Taleslinger's D&D Game: Session 8

[slingergame] PerrySimm says, "Log on."

[slingergame] Quarion says, "*theme tune plays*"

[slingergame] (from Quarion) The Taleslinger D&D theme tune plays.

Horst arrives from the east.

[slingergame] Horst says, "We're in quite the pickle."

DM says, "hello, fantasy kids"

Horst says, "Carpe DM"

Luthian waves.

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "I'm real. Dunno about y'all."

[slingergame] Shaborys stabs everyone else.

[slingergame] Quarion says, "Nooooo"

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "And your little dog, too."

DM says, "Welcome to the realm of Bastafore, full of exotic locals, fearsome monsters and breathtaking vistas. You are in an empty room."

Quarion gulps.

[slingergame] DM says, "But Bloodfang is waiting outside."

[slingergame] DM asks, "Or is he ?!?"

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

[slingergame] DM says, "Yes he is."

[slingergame] DM asks, "Really though?"

[slingergame] DM says, "Yes."

[slingergame] Quarion says, "Yes."

[slingergame] DM says, "Okay, unless there any preliminary questions, let's dive right in."

Vraklul says, "Well, that's almost certainly a lie."

Quarion asks, "Almost certainly?"

Shaborys says, "I hope so."

Shaborys looks around at everyone else.

Vraklul says (to Quarion), "Even if he did replace one of us with a duplicate, that's still no reason to actually kill someone just for not being one of us."

Horst says, "If it's not, we have a few options."

Horst says, "First of all, do any of us have any special ability to pretend to be dead? I'm afraid I don't."

Shaborys shakes her head.

Quarion says, "Not me."

Vraklul checks out the walls. How strong are they?

Shaborys says, "So, we know that the north and south doors are connected, as are the east and west. Moving in any direction just puts us back in this room."

Horst says, "Well... we could hurt someone badly, and I could watch you very closely, and see if some door opens up when you're nearly dead, and then we could rush through it and when we're free I could try to heal you from the brink of death."

[slingergame] DM says (to Vraklul), "It's a sturdy underground wall"

[slingergame] Horst says, "watching Flatliners all those times is finally going to pay off"

Luthian wanders about, methodically eyeballing the room, looking for anything out of the ordinary to assist in escape.

Shaborys says, "I do not volunteer."

Horst says, "And if unfortunately you do actually die, well, that's really just a small but expensive inconvenience. I promise to raise you from death when we get to my home temple."

DM says (to luthian), "The only thing out of the ordinary is how DAMN ordinary this room is."

Vraklul says, "I assume that whatever is happening here is magic of some kind."

Quarion examines everyone carefully, looking for any details which seem weird. Even if it's probably a lie, it's still worth checking.

Quarion rolls 1 20-sided die: 13 | 13 + 2 = 15

[slingergame] Quarion says, "That was my Perception roll."

Vraklul asks, "Does anyone have any way of figuring out what kind of magic it is? Maybe counteracting it?"

[slingergame] DM says, "These are the people you've come to trust and maybe love over the last few weeks allright."

[slingergame] Luthian is admittedly at a loss for what he might do. He's a sneaky stabby type. This appears to be magical in nature.

[slingergame] Vraklul asks, "Are the walls here made of ordinary grey stone?"

[slingergame] DM says, "Yep"

[slingergame] Horst says, "We should keep an orphan on hand for this sort of thing in the future"

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "So not something I could break through."

[slingergame] Horst asks, "This isn't the game where we have a Bag of Tricks, is it?"

[Crows-Nest] DM says, "Oh, also with you is new team member McGregor, the lovable ranger"

[slingergame] DM says (to Vraklul), "Maybe with some heavy equipment"

Vraklul inspects the ceiling and floor. Same kind of thing as the walls?

Shaborys searches for a trapdoor, in the floor and in the walls.

[Crows-Nest] Horst says, "awww don't name him"

DM says (to Vraklul), "Yep"

DM says (to Shaborys), "Roll it"

Shaborys says, "Any sort of pushy, pully, pressy deal."

Shaborys rolls 1 20-sided die: 9 | 9 + 5 = 14

[slingergame] DM says, "Doesn't seem like it"

Luthian joins in Shaborys' search.

DM says (to Luthian), "Roll it"

Luthian rolls 1 20-sided die: 1 | 1 + 0 = 1

[Crows-Nest] Horst says, "braaaa voooooo"

DM exclaims (at Luthian), "You found one! There's an outline!"

[slingergame] Luthian asks, ".. I found a trapdoor?"

[slingergame] DM says, "Sure, you see the outline on the floor"

[slingergame] Shaborys asks, "You have a 0 to perception?!?"

[slingergame] Quarion exclaims, "But he rolled a 1!!!!"

[slingergame] Quarion says, "Our DM has lost his mind."

[slingergame] Luthian says, "+0 Wisdom, 0 Perception, according to my sheet."

[slingergame] Vraklul asks, "Are you going to do anything about it?"

[slingergame] Vraklul asks, "Or just ignore the outline and not let anyone know you saw anything?"

[slingergame] DM says, "Huh, the sheet says +0."

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "Yeah, I didn't realize his wisdom was so low. Ok."

[slingergame] Quarion says, "I have negative wisdom."

[slingergame] Vraklul asks, "Man. 'Average' is considered 'so low'?"

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "I mean, I only have a +1 to wisdom, but I took double proficiency."

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "Because rogue"

(From Luthian) "Found something." Luthian notes, poking at the outline of the trapdoor with a boot-covered toe.

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "This has gotta be a trap :("

DM says, "Nobody else sees an outline. Luthian is sure he sees one."

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

Vraklul asks (of Luthian), "What is it?"

Vraklul picks up the rope that came through the door earlier.

Luthian says, "Looks like a trapdoor."

Vraklul asks (of Luthian), "I can't see it. Can you open it?"

Luthian makes an attempt.

[slingergame] DM says (to Luthian), "You can't find any sort of handle"

[slingergame] DM says, "And now you're not sure you see the outline anymore"

Vraklul ties one end of the rope to his belt. "Can someone else hold the other end of this? I'm going to try going through one of the doors again."

Shaborys holds on.

Vraklul goes through the east door.

(From Luthian) "...Bah. I guess I was just seeing things." Luthian grumps, and falls in with the rest of the group.

Horst holds a rope.

DM says, "As soon as Vraklul steps through, the rope is cut. Vraklul reappears in the west, unharmed."

Shaborys weeeeeird.

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "With part of a rope tied to me? Hmm."

[slingergame] DM says, "Yes"

Vraklul says, "It's hard to believe this is just some kind of an illusion."

Horst says, "Maybe it's sufficient to merely be unconscious."

[slingergame] Vraklul asks, "What does it look like to me? Was the other room apparently empty as I approached it?"

[slingergame] DM says, "Yes, and suddenly your friends were there."

[Crows-Nest] DM says, "Your friends and Horst."

[Crows-Nest] Shaborys says, "Aw"

Vraklul asks, "Did anyone see me approaching the door from the other side? Or did I just suddenly appear?"

[Crows-Nest] Shaborys says, "stands in a doorway, one foot on either side."

[Crows-Nest] Vraklul asks, "You mean the guy who wants to try to not quite kill one of us?"

[Crows-Nest] Shaborys says, "oops."

Shaborys stands in a doorway, one foot on either side.

Vraklul says, "I don't think those other rooms really exist."

DM says (to Vraklul), "You suddenly appeared"

DM says (to Shaborys), "Your foot pokes out the other doorway."

Shaborys steps back. Groovy.

[slingergame] Vraklul asks, "Hmm, so we saw 80% of Borys at one door and 20% at the other?"

[Crows-Nest] DM says, "something like that"

[slingergame] DM says, "Something like that"

Vraklul goes to the door where Borys' foot appeared and whispers toward the doorway, "Can you hear me?"

[slingergame] Shaborys asks, "Can I?"

[slingergame] DM says, "Well, you're in the same room. But no, not through the doorway."

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "Ok"

[slingergame] Vraklul asks, "Does anyone have any kind of detect magic or analyze magic spells, or any Arcana knowledge skills, or any other special abilities like that?"

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "I do not."

Quarion wonders what would happen if he hurled a firebolt through a doorway. Perpetual motion?

Quarion says, "I can cast detect magic."

[slingergame] Luthian has a non-zero Arcana skill?

Vraklul says (to Quarion), "That sounds like a good idea."

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "Also a good idea."

Shaborys says, "Please do."

DM asks, "Whoever wants to roll Arcana, please do, and I assume Quarion casts Detect Magic?"

Quarion says, "Yep."

Quarion raises his quarterstaff.

Horst takes cover,

Luthian rolls 1 20-sided die: 14 | 14 + 2 = 16

Quarion concentrates.

[slingergame] Luthian says, "Arcana."

Quarion rolls 1 20-sided die: 6 | 6 + 4 = 10

DM says (to Luthian), "You're pretty sure there's some sort of Illusion magic going on."

[Crows-Nest] Vraklul says, "Hmm, I forgot that I need to tweak the transcript script if I want #interludes included. I'll fix last week's transcript to do that afterward."

DM says (to Quarion), "You cast DETECT MAGIC and everything arounds you lights up. The whole room, inclduing the doorways, seems to be magical - from the Illusion School. Yourself and your friends are also magical! This time, it's the school of Conjuration."

(From Luthian) "Something," Luthian muses, "does not feel right. Like we're in a dream of sorts. Illusion magic, perhaps?" He gazes about, stroking his chin, running a hand across the walls and floor of the room.

Vraklul says, "So I'm not just getting magically teleported around whenever I go through a doorway? Huh."

Quarion says, "We're under a Conjuration spell, friends. The room is an illusion."

Vraklul says, "So when I came from over there to over here, I only *think* I'm over here, but I'm *really* still over there? Trippy."

Vraklul takes a puff on his pipe.

[Crows-Nest] Horst says, "we need to go deeper"

Quarion says, "Actually, conjuration includes teleportation. So you are being transported magically."

