[slingergame] Bert says, "Log on."

Peregrine disappears through an invisible gap in the MUD. You think you may have heard the sounds of chatting before the gap closed again.

Quarion has arrived.

DM says, "hello, fantasy kids"

Shaborys says, "Hello Fantasy Slinger."

[slingergame] DM asks, "So, are there any lingering questions?"

[slingergame] Vraklul asks, "Which game are we playing this week, again?"

[slingergame] Rashawndra exclaims, "Many!"

[slingergame] Quarion asks, "We are underground and there's a... griffin? We found Bloodfang sitting next to it?"

[slingergame] DM exclaims, "The game of life!"

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "A griffon that speaks celestial!"

[slingergame] Quarion says, "Ah, that's it."

[slingergame] Shaborys excited

[slingergame] Quarion says, "Now I'm imagining a bouncing tiefling."

[slingergame] Quarion says, "jumping up and down with excitement"

[slingergame] DM says, "I have a lingering question! A few weeks ago the idea came up to do a classic dungeon run at some point"

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "And the other tiefling blushing"

[slingergame] DM says, "And now I can't remember wether we discussed it or not"

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "what i would never"

[slingergame] Vraklul says (to DM), "I am up for a classic dungeon run."

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "Sure"

[slingergame] Quarion says (to DM), "All I remember was the suggestion for a CC/Bastafore rotation"

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "I feel like I saw it discussed, but I kind of glossed over it in recaps."

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "But I'd be down"

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "As long as the motivation wasn't 'because it's there ;-)'"

[slingergame] DM exclaims (at Shaborys), "You'd all be down! That's how dungeons work!"

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "Ha"

[slingergame] DM says (to Rashwandra), "Oh no worries, I have a MacGuf-, er plot important thing or person in mind"

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "'because your dog ran down it' is enough motivation for a short dungeon like this one. Sounds perfect."

[slingergame] DM says, "I might be tempted to change up a pre-made one for this thougj"

[slingergame] Quarion asks, "Wait, so are we dungeon crawling today?"

[slingergame] Quarion asks, "Or sometime in the future?"

[slingergame] DM says, "No, no, sometime later."

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "We dungeon crawled last week."

[slingergame] Quarion says, "true"

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "(where 'week' is interpreted loosely)"

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "Small dungeon motivation: your dog ran down. Medium dungeon motivation: Davina was kidnapped. Big dungeon motivation: the ultimate evil is hiding out at the bottom."

[slingergame] Quarion says, "Sounds about right to me."

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "(Or possibly swap the last two.)"

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "That last one would be a motivation to seal up the entrances and nuke it from orbit."

[slingergame] DM asks (of rush), "Let some future generation of adventurers figure it out?"

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "I see thatt Rush has a much more sensible approach than Vraklul."

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "Where 'future generation' == 'us, at level 30', if need be."

[slingergame] DM says, "(also, i still can't type well with my bandaged finger, so excuse some slowness...also also I hope we can stick close to the 3 hr mark)"

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "Sounds good to me."

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "Marc was last week."

[slingergame] Quarion says, "The best way to be sure is to start promptly."

[slingergame] (from Rashawndra) Quarion says, "(AHEM)"

[slingergame] DM says (to Quarion), "yes yes"

DM says, "So you walked into that cave, and there sits Bloodfang, happy as a clammy, and before him sits a massive, lion-like creature with wings and a somewhat human like head."

DM says, "And s/he just said to Bloodfang in celestial, "And you are second in command of this pack of Bipeds? I see, Master Bloodfang""

Shaborys says, "He is no such thing."

Shaborys responds without thinking.

Vraklul looks back and forth between the creature and Shaborys and concludes that if she doesn't think we're in immediate danger, we're probably fine.

The creature turns its head sharply and looks at all of you, then back at Bloodfang, who pants happily.

Shaborys says, "I mean. Sorry to interrupt."

Quarion says, "Bloodfang! You're safe."

Shaborys speaks directly to the griffon in celestial.

Creature says, "(in common) Ah, you must be the pack Bloodfang spoke of. Let's see, the Master, the loud guy, scary cat lady and slightly less scary cat lady."

Shaborys raises her eyebrows and looks at Quarion.

Rashawndra raises her eyebrows and looks at Shaborys, wondering which of them is which.

Bloodfang runs up to you and around you and up your legs and slobbers everywhere.

Vraklul asks, "Hi. Yeah, I guess I'm the Loud Guy?"

Rashawndra exclaims, "I'm probably one of the scary cat ladies!"

Vraklul says, "Vraklul Wellington. Nice to meet you."

Creature says, "I assumed people on this plane would have na- oh, I see."

Shaborys pouts, a little. She's not scary.

Shaborys is liked by children.

Quarion asks, "I'm Quarion Bobdyl'han, and I guess I'm Bloodfang's master?"

Creature bows slightly. "I am Nirmiak."

[Crows-Nest] Vraklul says, "Children who haven't seen how quickly and effectively you can kill somebody."

Shaborys asks, "Does... does the dog speak Celestial, too?"

[Crows-Nest] DM says, "The children who saw that aren't alive to tell, obvs"

Rashawndra says, "But, uh, Sha- um, my friend isn't actually scary she's really nice if you saw her with kids you'd be all oh what a lovely person actually you'd probably be like that anyway even if there weren't kids I mean it's kind of obvious and uh I'm Rashawndra."

Bloodfang has somehow gotten himself stuck behind a rock.

Quarion helps Bloodfang out.

Shaborys eyes Bloodfang. "And he thinks he's second in command, does he?"

[Crows-Nest] Vraklul says, "Ah, good, he won't be running aw-- oh."

Nirmiak (to Shaborys) I used magic to communicate, as I had not learn the intricate tongue of ... dog.

Shaborys says, "Ah."

Vraklul says, "You know that spell too? Cool."

Rashawndra says (to Nirmiak), "So, uh, what are you doing here? There was some sort of tentacle monster right around the corner that tried to lure us in and then attacked us and whew it was tough, but you're over here and not really the same. It seems."

Nirmiak says, "This is a chance meeting, and a well one at that! Unless you are associated with the gnolls and monster who haunt these caverns.""

Rashawndra asks, "We're in a well?"

Rashawndra is clearly slightly flustered.

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "I just realized that I can remember neither the name of Davina's friend nor of the place we're escorting her to."

[slingergame] Rashawndra exclaims, "Cannery!"

[slingergame] Shaborys asks, "cannery?"

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "Yeah, that"

[slingergame] Rashawndra exclaims, "Which is the answer to both questions!"

[slingergame] Vraklul asks, "OK, but *whom* are we taking to the cannery?"

Nirmiak says, "I have encountered some monsters that haunt these caves. *licks front paw in a decidedly non-chalant cat way* I assume they must have been scary to you."

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "Wait, no, not the second."

[Crows-Nest] DM says, "haha"

Quarion says, "We have been dispatching afore-mentioned gnolls and monsters to an early grave in knightly fashion. There were zombies and other foul creatures besetting us as we searched for our lost companion."

[Crows-Nest] DM says, "The shining dancer's halls of Solace"

Rashawndra says (to Quarion), "Wow, nice, I didn't know you could talk that way."

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "Haha, Shabby was thinking that, oo"

[slingergame] Shaborys says, ""too""

Quarion exclaims (at Rashawndra), "I've been working on it!"

Rashawndra exclaims (at Quarion), "Good job!"

Quarion says (to Rashawndra), "If I'm to be a great wizard, I need to figure out how to speak like one."

Quarion says, "Otherwise it's just silly."

Rashawndra says, "Nice. I'm, uh, glad it doesn't work that way for me."

Nirmiak turns grim. "I have arrived on this plane to look for the lich who stole my children. A halfing called Astaforth."

Vraklul says, "Oh."

Vraklul says, "Him."

Rashawndra exclaims, "Oh, we know that guy!"

Quarion says, "He is an enemy of ours."

