Synonie]]<br />
|[[Seldan]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 15, 2024<br />
|[[Raiders of the Lost Tomb Part 3]]<br />
|[[Aimarra]], [[Slixvah]], [[Irshya]], [[Carver]], [[Fidget]], [[Aelwyn]] ('''DM:''' Telamon)<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Chronolark - Part 1]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Aznara]], [[Reithak]], [[Tlanexhuani]], ('''DM:''' Whirlpool)<br />
|-<br />
|January 18, 2024<br />
|[[Workouts and Distractions]]<br />
|[[Choler]], [[Thurid]], [[Eztli]], [[Slixvah]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 19, 2024<br />
|[[World Peace and Hunky Boys]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Dolan]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 21, 2024<br />
|[[Quarry Quarrel, Part 1]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Crik]], [[Khepri]], [[Reithak]], GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 22, 2024<br />
|[[Chronolark - Part 2]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Aznara]], [[Reithak]], [[Tlanexhuani]], GM: [[Whirlpool]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 23, 2024<br />
|[[Prisoner Transfer - Part 1]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Magpie]], GM: [[Whirlpool]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 25, 2024<br />
|[[Silencing the Unloved King]]<br />
|[[Seldan]], [[Dirk]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 27, 2024<br />
|[[Forgotten Blood Finale - Beneath]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Culix]], [[Schara]] GM: [[Harkashan]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 28, 2024<br />
|[[Phantom Thieves - The Heist Pt2]]<br />
|[[Crik]], [[Reithak]], [[Warrick]], [[Merith]], [[Thoth]], GM: [[Fidget]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 29, 2024<br />
|[[Raiders of the Lost Tomb Part 4]]<br />
|[[Aimarra]], [[Slixvah]], [[Irshya]], [[Carver]], [[Fidget]], [[Aelwyn]] ('''DM:''' Telamon)<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Wraps and Hiccups]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Chronolark - Part 3]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Tlanexhuani]], [[Reithak]], [[Aznara]] ('''DM:''' Whirlpool)<br />
|-<br />
|January 30, 2024<br />
|[[Prisoner Transfer - Part 2]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Magpie]], GM: [[Whirlpool]]<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
===February===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|February 1, 2024<br />
|[[Cat Scratch Chills]]<br />
|[[Reithak]], [[Simony]], [[Teppus]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 2, 2024<br />
|[[Raiders of the Lost Tomb Part 5]]<br />
|[[Aimarra]], [[Slixvah]], [[Irshya]], [[Carver]], [[Aelwyn]] ('''DM:''' Telamon)<br />
|-<br />
|February 4, 2024<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Seldan]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 5, 2024<br />
|[[Answers in Amantli (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Cuemoni]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Chronolark - Part 4]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Tlanexhuani]], [[Reithak]] ('''DM:''' Whirlpool)<br />
|-<br />
|February 6, 2024<br />
|[[Prisoner Transfer - Part 3]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Magpie]], GM: [[Whirlpool]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 7, 2024<br />
|[[Mushrooms and Man Left Behind]]<br />
|[[Culix]], [[Irshya]], [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 11, 2024<br />
|[[Quarry Quarrel, Part 2]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Reithak]], [[Crik]], [[Khepri]], GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Cultivating Humility]]<br />
|[[Alfrik]], [[Munch]], [[Murder]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Seldan]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 12, 2024<br />
|[[Chronolark - Part 5]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Tlanexhuani]], [[Reithak]] ('''DM:''' Whirlpool)<br />
|-<br />
|February 13, 2024<br />
|[[Sound Mind]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Harkashan]], [[Simony]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Answers in Amantli (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Cuemoni]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 14, 2024<br />
|[[Fire birds and sharp sticks]]<br />
|[[Crik]], [[Eztli]], [[Rhar]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Simony's Haven]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 15, 2024<br />
|[[Cold Winter Encounters]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 16, 2024<br />
|[[Summoning Aid]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 18, 2024<br />
|[[The show must drag on]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Culix]], [[Eztli]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 18, 2024<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 3)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Seldan]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Quarry Quarrel Part 3]]<br />
|[[Khepri]], [[Thoth]], [[Reithak]], [[Crik]], GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 19, 2024<br />
|[[Temple District Ruminations]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Simony]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[The Weight of Responsibility]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Chronolark - Part 6]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Tlanexhuani]], [[Reithak]], [[Aznara]] ('''DM:''' Whirlpool)<br />
|-<br />
|February 20, 2024<br />
|[[Dead Men]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Harkashan]], [[Simony]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[A Single Nail]]<br />
|[[SImony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 22, 2024<br />
|[[Creation of Ash]]<br />
|[[Cuemoni]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 23, 2024<br />
|[[Expect the Unexpected]]<br />
|[[Harkashan]], [[Simony]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[To Stalk The Fiend]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 25, 2024<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 4)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Seldan]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 26, 2024<br />
|[[Serpentine Showing]]<br />
|[[Alfrik]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 28, 2024<br />
|[[Ten Year Step]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Alfrik]], [[Auranar]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Forgotten Blood Finale - Assassins]]<br />
|[[Reithak]], [[Crik]], [[Aznara]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 29, 2024<br />
|[[Make Cookies Not War]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Demand a Favor]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Golfbag of Glaives]]<br />
|[[Verna]], [[Culix]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Alfrik]]<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
===March===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|March 1, 2024<br />
|[[Releasing the Hounds]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 3, 2024<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 5)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Seldan]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Personal Hero]]<br />
|[[Harkashan]], [[Rune]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 4, 2024<br />
|[[Chronolark - Part 8]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Aznara]], [[Reithak]], [[Tlanexhuani]], ('''DM:''' Whirlpool)<br />
|-<br />
|March 5, 2024<br />
|[[Golden Coast Cruise]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Slixvah]], [[Simony]], [[Tlanexhuani]], [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 6, 2024<br />
|[[Unlock, Unbind, Hide]]<br />
|[[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Leirune|Rune]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Body Guard]]<br />
|[[Alfrik]], [[Harshad]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 9, 2024<br />
|[[Adventure's End?]]<br />
|[[Acedia]], [[Seldan]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 10, 2024<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 6)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Seldan]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 11, 2024<br />
|[[Facing Another Trial]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Harkashan]], [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 12, 2024<br />
|[[Chronolark - Part 9]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Reithak]], [[Tlanexhuani]], ('''DM:''' Whirlpool)<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[You Won't Be Alone]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Slixvah]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 14, 2024<br />
|[[To the Victor Go the Spoils]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]; DM: [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 15, 2024<br />
|[[Forearmed is Forwarned]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Warrick]], [[Schara]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[The Eve Before Death]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Harkashan]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 17, 2024<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 7): The Poetry Corner]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Seldan]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]]; DM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|March 18, 2024<br />
|[[A Golden Ending (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Slixvah]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 19, 2024<br />
|[[A Morning At The Ox]]<br />
|[[Harshad]], [[Murder]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 20, 2024<br />
|[[Fantasy Gladiator League]]<br />
|[[Irshya]], [[Slixvah]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Aspiring Aspire-ations ]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Faranmidahn]], [[Irshya]] DM: [[Whirlpool]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 23, 2024<br />
|[[Go Home History You're Drunk]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Crik]], [[Mikilos]], [[Reithak]], DM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|March 24, 2024<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 8)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Seldan]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]]; DM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|March 25, 2024<br />
|[[A Golden Ending (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Slixvah]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 26, 2024<br />
|[[To Find a Mourner (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Auranar]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]; DM: Verna<br />
|-<br />
|March 27, 2024<br />
|[[Aspiring Aspire-ations, Pt2]]<br />
|[[Fidget]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Irshya]], [[Faranmidahn]]; DM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|March 31, 2024<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 9)]]<br />
|[[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Seldan]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]]; DM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
<br />
===April===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|April 1, 2024<br />
|[[A Golden Ending (Part 3)]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Slixvah]], [[Telamon]]; DM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|April 2, 2024<br />
|[[Aspiring Aspire-ations, Pt3]]<br />
|[[Fidget]], [[Irshya]], [[Etzli]], [[Aelwyn]]; GM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|April 3, 2024<br />
|[[Welcome Warden]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Murder]], [[Rhar]], [[Leirune|Rune]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 5, 2024<br />
|[[Cover Letter]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Slixvah]], [[Eztli]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Noodles and Sake]]<br />
|[[Choler]], [[Harshad]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 8, 2024<br />
|[[Frozen Veins]]<br />
|[[Aragos]], [[Harshad]], [[Palomas]], [[Reithak]], [[Quinn]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 10, 2024<br />
|[[Stop Me if You Have Heard This One]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Irshya]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 11, 2024<br />
|[[A Courier for a Page]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], Npcs: [[Slixvah]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 12, 2024<br />
|[[Needles And News]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Choler]], [[Eztli]], [[Slixvah]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 14, 2024<br />
|[[Three Assassins]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Reithak]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 10)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Seldan]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 15, 2024<br />
|[[A Golden Ending (Part 4)]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Slixvah]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 17, 2024<br />
|[[Aspiring Aspire-ations, Part 4]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Carver]], [[Eztli]], [[Faranmidahn]], [[Irshya]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 18, 2024<br />
|[[Repose in Two Forms]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[To Find a Mourner (Part 3)]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Auranar]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]] DM [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 20, 2024<br />
|[[Tears of Death]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Corey]], [[Rhar]], [[Rune]], [[Thoth]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 21, 2024<br />
|[[Whilst You Lay Dreaming]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 11)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Seldan]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]]; GM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|April 22, 2024<br />
|[[Birds of another Feather]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Reithak]], [[Sabina]], [[Xasany]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Revelation Raven]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Of Spring and Gardening]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 23, 2024<br />
|[[Cutscene: Sins of the Father]]<br />
|Caeles Miranore, Kiira Theran, Caeleil Miranore (NPCs by [[Leirune|Rune]] and [[Simony]])<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Return of the Bina]]<br />
|[[Slixvah]], [[Irshya]], [[Sabina]], [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[To Find a Mourner (Part 4)]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Auranar]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]; DM [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 24, 2024<br />
|[[Aspiring Aspire-ations, Part 5]]<br />
|[[Fidget]], [[Carver]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Faranmidahn]]; GM: [[Whirlpool]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 25, 2024<br />
|[[Hunting Urvis (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[MAC-B1G]], [[Leirune|Rune]]; DM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 27, 2024<br />
|[[Feel the Groove]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Eztli]], [[MAC-B1G]], [[Magpie]]; DM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|April 28, 2024<br />
|[[Morning in Goblintown]]<br />
|[[Harshad]], [[Choler]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 12)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Seldan]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]]; GM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|April 29, 2024<br />
|[[The Stage Is Set]]<br />
|[[Sabina]]; GM: Derecho<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Rider of Decisions]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]]; GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
<br />
===May===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|May 1, 2024<br />
|[[Silver Misses Snow]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Choler]], [[Corey]], [[Eztli]], [[Skielstregar]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Warnings on Deaf Ears]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Fidget]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 2, 2024<br />
|[[Hunting Urvis (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[MAC-B1G]], [[Leirune|Rune]]; DM: Telamon<br />
|-<br />
|May 3, 2024<br />
|[[Trade Off]]<br />
|[[Harshad]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 5, 2024<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 13)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Seldan]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]]; DM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|May 6, 2024<br />
|[[Maybe Fae-be]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 7, 2024<br />
|[[A Happy Dance]]<br />
|[[Karasu]], [[Ravenstongue]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[A Close Shave]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Simony]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[At Nothing We See]]<br />
|[[Choler]], [[Cuemoni]], [[Fidget]], [[Tlanexhuani]], [[Zeke]]; DM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|May 8, 2024<br />
|[[Fashion Shopping Preperusal ]]<br />
|[[Eztli]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Aryia]], [[Simony]], [[Aznara]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[To Find a Mourner (Part 5)]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Auranar]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]; DM [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 10, 2024<br />
|[[Piecing Together Me]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Corey]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Tlanexhuani]]; DM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|May 12, 2024<br />
|[[Hunting Urvis (Part 3)]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[MAC-B1G]], [[Leirune|Rune]]; DM: Telamon<br />
|-<br />
|May 14, 2024<br />
|[[A Fiend In Plain Sight]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 15, 2024<br />
|[[To Find a Mourner (Part 6)]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Auranar]], [[Harkashan]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]; DM [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 16, 2024<br />
|[[Fab Fabric and Fire]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Noodles and a Future Heist]]<br />
|[[Choler]], [[Harshad]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 18, 2024<br />
|[[Honey Do]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Magpie]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
| <br />
|[[Mothers and Patrons]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Harkashan]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 19, 2024<br />
|[[Hunting Urvis (Part 4)]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[MAC-B1G]], [[Leirune|Rune]]; DM: Telamon<br />
|-<br />
|May 20, 2024<br />
|[[We Are Seen]]<br />
|[[Cuemoni]], [[Fidget]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Tlanexhuani]], [[Zeke]]; DM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Rain and Bath House]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Leirune|Rune]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 21, 2024<br />
|[[Simpler Things]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 22, 2024<br />
|[[The Name-Stealer]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[The Final Spires, Part 1]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Fidget|NAME UNKNOWN]], [[Tlanexhuani]]; DM: Whirlpool<br />
|- <br />
|May 23, 2024<br />
|[[Never Even]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Slixvah]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[The Urvis Update]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[MAC-B1G]], [[Rune]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 24, 2024<br />
|[[Unpleasant News at the Noodle Stand]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Stained Glass Butterfly]]<br />
|[[Choler]], [[Harshad]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 26, 2024<br />
|[[Warning the Mislead]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Thoth]], Nameless ([[Fidget]])<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[To Find a Mourner (Part 7)]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Auranar]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 27, 2024<br />
|[[Changing Seasons and Hearts]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Aragos]], [[Eztli]]. [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 28, 2024<br />
|[[He Says]]<br />
|[[Sabina]], [[Thoth]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Whatamelons and Wanderers]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Irshya]], [[Sabina]], [[Slixvah]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Crimson to Show Off]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Aryia]], [[Irshya]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 30, 2024<br />
|[[The Final Spires, Part 2]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Fidget|NAME UNKNOWN]], [[Tlanexhuani]]; DM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[What Troubles Those in the Market]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Simony]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Slixvah]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 30, 2024<br />
|[[A Stealthy Inquest]]<br />
|[[Choler]], [[Harshad]]<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
<br />
===June===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|June 2, 2024<br />
|[[Noodles After The Heist]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Choler]], [[Harshad]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 4, 2024<br />
|[[He Says (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Sabina]], [[Thoth]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[What Makes A Cavalier Attitude?]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Zofija]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 5, 2024<br />
|[[Down the River]]<br />
|[[Skielstregar]], [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[The Final Spires, Part 3]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Fidget|NAME UNKNOWN]], [[Tlanexhuani]]; DM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[A Castle In My Dreams]]<br />
|[[Telamon]] (vignette)<br />
|-<br />
|June 7, 2024<br />
|[[Break the Mold]]<br />
|[[Aeson]], [[Eztli]], [[MAC-B1G]], [[Mikilos]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 8, 2024<br />
|[[Fictitious - I]] <br />
|[[Aragos]], [[Fidget|NAME UNKNOWN]] , [[Gramarye]], [[Lanier]], [[Vaera]]; DM: Thoth<br />
|-<br />
|June 9, 2024<br />
|[[To Find a Mourner (Part 8)]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Auranar]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]; DM: Verna<br />
|-<br />
|June 10, 2024<br />
|[[Bedtime Butterflies]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Eztli]], [[Lanier]]; DM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|June 12, 2024<br />
|[[The Castle on the Edge of Waking]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[The Final Spires, Part 4]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Fidget|NAME UNKNOWN]], [[Tlanexhuani]]; DM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|June 13, 2024<br />
|[[Forearmed is Forwarned Part 2]]<br />
|[[Warrick]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Schara]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 14, 2024<br />
|[[Grand Induction]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Culix]], [[Eztli]], [[Simony]], DM: [[Aryia]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Five Nightmares]]<br />
|[[Aeson]], [[Carver]], [[Eztli]], [[MAC-B1G]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 15, 2024<br />
|[[Five Nightmares (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Eztli]], [[MAC-B1G]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Dwarf Fortress: Deepest Depths - I]]<br />
|[[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Garden Lectures Under the Sun]]<br />
|[[Aeson]], [[Mikilos]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 16, 2024<br />
|[[To Find a Mourner (Part 9)]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Auranar]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 17, 2024<br />
|[[When you Wish Upon a Fish]]<br />
|[[Dirk]], [[Magpie]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 18, 2024<br />
|[[Wasted Years]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[He Says (Part 3)]]<br />
|[[Sabina]], [[Thoth]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 19, 2024<br />
|[[A Warriors Instinct]]<br />
|[[Aragos]], [[Gramarye]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Pillory Blues]]<br />
|[[Eztli]], [[Telamon]], [[Yazlo]], [[Zeke]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Ashes on the Ground]]<br />
|[[Gramarye]], [[Thoth]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 20, 2024<br />
|[[For A Few Potions More]]<br />
|[[Choler]], [[Cuemoni]], [[Warrick]]; GM: Telamon<br />
|-<br />
|June 21, 2024<br />
|[[Nonlinear Pie]]<br />
|[[Verna]], [[Auranar]], [[Aryia]], [[Eztli]], [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Forearmed is Forwarned Part 3]]<br />
|[[Warrick]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Schara]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 22, 2024<br />
|[[Best Boy]]<br />
|[[Crik]], [[Menel]], [[Zofija]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 23, 2024<br />
|[[A Warning Not A Gift]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Harshad]], NPC Sori - [[Karasu]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Dwarf Fortress: Deepest Depths - II]]<br />
|[[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], DM: [[Culix]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[One Thousand Cranes]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 24, 2024<br />
|[[The Price of Fish]]<br />
|[[Arzhela]], [[Crik]], [[Cuemoni]], [[Murder]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[The Weight of Expectations]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[He Says (Part 4)]]<br />
|[[Sabina]], [[Thoth]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 25, 2024<br />
|[[Full Day at the Baths]]<br />
|[[Slixvah]], [[Irshya]], [[Culix]], [[Leirune|Rune]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Upon the Koz-way]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Aryia]], [[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 26, 2024<br />
|[[The Final Spires, Part 5]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Carver]], [[Eztli]], [[Fidget|NAME UNKNOWN]]; DM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|June 27, 2024<br />
|[[Faphinae's Fanfare]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Simony]], [[Reithak]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Gearsmasher]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Corey]], [[Eztli]], [[MAC-B1G]], [[Skielstregar]]; guest star: [[Telamon]]; GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|June 28, 2024<br />
|[[Soul Food]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Aryia]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Fiends and Fae]]<br />
|[[Telamon]], [[Ravenstongue]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[The Never-ending Story]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Leirune|Rune]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 29, 2024<br />
|[[Game On!]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Eztli]], [[Karasu]], [[Leirune|Rune]] ;GM: [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 30, 2024<br />
|[[Fragile Like Trust]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[A Will to Kill]]<br />
|Faphinae & Sori [[Corey]], [[Karasu]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Silent Sanitorium]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Dirk]], [[Harkashan]], [[MAC-B1G]], [[Rune]]; DM: [[Culix]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|}<br />
<br />
<br />
===July===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|July 1, 2024<br />
|[[Hunting Lore in the Library]]<br />
|[[Alaric]], [[Simony]], [[Verna]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 2, 2024<br />
|[[Death Comes Another Day]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Unravel Their Riddles]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 3, 2024<br />
|[[Mist and Magic]]<br />
|[[Alaric]], [[Crik]], [[Murder]], [[Slixvah]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 4, 2024<br />
|[[A Lesson in Forgiveness]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 5, 2024<br />
|[[Silence in the Library]]<br />
|[[Harshad]], [[Menel]], [[Palomas]], [[Reithak]], [[Warrick]], [[Zigrun]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 6, 2024<br />
|[[Spelunking]]<br />
|[[Crik]], [[Cuemoni]], [[Harshad]], [[Menel]], [[Reithak]], [[Sjach]]; GM: [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 7, 2024<br />
|[[A Story Born of Hope]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 9, 2024<br />
|[[Sands through the Hourglass]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Culix]], [[Eztli]], [[Menel]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 10, 2024<br />
|[[Forlorn Moon (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]; GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[The Final Spires, Part 6]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Carver]], [[Eztli]], [[Fidget|NAME UNKNOWN]]; DM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
| [[Tornmawr Torpedo]]<br />
|[[Culix]], [[Aryia]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Bryn]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 11, 2024<br />
|[[Boogle Boogle]]<br />
|[[Aragos]], [[Thoth]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Forlorn Moon (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]; GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|July 12, 2024<br />
|[[Name Exchange ]]<br />
|[[Gramarye]], [[Thoth]]; GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|July 13, 2024<br />
|[[Moment of the Future]]<br />
|[[Gramarye]], [[Thoth]]; GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|July 14, 2024<br />
|[[Silent Sanitorium Part 2]]<br />
|[[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Aelwyn]], [[MAC-B1G]], Dirk, GM: Culix<br />
|-<br />
|July 15, 2024<br />
|[[Explosions and Slaying]]<br />
|[[Warrick]], [[Bryn]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Heir to the Throne - Beginning]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Cuemoni]], [[Harshad]], [[Menel]], [[Warrick]], [[Zofija]]; GM: Harkashan<br />
|-<br />
|July 19, 2024<br />
|[[Summer Days]]<br />
|[[Warrick]], [[Sjach]], [[Aznara]], DM: [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 21, 2024<br />
|[[Vagrant Tower - Void Engine 1]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Rune]], [[Eztli]], [[Iskandar]], [[Harkashan]], GM: Culix<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Following a Portent]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 22, 2024<br />
|[[Heir to the Throne: Trouble in Unbundun Part 1]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Crik]], [[Harshad]], [[Warrick]], [[Zofija]]; GM: Harkashan<br />
|-<br />
|July 23, 2024<br />
|[[Tales of Wrassling and Cages]]<br />
|[[Warrick]], [[Bryn]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Mountaineering Investigations]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Eztli]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Garak]], GM: [[Aryia]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 24, 2024<br />
|[[A Consecration]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Nameless|Fidget]], [[Carver]], [[Eztli]], [[Delilah]], [[Harkashan]], GM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|July 25, 2024<br />
|[[Turning Reputation into Charity]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 26, 2024<br />
|[[Can't Sleep]]<br />
|[[Nameless|Fidget]], [[Simony]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Craven Match]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Bryn]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Aurum Among Thieves]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Eztli]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 29, 2024<br />
|[[It's Easy Being Green]]<br />
|[[Bryn]]; NPC: Cynthia<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Heir to the Throne: Trouble in Unbundun Part 2]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Crik]], [[Warrick]], [[Zofija]]; GM: [[Harkashan]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 30, 2024<br />
|[[Mountaineering Explanations]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Garak]], [[Rune]], [[Slixvah]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 31, 2024<br />
|[[Paint Ponderings]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Skielstregar]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|}<br />
<br />
<br />
===August===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|August 04, 2024<br />
|[[Fair Pixie]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Vagrant Tower: Void Engine Part 2]]<br />
|[[Eztli]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Rune]], [[Harkashan]], [[Iskandar]], '''GM''': Culix<br />
|-<br />
|August 5, 2024<br />
|[[Heir to the Throne: Trouble in Unbundun Part 3]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Crik]], [[Harshad]], [[Warrick]], [[Zofija]], '''GM''': [[Harkashan]]<br />
|-<br />
|August 8, 2024<br />
|[[I Know the Pieces Fit]]<br />
|[[Warrick]], [[Crik]], [[Bryn]]<br />
|-<br />
|August 9, 2024<br />
|[[Litigation]]<br />
|[[Fidget]], [[Khepri]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|August 11, 2024<br />
|[[Silent Sanitorium - Part 3]]<br />
|[[Harkashan]], [[Dirk]], [[Rune]], [[Aelwyn]] '''GM''': [[Culix]]<br />
|-<br />
|August 18, 2024<br />
|[[On the Edge of Living]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|August 19, 2024<br />
|[[Heir to the Throne - Far Beneath Part 1]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Crik]], [[Harshad]], [[Warrick]], [[Zofija]], [[Stena]] '''GM''': [[Harkashan]]<br />
|-<br />
|August 20, 2024<br />
|[[Happiness in Knowledge]]<br />
|[[Aeson]], [[Eztli]], [[Ravenstongue]]<br />
|-<br />
|August 22, 2024<br />
|[[Death With a View]]<br />
|[[Aragos]], [[Khepri]], [[Nameless]], [[Slixvah]]<br />
|-<br />
|August 23, 2024<br />
|[[Toge Means Thorn]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Litigation (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Khepri]], [[Nameless]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Into The Temple - Part 1]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Silmeria]], '''GM''': Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|August 25, 2024<br />
|[[Dusk Blooming Vines]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Cuemoni]], [[Harshad]], [[Lani'kua]], [[Reithak]], [[Sjach]]; '''GM''': Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Apparently Heir]]<br />
|[[Aeson]], [[Eztli]]<br />
|-<br />
|August 26, 2024<br />
|[[Jiji Kiku]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|August 29, 2024<br />
|[[Into The Temple - Part 2]]<br />
| [[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Silmeria]], '''GM''': Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
===September===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|September 1, 2024<br />
|[[Delivery in the Dark]]<br />
|[[Cuemoni]], [[Reithak]], [[Ulthan]]; '''GM''': Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|September 2, 2024<br />
|[[Heir to the Throne - Far Beneath Part 2]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Crik]], [[Stena]], [[Warrick]], [[Zofija]]; ; '''GM''': [[Harkashan]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 4, 2024<br />
|[[Into The Temple - Part 3]]<br />
| [[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Silmeria]], '''GM''': Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|September 6, 2024<br />
|[[Dinner for Four and a Pothy]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 7, 2024<br />
|[[Whispers of Rebellion]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Corey]], with Ansir and Faphinae<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Plotting in the Gardens]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Vex]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Three Old Friends]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Corey]], [[Thoth]], [[Vex]], [[Victor]]; '''GM:''' Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|September 8, 2024<br />
|[[How a Queen is Made]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]]; '''GM:''' Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|September 9, 2024<br />
|[[A Friend for Magpie and Wizard]]<br />
|[[Magpie]], [[Corey]]; '''GM:''' Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|September 10, 2024<br />
|[[Fight for Us]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 11, 2024<br />
|[[Love in Every Moment]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[The Good, The Bad, and the Alchemy]]<br />
|[[Lani'kua]], [[Bryn]], and [[Vex]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 12, 2024<br />
|[[Into The Temple - Part 4]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Silmeria]], '''GM''': Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|September 13, 2024<br />
|[[Simony Signs Up]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 14, 2024<br />
|[[Everyone Needs a Hobby]]<br />
|[[Corey]] (and Faphinae), [[Karasu]], [[Rhar]]; '''GM''': Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|September 15, 2024<br />
|[[Bad Lies, Good People]]<br />
|[[Jezzara]]. [[Auranar]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Sunlight Revelation]]<br />
|[[Schara]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Warrick]], DM: [[Riptide]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 16, 2024<br />
|[[Gratitude]]<br />
|[[Cuemoni]], [[Zeke]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 17, 2024<br />
|[[A Prelude To Revelry]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was - I]]<br />
| [[Harkashan]], [[Simony]], [[Rune]], [[Aryia]], [[Zeke]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 19, 2024<br />
|[[A Storied Working Lunch]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Magpie]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Daily Affirmation]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Verna]], Grandfather (Alud'rigan) '''GM:''' [[Riptide]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Suspicious Stalker (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Corey]], [[Magpie]], [[Simony]]; '''GM:''' Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Into The Temple - Part 5]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Silmeria]], '''GM''': Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|September 20, 2024<br />
|[[Pastries and Purchases]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 21, 2024<br />
|[[If You Love Me]]<br />
|[[Aragos]], [[Gramarye]] - Grandfather (Alud'rigan)<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Pretty in Pink]]<br />
|[[Eztli]], [[Simony]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 22, 2024<br />
|[[Sunlight Revelation Part 2]]<br />
|[[Schara]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Warrick]], DM: [[Riptide]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 23, 2024<br />
|[[Suspicious Stalker (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Corey]], [[Magpie]], [[Simony]]; '''GM:''' Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|September 24, 2024<br />
|[[Gnawing on Metal]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Rhar]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Shiny Hunt]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Auranar]], [[Rune]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 26, 2024<br />
|[[Hunter's Quarry Part 1]]<br />
|[[Reithak]], [[Carver]], [[Warrick]], DM:[[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 27, 2024<br />
|[[Return of the Orchard Artificer]]<br />
|[[Schara]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Warrick]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 29, 2024<br />
|[[Hunter's Quarry Part 2]]<br />
|[[Reithak]], [[Carver]], [[Warrick]], DM:[[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 29, 2024<br />
|[[Wrench in the Works]]<br />
|[[Crik]], [[Ulthan]], DM:[[Culix]]<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
===October===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|October 1, 2024<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]; '''GM''': Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|October 6, 2024<br />
|[[Connect the Dots (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Corey]], [[Magpie]], [[Telamon]]; '''GM''': Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|October 8, 2024<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 3)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]; '''GM''': Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|October 10, 2024<br />