Shaborys scratches the wall with a dagger blade.

Quarion says, "But the walls themselves are not necessarily real."

Vraklul says, "Oh, so I *am* over here now? This magic stuff is so confusing."

Quarion says, "I think we need to think... diagonnaly."

Vraklul asks, "If the walls aren't real, does that mean I can walk through them?"

[slingergame] DM says (to Shaborys), "There are now some scratches on the wall."

Quarion says, "The illusion is powerful. It may not be easy."

[slingergame] Shaborys graffitis the hell out of the room.

Vraklul takes a long draw on his pipe, closes his eyes, and tries walking through the north wall.

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "(Not really.)"

[slingergame] DM asks, "With what?"

[slingergame] DM says, "Oh."

Horst says, "Maybe it is not the walls that are unreal, but ourselves."

DM says, "Bonk! Vraklul walks into a wall."

Vraklul says, "I think *that* wall might be real."

Vraklul asks, "Anyone else want to try the others?"

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "I feel like Luthian and I would have touchd all the walls earlier while looking for trapdoors."

[slingergame] Shaborys asks, "How tall is this room?"

[slingergame] DM says, "Normal, about 2 meters"

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "No can reach."

[slingergame] DM says, "6,56 feet"

[slingergame] Shaborys asks, "Well. How tall is everyone?"

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "I'm 5'4""

[slingergame] Luthian says, "5'8""

Shaborys says, "Can I climb onto someone's shoulders? I want to touch the ceiling."

[slingergame] Quarion says, "I'm 6'"

[slingergame] Shaborys asks, "Oh, can you reach the ceiling?"

[slingergame] DM says, "sure."

Quarion tries to touch the ceiling.

DM says, "Feels like a ceiling"

Shaborys says, "Damn."

Vraklul says (to Shaborys), "Sure."

Shaborys says, "Nevermind, Quarion's got it covered."

Quarion searches the ceiling for anything important.

DM says (to Quarion), "Roll Perception"

Quarion rolls 1 20-sided die: 8 | 8 + 2 = 10

Vraklul asks, "Is there any kind of anti-teleport magic?"

DM says, "Feels like a normal ceiling to you."

Vraklul asks, "Anything that would let us walk through the doors *without* being teleported back into the room?"

Luthian goes home.

[slingergame] Vraklul asks, "Are the walls made of solid carved stone, or individual stones?"

[Crows-Nest] Quarion says, "Wow, Luthian is a magician."

[Crows-Nest] Quarion says, "He just figured this out and went home."

[Crows-Nest] Shaborys says, "Hehe"

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "(And if individual, is there any mortar between them?)"

[Crows-Nest] Luthian asks, "... Huh?"

[slingergame] DM says, "Solid, they seem to be carved out of the mountain, like the walls you saw in the hallways."

Luthian arrives from the east.

[Crows-Nest] Luthian says, "Oh."

[Crows-Nest] Luthian says, "Whoops."

[Crows-Nest] Luthian says, "Apologies; internet issues."

[Crows-Nest] Quarion says, "No worries"

[Crows-Nest] DM says, "'tis okay"

Shaborys pulls out the medallion key thing and idly looks at it.

Luthian keeps close to the group, watching out for anything out-of-the-ordinary.

DM says (to Shaborys), "It looks like it fits into some specific place. It doesn't seem helpful with weird illusionary rooms."

Shaborys puts it away again.

Vraklul asks, "Hey, would that magic spell the paladin cast on our weapons prevent them from breaking?"

DM says, "That's a good Arcana question"

Quarion says, "It didn't save Luthian's weapon."

Vraklul says (to Quarion), "I mean breaking in the normal way. Like, from being smashed into a rock."

Quarion exclaims, "Oh!"

Quarion says, "Darn, why did I leave behind my magic scimitar."

Vraklul says, "Well, I have my axe right here."

Vraklul says, "And I want to try to smash this wall."

[Crows-Nest] Luthian asks, "Did I miss a cue to make an Arcana roll?"

Vraklul says, "But I don't want to smash my axe apart instead."

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

[Crows-Nest] Luthian says, "Bah."

[Crows-Nest] Vraklul | Vraklul asks, "Hey, would that magic spell the paladin cast on our weapons prevent them from breaking?"

[Crows-Nest] Vraklul says, "So if you want to roll Arcana and try to answer it..."

[Crows-Nest] Luthian says, "One moment."

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

DM says (to Luthian), "You don't know"

Vraklul asks (of Quarion), "I don't suppose your magic training covered that kind of thing?"

[Crows-Nest] Horst says, "come on, who wants to flatliner"

[Crows-Nest] Shaborys quietly touches her nose.

Vraklul takes one of his little handaxes instead, then, and tries using that to hack away at the wall. The one we originally entered from, a few feet away from the door.

(From Luthian) "I'm having trouble concentrating... I don't have an answer for you; I'm sorry." Luthian offers a sympathetic glance to Vraklul.

[Crows-Nest] Shaborys says, "I mean, I'm pretty used to almost dying, but no thanks."

DM says (to Vraklul), "You have a feeling that hurts the axe more than the wall, but you manage to make some chips in the wall."

Vraklul exclaims, "Well, it's not unbreakable!"

Vraklul keeps going with the same cheap little axe, with all his strength. Let's see how deep we can get before the axe breaks.

DM says, "That'll take some time"

Quarion asks, "Uh, wouldn't magic be faster?"

Vraklul asks, "Do you have a <oof> magic way to <uff> break through this <urg> wall?"

Quarion says, "If you stand back, I'll see what I can do."

Vraklul stands back, then.

Quarion raises his quarterstaff, muttering magic words! Three magic missiles soar forth towards the north wall, which still bears marks of Vraklul's assault!

Quarion rolls 1 4-sided die: 4 | 4 + 1 = 5

Quarion rolls 1 4-sided die: 1 | 1 + 1 = 2

DM exclaims, "BOOM!"

DM says, "You made a fist-size hole in the wall."

Vraklul says, "Huh! That's impressive."

Vraklul exclaims, "Is this the same spell you've been using all along? I didn't know it was that powerful!"

Shaborys looks at the opposite wall.

DM says (to shaborys), "No damage"

[slingergame] Vraklul asks, "Does the hole reach to the other side? Or if not, hoe deep is it?"

[slingergame] DM says, "It reaches the other side. Through it you see ... an empty room like thr room you're in"

Shaborys throws a ball bearing through the hole.

DM says (to shaborys), "It disappears"

[slingergame] Vraklul asks, "But does it appear from the opposite wall?"

DM says, "No, just disappears"

Vraklul says, "Strange."

Vraklul reaches his left hand into this new hole.

Shaborys eep?

DM asks (of Vraklul), "Really?"

[slingergame] Vraklul says (to DM), "Unless I am mysteriously suddenly getting serious second thoughts about it for some mysterious extra-diagetic reason."

[slingergame] Vraklul asks, "Am I?"

DM says, "Vraklul reaches inside the new hole ..."

DM says, "...and ...""

DM says, "nothing happens."

Vraklul pulls his arm back and looks at it.

DM says (to Vraklul), "That's your arm allright."

[slingergame] Vraklul asks, "Was I able to see my hand through the hole, or did my arm block the view?"

[slingergame] DM says, "The latter."

Vraklul feeds more of the ever-shortening rope through this new hole.

DM says, "It seems to go in without a problem"

[slingergame] Vraklul asks, "Not getting cut in half?"

[slingergame] DM asks, "Do you pull it back?"

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "Sure."

[slingergame] DM says, "Yeah, it's cut."

Vraklul looks through the hole, trying to see the end of the rope that he fed through.

DM says, "Through the hole you just see an empty room."

Vraklul says, "Either the end of this rope has ceased to exist, or it's invisible, or else it's now in some other room..."

Quarion says, "My head hurts."

Vraklul takes a small piece of meat from one of his rations and holds it in his hand while reaching through the hole again.

DM says, "Sure"

Vraklul waves the meat around out there, down below waist height.

DM says, "Sure"

[slingergame] Vraklul asks, "Nothing else happens?"

[slingergame] DM says, "Nope."

[Crows-Nest] (from Quarion) Vraklul screams! 'My hand!'

Vraklul says, "Alas. Apparently this hole doesn't lead to wherever Bloodfang is."

[Crows-Nest] DM says (to Vraklul), "ha ha"

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "I was hoping that if this was the wall where we originally entered from, that the hole would have led back into that room that we came from."

[slingergame] Quarion asks, "But did we really come that way?"

[Crows-Nest] DM says, "Need to refill my water real quick. Don't go anywhere. Ha ha! Sorry."

[slingergame] Quarion says, "My transcript says we came from the south."

[slingergame] Vraklul | Vraklul takes one of his little handaxes instead, then, and tries using that to hack away at the wall. The one we originally entered from, a few feet away from the door.

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "Of course, it's possible that we've actually been teleported completely away from there to some other place entirely."

[slingergame] Quarion says, "Oh."

Quarion exclaims, "Curse you, Mad Bard!"

Vraklul says, "But this hole seems to lead *some* place."

Vraklul asks, "And if my hand wasn't harmed by passing through it... can we make it large enough for my head?"

Quarion TILT.

Quarion exclaims, "We've been thinking things wrong!!!"

Shaborys asks, "Oh?"

Quarion says, "We've been thinking about escaping cardinally."

Quarion says, "But we heard the voice of the Mad Bard from ABOVE."

Quarion says, "So we need to escape... horizontally. I must make a hole."

Quarion says, "Either the ceiling or the floor, whichever works."

DM says, "Both ceiling and floor are the same unforgiving rock as the walls."

Quarion exclaims, "So this could work!"

Quarion says, "I have plenty of spell slots left."

Quarion says, "Then one of us stands on another's shoulders, climbs up with a rope, brings us all out of here."

Quarion says, "So, agreed? Let's make a hole in the ceiling."

Quarion asks, "Who's in?"

Luthian nods to Quarion. "I'm in."

