Session 23

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This session was played on October 3, 2017. It lasted 7 hours..

## Synopsis

Rav, Ry, Zunis, and Gunnloda wait by the fire for Nolanos and Seir to return and get a stern… looking at when they do. They relay what they learned about the tunnel and decide to head up to the Upper City to inform Hux of the body of Captain Seifer’s victim.

When they reached the gates, though, Ravaphine attempted to lie and the guard at the gate refused to allow entry until Ryleigh, assisted by Seir’s thaumaturgy, intimidated him to get Hux.

The group confronted Seifer who tried to claim his dagger was stolen and that he only loved his wife Dita, but his crew agreed that the dagger had been missing a while and Bristol’s brother, one of Seifer’s crew, said she was seeing someone and was pregnant. Hux had him arrested, Bristol was allowed to rest, and the group went to the Oyster to find their own rest.

Ryleigh disappeared, Nolanos and Ravaphine tried to steal a bottle of wine, and Devil’s Food sailed.

Ryleigh snuck into where Seifer was being held and found out that there was a deeper reasoning for his murder of Bristol than simple adultery. He panicked when Bristol told him she was pregnant because he'd sworn to end the Seifer bloodline so the kraken wouldn't have hold over his children. Ryleigh returned to the Oyster to find Novaphine in her room and bunked with Lord Fishballs instead.

## Trivia

* When this session was played, Seifer was just cheating and killed Bristol because he couldn’t keep it secret. The additional wrinkle to make Seifer more sympathetic wasn't created until the same day Ryleigh went to interrogate him.
* Including the Devil's Food portion at the end, this is now the longest session played at seven hours even.
* This is the first real mention of Gunnloda's backstory, Kendall in particular.

## Transcript

[5:50 PM] DM: DAY 6 8:30 PM BELLBURY TIME

It’s been about four and a half hours since Nolanos and Seirixori hopped the wall to the lower city. After realizing they weren’t coming back immediately, Zunis suggested making a sort of camp to rest. The body’s been tucked away a bit out of sight and a small fire was built, close to the bottom edge of the cliff to ward off the night chill as darkness fell and the grey skies seemed to come down to envelop you all. Some light conversation’s happened and here and there, some people have teleported in and out of the area leaving Ravaphine with Poni. Gunnloda sits facing the wall, constantly watching for movement while Zunis is a bit more relaxed and sits facing the sea and keeps an eye out along the path towards where the rest of the ghouls were left behind.

This would be considered a short rest, so you can roll hit dice to regain hp if you’d like, and all your short rest abilities get recharged… everyone but Nolanos and Seirixori.

[6:06 PM] Ryleigh (Nicole): Ryleigh occasionally checks their surroundings but primarily stares into the flames of the campfire.

[6:07 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: Ravaphine notices her companion in somewhat of a trance. "How about you, Ryleigh? I missed the conversation the other day where you mentioned where you were from. You said you came to Bellbury by foot?"

[6:12 PM] Ryleigh (Nicole): Ryleigh's eyes slowly leave the fire and focus onto her companion. She gives a small smile before replying, "Indeed. I have since learned that walking is in an unusual form of transportation for you lot. I walked from  Riverrun to Bellbury, but I am not from Riverrun. I was born and lived, until I was 15, in Falberk."

[6:14 PM] DM: You've never heard of the place.

[6:16 PM] Ryleigh (Nicole): "Tell me Ravaphine, how did you meet this band of misfits? You are one of the oddest groups I've encountered."

[6:19 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: "I like to believe that all this happened for a reason, but I'm not too sure if even its mastermind  knew of what was going to transpire. We all kind of just, ended up together because we wanted to go home but also help everyone even though we all have other things to do. Although we didn't have much of a choice" she says now with her turn to stare into the fire

[6:20 PM] DM: Poni: "I'm right here, you know. Though I do like the title 'Mastermind.'"

[6:21 PM] Ryleigh (Nicole): Ryleigh blatantly ignores the staff and continues to address Ravaphine, "Does it upset you that you cannot return at will? Do you have a family waiting for you? Or other loved ones?"(edited)

[6:21 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: Ravaphine looks at Zunis and hopes that he didn't hear that

[6:24 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: "My mother is the only family I have. Took me in when I was a kid, but now she's...sick" she changes the subject while shaking off the almost tears in her eyes. "I wonder where Nolanos and Seir have gone. They've been gone for hours now"(edited)

[6:25 PM] DM: You wouldn't be able to use most of those here anyway. The sky has been dark and cloudy since you got here. But it feels like hours.