Shaborys ick.

Rashawndra says, "And we met his ghost sister and found out why he's so mean."

Vraklul says, "He was nice to our construct, though."

Vraklul says, "So he might not be *completely* bad. Just, y'know, mostly bad."

Nirmiak says, "Hm, I saw him lead armies through the feywild, so if there is good in him, it is well hidden."

Shaborys asks, "What's the feywild?"

Rashawndra says, "Right, we had a delayed funeral for his sister and figured even if he was evil now he might still want to come so we sent Siri and she was all battered when she returned with a 'no' but he seemed grateful."

Vraklul says, "He did *kill* us all a while back, so there's that."

Rashawndra says, "But yeah, I'd believe it."

Vraklul says, "(We got better.)"

Rashawndra asks, "But he took your kids?"

Nirmiak looks at Bloodfang, who's head-cock cleary means "See, I told you."

Rashawndra asks, "Can we help find them?"

Quarion says, "Our deaths were but a temporary shtamatabil - oh, damn, I almost got that right."

Quarion says, "Inconvenience! That's the word."

Nirmiak says, "I've saw him first when he and his minions attacked the City of Gold in the Feywild. He was driven back, but I had made an enemy. He stole my children, and put them under the spell of Darkness. I have been hunting him through the outer planes for many years, until I finally picked up his trail in the grey, crumbling towers of the Shadowfell. Astaforth and his bag of terrors, they called him, carrying Argenschwinge's bones for some evil purpose."

Rashawndra says, "I, uh, assume they kind of look like you. If we run into them or something."

Quarion exclaims, "He's got the bones already!"

[slingergame] Rashawndra asks, "Does 'Argenschwinge' sound familar?"

[Crows-Nest] Vraklul says, "Shaborys asks, "Back up. Did you say 'City of Gold'?""

Quarion says, "This is terrible."

[slingergame] Vraklul exclaims, "Yes!"

Shaborys asks, "He has the dragon's bones??"

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "Couldn't remember if that was IC or OOC ;-)"

Vraklul asks, "Argeschwinge... that was one of the great dragons, right?"

Quarion exclaims, "If he has all of those bones, he can ressurrect the good dragon, only it'll be evil!"

Vraklul says, "Well that's not right."

Quarion says, "Oh, I was doing so well with wizardtalk. Sigh."

Nirmiak shudders for a moment with the memory.

Rashawndra asks, "Maybe he only has some of them, and is searching for the rest? She asked hopefully?"

Vraklul asks (of Quarion), "If we get the bones, can *we* resurrect the good dragon, and it'll be *good*?"

Quarion says (to Vraklul), "I don't have the foggiest idea."

Nirmiak shakes his head. "He already has the bones, and he has completed whatever he was trying to do.

Nirmiak says, "I saw it. I was the first to see it. I flew across a grey, endless plain of bone grass, and I saw it emerge from the tower of Aumvor the Undying. It was as huge, some six-legged, gargantuan mockery of a dragon, and it was, even in that lifeless place, it radiated pure darkness and pure evil. And Astaforth sat atop, it, laughing."

Vraklul asks (of Nirmiak), "So what is this 'spell of Darkness', and what would he want with your children?"

Rashawndra says, "Oh. Well, crap."

Quarion falls to his knees, staggering from this sudden and awful revelation.

Rashawndra asks, "And you, uh, think he might have squirreled your kids away here?"

Nirmiak says, "I think Aumvor tried to trick Astaforth somehow, because an army of vrocks began to attack the herald, and it... it just breathed pure darkness, and where its breath fell, nothing remained."

[slingergame] Shaborys asks, "Did.. did the original Argenschwinge have six legs?"

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "Or did he find extra bones somewhere"

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "Meanwhile, Vraklul is just thinking 'so axes still work on undead dragons, right?'."

[slingergame] Rashawndra asks, "Do we know who Aumvor is, or what vrocks are?"

[Crows-Nest] DM says, "Argh, sorry, had some problems witn copy and paste"

[slingergame] DM says (to Rashwandra), "Vrocks are a kind of powerful devil"

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "So they're not just rocks that go up and down instead of left and right."

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "Haha"

Vraklul asks, "Is Aumvor one of your kids?"

Nirmiak says, "The spell of darkness ... See, the darkness works in two ways. One, it leads its army into planes, or places it wants to conquer. Second, its ... its spell corrupts those who are weak of heart, who have lost hope or have given in to despair. As you can imagine, in a place where the sky has turned grey and shadow armies mach, those numbers grow fast."

Nirmiak says, "shakes his head sternly at Vrak. "Aumvor is a powerful necromancer in the Shadowfell. He should not concern you. He was just a tool to ressurect the dragon."

Vraklul says, "Oh. Sorry. I'm not that good at history."

Rashawndra asks, "Still is, or was?"

Nirmiak says, "(to Rashwandra) I assume that my kids are with the dark army, which still ravages the Feywild."

Rashawndra says, "Man, that sucks."

Vraklul asks, "If you believe they're in the feywild, what brings you here?"

Rashawndra says, "But I meant to ask if Ashy killed Aumvor or not."

Nirmiak says, "(to Rashwandra) Maybe the herald of darkness killed him? It would not surprise me."

Rashawndra asks, "And Ash is the herald? Or is there a Harold?"

[slingergame] DM says, "The herald of darkness is the dragon"

[slingergame] DM says, "and the dark army is the Army of the Darkness, but that would just make everyone giggle all this time because of Army of Darkness"

[slingergame] Quarion says, "hahaha"

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "Hee"

[slingergame] Vraklul exclaims (at DM), "Oh!"

Rashawndra asks, "Oh, wait--Harold is the dragon, right?"

Nirmiak and Bloodfang exchnage a meaningful glance.

Shaborys raises her eyebrows again.

[slingergame] Vraklul asks, "So Aumvor raised the dragon, then double crossed Astaforth and attacked the dragon with his vrocks?"

[slingergame] DM says, "Yes"

[slingergame] Vraklul asks, "Is the darkness breath weapon that leaves nothing entirely separate from Astaforth's spell of darkness that steals the will of people in despair?"

Rashawndra says, "So I still don't know why you're *here*, if you're looking for your kids but you know where they are."

Rashawndra says, "And if we can help."

Vraklul asks (of Rush), "If they're with the dark army, wouldn't they be in the feywild?"

[slingergame] DM asks, "The spell of darkness is an effect of that darkness which is not = Astaforth. Astaforth is just an agent of the darkness. It's chief one, maybe?"

Rashawndra says (to Vrak), "Right, that's what he just said."

DM says (to Rashwandra), "The spell of darkness could not be broken in the Feywild. I saw it, Rashwandra - star elves just turned, their eyes blackened, on the brothers at whose side they just fought. But there is an old legend, and that made me come here."

[slingergame] Vraklul asks, "Oh, so 'spell' in this case != 'thing that you find in a spellbook and that a sufficiently powerful wizard can use with their daily spell slots'?"

Quarion asks, "What does that legend say?"

Rashawndra's eyes glitter. "Oooh, nice. What is it?"

Rashwandra says, "You see, you probably heard how the first settlers came here, and how Argenschwinge single-handedly defeated the darkness in a glorious fight that lasted 3 days and nights."

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "I, uh, didn't actually say that ;-)"

[slingergame] DM says, "I realize that the naming is confusing"

[slingergame] DM says, "Argh"

Nirmiak says, "You see, you probably heard how the first settlers came here, and how Argenschwinge single-handedly defeated the darkness in a glorious fight that lasted 3 days and nights."

Vraklul nods. He thinks he remembers hearing something similar to that, yes.

[slingergame] Rashawndra asks, "I assume I do not actually know that?"

Quarion knows.

Nirmiak says, "But I have heard, but it's only a fragment of a tale ... I know that the darkness came here once before, before the first settlers. An allegiance of races managed to hold it off for a while, using some sort of protective ritual. The the naga queen Asante was there. And some say she still resides in the pyramid of Neverrayn in the Desert of Silence."