Shaborys says, "Rope might not pass through both rooms for that to work, but sure, let's give it a try."

Vraklul says, "Sounds good to me."

Quarion says, "Brace yourselves."

Quarion asks, "Unless Brother Simov has an objection...?"

Shaborys says, "I think he's still trying to figure out how to almost kill one of us..."

Quarion says, "Okay, this is it."

Quarion raises his quarterstaff! Three blue blazes of magic soars forth straight up into the ceiling!

Quarion rolls 1 4-sided die: 2 | 2 + 1 = 3

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

Quarion rolls 1 4-sided die: 2 | 2 + 1 = 3

DM says, "Dust and bits of rock rain down on you! As the dust settles, you see a fist size hole in the ceiling. Through it you see a view of an empty room from the floor up."

Horst says, "Death is patient."

Quarion says, "That 'view of an empty room' is just illusion."

Vraklul says, "We'll need a bigger hole if we want to climb through."

Quarion casts the same spell again! This time, the three missiles strike strategic spots, around the existing hole.

Quarion rolls 1 4-sided die: 1 | 1 + 1 = 2

Quarion rolls 1 4-sided die: 2 | 2 + 1 = 3

Quarion rolls 1 4-sided die: 1 | 1 + 1 = 2

Quarion says, "That should make it bigger."

DM says, "Dust and bits of rock rain down on you! As the dust settles, you see a roughly head-sized hole in the ceiling. Through it you see a view of an empty room from the floor up."

Vraklul says, "Can someone give me a lift? Or I can lift one of you."

Vraklul says, "We can take a look at what that hole looks like from the other side."

Quarion says, "Beware of illusions."

Shaborys isn't going to be the first to stick her head through that hole.

DM asks, "Then who is?"

Vraklul is, but the hole is too high to stick his head through without a boost. Or something to stand on.

Horst says (to Vraklul), "You can stand on me."

Horst gets down on his knees and arms.

Vraklul exclaims, "Thanks!"

Vraklul stands on Horst's back and sticks his head through the hole.

DM says, "Vraklul's head suddenly sticks out the north door of the room your in."

DM says (to Vraklul), "It's very uncomfortable and disorienting."

Shaborys snorts in exasperation.

Vraklul asks, "What are all of you doing *sideways*?"

DM says, "But on the plus side, all the orc ladies who told you you had a nice butt weren't lying."

Vraklul asks, "So why is this happening to me now, but it didn't happen to my hand?"

Vraklul exclaims, "That hole must be different!"

Vraklul pulls his head back in.

Shaborys asks, "Maybe we had it right the first time?"

Quarion bangs his head against the wall in frustration.

Vraklul points: "To the first hole!"

[slingergame] Horst says, "Now we're not thinking with portals."

Quarion asks, "You want me to make it bigger magically?"

Vraklul says, "Unless you think I should do it the old fashioned way."

Vraklul hefts his little scarred axe.

Quarion says, "Try the old-fashioned way. Magic is precious."

DM says, "That's gonna take a little while, though."

Vraklul gives it a go while everyone else decides if they want to try other options.

Vraklul says, "I wonder why your magic spell breaks through this so much faster than my axe."

DM says, "You have about an hour to decide"

Vraklul asks, "Is it a because the wall is magic?"

Quarion says, "Probably."

Quarion decides to raise his quarterstaff, and mutters the same magic words he's muttered twice before. Three missiles of ligtning blue hurtle towards the hole in the wall, landing in just the right places to make the hole significantly bigger.

Quarion rolls 1 4-sided die: 2 | 2 + 1 = 3

Quarion rolls 1 4-sided die: 1 | 1 + 1 = 2

DM says, "There is now a head-sized hole in the wall"

Vraklul sticks his head through before anyone can stop him.

DM says, "Vraklul slumps to the ground (head still attached)"

Shaborys um? She runs over to Vraklul.

Quarion exclaims, "Vrak!!!"

[Bard] * DM has added PerrySimm to the channel.

#private/Bard (private adhoc)

Created: 07-Oct-17 15:31:18 Last message: 07-Oct-17 15:32:09

Users: +DM PerrySimm Vraklul

There are no new messages on #private/Bard.

[Bard] DM says, "So, you wake up in quite a different room. It's bigger than the one you were in, and mainly hoses some sort of machine thing in the center."

[Bard] Vraklul blinks a few times.

[Bard] DM says, "Like a chair, and on it sits a gnome, strapped in, with some sort of mechanical helmet."

[Bard] DM says, "You are in a small, human-sized cage, with some sort of machine on your own head, which just fizzled and short-circuited."

[Bard] DM says, "Beside you are 4 cages with your friends, all with the same machines on their heads, which seem to still be working."

[Bard] Vraklul exclaims, "Am I dreaming? Or... was I dreaming before, and now *this* is real!"

[Bard] DM says, "And there is another gnome beside the machine, in a grey prisoner's uniform. He runs over to your cage."

[Bard] Vraklul pulls off his helmet and starts shouting. "Borys! Horst! Quarion! Luthian! Wake up!"

DM says (to Shaborys), "He seems to be dead."

Quarion says, "No"

Quarion says, "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO"

Shaborys says, "Oh shit."

Shaborys shakes the body.

[Bard] Vraklul says, "(Do I have my stuff?)"

[Bard] DM says (to Vraklul), "No"

[Bard] DM says, "The gome asks, "Oh, so what happened? Did they kill you first? Did they think you were the duplicate?""

DM says, "Vraklul he doesn't react."

[Bard] Vraklul says, "(Is that the same voice we heard before?)"

[Bard] DM says, "Yeah."

DM says, "Er, minus he"

Vraklul exclaims (at Gnome), "You! You're responsible for that maze!"

Shaborys turns to Horst. "You can fix this, right? Once we get out?"

[Bard] Vraklul says, "ARGH."

DM says, "Uh, ignore that."

[Bard] DM says, "It's allright"

[Bard] Vraklul reaches through the bars and grabs the gnome by the neck.

[Bard] DM says, "He did not come quite that close."

[Bard] Vraklul lunges and, apparently, misses.

[Bard] DM says, ""Aha, you're the fighter? Did you gloriously commit suicide or something? C'mon, let me know what happened.""

Horst performs a medical exam of Vraklul.

[Bard] Vraklul exclaims, "Let us out of here!"

Horst rolls 1 20-sided die: 1 | 1 + 3 = 4

DM says, "You think that's a dead half-orc allright."

Luthian goes home.

[Bard] Vraklul tries to force the cage open by sheer strength.

[Bard] DM exclaims, "But I'm having so much fun! And the longer they stay in there, the more the pain machine is charged!"

[Bard] DM says, "Sure, but it's gonna be tough."

[Bard] Vraklul says, "OK, then I'll rage so I get Advantage."

Vraklul rolls 1 20-sided die: 10 | 10 + 3 = 13

Vraklul rolls 1 20-sided die: 17 | 17 + 3 = 20

Horst says, "I suppose my plan of killing someone was not all that effective after all."

[Bard] DM says, "The gnome is like "Oh crap!" and casts a spell."

Horst says, "Sorry, old chum."

[Bard] Vraklul lunges for him, trying to grab him again.

[Bard] DM says, "Let's have some initiative"

DM rolls 1 20-sided die: 16 | 16 + 2 = 18

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

[slingergame] Shaborys resists the urge to rifle through Vraklul's pockets.

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "Ha ha."

[Bard] DM says, "He cackles madly (as a bonus action) and disappears"

[slingergame] DM says, "snrk"

[Bard] Vraklul says, "Curse that little..."

[Bard] Vraklul looks around the room, to make sure he didn't just appear behind him or create a giant wasp or something.

Horst asks, "Anyone else have any ideas?"

Shaborys asks, "There's no marks or anything on the body to indicate how he died?"

[Bard] DM asks, "Will you do anything else on your turn?"

DM says, "no"

[Bard] Vraklul, assuming he didn't, goes to each of the cages and reaches through the bars to try to remove their helmets.

[Bard] Vraklul says, "If this is initiative order, I guess Shaborys first."

[Bard] DM says, "So you move towards the next cage, we'll say it's Quarion."

[Bard] Vraklul says, "Oh, OK, if that's closest."

[Bard] DM says, "one sec"

Shaborys asks, "Quarion, can you detect magic on the body? See if it tells you anything new?"

Horst says, "It seems his soul has departed."

Quarion asks, "Do you really want me to use up magic which might save our lives from the Mad Bard?"

DM rolls 5 8-sided dice: 5 2 3 2 8 | 20

Shaborys says, "No, I guess not."

[Bard] DM asks, "Do you have more than 20 HP? I guess so?"

Shaborys doesn't know how magic works, being a rogue and all.

[Bard] Vraklul says, "Yup."

[Bard] DM says, "You yawn, but are otherwise unaffected. Give me a DEX check to rip off Quarion's machine."

Horst gives a big dramatic and very loud "NOOOOOOooooooo..."

Shaborys sticks her mirror through the hole

Vraklul rolls 1 20-sided die: 14 | 14 + 2 = 16

Shaborys turns it this way and that.

[slingergame] Vraklul exclaims, "Well, so far that's one failed Death save and two passed. Wish me luck!"

DM says, "You see the appropriate reflections of an empty room. When you turn it back onto the hole, you see a hole in the wall that leads to an empty room, which your arm sticking out of the air,"

DM says, "Suddenly Quarion crumples to the floor."

[Bard] * DM has added Quarion to the channel.

Horst examines Quarion.

Shaborys turns around. What the hell?

Horst rolls 1 20-sided die: 17 | 17 + 3 = 20

[Bard] DM says (to Quarion), "Please recap for the situation, then roll Initiative."

DM says, "Quarion seems to be quite dead"

Shaborys swears in infernal.

DM says, "But you can't make out of what he died"

[Bard] Quarion asks, "Wait so this is where we dead folk chat?"

[Bard] Vraklul says, "(Welcome to the afterlife!)"

Shaborys says, "I think we're damned if we do, damned if we don't right now."