[6:26 PM] DM: Gunnloda: "Sick? Oh no... is there anything that can be done for her?"

[6:26 PM] Ryleigh (Nicole): Ryleigh politely looks away so Ravaphine can have her moment of hurt.

[6:32 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: Rav shakes her head. "Sometimes it's just that time. I always wish I could slow it down, but she's almost 400, that one. A gnome so she only goes up to about my hip. Kind of reminds me of you" she smiles to Gunnloda, poking fun of her height

[6:33 PM] DM: Gunnloda just smiles and shakes her head. "Dwarves are a bit taller than halflings and gnomes."

[6:34 PM] DM: Gunnloda: "Then again, I suppose maybe I'm just a big halfling."

[6:35 PM] Ryleigh (Nicole): A small smile pulls at Ryleigh's lips then adds, "I would say you are of average height for your kind."

[6:36 PM] DM: Gunnloda: "And don't you forget it."(edited)

[6:37 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: "And you, sir Zunis? In a town full of humans, you sure do stick out like a sore thumb"

[6:38 PM] DM: Zunis: "Lord, actually, though Lord Pumanath would be most correct. I am a visitor here as well, only attempting to complete my mission."

[6:42 PM] Ryleigh (Nicole): "Your mission to return the creature of the deep back to their dwellings?"

[6:44 PM] DM: Zunis: "Well, it is the duty of all tritons to return the kraken to the elemental plane of water as we once did ages ago. That it escaped is our great failing. But my personal mission is to find the minion of the kraken that was sent to this town and destroy it."(edited)

[6:45 PM] Ryleigh (Nicole): Ryleigh nods her head in understanding.

[6:47 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: "Sounds...easy enough King Triton. But from what I understood, the minion is a shapeshifter of sorts?"

[6:48 PM] DM: Zunis frowns. "I am not the king. I serve him. But to answer your question, yes. Of sorts. It can look exactly as it did before it swore itself to the kraken's service, or it can take on a tentacled hybrid form."

[6:51 PM] DM: Gunnloda: "They really have been gone a long time. I wonder if someone shouldn't try to look for them."

[6:52 PM] DM: Gunnloda sits up suddenly. "What if they teleported back home?"

[6:56 PM] Ryleigh (Nicole): "Patience Gunnloda, I'm sure Seirixori is alright. They will return when they return, regardless we are here until the morning."

[6:59 PM] DM: Gunnloda: "But what if they did teleport back home? We wouldn't know. We wouldn't know if they were captured. What if they were captured and we went back to Bellbury, thinking they're at home... but they're just trapped here and we have no personal items to track them with."

[7:00 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: "If they teleported, then they should teleport back here to where we are when they come back. They are smart and resourceful and I know Seirixori has gotten herself out of many dangerous situations."

[7:03 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: ((can ravaphine peek over the wall just to check it out))

[7:04 PM] DM: If you have a way to get up a 15' wall, sure.

[7:04 PM] DM: Well, I think I said Nolanos's rope was left over the wall, so if you wanna roll an athletics check you can climb it

[7:05 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: "If it helps at all, I can try to look over the wall to see if they're coming back" She says to gunnloda and puts a hand on her shoulder, trying to reassure her that everything will be okay

[7:05 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: ((11 athletics))

[7:06 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: Ravaphine gets a running start and bolts towards the wall

[7:07 PM] DM: You can get up to the top with some effort, but once you're up there, your noodley arms are shaking so much that you only get the quickest glimpse. However, before you slide back down to the ground, you do see two figures coming around the corner of one of the warehouses.

[7:09 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: Out of breath, Ravaphine regains composure on the ground. "I didn't see much, but I did see two shadows from the warehouses. It most likely is them!"

[7:10 PM] DM: Zunis stands, pulling his trident out of the earth where he'd planted it. "Most likely?"

[7:11 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: "They didn't seem like they were in a rush to get here...Ryleigh, would you like to take a look to assess the situation?"

[7:13 PM] Ryleigh (Nicole): Ryleigh also stands and walks towards the wall, "I don't think my plate mail will allow such a feat."

[7:14 PM] DM: Ryleigh starts climbing, but... maybe it's the humidity that makes her grip slip? Either way, she lands flat on her back, her breath knocked out of her for a few seconds as she recovers.

[7:14 PM] Ryleigh (Nicole): "ah, I was correct."