[slingergame] DM says, "I assume the others told you..."

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "Got it."

[Crows-Nest] Quarion says, "Never rain hahaha"

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "http://plover.net/~tale/Transcripts/slingergame09.html"

DM says, "And maybe she remembers how this ritual worked, maybe I can learn how to get my children back."

Nirmiak says, "But planar travel is tricky, and I ended here by accident."

Rashawndra says, "And these caves have, like, directions to the Desert.. oh, OK."

Nirmiak says, "The desert is far to the east of these mountains."

Vraklul asks (of Nirmiak), "Have you tried 'bridging'?"

Nirmiak says, "I arrived at a thin place that was covered in stone, and then I teleported into some caves to save myself, and haven't seen daylight since."

Quarion says (to Nirmiak), "It so happens that we are headed east, but only as a brief detour to help a friend get to her destination safely."

Quarion says, "Oh, so you haven't found a way out of these caves? We can help, I think."

Rashawndra exclaims, "And then you found Bloodfang!"

Nirmiak says, "If you could lead me to the open air, I will make my way east by air. It will be good to stretch these old wings again."

Vraklul exclaims, "Covered in stone? Oh, you probably mean Varg Gijak!"

Vraklul says, "Sure, we'd be happy to."

Quarion says, "With pleasure."

Vraklul says, "Now that we've found Bloodfang, we were probably on our way back out as well."

Nirmiak says, "I wish I could give you more hope. I don't know when the dark army will come here, but it will be some time still, but the kingdoms of the Feywild fall one by one. And then it will turns its eyes on your plane."

Shaborys is listening quietly to all this.

Vraklul asks, "Huh. So if we want to stop the dark army before that, we need to find a way into the feywild?"

Quarion asks, "By 'some time', do you mean years? Months? Days?"

Rashawndra says, "Oh, I'm sure we'll be fine. It only works when people have given up hope, right? So hey."

Nirmiak looks at Quarion for a long time. "Years, if you're lucky."

[Crows-Nest] Vraklul says (to Quarion), "Shh, he means whenever the plot calls for it."

[Crows-Nest] DM says, "Hey now, that would be totally hacky"

Rashawndra says, "We're *super* hopeful here."

Quarion says, "We've been fairly lucky so far..."

Rashawndra says, "And we've been working to make it hopefuller."

Quarion feels the influence of the ring, and suddenly looks more hopeful.

Nirmiak says, "Now you are, little one. But once people start losing hope, they will turns. Your friends, your neighbors ... Those who are besieged by darkness are quick to give up all. Maybe the desire for the end sleeps in us all. It certainly ... it certainly was in my children."

Rashawndra says, "It helps if you do fun things like give them goofy names. You should totally call that dragon Harold; it'll help."

Vraklul says, "Seems like a good reason to cut them off before they get here."

smirks. "As long as you remember to run and not look back when you see it."

Vraklul looks at the others. "Maybe we can get our own army?"

Quarion says, "There must be other people who will do whatever it takes."

Quarion says, "We can't be the only ones..."

Vraklul says, "Like Norin or Davina or Maelis or Kazehaya."

[Crows-Nest] Quarion says, "I think we should start thinking about organising NPCs into a team. We can call them..."

[Crows-Nest] Quarion asks, "...the Crusaders? Hm, why does that sound like it's already taken?"

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "(Are we en route back to the surface while we're having this conversation?)"

[Setting the zoned flag.]

[slingergame] DM says, "I assume so"

Vraklul says, "Maybe we should start with the governor of Wolfwater. He probably has some influence."

Nirmiak looks up at the human-sized hole quizzically.

[Crows-Nest] Quarion exclaims, "Half-orc sized!"

[Crows-Nest] Quarion says, "No offense."

[slingergame] Vraklul asks (of Vraklul), "the room with the pond full of corpses, how big was the hole in the ceiling?"

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "Er, (of DM)"

Rashawndra says, "Well, if we can help with the Naga queen thing, we'd be happy to; we have other commitments right now that I think are also fighting the darkness, but that won't last forever."

[slingergame] DM says, "Huge"

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "We had to go through that room first anyway."

Nirmiak nods with a smirk. "You strike me as the kind of people one meets more than once."

Quarion says, "We do travel a lot."

Vraklul asks (of Nirmiak), "We can't fly, so we need to use this little hole -- but will the big hole over the water work for you to get out?"

Nirmiak says, "Yes, I will fly up there and go east. Travel well, Knights of Var Gijak. And remember what the star elves used to say : Be the light."

Quarion exclaims, "We will! Travel safe!"

Vraklul says, "And you as well, friend."

Nirmiak says, "(to Bloodfang) Woof woof growl snarl yowl"

Bloodfang says, "(to Nirmiak) yowl yowl pant woof growl"

Shaborys says Goodbye in Celestial.

(From DM) The might lammatus spreads his mighty wing, and the water ripples and waves as he lifts his mighty body up into the air. He circles above you once and is gone.

(From DM) You hear a whinny of scared horses.

[slingergame] Vraklul says, ")AFK a moment.)"

Shaborys, once he's out of ear shot, says to Quarion, "Your dumb dog thinks he's second in command."

[slingergame] DM says, "(Me too !)"

Quarion exclaims (at Shaborys), "He's not dumb! He hides from danger to stay alive!"

Quarion says, "And besides, the hierarchy in this team isn't very clear anyway."

[slingergame] DM says, "(back!)"

Shaborys says, "We're equals. And he's a dog."

Shaborys motions at the humanoids when says "we"

Rashawndra exclaims, "So, that makes him #2!"

[Crows-Nest] DM says, "Big words from scary cat lady"

Rashawndra says, "With all of us number one."

Quarion says, "That makes sense."

Shaborys hmmmm.

Rashawndra asks, "Hi, Cannery! You ready to go?"

Shaborys just quietly glares at the dog.

[Crows-Nest] DM says (to Rashwandra), "We're waiting on loud guy"

Bloodfang pants at Shaborys happily.

[slingergame] Vraklul exclaims, "Back!"

Shaborys pats Bloodfang, using a little bit of nail to scratch behind his ears, but she kind of whispers "dumb dog" at him.

DM says, "You make you way up the hole (I assume Vrak carries Bloodfang, as an underling would do with his second-in-command) and arrive up there, where a scared looking Cannery has managed to calm the single remaining horse."

[Crows-Nest] Quarion asks, "Will Bloodfang become the Sokovia Accords of our own Avengers team?"

Quarion asks, "Where are the other horses? Did something happen?"

Rashawndra says, "Hey, we get to round up the horses."

DM exclaims (at Quarion), "There was a giant, flying lion just over there! It scared away the horses!"

[slingergame] Vraklul exclaims, "Dang, I can't even remember my horse's name!"

Rashawndra tracks them down over the next (n) hours.

Shaborys says, "Oh! That's just Nirmiak. He's a friend.."

Vraklul says, "Oh, that wasn't a giant flying lion. That was just Nirmiak."

Cannery blinks.

Shaborys says, "But we should go find the horses, I guess."

[Crows-Nest] Quarion exclaims, "Horses, assemble!"

Vraklul starts chanting his Speak With Animals spell.

DM says, "You could say finding the horses at this point is a question of ... survival."

[Crows-Nest] DM says, "See, because you need your horses to move on, but it's a also a skill."

[Crows-Nest] Quarion says, "Ooo, I have that skill."

Quarion rolls 1 20-sided die: 6 | 6 + 2 = 8

Shaborys leaves it up to the wiser ones.

Rashawndra rolls 1 20-sided die: 2 | 2 + 6 = 8

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "Sigh."

Shaborys or not.

Shaborys rolls 1 20-sided die: 20 | 20

[Crows-Nest] Quarion says (to Shaborys), "I'd bet you have better WIS than Quarion"

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "If they take more than ten minutes to search..."