[Bard] Vraklul asks (of Quarion), "Can you see me? Are you alright?"

[Bard] Quarion says, "I figured it out. Our friends are in the 'Matrix'"

[Bard] Quarion says, "I can see you."

[Bard] Quarion pulls off his helmet

[Bard] Vraklul says, "The Mad Bard was here! He's behind this. But he escaped."

[Bard] Vraklul says, "(Can the cages be opened from the outside without a key?)"

[Bard] DM says, "Okay, Quarion, please roll Initiative. And you guys don't really have time to chat"

Shaborys asks, "How thick is the wall?"

Shaborys says, "Like, where the hole is."

Quarion rolls 1 20-sided die: 10 | 10 + 4 = 14

[Bard] Quarion says, "I rolled a 14."

DM says, "About a 1,64042 foot"

Shaborys tries to sort of look through the hole by putting her face as close to it as possible, but not sticking out the other side

[Bard] Quarion says, "Fuck. So the others don't realize that by dying they escape."

[Bard] DM says, "It's your turn. You're in a wooden cage that's latched from the outside. To open it, it's a DEX check."

Quarion rolls 1 20-sided die: 5 | 5 + 1 = 6

[Bard] Quarion says, "Dammit."

DM says, "At a certain point, your nose begins to tickle"

Shaborys pulls her face back.

Shaborys feels for her nose.

DM says, "That's your nose allright"

Shaborys whew.

[Bard] Quarion exclaims, "VRAK! HELP!"

[Bard] DM says, "Suddenly, the air in the generally area of Quarion's cage fills with spinning daggers! You each take the 4d4 I'm about to roll as damage."

DM rolls 4 4-sided dice: 2 1 4 2 | 9

[Bard] DM says, "And it's Vrak's turn"

[Bard] Quarion says, "argh"

[Bard] Quarion says, "my HP is 11 now."

Shaborys looks at Horst and shrugs.

[Bard] Vraklul forces Quarion's cage open as well!

Horst says, "I am at a loss."

[Bard] DM says, "Roll it"

[Bard] Vraklul asks, "Hmm. When you checked my HP earlier, that doesn't count as taking damage for the purposes of keeping Rage going, does it?"

Horst says, "One way or another, they are free of their worries."

[Bard] DM says, "Nope, as you didn't take damage"

Vraklul rolls 1 20-sided die: 18 | 18 + 3 = 21

[Bard] Vraklul exclaims, "Get out of there! And help me free the others!"

[Bard] DM asks, "You tear open the cage and I assume pull Quarion out with your move action, so he doesn't start the next turn in a cloud full of daggers?"

[Bard] Vraklul says, "Right."

[Bard] Quarion says, "whew"

[Bard] DM says (to Quarion), "It's your turn"

[Crows-Nest] DM asks, "Did Luthian lose his connection again or are you just silent?"

[Crows-Nest] Shaborys says, "He's off"

[Bard] Quarion is out of the cage!

[Bard] Quarion heads to the nearest cage and tries to open it.

[Bard] DM says, "Strength. If you want to tear off the machine from their head, Dex. (We'll say it's Shaborys)"

Shaborys sticks her hand through the hole. No tingling?

[Bard] Quarion says, "I want to tear off the machine from Shaborys's head."

Quarion rolls 1 20-sided die: 2 | 2 + 1 = 3

[Bard] Quarion says, "And I have butterfingers."

DM says (to Shaborys), "Nope"

[Bard] DM exclaims, "Out of thin air, a black ray of enegry shoots towards Vraklul!"

[Bard] Vraklul exclaims, "Hey! He must be invisible!"

DM rolls 1 20-sided die: 6 | 6 + 5 = 11

[Bard] Vraklul says, "AC 16."

[Bard] DM asks, "Ranged spell attacks are against Ac, correct?"

[Bard] Vraklul asks, "Probably?"

[Bard] Vraklul is not, despite all appearances, a primary spellcaster.

[Bard] DM says, "Yeah, seems like it. The black ray bounces off you, and you hear a muttered "Oh no! That wasn't very smart""

[Bard] DM says, "And it's your turn"

[Bard] Vraklul tackles the space that the ray came from!

[Bard] Vraklul says, "(If that counts as an attack, I do it recklessly.)"

[Bard] Vraklul asks, "I'm thinking it's a grapple?"

Shaborys sits down.

[Bard] DM says, "Sure! Attack with disadvantage (and we'll say it's not cancelled out by your recklessness)"

Shaborys doesn't know what to do.

[Bard] Vraklul asks, "Hmm, do I get a proficiency bonus for that, or no, since I'm unarmed?"

[Bard] DM asks, "Are you proficient in unarmed combat?"

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "Maybe they both had a heart condition..."

[slingergame] DM says, "The bard has this weird notebook..."

[Bard] Vraklul says, "Um. Not that I am specifically aware of."

Vraklul rolls 1 20-sided die: 3 | 3 + 3 = 6

[Bard] DM says, "Then no."

[Bard] Vraklul says, "Darn."

[Bard] Vraklul tackles empty space!

[Bard] DM says (to Quarion), "You can try again to free Shaborys"

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "Well, that's the second failed Death save."

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "One more, and I'm dead permanently."

[slingergame] DM says, "My TPK goes according to plan"

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "Eep :("

Horst says, "Alright, I'm going to ask my god for help."

Horst casts Augury, which is a 'if I do <x> will it bring weal or woe?' sort of question.

Quarion rolls 1 20-sided die: 17 | 17 + 1 = 18

DM says, "As you do, Shaborys suddenly collapses"

[Bard] * DM has added Shaborys to the channel.

Horst says, "Uh, hrm."

[slingergame] DM says, "Please recap and then roll initiative"

[slingergame] DM says, "er"

Shaborys rolls 1 20-sided die: 4 | 4 + 3 = 7

[Bard] DM says, "Please recap and then roll initiative"

DM asks (of horst), "So what technique do you use to cast your spell?"

Horst says, "I'm not sure what you mean by that."

[slingergame] Vraklul asks, "Augury involves things like tarot cards, rolling dice, I Ching, etc., right?"

DM says, "This says casting inlaid sticks, or rolling dragon bones, or laying cards"

[Bard] DM says (to Quarion), "You've ripped the machine of Shaborys' head, who is disoriented for a moment"

Horst says, "Oh I've got these traditional dice here."

DM asks, "Allright, so what do you ask?"

Horst asks, "Will my prayers and spells be of any use here?"

DM says, "You hear a single whispered word"

DM says, "...nothing...""

[Bard] DM says (to Shaborys), "So, it's your turn. You're in a wooden cage that's latched from the outside."

[Bard] Shaborys asks, "Can I reach through the bars to unlatch it?"

[Bard] DM says, "With a DEX check, sure"

Shaborys rolls 1 20-sided die: 17 | 17 + 5 = 22

Horst says, "Oh I see."

[Bard] DM exclaims, "Yay, you are free!"

[Bard] Vraklul asks, "What does this room have by way of exits?"

[Bard] Shaborys moves out of the cage.

[Bard] DM says (to Vraklul), "First, make a WIS save (13)"

Vraklul rolls 1 20-sided die: 1 | 1 + 0 = 1

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "Well, that's that. It was nice playing with you guys."

[Bard] DM says, "Vraklul suddenly breaks down in fits of hysterical laughter."

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "I kinda wish you could have saved me before it was too late, but oh well."

[Bard] DM says (to Quarion), "It's your turn"

[slingergame] Vraklul asks (of DM), "Should I start rolling up a new character now or wait until next time?"

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "Damn"

[slingergame] DM says, "Let's wait and see if these other suckers survive"

[slingergame] Horst says, "I can get you risen from the dead if I, uhh, don't die,"

[Bard] Quarion says, "I try to wrench off the nearest helmet."

Horst tries some meditation.

Quarion rolls 1 20-sided die: 19 | 19 + 1 = 20

[Bard] DM says, "Wrench away, my dexterous friend"

[Bard] Quarion exclaims, "I succeed!"

DM says, "You sit down to mediatate and suddenly ..."

[Bard] * DM has added Horst to the channel.

[Bard] DM says, "Recap and then roll initiative"

[Crows-Nest] DM says, "Perry has all the recap from bard, right? I'm not sure how adhoc channels work"

[Crows-Nest] Vraklul says, "It's in the transcript file, yeah."

DM says, "And please everyone now add themselves to the counter"

[Crows-Nest] Vraklul says, "I just need to make sure it goes into the HTML version."

Shaborys registers herself at init 7.

Vraklul registers himself at init 17.

Quarion registers himself at init 16.

DM registers Bard at init 18.

Horst rolls 1 20-sided die: 17 | 17 - 1 = 16

[Crows-Nest] DM says, "Will an ad hoc channel just stop existing at some point"

Horst registers Horst at init 15.

DM displays the initiative: Bard(18) Vraklul(17) Quarion(16) Horst(15) Shaborys(7)

DM advances the initiative: BARD(18) Vraklul(17) Quarion(16) Horst(15) Shaborys(7)

DM advances the initiative: Bard(18) VRAKLUL(17) Quarion(16) Horst(15) Shaborys(7)

DM advances the initiative: Bard(18) Vraklul(17) QUARION(16) Horst(15) Shaborys(7)

DM advances the initiative: Bard(18) Vraklul(17) Quarion(16) HORST(15) Shaborys(7)

[Crows-Nest] Vraklul says, "I think so, but I don't remember the rules for them."

DM says, "Look at that, it's actually your turn"

Quarion glances around.

Horst asks, "I'm still strapped into a chair, it seems?"

DM says, "So, situational recap : Vraklul is laughing himself silly on the floor, Quarion and Shaborys are out of their cages, and some invisible dude is slinging spells, mostly ineffuctally."

DM says (to horst), "No, you're still locked in a cage. There is just one chair, central to the room, with a gnome in it."

Quarion unlatches Horst's cage!

DM says (to Quarion), "Not your turn"

Horst asks, "Hey, someone let me out of this cage?"