|[[Connect the Dots (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Corey]], [[Magpie]], [[Telamon]]; '''GM''': Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Into the Temple - Part 6]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Silmeria]], '''GM''': Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|October 12, 2024<br />
|[[Home is Where the Truth is]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|October 14, 2024<br />
|[[Connect the Dots (Part 3)]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Corey]], [[Magpie]], [[Telamon]]; '''GM''': Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|October 15, 2024<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 4)]]<br />
|[[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]; '''GM''': Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|October 17, 2024<br />
|[[Into the Temple - Part 7]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Silmeria]], '''GM''': Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[A New Face in the TarRaCe]]<br />
|[[Fayde]], [[Murder]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|October 18, 2024<br />
|[[Little Children]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]]; '''GM''': Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|October 21, 2024<br />
|[[Connect the Dots (Part 4)]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Corey]], [[Magpie]], [[Telamon]]; '''GM''': Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Heir to the Throne - Retake Urah]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Fidget]], [[Zofija]]; '''GM''': Harkashan<br />
|-<br />
|October 22, 2024<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 5)]]<br />
|[[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]; '''GM''': Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|October 23, 2024<br />
|[[Her Biggest Fan (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Dirk]], [[Karasu]], [[Murder]]; DM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|October 24, 2024<br />
|[[Into the Temple - Part 8]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Silmeria]], '''GM''': Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[The Fiend Defeated]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|October 28, 2024<br />
|[[Foxes and Ravens]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]]<br />
|-<br />
|October 29, 2024<br />
|[[Apples of Forgivness]]<br />
|[[Schara]], [[Verna]], [[Zeke]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 6)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]; '''GM''': Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|October 30, 2024<br />
|[[Her Biggest Fan (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Dirk]], [[Karasu]], [[Murder]]; DM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|October 31, 2024<br />
|[[Reunite Once Again]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Into the Temple - Part 9]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Silmeria]], '''GM''': Whirlpool<br />
|}<br />
<br />
<br />
===November===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|November 1, 2024<br />
|[[Caanan Returns]]<br />
|[[Murder]], [[Carver]], [[Schara]], [[Telamon]] (as emitter)<br />
|-<br />
|November 2, 2024<br />
|[[Ravenkeeper's Tidings]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|November 4, 2024<br />
|[[Talking Work Shop]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Schara]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|November 4, 2024<br />
|[[Heir to the Throne - (Re)take Urah]]<br />
|[[Fidget]], [[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Warrick]], [[Zofija]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Her Biggest Fan (Part 3)]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Dirk]], [[Karasu]], [[Murder]]; DM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|November 5, 2024<br />
|[[Posted Notice (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Crik]], [[Schara]], [[Bryn]], [[Ulthan]]; DM: [[Carver]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 7)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]; '''GM''': Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|November 6, 2024<br />
|[[Into the Temple - Part 10]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Harkashan]], [[Eztli]], [[Bryn]], [[Silmeria]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Carver]]; '''GM''': Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|November 11, 2024<br />
|[[Her Biggest Fan (Part 4)]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Dirk]], [[Karasu]], [[Murder]]; DM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|- <br />
|<br />
|[[Posted Notice (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Crik]], [[Schara]], [[Ulthan]]; DM: [[Carver]]<br />
|-<br />
|November 12, 2024<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 8)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]; '''GM''': Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|November 14, 2024<br />
|[[Into the Temple - Part 11]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Harkashan]], [[Eztli]], [[Silmeria]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Carver]]; '''GM''': Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|November 15, 2024<br />
|[[Becoming a Teacher]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|November 16, 2024<br />
|[[Apple Daredevils]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Cuemoni]], [[Culix]], [[Eztli]], [[Irshya]], [[Zeke]]<br />
|-<br />
|November 17, 2024<br />
|[[A Bottle of Dust]]<br />
|[[Zeke]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Winter Strawberries]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Gramarye]], [[Khepri]]; '''GM''': Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|November 18, 2024<br />
|[[Her Biggest Fan (Part 5)]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Dirk]], [[Karasu]], [[Murder]]; DM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|November 19, 2024<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 9)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]; '''GM''': Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|November 20, 2024<br />
|[[Into the Temple - Part 12]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Harkashan]], [[Eztli]], [[Silmeria]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Carver]]; '''GM''': Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|November 22, 2024<br />
|[[Welcome Tarsh]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Tarsh]], [[Zeke]]<br />
|-<br />
|November 24, 2024<br />
|[[All Hands]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Tarsh]], [[Ulthan]]; '''GM''': Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Silent Sanitorium - Part 4]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Harkashan]], [[MAC-B1G]], [[Rune]]; DM: [[Culix]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Meetings and Clans]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Murder]], [[Tarsh]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Familiar Faces]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Khepri]], [[Gramarye]]. [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|November 26, 2024<br />
|[[Setting the Stage]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Eztli]], [[Warrick]], [[Murder]], [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|November 27, 2024<br />
|[[A Misplaced Case]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Lani'kua]], [[Menel]]; '''GM''': Telamon<br />
|-<br />
|November 28, 2024<br />
|[[A Lucky Meeting]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Schara]]<br />
|-<br />
|November 29, 2024<br />
|[[Harvest Dance]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Auranar]], [[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Eztli]], [[Murder]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Slixvah]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[It's Probably Pirates - Part 1]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Warrick]], [[Zelany]]; '''GM''': [[Culix]]<br />
|-<br />
|November 28, 2024<br />
|[[Cruel Fear]]<br />
|[[Lani'kua]], [[Menel]]<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
<br />
===December===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|December 1, 2024<br />
|[[Captain Repairioum]]<br />
|[[Warrick]], [[Bryn]], [[Carver]]<br />
|-<br />
|December 2, 2024<br />
|[[Waylaid Delivery]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Carver]], [[Gramarye]], [[Tlanexhuani]]; '''GM''': Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|December 3, 2024<br />
|[[Barding for Bardlings]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Carver]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Blood, Sand, Water, and Booze]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Bryn]]<br />
|-<br />
|December 03, 2024<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 10)]]<br />
|[[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]; '''GM''': Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|December 4, 2024<br />
|[[The Setting For Questioning]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Tlanexhuani]], [[Zeke]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[A Serpentine Catch]]<br />
|[[Irshya]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|December 5, 2024<br />
|[[First Snow Day]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|December 7, 2024<br />
|[[Day Three]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Verna]], Alud'rigan<br />
|-<br />
|December 8, 2024<br />
|[[Seven]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Tidings of the Dolls]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|December 9, 2024<br />
|[[Fashion, Fangs, and Fiends]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Irshya]]<br />
|-<br />
|December 12, 2024<br />
|[[Little Demontry]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Dirk]], [[Eztli]], [[Murder]]<br />
|-<br />
|December 13, 2024<br />
|[[It's Probably Pirates - Part 2]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Zelany]], [[Warrick]], DM: [[Culix]]<br />
|-<br />
|}</div>Aryiahttp://www.tenebraemush.net/index.php?title=Recent_Logs&diff=43958Recent Logs2024-12-13T21:48:10Z<p>Aryia: /* December */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{AboutLogs}}<br />
<br />
'''[[Archived_Logs|For 2023 and earlier, see the Archives]]'''<br />
<br />
==2024 Logs==<br />
===January===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|January 1, 2024<br />
|[[New Face in Town]]<br />
|[[Kadlin]], [[Murder]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[What is in a Name]]<br />
|[[Khepri]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Triangulating Assumptions]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Eztli]], [[Dirk]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Magic and Archmages]]<br />
|[[Aragos]], [[Kadlin]], [[Mikilos]], [[Murder]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 2, 2024<br />
|[[In Search of a Forge]]<br />
|[[Kadlin]], [[Harshad]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Tales of Redemption and Grief]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Seldan]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 5, 2024<br />
|[[Song and Holy Violence]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Aryia]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 8, 2024<br />
|[[An Ask of Mental Fortitude]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Leirune|Rune]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Axochitl's Aid]]<br />
|[[Seldan]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 9, 2024<br />
|[[Snowballs in the Gardens]]<br />
|[[Acedia]], [[Eztli]], [[Mikilos]], [[Ness]], [[Ous]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 10, 2024<br />
|[[A Meeting In The Wintry Woods]]<br />
|[[Acedia]], [[Kadlin]], [[Munch]], [[Seldan]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 11, 2024<br />
|[[Shenanigans on Ice]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Irshya]], [[Slixvah]], [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Raiders of the Lost Tomb, Part 2]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Fidget]], [[Slixvah]], [[Irshya]], [[Aimarra]], [[Carver]], GM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 14, 2024<br />
|[[Phantom Thieves - The Heist]]<br />
|[[Crik]], [[Reithak]], [[Warrick]], [[Merith]], [[Thoth]], GM: [[Fidget]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Testing Synonie]]<br />
|[[Seldan]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 15, 2024<br />
|[[Raiders of the Lost Tomb Part 3]]<br />
|[[Aimarra]], [[Slixvah]], [[Irshya]], [[Carver]], [[Fidget]], [[Aelwyn]] ('''DM:''' Telamon)<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Chronolark - Part 1]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Aznara]], [[Reithak]], [[Tlanexhuani]], ('''DM:''' Whirlpool)<br />
|-<br />
|January 18, 2024<br />
|[[Workouts and Distractions]]<br />
|[[Choler]], [[Thurid]], [[Eztli]], [[Slixvah]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 19, 2024<br />
|[[World Peace and Hunky Boys]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Dolan]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 21, 2024<br />
|[[Quarry Quarrel, Part 1]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Crik]], [[Khepri]], [[Reithak]], GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 22, 2024<br />
|[[Chronolark - Part 2]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Aznara]], [[Reithak]], [[Tlanexhuani]], GM: [[Whirlpool]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 23, 2024<br />
|[[Prisoner Transfer - Part 1]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Magpie]], GM: [[Whirlpool]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 25, 2024<br />
|[[Silencing the Unloved King]]<br />
|[[Seldan]], [[Dirk]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 27, 2024<br />
|[[Forgotten Blood Finale - Beneath]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Culix]], [[Schara]] GM: [[Harkashan]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 28, 2024<br />
|[[Phantom Thieves - The Heist Pt2]]<br />
|[[Crik]], [[Reithak]], [[Warrick]], [[Merith]], [[Thoth]], GM: [[Fidget]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 29, 2024<br />
|[[Raiders of the Lost Tomb Part 4]]<br />
|[[Aimarra]], [[Slixvah]], [[Irshya]], [[Carver]], [[Fidget]], [[Aelwyn]] ('''DM:''' Telamon)<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Wraps and Hiccups]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Chronolark - Part 3]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Tlanexhuani]], [[Reithak]], [[Aznara]] ('''DM:''' Whirlpool)<br />
|-<br />
|January 30, 2024<br />
|[[Prisoner Transfer - Part 2]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Magpie]], GM: [[Whirlpool]]<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
===February===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|February 1, 2024<br />
|[[Cat Scratch Chills]]<br />
|[[Reithak]], [[Simony]], [[Teppus]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 2, 2024<br />
|[[Raiders of the Lost Tomb Part 5]]<br />
|[[Aimarra]], [[Slixvah]], [[Irshya]], [[Carver]], [[Aelwyn]] ('''DM:''' Telamon)<br />
|-<br />
|February 4, 2024<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Seldan]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 5, 2024<br />
|[[Answers in Amantli (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Cuemoni]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Chronolark - Part 4]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Tlanexhuani]], [[Reithak]] ('''DM:''' Whirlpool)<br />
|-<br />
|February 6, 2024<br />
|[[Prisoner Transfer - Part 3]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Magpie]], GM: [[Whirlpool]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 7, 2024<br />
|[[Mushrooms and Man Left Behind]]<br />
|[[Culix]], [[Irshya]], [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 11, 2024<br />
|[[Quarry Quarrel, Part 2]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Reithak]], [[Crik]], [[Khepri]], GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Cultivating Humility]]<br />
|[[Alfrik]], [[Munch]], [[Murder]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Seldan]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 12, 2024<br />
|[[Chronolark - Part 5]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Tlanexhuani]], [[Reithak]] ('''DM:''' Whirlpool)<br />
|-<br />
|February 13, 2024<br />
|[[Sound Mind]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Harkashan]], [[Simony]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Answers in Amantli (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Cuemoni]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 14, 2024<br />
|[[Fire birds and sharp sticks]]<br />
|[[Crik]], [[Eztli]], [[Rhar]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Simony's Haven]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 15, 2024<br />
|[[Cold Winter Encounters]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 16, 2024<br />
|[[Summoning Aid]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 18, 2024<br />
|[[The show must drag on]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Culix]], [[Eztli]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 18, 2024<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 3)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Seldan]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Quarry Quarrel Part 3]]<br />
|[[Khepri]], [[Thoth]], [[Reithak]], [[Crik]], GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 19, 2024<br />
|[[Temple District Ruminations]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Simony]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[The Weight of Responsibility]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Chronolark - Part 6]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Tlanexhuani]], [[Reithak]], [[Aznara]] ('''DM:''' Whirlpool)<br />
|-<br />
|February 20, 2024<br />
|[[Dead Men]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Harkashan]], [[Simony]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[A Single Nail]]<br />
|[[SImony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 22, 2024<br />
|[[Creation of Ash]]<br />
|[[Cuemoni]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 23, 2024<br />
|[[Expect the Unexpected]]<br />
|[[Harkashan]], [[Simony]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[To Stalk The Fiend]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 25, 2024<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 4)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Seldan]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 26, 2024<br />
|[[Serpentine Showing]]<br />
|[[Alfrik]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 28, 2024<br />
|[[Ten Year Step]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Alfrik]], [[Auranar]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Forgotten Blood Finale - Assassins]]<br />
|[[Reithak]], [[Crik]], [[Aznara]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 29, 2024<br />
|[[Make Cookies Not War]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Demand a Favor]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Golfbag of Glaives]]<br />
|[[Verna]], [[Culix]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Alfrik]]<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
===March===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|March 1, 2024<br />
|[[Releasing the Hounds]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 3, 2024<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 5)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Seldan]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Personal Hero]]<br />
|[[Harkashan]], [[Rune]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 4, 2024<br />
|[[Chronolark - Part 8]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Aznara]], [[Reithak]], [[Tlanexhuani]], ('''DM:''' Whirlpool)<br />
|-<br />
|March 5, 2024<br />
|[[Golden Coast Cruise]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Slixvah]], [[Simony]], [[Tlanexhuani]], [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 6, 2024<br />
|[[Unlock, Unbind, Hide]]<br />
|[[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Leirune|Rune]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Body Guard]]<br />
|[[Alfrik]], [[Harshad]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 9, 2024<br />
|[[Adventure's End?]]<br />
|[[Acedia]], [[Seldan]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 10, 2024<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 6)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Seldan]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 11, 2024<br />
|[[Facing Another Trial]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Harkashan]], [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 12, 2024<br />
|[[Chronolark - Part 9]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Reithak]], [[Tlanexhuani]], ('''DM:''' Whirlpool)<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[You Won't Be Alone]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Slixvah]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 14, 2024<br />
|[[To the Victor Go the Spoils]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]; DM: [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 15, 2024<br />
|[[Forearmed is Forwarned]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Warrick]], [[Schara]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[The Eve Before Death]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Harkashan]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 17, 2024<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 7): The Poetry Corner]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Seldan]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]]; DM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|March 18, 2024<br />
|[[A Golden Ending (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Slixvah]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 19, 2024<br />
|[[A Morning At The Ox]]<br />
|[[Harshad]], [[Murder]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 20, 2024<br />
|[[Fantasy Gladiator League]]<br />
|[[Irshya]], [[Slixvah]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Aspiring Aspire-ations ]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Faranmidahn]], [[Irshya]] DM: [[Whirlpool]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 23, 2024<br />
|[[Go Home History You're Drunk]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Crik]], [[Mikilos]], [[Reithak]], DM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|March 24, 2024<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 8)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Seldan]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]]; DM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|March 25, 2024<br />
|[[A Golden Ending (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Slixvah]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 26, 2024<br />
|[[To Find a Mourner (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Auranar]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]; DM: Verna<br />
|-<br />
|March 27, 2024<br />
|[[Aspiring Aspire-ations, Pt2]]<br />
|[[Fidget]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Irshya]], [[Faranmidahn]]; DM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|March 31, 2024<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 9)]]<br />
|[[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Seldan]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]]; DM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
<br />
===April===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|April 1, 2024<br />
|[[A Golden Ending (Part 3)]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Slixvah]], [[Telamon]]; DM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|April 2, 2024<br />
|[[Aspiring Aspire-ations, Pt3]]<br />
|[[Fidget]], [[Irshya]], [[Etzli]], [[Aelwyn]]; GM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|April 3, 2024<br />
|[[Welcome Warden]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Murder]], [[Rhar]], [[Leirune|Rune]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 5, 2024<br />
|[[Cover Letter]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Slixvah]], [[Eztli]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Noodles and Sake]]<br />
|[[Choler]], [[Harshad]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 8, 2024<br />
|[[Frozen Veins]]<br />
|[[Aragos]], [[Harshad]], [[Palomas]], [[Reithak]], [[Quinn]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 10, 2024<br />
|[[Stop Me if You Have Heard This One]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Irshya]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 11, 2024<br />
|[[A Courier for a Page]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], Npcs: [[Slixvah]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 12, 2024<br />
|[[Needles And News]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Choler]], [[Eztli]], [[Slixvah]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 14, 2024<br />
|[[Three Assassins]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Reithak]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 10)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Seldan]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 15, 2024<br />
|[[A Golden Ending (Part 4)]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Slixvah]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 17, 2024<br />
|[[Aspiring Aspire-ations, Part 4]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Carver]], [[Eztli]], [[Faranmidahn]], [[Irshya]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 18, 2024<br />
|[[Repose in Two Forms]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[To Find a Mourner (Part 3)]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Auranar]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]] DM [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 20, 2024<br />
|[[Tears of Death]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Corey]], [[Rhar]], [[Rune]], [[Thoth]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 21, 2024<br />
|[[Whilst You Lay Dreaming]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 11)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Seldan]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]]; GM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|April 22, 2024<br />
|[[Birds of another Feather]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Reithak]], [[Sabina]], [[Xasany]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Revelation Raven]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Of Spring and Gardening]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 23, 2024<br />
|[[Cutscene: Sins of the Father]]<br />
|Caeles Miranore, Kiira Theran, Caeleil Miranore (NPCs by [[Leirune|Rune]] and [[Simony]])<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Return of the Bina]]<br />
|[[Slixvah]], [[Irshya]], [[Sabina]], [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[To Find a Mourner (Part 4)]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Auranar]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]; DM [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 24, 2024<br />
|[[Aspiring Aspire-ations, Part 5]]<br />
|[[Fidget]], [[Carver]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Faranmidahn]]; GM: [[Whirlpool]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 25, 2024<br />
|[[Hunting Urvis (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[MAC-B1G]], [[Leirune|Rune]]; DM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 27, 2024<br />
|[[Feel the Groove]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Eztli]], [[MAC-B1G]], [[Magpie]]; DM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|April 28, 2024<br />
|[[Morning in Goblintown]]<br />
|[[Harshad]], [[Choler]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 12)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Seldan]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]]; GM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|April 29, 2024<br />
|[[The Stage Is Set]]<br />
|[[Sabina]]; GM: Derecho<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Rider of Decisions]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]]; GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
<br />
===May===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|May 1, 2024<br />
|[[Silver Misses Snow]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Choler]], [[Corey]], [[Eztli]], [[Skielstregar]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Warnings on Deaf Ears]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Fidget]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 2, 2024<br />
|[[Hunting Urvis (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[MAC-B1G]], [[Leirune|Rune]]; DM: Telamon<br />
|-<br />
|May 3, 2024<br />
|[[Trade Off]]<br />
|[[Harshad]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 5, 2024<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 13)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Seldan]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]]; DM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|May 6, 2024<br />
|[[Maybe Fae-be]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 7, 2024<br />
|[[A Happy Dance]]<br />
|[[Karasu]], [[Ravenstongue]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[A Close Shave]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Simony]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[At Nothing We See]]<br />
|[[Choler]], [[Cuemoni]], [[Fidget]], [[Tlanexhuani]], [[Zeke]]; DM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|May 8, 2024<br />
|[[Fashion Shopping Preperusal ]]<br />
|[[Eztli]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Aryia]], [[Simony]], [[Aznara]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[To Find a Mourner (Part 5)]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Auranar]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]; DM [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 10, 2024<br />
|[[Piecing Together Me]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Corey]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Tlanexhuani]]; DM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|May 12, 2024<br />
|[[Hunting Urvis (Part 3)]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[MAC-B1G]], [[Leirune|Rune]]; DM: Telamon<br />
|-<br />
|May 14, 2024<br />
|[[A Fiend In Plain Sight]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 15, 2024<br />
|[[To Find a Mourner (Part 6)]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Auranar]], [[Harkashan]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]; DM [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 16, 2024<br />
|[[Fab Fabric and Fire]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Noodles and a Future Heist]]<br />
|[[Choler]], [[Harshad]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 18, 2024<br />
|[[Honey Do]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Magpie]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
| <br />
|[[Mothers and Patrons]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Harkashan]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 19, 2024<br />
|[[Hunting Urvis (Part 4)]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[MAC-B1G]], [[Leirune|Rune]]; DM: Telamon<br />
|-<br />
|May 20, 2024<br />
|[[We Are Seen]]<br />
|[[Cuemoni]], [[Fidget]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Tlanexhuani]], [[Zeke]]; DM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Rain and Bath House]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Leirune|Rune]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 21, 2024<br />
|[[Simpler Things]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 22, 2024<br />
|[[The Name-Stealer]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[The Final Spires, Part 1]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Fidget|NAME UNKNOWN]], [[Tlanexhuani]]; DM: Whirlpool<br />
|- <br />
|May 23, 2024<br />
|[[Never Even]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Slixvah]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[The Urvis Update]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[MAC-B1G]], [[Rune]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 24, 2024<br />
|[[Unpleasant News at the Noodle Stand]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Stained Glass Butterfly]]<br />
|[[Choler]], [[Harshad]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 26, 2024<br />
|[[Warning the Mislead]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Thoth]], Nameless ([[Fidget]])<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[To Find a Mourner (Part 7)]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Auranar]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 27, 2024<br />
|[[Changing Seasons and Hearts]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Aragos]], [[Eztli]]. [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 28, 2024<br />
|[[He Says]]<br />
|[[Sabina]], [[Thoth]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Whatamelons and Wanderers]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Irshya]], [[Sabina]], [[Slixvah]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Crimson to Show Off]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Aryia]], [[Irshya]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 30, 2024<br />
|[[The Final Spires, Part 2]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Fidget|NAME UNKNOWN]], [[Tlanexhuani]]; DM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[What Troubles Those in the Market]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Simony]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Slixvah]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 30, 2024<br />
|[[A Stealthy Inquest]]<br />
|[[Choler]], [[Harshad]]<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
<br />
===June===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|June 2, 2024<br />
|[[Noodles After The Heist]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Choler]], [[Harshad]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 4, 2024<br />
|[[He Says (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Sabina]], [[Thoth]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[What Makes A Cavalier Attitude?]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Zofija]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 5, 2024<br />
|[[Down the River]]<br />
|[[Skielstregar]], [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[The Final Spires, Part 3]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Fidget|NAME UNKNOWN]], [[Tlanexhuani]]; DM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[A Castle In My Dreams]]<br />
|[[Telamon]] (vignette)<br />
|-<br />
|June 7, 2024<br />
|[[Break the Mold]]<br />
|[[Aeson]], [[Eztli]], [[MAC-B1G]], [[Mikilos]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 8, 2024<br />
|[[Fictitious - I]] <br />
|[[Aragos]], [[Fidget|NAME UNKNOWN]] , [[Gramarye]], [[Lanier]], [[Vaera]]; DM: Thoth<br />
|-<br />
|June 9, 2024<br />
|[[To Find a Mourner (Part 8)]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Auranar]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]; DM: Verna<br />
|-<br />
|June 10, 2024<br />
|[[Bedtime Butterflies]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Eztli]], [[Lanier]]; DM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|June 12, 2024<br />
|[[The Castle on the Edge of Waking]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[The Final Spires, Part 4]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Fidget|NAME UNKNOWN]], [[Tlanexhuani]]; DM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|June 13, 2024<br />
|[[Forearmed is Forwarned Part 2]]<br />
|[[Warrick]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Schara]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 14, 2024<br />
|[[Grand Induction]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Culix]], [[Eztli]], [[Simony]], DM: [[Aryia]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Five Nightmares]]<br />
|[[Aeson]], [[Carver]], [[Eztli]], [[MAC-B1G]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 15, 2024<br />
|[[Five Nightmares (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Eztli]], [[MAC-B1G]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Dwarf Fortress: Deepest Depths - I]]<br />
|[[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Garden Lectures Under the Sun]]<br />
|[[Aeson]], [[Mikilos]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 16, 2024<br />
|[[To Find a Mourner (Part 9)]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Auranar]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 17, 2024<br />
|[[When you Wish Upon a Fish]]<br />
|[[Dirk]], [[Magpie]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 18, 2024<br />
|[[Wasted Years]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[He Says (Part 3)]]<br />
|[[Sabina]], [[Thoth]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 19, 2024<br />
|[[A Warriors Instinct]]<br />
|[[Aragos]], [[Gramarye]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Pillory Blues]]<br />
|[[Eztli]], [[Telamon]], [[Yazlo]], [[Zeke]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Ashes on the Ground]]<br />
|[[Gramarye]], [[Thoth]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 20, 2024<br />
|[[For A Few Potions More]]<br />
|[[Choler]], [[Cuemoni]], [[Warrick]]; GM: Telamon<br />
|-<br />
|June 21, 2024<br />
|[[Nonlinear Pie]]<br />
|[[Verna]], [[Auranar]], [[Aryia]], [[Eztli]], [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Forearmed is Forwarned Part 3]]<br />
|[[Warrick]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Schara]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 22, 2024<br />
|[[Best Boy]]<br />
|[[Crik]], [[Menel]], [[Zofija]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 23, 2024<br />
|[[A Warning Not A Gift]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Harshad]], NPC Sori - [[Karasu]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Dwarf Fortress: Deepest Depths - II]]<br />
|[[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], DM: [[Culix]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[One Thousand Cranes]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 24, 2024<br />
|[[The Price of Fish]]<br />
|[[Arzhela]], [[Crik]], [[Cuemoni]], [[Murder]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[The Weight of Expectations]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[He Says (Part 4)]]<br />
|[[Sabina]], [[Thoth]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 25, 2024<br />
|[[Full Day at the Baths]]<br />
|[[Slixvah]], [[Irshya]], [[Culix]], [[Leirune|Rune]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Upon the Koz-way]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Aryia]], [[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 26, 2024<br />
|[[The Final Spires, Part 5]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Carver]], [[Eztli]], [[Fidget|NAME UNKNOWN]]; DM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|June 27, 2024<br />
|[[Faphinae's Fanfare]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Simony]], [[Reithak]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Gearsmasher]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Corey]], [[Eztli]], [[MAC-B1G]], [[Skielstregar]]; guest star: [[Telamon]]; GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|June 28, 2024<br />
|[[Soul Food]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Aryia]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Fiends and Fae]]<br />
|[[Telamon]], [[Ravenstongue]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[The Never-ending Story]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Leirune|Rune]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 29, 2024<br />
|[[Game On!]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Eztli]], [[Karasu]], [[Leirune|Rune]] ;GM: [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 30, 2024<br />
|[[Fragile Like Trust]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[A Will to Kill]]<br />
|Faphinae & Sori [[Corey]], [[Karasu]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Silent Sanitorium]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Dirk]], [[Harkashan]], [[MAC-B1G]], [[Rune]]; DM: [[Culix]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|}<br />
<br />
<br />
===July===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|July 1, 2024<br />
|[[Hunting Lore in the Library]]<br />
|[[Alaric]], [[Simony]], [[Verna]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 2, 2024<br />
|[[Death Comes Another Day]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Unravel Their Riddles]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 3, 2024<br />
|[[Mist and Magic]]<br />