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "haha"

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "nat 20, baby. Come to Shabby, horses."

[Crows-Nest] DM exclaims, "You manage to errily find all bout one of the missing horses. Like, step around a boulder - there she is - maybe down that gully? Yes! Nibbling on those sunflowers? Indeed!"

DM says, "But one horse remains missing and Vrak's spell is complete."

Vraklul asks, "Hey, nice work -- wait, who's missing?"

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "I think we bought these horses like an hour ago."

DM says, "Ironically, Stabby's horse"

Shaborys oh no.

[slingergame] DM asks, "Yes! What did you name your horses?"

[slingergame] Quarion says, "We hadn't named them yet."

Vraklul calls out for it in Horse. "Hey, grey brindle! It's alright, the flying lion is gone now."

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "Mine is Mexikas. Good Infernal name."

Rashawndra says (to Shaborys), "You can use mine. I'm feeling kind of restless anyway."

Shaborys says, "But I paid good money for that horse."

Vraklul says, "You can come back, and we'll all ride together! There's safety in numbers. It's dangerous to go alone."

[slingergame] Rashawndra asks, "Are there signs of a flying lion having eaten a horse, or are there more tracks, or...?"

Vraklul is basically shouting in every direction.

Horses says, "What the hell is that accent?"

[slingergame] DM says, "There are indeed more tracks, and they lead sort of into the mountains, roughly the way you're going."

Vraklul says (to Horses), "Sorry, I'm not from this continent. And I'm half-human. And half-orc."

Rashawndra, kind of twitchy, jogs along the route into the mountains.

Vraklul asks (of Horses), "Did you spot which direction grey brindle ran off in?"

Horse says, "The way that slightly less scary cat lady just started to jog in that adorable "speed"."

Vraklul says, "Oh, alright."

Vraklul exclaims (at Everybody), "Hey, they said Shaborys' horse went that a way!"

Vraklul exclaims (at Horses), "Thanks!"

Shaborys says, "Great. We need to go that way anyway-ish."

Horse says, "No problem, Vrak. Good luck!"

[slingergame] Vraklul exclaims, "So off we go!"

[slingergame] Quarion is still pondering what name to give his horse.

Vraklul asks (of Horses), "By the way, do you have any names for yourselves?"

DM says, "So you follow the tracks that Shaborys spots eagle-eyed, and they lead to a small gully"

Horse says, "No, we're fine with the ones you've given us."

[Crows-Nest] Vraklul says, "Hee."

DM exclaims, "In which your missing horse Mexikas stands, surrounded by kobolds!"

[slingergame] Quarion says, "I think I will call my horse... Greenwood."

[slingergame] Quarion says, "As in the song 'come follow, follow' etc"

[slingergame] Shaborys asks, "Have they seen us?"

DM says, "Who kind of undecidedly stab in its general direction with spears."

[slingergame] DM exclaims, "Not yet!"

Shaborys makes a shushing sound to the others.

[slingergame] DM says, "Or, according to the MM, daggers."

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "Mostly toward Vrak :D"

Vraklul stops with his mouth half-open, about to hail the kobolds.

[slingergame] Quarion says, "Kobolds are more inventive than that! they have dagger tied to the end of sticks."

[slingergame] Vraklul says (to Shaborys), "I had literally already half typed up a greeting."

[slingergame] DM says, "That's excellent! Let's go with that."

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "Yeah, I figured he'd say something"

[slingergame] Shaborys asks, "How many are there?"

Rashawndra asks (of Shaborys), "(quietly) Your horse--sneak attack?"

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "If they don't see us and I shoot at them, I don't suppose I have advantage? :D"

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "Probably not, but it's worth asking."

[slingergame] DM says, "I would allow a sneak attack. And there are around 10 of them."

Shaborys motions with her bow in a "I'm going to shoot one, get into position" manner.

[slingergame] Vraklul asks, "Are they stabbing like they're actually trying to attack the horse, or just like they're vaguely trying to figure out what to do about this 'horse' thing?"

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "Oh, hm."

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "Because if they're not really attacking, Vrak isn't on board with shooting first."

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "I figured they were trying to herd it or something."

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "But ok"

[slingergame] DM says (to Vraklul), "The latter"

Vraklul puts his hand up and looks at Shaborys questioningly.

Shaborys steps back.

[slingergame] Rashawndra asks, "I assume kobolds are one of the 'just evil' races. Unless we don't have that in Bastafore?"

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "I assume more than ten minutes have passed."

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "(Since I cast that spell earlier.)"

[slingergame] DM says (to Rashwandra), "Well, that depends on who you ask :-)"

[slingergame] Rashawndra asks, "The GM?"

[slingergame] DM says, "Generally, e.g. most drow are evil, but Wolfwater has a sizable big hat community. But all gnolls are murderous, mad monsters."

[slingergame] DM says, "Kobolds are a nuisance."

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "If you ask Vrak, then anyone who's a person and not from, like, some astral plane of evilness, deserves a chance."

[slingergame] DM says, "(Big hat = Surface drow who wear big hats because of sun sensitivity)"

Rashawndra says, "We could scare them away, maybe? I bet Quarion and I could put on a show."

Vraklul nods in agreement.

Vraklul asks, "But what about Mexikas?"

Shaborys says, "Don't scare my horse away!"

Rashawndra asks (of Vrak), "Can you still talk to him?"

Rashawndra exclaims (at Shaborys), "I was going to make your horse scary!"

Shaborys says, "Oh!"

[slingergame] Vraklul asks (of DM), "How much time has passed since I cast Speak With Animals?"

Rashawndra grins.

Vraklul exclaims (at Rush), "Good idea!"

[slingergame] DM exclaims, "More than ten minutes!"

Vraklul says (to Rush), "And sorry, I'd need to take a bit of time before I could talk to them again."

Rashawndra asks (of Quarion), "OK, I'll make the horse grow into a monster, and you make... Shaborys look like something and she can run down and jump on Mexicas?"

Quarion says, "I haven't prepared any illusions today, to be honest, but a bit of prestidigitation could work..."

Rashawndra says, "Right."

Vraklul asks, "Do you have that big hand spell?"

Quarion says, "I do."

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "I was assuming the Minor Illusion thing for both of us."

Vraklul says, "Maybe it would help to hold the reins."

Quarion says, "It's pretty basic. Has a range of about 30ft."

Vraklul says, "To keep it from bolting, I mean."

[slingergame] Shaborys also has minor illusion

Rashawndra says, "He just needs to get close enough."

[slingergame] Rashawndra exclaims, "Oh!"

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "I don't think I've seen you use it."

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "Also disguise self"

Quarion says, "Hmm, it's not very strong. But if I use it to move the immovable rod and twist the rod around in the reins..."

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "I have not"

Quarion says, "Then the horse would be tethered. For all practical purposes."

[Crows-Nest] Vraklul says, "'...move the immovable rod...'"

Rashawndra asks, "But if Quarion uses his hand spell, who's going to disguise Shaborys?"

[slingergame] Quarion waits for ta daaa

[slingergame] Shaborys asks, "How tall are kobolds?"

[slingergame] Quarion says, "Like children? I'm not sure."

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "oh."

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "Nevermind"

DM "small"

[slingergame] DM says, "small"

[slingergame] Shaborys asks, "What kind of disguise was Rush thinking?"

[slingergame] Quarion says, "Intimidating, I'll wager."

[slingergame] Vraklul asks, "Fake moustache?"

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "Something scary or something familiar."

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "Because i can presumably do that, within reason. ("same basic arrangement of limbs" and no more than one foot taller or shorter)"

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "Go for it! Rush will be impressed ;-)"

[slingergame] DM asks (of Shaborys), "Minor Illusion?"

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "No, disguise self. I just said."

[slingergame] DM says, "Oh."

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "So, some sort of wide 6'4" tall humanoid scary thing."

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "That blue thing that almost ate me was scary."