DM says (to horst), "A DEX roll to unlatch yourself"

[Crows-Nest] Horst says, "Despite all his rage, Vraklul was still just"

Horst rolls 1 20-sided die: 14 | 14 - 1 = 13

Horst says, "rattle rattle rattle"

DM says, "You are free and can still move"

[slingergame] Quarion says, "hooray"

[slingergame] Quarion says, "go go Horst"

Horst runs over to Vraklul and checks him out.

DM says (to horst), "If you want to know what that spell was, it's Arcana"

Horst rolls 1 20-sided die: 15 | 15 + 0 = 15

DM says, "It's a spell called Tasha's Hideous Laughter. If Vraklul were to take some damage, he could try and snap out of it"

[Crows-Nest] DM exclaims, "Now I have that song stuck in my head. Thanks Horst!"

Quarion hits Vraklul on the head with his quarterstaff!

DM says, "Still not your turn"

Quarion says, "sorry"

Quarion displays the initiative: Bard(18) Vraklul(17) Quarion(16) HORST(15) Shaborys(7)

Horst says, "Okay that feels like enough excitement for my turn."

DM says (to horst), "You still have an action if you want"

Horst gives Vraklul a swift slap across the face.

DM says (to vraklul), "Take 1d4 damage and roll a WIS (13) save"

DM rolls 1 4-sided die: 4 | 4

Luthian arrives from the east.

[slingergame] DM says, "Wow, Horst packs some punch"

Vraklul rolls 1 20-sided die: 14 | 14 + 0 = 14

[Crows-Nest] Vraklul exclaims, "Woot!"

[slingergame] Quarion asks, "Wait, Luthian is still...?"

[slingergame] Luthian says, "Apologies for my being haphazard. Internet sucks."

DM says (to Vraklul), "You can act normally on your next turn"

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "Yup. He's been offline."

DM advances the initiative: Bard(18) Vraklul(17) Quarion(16) Horst(15) SHABORYS(7)

[Bard] Quarion exclaims, "Luthian is still in the Matrix!"

[slingergame] Shaborys rips the helmet off Luthian.

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "OOPS"

[Bard] Shaborys rips the helmet off Luthian.

[Crows-Nest] Horst says, "Unfortunately, nobody can be told what the Machine is. They need to see it for themselves."

Quarion says (to Luthian), "You are surrounded by dead bodies of your companions."

[Bard] Shaborys asks, "STR?"

[Bard] * DM has added Luthian to the channel.

[Bard] DM says, "DEX"

[Bard] DM says, "#bard ..luthian Recap here for some context of what's going on"

Shaborys rolls 1 20-sided die: 9 | 9 + 5 = 14

[Bard] Luthian <3

[Bard] DM says, "You'll wake up a bit later to give you some time"

DM advances the initiative: END OF ROUND

DM advances the initiative: BARD(18) Vraklul(17) Quarion(16) Horst(15) Shaborys(7)

[Bard] Shaborys says, "Oops. That should have been +3"

[Bard] Shaborys says, "If that makes a difference"

[Bard] DM says, "It's fine"

[Bard] Luthian says, "I think I'm caught up."

[Bard] DM says, "Cool, the roll INI and add yourself to the roster"

DM says, "If the bard does something, you can't tell what it is"

DM advances the initiative: Bard(18) VRAKLUL(17) Quarion(16) Horst(15) Shaborys(7)

DM says (to Vraklul), "You are prone and your belly aches. And your face."

[Bard] Vraklul asks, "What does this room have by way of exits?"

DM says, "It does have a door with a fearful Bloodfang sitting outside."

Luthian rolls 1 20-sided die: 12 | 12 + 3 = 15

Vraklul scrambles to his feet and gets in front of the door, to block anyone from escaping.

DM says (to Luthian), "Just add yourself at 14"

Luthian registers himself at init 14.

DM advances the initiative: Bard(18) Vraklul(17) QUARION(16) Horst(15) Luthian(14) Shaborys(7)

Quarion casts Detect Magic!

Quarion says, "Anybody wielding magic should glow with a magical aura RIGHT NOW"

DM says, "The machine glows. All magic users in the party glow. Something in Vraklul's belt glows. An invisible gnome running down the hallway past Bloodfang glows."

DM says, "You can still shout or speak on your turn, if you want."

[slingergame] Vraklul asks, "Man. He didn't even react? Bloodfang, are you serious about being a member of this party?"

Quarion asks, "Mad Bard! What do you hope to gain from this insanity?"

[slingergame] DM says, "He is a fearful doggie."

Quarion exclaims, "He's running away!"

DM asks, "He doesn't answer, but keeps running away. Or maybe that is his answer?"

Quarion exclaims, "The Mad Bard is running away!"

[slingergame] Vraklul asks, "Is this glow visible to everyone, or just Quarion?"

[slingergame] DM says, "Just him"

DM advances the initiative: Bard(18) Vraklul(17) Quarion(16) HORST(15) Luthian(14) Shaborys(7)

Horst disconnects the (visible) gnome from the machine.

[slingergame] Luthian says, "Today kinda sucks for me. o_o I feel like I'm off my game."

DM says, "As you do so, there is a visible change in the atmosphere of the whole Insitute. You all feel like you can breath more freely. The gnome is an elderly fellow with a somewhat scraggly white beard and full, wild, white hair. He is somewhat out of it, but he seems to be very, relieved (but still semi-conscious)"

DM advances the initiative: Bard(18) Vraklul(17) Quarion(16) Horst(15) LUTHIAN(14) Shaborys(7)

[slingergame] DM says, "3 hours in and I finally open my plot notes :D"

[slingergame] Luthian says, "Three hours in, and I'm still just kinda.. "uh, what should I be doing?" XD"

[slingergame] DM says, "So you have noticed it's your turn :P"

[slingergame] Luthian does have it highlighted.

[slingergame] Luthian asks, "Should I be chasing something?"

[slingergame] DM says, "Well, you have heard that the Mad Bard is getting away, but you can't see him"

[slingergame] Luthian says, "Ah. Alright."

(From Luthian) "Mad Bard..?" Luthian blinks. The name escapes him, but the whole 'getting away' bit has him casting his gaze around the room, trying to sight his target. Alas, nothing to see. Bah, humbug.

DM advances the initiative: Bard(18) Vraklul(17) Quarion(16) Horst(15) Luthian(14) SHABORYS(7)

Shaborys never saw the invisible gnome or his actions, so she isn't sure what she's looking for.

Shaborys runs out the door, though.

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "You're looking for an invisible person who isn't here anymore. I'm not sure how much clearer it could be."

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "Never saw him before he became invisible, that is. And wasn't there when he cast spells."

DM says, "So I assume you make a super cool slide between Vraklul's legs, since he's in the way"

Shaborys yes!

Shaborys rolls 1 20-sided die: 1 | 1 + 5 = 6

Shaborys no.

Shaborys crashes into Vraklul.

DM says, "You dash along the hallway, and you think you hear footsteps before you somewhere"

DM says (to Shaborys), "No, that was just flavor"

DM says, "Since you can move through a square occupied by a friendly creature"

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "Oh, all right :)"

DM advances the initiative: END OF ROUND

DM advances the initiative: BARD(18) Vraklul(17) Quarion(16) Horst(15) Luthian(14) Shaborys(7)

[slingergame] Vraklul *is* pretty friendly, as creatures go.

[slingergame] Shaborys asks, "So, we don't have weapons?"

[slingergame] DM says, "No"

[slingergame] Shaborys asks, "Did they take pouches and shit, too?"

[Bard] Quarion asks, "Not even my quarterstaff???"

[slingergame] Shaborys asks, "Are we armored?"

[slingergame] DM says, "You have just your clothes (including armor("

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "Ok"

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "So I can't throw a handful of ball bearings at the guy :("

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "Hmm, Quarion saw something glowing at my belt. I had assumed that was from my usual inventory, but if we don't have our inventory, I wonder what he saw."

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "(IC, I have no idea that he saw anything, of course.)"

[slingergame] DM says, "Well, you do have velts and stuff (sorry if that was unclear)"

[slingergame] DM says, "er belts"

[slingergame] DM says, "So you can throw ball bearings"

[slingergame] DM says, "With a ranged attack"

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "Yiss. *waits patiently*"

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "Right, but I mean, I figured it was the potion of greater healing."

Quarion exclaims, "Wait. I left my scimitar and bag outside the door, with Bloodfang!!!"

DM exclaims, "So you did!"

Quarion says, "So I'm not bereft of all my possessions, then :)"

DM says, "Also, all your possessions are in the corner of the room"

Shaborys failed to notice this as she ran from the room.

[Crows-Nest] Quarion says, "The DM, in all fairness, could have started by telling us this."

DM exclaims, "Suddenly, a fire bolt shoots out of the air before Shaborys in her direction!"

DM rolls 1 20-sided die: 7 | 7 + 5 = 12

Shaborys nope.

DM says, "It flies past and hits the wall above the cowering Bloodfang"

DM advances the initiative: Bard(18) VRAKLUL(17) Quarion(16) Horst(15) Luthian(14) Shaborys(7)

[Crows-Nest] Vraklul says, "I think that, as far as priorities go, 'evil villain in the middle of the room' may have come before 'pile of stuff in the corner of the room'."

[Crows-Nest] DM says, "I will accept not criticism"

Vraklul has to make a decision, and decides to leave his gear for now and chase after the bard.

DM says, "If you dash, you can catch up with Shaborys"

Vraklul turns, rages, and then sprints in the direction Quarion pointed!

DM advances the initiative: Bard(18) Vraklul(17) QUARION(16) Horst(15) Luthian(14) Shaborys(7)

Quarion has never gone anywhere without his quarterstaff. But... his friends need him.

DM says, "Your quarterstaff is in that direction anyway"

[slingergame] Luthian says, "Hm. Wondering if I can grab the gear folks forgot, and bring it with us."