|[[Alaric]], [[Crik]], [[Murder]], [[Slixvah]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 4, 2024<br />
|[[A Lesson in Forgiveness]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 5, 2024<br />
|[[Silence in the Library]]<br />
|[[Harshad]], [[Menel]], [[Palomas]], [[Reithak]], [[Warrick]], [[Zigrun]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 6, 2024<br />
|[[Spelunking]]<br />
|[[Crik]], [[Cuemoni]], [[Harshad]], [[Menel]], [[Reithak]], [[Sjach]]; GM: [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 7, 2024<br />
|[[A Story Born of Hope]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 9, 2024<br />
|[[Sands through the Hourglass]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Culix]], [[Eztli]], [[Menel]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 10, 2024<br />
|[[Forlorn Moon (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]; GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[The Final Spires, Part 6]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Carver]], [[Eztli]], [[Fidget|NAME UNKNOWN]]; DM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
| [[Tornmawr Torpedo]]<br />
|[[Culix]], [[Aryia]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Bryn]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 11, 2024<br />
|[[Boogle Boogle]]<br />
|[[Aragos]], [[Thoth]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Forlorn Moon (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]; GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|July 12, 2024<br />
|[[Name Exchange ]]<br />
|[[Gramarye]], [[Thoth]]; GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|July 13, 2024<br />
|[[Moment of the Future]]<br />
|[[Gramarye]], [[Thoth]]; GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|July 14, 2024<br />
|[[Silent Sanitorium Part 2]]<br />
|[[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Aelwyn]], [[MAC-B1G]], Dirk, GM: Culix<br />
|-<br />
|July 15, 2024<br />
|[[Explosions and Slaying]]<br />
|[[Warrick]], [[Bryn]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Heir to the Throne - Beginning]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Cuemoni]], [[Harshad]], [[Menel]], [[Warrick]], [[Zofija]]; GM: Harkashan<br />
|-<br />
|July 19, 2024<br />
|[[Summer Days]]<br />
|[[Warrick]], [[Sjach]], [[Aznara]], DM: [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 21, 2024<br />
|[[Vagrant Tower - Void Engine 1]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Rune]], [[Eztli]], [[Iskandar]], [[Harkashan]], GM: Culix<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Following a Portent]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 22, 2024<br />
|[[Heir to the Throne: Trouble in Unbundun Part 1]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Crik]], [[Harshad]], [[Warrick]], [[Zofija]]; GM: Harkashan<br />
|-<br />
|July 23, 2024<br />
|[[Tales of Wrassling and Cages]]<br />
|[[Warrick]], [[Bryn]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Mountaineering Investigations]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Eztli]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Garak]], GM: [[Aryia]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 24, 2024<br />
|[[A Consecration]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Nameless|Fidget]], [[Carver]], [[Eztli]], [[Delilah]], [[Harkashan]], GM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|July 25, 2024<br />
|[[Turning Reputation into Charity]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 26, 2024<br />
|[[Can't Sleep]]<br />
|[[Nameless|Fidget]], [[Simony]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Craven Match]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Bryn]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Aurum Among Thieves]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Eztli]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 29, 2024<br />
|[[It's Easy Being Green]]<br />
|[[Bryn]]; NPC: Cynthia<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Heir to the Throne: Trouble in Unbundun Part 2]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Crik]], [[Warrick]], [[Zofija]]; GM: [[Harkashan]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 30, 2024<br />
|[[Mountaineering Explanations]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Garak]], [[Rune]], [[Slixvah]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 31, 2024<br />
|[[Paint Ponderings]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Skielstregar]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|}<br />
<br />
<br />
===August===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|August 04, 2024<br />
|[[Fair Pixie]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Vagrant Tower: Void Engine Part 2]]<br />
|[[Eztli]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Rune]], [[Harkashan]], [[Iskandar]], '''GM''': Culix<br />
|-<br />
|August 5, 2024<br />
|[[Heir to the Throne: Trouble in Unbundun Part 3]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Crik]], [[Harshad]], [[Warrick]], [[Zofija]], '''GM''': [[Harkashan]]<br />
|-<br />
|August 8, 2024<br />
|[[I Know the Pieces Fit]]<br />
|[[Warrick]], [[Crik]], [[Bryn]]<br />
|-<br />
|August 9, 2024<br />
|[[Litigation]]<br />
|[[Fidget]], [[Khepri]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|August 11, 2024<br />
|[[Silent Sanitorium - Part 3]]<br />
|[[Harkashan]], [[Dirk]], [[Rune]], [[Aelwyn]] '''GM''': [[Culix]]<br />
|-<br />
|August 18, 2024<br />
|[[On the Edge of Living]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|August 19, 2024<br />
|[[Heir to the Throne - Far Beneath Part 1]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Crik]], [[Harshad]], [[Warrick]], [[Zofija]], [[Stena]] '''GM''': [[Harkashan]]<br />
|-<br />
|August 20, 2024<br />
|[[Happiness in Knowledge]]<br />
|[[Aeson]], [[Eztli]], [[Ravenstongue]]<br />
|-<br />
|August 22, 2024<br />
|[[Death With a View]]<br />
|[[Aragos]], [[Khepri]], [[Nameless]], [[Slixvah]]<br />
|-<br />
|August 23, 2024<br />
|[[Toge Means Thorn]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Litigation (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Khepri]], [[Nameless]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Into The Temple - Part 1]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Silmeria]], '''GM''': Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|August 25, 2024<br />
|[[Dusk Blooming Vines]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Cuemoni]], [[Harshad]], [[Lani'kua]], [[Reithak]], [[Sjach]]; '''GM''': Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Apparently Heir]]<br />
|[[Aeson]], [[Eztli]]<br />
|-<br />
|August 26, 2024<br />
|[[Jiji Kiku]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|August 29, 2024<br />
|[[Into The Temple - Part 2]]<br />
| [[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Silmeria]], '''GM''': Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
===September===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|September 1, 2024<br />
|[[Delivery in the Dark]]<br />
|[[Cuemoni]], [[Reithak]], [[Ulthan]]; '''GM''': Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|September 2, 2024<br />
|[[Heir to the Throne - Far Beneath Part 2]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Crik]], [[Stena]], [[Warrick]], [[Zofija]]; ; '''GM''': [[Harkashan]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 4, 2024<br />
|[[Into The Temple - Part 3]]<br />
| [[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Silmeria]], '''GM''': Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|September 6, 2024<br />
|[[Dinner for Four and a Pothy]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 7, 2024<br />
|[[Whispers of Rebellion]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Corey]], with Ansir and Faphinae<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Plotting in the Gardens]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Vex]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Three Old Friends]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Corey]], [[Thoth]], [[Vex]], [[Victor]]; '''GM:''' Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|September 8, 2024<br />
|[[How a Queen is Made]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]]; '''GM:''' Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|September 9, 2024<br />
|[[A Friend for Magpie and Wizard]]<br />
|[[Magpie]], [[Corey]]; '''GM:''' Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|September 10, 2024<br />
|[[Fight for Us]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 11, 2024<br />
|[[Love in Every Moment]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[The Good, The Bad, and the Alchemy]]<br />
|[[Lani'kua]], [[Bryn]], and [[Vex]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 12, 2024<br />
|[[Into The Temple - Part 4]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Silmeria]], '''GM''': Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|September 13, 2024<br />
|[[Simony Signs Up]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 14, 2024<br />
|[[Everyone Needs a Hobby]]<br />
|[[Corey]] (and Faphinae), [[Karasu]], [[Rhar]]; '''GM''': Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|September 15, 2024<br />
|[[Bad Lies, Good People]]<br />
|[[Jezzara]]. [[Auranar]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Sunlight Revelation]]<br />
|[[Schara]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Warrick]], DM: [[Riptide]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 16, 2024<br />
|[[Gratitude]]<br />
|[[Cuemoni]], [[Zeke]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 17, 2024<br />
|[[A Prelude To Revelry]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was - I]]<br />
| [[Harkashan]], [[Simony]], [[Rune]], [[Aryia]], [[Zeke]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 19, 2024<br />
|[[A Storied Working Lunch]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Magpie]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Daily Affirmation]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Verna]], Grandfather (Alud'rigan) '''GM:''' [[Riptide]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Suspicious Stalker (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Corey]], [[Magpie]], [[Simony]]; '''GM:''' Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Into The Temple - Part 5]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Silmeria]], '''GM''': Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|September 20, 2024<br />
|[[Pastries and Purchases]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 21, 2024<br />
|[[If You Love Me]]<br />
|[[Aragos]], [[Gramarye]] - Grandfather (Alud'rigan)<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Pretty in Pink]]<br />
|[[Eztli]], [[Simony]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 22, 2024<br />
|[[Sunlight Revelation Part 2]]<br />
|[[Schara]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Warrick]], DM: [[Riptide]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 23, 2024<br />
|[[Suspicious Stalker (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Corey]], [[Magpie]], [[Simony]]; '''GM:''' Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|September 24, 2024<br />
|[[Gnawing on Metal]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Rhar]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Shiny Hunt]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Auranar]], [[Rune]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 26, 2024<br />
|[[Hunter's Quarry Part 1]]<br />
|[[Reithak]], [[Carver]], [[Warrick]], DM:[[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 27, 2024<br />
|[[Return of the Orchard Artificer]]<br />
|[[Schara]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Warrick]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 29, 2024<br />
|[[Hunter's Quarry Part 2]]<br />
|[[Reithak]], [[Carver]], [[Warrick]], DM:[[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 29, 2024<br />
|[[Wrench in the Works]]<br />
|[[Crik]], [[Ulthan]], DM:[[Culix]]<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
===October===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|October 1, 2024<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]; '''GM''': Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|October 6, 2024<br />
|[[Connect the Dots (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Corey]], [[Magpie]], [[Telamon]]; '''GM''': Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|October 8, 2024<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 3)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]; '''GM''': Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|October 10, 2024<br />
|[[Connect the Dots (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Corey]], [[Magpie]], [[Telamon]]; '''GM''': Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Into the Temple - Part 6]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Silmeria]], '''GM''': Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|October 12, 2024<br />
|[[Home is Where the Truth is]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|October 14, 2024<br />
|[[Connect the Dots (Part 3)]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Corey]], [[Magpie]], [[Telamon]]; '''GM''': Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|October 15, 2024<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 4)]]<br />
|[[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]; '''GM''': Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|October 17, 2024<br />
|[[Into the Temple - Part 7]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Silmeria]], '''GM''': Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[A New Face in the TarRaCe]]<br />
|[[Fayde]], [[Murder]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|October 18, 2024<br />
|[[Little Children]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]]; '''GM''': Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|October 21, 2024<br />
|[[Connect the Dots (Part 4)]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Corey]], [[Magpie]], [[Telamon]]; '''GM''': Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Heir to the Throne - Retake Urah]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Fidget]], [[Zofija]]; '''GM''': Harkashan<br />
|-<br />
|October 22, 2024<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 5)]]<br />
|[[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]; '''GM''': Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|October 23, 2024<br />
|[[Her Biggest Fan (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Dirk]], [[Karasu]], [[Murder]]; DM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|October 24, 2024<br />
|[[Into the Temple - Part 8]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Silmeria]], '''GM''': Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[The Fiend Defeated]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|October 28, 2024<br />
|[[Foxes and Ravens]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]]<br />
|-<br />
|October 29, 2024<br />
|[[Apples of Forgivness]]<br />
|[[Schara]], [[Verna]], [[Zeke]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 6)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]; '''GM''': Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|October 30, 2024<br />
|[[Her Biggest Fan (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Dirk]], [[Karasu]], [[Murder]]; DM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|October 31, 2024<br />
|[[Reunite Once Again]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Into the Temple - Part 9]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Silmeria]], '''GM''': Whirlpool<br />
|}<br />
<br />
<br />
===November===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|November 1, 2024<br />
|[[Caanan Returns]]<br />
|[[Murder]], [[Carver]], [[Schara]], [[Telamon]] (as emitter)<br />
|-<br />
|November 2, 2024<br />
|[[Ravenkeeper's Tidings]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|November 4, 2024<br />
|[[Talking Work Shop]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Schara]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|November 4, 2024<br />
|[[Heir to the Throne - (Re)take Urah]]<br />
|[[Fidget]], [[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Warrick]], [[Zofija]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Her Biggest Fan (Part 3)]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Dirk]], [[Karasu]], [[Murder]]; DM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|November 5, 2024<br />
|[[Posted Notice (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Crik]], [[Schara]], [[Bryn]], [[Ulthan]]; DM: [[Carver]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 7)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]; '''GM''': Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|November 6, 2024<br />
|[[Into the Temple - Part 10]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Harkashan]], [[Eztli]], [[Bryn]], [[Silmeria]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Carver]]; '''GM''': Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|November 11, 2024<br />
|[[Her Biggest Fan (Part 4)]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Dirk]], [[Karasu]], [[Murder]]; DM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|- <br />
|<br />
|[[Posted Notice (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Crik]], [[Schara]], [[Ulthan]]; DM: [[Carver]]<br />
|-<br />
|November 12, 2024<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 8)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]; '''GM''': Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|November 14, 2024<br />
|[[Into the Temple - Part 11]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Harkashan]], [[Eztli]], [[Silmeria]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Carver]]; '''GM''': Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|November 15, 2024<br />
|[[Becoming a Teacher]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|November 16, 2024<br />
|[[Apple Daredevils]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Cuemoni]], [[Culix]], [[Eztli]], [[Irshya]], [[Zeke]]<br />
|-<br />
|November 17, 2024<br />
|[[A Bottle of Dust]]<br />
|[[Zeke]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Winter Strawberries]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Gramarye]], [[Khepri]]; '''GM''': Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|November 18, 2024<br />
|[[Her Biggest Fan (Part 5)]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Dirk]], [[Karasu]], [[Murder]]; DM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|November 19, 2024<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 9)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]; '''GM''': Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|November 20, 2024<br />
|[[Into the Temple - Part 12]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Harkashan]], [[Eztli]], [[Silmeria]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Carver]]; '''GM''': Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|November 22, 2024<br />
|[[Welcome Tarsh]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Tarsh]], [[Zeke]]<br />
|-<br />
|November 24, 2024<br />
|[[All Hands]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Tarsh]], [[Ulthan]]; '''GM''': Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Silent Sanitorium - Part 4]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Harkashan]], [[MAC-B1G]], [[Rune]]; DM: [[Culix]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Meetings and Clans]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Murder]], [[Tarsh]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Familiar Faces]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Khepri]], [[Gramarye]]. [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|November 26, 2024<br />
|[[Setting the Stage]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Eztli]], [[Warrick]], [[Murder]], [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|November 27, 2024<br />
|[[A Misplaced Case]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Lani'kua]], [[Menel]]; '''GM''': Telamon<br />
|-<br />
|November 28, 2024<br />
|[[A Lucky Meeting]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Schara]]<br />
|-<br />
|November 29, 2024<br />
|[[Harvest Dance]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Auranar]], [[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Eztli]], [[Murder]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Slixvah]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[It's Probably Pirates - Part 1]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Warrick]], [[Zelany]]; '''GM''': [[Culix]]<br />
|-<br />
|November 28, 2024<br />
|[[Cruel Fear]]<br />
|[[Lani'kua]], [[Menel]]<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
<br />
===December===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|December 1, 2024<br />
|[[Captain Repairioum]]<br />
|[[Warrick]], [[Bryn]], [[Carver]]<br />
|-<br />
|December 2, 2024<br />
|[[Waylaid Delivery]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Carver]], [[Gramarye]], [[Tlanexhuani]]; '''GM''': Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|December 3, 2024<br />
|[[Barding for Bardlings]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Carver]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Blood, Sand, Water, and Booze]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Bryn]]<br />
|-<br />
|December 03, 2024<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 10)]]<br />
|[[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]; '''GM''': Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|December 4, 2024<br />
|[[The Setting For Questioning]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Tlanexhuani]], [[Zeke]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[A Serpentine Catch]]<br />
|[[Irshya]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|December 5, 2024<br />
|[[First Snow Day]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|December 7, 2024<br />
|[[Day Three]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Verna]], Alud'rigan<br />
|-<br />
|December 8, 2024<br />
|[[Seven]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Tidings of the Dolls]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|December 9, 2024<br />
|[[Fashion, Fangs, and Fiends]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Irshya]]<br />
|-<br />
|December 12, 2024<br />
|[[Little Demontry]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Dirk]], [[Eztli]], [[Murder]]<br />
|-<br />
|December 13, 2024<br />
|[[Probably Pirates Part 2]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Zelany]], [[Warrick]], DM: [[Culix]]<br />
|-<br />
|}</div>Aryiahttp://www.tenebraemush.net/index.php?title=Captain_Repairioum&diff=43929Captain Repairioum2024-12-02T02:56:45Z<p>Aryia: Created page with ":: ''Lower Trades, Late Morning, Slatesteel Services'' The fire of the recent festivals seems to be on its last embers, as the icy winds of winter seems to chill the streets. An open faced workshop billows out heat from an open door propped ajar into a deeper forge within, though two figures are in the workbench area facing the street. One is seated, an Eldanar man of copper red hair in a grey tanktop, slouched over a chair in the direct heat blast from the forge. Scarr..."</p>
<hr />
<div>:: ''Lower Trades, Late Morning, Slatesteel Services''<br />
<br />
The fire of the recent festivals seems to be on its last embers, as the icy winds of winter seems to chill the streets. An open faced workshop billows out heat from an open door propped ajar into a deeper forge within, though two figures are in the workbench area facing the street. One is seated, an Eldanar man of copper red hair in a grey tanktop, slouched over a chair in the direct heat blast from the forge. Scarred and tattooed arm covering his eyes to shield from it, but basking it in it nonetheless.<br />
<br />
The other is of a stocky Khazad woman, salt and peppered hair with a large scar on the side of her face that pulls her features taut. She's currently hammering out a armet helm with a rubber mallet, scowling. Mending a crack in it, it seems. "I swear ta' fuckin' all tha Reos find right like a screw inta a bolt, jus' cause a tool is mean for a purpose, it ain't mean ya gotta bash th' tool ova and ova again!"<br />
<br />
Warrick groans. "I know, I know. But blame the others using maces on my skull."<br />
<br />
"This is the third helm in two weeks, Rick!" she huffs, taking her frustration out on the armor.<br />
<br />
"If I made it, it would have been five."<br />
<br />
"Ya sayin' my work is bad?"<br />
<br />
"Well my brains are in my skull so, no."<br />
<br />
"Smart words."<br />
<br />
Just the smithy Bryn was looking for! Unfortunately, though she was there once, she couldn't remember exactly where it was: let's face it, Alexandria is a giant city.<br />
<br />
Fortunately, Warrick is already there, and the griping at him makes it MUCH easier to zero in on the place. She heads thattaways, giving the khazad and Warrick a lifted hand. "Ey! What'd he do this time?"<br />
<br />
It's time to upgrade equipment. Tested as some of her pieces may be, they had finally been found wanting. This was the second best place to touch base with skilled craftsman capable of forging armaments of felling fell fiends. It's just a shame it's so cold while doing so. Carver's silhouette has never been described as shapely; now she looks like some wild creature. Mound of shambling furs and hide that both protect against blade and chill. The warmth, cherry-red, of the open workroom cannot help but draw moths to its flame and this little spotty bug huddles up with empty paws to warm them. "Hello." So much raw exuberance can not simply be contained.<br />
<br />
Oh, she recognizes at least two. "Oh, hello." A little less cool, more familiar. "S'good to see you both."<br />
<br />
Slatesteel wipes her brow free of sweat, about to fire another retort before she spots a customer coming up. "Heya lass- oh this sorry sack?" she jabs a thumb towards him. "Thinks its cocked up fun ta bash his face against sticks and stones."<br />
<br />
"Armor doesn't work if you just sit there," Warrick defends, raising his hands defensively. A chuckle escapes him, and he shakes his head. "Hey Bryn. What are you up to..."<br />
<br />
His voice trails off as he spots the figure coming up to chill their bones. It looked almost like a large street animal- and not the first time a gaggle of critters hung around the front- seeking shelter, but- "Oh! Hello Carver, good to see you too," Warrick greets, a foot reaching out to yank a stool into the pluming heat that warbles the air. "Cold yeah? Take a load off."<br />
<br />
The smith gives a quick glance up after hammering a few more cracks back into place. "Damn Rick, you doing beats again? Knowin' everyone walkin' up."<br />
<br />
He shakes his head. "Not in the Watch again. Friends from sorties."<br />
<br />
"Better he blocks it with 'is face," Bryn grins at Slatesteel,"les' he get hit somewhers more pretty." She gives Warrick a light thump on the shoulder with her stump before turning to the 'boisterous' greeting from third. "Ey!" she gives a waved with her left to Carver. "Whatcha doin?"<br />
<br />
"Thanks," Carver says, happy to take a seat. She stomps her feet as she settles in, fingers waving before the exhaust blown out from the forge. It is one thing she is jealous about the craftsmen's lifestyle. A blacksmith is only cold when the day's work is over. Her gaze drops to Bryn's missing limb and she grimaces. "Sorry." She looks like she may have been ready to ask more. Does it still hurt? Are you going to get some sort of artificer prosthetic? Ever feel like it's still there? Who knows.<br />
<br />
In the end, she looks away without any of them blubbering to the forefront. "We met on some jobs on the path, but I, uh... well, I wanted to see about replacing some of my kit. So I'm getting a 'feel' for who does work in the area."<br />
<br />
GAME: Warrick rolls dexterity: (8)+4: 12<br />
<br />
"Aye tru' that, lass," Slatesteel snickers at Bryn. Warrick just sighs and shakes his head. He takes a thump readily, but is a bit surprised by the- oh, right.<br />
<br />
"Holding up alright?" he asks of Bryn, nodding towards the stump. Straight and to the point. Slateteel takes note, but doesn't seem perturbed by it.<br />
<br />
But there's talk of equipment being replaced! The smith perks up, all but tossing the helmet and rubber mallet at Warrick, ignoring his yelp of surprise as he stumble juggles the two items in the air. "Well ya came to the right place, lass. I make all the shit Rick has there, and all the stuff that he breaks is his modifications," she beams, half her face pulled taut from the scar on the side of her face. "Normally been making day ta day stuff, but some folks from the army come by for special orders. Name's Slatesteel."<br />
<br />
"My old captain," Warrick adds, managing to clutch all the equipment to his chest, smearing soot on the shirt.<br />
<br />
Bryn notes Carver's gaze, but doesn't seem to follow the ...apology(?). "Ain nothin ta be sorry about, that I know!" By the same tone, she shrugs at Warrick's question. "Holdin up fine. Pretty much all healed up. Worst part's been havin ta start carryin a li'l pig-sticker stead o' my big one. That 'n learnin ta use this one," she waggles her left hand, "when I gotta scratch my arse." They both get a wide grin for a moment before she looks to Slatesteel.<br />
<br />
"Yer more popular than even Warrick, 'ere. Him still breathin gives good word fer yer work, y'know. S'why I came by. Figured I'd see if'n ye could make somethin fer me, too."<br />
<br />
"Oh, you retired into the work of smithing?" Carver asks. "Probably pays better than the Watch did for either of you." That's part of why she's adventurin'! She rubs her cheek with her knuckles in thought. "Well... I was in the market for barding and personal armor, but he likes his heavier. I need to be light enough that I can still draw on my bow while also on horseback. Grandad just don't have to do that with his crossbow." Which, quite so innocently, she makes trouble. "Did you make his crossbow too? It was pretty impressive. Looked custom." Accidental craftsmanship drama.<br />
<br />
She does show her hatchet. It's beyond chipped and old now. Well past its prime and obviously reheaded. "Oh, and this thing. I need a new sidearm but was thinking something less heavy. Maybe a long knife? What did you need, Bryn?"<br />
<br />
Now that gets a laugh out of the smith and- surprisingly- from Warrick. They're rather light hearted about such a sudden and horrid development. "Got a lass that works fer me sometimes tha's got fancy metal arms, tells me th' hardest part is all tha pins and needles feelin' after its all healed up," Slatesteel notes. "But tha's good it's all good now."<br />
<br />
The smith bobs her head to Carver. "Aye! Did my tour with hard ass over there-" she nods towards Warrick, who just grunts in acknowledgement as he's starting to work on repairing his own helmet, "-Watch paid like shit, army paid better, but eh, I like this work. Plus, been doin' this since I was a wee lass, so..!"<br />
<br />
She leans on her elbows, listening to Carver's request, while Warrick misses a hammer at Grandad remark. There's a goodhearted sigh, but she ignores him. "Oh I sure make that bloody thing about three times over. He likes to throw it all the time. Was standard issue, but ended up makin' somethin' new back then 'cause he ends up usin' it in the front wit' the squad." She is more than happy to gab on her work.<br />
<br />
The smith leans closer to inspect the hatchet wincing. "Awh, poor thing. Time fo' tha' to go inta reclaim, sorry ta say. Dagger's good fo' many things. Can throw 'em. Could prolly take the metal outta that hatchet if ya care 'bout keepin it around ta remake it inta something."<br />
<br />
She looks to Bryn, curious. "And you? And don't worry, I'm keepin' a mental ledger." She grins.<br />
<br />
"Now I know I ain' workin fer the Watch..." Bryn makes an audible mental note. To Carver, she offers, "If'n I get ta usin ma curveblade 'gain, yer welcome ta the pig-sticker I started usin. It's mostly just a knife about yay long..." She splays her arms to show, though there is some room for interpretation, considering. A good 2-3 foot long knife?<br />
<br />
Then her attention flicks back. "Oh! Think I met 'er, once. Maybe? Oughtta chat at her again sometime..." With a blink, she re-returns back to her other, other thought. "Ye said ye mostly make tools, but also weapons 'n armors 'n all. Don' s'pose ye any good at makin arms?" She lifts her half-forearm, in indication.<br />
<br />
Carver rubs at her cheek with the knuckles, breath steaming out. Bryn's offer of taking her pig sticker should have her giving a snort-laugh and some off-color joke, but new Carver is less fun. She is considering the standing offers. Then Bryn drops the real question. Her little barding and armor wishes are nothing to that christmas's miracle. She looks back to the Once-Army Once-Watchlady Now-Full-Time Warrick repairioum. That's by far the more interesting project.<br />
<br />
Heck, Carver was curious if the former captain would even want a project like that.<br />
<br />
"The Watch had its benefits," Warrick counters. "I got to choose my off days-"<br />
<br />
"You of five people lad in all of Alexandria actually /like/ studyin' the law. Why you aren't a barrister I ain' got a clue." Warrick cuts her a squint, but she's already back on the topic of making things once more. "Aye. Schara. Good folk, talks a lot but tha's how they get they think their thoughts." The proposition gets her to blink. "I... don'..."<br />
<br />
She trails off. Stares at the half stump. Rubs her chin. "... now I'll lay it out there I ain't as clever as I was a hundred years ago," she points out. "That bein' said. I... think I could cobble somethin' together. Slips on like a glove, leather straps to ya elbow and shoulder, movin' certain ways would make the fingers bend and release, watchin' Schara helped a bit..."<br />
<br />
Warrick looks up, curious as well. There's a smack as she slaps the workbench. "Fuck it, let's try. No promises, and if it don't work for shite it's free. Beats makin' nails and fixin' his shit."<br />
<br />
"... I still have that mead from the Kingdoms...."<br />
<br />
"Okay, mostly fixin' his shit," she scoffs, grinning. "And you, lass." Slatesteel looks to Carver. "Can get you and whatever steed yer needin' fitted and all that done easy."<br />
<br />
Bryn's eye widens, then her face cracks into a broad grin. "From what I seen, even yer worst's better'n others' best. That 'n it needs ta be strong 'n tough. Like me. Ain' nobody't make shite that lasts like khazad. I'll be payin, I expect." She is nothing if not optimistic.<br />
<br />
She does give a nod to Warrick and jabs her thumb at Carver. "Don' need to put it ahead of others' stuff, neither."<br />
<br />
"I'll bring by Deathless later," Carver says. "That's my horse. I love her." Because everyone needs to know that she would absolutely murder anyone or anything what tried to harm her companion. "She's an Aldui Red, color of the sunset, and fast like the wind. Way faster actually." Sometimes it's easy to forget that Carver is VERY young. Also an embarrassing specimen of a horse girl. "... But, I wanna watch you make the arm. I feel like, uh, I don't know." Her knuckle-cheek rubbing intensifies. "Like I need to. Do Bryn's first."<br />
<br />
"You're goddamn right Khazad shite is built ta last. Why ya think his stuff only snaps when he does somethin' different!" Slatesteel beams as she walks towards the two customers, slapping Bryn on the back. "Nah, he can fix his own stuff. Don' worry. I ain' in no rush ta get anything done. That's how you make fuck ups."<br />
<br />
She looks to Carver, brows raised. "Helluva name for a horse. Had a guy named Reed in th' squad with a Khazdul Stout. Shortest fuckin' horse I've ever seen, but gods damn that thing was wide as it was long. It didn't gallop for shite but it would just keep going forward. It'll be fun ta make armor fo' a horse again."<br />
<br />
The smith is first to catch Carver's little cheek rub again. "How 'bout this," she offers. "We can all watch, Rick goes to grab that mead he's been blue balling me for two weeks on, and we do a lil' sketchin' on the how ya lasses want ya'lls shite ta look like in the forge, yeah?"<br />
<br />
Warrick sighs, getting up and pulling on an overcoat that was tossed aside.<br />
<br />
"Oh shut it, you live four blocks down."<br />
<br />
Carver's smile is wide. It's happy. It's still missing it's front teeth. That sounds like a yes from her.<br />
<br />
"Drinkin 'n plannin sounds perfect ta me!" Bryn is always keen on either or both of those... but maybe more the drinking. Carver's smile is conspicuous when she looks her way, and just makes Bryn's maw widen more. "Bout time ye started grinnin," she encourages, or teases, or both. Then her eye goes to Warrick with a chuckle. "If'n ye want, I can help. Might need ta bring extra."<br />
<br />
Warrick visibly relaxes are Carver opens up. "No worries, I don't live that far, and the bar isn't much further to get some extra. You two get settled in, Cap will gladly chirp your ear off."<br />
<br />
Slatesteel shoves the forge door open wider. "Now that's what I like ta hear. C'mon you two, if I ain' sweatin', I'm too cold. Rick! Get extra!"<br />
<br />
He's already taken three empty backs. "Way ahead of you, Cap."<br />
<br />
<br />
--End Scene-<br />
<br />
[[Category:Logs]]</div>Aryiahttp://www.tenebraemush.net/index.php?title=Recent_Logs&diff=43928Recent Logs2024-12-02T02:48:19Z<p>Aryia: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{AboutLogs}}<br />
<br />
'''[[Archived_Logs|For 2023 and earlier, see the Archives]]'''<br />
<br />
==2024 Logs==<br />
===January===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|January 1, 2024<br />
|[[New Face in Town]]<br />
|[[Kadlin]], [[Murder]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[What is in a Name]]<br />
|[[Khepri]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Triangulating Assumptions]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Eztli]], [[Dirk]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Magic and Archmages]]<br />
|[[Aragos]], [[Kadlin]], [[Mikilos]], [[Murder]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 2, 2024<br />
|[[In Search of a Forge]]<br />
|[[Kadlin]], [[Harshad]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Tales of Redemption and Grief]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Seldan]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 5, 2024<br />
|[[Song and Holy Violence]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Aryia]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 8, 2024<br />
|[[An Ask of Mental Fortitude]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Leirune|Rune]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Axochitl's Aid]]<br />
|[[Seldan]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 9, 2024<br />
|[[Snowballs in the Gardens]]<br />
|[[Acedia]], [[Eztli]], [[Mikilos]], [[Ness]], [[Ous]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 10, 2024<br />
|[[A Meeting In The Wintry Woods]]<br />
|[[Acedia]], [[Kadlin]], [[Munch]], [[Seldan]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 11, 2024<br />
|[[Shenanigans on Ice]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Irshya]], [[Slixvah]], [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Raiders of the Lost Tomb, Part 2]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Fidget]], [[Slixvah]], [[Irshya]], [[Aimarra]], [[Carver]], GM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 14, 2024<br />
|[[Phantom Thieves - The Heist]]<br />
|[[Crik]], [[Reithak]], [[Warrick]], [[Merith]], [[Thoth]], GM: [[Fidget]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Testing Synonie]]<br />
|[[Seldan]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 15, 2024<br />
|[[Raiders of the Lost Tomb Part 3]]<br />
|[[Aimarra]], [[Slixvah]], [[Irshya]], [[Carver]], [[Fidget]], [[Aelwyn]] ('''DM:''' Telamon)<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Chronolark - Part 1]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Aznara]], [[Reithak]], [[Tlanexhuani]], ('''DM:''' Whirlpool)<br />
|-<br />
|January 18, 2024<br />
|[[Workouts and Distractions]]<br />
|[[Choler]], [[Thurid]], [[Eztli]], [[Slixvah]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 19, 2024<br />
|[[World Peace and Hunky Boys]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Dolan]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 21, 2024<br />
|[[Quarry Quarrel, Part 1]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Crik]], [[Khepri]], [[Reithak]], GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 22, 2024<br />
|[[Chronolark - Part 2]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Aznara]], [[Reithak]], [[Tlanexhuani]], GM: [[Whirlpool]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 23, 2024<br />
|[[Prisoner Transfer - Part 1]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Magpie]], GM: [[Whirlpool]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 25, 2024<br />