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "(to Rush)"

[slingergame] Shaborys asks, "The oni?"

[slingergame] Rashawndra exclaims, "That's it!"

[slingergame] Shaborys asks, "Sure. Can I do that, DM?"

[slingergame] DM exclaims, "Sure!"

[slingergame] DM says, "I mean, that probably was taller, but the kobold won't know"

[slingergame] DM exclaims, "And it will surely be very scary!"

Shaborys chants quietly to herself, standing apart from the others a little, and disguises herself as a 6'4" tall blue oni, while the others set up whatever they're gonna do.

Rashawndra blinks.

[slingergame] DM asks, "What are the others doing?"

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "Getting within 30' of the horse."

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "so I can cast Minor illusion on it."

[slingergame] Quarion asks, "Stealth?"

[slingergame] DM says, "That sounds like Stealth. You have to beat a Passive Perception of 8."

[slingergame] Rashawndra exclaims, "OK!"

Rashawndra rolls 1 20-sided die: 18 | 18 + 2 = 20

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "I'm just watching from where we were, ready to get involved if necessary."

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "(phew)"

[slingergame] Quarion asks, "I roll as well? For the mage hand thingy, I need to be next to Rush too?"

DM says, "Rush crawls up to the rim of the gully, ready to cast."

[slingergame] DM exclaims, "Sure!"

Quarion rolls 1 20-sided die: 12 | 12 + 1 = 13

Quarion follows close behind, not quite as stealthy, but stealthy enough.

Quarion takes out the immovable rod and prepares to cast Mage Hand.

DM says, "With Quarion besides him."

Quarion exclaims, "Her!"

DM says, "oops"

[slingergame] Quarion says, "sorry, didn't mean to blurt that out"

[slingergame] Quarion says, "it sounds overly critical"

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "That Quarion, always talking to the invisible narrator."

[slingergame] DM exclaims, "It's allright!"

[slingergame] Quarion says, "heh"

DM asks (of Oni), "What do you do?"

Shaborys waits for a signal from Rush and Quarion?

Rashawndra holds up three fingers, then two, then one, then everything happens at once, since we all readied our actions to go off at zero!

Shaborys runs towards the kobolds, hands waving, and shouts nonsense.

Rashawndra makes the horse seem to grow a lion head, not unlike our new friend!

Quarion's spectral magic hand snatches the immovable rod out of quarion's real hand, and then after entangling itself in the reins, the spectral hand pushes the button and leaves the rod floating in place.

Kobolds run from the scary horse, and then turn and run from the scary Oni, and run every which way!

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "I've been trying to figure out how the horse itself reacts to this, and it would be nice if I could make the inside of the illusion black, so it wouldn't see anything, but I'm happy with whatever."

[slingergame] DM says, "I was just thinking it will also see a scary Oni."

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "Hence the rod"

[slingergame] DM says, "Yeah"

DM says, "So kobolds are running to and froh, and Mexikas pulls on his reins like crazy, trying to get away (but can#t)"

[slingergame] DM asks, "Uh, what do you do?"

[slingergame] Rashawndra exclaims, "Jump on the horse and run away!"

[slingergame] DM says, "Actually, this is not combat, but let's do Initiative, just for organization"

Shaborys grabs Mexikas, presses the button on the rod and grabs that, too, and runs away from the kobolds

DM clears the initiative.

DM rolls 1 20-sided die: 15 | 15 + 2 = 17

DM registers Kobolds at init 17.

Rashawndra continues to move the scary horse head to keep up with the horse.

Shaborys rolls 1 20-sided die: 19 | 19 + 4 = 23

Shaborys rolls 1 20-sided die: 19 | 19 + 4 = 23

[slingergame] Rashawndra asks, "I think we're done?"

Shaborys registers Shaborys at init 23.

[slingergame] Rashawndra asks, "Unless you want something weird to happen?"

Vraklul is getting ready to jump onto his own horse to ride off before the kobolds regroup.

[slingergame] Vraklul says (to Rush), "One would think so, if the DM weren't rolling initiative."

DM rolls 1 20-sided die: 12 | 12 + 1 = 13

Quarion rolls 1 10-sided die: 3 | 3 + 1 = 4

Rashawndra rolls 1 20-sided die: 18 | 18 + 2 = 20

DM registers Mexikas at init 13.

Quarion registers Quarion at init 4.

Rashawndra registers Rashawndra at init 20.

DM displays the initiative: Shaborys(23) Rashawndra(20) Kobolds(17) Mexikas(13) Quarion(4)

DM advances the initiative: SHABORYS(23) Rashawndra(20) Kobolds(17) Mexikas(13) Quarion(4)

DM exclaims, "So you try to lead the scared horse away? That sounds like Animal Handling!"

Vraklul rolls 1 10-sided die: 8 | 8 + 2 = 10

Vraklul rolls 1 20-sided die: 6 | 6 + 2 = 8

[Crows-Nest] Vraklul says, "(Sigh.)"

Shaborys rolls 1 20-sided die: 13 | 13

Vraklul registers Vraklul at init 8.

Shaborys talks soothingly to the horse, or tries to anyway

DM says (to Shaborys), "Your horse still is pretty scared, and starts to bolt out of gully"

DM advances the initiative: Shaborys(23) RASHAWNDRA(20) Kobolds(17) Mexikas(13) Vraklul(8) Quarion(4)

Rashawndra keeps up the horse head illusion, having it snap at kobolds who get too close.

Rashawndra advances the initiative: Shaborys(23) Rashawndra(20) KOBOLDS(17) Mexikas(13) Vraklul(8) Quarion(4)

DM exclaims, "The lead kobold tries to get some order into his troops!"

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "(I assume Shaborys is actually on the horse at this point)"

[slingergame] DM says, "Yes"

DM rolls 1 20-sided die: 11 | 11 - 1 = 10

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "(good)"

DM says, "but they still run around disorganizedly (and not actually of out the gully, for some reason)"

DM advances the initiative: Shaborys(23) Rashawndra(20) Kobolds(17) MEXIKAS(13) Vraklul(8) Quarion(4)

Mexias (and Stabby) dash away!

DM advances the initiative: Shaborys(23) Rashawndra(20) Kobolds(17) Mexikas(13) VRAKLUL(8) Quarion(4)

[slingergame] DM says, "The dash 120ft"

Vraklul jumps on his own horse and rides up next to the others!

[slingergame] Vraklul asks, "I'm not sure if that involves any rolls, but I expect it probably occupies my entire turn?"

[slingergame] DM asks, "Hm, I'd say Animal Handling?"

[slingergame] DM asks, "I don't think there is a riding skill?"

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "You know about my history with Animal Handling..."

Vraklul rolls 1 20-sided die: 8 | 8 + 3 = 11

[slingergame] Roger says, "He hasn't met a creature he won't mount"

Rashawndra's horse head illusion makes it as far as 30', and then fades away inconspicuously.

[slingergame] DM exclaims, "Your horse seems to have some reservation about following that scary horse!"

DM advances the initiative: Shaborys(23) Rashawndra(20) Kobolds(17) Mexikas(13) Vraklul(8) QUARION(4)

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "(MI's range is only 30')"

[slingergame] DM says, "Noted."

[slingergame] Shaborys asks, "The spell lasts an hour. Can I end it sooner if need be? Or just have to wait it out?"

[slingergame] DM asks, "You can end it, as an action I believe? Or maybe a free action?"

[slingergame] Quarion asks, "Okay, so do the kobolds look like they're going to pose a threat to any of my companions?"

[slingergame] DM says, "Unless someone runs accidentally into one and is impaled by a daggerspear, probably not"

[Crows-Nest] DM says, "a 1d4+2 daggerspear"

[slingergame] Quarion asks, "Does it look like Shaborys is having trouble with her horse from here?"

[Crows-Nest] DM says, "Given that she just dashed away madly while holding on to the reins, yes"

[slingergame] Quarion says, "Hmm."