[7:15 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: Ravaphine extends a hand out to help her friend up

[7:15 PM] Ryleigh (Nicole): Ryleigh takes it, "thank you, I apologize for being useless" she says as she stands.(edited)

[7:16 PM] DM: Gunnloda and Zunis join you closer to the wall as Nolanos and Seirixori drop to the ground next to you. Gunnloda crosses her arms and looks disappointed while Nolanos hands her a tarp and says "Got you guys this?"

[7:17 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: Ravaphine points at the duo "see! told you they were okay"

[7:17 PM] Alex - Nolanos: "Sorry for keeping you waiting..."

[7:17 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: "we're just glad you both are safe. Gunnloda especially"

[7:17 PM] DM: Gunnloda: "We were worried about you. We don't have a way to track you if you get caught somewhere."

[7:18 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: "We found a secret tunnel and... uh..." She see's Gunnloda's face, "S...sorry?" Seirixori grins sheepishly.

[7:19 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: "A tunnel? What about the component?"

[7:20 PM] Alex - Nolanos: "It was gone, but we found a trail and followed it."

[7:21 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: "Right but then we got pretty far and the tunnel lead towards the lighthouse and some footprints but uh then some creepy prints popped up and I-- we did not want to find out what they were. So, we came back."

[7:21 PM] Alex - Nolanos: "I mean, there was a bit more to it than that, but that's basically the short version..."

[7:22 PM] Alex - Nolanos: "It was getting weird. But at least we have a solid lead now, right?"

[7:22 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: "What else did you find?"

[7:23 PM] Alex - Nolanos: "Well I mean. There's the tarp?"(edited)

[7:23 PM] DM: Gunnloda looks at it in her hand like she'd forgotten you even gave it to her. "Yes. What a... thoughtful gesture."

[7:23 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: "Possible tentacle tracks? I think? I am not an expert but it wasn't human and there were little circles and periodic drag marks."

[7:24 PM] DM: Zunis: "Circles and drag marks?"

[7:24 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: "Thank you for the tarp, we can finally give her a little privacy"

[7:25 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: "Yep, we were following boot prints! No, well first it was mead because I could smell that, but then it was the boots because I couldn't fit in the tunnel otherwise."

[7:25 PM] Alex - Nolanos: "It was meant to be a practical gesture, at least. You know, for um. For her." Nolanos gestures to the dead woman. He is clearly uncomfortable at having made everyone wait and worry.

[7:25 PM] Ryleigh (Nicole): Ryleigh nods, "So, what's our next step? Wait for morning and gain legal access to the town? Or attempt to infiltrate so we can follow the tunnel now?"

[7:26 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: "If there are people out and about in the town, it may look suspicious if we all go into a tunnel. Unless it seemed out of view?"

[7:27 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: "It was in a warehouse, we can check it at night again. No one's in there. I don't really want to have the body sit around, could get stolen or...eaten?"

[7:28 PM] DM: Zunis's lip curls. "Yes... that could be an issue."

[7:28 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: "Yes, we need to take care of her first. And confront the captain"

[7:29 PM] DM: Zunis: "We could always go knock at the gates and demand to be let in, but it is getting rather late."

[7:30 PM] Ryleigh (Nicole): "Very well, we'll ask for access now." Ryleigh walks to the body and lifts it.

[7:30 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: "Should we... bring it up to authorities first though? I'm all for the confrontation but, I mean..." Seirixori hesitates, "This isn't exactly our ...home?"

[7:31 PM] DM: Zunis: "I guarantee if you go to the gates, the authorities are the ones who will answer, if anyone."

[7:31 PM] DM: Urrak steps out of the darkness behind Ravaphine.

[7:32 PM] Ryleigh (Nicole): "I think we should ask for the man who greeted us to gather the Captain and his crew before revealing our findings"

[7:32 PM] Alex - Nolanos: "That seems like a sound idea."

[7:32 PM] Ryleigh (Nicole): ((the body is covered now, right?))

[7:32 PM] DM: You and Gunnloda can wrap the tarp around her, sure.

[7:33 PM] Wingy - Urrak D'Akshi: "Ah, evenin', everyone." Urrak looks around the site "What did I miss?"

[7:33 PM] Wingy - Urrak D'Akshi: "At least tell me why is smells like death over 'ere."

[7:34 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: "Urrak! Nolanos and I found a secret tunnel!"

[7:34 PM] Ryleigh (Nicole): Ryleigh is helping Gunnloda wrap the tarp around the body.

[7:34 PM] Wingy - Urrak D'Akshi: "A tunnel eh? Where to?"

[7:34 PM] DM: It's really gross. Bloated and... weepy.