|[[Silencing the Unloved King]]<br />
|[[Seldan]], [[Dirk]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 27, 2024<br />
|[[Forgotten Blood Finale - Beneath]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Culix]], [[Schara]] GM: [[Harkashan]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 28, 2024<br />
|[[Phantom Thieves - The Heist Pt2]]<br />
|[[Crik]], [[Reithak]], [[Warrick]], [[Merith]], [[Thoth]], GM: [[Fidget]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 29, 2024<br />
|[[Raiders of the Lost Tomb Part 4]]<br />
|[[Aimarra]], [[Slixvah]], [[Irshya]], [[Carver]], [[Fidget]], [[Aelwyn]] ('''DM:''' Telamon)<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Wraps and Hiccups]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Chronolark - Part 3]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Tlanexhuani]], [[Reithak]], [[Aznara]] ('''DM:''' Whirlpool)<br />
|-<br />
|January 30, 2024<br />
|[[Prisoner Transfer - Part 2]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Magpie]], GM: [[Whirlpool]]<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
===February===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|February 1, 2024<br />
|[[Cat Scratch Chills]]<br />
|[[Reithak]], [[Simony]], [[Teppus]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 2, 2024<br />
|[[Raiders of the Lost Tomb Part 5]]<br />
|[[Aimarra]], [[Slixvah]], [[Irshya]], [[Carver]], [[Aelwyn]] ('''DM:''' Telamon)<br />
|-<br />
|February 4, 2024<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Seldan]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 5, 2024<br />
|[[Answers in Amantli (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Cuemoni]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Chronolark - Part 4]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Tlanexhuani]], [[Reithak]] ('''DM:''' Whirlpool)<br />
|-<br />
|February 6, 2024<br />
|[[Prisoner Transfer - Part 3]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Magpie]], GM: [[Whirlpool]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 7, 2024<br />
|[[Mushrooms and Man Left Behind]]<br />
|[[Culix]], [[Irshya]], [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 11, 2024<br />
|[[Quarry Quarrel, Part 2]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Reithak]], [[Crik]], [[Khepri]], GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Cultivating Humility]]<br />
|[[Alfrik]], [[Munch]], [[Murder]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Seldan]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 12, 2024<br />
|[[Chronolark - Part 5]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Tlanexhuani]], [[Reithak]] ('''DM:''' Whirlpool)<br />
|-<br />
|February 13, 2024<br />
|[[Sound Mind]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Harkashan]], [[Simony]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Answers in Amantli (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Cuemoni]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 14, 2024<br />
|[[Fire birds and sharp sticks]]<br />
|[[Crik]], [[Eztli]], [[Rhar]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Simony's Haven]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 15, 2024<br />
|[[Cold Winter Encounters]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 16, 2024<br />
|[[Summoning Aid]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 18, 2024<br />
|[[The show must drag on]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Culix]], [[Eztli]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 18, 2024<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 3)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Seldan]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Quarry Quarrel Part 3]]<br />
|[[Khepri]], [[Thoth]], [[Reithak]], [[Crik]], GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 19, 2024<br />
|[[Temple District Ruminations]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Simony]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[The Weight of Responsibility]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Chronolark - Part 6]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Tlanexhuani]], [[Reithak]], [[Aznara]] ('''DM:''' Whirlpool)<br />
|-<br />
|February 20, 2024<br />
|[[Dead Men]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Harkashan]], [[Simony]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[A Single Nail]]<br />
|[[SImony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 22, 2024<br />
|[[Creation of Ash]]<br />
|[[Cuemoni]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 23, 2024<br />
|[[Expect the Unexpected]]<br />
|[[Harkashan]], [[Simony]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[To Stalk The Fiend]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 25, 2024<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 4)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Seldan]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 26, 2024<br />
|[[Serpentine Showing]]<br />
|[[Alfrik]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 28, 2024<br />
|[[Ten Year Step]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Alfrik]], [[Auranar]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Forgotten Blood Finale - Assassins]]<br />
|[[Reithak]], [[Crik]], [[Aznara]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 29, 2024<br />
|[[Make Cookies Not War]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Demand a Favor]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Golfbag of Glaives]]<br />
|[[Verna]], [[Culix]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Alfrik]]<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
===March===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|March 1, 2024<br />
|[[Releasing the Hounds]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 3, 2024<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 5)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Seldan]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Personal Hero]]<br />
|[[Harkashan]], [[Rune]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 4, 2024<br />
|[[Chronolark - Part 8]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Aznara]], [[Reithak]], [[Tlanexhuani]], ('''DM:''' Whirlpool)<br />
|-<br />
|March 5, 2024<br />
|[[Golden Coast Cruise]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Slixvah]], [[Simony]], [[Tlanexhuani]], [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 6, 2024<br />
|[[Unlock, Unbind, Hide]]<br />
|[[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Leirune|Rune]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Body Guard]]<br />
|[[Alfrik]], [[Harshad]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 9, 2024<br />
|[[Adventure's End?]]<br />
|[[Acedia]], [[Seldan]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 10, 2024<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 6)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Seldan]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 11, 2024<br />
|[[Facing Another Trial]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Harkashan]], [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 12, 2024<br />
|[[Chronolark - Part 9]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Reithak]], [[Tlanexhuani]], ('''DM:''' Whirlpool)<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[You Won't Be Alone]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Slixvah]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 14, 2024<br />
|[[To the Victor Go the Spoils]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]; DM: [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 15, 2024<br />
|[[Forearmed is Forwarned]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Warrick]], [[Schara]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[The Eve Before Death]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Harkashan]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 17, 2024<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 7): The Poetry Corner]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Seldan]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]]; DM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|March 18, 2024<br />
|[[A Golden Ending (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Slixvah]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 19, 2024<br />
|[[A Morning At The Ox]]<br />
|[[Harshad]], [[Murder]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 20, 2024<br />
|[[Fantasy Gladiator League]]<br />
|[[Irshya]], [[Slixvah]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Aspiring Aspire-ations ]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Faranmidahn]], [[Irshya]] DM: [[Whirlpool]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 23, 2024<br />
|[[Go Home History You're Drunk]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Crik]], [[Mikilos]], [[Reithak]], DM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|March 24, 2024<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 8)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Seldan]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]]; DM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|March 25, 2024<br />
|[[A Golden Ending (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Slixvah]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 26, 2024<br />
|[[To Find a Mourner (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Auranar]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]; DM: Verna<br />
|-<br />
|March 27, 2024<br />
|[[Aspiring Aspire-ations, Pt2]]<br />
|[[Fidget]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Irshya]], [[Faranmidahn]]; DM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|March 31, 2024<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 9)]]<br />
|[[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Seldan]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]]; DM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
<br />
===April===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|April 1, 2024<br />
|[[A Golden Ending (Part 3)]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Slixvah]], [[Telamon]]; DM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|April 2, 2024<br />
|[[Aspiring Aspire-ations, Pt3]]<br />
|[[Fidget]], [[Irshya]], [[Etzli]], [[Aelwyn]]; GM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|April 3, 2024<br />
|[[Welcome Warden]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Murder]], [[Rhar]], [[Leirune|Rune]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 5, 2024<br />
|[[Cover Letter]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Slixvah]], [[Eztli]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Noodles and Sake]]<br />
|[[Choler]], [[Harshad]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 8, 2024<br />
|[[Frozen Veins]]<br />
|[[Aragos]], [[Harshad]], [[Palomas]], [[Reithak]], [[Quinn]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 10, 2024<br />
|[[Stop Me if You Have Heard This One]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Irshya]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 11, 2024<br />
|[[A Courier for a Page]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], Npcs: [[Slixvah]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 12, 2024<br />
|[[Needles And News]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Choler]], [[Eztli]], [[Slixvah]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 14, 2024<br />
|[[Three Assassins]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Reithak]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 10)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Seldan]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 15, 2024<br />
|[[A Golden Ending (Part 4)]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Slixvah]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 17, 2024<br />
|[[Aspiring Aspire-ations, Part 4]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Carver]], [[Eztli]], [[Faranmidahn]], [[Irshya]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 18, 2024<br />
|[[Repose in Two Forms]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[To Find a Mourner (Part 3)]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Auranar]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]] DM [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 20, 2024<br />
|[[Tears of Death]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Corey]], [[Rhar]], [[Rune]], [[Thoth]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 21, 2024<br />
|[[Whilst You Lay Dreaming]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 11)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Seldan]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]]; GM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|April 22, 2024<br />
|[[Birds of another Feather]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Reithak]], [[Sabina]], [[Xasany]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Revelation Raven]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Of Spring and Gardening]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 23, 2024<br />
|[[Cutscene: Sins of the Father]]<br />
|Caeles Miranore, Kiira Theran, Caeleil Miranore (NPCs by [[Leirune|Rune]] and [[Simony]])<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Return of the Bina]]<br />
|[[Slixvah]], [[Irshya]], [[Sabina]], [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[To Find a Mourner (Part 4)]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Auranar]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]; DM [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 24, 2024<br />
|[[Aspiring Aspire-ations, Part 5]]<br />
|[[Fidget]], [[Carver]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Faranmidahn]]; GM: [[Whirlpool]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 25, 2024<br />
|[[Hunting Urvis (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[MAC-B1G]], [[Leirune|Rune]]; DM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 27, 2024<br />
|[[Feel the Groove]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Eztli]], [[MAC-B1G]], [[Magpie]]; DM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|April 28, 2024<br />
|[[Morning in Goblintown]]<br />
|[[Harshad]], [[Choler]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 12)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Seldan]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]]; GM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|April 29, 2024<br />
|[[The Stage Is Set]]<br />
|[[Sabina]]; GM: Derecho<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Rider of Decisions]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]]; GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
<br />
===May===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|May 1, 2024<br />
|[[Silver Misses Snow]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Choler]], [[Corey]], [[Eztli]], [[Skielstregar]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Warnings on Deaf Ears]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Fidget]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 2, 2024<br />
|[[Hunting Urvis (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[MAC-B1G]], [[Leirune|Rune]]; DM: Telamon<br />
|-<br />
|May 3, 2024<br />
|[[Trade Off]]<br />
|[[Harshad]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 5, 2024<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 13)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Seldan]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]]; DM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|May 6, 2024<br />
|[[Maybe Fae-be]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 7, 2024<br />
|[[A Happy Dance]]<br />
|[[Karasu]], [[Ravenstongue]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[A Close Shave]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Simony]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[At Nothing We See]]<br />
|[[Choler]], [[Cuemoni]], [[Fidget]], [[Tlanexhuani]], [[Zeke]]; DM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|May 8, 2024<br />
|[[Fashion Shopping Preperusal ]]<br />
|[[Eztli]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Aryia]], [[Simony]], [[Aznara]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[To Find a Mourner (Part 5)]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Auranar]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]; DM [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 10, 2024<br />
|[[Piecing Together Me]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Corey]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Tlanexhuani]]; DM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|May 12, 2024<br />
|[[Hunting Urvis (Part 3)]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[MAC-B1G]], [[Leirune|Rune]]; DM: Telamon<br />
|-<br />
|May 14, 2024<br />
|[[A Fiend In Plain Sight]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 15, 2024<br />
|[[To Find a Mourner (Part 6)]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Auranar]], [[Harkashan]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]; DM [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 16, 2024<br />
|[[Fab Fabric and Fire]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Noodles and a Future Heist]]<br />
|[[Choler]], [[Harshad]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 18, 2024<br />
|[[Honey Do]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Magpie]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
| <br />
|[[Mothers and Patrons]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Harkashan]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 19, 2024<br />
|[[Hunting Urvis (Part 4)]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[MAC-B1G]], [[Leirune|Rune]]; DM: Telamon<br />
|-<br />
|May 20, 2024<br />
|[[We Are Seen]]<br />
|[[Cuemoni]], [[Fidget]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Tlanexhuani]], [[Zeke]]; DM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Rain and Bath House]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Leirune|Rune]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 21, 2024<br />
|[[Simpler Things]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 22, 2024<br />
|[[The Name-Stealer]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[The Final Spires, Part 1]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Fidget|NAME UNKNOWN]], [[Tlanexhuani]]; DM: Whirlpool<br />
|- <br />
|May 23, 2024<br />
|[[Never Even]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Slixvah]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[The Urvis Update]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[MAC-B1G]], [[Rune]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 24, 2024<br />
|[[Unpleasant News at the Noodle Stand]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Stained Glass Butterfly]]<br />
|[[Choler]], [[Harshad]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 26, 2024<br />
|[[Warning the Mislead]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Thoth]], Nameless ([[Fidget]])<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[To Find a Mourner (Part 7)]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Auranar]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 27, 2024<br />
|[[Changing Seasons and Hearts]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Aragos]], [[Eztli]]. [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 28, 2024<br />
|[[He Says]]<br />
|[[Sabina]], [[Thoth]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Whatamelons and Wanderers]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Irshya]], [[Sabina]], [[Slixvah]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Crimson to Show Off]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Aryia]], [[Irshya]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 30, 2024<br />
|[[The Final Spires, Part 2]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Fidget|NAME UNKNOWN]], [[Tlanexhuani]]; DM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[What Troubles Those in the Market]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Simony]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Slixvah]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 30, 2024<br />
|[[A Stealthy Inquest]]<br />
|[[Choler]], [[Harshad]]<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
<br />
===June===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|June 2, 2024<br />
|[[Noodles After The Heist]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Choler]], [[Harshad]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 4, 2024<br />
|[[He Says (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Sabina]], [[Thoth]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[What Makes A Cavalier Attitude?]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Zofija]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 5, 2024<br />
|[[Down the River]]<br />
|[[Skielstregar]], [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[The Final Spires, Part 3]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Fidget|NAME UNKNOWN]], [[Tlanexhuani]]; DM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[A Castle In My Dreams]]<br />
|[[Telamon]] (vignette)<br />
|-<br />
|June 7, 2024<br />
|[[Break the Mold]]<br />
|[[Aeson]], [[Eztli]], [[MAC-B1G]], [[Mikilos]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 8, 2024<br />
|[[Fictitious - I]] <br />
|[[Aragos]], [[Fidget|NAME UNKNOWN]] , [[Gramarye]], [[Lanier]], [[Vaera]]; DM: Thoth<br />
|-<br />
|June 9, 2024<br />
|[[To Find a Mourner (Part 8)]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Auranar]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]; DM: Verna<br />
|-<br />
|June 10, 2024<br />
|[[Bedtime Butterflies]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Eztli]], [[Lanier]]; DM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|June 12, 2024<br />
|[[The Castle on the Edge of Waking]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[The Final Spires, Part 4]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Fidget|NAME UNKNOWN]], [[Tlanexhuani]]; DM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|June 13, 2024<br />
|[[Forearmed is Forwarned Part 2]]<br />
|[[Warrick]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Schara]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 14, 2024<br />
|[[Grand Induction]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Culix]], [[Eztli]], [[Simony]], DM: [[Aryia]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Five Nightmares]]<br />
|[[Aeson]], [[Carver]], [[Eztli]], [[MAC-B1G]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 15, 2024<br />
|[[Five Nightmares (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Eztli]], [[MAC-B1G]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Dwarf Fortress: Deepest Depths - I]]<br />
|[[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Garden Lectures Under the Sun]]<br />
|[[Aeson]], [[Mikilos]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 16, 2024<br />
|[[To Find a Mourner (Part 9)]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Auranar]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 17, 2024<br />
|[[When you Wish Upon a Fish]]<br />
|[[Dirk]], [[Magpie]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 18, 2024<br />
|[[Wasted Years]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[He Says (Part 3)]]<br />
|[[Sabina]], [[Thoth]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 19, 2024<br />
|[[A Warriors Instinct]]<br />
|[[Aragos]], [[Gramarye]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Pillory Blues]]<br />
|[[Eztli]], [[Telamon]], [[Yazlo]], [[Zeke]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Ashes on the Ground]]<br />
|[[Gramarye]], [[Thoth]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 20, 2024<br />
|[[For A Few Potions More]]<br />
|[[Choler]], [[Cuemoni]], [[Warrick]]; GM: Telamon<br />
|-<br />
|June 21, 2024<br />
|[[Nonlinear Pie]]<br />
|[[Verna]], [[Auranar]], [[Aryia]], [[Eztli]], [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Forearmed is Forwarned Part 3]]<br />
|[[Warrick]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Schara]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 22, 2024<br />
|[[Best Boy]]<br />
|[[Crik]], [[Menel]], [[Zofija]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 23, 2024<br />
|[[A Warning Not A Gift]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Harshad]], NPC Sori - [[Karasu]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Dwarf Fortress: Deepest Depths - II]]<br />
|[[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], DM: [[Culix]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[One Thousand Cranes]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 24, 2024<br />
|[[The Price of Fish]]<br />
|[[Arzhela]], [[Crik]], [[Cuemoni]], [[Murder]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[The Weight of Expectations]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[He Says (Part 4)]]<br />
|[[Sabina]], [[Thoth]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 25, 2024<br />
|[[Full Day at the Baths]]<br />
|[[Slixvah]], [[Irshya]], [[Culix]], [[Leirune|Rune]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Upon the Koz-way]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Aryia]], [[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 26, 2024<br />
|[[The Final Spires, Part 5]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Carver]], [[Eztli]], [[Fidget|NAME UNKNOWN]]; DM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|June 27, 2024<br />
|[[Faphinae's Fanfare]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Simony]], [[Reithak]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Gearsmasher]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Corey]], [[Eztli]], [[MAC-B1G]], [[Skielstregar]]; guest star: [[Telamon]]; GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|June 28, 2024<br />
|[[Soul Food]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Aryia]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Fiends and Fae]]<br />
|[[Telamon]], [[Ravenstongue]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[The Never-ending Story]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Leirune|Rune]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 29, 2024<br />
|[[Game On!]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Eztli]], [[Karasu]], [[Leirune|Rune]] ;GM: [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 30, 2024<br />
|[[Fragile Like Trust]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[A Will to Kill]]<br />
|Faphinae & Sori [[Corey]], [[Karasu]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Silent Sanitorium]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Dirk]], [[Harkashan]], [[MAC-B1G]], [[Rune]]; DM: [[Culix]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|}<br />
<br />
<br />
===July===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|July 1, 2024<br />
|[[Hunting Lore in the Library]]<br />
|[[Alaric]], [[Simony]], [[Verna]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 2, 2024<br />
|[[Death Comes Another Day]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Unravel Their Riddles]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 3, 2024<br />
|[[Mist and Magic]]<br />
|[[Alaric]], [[Crik]], [[Murder]], [[Slixvah]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 4, 2024<br />
|[[A Lesson in Forgiveness]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 5, 2024<br />
|[[Silence in the Library]]<br />
|[[Harshad]], [[Menel]], [[Palomas]], [[Reithak]], [[Warrick]], [[Zigrun]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 6, 2024<br />
|[[Spelunking]]<br />
|[[Crik]], [[Cuemoni]], [[Harshad]], [[Menel]], [[Reithak]], [[Sjach]]; GM: [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 7, 2024<br />
|[[A Story Born of Hope]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 9, 2024<br />
|[[Sands through the Hourglass]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Culix]], [[Eztli]], [[Menel]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 10, 2024<br />
|[[Forlorn Moon (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]; GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[The Final Spires, Part 6]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Carver]], [[Eztli]], [[Fidget|NAME UNKNOWN]]; DM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
| [[Tornmawr Torpedo]]<br />
|[[Culix]], [[Aryia]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Bryn]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 11, 2024<br />
|[[Boogle Boogle]]<br />
|[[Aragos]], [[Thoth]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Forlorn Moon (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]; GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|July 12, 2024<br />
|[[Name Exchange ]]<br />
|[[Gramarye]], [[Thoth]]; GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|July 13, 2024<br />
|[[Moment of the Future]]<br />
|[[Gramarye]], [[Thoth]]; GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|July 14, 2024<br />
|[[Silent Sanitorium Part 2]]<br />
|[[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Aelwyn]], [[MAC-B1G]], Dirk, GM: Culix<br />
|-<br />
|July 15, 2024<br />
|[[Explosions and Slaying]]<br />
|[[Warrick]], [[Bryn]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Heir to the Throne - Beginning]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Cuemoni]], [[Harshad]], [[Menel]], [[Warrick]], [[Zofija]]; GM: Harkashan<br />
|-<br />
|July 19, 2024<br />
|[[Summer Days]]<br />
|[[Warrick]], [[Sjach]], [[Aznara]], DM: [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 21, 2024<br />
|[[Vagrant Tower - Void Engine 1]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Rune]], [[Eztli]], [[Iskandar]], [[Harkashan]], GM: Culix<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Following a Portent]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 22, 2024<br />
|[[Heir to the Throne: Trouble in Unbundun Part 1]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Crik]], [[Harshad]], [[Warrick]], [[Zofija]]; GM: Harkashan<br />
|-<br />
|July 23, 2024<br />
|[[Tales of Wrassling and Cages]]<br />
|[[Warrick]], [[Bryn]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Mountaineering Investigations]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Eztli]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Garak]], GM: [[Aryia]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 24, 2024<br />
|[[A Consecration]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Nameless|Fidget]], [[Carver]], [[Eztli]], [[Delilah]], [[Harkashan]], GM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|July 25, 2024<br />
|[[Turning Reputation into Charity]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 26, 2024<br />
|[[Can't Sleep]]<br />
|[[Nameless|Fidget]], [[Simony]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Craven Match]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Bryn]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Aurum Among Thieves]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Eztli]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 29, 2024<br />
|[[It's Easy Being Green]]<br />
|[[Bryn]]; NPC: Cynthia<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Heir to the Throne: Trouble in Unbundun Part 2]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Crik]], [[Warrick]], [[Zofija]]; GM: [[Harkashan]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 30, 2024<br />
|[[Mountaineering Explanations]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Garak]], [[Rune]], [[Slixvah]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 31, 2024<br />
|[[Paint Ponderings]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Skielstregar]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|}<br />
<br />
<br />
===August===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|August 04, 2024<br />
|[[Fair Pixie]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Vagrant Tower: Void Engine Part 2]]<br />
|[[Eztli]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Rune]], [[Harkashan]], [[Iskandar]], '''GM''': Culix<br />
|-<br />
|August 5, 2024<br />
|[[Heir to the Throne: Trouble in Unbundun Part 3]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Crik]], [[Harshad]], [[Warrick]], [[Zofija]], '''GM''': [[Harkashan]]<br />
|-<br />
|August 8, 2024<br />
|[[I Know the Pieces Fit]]<br />
|[[Warrick]], [[Crik]], [[Bryn]]<br />
|-<br />
|August 9, 2024<br />
|[[Litigation]]<br />
|[[Fidget]], [[Khepri]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|August 11, 2024<br />
|[[Silent Sanitorium - Part 3]]<br />
|[[Harkashan]], [[Dirk]], [[Rune]], [[Aelwyn]] '''GM''': [[Culix]]<br />
|-<br />
|August 18, 2024<br />
|[[On the Edge of Living]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|August 19, 2024<br />
|[[Heir to the Throne - Far Beneath Part 1]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Crik]], [[Harshad]], [[Warrick]], [[Zofija]], [[Stena]] '''GM''': [[Harkashan]]<br />
|-<br />
|August 20, 2024<br />
|[[Happiness in Knowledge]]<br />
|[[Aeson]], [[Eztli]], [[Ravenstongue]]<br />
|-<br />
|August 22, 2024<br />
|[[Death With a View]]<br />
|[[Aragos]], [[Khepri]], [[Nameless]], [[Slixvah]]<br />
|-<br />
|August 23, 2024<br />
|[[Toge Means Thorn]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Litigation (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Khepri]], [[Nameless]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Into The Temple - Part 1]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Silmeria]], '''GM''': Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|August 25, 2024<br />
|[[Dusk Blooming Vines]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Cuemoni]], [[Harshad]], [[Lani'kua]], [[Reithak]], [[Sjach]]; '''GM''': Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Apparently Heir]]<br />
|[[Aeson]], [[Eztli]]<br />
|-<br />
|August 26, 2024<br />
|[[Jiji Kiku]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|August 29, 2024<br />
|[[Into The Temple - Part 2]]<br />
| [[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Silmeria]], '''GM''': Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
===September===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|September 1, 2024<br />
|[[Delivery in the Dark]]<br />
|[[Cuemoni]], [[Reithak]], [[Ulthan]]; '''GM''': Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|September 2, 2024<br />
|[[Heir to the Throne - Far Beneath Part 2]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Crik]], [[Stena]], [[Warrick]], [[Zofija]]; ; '''GM''': [[Harkashan]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 4, 2024<br />
|[[Into The Temple - Part 3]]<br />
| [[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Silmeria]], '''GM''': Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|September 6, 2024<br />
|[[Dinner for Four and a Pothy]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 7, 2024<br />
|[[Whispers of Rebellion]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Corey]], with Ansir and Faphinae<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Plotting in the Gardens]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Vex]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Three Old Friends]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Corey]], [[Thoth]], [[Vex]], [[Victor]]; '''GM:''' Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|September 8, 2024<br />
|[[How a Queen is Made]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]]; '''GM:''' Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|September 9, 2024<br />
|[[A Friend for Magpie and Wizard]]<br />
|[[Magpie]], [[Corey]]; '''GM:''' Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|September 10, 2024<br />
|[[Fight for Us]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 11, 2024<br />
|[[Love in Every Moment]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[The Good, The Bad, and the Alchemy]]<br />
|[[Lani'kua]], [[Bryn]], and [[Vex]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 12, 2024<br />
|[[Into The Temple - Part 4]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Silmeria]], '''GM''': Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|September 13, 2024<br />
|[[Simony Signs Up]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 14, 2024<br />
|[[Everyone Needs a Hobby]]<br />
|[[Corey]] (and Faphinae), [[Karasu]], [[Rhar]]; '''GM''': Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|September 15, 2024<br />
|[[Bad Lies, Good People]]<br />
|[[Jezzara]]. [[Auranar]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Sunlight Revelation]]<br />
|[[Schara]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Warrick]], DM: [[Riptide]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 16, 2024<br />
|[[Gratitude]]<br />
|[[Cuemoni]], [[Zeke]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 17, 2024<br />
|[[A Prelude To Revelry]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was - I]]<br />
| [[Harkashan]], [[Simony]], [[Rune]], [[Aryia]], [[Zeke]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 19, 2024<br />
|[[A Storied Working Lunch]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Magpie]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Daily Affirmation]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Verna]], Grandfather (Alud'rigan) '''GM:''' [[Riptide]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Suspicious Stalker (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Corey]], [[Magpie]], [[Simony]]; '''GM:''' Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Into The Temple - Part 5]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Silmeria]], '''GM''': Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|September 20, 2024<br />
|[[Pastries and Purchases]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 21, 2024<br />
|[[If You Love Me]]<br />
|[[Aragos]], [[Gramarye]] - Grandfather (Alud'rigan)<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Pretty in Pink]]<br />
|[[Eztli]], [[Simony]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 22, 2024<br />
|[[Sunlight Revelation Part 2]]<br />
|[[Schara]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Warrick]], DM: [[Riptide]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 23, 2024<br />
|[[Suspicious Stalker (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Corey]], [[Magpie]], [[Simony]]; '''GM:''' Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|September 24, 2024<br />
|[[Gnawing on Metal]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Rhar]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Shiny Hunt]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Auranar]], [[Rune]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 26, 2024<br />
|[[Hunter's Quarry Part 1]]<br />
|[[Reithak]], [[Carver]], [[Warrick]], DM:[[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 27, 2024<br />
|[[Return of the Orchard Artificer]]<br />
|[[Schara]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Warrick]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 29, 2024<br />
|[[Hunter's Quarry Part 2]]<br />
|[[Reithak]], [[Carver]], [[Warrick]], DM:[[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 29, 2024<br />
|[[Wrench in the Works]]<br />
|[[Crik]], [[Ulthan]], DM:[[Culix]]<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
===October===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|October 1, 2024<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]; '''GM''': Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|October 6, 2024<br />
|[[Connect the Dots (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Corey]], [[Magpie]], [[Telamon]]; '''GM''': Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|October 8, 2024<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 3)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]; '''GM''': Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|October 10, 2024<br />
|[[Connect the Dots (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Corey]], [[Magpie]], [[Telamon]]; '''GM''': Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Into the Temple - Part 6]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Silmeria]], '''GM''': Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|October 12, 2024<br />
|[[Home is Where the Truth is]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|October 14, 2024<br />
|[[Connect the Dots (Part 3)]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Corey]], [[Magpie]], [[Telamon]]; '''GM''': Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|October 15, 2024<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 4)]]<br />
|[[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]; '''GM''': Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|October 17, 2024<br />
|[[Into the Temple - Part 7]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Silmeria]], '''GM''': Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[A New Face in the TarRaCe]]<br />
|[[Fayde]], [[Murder]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|October 18, 2024<br />