[slingergame] Quarion says, "Casting Web on the horse seems like a bad idea."

[slingergame] Quarion says, "I'll settle for Slow."

[slingergame] Quarion says, "(So that other people can catch up with it and tell it to calm down)"

[slingergame] Quarion says, "Oh wait, Levitate is better"

[slingergame] Quarion exclaims, "If it's levitating, it can't run away!"

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "Ha ha ha."

[Crows-Nest] DM exclaims, "Yay!"

[slingergame] Quarion exclaims, "I'm doing it!"

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "That won't freak it out more."

[slingergame] Rashawndra asks, "What's the range?"

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "It's 120 feet away already."

[slingergame] Quarion says, "Ah"

[Crows-Nest] DM says, "Oh. 60 ft."

[slingergame] Quarion says, "60ft :("

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "We may have to catch up first ;-)"

[slingergame] DM says, "Slow is 120"

[slingergame] Quarion says, "Slow it is."

[slingergame] Quarion says, "I can maybe levitate on the next turn"

Quarion has to think fast! He waves his quarterstaff in the fleeing horse's direction, hoping to slow it down...

[slingergame] Quarion exclaims, "WIS saving throw!"

[slingergame] DM asks, "You can protect Stabby?"

[slingergame] Quarion says, "Yes."

DM rolls 1 20-sided die: 15 | 15

[slingergame] Quarion says, "It succeeded! Just barely."

[slingergame] Quarion says, "Damn."

[slingergame] DM says, "Oh well."

DM advances the initiative: END OF ROUND

DM advances the initiative: SHABORYS(23) Rashawndra(20) Kobolds(17) Mexikas(13) Vraklul(8) Quarion(4)

[slingergame] DM exclaims, "Stabby! You're on a scared horse that's running fast!"

[slingergame] Shaborys asks, "Are we far away from the kobolds?"

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "Somehow this seems appropriate."

[slingergame] Shaborys asks, "Like, out of sight for them to care if I change back?"

[slingergame] DM says, "Well 120 feet, so yeah"

[slingergame] DM exclaims, "Also, they are too scared to care!"

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "Did we figure out if it was a full action or free action to cancel a spell? My google fu is failing me."

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "I'm seeing cancelling other people's spells, but not just dropping your own."

[slingergame] DM says, "Free actions makes more sense, I think"

[slingergame] Vraklul asks, "Does it say anything about Concentration?"

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "Not this spell, no"

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "You might just be stuck that way."

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "Ok!"

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "Well then, I'm gonna try another animal handling."

Shaborys rolls 1 20-sided die: 20 | 20

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "Aw yiss"

[slingergame] DM says, "haha"

[Crows-Nest] DM checks Stabby's die.

DM says, "Stabby's horse calms down instantly."

Shaborys says, "There we go. Good Mexikas."

Shaborys says, "Shhhh, it's ok."

Rashawndra retreats to her own horse and follows Shaborys, giving the gully a wide berth.

Mexikas says, "*whinny*"

DM says, "You regroup. The kobolds run off at some point."

Vraklul says (to Oni), "Nice work."

Rashawndra says, "Yeah! I didn't know you could do that! You're amazing. again. arr."

Rashawndra says, "OK, Bama Myinn*, let's get out of here."

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "*Rashawndra's horse."

Cannery says, "You guys, sure, uh, have your own way of doing things."

Cannery says, "I like it."

Rashawndra grins.

DM says, "So you move on, and son its nightfall, and you camp out in the mountains. It's kind of cold and windy, but you find a nice overhang."

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "(I've been using Burmese as 'giant', and that's the Burmese horse.)"

[Crows-Nest] DM asks, "So your horse is called horse?"

[Crows-Nest] Rashawndra says, "Yup! It's half 'not being terribly creative in some ways' and half 'still misses home'."

Cannery says, "So, I think tomorrow we should reach the shining dancer's hall. What a journey. They usually have some people that need passage to Wolfwater, and we help them get into the city. It will take a few days to get everything ready, but I'm not sure me coming out will coincide with you being back from your journey to the forest."

Vraklul says, "You never know."

Quarion says, "If fortune smiles, we may yet get the chance to help you make it back home."

Cannery says, "Maybe I can use your little magical machine?"

Vraklul says, "That seems fair."

Vraklul exclaims, "Hey, Siri!"

Siri climbs out of Shaborys' backpack, over her head and falls down to ground with a clang. She lands on her back, feet struggling in the air.

Vraklul gently flips Siri the right way 'round.

Rashawndra affectionately brushes the dirt off of Siri's back.

Siri says, "*ding*"

Vraklul says (to Cannery), "Go right ahead. The magic word is 'Siri'."

Cannery says, "Oh! I meant once I leave the hall. Not right now. But I could let them know back home that everything is fine, I suppose."

[Crows-Nest] (from Quarion) Susan smirks, 'Seems like you aren't taking this... Siri-ously.'

(From DM) *Five infuriating minutes later* "Well, if there is someone called Divinia in Wolfwater, she'll know that everything went "wine" on our "your ney"

DM says, "So you sleep and in the night ..."

DM says, "...nothing happens."

Quarion says, "This is becoming suspiciously frequent."

Quarion says, "Almost like the calm before the storm..."

DM says, "You trek further into the mountains, and at some point, come upon a wagon in the road. It seems to have been here for some time, and it's surrounded by well-preserved gnoll corpses, who have apparently been slain in combat."

[slingergame] DM says, "Well preserverd becaused it's cold."

Shaborys loots the bodies and wagon!

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "Presumably that's already been done."

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "But I gotta try."

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "Also, they're 25 but look 18."

[slingergame] DM exclaims, "You can get some gnoll weaponry! Or some gnoll clothes! Or 5d6 gold coins!"

Shaborys rolls 5 6-sided dice: 1 5 4 1 1 | 12

DM says, "You move on, and finally, in the early afternoon, arrive at a large, broad tunnel leading into the Earth."

Cannery seems relieved, and gets off her horse, rubbing her cold hands together. "Thank you, I couldn't have done this without you.

Vraklul exclaims, "You're welcome!"

Quarion says, "That's what we're for. Helping others."

Rashawndra exclaims, "And increasing hope levels!"

[slingergame] DM says, "The tunnel is the only sign of the monastery you can see. The tunnel is long, well-cut, and ends in front of a stone dwarven face."

[Crows-Nest] Vraklul says, "It seems awfully convenient that we just happened to be coming this way, then. I wonder what she was planning on before Davina sent us her way..."

DM asks, "Won't you come inside? Some warmth, and dwarven ale? Sounds good, no?"

Vraklul exclaims, "Sure!"

Shaborys says, "Sure thing."

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "And now we all die."

DM says, "I'll demonstrate why we are free from gnolls! Wait here. Cannery, looking old and frail, and small, walks into the tunnel. When she is halfway in, the dwarven face lights up and a deep voice booms "WELCOME""

[slingergame] DM asks, "Who goes in next?"

[slingergame] Vraklul exclaims, "I will!"

Vraklul follows her cheerfully.

Shaborys goes in last.

Quarion comes after Vraklul, there to shield those behind.

Rashawndra grins at Shaborys and enters before her.

(From DM) Vraklul sets foot in the tunnel, and makes a few step, when suddenly the stone face lights up in crimson red and the face booms : "TAINTED!"

Shaborys whoa.

DM says, "And you see Canner gape in surprise as with a terrible rumble, the whole tunnel closes in a split-second."

Vraklul asks, "Huh?"

DM says, "(Quarion pulls back Vrak and saves his toes)"

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "Whew."

Vraklul is gaping in confusion.

DM says, "Before you is just a wall of stone. And the mountain winds howl."

Vraklul says, "I wonder what the tunnel thinks I'm tainted with."

Quarion asks, "When did you last have a bath?"

Vraklul says (to Quarion), "You don't remember? You were right there when the boat sank."