[7:34 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: "We found her. We found the ghost's body"

[7:35 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: "Uh, to more caves, but near the lighthouse. Oh yes, also the body."

[7:36 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: "we also found this" Ravaphine reaches into her bag and shows Urrak the dagger

[7:37 PM] Wingy - Urrak D'Akshi: "You did! That's great! I would've sworn the birds had gotten t' 'er." A wave of relief hits her, followed quickly by anger at the sight of the dagger "We should get that bloody Captain and show him what for."(edited)

[7:38 PM] Ryleigh (Nicole): Ryleigh nods in agreement, "I concur, we must be smart about this, but I promise Urrak - justice will be served."

[7:39 PM] Wingy - Urrak D'Akshi: "Either that or his face meets these hands"

[7:40 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: "If we approach authorities now, do you think someone would close off the tunnel like they hid the component away?"

[7:40 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: "I don't think many people know about it. IT doesn't look like it's been used that much."

[7:41 PM] DM: Zunis: "Sounds like it could be the minion's work then."

[7:42 PM] Wingy - Urrak D'Akshi: "Y'think it senses the magical energy of it? I doubt it could know it's actual purpose. But a shiny's a shiny."

[7:42 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: "So my friends. We have a few tasks at hand. Confront the captain. Return this woman back to her family. Locate this minion. Find our component. "

[7:42 PM] DM: Zunis: "I don't know anything about a 'component' but the kraken's minion could certainly make use of a tunnel that allows them to get inside the walls from outside."

[7:43 PM] Wingy - Urrak D'Akshi: "Now there's a thought...Seirixiori, this tunnel, where did you first find it?"

[7:44 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: "a few hours ago? Nolanos and I went searching the warehouses to see if we could find the component."

[7:44 PM] Ryleigh (Nicole): "We can do two of these things at once by inviting the Captain and his crew when we tell the man in charge about the murder. Her brother was among the crew."

[7:45 PM] Wingy - Urrak D'Akshi: "I get the feelin the woman we first saw with the component is our culprit, as well"

[7:45 PM] DM: Gunnloda: "Eloise said the woman we saw in the portal was from Bellbury, though, didn't she? The harbormaster?"

[7:46 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: "I'm a little worried if she's still alive, I don't know if it was her specifically that we were following, but I don't imagine it being safe in those caves."(edited)

[7:46 PM] Wingy - Urrak D'Akshi: "Could the Kraken influence someone from that far away, Zunis?"

[7:47 PM] DM: Zunis: "What do you mean? How far away?"

[7:47 PM] Wingy - Urrak D'Akshi: "From here, t' Bellbury."

[7:48 PM] DM: Zunis: "I don't know where Bellbury is. The scions of the kraken are usually people that were drowning and had a choice between death and service."

[7:49 PM] Wingy - Urrak D'Akshi: "I see...So it's more of a contract than some kinda virus." Urrak ponders a bit. "Well Ryleigh is right, we can at least kill two o' these birds with one stone."

[7:49 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: "Oh... glad we didn't stay drowning in the ocean for too long..."

[7:49 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: "I guess it's time to confront captain"

[7:50 PM] Ryleigh (Nicole): Ryleigh lifts the wrapped body and starts for the gates into the town.(edited)

[7:51 PM] DM: Zunis walks with her.

[7:51 PM] Wingy - Urrak D'Akshi: Urrak follows, cracking her knuckles as she walks

[7:52 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: Seirixori walks behind, getting Gunnloda's attention, "Sorry for making you worry. I thought something might be kind of easy for once."

[7:54 PM] DM: Gunnloda hung back to walk with her too. She nods. "I understand... but maybe you should come let us know before you go into a secret tunnel that could lead to inevitable death. I'm glad you're ok."

[7:54 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: Ravaphine follows next to Urrak

[7:56 PM] DM: So you all head up the hill, up the winding road that connects the upper and lower parts of the city, and eventually you reach the big wooden gates.

[7:57 PM] DM: Up here, you see there's what was once a formidable fort on the edge of the hill, but large pieces of it have fallen loose and tumbled to the ground below... likely due to damage rather than disrepair. The rest of the wall is much like that of the lower city, but taller. Entire tree trunks stood side by side with not a gap between them.

[7:58 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: "Well, this is... cheery."

[7:59 PM] Ryleigh (Nicole): ((is there someone standing guard?))(edited)

[7:59 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: "This place has seen better days"

[7:59 PM] DM: The gate itself is part of the fort.

[7:59 PM] DM: You don't see anyone.