|[[Little Children]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]]; '''GM''': Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|October 21, 2024<br />
|[[Connect the Dots (Part 4)]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Corey]], [[Magpie]], [[Telamon]]; '''GM''': Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Heir to the Throne - Retake Urah]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Fidget]], [[Zofija]]; '''GM''': Harkashan<br />
|-<br />
|October 22, 2024<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 5)]]<br />
|[[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]; '''GM''': Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|October 23, 2024<br />
|[[Her Biggest Fan (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Dirk]], [[Karasu]], [[Murder]]; DM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|October 24, 2024<br />
|[[Into the Temple - Part 8]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Silmeria]], '''GM''': Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[The Fiend Defeated]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|October 28, 2024<br />
|[[Foxes and Ravens]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]]<br />
|-<br />
|October 29, 2024<br />
|[[Apples of Forgivness]]<br />
|[[Schara]], [[Verna]], [[Zeke]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 6)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]; '''GM''': Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|October 30, 2024<br />
|[[Her Biggest Fan (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Dirk]], [[Karasu]], [[Murder]]; DM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|October 31, 2024<br />
|[[Reunite Once Again]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Into the Temple - Part 9]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Silmeria]], '''GM''': Whirlpool<br />
|}<br />
<br />
<br />
===November===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|November 1, 2024<br />
|[[Caanan Returns]]<br />
|[[Murder]], [[Carver]], [[Schara]], [[Telamon]] (as emitter)<br />
|-<br />
|November 2, 2024<br />
|[[Ravenkeeper's Tidings]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|November 4, 2024<br />
|[[Talking Work Shop]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Schara]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|November 4, 2024<br />
|[[Heir to the Throne - (Re)take Urah]]<br />
|[[Fidget]], [[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Warrick]], [[Zofija]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Her Biggest Fan (Part 3)]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Dirk]], [[Karasu]], [[Murder]]; DM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|November 5, 2024<br />
|[[Posted Notice (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Crik]], [[Schara]], [[Bryn]], [[Ulthan]]; DM: [[Carver]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 7)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]; '''GM''': Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|November 6, 2024<br />
|[[Into the Temple - Part 10]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Harkashan]], [[Eztli]], [[Bryn]], [[Silmeria]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Carver]]; '''GM''': Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|November 11, 2024<br />
|[[Her Biggest Fan (Part 4)]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Dirk]], [[Karasu]], [[Murder]]; DM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|- <br />
|<br />
|[[Posted Notice (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Crik]], [[Schara]], [[Ulthan]]; DM: [[Carver]]<br />
|-<br />
|November 12, 2024<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 8)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]; '''GM''': Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|November 14, 2024<br />
|[[Into the Temple - Part 11]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Harkashan]], [[Eztli]], [[Silmeria]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Carver]]; '''GM''': Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|November 15, 2024<br />
|[[Becoming a Teacher]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|November 16, 2024<br />
|[[Apple Daredevils]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Cuemoni]], [[Culix]], [[Eztli]], [[Irshya]], [[Zeke]]<br />
|-<br />
|November 17, 2024<br />
|[[A Bottle of Dust]]<br />
|[[Zeke]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Winter Strawberries]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Gramarye]], [[Khepri]]; '''GM''': Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|November 18, 2024<br />
|[[Her Biggest Fan (Part 5)]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Dirk]], [[Karasu]], [[Murder]]; DM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|November 19, 2024<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 9)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]; '''GM''': Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|November 20, 2024<br />
|[[Into the Temple - Part 12]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Harkashan]], [[Eztli]], [[Silmeria]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Carver]]; '''GM''': Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|November 22, 2024<br />
|[[Welcome Tarsh]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Tarsh]], [[Zeke]]<br />
|-<br />
|November 24, 2024<br />
|[[All Hands]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Tarsh]], [[Ulthan]]; '''GM''': Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Silent Sanitorium - Part 4]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Harkashan]], [[MAC-B1G]], [[Rune]]; DM: [[Culix]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Meetings and Clans]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Murder]], [[Tarsh]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Familiar Faces]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Khepri]], [[Gramarye]]. [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|November 26, 2024<br />
|[[Setting the Stage]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Eztli]], [[Warrick]], [[Murder]], [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|November 27, 2024<br />
|[[A Misplaced Case]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Lani'kua]], [[Menel]]; '''GM''': Telamon<br />
|-<br />
|November 28, 2024<br />
|[[A Lucky Meeting]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Schara]]<br />
|-<br />
|November 29, 2024<br />
|[[Harvest Dance]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Auranar]], [[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Eztli]], [[Murder]], [[Ravenstonuge]], [[Slixvah]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[It's Probably Pirates - Part 1]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Warrick]], [[Zelany]]; '''GM''': [[Culix]]<br />
|-<br />
|November 28, 2024<br />
|[[Cruel Fear]]<br />
|[[Lani'kua]], [[Menel]]<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
===December===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|December 1, 2024<br />
|[[Captain Repairioum]]<br />
|[[Warrick]], [[Bryn]], [[Carver]]<br />
|-</div>Aryiahttp://www.tenebraemush.net/index.php?title=Setting_the_Stage&diff=43908Setting the Stage2024-11-26T20:26:16Z<p>Aryia: </p>
<hr />
<div>:: ''Alexandrian Festival Grounds, early afternoon.''<br />
<br />
not wishing to interrupt the other festivities that had been ongoing in the festival grounds for the harvest season there had been a few days since they had wound down. It had not been for long however, as not long after festivals seemed to have ended the grounds were yet again a flurry of activity. large wagons of lumber, nails, and other construction supplies had been wheeled in to one corner of the grounds, and a large area south of the stands had been roped off, with even more supplies stockpiled there. <br />
<br />
There was a small table near one of the wagons for an equally small sith-makar, who was discussing various matters with an elven man before sending them off with a small pouch, where Eztli returned to perusing a concerningly large pile of notes.<br />
<br />
While the festivities were winding down, that didn't stop being dragged around to every stall, display, game, and cart; Warrick, in his grey overcoat was being lead by the hand by a teenage girl of his spitting image, her other hand holding a large squishy doll of... an ogre? It has a knit hat on top of it.<br />
<br />
Cynthia yanks him all the way up to Eztli's stall. "Hihi whatarewedoing is this fiftypaperpickup??" she babbles quickly."<br />
<br />
Warrick doesn't stop her, he's munching on some kind of meat on a stick.<br />
<br />
The Goblin walks along at a brisk pace, with a large (for her) woven basket balanced upon her head. Using her hands to keep it steady, her eyes scan back and forth, looking for ... something.<br />
<br />
With the festival grounds once more full of people rushing about to get their stalls up, move supplies in, or in some cases, clear out their old displays from the festival previous to this new one, Murder weaves in and out of the crowd. A few times she makes unhappy noises, eliciting surprise gasps, apologies or similar grumbling. She makes an effort to dodge another Goblin in a similar predicament, and manages to run face first into the back of Warrick as they come to a stop at Eztli's stall. The Goblin bounces and topples over with an "OOF!"<br />
<br />
There's a large procession approaching the general direction of the stall as well, engaged in a loud discussion. There was plenty of hand waving, gesturing and a... particularly ruddy sith-makar with his shoulder on fire. Particularly, his shoulder pauldron. It didn't seem to bother him too much, even with the flames threatening to over take his red flowing cloak.<br />
<br />
"... and it is important to not only think of the innocents, but to drag them in one by one." Aelwyn rumbles and grabs something in the air, before pulling it down towards himself. "Tomorrow for another rehearsal, yes?" He flashes his teeth at the assorted folks, before waving them off. "Spelldancer! One is unable to slay the beast of the paper?" He asks, sauntering over.<br />
<br />
Bryn had been out of the city for a day or three, so may have missed the winding down. This is just fine with her, since the timing of things looking to be picking back up makes it as if they never ebbed in the first place! She wanders into the grounds from the north, some simple fur wraps on her limbs keeping her warm enough. A bow is slung on one shoulder and she has a pair of patented Meat-On-A-Sticks in her left hand; at least until a tusky chomp and pull renders them back to just sticks.<br />
<br />
She may only have one eye, but it does have a bit of a vantage point. By this, she spies a few familiar faces or forms in the bustle of purveyors, patrons, and passersby. "Ey!" she calls out in greeting to... well, a few folk. She's not biased.<br />
<br />
Carver's unwashed face is a mess of road dust and days-old warpaint, hair in a knotty mess on the top of her head. Every effort made to make no effort on her personal appearance, it's likely the most 'wild' she's appeared in some time. Like some horrible spirit warped and forced amongst people in an unshapely bundle of heavy furs and hides that keep the cold off of her but not the shivering.<br />
<br />
She chews as she people-gazes from the shelter of a low overhang. A hand wipes clean her chin and lips of crumbs.<br />
<br />
"The dimensions are correct, yes? Please let me know if there's anything at all further you need." Eztli responds to a rather gruff looking dwarf who stopped by next, a carpenter or other craftsman by the look of it who gives a word of thanks before sauntering off to where others were setting up several sawhorses and other benches. <br />
<br />
Cynthia gets a look, and a tired chuckle. "I wish I could be playing games, but no, this is all paperwork." She answers, peering over to see where the goblin was knocked over. "You alright there? Careful, there's a lot of work going on out here, after all." <br />
<br />
Aelwyn gets a tired wave as well. "I wish I just had to focus on the dance, Aelwyn. I'm not used to organizing something on this scale." She answers. "But what about you? Are the rehearsals going well? The orchestra should be ready there for tomorrow, I'm certain." <br />
<br />
Carver, even in her unkempt state, gets the small makari to muster a bit more energy into her wave, if only to look a bit less exhausted. It did little for the look of concern they gave, however.<br />
<br />
Gobbers may be small, but that doesn't help when getting smacked in the back of the leg when not paying attention. He topples over like a sack of bricks.<br />
<br />
Cynthia completely ignores him, focused on Aelwyn's arrival and Eztli's explanation with a grin.<br />
<br />
Warrick grunts as he gets back up, reaching over to yank Murder up to their feet without much of a thought. "Careful next time," he jabbers. Lot of time in Goblintown spent, it seems. <Goblin-Talk><br />
<br />
"Booo, paperwork is boring!" Cynthia bemoans. Warrick frowns. Is it about paperwork? No, he's looking at the ground at his half eaten, dirt ridden meat on a stick. He shrugs, over it. There's a wave to those that he knows- which is pretty much everyone gathered. Lingering a bit of concern over Carver.<br />
<br />
Murder frowns, and squeaks at being yanked to her feet. Her expression and mouth open showing off as many of her teeth as possible shows she's considering biting. For a long few moments. "Same to you, just ... stopping for no reason.", she jabbers back, a haughty expression on her face as she hefts the basket back onto her head.<br />
<br />
The Goblin follows Warrick's gaze to the half eaten meat on a stick. "... you gonna finish that?", she wonders.<br />
<br />
"'Ere!" A new Meat-On-Stick appears before Warrick (well, two, actually), offered up by Bryn with a tusky grin. "I grabbed a bunch. They're tasty, and handy!" Speaking of handiness, she then moves her hand to point stick(s) in offering to Carver. "Ye look like shite, but better'n 'fore. Bettin ye could use one o' these, too."<br />
<br />
Carver's left hand rises, fingers twitching. A wave, an ugly one for Eztli's benefit. She at least responds to social cues. She's watching from a distant on what the 'Spelldancer' is putting together. Curiosity holds her despite what must be exhaustion that has her eyes quite so sullen.<br />
<br />
Murder and Warrick's genial debate does not hold her attention for long, because she gives Cynthia a curious once-over, as if trying to determine their relationship to the older man. From young girl's face to older, more wrinkled, back to younger. Mmm. What was that?<br />
<br />
She blinks at Bryn. "Huh, oh.. no, I'm fine." She sounds less than fine. She sounds like she should be singing about her horse and whiskey like a sixty-five year old ranch hand with that husky dulcet tones.<br />
<br />
Aelwyn stands with his hand on his hip, looking at Warrick collapsing and then the other gathered parties. "No murder on the streets, Shortie." The Dragoon chides the smaller gobbo, before flashing his teeth at Eztli. "Ah, but one should dance. Leave the papers! Burn them into the embers." Somebody was on a good mood. A part of his neck was starting to smolder. "But, tch." He tilts his head. "They are still hesitant about setting heads on fire."<br />
<br />
The draconian then looks across the other people gathered, before settling on Carver. "Huntress! Once come over for the ride?" He calls out, completely unhindered by the near dead look on the other cavalier's face. To him, it probably was just a regular morning. "This one has a question for one!"<br />
<br />
Eztli is left staring at everyone who was toppling over and getting back up a moment over, having vacated her seat. She couldn't quite catch what was said, but it wasn't overly necessary. "Where'd you get those skewers from? I haven't had lunch yet, actually." She wonders."I'm not a fan of paperwork, but it's necessary. It _is_ necessary, Aelwyn." She adds to the dragoon. "Without this, there's no dancing at all. And of course, not everyone is naturally fire resistant, Aelwyn. That's why there's so many preparations to make, which will not be burnt to embers." <br />
<br />
her attention turned back to Carver, where the makari hopped over to give her a hug. "Pardon my bluntness, but you aren't fine, Carver." She huffs. "Please, take a seat, rest a bit."<br />
<br />
"Have at it," Warrick permits Murder, smiling at Bryn as she offers him replacement food. He gives her a clap on the arm and takes one. "Thanks, Bryn."<br />
<br />
Between the teenage girl and the older man, the only true difference between them was that her hair was black and a smattering of freckles are splashes across her face, but in the face and the eyes were exactly the same. Save some wrinkles. Speaking of wrinkles, Warrick's brow furrows at Carver's answer, but others are offering respite. "Well, if you get worse, I can take you to the Defense." The Soldier's Defense- the hospital.<br />
<br />
Cynthia glances about before looking back up (or, on the level, maybe down a bit) while hugging the ogre plush. "Oooh! A fire dance! That'sprettycool!"<br />
<br />
"Thanks!", she says to Warrick cheerfully. The fallen meat-onna-stick is quickly taken and the meat stripped away by the Goblin, disappearing into her maw with a gulping sound. A moment later she bleeeehs, and spits out a bit of dirt. She eyes the unclaimed meat-onna-stick in Bryn's hand, and then Carver. "Can I have it?", she says in a sing-song voice to Bryn, her eyes big like a puppy dog's.<br />
<br />
Murder eyes Aelwyn. "What, I'm not allowed on the streets? And your shoulder is onna fire."<br />
<br />
Bryn snorts at Carver, agreeing with Eztli. "Ye don' look it... but maybe's nothin a good dunkin 'n nap won't fix?" She looks back to Warrick after he takes up the snack. "No prob-AHG!" The thanks she's fine with, the pat on her fur-wrapped arm (and wrapped up more than the one offering the meat) a bit less so. <br />
<br />
The flinch and wince are momentary, though. First is a grin and offering of her last(?) meat+stick to Murder, and her attention quickly shifts from it to Cyn to the familiar Makari. "Fire AND dancin?! Where'd we sign up?"<br />
<br />
"Not jus' me what feelin' the fits," Carver says as she sees Bryn visceral response to the armpat. She was somewhat certain she could guess what the cause was, even if the memories all blurred together like an ugly mosaic. Eztli's embrace has her stiffen as well but she does nod, "I will. I just.. wanted to see what your big plan--" Aelwyn's enthusiasm drowns out her response and she directs dead-eyes at him. "What *are* you two doing anyway?" At Cynthia's excitement for self-immolation? Carver adds, "He rode a dragon." She will brag for Aelwyn even if he won't for himself.<br />
<br />
"What, am I not allowed to have my shoulder on fire?" Aelwyn asks Murder with a flicker of his teeth. "This one was simply warning one not to kill anyone." He flashes his teeth. The draconian's attention is turned back towards Eztli then. "Tch, it does not even need to be real fire." He gestures dismissively. "Besides, it only serves one to be warmer." There's another face that he makes, almost as if a bad memory. "... this one were once forced to sort papers..." He grumbles, before shaking off the moment.<br />
<br />
"Yes!" The draconian greets, arms spread across wide. "Fire and dancing! And here!" The Dragoon slaps the table with all the scrolls, probably knocking off several down to the ground. "Riders priority. This one still needs an entourage."<br />
<br />
Carver's statement makes Aelwyn freeze. And then, if at all possible, his grin seems to swallow his face whole. "Now, this one was planning to hold a party where this one made that announcement." There was a visible shiver across his body. "... perhaps Huntress should too, join the celebrations, as one of the heroes."<br />
<br />
Eztli winces in Bryn's direction. "Still rough, is it? Let me know if there's anything I can do." The small makari offers. "And that goes for you too, Carver. Don't worry about it Warrick, if she needs to go there, I'll make sure Carver's taken care of, not that she can't manage that herself." <br />
<br />
"Yeah, lots of fire, lots of dancing!" She answers Cynthia. "I think it's going to be pretty cool. I think we'll stick with illusory fires for the dancers themselves, just to avoid any accidents, though. After all, lots of people are going to join in as part of it, right?" <br />
<br />
"He did, and it was amazing." Eztli nods. "Didn't get much time to focus on it though, I had a lot on my mind."<br />
<br />
GAME: Murder refreshes spells.<br />
<br />
Warrick blinks at the response from the arm clap. He glances down at the double wrapped arm, and lets his own drop. "Ah, sorry," he quickly apologizes, opting to stuff his face with another bite of the gifted replacement, side eyeing Murder's glad dirt eating. He's unfazed.<br />
<br />
Cynthia's face lights up at Carver's explanation, and even further so as Aelwyn expounds. "Yooooooooooo THAT'SSOCOOL!" she bounces.<br />
<br />
Even Warrick is impressed. "Oh wow. Can't say I've ever seen that before."<br />
<br />
The Goblin is able to get her mouth around all of the meat on the stick, and pulls the whole thing from Bryn's hand gently, pulling the stick away a moment later. The meat is hardly chewed before it is swallowed. She hiccups a few times. "Thanks!", she says to Bryn. Her eyes narrow at the Oruch. "Is there somethin' wrong with yer arm? You should get it looked at iffn yer screaming like that when someone pats it."<br />
<br />
"... I mean if you wanna be on fire, okay... but uh, that's going to leave a mark. And under code 5.7.11, no open flames are allowed out here in the festival grounds. Too much hay and other flammable materials. Ask me how I know that code. It ain't 'cause I'm a guardsman...", she says to Aelyn.<br />
<br />
Her eyes then shift to Cynthia and Warrick, looking back and forth between the two, her expression quizzical, before she grins toothily. "I get it! Yer taking yer granddad out for a walk to the festival grounds! It's so nice to see the elderly being cared so well. Nice oruch plushy too, by the by."<br />
<br />
Her gaze takes in Carver for a moment. "You might want to go to the Soldier's Defense like granddad, there, suggested. They do more than jus' physical healing, they deal with all the trauma after the fight too." Murder sighs then. "And ya all are encouraging Aelwyn to set himself on fiah again."<br />
<br />
"Sorry, stole your smoke." Carver does not crack a smile. At Murder's insistence that 'granda' is out for his weekly constitutional, she still does not crack a smile. Not even that long ago she may have insisted upon joining in mocking the elderly with their crickety knees and dumb advice. Now? No spirit for it.<br />
<br />
"I did not do anything. I observed. I wasted ammunition. I would have..." She pauses at Cynthia's enthusiasm and does not elaborate further on the truth. "Anyway." She gently polishes Eztli's forehead as a fond gesture. "Maybe you are right. I'll make my way to the Defense. My head hurts. If you need an entourage for your parade, send a bird or a message." She'll quietly withdraw, pulling her furs in tighter.<br />
<br />
Aelwyn was not impressed by the amount of enthusiasm. At least Cynthia was excited. He twists his lips for a moment, then flashes his teeth at her. "A real. Dragon. The holiest!" The Dragoon exclaims, once again spreading his arms wide. Then Murder catches his attention. "Ah, it shall be fine." He slaps Warrick on the shoulder. "This one knows that there is no such thing as abundance of caution and fire." Another flash of teeth at Eztli.<br />
<br />
But Carver's withdrawal makes him pause, and then slowly take on a more matter of fact look. He walks over and puts his hand on her shoulder. "There were plenty of wrong things in that place." He tells her. "But if one pauses for too long, the music shall be over. Celebrate if not then, then at least now."<br />
<br />
Bryn reaches with her left to give Warrick a return clap on his arm or shoulder; whichever is more in reach as her focus is still on Aelwyn. Because fire and dancing... and party! "Sign me up!" Her grin threatens to stretch her tusks as she absorbs further energy from Aelwyn, though there is a flicker at Carver's melancholy. She quickly recovers, trying to project some of that exuberance into Carver's withdrawing form for a moment.<br />
<br />
She then helpfully fills some of that absence with a snicker at Warrick. "S'all good, Grandada." To assure him, Eztli, and even Murder, she waggles the wrapped right arm, which is now noticably shorter than her left and has no hand peeking out of the wraps. "Eh, 'sfine. It'll grow back or summin." Bryn is then struck by a sudden thought and she points the sorta-arm at Cynthia. "Yer Da ever tell ye not ta stick yer hand in big, glowin beams o' super magic power?"<br />
<br />
"If you think that's cool, wait until you see the giant flaming pumpkin we're building." Eztli grins, more than a bit half heartedly. The small makari sighs, and gives Carver another hug. "You did a lot. You did everything you could and, well, I'm glad you're okay. If I want you to join, which I would if you want to, then I'll tell you myself. I'll stop by the defence after I'm done with the work today and you're still there." <br />
<br />
Eztli turns back to the others as Carver moves to leave, stopping to watch her depart as well. "Don't worry about it Warrick, I already made the requests to the city, all fires will be contained to a pre determined event path with several wizards to extinguish any accidental flames on hand, and the area will be swept completely beforehand." She answers. "And the structure for the pumpkin has been triple checked by several architects and carpenters before final approval, which I just received toady." <br />
<br />
"Yeah, dealing with magic like that is, dangerous." Eztli sighs.<br />
<br />
"No open flames are allowed in the festival grounds- 'without written permission from the city grounds keeper'" Warrick reflexively adds on to Murder's legal reciting. "Subsection A under 5.7.11." A dip of the head towards Eztli; she did her homework.<br />
<br />
Cynthia looks up at Warrick as Murder calls him out. A busts out laughing. Full on belly laugh. Warrick just sighs. "I'm not /that/ old...."<br />
<br />
This just makes the teen laugh even harder. She falls over.<br />
<br />
"Congrats, you broke my daughter," he dryly comments to Murder, even as Aelwyn gives him a shoulder slap. But he can't help but note how withdrawn Carver is. There's a moment where something clicks in his eyes. "I'll meet you there later, I have to go anyways to get a check up, as apparently I am rapidly aging."<br />
<br />
Bryn's clap on the shoulder draws his attention back to her and- she wiggles a stump. His slate gaze grows distant, slides over to his daughter, then back to the grinning Bryn, and on towards Carver. "Oh," is all that's really able to come out of him.<br />
<br />
"Well duh, of course not, that's kind of obviousososhit..!" Cynthia gasps. It's clear she's shocked, but there's a reflexive, "... that's not what I meant by disarming with smoke bombs..!" "Cinny..."<br />
<br />
Carver pauses at the hand on her shoulder, then taps it once. Acknowledge. Be happy. Alive. She can't commit to it, but she will at least try. She slips the weighty paw and by all first's appearances does seem to be heading toward the Defense to get herself looked over, slipping away from the festivities.<br />
<br />
Carver has left.<br />
<br />
Aelwyn watches Carver move away for a moment. Stare. Then he turns around and spreads his arms once again. "Yes, fire and dance, because let us give the summer the sent of it requires and tell the winter to fuck off!" He grins widely, before moving over and slapping Bryn on the shoulder. "This one knows an artificer that could craft Mirror a gauntlet made out of lava. Imagine, setting the streets on ablaze!" He gestures. No wonder Eztli has so much paperwork. He was also completely ignorant of the fact that there were in factual, bodily injuries sustained.<br />
<br />
The Dragoon's eyes then turn towards Murder. "If one is not interested in fire, Shortie seems quite well versed to assist Spelldancer with her arduous task of slaying the bureaucrats of this town." Another flicker of his tongue.<br />
<br />
"I know how that feels, Carver.", the Goblin says in reply. "You would have died... but you did not. Whether your friends dipped in to save your hide, or the bad guys screwed up or left you for dead, it doesn't matter. What matters is that yer here. Sometimes a fight is too big. No way to really know for sure til you get into it." She lets out a huff of breath. "Let them tend to your wounds, and let yer friends tend to your hurts. There's a difference."<br />
<br />
Murder eyes Bryn a moment. "I think ya should see the healers a bit more, they kin fix it. They kin regrow it, but ya need to get to 'em quick. Do ya got the hand? Makes it faster, I heard."<br />
<br />
She giggles and gestures casually with a hand. "Only dangerous to wooden structures, carts, gun powder, hay, haybales, hair... pretty much the whole city." Murder shrugs. Her grin is suddenly wide and toothy, and she snorts at the now-laughing teenager. Her tongue is stuck out at Warrick. "Yeah yeah, subsection A... found the copper!" The Goblin laughs then. "Oh, she's your daughter. You must have had her late in life then..."<br />
<br />
A wave is offered to the retreating Carver. "Did she get mauled in a fight recently? She's showin' all the signs. It's hard on the body and mind." She cants her head at Aelwyn.<br />
<br />
"Slaying bureaucrats? I haven't filled out the appropriate form in triplicate yet...!"<br />
<br />
Eztli finally returns to her seat at the table, and flops over the back of the chair. "Yeah, should get that hand looked after Bryn, sooner rather than later. After all, better to be in good health for the celebrations, right? I could use some help, but if I murder the kill the bureaucrats, there's no doubt all my licenses are going to be revoked and this was a waste of time since there'll be someone left to enforce things." <br />
<br />
"It's a log story, Murder. One I don't really feel like reliving at this current moment. It's hard enough to focus on this worrying about Carver, after all." The sorceress sighs.<br />
<br />
"I'll figger it out," Bryn offers to all concerned, with Eztli getting her caterpillar brows perking. "Arm o' lava? That sounds fargin amazin!" But she does not appear to decide either way just yet. Instead, she nods with Eztli and thumbs in Carver's former direction. "She's tough. Amazin tough. Jumped right on in 'n-" Right, too much for now. "Anyways... Oh!"<br />
<br />
Her train of thought jumps another track and she spins back to Warrick as her left arm shrugs off the bow she had shouldered. "Picked this up! Ain' used one much 'sides a li'l huntin, figured maybe ye could help me get netter't hittin shite?"<br />
<br />
"I make no effort to hide that I was in the Watch." Warrick buries his face into a hand. "No, I had her when I was twenty thr- oh I give up."<br />
<br />
Cynthia seems easiest on the recovery. "Oooh, a lava gauntlet, that sounds sick!" she enthuses, while her father doesn't have much to add on the whole situation. Seems like a niche sore spot for him. "I'll be there! I like celebrations!" Cynthia makes sure to RSVP!<br />
<br />
Warrick's attention pulls back to the now, him looking to the bow. "Oh..! Yeah, I can show you a few things. Used it quite a bit in a pinch, though it' mostly practice. You're...-" He blinks. "-... probably going to have to get that sorted out first before you can use it though." He open and closes a hand in front of him.<br />
<br />
Aelwyn watches the exchange between Bryn and Warrick, and then he leans over towards the very tall oruch. "Pull the string by the teeth. It will intimidate one's foes." He suggests. It was not clear if he was joking.<br />
<br />
The goblin receives a tap from his tail, as the ruddy sith-makar heads towards the table. "She shall be fine. For a resolve that strong, surely will be." The Dragoon finally returns over Eztli's desk then, leaning over. "This one found out a way for the headless rider." He tells her, "That is the myth here, yes? Of the harvest season?"<br />
<br />
Murder raises a hand, something to say on her lips, and the gestures at Warrick. "What he said... you need two hands. I mean, I suppose if you have prep time, you could use one hand and a foot, but since you need feet to walk, it's gonna be awful awkward if yer trying to hunt, yanno? Doubly so if yer trying to use it in combat..." She eyes the bow enviously, it being as long as she is tall, practically. "I have a little short bow I use for huntin'. That one is much more impressive than mine."<br />
<br />
Glancing at Eztli. "Well, she's gone now... bad fight?" A laugh is sent Warrick's way. "I am just teasin' ya. I know yer not that old. I mean, yer probably old enough to be /my/ dad, but that's not.. too terrible." Another toothy grin before she looks to Aelwyn.<br />
<br />
"Honestly, Aelwyn? She won't be fine, not without help. I seen that look before. I know it well. I seen people almost die, and survive... they can become dead inside here." Murder taps at her temple. "You lot need ta take care of her for a bit. Either guilt or the horrors of combat are gnawing at her, and they will hollow her out without help."<br />
<br />
The Goblin hefts the basket up to her head again. "I gotta head to my stall, so I'll see you all later. Should come by and visit later. I have hot pepper treats!" A glance is sent Aelwyn's way. "Iffn you can take a real fire, that is."<br />
<br />
Bryn may not have considered the valid point that Warrick brings up (that is expounded on by Murder). "Oh. Uh... right." This also has her reconsidering whether a lava gauntlet would be the best, even if it sounds really, really, awesome. Aelwyn's suggestion also has merit, whether it was serious or not. Bryn's brows knit and her foreheard furrows in thought, but only for a moment. "I'll figger summin out." Later.<br />
<br />
"You're right, I think having a healed hand, or a replacement one is best before learning to shoot a bow. Besides, if you're planning to do something about it down the line, that'd just mean relearning anyways after." Eztli muses. "No, I'd be pretty shit if I didn't make sure she was okay after all. I had half a mind to cancel this event after everything that happened, but it means too much to a lot of people, not to mention the people I've already negotiated to pay after the event. But that doesn't mean I'm not going to take every chance I've got to check in." <br />
<br />
Aelwyn finally gets her to perk up again, just a bit. "Is that so Aelwyn! Let's hear it, I'll have to let the costume makers know as soon as possible." She replies, before drifting off into more conversation and discussion with the dragoon. "Oh, where's Aryia when you need her? She'd probably kill me, but by the gods if she isn't amazing at making outfits at a last minute's notice."<br />
<br />
-End Scene-<br />
<br />
[[Category:Logs]]</div>Aryiahttp://www.tenebraemush.net/index.php?title=Setting_the_Stage&diff=43907Setting the Stage2024-11-26T20:25:51Z<p>Aryia: Created page with " Alexandrian Festival Grounds, early afternoon. not wishing to interrupt the other festivities that had been ongoing in the festival grounds for the harvest season there had been a few days since they had wound down. It had not been for long however, as not long after festivals seemed to have ended the grounds were yet again a flurry of activity. large wagons of lumber, nails, and other construction supplies had been wheeled in to one corner of the grounds, and a lar..."</p>
<hr />
<div> Alexandrian Festival Grounds, early afternoon. <br />
<br />
not wishing to interrupt the other festivities that had been ongoing in the festival grounds for the harvest season there had been a few days since they had wound down. It had not been for long however, as not long after festivals seemed to have ended the grounds were yet again a flurry of activity. large wagons of lumber, nails, and other construction supplies had been wheeled in to one corner of the grounds, and a large area south of the stands had been roped off, with even more supplies stockpiled there. <br />
<br />
There was a small table near one of the wagons for an equally small sith-makar, who was discussing various matters with an elven man before sending them off with a small pouch, where Eztli returned to perusing a concerningly large pile of notes.<br />
<br />
While the festivities were winding down, that didn't stop being dragged around to every stall, display, game, and cart; Warrick, in his grey overcoat was being lead by the hand by a teenage girl of his spitting image, her other hand holding a large squishy doll of... an ogre? It has a knit hat on top of it.<br />
<br />
Cynthia yanks him all the way up to Eztli's stall. "Hihi whatarewedoing is this fiftypaperpickup??" she babbles quickly."<br />
<br />
Warrick doesn't stop her, he's munching on some kind of meat on a stick.<br />
<br />
The Goblin walks along at a brisk pace, with a large (for her) woven basket balanced upon her head. Using her hands to keep it steady, her eyes scan back and forth, looking for ... something.<br />
<br />
With the festival grounds once more full of people rushing about to get their stalls up, move supplies in, or in some cases, clear out their old displays from the festival previous to this new one, Murder weaves in and out of the crowd. A few times she makes unhappy noises, eliciting surprise gasps, apologies or similar grumbling. She makes an effort to dodge another Goblin in a similar predicament, and manages to run face first into the back of Warrick as they come to a stop at Eztli's stall. The Goblin bounces and topples over with an "OOF!"<br />
<br />
There's a large procession approaching the general direction of the stall as well, engaged in a loud discussion. There was plenty of hand waving, gesturing and a... particularly ruddy sith-makar with his shoulder on fire. Particularly, his shoulder pauldron. It didn't seem to bother him too much, even with the flames threatening to over take his red flowing cloak.<br />
<br />
"... and it is important to not only think of the innocents, but to drag them in one by one." Aelwyn rumbles and grabs something in the air, before pulling it down towards himself. "Tomorrow for another rehearsal, yes?" He flashes his teeth at the assorted folks, before waving them off. "Spelldancer! One is unable to slay the beast of the paper?" He asks, sauntering over.<br />
<br />
Bryn had been out of the city for a day or three, so may have missed the winding down. This is just fine with her, since the timing of things looking to be picking back up makes it as if they never ebbed in the first place! She wanders into the grounds from the north, some simple fur wraps on her limbs keeping her warm enough. A bow is slung on one shoulder and she has a pair of patented Meat-On-A-Sticks in her left hand; at least until a tusky chomp and pull renders them back to just sticks.<br />
<br />
She may only have one eye, but it does have a bit of a vantage point. By this, she spies a few familiar faces or forms in the bustle of purveyors, patrons, and passersby. "Ey!" she calls out in greeting to... well, a few folk. She's not biased.<br />
<br />
Carver's unwashed face is a mess of road dust and days-old warpaint, hair in a knotty mess on the top of her head. Every effort made to make no effort on her personal appearance, it's likely the most 'wild' she's appeared in some time. Like some horrible spirit warped and forced amongst people in an unshapely bundle of heavy furs and hides that keep the cold off of her but not the shivering.<br />
<br />
She chews as she people-gazes from the shelter of a low overhang. A hand wipes clean her chin and lips of crumbs.<br />
<br />
"The dimensions are correct, yes? Please let me know if there's anything at all further you need." Eztli responds to a rather gruff looking dwarf who stopped by next, a carpenter or other craftsman by the look of it who gives a word of thanks before sauntering off to where others were setting up several sawhorses and other benches. <br />
<br />
Cynthia gets a look, and a tired chuckle. "I wish I could be playing games, but no, this is all paperwork." She answers, peering over to see where the goblin was knocked over. "You alright there? Careful, there's a lot of work going on out here, after all." <br />
<br />
Aelwyn gets a tired wave as well. "I wish I just had to focus on the dance, Aelwyn. I'm not used to organizing something on this scale." She answers. "But what about you? Are the rehearsals going well? The orchestra should be ready there for tomorrow, I'm certain." <br />
<br />
Carver, even in her unkempt state, gets the small makari to muster a bit more energy into her wave, if only to look a bit less exhausted. It did little for the look of concern they gave, however.<br />
<br />
Gobbers may be small, but that doesn't help when getting smacked in the back of the leg when not paying attention. He topples over like a sack of bricks.<br />