Rashawndra says, "Um."

Rashawndra asks, "We didn't just, uh, smash Cannery, did we?"

Rashawndra says, "I hope not."

Shaborys says, "I assume she's just sealed inside."

Vraklul says, "I'm sure she's fine. It's probably just the entrance that's sealed."

Vraklul asks, "And she *wanted* to be inside, right?"

Shaborys says, "Right."

Rashawndra asks, "I guess we send her Siri when we Siri comes back?"

Vraklul says, "Davina will probably send Siri back to her."

Rashawndra exclaims, "OK!"

Vraklul exclaims, "So I guess we can keep on going where we were going!"

Rashawndra asks (of Dwarf), "Hey, can I come in? Am I tainted?"

Rashawndra waves her hands in front of its impassive face.

DM says (to Rashwandra), "The stone face was at the other end of the tunnel"

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "Oh, OK."

DM says, "All you can see is wall of stone where the tunnel closed"

Shaborys says, "Maybe it'll reset? Or they can do it from inside, or.."

Vraklul says, "It'll probably open up again eventually. We can try it again on the way home."

Rashawndra says, "Yeah."

Rashawndra exclaims (at Vraklul), "Sorry you're tainted!"

Vraklul says (to Rush), "It's OK! I probably just had some bad goat or something."

DM asks, "So what do you do?"

[slingergame] Vraklul asks, "Go prove Quarion's father's innocence?"

[slingergame] Quarion says, "Seems like it."

Rashawndra gets back on her horse and heads Quarion-questward

DM says, "So you ride on."

Quarion says, "Full speed, Greenwood."

DM says, "it takes you a few days to get back out of the mountains, and back on track."

DM says, "The further south you move, the less visible signs of war there are, and the land becomes more natural, more wild."

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "Which suggests that by now there should have been time for Siri to get to Davina, back to Cannery, and then back to us, if she had anything she needed to tell us."

[slingergame] DM exclaims, "Yes!"

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "OR THAT CANNERY IS DEAD"

[slingergame] (from Vraklul) Parker says, "There's nothing to worry about!"

DM says, "One night at the fire, Siri climbs out of Quarion's saddlebag, hits him painfully on the toe, and pops open:"

Quarion exclaims, "Ow!"

DM says, "THIS IS A MESSAGE FROM: Davina MESSAGE READS: GLAD TO HEAR YOU AND THE KNIGHTS ARE DOING WELL GIVE THEM ALL MY BEST HELLO KNIGHTS THIS IS TALI KILL SOME MONSTERS OKAY BYE * message ends*"

Quarion says, "Oh."

Shaborys aw.

Quarion asks, "That message was addressed to Cannery? Or us?"

Vraklul says, "That *is* confusing."

Quarion says, "Because if it's the former, I'm going to say this: Solace must have some serious magical shielding."

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "I think it doesn't go between other parties, but is assumed to come from and to us."

Rashawndra says, "So now we just send it to Cannery."

[slingergame] Vraklul asks, "Should we send it on to Cannery now, then?"

Shaborys says, "Yeah."

Vraklul says, "Makes sense."

Quarion says, "I'm reassured."

Rashawndra says, "Davnina's OK; Sorry Vraklul's tainted; send back when you need help or after you don't need help."

Siri says, "*ding* RECIPIENT CANNERY IS UNREACHABLE"

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "OH NO"

Vraklul says, "Um."

Vraklul asks (of Siri), "Do you happen to know why?"

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "She didn't say "not found", at least."

Siri says, "*ding* RECIPIENT WHY NOT FOUND"

Vraklul says, "Siri was able to deliver a message to *Astaforth*."

Vraklul says, "If she can't get to Cannery... that doesn't seem good."

Vraklul asks, "Back to Solace?"

Shaborys says, "Guess so."

Vraklul turns his horse around.

DM says, "it takes you a few days to get back into the mountains, and to the open tunnel."

Vraklul says, "Maybe someone else should go first this time."

[slingergame] Quarion asks, "Is it me, or is travel becoming faster in-game?"

Rashawndra asks (of Siri), "Can you send a message to Cannery now?"

Shaborys says, "Clearly I'm the least tainted.", but she hesitates.

Rashawndra asks, "It's possible something tainted all of you before I met you?"

Rashawndra says, "which would mean I should try."

Vraklul says, "Could be."

Siri says, "*Ding* RECIPIENT CANNERY IS UNREACHABLE*"

Rashawndra says, "Otherwise, we're all bad."

Vraklul asks, "Maybe it just doesn't like people who are part orc?"

Rashawndra asks, "How long is this tunnel? Quarion, could you mage hand Siri down it?"

Siri says, "seems to *think*?"

Shaborys says, "Understandable. I mean.."

Shaborys laughs to show she's joking.

[slingergame] DM says, "Er not says."

Vraklul says, "Or maybe the dwarves who built this place didn't like the dwarves from Varg Gijak."

[slingergame] DM says, "Quarion could mage hand her down it"

[Crows-Nest] Shaborys says, "(Or is she?)"

Quarion asks (of Rashawndra), "Sure, I could definitely do that! Shall I?"

Rashawndra asks, "Siri seems least likely to be tainted. I think?"

[slingergame] Shaborys asks, "Did the tunnel close from the top or the walls , or?"

[slingergame] Shaborys asks, "Like, can we immovable rod it open?"

[slingergame] DM says, "The sides closed in. In the blink of an eye"

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "Oh"

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "Nevermind"

Vraklul says, "I'm not sure if it will help us if Siri gets sealed inside."

[slingergame] DM says, "You could try to immovable rod it open, surfe"

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "Yeah, that seems like a good idea."

Shaborys says this outloud.

Rashawndra says, "I don't know if breaking the magic seal that keeps out gnolls is really a good idea."

Shaborys says, "That's a good point."

Shaborys says, "Well, if anyone is untainted, it's obviously Rush. She's so.. pure."

Rashawndra blushes.

Vraklul says (to Rush), "Want to give it a try? Just watch your toes."

Rashawndra says, "OK, sure."

Rashawndra sighs.

Rashawndra calls out to the dwarf statue "I'm coming in! Let me know if you object!"

DM says, "Silence."

Rashawndra steps inside, and pauses.

(From DM) Rush sets foot in the tunnel, and makes a few step, when suddenly the stone face lights up in crimson red and the face booms : "TAINTED!"

Shaborys drags Rush back.

Shaborys says, "Ok, ok. We didn't want to enter your d****n tunnel anyway."

Rashawndra yipes

Vraklul says, "Huh. I guess it's *not* just me."

[Crows-Nest] (from DM) Face says, "Rude"

[slingergame] Vraklul asks, "Is there a seam where the sides slammed together?"

Rashawndra says (to Shaborys), "Thanks."

[slingergame] DM says, "The tiniest hint of one."

Vraklul asks (of Quarion), "Hey, does that boom-port spell of yours work through stone walls?"

Quarion says (to Vraklul), "It has to be a place I can see."

Vraklul says, "Alright."

Rashawndra says, "Well, the good news is that we didn't see Cannery's mangled body in the tunnel."

Vraklul asks (of Shaborys), "Do you still have that old crowbar?"

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "(I assume)"

Shaborys says, "Yes."

[Crows-Nest] (from Vraklul) DM says (to Rushawndra), "Correct, it definitely wasn't identifiable as Cannery at that point."

DM says, "The tunnel suddenly springs open as fast it has opened. There is a dwarf in cleric robes standing on the other end."

Shaborys says, "o hai"

Vraklul says, "Oh, hi."

Vraklul says, "I think your door's broken."

Vraklul says, "It keeps closing on us."

Dwarf yells, "WHAT DO YOU WANT?"

Shaborys says, "We're with Cannery."

Dwarf yells, "OH! WAIT A MINUTE!"

Quarion says, "We wanted to make sure she made it all right."

Rashawndra asks, "But we're tainted? I guess?"