DM says, "So assuming you dash, you are behind Shaborys and Vraklul"

DM advances the initiative: Bard(18) Vraklul(17) Quarion(16) HORST(15) Luthian(14) Shaborys(7)

[Crows-Nest] DM says, "Indeed you can"

[Crows-Nest] Luthian asks, "I can?"

[Crows-Nest] DM asks, "Yes. Do you do so?"

[Crows-Nest] Luthian exclaims, "Sure!"

DM says, "I wonder if Horst has to roll for Childcare right now"

DM says, "We'll say he takes further care of Norin"

DM advances the initiative: Bard(18) Vraklul(17) Quarion(16) Horst(15) LUTHIAN(14) Shaborys(7)

DM says, "Luthian gathers up your gear"

DM advances the initiative: Bard(18) Vraklul(17) Quarion(16) Horst(15) Luthian(14) SHABORYS(7)

DM exclaims, "Roll a ranged attack!"

DM says, "Afk real quick"

Shaborys throws a handful of ball bearings towards where she heard footsteps, aiming for the feet (so he maybe falls).

Shaborys rolls 1 20-sided die: 9 | 9 + 3 = 12

[Crows-Nest] Horst says, "sorry about that"

[slingergame] Horst says, "rushed up to where everyone else was, looked around, stood around"

DM rolls 1 20-sided die: 2 | 2 + 2 = 4

DM exclaims, "You hear a gnomish curse, the sound of someone teetering, and one of the walls suddenly has a gnome-shaped intendation! In a flicker, the cackling bard appears!"

DM clears the initiative.

DM says, "He lies down, blood running from his forehead, and continues to curse."

Quarion asks, "Mad Barf -- uh, I mean Mad Bard! Don't you think this joke has gone too far?"

[slingergame] Vraklul asks, "Are we out of initiative and able to act freely?"

[slingergame] DM exclaims, "Yes!"

Shaborys grabs her stuff from Luthian and takes out a coil of rope. "Can someone help me restrain him?"

DM exclaims, "YOU WILL NEVER TAKE ME ALIVE!"

Shaborys sighs.

Vraklul grabs the Bard and tries to tie him up!

Shaborys says, "I'd be just as happy to kill you, you know."

DM says, "Sleight of Hand"

[Crows-Nest] Vraklul says, "Note to self: read what other people are typing while you are typing."

Shaborys rolls 1 20-sided die: 9 | 9 + 5 = 14

[Crows-Nest] Shaborys says, "You're helping :)"

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

DM exclaims, "YOU BLUBBERING FOOLS !THE MISTRESS HAS GIVEN ME UNLIMITED POWER!"

[Crows-Nest] Luthian says, "I'm glad I was able to be at least somewhat helpful today."

Vraklul asks, "Who's that?"

DM asks, "He blinks. "Sorry what?"

Vraklul asks, "The Mistress. Who is the Mistress?"

DM says, "MAZA BELLTWINKLE, YOU IDIOT! She lay asleep for fifty years and I have AWOKEN her!""

DM says, "And she gave me the Insititute to do with how I please! And I wouldn't have gotten away with it, too, if it weren't for you and your meddling dog!""

(From DM) Bloodfang looks proud.

[Crows-Nest] Quarion says, "WTF, Scooby-doo."

Horst goes and gets that other gnome out here.

Vraklul says, "Yeah, no. This place had pretty much fallen apart already *before* we got here. We're just here to clean up the mess you made of it."

DM says, "But ..." And he twists and turns in his ropes. "I have one last trick ... up my ... SLEEVE!""

Shaborys pulls out a dagger.

DM exclaims, "And he is suddenly set ablaze with green fire!"

DM says, "And burns up quickly, still cackling."

Shaborys rolls her eyes and throws her dagger right in the center of the flames.

DM says (to Shaborys), "You sure showed those flames who's boss."

Shaborys yissssss.

Luthian moves to draw his rapier, but then stops as the gnome immolates himself. Gnomekabobs, anyone?

[slingergame] Vraklul asks, "By the way, that room with the cages and all... is that where the other end of the ductwork was?"

DM says, "The other gnome, Norin Goblinsfoe, is leaning on Horst's shoulder as they leave the room. He is slowly coming through."

[slingergame] DM says, "Yes"

DM says, "Hm, excuse me, but you people aren't gnomes, unless I was even longer in that machine than I fear""

(From DM) (He has a deep, grandfatherly voice)

Shaborys looks offended.

Horst says, "Captain Rosscobble sent us."

DM says, "Aha. Well, I think I have to thank you for freeing me. I hope it wasn't too much horror for you.""

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "Oh, no. Just the usual amount of horror."

[slingergame] DM says, "snrk"

Vraklul says, "Nah. I've seen worse before, when I get a bad mix of herbs."

Vraklul says, "Of course, *that's* usually not actually real."

Quarion says, "I'm glad you're alive, Mr. Goblinsfoe."

DM says, "He sounds very, very tired, by the way. And looks that way, too."

Shaborys says, "We should get him out of here. And then come back for that chest!"

DM says, "Oh, being tortured by that madmen has made me forget my manners. I am Norin Goblinsfoe , cleric of Rill Cleverthrush"

[slingergame] DM says, "Uh, I think Horst is carrying him in his arms actually, him being a gnome."

Vraklul says, "Nice to meet you."

DM says, "Yes, I would like to see some daylight, maybe have a drink of water. And then we have much to talk about."

Vraklul asks, "You should probably head outside and get some rest. Do you want us to take a last look around down here, to see if there's anything else lurking around before we finish up?"

Horst asks, "Is there something to be done to deactivate that machine?"

Vraklul says, "There was some kind of evil magic armor creature that was lurking around earlier that we should probably check on, at the very least."

(From DM) Norin smiles warmly at all your comments and finally nods at Vraklul. "Yes, I would hate to lose more of the city guard here. Those brave men and women have already done enough.

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "(Not to mention a chest in the same room...)"

(From DM) Norin says to Horst, "The cackling Bard twisted it to his needs, I need to repair it, I'M afraid. But it is no harm as it is now.#

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "Believe me, Shaborys has not forgotten that chest."

DM asks, "I guess someone brings him up and then comes down again?"

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

Horst says, "We let that orphan go on his own; this guy can make it."

DM says, "This guy can't walk."

Quarion exclaims, "Cure his injuries first!"

[slingergame] Vraklul says (to Horst), "We brought the orphan to Rosscoble."

Horst lays down some healing out of professional courtesy.

DM says, "Okay, Norin hobbles away on his own, thanking you all once more."

[slingergame] Horst says, "woah we just resisted an opportunity to split the party."

[slingergame] Quarion says, "good call"

[slingergame] DM says, "I'm *sobs* I'm ... *sobs more* just so proud right now"

Vraklul says, "Let's make sure the armory is safe."

Shaborys leads the way back down hallway A to the armory.

Horst says, "Maybe you could lasso the chest from afar."

Quarion whistles an Elvish tune.

DM says, "That all turns out to be academic as the armor has crumpled into a heap of metal"

Shaborys says, "Oh good!"

Horst says, "Huzzah."

Vraklul exclaims, "How convenient!"

Shaborys leads the way into the room, cautiously, heading straight to the chest.

Quarion says, "Well, the Bard is dead, the Bard is dead, lalala"

[Crows-Nest] DM says, "DING DONG the bard is head, he eats no bread"

DM says (to Shaborys), "Looks like someone has already tried their hand at it. Like, there is literally a cut-off hand on it."

Shaborys looks for traps.

Vraklul furrows his brow.

Vraklul asks, "Whose *is* that? Did we see anyone without a hand down here?"

Quarion shrugs, baffled.

DM says (to Shaborys), "Roll it"

Luthian looks for traps as well. Can't hurt.. yeah?

Shaborys asks, "Was that hand there earlier? Anyone know?"

Shaborys rolls 1 20-sided die: 13 | 13 + 5 = 18

DM says (to Luthian), "Roll it, too"

Vraklul says, "I was so busy with the armor and Corb that I barely even realized there *was* a chest here until after we'd left."

DM says, "Yeah, that chest has a mean blade trap that will cut off the hand of anyone attempting to open it"

Shaborys swallows hard.

DM says (to Shaborys), "And that looks like a mean old trap to you"

Quarion exclaims, "Oh yes!!"

Quarion says, "Time for magic."

Shaborys likes her hands.

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "I'm going to guess that the chest was like that when it was brought in. Since it seems unlikely that nice Mr. Goblinsfoe would have rigged up something like that in his asylum."

Quarion says, "I have just the right cantrop for this little problem of ours, my friends."

Quarion says, "Uh, cantrip."

[slingergame] Vraklul exclaims, "In which case, whatever's inside probably doesn't belong to MIMI, and so they probably won't mind if we take it!"

[slingergame] DM says, "Maybe they wanted to make sure they crazies don't get their hands on the good stuff. (hehe, get their hands on it, get it?)"

[Crows-Nest] Horst says, "That's not what Mage Hand does"

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

[Crows-Nest] Quarion says, "It says You can use the hand to manipulate an object, open an unlocked door or container, stow or retrieve an item from an open container, or pour the contents out of a vial."

[slingergame] DM says, "You canot pick a lock with it"

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "I don't think we knew until this point whether or not it was locked."

[Crows-Nest] Quarion says, "You didn't say it was locked."

[Crows-Nest] Quarion says, "We don't know until we try."

Vraklul says, "Can we just bash it? My axe handle is pretty long."

[slingergame] DM says, "Well, since the trap activated, it stands to reason it's locked."

[slingergame] Shaborys asks, "Can I roll investigation to figure out how to disarm it?"

[slingergame] DM says, "Sure"

Shaborys rolls 1 20-sided die: 20 | 20 + 4 = 24

[slingergame] DM says, "Wow"

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "Yay."

[slingergame] Horst says, "Let's all give her a hand"

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "Hee"

(From DM) Shaborys takes a good long look at the mechanism, then pokes her finger at a hidden level and the trap goes CLICK.

DM says, "*lever"

Shaborys opens the chest.

Shaborys picks the lock first.