<br />
Cynthia completely ignores him, focused on Aelwyn's arrival and Eztli's explanation with a grin.<br />
<br />
Warrick grunts as he gets back up, reaching over to yank Murder up to their feet without much of a thought. "Careful next time," he jabbers. Lot of time in Goblintown spent, it seems. <Goblin-Talk><br />
<br />
"Booo, paperwork is boring!" Cynthia bemoans. Warrick frowns. Is it about paperwork? No, he's looking at the ground at his half eaten, dirt ridden meat on a stick. He shrugs, over it. There's a wave to those that he knows- which is pretty much everyone gathered. Lingering a bit of concern over Carver.<br />
<br />
Murder frowns, and squeaks at being yanked to her feet. Her expression and mouth open showing off as many of her teeth as possible shows she's considering biting. For a long few moments. "Same to you, just ... stopping for no reason.", she jabbers back, a haughty expression on her face as she hefts the basket back onto her head.<br />
<br />
The Goblin follows Warrick's gaze to the half eaten meat on a stick. "... you gonna finish that?", she wonders.<br />
<br />
"'Ere!" A new Meat-On-Stick appears before Warrick (well, two, actually), offered up by Bryn with a tusky grin. "I grabbed a bunch. They're tasty, and handy!" Speaking of handiness, she then moves her hand to point stick(s) in offering to Carver. "Ye look like shite, but better'n 'fore. Bettin ye could use one o' these, too."<br />
<br />
Carver's left hand rises, fingers twitching. A wave, an ugly one for Eztli's benefit. She at least responds to social cues. She's watching from a distant on what the 'Spelldancer' is putting together. Curiosity holds her despite what must be exhaustion that has her eyes quite so sullen.<br />
<br />
Murder and Warrick's genial debate does not hold her attention for long, because she gives Cynthia a curious once-over, as if trying to determine their relationship to the older man. From young girl's face to older, more wrinkled, back to younger. Mmm. What was that?<br />
<br />
She blinks at Bryn. "Huh, oh.. no, I'm fine." She sounds less than fine. She sounds like she should be singing about her horse and whiskey like a sixty-five year old ranch hand with that husky dulcet tones.<br />
<br />
Aelwyn stands with his hand on his hip, looking at Warrick collapsing and then the other gathered parties. "No murder on the streets, Shortie." The Dragoon chides the smaller gobbo, before flashing his teeth at Eztli. "Ah, but one should dance. Leave the papers! Burn them into the embers." Somebody was on a good mood. A part of his neck was starting to smolder. "But, tch." He tilts his head. "They are still hesitant about setting heads on fire."<br />
<br />
The draconian then looks across the other people gathered, before settling on Carver. "Huntress! Once come over for the ride?" He calls out, completely unhindered by the near dead look on the other cavalier's face. To him, it probably was just a regular morning. "This one has a question for one!"<br />
<br />
Eztli is left staring at everyone who was toppling over and getting back up a moment over, having vacated her seat. She couldn't quite catch what was said, but it wasn't overly necessary. "Where'd you get those skewers from? I haven't had lunch yet, actually." She wonders."I'm not a fan of paperwork, but it's necessary. It _is_ necessary, Aelwyn." She adds to the dragoon. "Without this, there's no dancing at all. And of course, not everyone is naturally fire resistant, Aelwyn. That's why there's so many preparations to make, which will not be burnt to embers." <br />
<br />
her attention turned back to Carver, where the makari hopped over to give her a hug. "Pardon my bluntness, but you aren't fine, Carver." She huffs. "Please, take a seat, rest a bit."<br />
<br />
"Have at it," Warrick permits Murder, smiling at Bryn as she offers him replacement food. He gives her a clap on the arm and takes one. "Thanks, Bryn."<br />
<br />
Between the teenage girl and the older man, the only true difference between them was that her hair was black and a smattering of freckles are splashes across her face, but in the face and the eyes were exactly the same. Save some wrinkles. Speaking of wrinkles, Warrick's brow furrows at Carver's answer, but others are offering respite. "Well, if you get worse, I can take you to the Defense." The Soldier's Defense- the hospital.<br />
<br />
Cynthia glances about before looking back up (or, on the level, maybe down a bit) while hugging the ogre plush. "Oooh! A fire dance! That'sprettycool!"<br />
<br />
"Thanks!", she says to Warrick cheerfully. The fallen meat-onna-stick is quickly taken and the meat stripped away by the Goblin, disappearing into her maw with a gulping sound. A moment later she bleeeehs, and spits out a bit of dirt. She eyes the unclaimed meat-onna-stick in Bryn's hand, and then Carver. "Can I have it?", she says in a sing-song voice to Bryn, her eyes big like a puppy dog's.<br />
<br />
Murder eyes Aelwyn. "What, I'm not allowed on the streets? And your shoulder is onna fire."<br />
<br />
Bryn snorts at Carver, agreeing with Eztli. "Ye don' look it... but maybe's nothin a good dunkin 'n nap won't fix?" She looks back to Warrick after he takes up the snack. "No prob-AHG!" The thanks she's fine with, the pat on her fur-wrapped arm (and wrapped up more than the one offering the meat) a bit less so. <br />
<br />
The flinch and wince are momentary, though. First is a grin and offering of her last(?) meat+stick to Murder, and her attention quickly shifts from it to Cyn to the familiar Makari. "Fire AND dancin?! Where'd we sign up?"<br />
<br />
"Not jus' me what feelin' the fits," Carver says as she sees Bryn visceral response to the armpat. She was somewhat certain she could guess what the cause was, even if the memories all blurred together like an ugly mosaic. Eztli's embrace has her stiffen as well but she does nod, "I will. I just.. wanted to see what your big plan--" Aelwyn's enthusiasm drowns out her response and she directs dead-eyes at him. "What *are* you two doing anyway?" At Cynthia's excitement for self-immolation? Carver adds, "He rode a dragon." She will brag for Aelwyn even if he won't for himself.<br />
<br />
"What, am I not allowed to have my shoulder on fire?" Aelwyn asks Murder with a flicker of his teeth. "This one was simply warning one not to kill anyone." He flashes his teeth. The draconian's attention is turned back towards Eztli then. "Tch, it does not even need to be real fire." He gestures dismissively. "Besides, it only serves one to be warmer." There's another face that he makes, almost as if a bad memory. "... this one were once forced to sort papers..." He grumbles, before shaking off the moment.<br />
<br />
"Yes!" The draconian greets, arms spread across wide. "Fire and dancing! And here!" The Dragoon slaps the table with all the scrolls, probably knocking off several down to the ground. "Riders priority. This one still needs an entourage."<br />
<br />
Carver's statement makes Aelwyn freeze. And then, if at all possible, his grin seems to swallow his face whole. "Now, this one was planning to hold a party where this one made that announcement." There was a visible shiver across his body. "... perhaps Huntress should too, join the celebrations, as one of the heroes."<br />
<br />
Eztli winces in Bryn's direction. "Still rough, is it? Let me know if there's anything I can do." The small makari offers. "And that goes for you too, Carver. Don't worry about it Warrick, if she needs to go there, I'll make sure Carver's taken care of, not that she can't manage that herself." <br />
<br />
"Yeah, lots of fire, lots of dancing!" She answers Cynthia. "I think it's going to be pretty cool. I think we'll stick with illusory fires for the dancers themselves, just to avoid any accidents, though. After all, lots of people are going to join in as part of it, right?" <br />
<br />
"He did, and it was amazing." Eztli nods. "Didn't get much time to focus on it though, I had a lot on my mind."<br />
<br />
GAME: Murder refreshes spells.<br />
<br />
Warrick blinks at the response from the arm clap. He glances down at the double wrapped arm, and lets his own drop. "Ah, sorry," he quickly apologizes, opting to stuff his face with another bite of the gifted replacement, side eyeing Murder's glad dirt eating. He's unfazed.<br />
<br />
Cynthia's face lights up at Carver's explanation, and even further so as Aelwyn expounds. "Yooooooooooo THAT'SSOCOOL!" she bounces.<br />
<br />
Even Warrick is impressed. "Oh wow. Can't say I've ever seen that before."<br />
<br />
The Goblin is able to get her mouth around all of the meat on the stick, and pulls the whole thing from Bryn's hand gently, pulling the stick away a moment later. The meat is hardly chewed before it is swallowed. She hiccups a few times. "Thanks!", she says to Bryn. Her eyes narrow at the Oruch. "Is there somethin' wrong with yer arm? You should get it looked at iffn yer screaming like that when someone pats it."<br />
<br />
"... I mean if you wanna be on fire, okay... but uh, that's going to leave a mark. And under code 5.7.11, no open flames are allowed out here in the festival grounds. Too much hay and other flammable materials. Ask me how I know that code. It ain't 'cause I'm a guardsman...", she says to Aelyn.<br />
<br />
Her eyes then shift to Cynthia and Warrick, looking back and forth between the two, her expression quizzical, before she grins toothily. "I get it! Yer taking yer granddad out for a walk to the festival grounds! It's so nice to see the elderly being cared so well. Nice oruch plushy too, by the by."<br />
<br />
Her gaze takes in Carver for a moment. "You might want to go to the Soldier's Defense like granddad, there, suggested. They do more than jus' physical healing, they deal with all the trauma after the fight too." Murder sighs then. "And ya all are encouraging Aelwyn to set himself on fiah again."<br />
<br />
"Sorry, stole your smoke." Carver does not crack a smile. At Murder's insistence that 'granda' is out for his weekly constitutional, she still does not crack a smile. Not even that long ago she may have insisted upon joining in mocking the elderly with their crickety knees and dumb advice. Now? No spirit for it.<br />
<br />
"I did not do anything. I observed. I wasted ammunition. I would have..." She pauses at Cynthia's enthusiasm and does not elaborate further on the truth. "Anyway." She gently polishes Eztli's forehead as a fond gesture. "Maybe you are right. I'll make my way to the Defense. My head hurts. If you need an entourage for your parade, send a bird or a message." She'll quietly withdraw, pulling her furs in tighter.<br />
<br />
Aelwyn was not impressed by the amount of enthusiasm. At least Cynthia was excited. He twists his lips for a moment, then flashes his teeth at her. "A real. Dragon. The holiest!" The Dragoon exclaims, once again spreading his arms wide. Then Murder catches his attention. "Ah, it shall be fine." He slaps Warrick on the shoulder. "This one knows that there is no such thing as abundance of caution and fire." Another flash of teeth at Eztli.<br />
<br />
But Carver's withdrawal makes him pause, and then slowly take on a more matter of fact look. He walks over and puts his hand on her shoulder. "There were plenty of wrong things in that place." He tells her. "But if one pauses for too long, the music shall be over. Celebrate if not then, then at least now."<br />
<br />
Bryn reaches with her left to give Warrick a return clap on his arm or shoulder; whichever is more in reach as her focus is still on Aelwyn. Because fire and dancing... and party! "Sign me up!" Her grin threatens to stretch her tusks as she absorbs further energy from Aelwyn, though there is a flicker at Carver's melancholy. She quickly recovers, trying to project some of that exuberance into Carver's withdrawing form for a moment.<br />
<br />
She then helpfully fills some of that absence with a snicker at Warrick. "S'all good, Grandada." To assure him, Eztli, and even Murder, she waggles the wrapped right arm, which is now noticably shorter than her left and has no hand peeking out of the wraps. "Eh, 'sfine. It'll grow back or summin." Bryn is then struck by a sudden thought and she points the sorta-arm at Cynthia. "Yer Da ever tell ye not ta stick yer hand in big, glowin beams o' super magic power?"<br />
<br />
"If you think that's cool, wait until you see the giant flaming pumpkin we're building." Eztli grins, more than a bit half heartedly. The small makari sighs, and gives Carver another hug. "You did a lot. You did everything you could and, well, I'm glad you're okay. If I want you to join, which I would if you want to, then I'll tell you myself. I'll stop by the defence after I'm done with the work today and you're still there." <br />
<br />
Eztli turns back to the others as Carver moves to leave, stopping to watch her depart as well. "Don't worry about it Warrick, I already made the requests to the city, all fires will be contained to a pre determined event path with several wizards to extinguish any accidental flames on hand, and the area will be swept completely beforehand." She answers. "And the structure for the pumpkin has been triple checked by several architects and carpenters before final approval, which I just received toady." <br />
<br />
"Yeah, dealing with magic like that is, dangerous." Eztli sighs.<br />
<br />
"No open flames are allowed in the festival grounds- 'without written permission from the city grounds keeper'" Warrick reflexively adds on to Murder's legal reciting. "Subsection A under 5.7.11." A dip of the head towards Eztli; she did her homework.<br />
<br />
Cynthia looks up at Warrick as Murder calls him out. A busts out laughing. Full on belly laugh. Warrick just sighs. "I'm not /that/ old...."<br />
<br />
This just makes the teen laugh even harder. She falls over.<br />
<br />
"Congrats, you broke my daughter," he dryly comments to Murder, even as Aelwyn gives him a shoulder slap. But he can't help but note how withdrawn Carver is. There's a moment where something clicks in his eyes. "I'll meet you there later, I have to go anyways to get a check up, as apparently I am rapidly aging."<br />
<br />
Bryn's clap on the shoulder draws his attention back to her and- she wiggles a stump. His slate gaze grows distant, slides over to his daughter, then back to the grinning Bryn, and on towards Carver. "Oh," is all that's really able to come out of him.<br />
<br />
"Well duh, of course not, that's kind of obviousososhit..!" Cynthia gasps. It's clear she's shocked, but there's a reflexive, "... that's not what I meant by disarming with smoke bombs..!" "Cinny..."<br />
<br />
Carver pauses at the hand on her shoulder, then taps it once. Acknowledge. Be happy. Alive. She can't commit to it, but she will at least try. She slips the weighty paw and by all first's appearances does seem to be heading toward the Defense to get herself looked over, slipping away from the festivities.<br />
<br />
Carver has left.<br />
<br />
Aelwyn watches Carver move away for a moment. Stare. Then he turns around and spreads his arms once again. "Yes, fire and dance, because let us give the summer the sent of it requires and tell the winter to fuck off!" He grins widely, before moving over and slapping Bryn on the shoulder. "This one knows an artificer that could craft Mirror a gauntlet made out of lava. Imagine, setting the streets on ablaze!" He gestures. No wonder Eztli has so much paperwork. He was also completely ignorant of the fact that there were in factual, bodily injuries sustained.<br />
<br />
The Dragoon's eyes then turn towards Murder. "If one is not interested in fire, Shortie seems quite well versed to assist Spelldancer with her arduous task of slaying the bureaucrats of this town." Another flicker of his tongue.<br />
<br />
"I know how that feels, Carver.", the Goblin says in reply. "You would have died... but you did not. Whether your friends dipped in to save your hide, or the bad guys screwed up or left you for dead, it doesn't matter. What matters is that yer here. Sometimes a fight is too big. No way to really know for sure til you get into it." She lets out a huff of breath. "Let them tend to your wounds, and let yer friends tend to your hurts. There's a difference."<br />
<br />
Murder eyes Bryn a moment. "I think ya should see the healers a bit more, they kin fix it. They kin regrow it, but ya need to get to 'em quick. Do ya got the hand? Makes it faster, I heard."<br />
<br />
She giggles and gestures casually with a hand. "Only dangerous to wooden structures, carts, gun powder, hay, haybales, hair... pretty much the whole city." Murder shrugs. Her grin is suddenly wide and toothy, and she snorts at the now-laughing teenager. Her tongue is stuck out at Warrick. "Yeah yeah, subsection A... found the copper!" The Goblin laughs then. "Oh, she's your daughter. You must have had her late in life then..."<br />
<br />
A wave is offered to the retreating Carver. "Did she get mauled in a fight recently? She's showin' all the signs. It's hard on the body and mind." She cants her head at Aelwyn.<br />
<br />
"Slaying bureaucrats? I haven't filled out the appropriate form in triplicate yet...!"<br />
<br />
Eztli finally returns to her seat at the table, and flops over the back of the chair. "Yeah, should get that hand looked after Bryn, sooner rather than later. After all, better to be in good health for the celebrations, right? I could use some help, but if I murder the kill the bureaucrats, there's no doubt all my licenses are going to be revoked and this was a waste of time since there'll be someone left to enforce things." <br />
<br />
"It's a log story, Murder. One I don't really feel like reliving at this current moment. It's hard enough to focus on this worrying about Carver, after all." The sorceress sighs.<br />
<br />
"I'll figger it out," Bryn offers to all concerned, with Eztli getting her caterpillar brows perking. "Arm o' lava? That sounds fargin amazin!" But she does not appear to decide either way just yet. Instead, she nods with Eztli and thumbs in Carver's former direction. "She's tough. Amazin tough. Jumped right on in 'n-" Right, too much for now. "Anyways... Oh!"<br />
<br />
Her train of thought jumps another track and she spins back to Warrick as her left arm shrugs off the bow she had shouldered. "Picked this up! Ain' used one much 'sides a li'l huntin, figured maybe ye could help me get netter't hittin shite?"<br />
<br />
"I make no effort to hide that I was in the Watch." Warrick buries his face into a hand. "No, I had her when I was twenty thr- oh I give up."<br />
<br />
Cynthia seems easiest on the recovery. "Oooh, a lava gauntlet, that sounds sick!" she enthuses, while her father doesn't have much to add on the whole situation. Seems like a niche sore spot for him. "I'll be there! I like celebrations!" Cynthia makes sure to RSVP!<br />
<br />
Warrick's attention pulls back to the now, him looking to the bow. "Oh..! Yeah, I can show you a few things. Used it quite a bit in a pinch, though it' mostly practice. You're...-" He blinks. "-... probably going to have to get that sorted out first before you can use it though." He open and closes a hand in front of him.<br />
<br />
Aelwyn watches the exchange between Bryn and Warrick, and then he leans over towards the very tall oruch. "Pull the string by the teeth. It will intimidate one's foes." He suggests. It was not clear if he was joking.<br />
<br />
The goblin receives a tap from his tail, as the ruddy sith-makar heads towards the table. "She shall be fine. For a resolve that strong, surely will be." The Dragoon finally returns over Eztli's desk then, leaning over. "This one found out a way for the headless rider." He tells her, "That is the myth here, yes? Of the harvest season?"<br />
<br />
Murder raises a hand, something to say on her lips, and the gestures at Warrick. "What he said... you need two hands. I mean, I suppose if you have prep time, you could use one hand and a foot, but since you need feet to walk, it's gonna be awful awkward if yer trying to hunt, yanno? Doubly so if yer trying to use it in combat..." She eyes the bow enviously, it being as long as she is tall, practically. "I have a little short bow I use for huntin'. That one is much more impressive than mine."<br />
<br />
Glancing at Eztli. "Well, she's gone now... bad fight?" A laugh is sent Warrick's way. "I am just teasin' ya. I know yer not that old. I mean, yer probably old enough to be /my/ dad, but that's not.. too terrible." Another toothy grin before she looks to Aelwyn.<br />
<br />
"Honestly, Aelwyn? She won't be fine, not without help. I seen that look before. I know it well. I seen people almost die, and survive... they can become dead inside here." Murder taps at her temple. "You lot need ta take care of her for a bit. Either guilt or the horrors of combat are gnawing at her, and they will hollow her out without help."<br />
<br />
The Goblin hefts the basket up to her head again. "I gotta head to my stall, so I'll see you all later. Should come by and visit later. I have hot pepper treats!" A glance is sent Aelwyn's way. "Iffn you can take a real fire, that is."<br />
<br />
Bryn may not have considered the valid point that Warrick brings up (that is expounded on by Murder). "Oh. Uh... right." This also has her reconsidering whether a lava gauntlet would be the best, even if it sounds really, really, awesome. Aelwyn's suggestion also has merit, whether it was serious or not. Bryn's brows knit and her foreheard furrows in thought, but only for a moment. "I'll figger summin out." Later.<br />
<br />
"You're right, I think having a healed hand, or a replacement one is best before learning to shoot a bow. Besides, if you're planning to do something about it down the line, that'd just mean relearning anyways after." Eztli muses. "No, I'd be pretty shit if I didn't make sure she was okay after all. I had half a mind to cancel this event after everything that happened, but it means too much to a lot of people, not to mention the people I've already negotiated to pay after the event. But that doesn't mean I'm not going to take every chance I've got to check in." <br />
<br />
Aelwyn finally gets her to perk up again, just a bit. "Is that so Aelwyn! Let's hear it, I'll have to let the costume makers know as soon as possible." She replies, before drifting off into more conversation and discussion with the dragoon. "Oh, where's Aryia when you need her? She'd probably kill me, but by the gods if she isn't amazing at making outfits at a last minute's notice."<br />
<br />
-End Scene-<br />
<br />
[[Category:Logs]]</div>Aryiahttp://www.tenebraemush.net/index.php?title=Recent_Logs&diff=43906Recent Logs2024-11-26T20:19:52Z<p>Aryia: /* November */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{AboutLogs}}<br />
<br />
'''[[Archived_Logs|For 2023 and earlier, see the Archives]]'''<br />
<br />
==2024 Logs==<br />
===January===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|January 1, 2024<br />
|[[New Face in Town]]<br />
|[[Kadlin]], [[Murder]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[What is in a Name]]<br />
|[[Khepri]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Triangulating Assumptions]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Eztli]], [[Dirk]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Magic and Archmages]]<br />
|[[Aragos]], [[Kadlin]], [[Mikilos]], [[Murder]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 2, 2024<br />
|[[In Search of a Forge]]<br />
|[[Kadlin]], [[Harshad]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Tales of Redemption and Grief]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Seldan]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 5, 2024<br />
|[[Song and Holy Violence]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Aryia]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 8, 2024<br />
|[[An Ask of Mental Fortitude]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Leirune|Rune]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Axochitl's Aid]]<br />
|[[Seldan]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 9, 2024<br />
|[[Snowballs in the Gardens]]<br />
|[[Acedia]], [[Eztli]], [[Mikilos]], [[Ness]], [[Ous]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 10, 2024<br />
|[[A Meeting In The Wintry Woods]]<br />
|[[Acedia]], [[Kadlin]], [[Munch]], [[Seldan]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 11, 2024<br />
|[[Shenanigans on Ice]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Irshya]], [[Slixvah]], [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Raiders of the Lost Tomb, Part 2]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Fidget]], [[Slixvah]], [[Irshya]], [[Aimarra]], [[Carver]], GM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 14, 2024<br />
|[[Phantom Thieves - The Heist]]<br />
|[[Crik]], [[Reithak]], [[Warrick]], [[Merith]], [[Thoth]], GM: [[Fidget]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Testing Synonie]]<br />
|[[Seldan]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 15, 2024<br />
|[[Raiders of the Lost Tomb Part 3]]<br />
|[[Aimarra]], [[Slixvah]], [[Irshya]], [[Carver]], [[Fidget]], [[Aelwyn]] ('''DM:''' Telamon)<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Chronolark - Part 1]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Aznara]], [[Reithak]], [[Tlanexhuani]], ('''DM:''' Whirlpool)<br />
|-<br />
|January 18, 2024<br />
|[[Workouts and Distractions]]<br />
|[[Choler]], [[Thurid]], [[Eztli]], [[Slixvah]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 19, 2024<br />
|[[World Peace and Hunky Boys]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Dolan]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 21, 2024<br />
|[[Quarry Quarrel, Part 1]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Crik]], [[Khepri]], [[Reithak]], GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 22, 2024<br />
|[[Chronolark - Part 2]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Aznara]], [[Reithak]], [[Tlanexhuani]], GM: [[Whirlpool]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 23, 2024<br />
|[[Prisoner Transfer - Part 1]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Magpie]], GM: [[Whirlpool]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 25, 2024<br />
|[[Silencing the Unloved King]]<br />
|[[Seldan]], [[Dirk]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 27, 2024<br />
|[[Forgotten Blood Finale - Beneath]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Culix]], [[Schara]] GM: [[Harkashan]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 28, 2024<br />
|[[Phantom Thieves - The Heist Pt2]]<br />
|[[Crik]], [[Reithak]], [[Warrick]], [[Merith]], [[Thoth]], GM: [[Fidget]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 29, 2024<br />
|[[Raiders of the Lost Tomb Part 4]]<br />
|[[Aimarra]], [[Slixvah]], [[Irshya]], [[Carver]], [[Fidget]], [[Aelwyn]] ('''DM:''' Telamon)<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Wraps and Hiccups]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Chronolark - Part 3]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Tlanexhuani]], [[Reithak]], [[Aznara]] ('''DM:''' Whirlpool)<br />
|-<br />
|January 30, 2024<br />
|[[Prisoner Transfer - Part 2]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Magpie]], GM: [[Whirlpool]]<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
===February===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|February 1, 2024<br />
|[[Cat Scratch Chills]]<br />
|[[Reithak]], [[Simony]], [[Teppus]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 2, 2024<br />
|[[Raiders of the Lost Tomb Part 5]]<br />
|[[Aimarra]], [[Slixvah]], [[Irshya]], [[Carver]], [[Aelwyn]] ('''DM:''' Telamon)<br />
|-<br />
|February 4, 2024<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Seldan]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 5, 2024<br />
|[[Answers in Amantli (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Cuemoni]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Chronolark - Part 4]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Tlanexhuani]], [[Reithak]] ('''DM:''' Whirlpool)<br />
|-<br />
|February 6, 2024<br />
|[[Prisoner Transfer - Part 3]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Magpie]], GM: [[Whirlpool]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 7, 2024<br />
|[[Mushrooms and Man Left Behind]]<br />
|[[Culix]], [[Irshya]], [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 11, 2024<br />
|[[Quarry Quarrel, Part 2]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Reithak]], [[Crik]], [[Khepri]], GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Cultivating Humility]]<br />
|[[Alfrik]], [[Munch]], [[Murder]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Seldan]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 12, 2024<br />
|[[Chronolark - Part 5]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Tlanexhuani]], [[Reithak]] ('''DM:''' Whirlpool)<br />
|-<br />
|February 13, 2024<br />
|[[Sound Mind]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Harkashan]], [[Simony]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Answers in Amantli (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Cuemoni]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 14, 2024<br />
|[[Fire birds and sharp sticks]]<br />
|[[Crik]], [[Eztli]], [[Rhar]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Simony's Haven]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 15, 2024<br />
|[[Cold Winter Encounters]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 16, 2024<br />
|[[Summoning Aid]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 18, 2024<br />
|[[The show must drag on]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Culix]], [[Eztli]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 18, 2024<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 3)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Seldan]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Quarry Quarrel Part 3]]<br />
|[[Khepri]], [[Thoth]], [[Reithak]], [[Crik]], GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 19, 2024<br />
|[[Temple District Ruminations]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Simony]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[The Weight of Responsibility]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Chronolark - Part 6]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Tlanexhuani]], [[Reithak]], [[Aznara]] ('''DM:''' Whirlpool)<br />
|-<br />
|February 20, 2024<br />
|[[Dead Men]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Harkashan]], [[Simony]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[A Single Nail]]<br />
|[[SImony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 22, 2024<br />
|[[Creation of Ash]]<br />
|[[Cuemoni]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 23, 2024<br />
|[[Expect the Unexpected]]<br />
|[[Harkashan]], [[Simony]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[To Stalk The Fiend]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 25, 2024<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 4)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Seldan]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 26, 2024<br />
|[[Serpentine Showing]]<br />
|[[Alfrik]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 28, 2024<br />
|[[Ten Year Step]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Alfrik]], [[Auranar]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Forgotten Blood Finale - Assassins]]<br />
|[[Reithak]], [[Crik]], [[Aznara]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 29, 2024<br />
|[[Make Cookies Not War]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Demand a Favor]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Golfbag of Glaives]]<br />
|[[Verna]], [[Culix]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Alfrik]]<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
===March===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|March 1, 2024<br />
|[[Releasing the Hounds]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 3, 2024<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 5)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Seldan]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Personal Hero]]<br />
|[[Harkashan]], [[Rune]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 4, 2024<br />
|[[Chronolark - Part 8]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Aznara]], [[Reithak]], [[Tlanexhuani]], ('''DM:''' Whirlpool)<br />
|-<br />
|March 5, 2024<br />
|[[Golden Coast Cruise]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Slixvah]], [[Simony]], [[Tlanexhuani]], [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 6, 2024<br />
|[[Unlock, Unbind, Hide]]<br />
|[[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Leirune|Rune]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Body Guard]]<br />
|[[Alfrik]], [[Harshad]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 9, 2024<br />
|[[Adventure's End?]]<br />
|[[Acedia]], [[Seldan]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 10, 2024<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 6)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Seldan]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 11, 2024<br />
|[[Facing Another Trial]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Harkashan]], [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 12, 2024<br />
|[[Chronolark - Part 9]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Reithak]], [[Tlanexhuani]], ('''DM:''' Whirlpool)<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[You Won't Be Alone]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Slixvah]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 14, 2024<br />
|[[To the Victor Go the Spoils]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]; DM: [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 15, 2024<br />
|[[Forearmed is Forwarned]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Warrick]], [[Schara]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[The Eve Before Death]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Harkashan]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 17, 2024<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 7): The Poetry Corner]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Seldan]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]]; DM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|March 18, 2024<br />
|[[A Golden Ending (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Slixvah]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 19, 2024<br />
|[[A Morning At The Ox]]<br />
|[[Harshad]], [[Murder]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 20, 2024<br />
|[[Fantasy Gladiator League]]<br />
|[[Irshya]], [[Slixvah]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Aspiring Aspire-ations ]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Faranmidahn]], [[Irshya]] DM: [[Whirlpool]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 23, 2024<br />
|[[Go Home History You're Drunk]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Crik]], [[Mikilos]], [[Reithak]], DM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|March 24, 2024<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 8)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Seldan]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]]; DM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|March 25, 2024<br />
|[[A Golden Ending (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Slixvah]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 26, 2024<br />
|[[To Find a Mourner (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Auranar]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]; DM: Verna<br />
|-<br />
|March 27, 2024<br />
|[[Aspiring Aspire-ations, Pt2]]<br />
|[[Fidget]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Irshya]], [[Faranmidahn]]; DM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|March 31, 2024<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 9)]]<br />
|[[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Seldan]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]]; DM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
<br />
===April===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|April 1, 2024<br />
|[[A Golden Ending (Part 3)]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Slixvah]], [[Telamon]]; DM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|April 2, 2024<br />
|[[Aspiring Aspire-ations, Pt3]]<br />
|[[Fidget]], [[Irshya]], [[Etzli]], [[Aelwyn]]; GM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|April 3, 2024<br />
|[[Welcome Warden]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Murder]], [[Rhar]], [[Leirune|Rune]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 5, 2024<br />
|[[Cover Letter]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Slixvah]], [[Eztli]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Noodles and Sake]]<br />
|[[Choler]], [[Harshad]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 8, 2024<br />
|[[Frozen Veins]]<br />
|[[Aragos]], [[Harshad]], [[Palomas]], [[Reithak]], [[Quinn]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 10, 2024<br />
|[[Stop Me if You Have Heard This One]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Irshya]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 11, 2024<br />
|[[A Courier for a Page]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], Npcs: [[Slixvah]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 12, 2024<br />
|[[Needles And News]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Choler]], [[Eztli]], [[Slixvah]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 14, 2024<br />
|[[Three Assassins]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Reithak]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 10)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Seldan]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 15, 2024<br />
|[[A Golden Ending (Part 4)]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Slixvah]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 17, 2024<br />
|[[Aspiring Aspire-ations, Part 4]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Carver]], [[Eztli]], [[Faranmidahn]], [[Irshya]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 18, 2024<br />
|[[Repose in Two Forms]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[To Find a Mourner (Part 3)]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Auranar]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]] DM [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 20, 2024<br />
|[[Tears of Death]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Corey]], [[Rhar]], [[Rune]], [[Thoth]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 21, 2024<br />
|[[Whilst You Lay Dreaming]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 11)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Seldan]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]]; GM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|April 22, 2024<br />
|[[Birds of another Feather]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Reithak]], [[Sabina]], [[Xasany]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Revelation Raven]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Of Spring and Gardening]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 23, 2024<br />
|[[Cutscene: Sins of the Father]]<br />
|Caeles Miranore, Kiira Theran, Caeleil Miranore (NPCs by [[Leirune|Rune]] and [[Simony]])<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Return of the Bina]]<br />
|[[Slixvah]], [[Irshya]], [[Sabina]], [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[To Find a Mourner (Part 4)]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Auranar]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]; DM [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 24, 2024<br />
|[[Aspiring Aspire-ations, Part 5]]<br />
|[[Fidget]], [[Carver]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Faranmidahn]]; GM: [[Whirlpool]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 25, 2024<br />
|[[Hunting Urvis (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[MAC-B1G]], [[Leirune|Rune]]; DM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 27, 2024<br />
|[[Feel the Groove]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Eztli]], [[MAC-B1G]], [[Magpie]]; DM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|April 28, 2024<br />
|[[Morning in Goblintown]]<br />
|[[Harshad]], [[Choler]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 12)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Seldan]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]]; GM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|April 29, 2024<br />
|[[The Stage Is Set]]<br />
|[[Sabina]]; GM: Derecho<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Rider of Decisions]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]]; GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
<br />
===May===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|May 1, 2024<br />