The dwarf disappears and a minute or so later Cannery appears.

Rashawndra exclaims, "You're alive! Yay!"

[slingergame] Vraklul asks, "OK, who's got Insight?"

Rashawndra exclaims, "We were worried the tunnel crushed you when Vraklul tried to come in!"

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "Not it"

Cannery says, ""HI GUYS!" She thinks and comes through the tunnel."

Shaborys asks, "What means this 'tainted'?"

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "I have a +6."

[slingergame] Vraklul asks (of Rush), "Is this Cannery?"

Rashawndra rolls 1 20-sided die: 7 | 7 + 6 = 13

Cannery says, "This monastery is well protected from all kind magic and influences. This is the only way in and out. Usually the Dancer's face checks for you alignment, and if you carry any evil magic with you."

[slingergame] DM says (to rush), "Looks and sounds (and smell [ew, rude[) like Cannery."

Shaborys says, "But Vrak and Rush aren't evil."

[slingergame] Vraklul asks, "Do I still have that bit of necromantic flesh?"

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "Oh ew"

Vraklul checks his pockets for anything potential evilly-magic.

[slingergame] DM asks, "Did you throw it away?"

[slingergame] Vraklul exclaims, "Not that I recall!"

DM asks, "Clearly not. This is puzzling. Have any evil spells been cast on you recently?"

Vraklul says, "Hmm, probably."

Vraklul says, "I mean, I don't remember, but that *is* the kind of thing that would happen to us."

DM asks, "In the last few days? Before *we* came her? I mean, it let me in and all?"

Vraklul eventually holds up a wibbly bit of semi-mummified organ tissue.

Rashawndra asks, "I can try going in without carrying anything at all, maybe?"

Vraklul asks, "Would this count?"

Cannery says, "*ew*"

Cannery says, "What is that, and why do you carry it around with you?"

Rashawndra asks (of Quarion), "Did you get Dispel Magic?"

Quarion exclaims (at Rashawndra), "Yes!"

Vraklul says, "Oh, it's a bit of... um... to be honest, I don't really remember *where* I first got it. Or *when*. Or *how*."

DM says (to Vraklul), "Well, then it shouldn't let you in, but not the others. It must have been something that happened to all of you."

Vraklul says, "But it did give us all terrible visions of a great evil waiting in another dimension for the right moment to destroy us all."

[slingergame] Quarion says, "I'm shocked Rush forgot I had that spell: it was instrumental in preventing us from being crushed in jail."

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "Heh."

Vraklul says, "But that was *ages* ago. It might have used up all its charges since then."

[slingergame] Vraklul asks, "Was there anything in the Quest for Bloodfang that might have evilized us?"

Rashawndra asks, "OK, so, hmm. I'll drop all my stuff, you cast Dispel Magic on me, and I try the tunnel?"

Quarion exclaims, "That seems like a plan!"

Rashawndra asks (of Cannery), "If you're OK with us using the tunnel that way?"

Cannery says, "It seems a bit disrespectful, but why not. This is rather odd"

Rashawndra carefully piles up all her stuff, takes off her jewelry, frowns and looks at her clothes, shrugs, and adds them to the pile. "OK, Dispel away!"

Quarion dispels!

Shaborys blushes and covers her eyes.

Bloodfang sniffs inside the tunnel and walks back out, scared by a booming "WELCOME"

Rashawndra takes a few steps down the tunnel.

(From DM) Rush (nude) sets foot in the tunnel, and makes a few step, when suddenly the stone face lights up in crimson red and the face booms : "TAINTED!"

Shaborys says, "What."

Vraklul says, "Now this just seems rude."

Shaborys asks, "Is this because we were dead?"

Vraklul says, "But dead isn't the same as evil."

Shaborys shrugs. "I have no other ideas"

[slingergame] Vraklul asks, "*Did* any of the stuff in the cave cast any evil spells on us?"

Cannery says, "Maybe you should have yourself checked out by some wizards"

Rashawndra sighs and puts back on her clothes and jewelry.

[slingergame] Quarion asks, "Can I roll Arcana for this?"

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "Oh, good idea, I should too."

[slingergame] DM exclaims, "Sure!"

Quarion rolls 1 20-sided die: 11 | 11 + 3 = 14

Rashawndra rolls 1 20-sided die: 6 | 6 + 2 = 8

Rashawndra asks, "Well, it's been a couple days; do you need an escort again?"

Cannery thinks for a moment. "There has been some interesting developments. But that can wait till you come back."

Rashawndra asks, "Anything you can share?"

: she puts a hand on your shoulder. "Not yet. Maybe it's nothing, and maybe it changes a lot of things."

[slingergame] DM says, "Grr."

Rashawndra nods.

Rashawndra asks, "Do you still need Siri?"

Cannery steps back into the tunnel (*WELCOME*) and says, "I think everyone who once used her can call her if they need? I will do that when the times comes."

Rashawndra asks (of Q&S), "You guys want to try the tunnel, just to make sure it's all of us?"

Vraklul says (to Cannery), "I'm not sure about that -- I don't think she can get in past the protective magic."

Rashawndra says, "Just come out of the tunnel if you need her."

Cannery says, "I mean, once I'm out of the tunnel again."

Quarion says, "For the sake of completedness, I will try the tunnel myself."

Rashawndra high-fives Cannery.

Quarion steps forth, unflinching!

Vraklul says, "Oh, good idea."

[slingergame] DM says, "It's all of you."

Vraklul grabs the back of Quarion's robe and yanks him back out just in time.

Quarion asks, "Hey! Why?"

[slingergame] Vraklul (to Quarion) | [slingergame] DM says, "It's all of you."

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "(Which I presume means that the entrance slams shut when you try to enter.)"

[slingergame] DM says, "Indeed it does."

[slingergame] Quarion says, "Ah."

[slingergame] Quarion says, "Missed that part.."

[slingergame] DM asks, "Anything else here or do you move on to the forest?"

[slingergame] Quarion exclaims, "Forest!"

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "Forest indeed."

Quarion says, "Well, then it's time to leave for the Evergreen Forest, friends."

Quarion exclaims, "Forth, Greenwood! We must ride!"

Vraklul says, "A second time."

Rashawndra says, "OK, well, thanks for everything! And now we're even later, so we should get going."

[slingergame] Rashawndra asks, "We should press harder, I think, to try to make up lost time?"

[slingergame] Vraklul asks, "Is there a time limit at the moment?"

[slingergame] Rashawndra asks, "Nothing specific?"

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "Admittedly, Q's dad probably doesn't want to sit in jail longer than necessary."

[slingergame] Quarion says, "Indeed."

DM says, "So you take a few days to travel south, and the signs of war get sparser and sparser. One evening, you can see the forest on the horizon. The next evening, it's so close you fall asleep to the rustling of wind in the trees. And then finally, the following morning, you ride into the forest."

[slingergame] DM says, "Arh, hm, this complicates thing."

[slingergame] Quarion asks, "?"

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "Perhaps we were meant to solve the Tainted Puzzle before entering the forest."

[slingergame] Quarion asks, "Oh, did you forget Brunhilda?"

[slingergame] DM says, "See, the forest is designed for a specific kind of character."

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "Oho."

[slingergame] Quarion says, "Oh, ho ho"

[slingergame] Vraklul exclaims, "Perhaps there's some way we might *become* such characters!"

[slingergame] Rashawndra asks, "Like, a cleric?"

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "If only there were some power great enough to alter us so."

[slingergame] DM says (to vraklul), "Indeed, there are suddenly strange, floating plus signs over all your heads."

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "Ha ha ha"

[slingergame] Vraklul exclaims, "Woohoo!"

[slingergame] Quarion says, "Yat"

[slingergame] Quarion says, "Uh, I mean Yay"

DM says, "TO BE CONTINUED"

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "Ooh"

[slingergame] Quarion says, "We're level 7 now, baby"

[slingergame] Quarion does groovy elf dance moves