Shaborys rolls 1 20-sided die: 18 | 18 + 5 = 23

DM exclaims, "the chest opens!"

[Crows-Nest] Horst says, "Ironically, the chest contains a pair of magic gloves"

Shaborys peers inside?

[Crows-Nest] Shaborys says, "I bet it's empty."

DM says, "It contains: A lantern, a pair of goggles, a Wand, another wand and a pouch"

Quarion says, "OH"

Shaborys says, "Hey, magic people. Come look at this."

Quarion looks at the wands.

Shaborys looks in the pouch.

Quarion rolls 1 20-sided die: 20 | 20 + 2 = 22

DM says (to Shaborys), "It contains some du - *ACHOO*"

[slingergame] Quarion says, "my Perception roll for looking at the wands"

Vraklul, since everyone is looking at stuff, tries on the goggles.

[slingergame] DM says, "You want Arcana, my friend"

DM says, "Dust of sneezing and choking"

Shaborys whimpers.

[slingergame] Quarion says, "I just want to see if one of them looks cooler than the other. LOL."

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "Yeah, that one casts Ray of Frost."

DM asks (of Shaborys), "Do you have a DMG handy?"

Shaborys says, "Yeah."

Shaborys says, "Oh, no."

Shaborys says, "Not super handy."

[LINK]

DM says, "It'S on page 166"

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "Thanks"

DM says, "Yes. It contains 1d4+4-1 pinches"

[slingergame] DM says, "er, 1d6"

[slingergame] DM says, "grr"

DM says, "Yes. It contains 1d6+4-1 pinches"

[slingergame] Vraklul asks, "So... 1d6+3?"

DM says, "Also, Shaborys Sneezes for an embarassingly long time"

[slingergame] DM says, "ha ha. Yes."

Shaborys rolls 1 6-sided die: 1 | 1 + 3 = 4

DM says (to Quarion), "One is a cool wand, the one is a featureless rod with a button on the end"

Quarion says, "I'll take the cool wand."

DM says, "Roll Arcana if you want to identify it"

Vraklul asks, "What does it do?"

Quarion rolls 1 20-sided die: 8 | 8 + 2 = 10

DM says (to Quarion), "Seems to be a cool looking wand with a glass bauble on the end"

Quarion waves the wand tentatively.

DM says (to Quarion), "Look at that! The wand has cast detect magic for you. All the 5 things in the chest are magic! And your magic using friends. And something on Vraklul's belt."

DM says (to Quarion), "It's a wand of magic detection, p. 211 in the DMG"

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "OOC, I am curious what magical thing you keep seeing in my belt, and whether or not it's just the potion what's-her-name gave us a few sessions ago."

DM says (to Vraklul), "You put on the goggles. They don't seem to do anything. Until you realize that your vision has suddenly improved to 60ft. Your darkvision, that is."

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "IC, I have no idea that you are even detecting magic on me."

Quarion exclaims, "Hey, Vrak! There's magic on ya!"

Vraklul says, "Huh. I wonder if the would work on a human."

Vraklul exclaims (at Quarion), "The goggles? Yeah, I know!"

[Crows-Nest] DM says, "Excellently roleplayed."

Quarion exclaims, "Not just that -- you've got something else as well, in your belt!"

Vraklul asks, "Oh, huh?"

Vraklul checks his belt.

DM says (to Vraklul), "It's that weird bit of flesh in a bottle you had since your childhood."

DM says, "That ... someone gave you? It's odd, you don't remember, really. Always had it."

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "Ew."

Vraklul says, "Oh, wow, you mean this thing is magic? I always thought it just looked cool..."

Quarion says, "Beurk."

Horst asks (of Vraklul), "If what would work on a human?"

DM says (to Quarion), "School of Necromancy, too"

Vraklul looks more closely at it, shaking the bottle a bit.

Quarion says, "That's zombie stuff you've got, I think."

Vraklul exclaims (at Horst), "Oh, these goggles!"

Vraklul hands them to Horst.

Quarion says, "Some serious voodoo shit."

DM says (to Vraklul), "An icky bit of flesh, in a bottle. Man, who gave this to you? Meh, mustn't be important."

DM says (to horst), "These do noth- Whoa, 30ft darkvision."

Vraklul asks (of Quarion), "Huh, wow. I wonder who would want to turn a little lump of stuff like this undead?"

Quarion says (to Vraklul), "Wait. The weird gnome, the one who was locked up."

DM says, "Goggles of the Night, p 172 dmg"

Quarion says (to Vraklul), "Remember he said this was the second time the two of you met? Maybe HE gave you that thing."

Horst says, "Hunh this is kind of weird."

Horst asks, "Also hrm there was a pouch or something wasn't there?"

[slingergame] Vraklul asks, "Did he say this was the second time we met?"

DM says, "That was the dust. There is also a lantern."

[slingergame] DM says, "He did"

[slingergame] Vraklul exclaims, "Well then!"

[slingergame] DM says, "dun DUN dun"

[slingergame] DM says, "Sorry, cat on keyboard"

Vraklul exclaims (at Quarion), "Could be! We should ask him about it!"

Quarion says, "He's still locked up. Conversation's cheap."

Quarion picks up the featureless rod, just out of curiosity, and pushes the button.

[Crows-Nest] (from Quarion) And dies horribly.

[slingergame] Vraklul exclaims, "Watch where you're pointing the other end of that thing!"

DM says (to Quarion), "Nothing seems to happen. Until you want to drop it. It stays up in the air where you held it when you first pressed the button."

Quarion says, "Oh, neat."

DM says, "It's an immovable rod, p.175 DMG"

Vraklul asks, "And what about that lantern?"

Horst asks, "I suppose someone should light it?"

Vraklul says, "Alright."

Vraklul takes out the flint he uses to light his pipe and lights the lantern with it.

DM says, "Seems to be a normal lantern, which sheds light"

DM says, "But maybe someone wants to roll an Arcana check"

[Crows-Nest] DM says, "Nobody is writing these page numbers down, are they"

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "#belatedly That bastard burned up my rope!"

Quarion says, "Brunhilda told me about those rods!!! They can hold up to 8000 pounds of weight."

[Crows-Nest] DM says, "You just gonna forget you have these things"

[Crows-Nest] Shaborys says, "It's on my sheet, and it's Googleable."

Quarion says, "I'm keeping both wands. Ner ner der ner ner."

[Crows-Nest] Horst says, "No need to be so materialistic"

[Crows-Nest] Luthian has been eyeballing through the DMG. <3

Horst rolls 1 20-sided die: 14 | 14 + 0 = 14

Horst says, "(Arcana)"

Quarion pushes the button on the rod, and retrieves the rod.

DM says (to horst), "It's a Lantern of Revealing, which shows invisible creatures and objects. (dmg, p.179)"

Vraklul says (to Quarion), "We had better ask Mr. Goblinsfoe before we keep anything we find here."

Shaborys ooh.

Shaborys wait, what?

Horst says, "Otherwise they may worry that their escaped insane enemies may have made off with them"

Shaborys sighs. Fine.

Quarion holds on to them for now, until permission is given (or not) to keep them.

DM says, "That should be everything"

Luthian eyes the items with curiosity, and then nods to Vraklul in agreement. He stretches, and readies himself to set out when folks are ready.

Vraklul says, "We had better check the other corridors, to make sure there's nothing dangerous lurking around."

DM says, "(There isn't.)"

[Crows-Nest] Quarion exclaims, "Hey, meta-game spoiler!"

[slingergame] Vraklul asks, "Do we want to go chat with the guy down the other corridor?"

[Crows-Nest] DM says, "Just FYI, we will wrap up shortly"

[slingergame] Horst says, "I feel a bit chatted out"

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "OK."

[slingergame] Quarion says, "So we head back up to the surface."

[slingergame] Quarion asks, "Or not??"

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "Sure, if no one wants to do anything else down here."

[slingergame] Horst says, "nope"

Vraklul goes back outside, then, to meet with Rosscobble and Goblinsfoe.

DM says, "So, you head back up, glad to see daylight again after your ordeal. You are greeted by thunderous applause from the guard at the perimeter, and they send in a few troops to clear up, while others get the prisoners ready."

Vraklul smiles and waves to the cheering guards.

Quarion smiles, and takes a deep breath of fresh air, enjoying freedom.

(From DM) Captain Rosscobble greets you. "Excellent work from what I've heard. Thank you so much." And he shakes everyone's hand in turn.

Vraklul says, "It's just a shame that the Bard died. Or escaped. Or turned into some kind of fire elemental."

Vraklul isn't quite entirely clear on just what happened to him.

DM says, "He burned up."

Luthian offers a polite nod and wave to those present, but otherwise keeps to himself. If he's offered a handshake, he'll accept, but he won't go out of his way or anything.

Shaborys asks Captain Rosscobble if they have any rope to spare around the institute.

(From DM) "Oh well, that's one less maniac we need to take care off here. Or rather, they do."

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "Maniac, maniac, on the floor."

(From DM) He seems a bit taken aback. "Hey, Shinefuse! Get me some rope! Stop smirking! A decent length! I SAID STOP SMIRKING!"

Shaborys says, "Much obliged, Sir."

Vraklul asks, "How is Mr. Goblinsfoe?"

DM says, "Shinefuse gets you some rope. he looks surprisingly healthy for someone you just pulled out of the dungeon a few hours ago."

Shaborys ties it to her pack.

(From DM) Rosscobble says, "Oh, that old badger is tougher than a pack of dwarven nails. he's waiting for you, up there on the cliff, at Exposition Point."

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "Haha"

(From DM) Shinefuse nods at you politely.

Horst says, "We shouldn't keep him waiting."

Shaborys nods.

Vraklul says, "Yeah, you're probably right."

Quarion says, "Let us make pizza paste -- uh, haste."

Vraklul was enjoying the cheering crowds, but it's probably time to move on now.

DM says, "So, you make your way up a steep cliffside path, away from all the hubbub of the retaking of the MIMI."

DM says, "Suddenly, there is a very slight *crack*, and something wet runs down Vraklul's pants."