|[[Silver Misses Snow]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Choler]], [[Corey]], [[Eztli]], [[Skielstregar]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Warnings on Deaf Ears]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Fidget]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 2, 2024<br />
|[[Hunting Urvis (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[MAC-B1G]], [[Leirune|Rune]]; DM: Telamon<br />
|-<br />
|May 3, 2024<br />
|[[Trade Off]]<br />
|[[Harshad]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 5, 2024<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 13)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Seldan]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]]; DM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|May 6, 2024<br />
|[[Maybe Fae-be]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 7, 2024<br />
|[[A Happy Dance]]<br />
|[[Karasu]], [[Ravenstongue]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[A Close Shave]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Simony]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[At Nothing We See]]<br />
|[[Choler]], [[Cuemoni]], [[Fidget]], [[Tlanexhuani]], [[Zeke]]; DM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|May 8, 2024<br />
|[[Fashion Shopping Preperusal ]]<br />
|[[Eztli]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Aryia]], [[Simony]], [[Aznara]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[To Find a Mourner (Part 5)]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Auranar]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]; DM [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 10, 2024<br />
|[[Piecing Together Me]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Corey]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Tlanexhuani]]; DM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|May 12, 2024<br />
|[[Hunting Urvis (Part 3)]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[MAC-B1G]], [[Leirune|Rune]]; DM: Telamon<br />
|-<br />
|May 14, 2024<br />
|[[A Fiend In Plain Sight]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 15, 2024<br />
|[[To Find a Mourner (Part 6)]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Auranar]], [[Harkashan]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]; DM [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 16, 2024<br />
|[[Fab Fabric and Fire]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Noodles and a Future Heist]]<br />
|[[Choler]], [[Harshad]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 18, 2024<br />
|[[Honey Do]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Magpie]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
| <br />
|[[Mothers and Patrons]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Harkashan]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 19, 2024<br />
|[[Hunting Urvis (Part 4)]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[MAC-B1G]], [[Leirune|Rune]]; DM: Telamon<br />
|-<br />
|May 20, 2024<br />
|[[We Are Seen]]<br />
|[[Cuemoni]], [[Fidget]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Tlanexhuani]], [[Zeke]]; DM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Rain and Bath House]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Leirune|Rune]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 21, 2024<br />
|[[Simpler Things]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 22, 2024<br />
|[[The Name-Stealer]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[The Final Spires, Part 1]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Fidget|NAME UNKNOWN]], [[Tlanexhuani]]; DM: Whirlpool<br />
|- <br />
|May 23, 2024<br />
|[[Never Even]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Slixvah]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[The Urvis Update]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[MAC-B1G]], [[Rune]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 24, 2024<br />
|[[Unpleasant News at the Noodle Stand]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Stained Glass Butterfly]]<br />
|[[Choler]], [[Harshad]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 26, 2024<br />
|[[Warning the Mislead]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Thoth]], Nameless ([[Fidget]])<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[To Find a Mourner (Part 7)]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Auranar]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 27, 2024<br />
|[[Changing Seasons and Hearts]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Aragos]], [[Eztli]]. [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 28, 2024<br />
|[[He Says]]<br />
|[[Sabina]], [[Thoth]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Whatamelons and Wanderers]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Irshya]], [[Sabina]], [[Slixvah]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Crimson to Show Off]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Aryia]], [[Irshya]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 30, 2024<br />
|[[The Final Spires, Part 2]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Fidget|NAME UNKNOWN]], [[Tlanexhuani]]; DM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[What Troubles Those in the Market]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Simony]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Slixvah]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 30, 2024<br />
|[[A Stealthy Inquest]]<br />
|[[Choler]], [[Harshad]]<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
<br />
===June===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|June 2, 2024<br />
|[[Noodles After The Heist]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Choler]], [[Harshad]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 4, 2024<br />
|[[He Says (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Sabina]], [[Thoth]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[What Makes A Cavalier Attitude?]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Zofija]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 5, 2024<br />
|[[Down the River]]<br />
|[[Skielstregar]], [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[The Final Spires, Part 3]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Fidget|NAME UNKNOWN]], [[Tlanexhuani]]; DM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[A Castle In My Dreams]]<br />
|[[Telamon]] (vignette)<br />
|-<br />
|June 7, 2024<br />
|[[Break the Mold]]<br />
|[[Aeson]], [[Eztli]], [[MAC-B1G]], [[Mikilos]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 8, 2024<br />
|[[Fictitious - I]] <br />
|[[Aragos]], [[Fidget|NAME UNKNOWN]] , [[Gramarye]], [[Lanier]], [[Vaera]]; DM: Thoth<br />
|-<br />
|June 9, 2024<br />
|[[To Find a Mourner (Part 8)]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Auranar]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]; DM: Verna<br />
|-<br />
|June 10, 2024<br />
|[[Bedtime Butterflies]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Eztli]], [[Lanier]]; DM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|June 12, 2024<br />
|[[The Castle on the Edge of Waking]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[The Final Spires, Part 4]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Fidget|NAME UNKNOWN]], [[Tlanexhuani]]; DM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|June 13, 2024<br />
|[[Forearmed is Forwarned Part 2]]<br />
|[[Warrick]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Schara]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 14, 2024<br />
|[[Grand Induction]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Culix]], [[Eztli]], [[Simony]], DM: [[Aryia]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Five Nightmares]]<br />
|[[Aeson]], [[Carver]], [[Eztli]], [[MAC-B1G]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 15, 2024<br />
|[[Five Nightmares (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Eztli]], [[MAC-B1G]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Dwarf Fortress: Deepest Depths - I]]<br />
|[[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Garden Lectures Under the Sun]]<br />
|[[Aeson]], [[Mikilos]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 16, 2024<br />
|[[To Find a Mourner (Part 9)]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Auranar]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 17, 2024<br />
|[[When you Wish Upon a Fish]]<br />
|[[Dirk]], [[Magpie]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 18, 2024<br />
|[[Wasted Years]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[He Says (Part 3)]]<br />
|[[Sabina]], [[Thoth]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 19, 2024<br />
|[[A Warriors Instinct]]<br />
|[[Aragos]], [[Gramarye]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Pillory Blues]]<br />
|[[Eztli]], [[Telamon]], [[Yazlo]], [[Zeke]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Ashes on the Ground]]<br />
|[[Gramarye]], [[Thoth]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 20, 2024<br />
|[[For A Few Potions More]]<br />
|[[Choler]], [[Cuemoni]], [[Warrick]]; GM: Telamon<br />
|-<br />
|June 21, 2024<br />
|[[Nonlinear Pie]]<br />
|[[Verna]], [[Auranar]], [[Aryia]], [[Eztli]], [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Forearmed is Forwarned Part 3]]<br />
|[[Warrick]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Schara]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 22, 2024<br />
|[[Best Boy]]<br />
|[[Crik]], [[Menel]], [[Zofija]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 23, 2024<br />
|[[A Warning Not A Gift]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Harshad]], NPC Sori - [[Karasu]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Dwarf Fortress: Deepest Depths - II]]<br />
|[[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], DM: [[Culix]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[One Thousand Cranes]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 24, 2024<br />
|[[The Price of Fish]]<br />
|[[Arzhela]], [[Crik]], [[Cuemoni]], [[Murder]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[The Weight of Expectations]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[He Says (Part 4)]]<br />
|[[Sabina]], [[Thoth]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 25, 2024<br />
|[[Full Day at the Baths]]<br />
|[[Slixvah]], [[Irshya]], [[Culix]], [[Leirune|Rune]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Upon the Koz-way]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Aryia]], [[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 26, 2024<br />
|[[The Final Spires, Part 5]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Carver]], [[Eztli]], [[Fidget|NAME UNKNOWN]]; DM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|June 27, 2024<br />
|[[Faphinae's Fanfare]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Simony]], [[Reithak]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Gearsmasher]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Corey]], [[Eztli]], [[MAC-B1G]], [[Skielstregar]]; guest star: [[Telamon]]; GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|June 28, 2024<br />
|[[Soul Food]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Aryia]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Fiends and Fae]]<br />
|[[Telamon]], [[Ravenstongue]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[The Never-ending Story]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Leirune|Rune]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 29, 2024<br />
|[[Game On!]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Eztli]], [[Karasu]], [[Leirune|Rune]] ;GM: [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 30, 2024<br />
|[[Fragile Like Trust]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[A Will to Kill]]<br />
|Faphinae & Sori [[Corey]], [[Karasu]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Silent Sanitorium]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Dirk]], [[Harkashan]], [[MAC-B1G]], [[Rune]]; DM: [[Culix]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|}<br />
<br />
<br />
===July===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|July 1, 2024<br />
|[[Hunting Lore in the Library]]<br />
|[[Alaric]], [[Simony]], [[Verna]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 2, 2024<br />
|[[Death Comes Another Day]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Unravel Their Riddles]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 3, 2024<br />
|[[Mist and Magic]]<br />
|[[Alaric]], [[Crik]], [[Murder]], [[Slixvah]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 4, 2024<br />
|[[A Lesson in Forgiveness]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 5, 2024<br />
|[[Silence in the Library]]<br />
|[[Harshad]], [[Menel]], [[Palomas]], [[Reithak]], [[Warrick]], [[Zigrun]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 6, 2024<br />
|[[Spelunking]]<br />
|[[Crik]], [[Cuemoni]], [[Harshad]], [[Menel]], [[Reithak]], [[Sjach]]; GM: [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 7, 2024<br />
|[[A Story Born of Hope]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 9, 2024<br />
|[[Sands through the Hourglass]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Culix]], [[Eztli]], [[Menel]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 10, 2024<br />
|[[Forlorn Moon (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]; GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[The Final Spires, Part 6]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Carver]], [[Eztli]], [[Fidget|NAME UNKNOWN]]; DM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
| [[Tornmawr Torpedo]]<br />
|[[Culix]], [[Aryia]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Bryn]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 11, 2024<br />
|[[Boogle Boogle]]<br />
|[[Aragos]], [[Thoth]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Forlorn Moon (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]; GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|July 12, 2024<br />
|[[Name Exchange ]]<br />
|[[Gramarye]], [[Thoth]]; GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|July 13, 2024<br />
|[[Moment of the Future]]<br />
|[[Gramarye]], [[Thoth]]; GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|July 14, 2024<br />
|[[Silent Sanitorium Part 2]]<br />
|[[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Aelwyn]], [[MAC-B1G]], Dirk, GM: Culix<br />
|-<br />
|July 15, 2024<br />
|[[Explosions and Slaying]]<br />
|[[Warrick]], [[Bryn]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Heir to the Throne - Beginning]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Cuemoni]], [[Harshad]], [[Menel]], [[Warrick]], [[Zofija]]; GM: Harkashan<br />
|-<br />
|July 19, 2024<br />
|[[Summer Days]]<br />
|[[Warrick]], [[Sjach]], [[Aznara]], DM: [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 21, 2024<br />
|[[Vagrant Tower - Void Engine 1]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Rune]], [[Eztli]], [[Iskandar]], [[Harkashan]], GM: Culix<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Following a Portent]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 22, 2024<br />
|[[Heir to the Throne: Trouble in Unbundun Part 1]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Crik]], [[Harshad]], [[Warrick]], [[Zofija]]; GM: Harkashan<br />
|-<br />
|July 23, 2024<br />
|[[Tales of Wrassling and Cages]]<br />
|[[Warrick]], [[Bryn]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Mountaineering Investigations]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Eztli]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Garak]], GM: [[Aryia]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 24, 2024<br />
|[[A Consecration]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Nameless|Fidget]], [[Carver]], [[Eztli]], [[Delilah]], [[Harkashan]], GM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|July 25, 2024<br />
|[[Turning Reputation into Charity]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 26, 2024<br />
|[[Can't Sleep]]<br />
|[[Nameless|Fidget]], [[Simony]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Craven Match]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Bryn]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Aurum Among Thieves]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Eztli]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 29, 2024<br />
|[[It's Easy Being Green]]<br />
|[[Bryn]]; NPC: Cynthia<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Heir to the Throne: Trouble in Unbundun Part 2]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Crik]], [[Warrick]], [[Zofija]]; GM: [[Harkashan]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 30, 2024<br />
|[[Mountaineering Explanations]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Garak]], [[Rune]], [[Slixvah]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 31, 2024<br />
|[[Paint Ponderings]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Skielstregar]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|}<br />
<br />
<br />
===August===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|August 04, 2024<br />
|[[Fair Pixie]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Vagrant Tower: Void Engine Part 2]]<br />
|[[Eztli]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Rune]], [[Harkashan]], [[Iskandar]], '''GM''': Culix<br />
|-<br />
|August 5, 2024<br />
|[[Heir to the Throne: Trouble in Unbundun Part 3]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Crik]], [[Harshad]], [[Warrick]], [[Zofija]], '''GM''': [[Harkashan]]<br />
|-<br />
|August 8, 2024<br />
|[[I Know the Pieces Fit]]<br />
|[[Warrick]], [[Crik]], [[Bryn]]<br />
|-<br />
|August 9, 2024<br />
|[[Litigation]]<br />
|[[Fidget]], [[Khepri]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|August 11, 2024<br />
|[[Silent Sanitorium - Part 3]]<br />
|[[Harkashan]], [[Dirk]], [[Rune]], [[Aelwyn]] '''GM''': [[Culix]]<br />
|-<br />
|August 18, 2024<br />
|[[On the Edge of Living]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|August 19, 2024<br />
|[[Heir to the Throne - Far Beneath Part 1]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Crik]], [[Harshad]], [[Warrick]], [[Zofija]], [[Stena]] '''GM''': [[Harkashan]]<br />
|-<br />
|August 20, 2024<br />
|[[Happiness in Knowledge]]<br />
|[[Aeson]], [[Eztli]], [[Ravenstongue]]<br />
|-<br />
|August 22, 2024<br />
|[[Death With a View]]<br />
|[[Aragos]], [[Khepri]], [[Nameless]], [[Slixvah]]<br />
|-<br />
|August 23, 2024<br />
|[[Toge Means Thorn]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Litigation (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Khepri]], [[Nameless]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Into The Temple - Part 1]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Silmeria]], '''GM''': Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|August 25, 2024<br />
|[[Dusk Blooming Vines]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Cuemoni]], [[Harshad]], [[Lani'kua]], [[Reithak]], [[Sjach]]; '''GM''': Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Apparently Heir]]<br />
|[[Aeson]], [[Eztli]]<br />
|-<br />
|August 26, 2024<br />
|[[Jiji Kiku]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|August 29, 2024<br />
|[[Into The Temple - Part 2]]<br />
| [[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Silmeria]], '''GM''': Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
===September===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|September 1, 2024<br />
|[[Delivery in the Dark]]<br />
|[[Cuemoni]], [[Reithak]], [[Ulthan]]; '''GM''': Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|September 2, 2024<br />
|[[Heir to the Throne - Far Beneath Part 2]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Crik]], [[Stena]], [[Warrick]], [[Zofija]]; ; '''GM''': [[Harkashan]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 4, 2024<br />
|[[Into The Temple - Part 3]]<br />
| [[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Silmeria]], '''GM''': Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|September 6, 2024<br />
|[[Dinner for Four and a Pothy]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 7, 2024<br />
|[[Whispers of Rebellion]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Corey]], with Ansir and Faphinae<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Plotting in the Gardens]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Vex]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Three Old Friends]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Corey]], [[Thoth]], [[Vex]], [[Victor]]; '''GM:''' Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|September 8, 2024<br />
|[[How a Queen is Made]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]]; '''GM:''' Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|September 9, 2024<br />
|[[A Friend for Magpie and Wizard]]<br />
|[[Magpie]], [[Corey]]; '''GM:''' Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|September 10, 2024<br />
|[[Fight for Us]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 11, 2024<br />
|[[Love in Every Moment]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[The Good, The Bad, and the Alchemy]]<br />
|[[Lani'kua]], [[Bryn]], and [[Vex]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 12, 2024<br />
|[[Into The Temple - Part 4]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Silmeria]], '''GM''': Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|September 13, 2024<br />
|[[Simony Signs Up]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 14, 2024<br />
|[[Everyone Needs a Hobby]]<br />
|[[Corey]] (and Faphinae), [[Karasu]], [[Rhar]]; '''GM''': Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|September 15, 2024<br />
|[[Bad Lies, Good People]]<br />
|[[Jezzara]]. [[Auranar]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Sunlight Revelation]]<br />
|[[Schara]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Warrick]], DM: [[Riptide]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 16, 2024<br />
|[[Gratitude]]<br />
|[[Cuemoni]], [[Zeke]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 17, 2024<br />
|[[A Prelude To Revelry]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was - I]]<br />
| [[Harkashan]], [[Simony]], [[Rune]], [[Aryia]], [[Zeke]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 19, 2024<br />
|[[A Storied Working Lunch]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Magpie]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Daily Affirmation]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Verna]], Grandfather (Alud'rigan) '''GM:''' [[Riptide]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Suspicious Stalker (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Corey]], [[Magpie]], [[Simony]]; '''GM:''' Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Into The Temple - Part 5]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Silmeria]], '''GM''': Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|September 20, 2024<br />
|[[Pastries and Purchases]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 21, 2024<br />
|[[If You Love Me]]<br />
|[[Aragos]], [[Gramarye]] - Grandfather (Alud'rigan)<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Pretty in Pink]]<br />
|[[Eztli]], [[Simony]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 22, 2024<br />
|[[Sunlight Revelation Part 2]]<br />
|[[Schara]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Warrick]], DM: [[Riptide]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 23, 2024<br />
|[[Suspicious Stalker (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Corey]], [[Magpie]], [[Simony]]; '''GM:''' Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|September 24, 2024<br />
|[[Gnawing on Metal]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Rhar]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Shiny Hunt]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Auranar]], [[Rune]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 26, 2024<br />
|[[Hunter's Quarry Part 1]]<br />
|[[Reithak]], [[Carver]], [[Warrick]], DM:[[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 27, 2024<br />
|[[Return of the Orchard Artificer]]<br />
|[[Schara]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Warrick]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 29, 2024<br />
|[[Hunter's Quarry Part 2]]<br />
|[[Reithak]], [[Carver]], [[Warrick]], DM:[[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 29, 2024<br />
|[[Wrench in the Works]]<br />
|[[Crik]], [[Ulthan]], DM:[[Culix]]<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
===October===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|October 1, 2024<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]; '''GM''': Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|October 6, 2024<br />
|[[Connect the Dots (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Corey]], [[Magpie]], [[Telamon]]; '''GM''': Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|October 8, 2024<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 3)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]; '''GM''': Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|October 10, 2024<br />
|[[Connect the Dots (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Corey]], [[Magpie]], [[Telamon]]; '''GM''': Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Into the Temple - Part 6]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Silmeria]], '''GM''': Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|October 12, 2024<br />
|[[Home is Where the Truth is]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|October 14, 2024<br />
|[[Connect the Dots (Part 3)]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Corey]], [[Magpie]], [[Telamon]]; '''GM''': Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|October 15, 2024<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 4)]]<br />
|[[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]; '''GM''': Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|October 17, 2024<br />
|[[Into the Temple - Part 7]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Silmeria]], '''GM''': Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[A New Face in the TarRaCe]]<br />
|[[Fayde]], [[Murder]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|October 18, 2024<br />
|[[Little Children]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]]; '''GM''': Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|October 21, 2024<br />
|[[Connect the Dots (Part 4)]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Corey]], [[Magpie]], [[Telamon]]; '''GM''': Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Heir to the Throne - Retake Urah]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Fidget]], [[Zofija]]; '''GM''': Harkashan<br />
|-<br />
|October 22, 2024<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 5)]]<br />
|[[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]; '''GM''': Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|October 23, 2024<br />
|[[Her Biggest Fan (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Dirk]], [[Karasu]], [[Murder]]; DM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|October 24, 2024<br />
|[[Into the Temple - Part 8]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Silmeria]], '''GM''': Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[The Fiend Defeated]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|October 28, 2024<br />
|[[Foxes and Ravens]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]]<br />
|-<br />
|October 29, 2024<br />
|[[Apples of Forgivness]]<br />
|[[Schara]], [[Verna]], [[Zeke]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 6)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]; '''GM''': Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|October 30, 2024<br />
|[[Her Biggest Fan (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Dirk]], [[Karasu]], [[Murder]]; DM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|October 31, 2024<br />
|[[Reunite Once Again]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Into the Temple - Part 9]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Silmeria]], '''GM''': Whirlpool<br />
|}<br />
<br />
<br />
===November===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|November 1, 2024<br />
|[[Caanan Returns]]<br />
|[[Murder]], [[Carver]], [[Schara]], [[Telamon]] (as emitter)<br />
|-<br />
|November 2, 2024<br />
|[[Ravenkeeper's Tidings]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|November 4, 2024<br />
|[[Talking Work Shop]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Schara]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|November 4, 2024<br />
|[[Heir to the Throne - (Re)take Urah]]<br />
|[[Fidget]], [[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Warrick]], [[Zofija]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Her Biggest Fan (Part 3)]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Dirk]], [[Karasu]], [[Murder]]; DM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|November 5, 2024<br />
|[[Posted Notice (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Crik]], [[Schara]], [[Bryn]], [[Ulthan]]; DM: [[Carver]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 7)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]; '''GM''': Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|November 6, 2024<br />
|[[Into the Temple - Part 10]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Harkashan]], [[Eztli]], [[Bryn]], [[Silmeria]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Carver]]; '''GM''': Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|November 11, 2024<br />
|[[Her Biggest Fan (Part 4)]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Dirk]], [[Karasu]], [[Murder]]; DM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|- <br />
|<br />
|[[Posted Notice (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Crik]], [[Schara]], [[Ulthan]]; DM: [[Carver]]<br />
|-<br />
|November 12, 2024<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 8)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]; '''GM''': Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|November 14, 2024<br />
|[[Into the Temple - Part 11]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Harkashan]], [[Eztli]], [[Silmeria]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Carver]]; '''GM''': Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|November 15, 2024<br />
|[[Becoming a Teacher]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|November 16, 2024<br />
|[[Apple Daredevils]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Cuemoni]], [[Culix]], [[Eztli]], [[Irshya]], [[Zeke]]<br />
|-<br />
|November 17, 2024<br />
|[[A Bottle of Dust]]<br />
|[[Zeke]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Winter Strawberries]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Gramarye]], [[Khepri]]; '''GM''': Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|November 18, 2024<br />
|[[Her Biggest Fan (Part 5)]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Dirk]], [[Karasu]], [[Murder]]; DM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|November 19, 2024<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 9)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]; '''GM''': Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|November 22, 2024<br />
|[[Welcome Tarsh]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Tarsh]], [[Zeke]]<br />
|-<br />
|November 24, 2024<br />
|[[All Hands]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Tarsh]], [[Ulthan]]; '''GM''': Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Silent Sanitorium - Part 4]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Harkashan]], [[MAC-B1G]], [[Rune]]; DM: [[Culix]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Meetings and Clans]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Murder]], [[Tarsh]]<br />
|-<br />
|November 26, 2024<br />
|[[Setting the Stage]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Eztli]], [[Warrick]], [[Murder]], [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|}</div>Aryiahttp://www.tenebraemush.net/index.php?title=Recent_Logs&diff=43905Recent Logs2024-11-26T20:19:29Z<p>Aryia: /* November */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{AboutLogs}}<br />
<br />
'''[[Archived_Logs|For 2023 and earlier, see the Archives]]'''<br />
<br />
==2024 Logs==<br />
===January===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|January 1, 2024<br />
|[[New Face in Town]]<br />
|[[Kadlin]], [[Murder]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[What is in a Name]]<br />
|[[Khepri]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Triangulating Assumptions]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Eztli]], [[Dirk]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Magic and Archmages]]<br />
|[[Aragos]], [[Kadlin]], [[Mikilos]], [[Murder]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 2, 2024<br />
|[[In Search of a Forge]]<br />
|[[Kadlin]], [[Harshad]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Tales of Redemption and Grief]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Seldan]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 5, 2024<br />
|[[Song and Holy Violence]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Aryia]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 8, 2024<br />
|[[An Ask of Mental Fortitude]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Leirune|Rune]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Axochitl's Aid]]<br />
|[[Seldan]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 9, 2024<br />
|[[Snowballs in the Gardens]]<br />
|[[Acedia]], [[Eztli]], [[Mikilos]], [[Ness]], [[Ous]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 10, 2024<br />
|[[A Meeting In The Wintry Woods]]<br />
|[[Acedia]], [[Kadlin]], [[Munch]], [[Seldan]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 11, 2024<br />
|[[Shenanigans on Ice]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Irshya]], [[Slixvah]], [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Raiders of the Lost Tomb, Part 2]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Fidget]], [[Slixvah]], [[Irshya]], [[Aimarra]], [[Carver]], GM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 14, 2024<br />
|[[Phantom Thieves - The Heist]]<br />
|[[Crik]], [[Reithak]], [[Warrick]], [[Merith]], [[Thoth]], GM: [[Fidget]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Testing Synonie]]<br />
|[[Seldan]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 15, 2024<br />
|[[Raiders of the Lost Tomb Part 3]]<br />
|[[Aimarra]], [[Slixvah]], [[Irshya]], [[Carver]], [[Fidget]], [[Aelwyn]] ('''DM:''' Telamon)<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Chronolark - Part 1]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Aznara]], [[Reithak]], [[Tlanexhuani]], ('''DM:''' Whirlpool)<br />
|-<br />
|January 18, 2024<br />
|[[Workouts and Distractions]]<br />
|[[Choler]], [[Thurid]], [[Eztli]], [[Slixvah]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 19, 2024<br />
|[[World Peace and Hunky Boys]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Dolan]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 21, 2024<br />
|[[Quarry Quarrel, Part 1]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Crik]], [[Khepri]], [[Reithak]], GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 22, 2024<br />
|[[Chronolark - Part 2]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Aznara]], [[Reithak]], [[Tlanexhuani]], GM: [[Whirlpool]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 23, 2024<br />
|[[Prisoner Transfer - Part 1]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Magpie]], GM: [[Whirlpool]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 25, 2024<br />
|[[Silencing the Unloved King]]<br />
|[[Seldan]], [[Dirk]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 27, 2024<br />
|[[Forgotten Blood Finale - Beneath]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Culix]], [[Schara]] GM: [[Harkashan]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 28, 2024<br />
|[[Phantom Thieves - The Heist Pt2]]<br />
|[[Crik]], [[Reithak]], [[Warrick]], [[Merith]], [[Thoth]], GM: [[Fidget]]<br />
|-<br />
|January 29, 2024<br />
|[[Raiders of the Lost Tomb Part 4]]<br />
|[[Aimarra]], [[Slixvah]], [[Irshya]], [[Carver]], [[Fidget]], [[Aelwyn]] ('''DM:''' Telamon)<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Wraps and Hiccups]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Chronolark - Part 3]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Tlanexhuani]], [[Reithak]], [[Aznara]] ('''DM:''' Whirlpool)<br />
|-<br />
|January 30, 2024<br />
|[[Prisoner Transfer - Part 2]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Magpie]], GM: [[Whirlpool]]<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
===February===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|February 1, 2024<br />
|[[Cat Scratch Chills]]<br />
|[[Reithak]], [[Simony]], [[Teppus]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 2, 2024<br />
|[[Raiders of the Lost Tomb Part 5]]<br />
|[[Aimarra]], [[Slixvah]], [[Irshya]], [[Carver]], [[Aelwyn]] ('''DM:''' Telamon)<br />
|-<br />
|February 4, 2024<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Seldan]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 5, 2024<br />
|[[Answers in Amantli (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Cuemoni]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Chronolark - Part 4]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Tlanexhuani]], [[Reithak]] ('''DM:''' Whirlpool)<br />
|-<br />
|February 6, 2024<br />
|[[Prisoner Transfer - Part 3]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Magpie]], GM: [[Whirlpool]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 7, 2024<br />
|[[Mushrooms and Man Left Behind]]<br />
|[[Culix]], [[Irshya]], [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 11, 2024<br />
|[[Quarry Quarrel, Part 2]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Reithak]], [[Crik]], [[Khepri]], GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Cultivating Humility]]<br />
|[[Alfrik]], [[Munch]], [[Murder]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Seldan]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 12, 2024<br />
|[[Chronolark - Part 5]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Tlanexhuani]], [[Reithak]] ('''DM:''' Whirlpool)<br />
|-<br />
|February 13, 2024<br />
|[[Sound Mind]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Harkashan]], [[Simony]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Answers in Amantli (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Cuemoni]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 14, 2024<br />
|[[Fire birds and sharp sticks]]<br />
|[[Crik]], [[Eztli]], [[Rhar]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Simony's Haven]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 15, 2024<br />
|[[Cold Winter Encounters]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 16, 2024<br />
|[[Summoning Aid]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 18, 2024<br />
|[[The show must drag on]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Culix]], [[Eztli]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 18, 2024<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 3)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Seldan]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Quarry Quarrel Part 3]]<br />
|[[Khepri]], [[Thoth]], [[Reithak]], [[Crik]], GM: [[Thurid]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 19, 2024<br />
|[[Temple District Ruminations]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Simony]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[The Weight of Responsibility]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Chronolark - Part 6]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Tlanexhuani]], [[Reithak]], [[Aznara]] ('''DM:''' Whirlpool)<br />
|-<br />
|February 20, 2024<br />
|[[Dead Men]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Harkashan]], [[Simony]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[A Single Nail]]<br />
|[[SImony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 22, 2024<br />
|[[Creation of Ash]]<br />
|[[Cuemoni]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 23, 2024<br />
|[[Expect the Unexpected]]<br />
|[[Harkashan]], [[Simony]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[To Stalk The Fiend]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 25, 2024<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 4)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Seldan]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 26, 2024<br />
|[[Serpentine Showing]]<br />
|[[Alfrik]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 28, 2024<br />
|[[Ten Year Step]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Alfrik]], [[Auranar]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Forgotten Blood Finale - Assassins]]<br />
|[[Reithak]], [[Crik]], [[Aznara]]<br />
|-<br />
|February 29, 2024<br />
|[[Make Cookies Not War]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Demand a Favor]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Golfbag of Glaives]]<br />
|[[Verna]], [[Culix]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Alfrik]]<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
===March===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|March 1, 2024<br />
|[[Releasing the Hounds]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 3, 2024<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 5)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Seldan]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Personal Hero]]<br />
|[[Harkashan]], [[Rune]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 4, 2024<br />
|[[Chronolark - Part 8]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Aznara]], [[Reithak]], [[Tlanexhuani]], ('''DM:''' Whirlpool)<br />
|-<br />
|March 5, 2024<br />
|[[Golden Coast Cruise]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Slixvah]], [[Simony]], [[Tlanexhuani]], [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 6, 2024<br />
|[[Unlock, Unbind, Hide]]<br />
|[[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Leirune|Rune]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Body Guard]]<br />
|[[Alfrik]], [[Harshad]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 9, 2024<br />
|[[Adventure's End?]]<br />
|[[Acedia]], [[Seldan]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 10, 2024<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 6)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Seldan]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 11, 2024<br />
|[[Facing Another Trial]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Harkashan]], [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 12, 2024<br />
|[[Chronolark - Part 9]]<br />
|[[Thoth]], [[Reithak]], [[Tlanexhuani]], ('''DM:''' Whirlpool)<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[You Won't Be Alone]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Slixvah]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 14, 2024<br />
|[[To the Victor Go the Spoils]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]; DM: [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 15, 2024<br />
|[[Forearmed is Forwarned]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Warrick]], [[Schara]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[The Eve Before Death]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Harkashan]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 17, 2024<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 7): The Poetry Corner]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Seldan]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]]; DM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|March 18, 2024<br />
|[[A Golden Ending (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Slixvah]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 19, 2024<br />
|[[A Morning At The Ox]]<br />
|[[Harshad]], [[Murder]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 20, 2024<br />
|[[Fantasy Gladiator League]]<br />
|[[Irshya]], [[Slixvah]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Aspiring Aspire-ations ]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Faranmidahn]], [[Irshya]] DM: [[Whirlpool]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 23, 2024<br />
|[[Go Home History You're Drunk]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Crik]], [[Mikilos]], [[Reithak]], DM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|March 24, 2024<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 8)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Seldan]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]]; DM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|March 25, 2024<br />
|[[A Golden Ending (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Slixvah]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|March 26, 2024<br />
|[[To Find a Mourner (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Auranar]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]; DM: Verna<br />
|-<br />
|March 27, 2024<br />
|[[Aspiring Aspire-ations, Pt2]]<br />
|[[Fidget]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Irshya]], [[Faranmidahn]]; DM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|March 31, 2024<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 9)]]<br />
|[[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Seldan]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]]; DM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
<br />
===April===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|April 1, 2024<br />
|[[A Golden Ending (Part 3)]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Slixvah]], [[Telamon]]; DM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|April 2, 2024<br />
|[[Aspiring Aspire-ations, Pt3]]<br />
|[[Fidget]], [[Irshya]], [[Etzli]], [[Aelwyn]]; GM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|April 3, 2024<br />
|[[Welcome Warden]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Murder]], [[Rhar]], [[Leirune|Rune]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 5, 2024<br />
|[[Cover Letter]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Slixvah]], [[Eztli]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Noodles and Sake]]<br />
|[[Choler]], [[Harshad]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 8, 2024<br />
|[[Frozen Veins]]<br />
|[[Aragos]], [[Harshad]], [[Palomas]], [[Reithak]], [[Quinn]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 10, 2024<br />
|[[Stop Me if You Have Heard This One]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Irshya]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 11, 2024<br />
|[[A Courier for a Page]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], Npcs: [[Slixvah]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 12, 2024<br />
|[[Needles And News]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Choler]], [[Eztli]], [[Slixvah]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 14, 2024<br />
|[[Three Assassins]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Reithak]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 10)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Seldan]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 15, 2024<br />
|[[A Golden Ending (Part 4)]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Slixvah]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 17, 2024<br />
|[[Aspiring Aspire-ations, Part 4]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Carver]], [[Eztli]], [[Faranmidahn]], [[Irshya]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 18, 2024<br />
|[[Repose in Two Forms]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[To Find a Mourner (Part 3)]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Auranar]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]] DM [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 20, 2024<br />
|[[Tears of Death]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Corey]], [[Rhar]], [[Rune]], [[Thoth]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 21, 2024<br />
|[[Whilst You Lay Dreaming]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 11)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Seldan]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]]; GM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|April 22, 2024<br />
|[[Birds of another Feather]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Reithak]], [[Sabina]], [[Xasany]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Revelation Raven]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Of Spring and Gardening]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 23, 2024<br />
|[[Cutscene: Sins of the Father]]<br />
|Caeles Miranore, Kiira Theran, Caeleil Miranore (NPCs by [[Leirune|Rune]] and [[Simony]])<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Return of the Bina]]<br />
|[[Slixvah]], [[Irshya]], [[Sabina]], [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[To Find a Mourner (Part 4)]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Auranar]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]; DM [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 24, 2024<br />
|[[Aspiring Aspire-ations, Part 5]]<br />
|[[Fidget]], [[Carver]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Faranmidahn]]; GM: [[Whirlpool]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 25, 2024<br />
|[[Hunting Urvis (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[MAC-B1G]], [[Leirune|Rune]]; DM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|April 27, 2024<br />
|[[Feel the Groove]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Eztli]], [[MAC-B1G]], [[Magpie]]; DM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|April 28, 2024<br />
|[[Morning in Goblintown]]<br />
|[[Harshad]], [[Choler]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 12)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Seldan]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]]; GM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|April 29, 2024<br />
|[[The Stage Is Set]]<br />
|[[Sabina]]; GM: Derecho<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Rider of Decisions]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]]; GM: Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
<br />
===May===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|May 1, 2024<br />
|[[Silver Misses Snow]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Choler]], [[Corey]], [[Eztli]], [[Skielstregar]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Warnings on Deaf Ears]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Fidget]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 2, 2024<br />
|[[Hunting Urvis (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[MAC-B1G]], [[Leirune|Rune]]; DM: Telamon<br />
|-<br />
|May 3, 2024<br />
|[[Trade Off]]<br />
|[[Harshad]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 5, 2024<br />
|[[Behold the Unloved King (Part 13)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Seldan]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]]; DM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|May 6, 2024<br />
|[[Maybe Fae-be]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 7, 2024<br />
|[[A Happy Dance]]<br />
|[[Karasu]], [[Ravenstongue]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[A Close Shave]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Simony]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[At Nothing We See]]<br />
|[[Choler]], [[Cuemoni]], [[Fidget]], [[Tlanexhuani]], [[Zeke]]; DM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|May 8, 2024<br />
|[[Fashion Shopping Preperusal ]]<br />
|[[Eztli]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Aryia]], [[Simony]], [[Aznara]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[To Find a Mourner (Part 5)]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Auranar]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]; DM [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 10, 2024<br />
|[[Piecing Together Me]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Corey]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Tlanexhuani]]; DM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|May 12, 2024<br />
|[[Hunting Urvis (Part 3)]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[MAC-B1G]], [[Leirune|Rune]]; DM: Telamon<br />
|-<br />
|May 14, 2024<br />
|[[A Fiend In Plain Sight]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 15, 2024<br />
|[[To Find a Mourner (Part 6)]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Auranar]], [[Harkashan]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]; DM [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 16, 2024<br />
|[[Fab Fabric and Fire]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Noodles and a Future Heist]]<br />
|[[Choler]], [[Harshad]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 18, 2024<br />
|[[Honey Do]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Magpie]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
| <br />
|[[Mothers and Patrons]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Harkashan]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 19, 2024<br />
|[[Hunting Urvis (Part 4)]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[MAC-B1G]], [[Leirune|Rune]]; DM: Telamon<br />
|-<br />
|May 20, 2024<br />
|[[We Are Seen]]<br />
|[[Cuemoni]], [[Fidget]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Tlanexhuani]], [[Zeke]]; DM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Rain and Bath House]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Leirune|Rune]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 21, 2024<br />
|[[Simpler Things]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 22, 2024<br />
|[[The Name-Stealer]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[The Final Spires, Part 1]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Fidget|NAME UNKNOWN]], [[Tlanexhuani]]; DM: Whirlpool<br />
|- <br />
|May 23, 2024<br />
|[[Never Even]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Slixvah]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[The Urvis Update]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[MAC-B1G]], [[Rune]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 24, 2024<br />
|[[Unpleasant News at the Noodle Stand]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Stained Glass Butterfly]]<br />
|[[Choler]], [[Harshad]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 26, 2024<br />
|[[Warning the Mislead]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Thoth]], Nameless ([[Fidget]])<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[To Find a Mourner (Part 7)]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Auranar]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 27, 2024<br />
|[[Changing Seasons and Hearts]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Aragos]], [[Eztli]]. [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 28, 2024<br />
|[[He Says]]<br />
|[[Sabina]], [[Thoth]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Whatamelons and Wanderers]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Irshya]], [[Sabina]], [[Slixvah]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Crimson to Show Off]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Aryia]], [[Irshya]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 30, 2024<br />
|[[The Final Spires, Part 2]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Fidget|NAME UNKNOWN]], [[Tlanexhuani]]; DM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[What Troubles Those in the Market]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Simony]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Slixvah]]<br />
|-<br />
|May 30, 2024<br />
|[[A Stealthy Inquest]]<br />
|[[Choler]], [[Harshad]]<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
<br />
===June===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|June 2, 2024<br />
|[[Noodles After The Heist]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Choler]], [[Harshad]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 4, 2024<br />
|[[He Says (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Sabina]], [[Thoth]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[What Makes A Cavalier Attitude?]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Zofija]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 5, 2024<br />
|[[Down the River]]<br />
|[[Skielstregar]], [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[The Final Spires, Part 3]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Fidget|NAME UNKNOWN]], [[Tlanexhuani]]; DM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[A Castle In My Dreams]]<br />
|[[Telamon]] (vignette)<br />
|-<br />
|June 7, 2024<br />
|[[Break the Mold]]<br />
|[[Aeson]], [[Eztli]], [[MAC-B1G]], [[Mikilos]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 8, 2024<br />
|[[Fictitious - I]] <br />
|[[Aragos]], [[Fidget|NAME UNKNOWN]] , [[Gramarye]], [[Lanier]], [[Vaera]]; DM: Thoth<br />
|-<br />
|June 9, 2024<br />
|[[To Find a Mourner (Part 8)]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Auranar]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Leirune|Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]; DM: Verna<br />
|-<br />
|June 10, 2024<br />
|[[Bedtime Butterflies]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Eztli]], [[Lanier]]; DM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|June 12, 2024<br />
|[[The Castle on the Edge of Waking]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[The Final Spires, Part 4]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Fidget|NAME UNKNOWN]], [[Tlanexhuani]]; DM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|June 13, 2024<br />
|[[Forearmed is Forwarned Part 2]]<br />
|[[Warrick]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Schara]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 14, 2024<br />
|[[Grand Induction]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Culix]], [[Eztli]], [[Simony]], DM: [[Aryia]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Five Nightmares]]<br />
|[[Aeson]], [[Carver]], [[Eztli]], [[MAC-B1G]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 15, 2024<br />
|[[Five Nightmares (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Eztli]], [[MAC-B1G]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Dwarf Fortress: Deepest Depths - I]]<br />
|[[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Garden Lectures Under the Sun]]<br />
|[[Aeson]], [[Mikilos]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 16, 2024<br />
|[[To Find a Mourner (Part 9)]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Auranar]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 17, 2024<br />
|[[When you Wish Upon a Fish]]<br />
|[[Dirk]], [[Magpie]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 18, 2024<br />
|[[Wasted Years]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[He Says (Part 3)]]<br />
|[[Sabina]], [[Thoth]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 19, 2024<br />
|[[A Warriors Instinct]]<br />
|[[Aragos]], [[Gramarye]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Pillory Blues]]<br />
|[[Eztli]], [[Telamon]], [[Yazlo]], [[Zeke]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Ashes on the Ground]]<br />
|[[Gramarye]], [[Thoth]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 20, 2024<br />
|[[For A Few Potions More]]<br />
|[[Choler]], [[Cuemoni]], [[Warrick]]; GM: Telamon<br />
|-<br />
|June 21, 2024<br />
|[[Nonlinear Pie]]<br />
|[[Verna]], [[Auranar]], [[Aryia]], [[Eztli]], [[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Forearmed is Forwarned Part 3]]<br />
|[[Warrick]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Schara]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 22, 2024<br />
|[[Best Boy]]<br />
|[[Crik]], [[Menel]], [[Zofija]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 23, 2024<br />
|[[A Warning Not A Gift]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Harshad]], NPC Sori - [[Karasu]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Dwarf Fortress: Deepest Depths - II]]<br />
|[[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], DM: [[Culix]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[One Thousand Cranes]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 24, 2024<br />
|[[The Price of Fish]]<br />
|[[Arzhela]], [[Crik]], [[Cuemoni]], [[Murder]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[The Weight of Expectations]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[He Says (Part 4)]]<br />
|[[Sabina]], [[Thoth]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 25, 2024<br />
|[[Full Day at the Baths]]<br />
|[[Slixvah]], [[Irshya]], [[Culix]], [[Leirune|Rune]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Upon the Koz-way]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Aryia]], [[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 26, 2024<br />
|[[The Final Spires, Part 5]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Carver]], [[Eztli]], [[Fidget|NAME UNKNOWN]]; DM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|June 27, 2024<br />
|[[Faphinae's Fanfare]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Simony]], [[Reithak]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Gearsmasher]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Corey]], [[Eztli]], [[MAC-B1G]], [[Skielstregar]]; guest star: [[Telamon]]; GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|June 28, 2024<br />
|[[Soul Food]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Aryia]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Fiends and Fae]]<br />
|[[Telamon]], [[Ravenstongue]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[The Never-ending Story]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Leirune|Rune]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 29, 2024<br />
|[[Game On!]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Eztli]], [[Karasu]], [[Leirune|Rune]] ;GM: [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|June 30, 2024<br />
|[[Fragile Like Trust]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[A Will to Kill]]<br />
|Faphinae & Sori [[Corey]], [[Karasu]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Silent Sanitorium]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Dirk]], [[Harkashan]], [[MAC-B1G]], [[Rune]]; DM: [[Culix]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|}<br />
<br />
<br />
===July===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|July 1, 2024<br />
|[[Hunting Lore in the Library]]<br />
|[[Alaric]], [[Simony]], [[Verna]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 2, 2024<br />
|[[Death Comes Another Day]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Unravel Their Riddles]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 3, 2024<br />
|[[Mist and Magic]]<br />
|[[Alaric]], [[Crik]], [[Murder]], [[Slixvah]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 4, 2024<br />
|[[A Lesson in Forgiveness]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 5, 2024<br />
|[[Silence in the Library]]<br />
|[[Harshad]], [[Menel]], [[Palomas]], [[Reithak]], [[Warrick]], [[Zigrun]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 6, 2024<br />
|[[Spelunking]]<br />
|[[Crik]], [[Cuemoni]], [[Harshad]], [[Menel]], [[Reithak]], [[Sjach]]; GM: [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 7, 2024<br />
|[[A Story Born of Hope]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 9, 2024<br />
|[[Sands through the Hourglass]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Culix]], [[Eztli]], [[Menel]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 10, 2024<br />
|[[Forlorn Moon (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]; GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[The Final Spires, Part 6]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Carver]], [[Eztli]], [[Fidget|NAME UNKNOWN]]; DM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
| [[Tornmawr Torpedo]]<br />
|[[Culix]], [[Aryia]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Bryn]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 11, 2024<br />
|[[Boogle Boogle]]<br />
|[[Aragos]], [[Thoth]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Forlorn Moon (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]; GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|July 12, 2024<br />
|[[Name Exchange ]]<br />
|[[Gramarye]], [[Thoth]]; GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|July 13, 2024<br />
|[[Moment of the Future]]<br />
|[[Gramarye]], [[Thoth]]; GM: Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|July 14, 2024<br />
|[[Silent Sanitorium Part 2]]<br />
|[[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Aelwyn]], [[MAC-B1G]], Dirk, GM: Culix<br />
|-<br />
|July 15, 2024<br />
|[[Explosions and Slaying]]<br />
|[[Warrick]], [[Bryn]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Heir to the Throne - Beginning]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Cuemoni]], [[Harshad]], [[Menel]], [[Warrick]], [[Zofija]]; GM: Harkashan<br />
|-<br />
|July 19, 2024<br />
|[[Summer Days]]<br />
|[[Warrick]], [[Sjach]], [[Aznara]], DM: [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 21, 2024<br />
|[[Vagrant Tower - Void Engine 1]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Rune]], [[Eztli]], [[Iskandar]], [[Harkashan]], GM: Culix<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Following a Portent]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 22, 2024<br />
|[[Heir to the Throne: Trouble in Unbundun Part 1]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Crik]], [[Harshad]], [[Warrick]], [[Zofija]]; GM: Harkashan<br />
|-<br />
|July 23, 2024<br />
|[[Tales of Wrassling and Cages]]<br />
|[[Warrick]], [[Bryn]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Mountaineering Investigations]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Eztli]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Garak]], GM: [[Aryia]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 24, 2024<br />
|[[A Consecration]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Nameless|Fidget]], [[Carver]], [[Eztli]], [[Delilah]], [[Harkashan]], GM: Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|July 25, 2024<br />
|[[Turning Reputation into Charity]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 26, 2024<br />
|[[Can't Sleep]]<br />
|[[Nameless|Fidget]], [[Simony]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Craven Match]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Bryn]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Aurum Among Thieves]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Eztli]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 29, 2024<br />
|[[It's Easy Being Green]]<br />
|[[Bryn]]; NPC: Cynthia<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Heir to the Throne: Trouble in Unbundun Part 2]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Crik]], [[Warrick]], [[Zofija]]; GM: [[Harkashan]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 30, 2024<br />
|[[Mountaineering Explanations]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]], [[Garak]], [[Rune]], [[Slixvah]]<br />
|-<br />
|July 31, 2024<br />
|[[Paint Ponderings]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Skielstregar]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|}<br />
<br />
<br />
===August===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|August 04, 2024<br />
|[[Fair Pixie]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Vagrant Tower: Void Engine Part 2]]<br />
|[[Eztli]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Rune]], [[Harkashan]], [[Iskandar]], '''GM''': Culix<br />
|-<br />
|August 5, 2024<br />
|[[Heir to the Throne: Trouble in Unbundun Part 3]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Crik]], [[Harshad]], [[Warrick]], [[Zofija]], '''GM''': [[Harkashan]]<br />
|-<br />
|August 8, 2024<br />
|[[I Know the Pieces Fit]]<br />
|[[Warrick]], [[Crik]], [[Bryn]]<br />
|-<br />
|August 9, 2024<br />
|[[Litigation]]<br />
|[[Fidget]], [[Khepri]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|August 11, 2024<br />
|[[Silent Sanitorium - Part 3]]<br />
|[[Harkashan]], [[Dirk]], [[Rune]], [[Aelwyn]] '''GM''': [[Culix]]<br />
|-<br />
|August 18, 2024<br />
|[[On the Edge of Living]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|August 19, 2024<br />
|[[Heir to the Throne - Far Beneath Part 1]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Crik]], [[Harshad]], [[Warrick]], [[Zofija]], [[Stena]] '''GM''': [[Harkashan]]<br />
|-<br />
|August 20, 2024<br />
|[[Happiness in Knowledge]]<br />
|[[Aeson]], [[Eztli]], [[Ravenstongue]]<br />
|-<br />
|August 22, 2024<br />
|[[Death With a View]]<br />
|[[Aragos]], [[Khepri]], [[Nameless]], [[Slixvah]]<br />
|-<br />
|August 23, 2024<br />
|[[Toge Means Thorn]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Litigation (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Khepri]], [[Nameless]], [[Tlanexhuani]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Into The Temple - Part 1]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Silmeria]], '''GM''': Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|August 25, 2024<br />
|[[Dusk Blooming Vines]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Cuemoni]], [[Harshad]], [[Lani'kua]], [[Reithak]], [[Sjach]]; '''GM''': Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Apparently Heir]]<br />
|[[Aeson]], [[Eztli]]<br />
|-<br />
|August 26, 2024<br />
|[[Jiji Kiku]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|August 29, 2024<br />
|[[Into The Temple - Part 2]]<br />
| [[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Silmeria]], '''GM''': Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
===September===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|September 1, 2024<br />
|[[Delivery in the Dark]]<br />
|[[Cuemoni]], [[Reithak]], [[Ulthan]]; '''GM''': Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|September 2, 2024<br />
|[[Heir to the Throne - Far Beneath Part 2]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Crik]], [[Stena]], [[Warrick]], [[Zofija]]; ; '''GM''': [[Harkashan]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 4, 2024<br />
|[[Into The Temple - Part 3]]<br />
| [[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Silmeria]], '''GM''': Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|September 6, 2024<br />
|[[Dinner for Four and a Pothy]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 7, 2024<br />
|[[Whispers of Rebellion]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Corey]], with Ansir and Faphinae<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Plotting in the Gardens]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Vex]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Three Old Friends]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Corey]], [[Thoth]], [[Vex]], [[Victor]]; '''GM:''' Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|September 8, 2024<br />
|[[How a Queen is Made]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]]; '''GM:''' Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|September 9, 2024<br />
|[[A Friend for Magpie and Wizard]]<br />
|[[Magpie]], [[Corey]]; '''GM:''' Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|September 10, 2024<br />
|[[Fight for Us]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 11, 2024<br />
|[[Love in Every Moment]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[The Good, The Bad, and the Alchemy]]<br />
|[[Lani'kua]], [[Bryn]], and [[Vex]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 12, 2024<br />
|[[Into The Temple - Part 4]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Silmeria]], '''GM''': Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|September 13, 2024<br />
|[[Simony Signs Up]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 14, 2024<br />
|[[Everyone Needs a Hobby]]<br />
|[[Corey]] (and Faphinae), [[Karasu]], [[Rhar]]; '''GM''': Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|September 15, 2024<br />
|[[Bad Lies, Good People]]<br />
|[[Jezzara]]. [[Auranar]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Sunlight Revelation]]<br />
|[[Schara]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Warrick]], DM: [[Riptide]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 16, 2024<br />
|[[Gratitude]]<br />
|[[Cuemoni]], [[Zeke]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 17, 2024<br />
|[[A Prelude To Revelry]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Eztli]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was - I]]<br />
| [[Harkashan]], [[Simony]], [[Rune]], [[Aryia]], [[Zeke]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 19, 2024<br />
|[[A Storied Working Lunch]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Magpie]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Daily Affirmation]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Verna]], Grandfather (Alud'rigan) '''GM:''' [[Riptide]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Suspicious Stalker (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Corey]], [[Magpie]], [[Simony]]; '''GM:''' Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Into The Temple - Part 5]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Silmeria]], '''GM''': Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|September 20, 2024<br />
|[[Pastries and Purchases]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 21, 2024<br />
|[[If You Love Me]]<br />
|[[Aragos]], [[Gramarye]] - Grandfather (Alud'rigan)<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Pretty in Pink]]<br />
|[[Eztli]], [[Simony]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 22, 2024<br />
|[[Sunlight Revelation Part 2]]<br />
|[[Schara]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Warrick]], DM: [[Riptide]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 23, 2024<br />
|[[Suspicious Stalker (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Corey]], [[Magpie]], [[Simony]]; '''GM:''' Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|September 24, 2024<br />
|[[Gnawing on Metal]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Rhar]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Shiny Hunt]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Auranar]], [[Rune]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 26, 2024<br />
|[[Hunter's Quarry Part 1]]<br />
|[[Reithak]], [[Carver]], [[Warrick]], DM:[[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 27, 2024<br />
|[[Return of the Orchard Artificer]]<br />
|[[Schara]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Warrick]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 29, 2024<br />
|[[Hunter's Quarry Part 2]]<br />
|[[Reithak]], [[Carver]], [[Warrick]], DM:[[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|September 29, 2024<br />
|[[Wrench in the Works]]<br />
|[[Crik]], [[Ulthan]], DM:[[Culix]]<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
===October===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|October 1, 2024<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]; '''GM''': Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|October 6, 2024<br />
|[[Connect the Dots (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Corey]], [[Magpie]], [[Telamon]]; '''GM''': Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|October 8, 2024<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 3)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]; '''GM''': Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|October 10, 2024<br />
|[[Connect the Dots (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Corey]], [[Magpie]], [[Telamon]]; '''GM''': Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Into the Temple - Part 6]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Silmeria]], '''GM''': Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|October 12, 2024<br />
|[[Home is Where the Truth is]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Verna]]<br />
|-<br />
|October 14, 2024<br />
|[[Connect the Dots (Part 3)]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Corey]], [[Magpie]], [[Telamon]]; '''GM''': Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|October 15, 2024<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 4)]]<br />
|[[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]; '''GM''': Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|October 17, 2024<br />
|[[Into the Temple - Part 7]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Silmeria]], '''GM''': Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[A New Face in the TarRaCe]]<br />
|[[Fayde]], [[Murder]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|October 18, 2024<br />
|[[Little Children]]<br />
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]]; '''GM''': Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|October 21, 2024<br />
|[[Connect the Dots (Part 4)]]<br />
|[[Auranar]], [[Corey]], [[Magpie]], [[Telamon]]; '''GM''': Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Heir to the Throne - Retake Urah]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Fidget]], [[Zofija]]; '''GM''': Harkashan<br />
|-<br />
|October 22, 2024<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 5)]]<br />
|[[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]; '''GM''': Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|October 23, 2024<br />
|[[Her Biggest Fan (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Dirk]], [[Karasu]], [[Murder]]; DM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|October 24, 2024<br />
|[[Into the Temple - Part 8]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Silmeria]], '''GM''': Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[The Fiend Defeated]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|October 28, 2024<br />
|[[Foxes and Ravens]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]]<br />
|-<br />
|October 29, 2024<br />
|[[Apples of Forgivness]]<br />
|[[Schara]], [[Verna]], [[Zeke]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 6)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]; '''GM''': Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|October 30, 2024<br />
|[[Her Biggest Fan (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Dirk]], [[Karasu]], [[Murder]]; DM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|October 31, 2024<br />
|[[Reunite Once Again]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Into the Temple - Part 9]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Eztli]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Silmeria]], '''GM''': Whirlpool<br />
|}<br />
<br />
<br />
===November===<br />
{{TableMain}}<br />
{{T02}}<br />
|Date<br />
|Log<br />
|People<br />
|-<br />
|November 1, 2024<br />
|[[Caanan Returns]]<br />
|[[Murder]], [[Carver]], [[Schara]], [[Telamon]] (as emitter)<br />
|-<br />
|November 2, 2024<br />
|[[Ravenkeeper's Tidings]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|November 4, 2024<br />
|[[Talking Work Shop]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Schara]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|November 4, 2024<br />
|[[Heir to the Throne - (Re)take Urah]]<br />
|[[Fidget]], [[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Warrick]], [[Zofija]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Her Biggest Fan (Part 3)]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Dirk]], [[Karasu]], [[Murder]]; DM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|November 5, 2024<br />
|[[Posted Notice (Part 1)]]<br />
|[[Crik]], [[Schara]], [[Bryn]], [[Ulthan]]; DM: [[Carver]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 7)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]; '''GM''': Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|November 6, 2024<br />
|[[Into the Temple - Part 10]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Harkashan]], [[Eztli]], [[Bryn]], [[Silmeria]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Carver]]; '''GM''': Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|November 11, 2024<br />
|[[Her Biggest Fan (Part 4)]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Dirk]], [[Karasu]], [[Murder]]; DM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|- <br />
|<br />
|[[Posted Notice (Part 2)]]<br />
|[[Crik]], [[Schara]], [[Ulthan]]; DM: [[Carver]]<br />
|-<br />
|November 12, 2024<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 8)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]; '''GM''': Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|November 14, 2024<br />
|[[Into the Temple - Part 11]]<br />
|[[Leirune|Rune]], [[Harkashan]], [[Eztli]], [[Silmeria]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Carver]]; '''GM''': Whirlpool<br />
|-<br />
|November 15, 2024<br />
|[[Becoming a Teacher]]<br />
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|November 16, 2024<br />
|[[Apple Daredevils]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Cuemoni]], [[Culix]], [[Eztli]], [[Irshya]], [[Zeke]]<br />
|-<br />
|November 17, 2024<br />
|[[A Bottle of Dust]]<br />
|[[Zeke]], [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Winter Strawberries]]<br />
|[[Carver]], [[Gramarye]], [[Khepri]]; '''GM''': Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|November 18, 2024<br />
|[[Her Biggest Fan (Part 5)]]<br />
|[[Corey]], [[Dirk]], [[Karasu]], [[Murder]]; DM: [[Telamon]]<br />
|-<br />
|November 19, 2024<br />
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 9)]]<br />
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]]; '''GM''': Riptide<br />
|-<br />
|November 22, 2024<br />
|[[Welcome Tarsh]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Tarsh]], [[Zeke]]<br />
|-<br />
|November 24, 2024<br />
|[[All Hands]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Tarsh]], [[Ulthan]]; '''GM''': Aftershock<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Silent Sanitorium - Part 4]]<br />
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Harkashan]], [[MAC-B1G]], [[Rune]]; DM: [[Culix]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|[[Meetings and Clans]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Murder]], [[Tarsh]]<br />
|-<br />
|November 26, 2024<br />
|[[Setting the Stage]]<br />
|[[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Eztli]], [[Warrick]], [[Murder]]<br />
|-<br />
|}</div>Aryia