Vraklul, more than a bit disturbed, looks down.

DM says, "Your chest itches."

Vraklul says, "Um... something isn't right here..."

Vraklul opens his shirt.

Quarion averts his eyes.

DM says, "There is something black on your chest."

Shaborys asks, "Um. Vraklul?"

Shaborys asks, "Was that there before?"

[slingergame] Vraklul asks, "As in, a part of my chest has turned black, or there is an object which is black sitting on my chest?"

Vraklul says, "Not that I can recall."

[Crows-Nest] Vraklul says, "Well, I see *someone* didn't avert her eyes."

DM says, "Suddenly Vraklul screams, like you've never heard him scream before. From the black spot on his chest emerge 4 black tentactles. They rise up into the air, before each one of you is engulfed by one of them instantly."

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

[slingergame] Vraklul exclaims, "Well, so much for heading to Exposition Point!"

DM says, "There is mercifully short moment of intense pain, and then you all have a vision"

Quarion's eyeballs roll in their sockets.

DM says, "there is cave of red rock, a place that feels utterly alien and inhospitable. And it's gargantuan"

[Crows-Nest] Quarion says, "aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa"

DM says, "And in the middle of it is a black ball, perfectly spherical, that's not just black but ... nothingness. Absence."

Shaborys whoa.

DM says, "This ball is also gargantuan. And it pulses ever so slightly."

DM says, "You have looked at anything that feels just so inhumanely evil."

Shaborys pokes it with a dagger.

[Crows-Nest] Quarion says, "aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa"

Luthian goes home.

[slingergame] Vraklul asks, "Are we actually here, or is this just a vision?"

[slingergame] Vraklul asks, "I mean, is this an interactive sort of vision?"

DM says, "And, before you all awake, sweating and screaming, you hear the voice of the halfling you saw in Hallway B"

[slingergame] Horst says, "This is a non-interactive cut scene"

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "Oh, all right."

DM says, "It will awaken and Bastafore will fall. The dark that eats the world.""

DM says, "And then you blink, and lie on that cliffside path again."

Shaborys asks, "That was.. what was that?"

Shaborys stands up.

Vraklul immediately looks at his chest.

DM says, "Looks normal."

[slingergame] Vraklul asks, "Are my pants still wet?"

Horst says, "There is a darkness coming."

[Crows-Nest] DM says, "Yes"

Quarion says, "We have to stop it."

[slingergame] DM says, "Yes"

[Crows-Nest] Vraklul says, "We have a rock."

[Crows-Nest] Shaborys says, "Yay"

Vraklul says, "Yeah. That would probably be good."

DM The flask has broken, and there's a disgusting piece of flesh on the ground.

Quarion says, "Bleeeeagh."

[Crows-Nest] (from Vraklul) DM says, "And beside him is the thing from the flask he was holding."

[slingergame] (from Shaborys) Bloodfang eats it.

[Crows-Nest] DM says, "ha ha"

[slingergame] DM says, "also ha ha"

Vraklul says, "Something tells me this thing might be important."

Vraklul finds an empty jar in his pack and scoops it up again, screwing the lid on tight.

DM says, "Allright."

DM asks, "So you make your way further up the path?"

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "And fortunatly, I have 'don't always take threats seriously enough', right there on my character sheet."

Horst keeps going.

Shaborys follows.

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "So I am perfectly willing to just keep carrying this thing around with me."

[slingergame] DM says, "Yeah, this is not that kind of situation. That ball of evil, man, that ball wasn't chill."

[slingergame] Horst says, "It's just misunderstood."

Vraklul follows too.

Quarion follows, sauntering with Bloodfang by his side.

[slingergame] Horst says, "One of the tenets of my faith is that Ilmater never gives us more cursed zombieflesh than we can carry."

DM says, "You make your way up the cliffpath. Exposition Point is a lovely spot that overlooks the MIMI and Myrehall below. Norin is wrapped in a thick blanket and has something to drink and to eat on a stone table before him (enough for him and the 5 of you)"

DM says, "Sit down my friends. I think we have some thing to talk about.""

DM says, "NEXT TIME"

[slingergame] Horst says, "woo"

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "Ha ha."

[Crows-Nest] Quarion says, "CLIFFHANGER"

[slingergame] Horst says, "Okay now we can exchange crazy theories about what was going on"

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "Yay"

[Crows-Nest] Quarion says, "Also Exposition Point is a pretty hilarious name for what it is."

[slingergame] DM says, "Yay"

[Crows-Nest] DM says, "Hah, I made it up in the spur of the moment"

[Crows-Nest] Quarion says, "It's the right place to get some... exposition from an NPC."

[slingergame] Horst says, "ALSO if I wasn't such a great guy I might gloat a bit about my plan to kill y'all being pretty sound"

[slingergame] Quarion says (to Horst), "You had the right instinct."

[slingergame] Horst says, "I still don't understand what caused y'all to 'wake up' though"

[slingergame] Horst says, "or why Vraklul thought he was dead"

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "*You* thought I was dead."

[slingergame] Horst asks, "I did! But then you were failing death saving throws?"

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "I just stuck my head through the hole in the wall and broke the simulation."

[Crows-Nest] DM says, "Yay, I want to hear all the crazy theories"

[slingergame] Vraklul says (to Horst), "Oh, that was just me teasing you guys OOC."

[slingergame] Horst says, "Oh hrm o"

[slingergame] Horst says, "haha oh! You had me 100% fooled."

[slingergame] Quarion says (to DM), "If the big black blob turns out to be my father, I am SO killing you. LOL."

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "I was actually rolling for stuff out in the real world. Fighting the bard and trying to free you guys and all that."

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "Oh, I thought you were dying in the OtherWorld."

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "Like from the daggers or whatever."

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "Ha, nah. Just wanted to give *some* justification for all those dice I was rolling."

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "So I assume that there is some connection between the blood-forged chain and the black ball, although I don't know what exactly. And clearly the Mad Bard thinks of Maza Belltwinkle as being a powerful and important person who granted him power of some sort."

[slingergame] Vraklul asks, "And I am also assuming that all of this is related to the King's fiendish pact that we were speculating on before. Maybe the black ball is the evil thing that he made a deal with?"

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "I'm guessing that the red cave is probably a place on some other plane that we are nowhere near high enough level to visit yet."

[slingergame] Horst says, "I think it's something on a god-level power, yeah"

[slingergame] Horst says, "I'll do some religious research on it when I get to home temple"

[slingergame] Horst says, "So I'm not sure what the 'good' therapeutic use of the Machine would be, if any. It sounds kinda terrible."

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "I'm also going to guess that the creepy crazy dude who was in the cell may not be a bad guy exactly, and might have intentionally been trying to warn us or corral us into helping save the world."

[slingergame] Quarion says, "An antihero, you mean? Hm."

[Crows-Nest] DM asks, "This all reminds me of a question I've been meaning to ask. I think it's obvious by now that some of these plot hooks are short term, and some more long terms. Do you have any ideas, expectations, etc. on how long this campaign will run, or rather, how long do you want it to run?"

[slingergame] Vraklul says (to Horst), "My impression is that it's supposed to let whoever is sitting in the chair help relax everyone in MIMI."

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "Except that if the dude in the chair is being tortured, then instead of psychically adiating calm and peace..."

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "Radiating."

[Crows-Nest] Quarion says, "This could go on for months."

[slingergame] DM says, "Yeah, the mad part intentionally sort of reversed its effect"

[Crows-Nest] Horst says, "I'd be happy with a longer-running game"

[Crows-Nest] Vraklul says, "I would enjoy seeing it go on for a while, but I would also enjoy it eventually coming to a conclusion (rather than just being completely open-ended)."

[Crows-Nest] Horst says, "But DMs normally burn out before the players do"

[Crows-Nest] Shaborys nods.

[Crows-Nest] DM says, "Yeah, I have an end in mind, but it could be quite a while before you reach it"

[Crows-Nest] Shaborys says, "What they said."

[Crows-Nest] Horst says, "(If you feel in danger of that, it might be an option to turn the campaign over to another DM for a while)"

[Crows-Nest] Quarion says, "But I would want the conclusion to wrap up all the loose ends nicely (including the mysteries about ourselves, etc...)"

[Crows-Nest] DM says, "I just wanted to make sure nobody is like "I thought this was just 5 sessions!)"

[Crows-Nest] DM says, "Maybe after the Blood-forged chain thing is done, someone else could take over for a while, yeah"

[Crows-Nest] Quarion says, "That would be cool. We wouldn't have to start from scratch if we wanted to keep on D&Ding."

[Crows-Nest] DM says, "Er, I meant with another campaign with other characters"

[slingergame] Vraklul asks, "So we're playing on 10/15. Did someone say they were busy on the 21-22?"

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "I can do the 21st, so long as it doesn't run past say 17:30 or so. I have a party at 18:00 (hosting)."

[slingergame] Vraklul asks, "Is everyone else good for the 21st too?"

[slingergame] DM says, "Good so far"

[slingergame] Vraklul asks, "And how does the 28th look?"

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "Works for me."

[Crows-Nest] Quarion says, "Good too."

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "Excellent."

[slingergame] Quarion says, "Works for me too."

[slingergame] DM says, "Good for me, yeah"

[slingergame] DM says (to horst), "And I hope you're happy that I followed your advice and checked the treasure tables"

[slingergame] Quarion asks, "So, are we still at Level 3?"

[slingergame] DM says, "For now"

[slingergame] Horst says, "I don't remember giving that advice! But yes I am happy."

Shaborys goes east.

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "Now we just need to find a chest with a magic greataxe."

[slingergame] DM says, "Anyway, I hope you had fun, but it's 00:40 here, so I'll better go to bed"

[slingergame] Vraklul exclaims, "I did!"

[slingergame] genericgeekgirl says, "Goodnight! Thanks!!"

[slingergame] DM says, "Since I'll be playing Shadowrun all day tomorrow"

[slingergame] Quarion says, "Night night :)"