[8:00 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: ((can I check for any booby traps))

[8:00 PM] DM: Sure.

[8:00 PM] DM: It'd be investigation.

[8:01 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: ((14 investigation))

[8:02 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: "I don't see anything that could set off any flaming arrows or spikes. Let's ring the doorbell I guess"

[8:03 PM] Ryleigh (Nicole): Ryleigh walks up to the wooden doors and solidly knocks.

[8:04 PM] Wingy - Urrak D'Akshi: "Wonder if anybody's home"

[8:05 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: "I can... make my voice pretty loud if we need it?" Seirixori offers as they wait.

[8:05 PM] DM: Ryleigh kinda shifts the body around in her arms and bangs on the door. You hear a voice from the other side. "No entry at night!"

[8:06 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: "Does a murder count for entry at night?" Seirixori says.

[8:06 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: "Somebody is hurt sir, we need medical attention"

[8:06 PM] DM: lol deception on that one, Ravaphine.

[8:07 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: ((0))

[8:08 PM] DM: Voice: "NO ENTRY AT NIGHT."

[8:08 PM] Ryleigh (Nicole): Ryleigh lets our a heavy sigh then yells out, "Fetch your superior, we have completed the task assigned to us and our discovery is of the utmost importance."

[8:09 PM] Wingy - Urrak D'Akshi: Urrak chuckles a bit a claps Ravaphine on the back "Very convincin'"

[8:09 PM] DM: "Oh, yeah... I'll just get right on that and leave the gate under guarded so you break in here, right? NO ENTRY AT NIGHT."

[8:10 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: "How far away is your superior, exactly?"

[8:10 PM] DM: Voice: "That's tactical, sensitive information that I won't be sharing with the kraken, thanks. NO ENTRY AT NIGHT."

[8:10 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: "Kr-- do I look like a kraken!!??"

[8:13 PM] Ryleigh (Nicole): "I doubt Hux will be pleased that this sensitive information, that he personally sent us to find, is being withheld from him. What is your name soldier? So I can tell him in the morning who is responsible for the delay."

[8:13 PM] DM: "THAT'S TACTICAL INFORMATION!"

[8:14 PM] Wingy - Urrak D'Akshi: Urrak turns to Ravaphine "Cole was right...scary sexy."

[8:14 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: "He called me a kraken," Seirixori glowers, crossing her arms.

[8:14 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: Ravaphine nods in agreement

[8:15 PM] Wingy - Urrak D'Akshi: Urrak steps forward "Ryleigh, I don't think we're gettin in this way."

[8:16 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: "Does this mean scary sounds and harmless rumbling would be a bad idea? Because I want to. I don't like them."

[8:17 PM] Wingy - Urrak D'Akshi: "Hey there's a thought...maybe we can make 'em think the Kraken's attacking somethin somewhere off shore"

[8:17 PM] Wingy - Urrak D'Akshi: "Or rattle 'em a bit"

[8:17 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: "I still want to be loud and annoying."

[8:17 PM] DM: Zunis to Urrak: "Ah... I don't think that would do much good. They'd be more likely to hunker down."(edited)

[8:19 PM] Wingy - Urrak D'Akshi: "Suppose yer right..."

[8:19 PM] Ryleigh (Nicole): Ryleigh's temper is flaring quickly, her eyes flash with anger and when she speaks her voice sounds as if its joined by many others, "I will not ask again, you will fetch Hux or you will feel my wrath!"(edited)

[8:20 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: Seirixori flicks her hand a little and gets the ground to rumble a little.

[8:22 PM] DM: Intimidation with advantage, Ryleigh.

[8:23 PM] Ryleigh (Nicole): ((21))

[8:24 PM] DM: The voice sounds a little shaken like he's posturing now. "Yeah? Oh... I'll get Hux. Then you'll be in real trouble."

[8:24 PM] Alex - Nolanos: "Finally," Nolanos mutters.

[8:25 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: "That was fun."

[8:25 PM] DM: Zunis: "There is another gate around the side."

[8:26 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: Seirixori looks at Zunis, "You... couldn't have told us that sooner?"

[8:26 PM] DM: Zunis: "It's a long walk."

[8:25 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: "Sorry everyone" Ravaphine apologizes while staring at the ground

[8:25 PM] Ryleigh (Nicole): "Great job on catching on so quickly Seirixori."

[8:25 PM] DM: Gunnloda puts her hand on Ravaphine's arm in consolation.

[8:26 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: Seirixori gives a casual salute, "Sure thing."

[8:26 PM] Alex - Nolanos: "It's alright, Ravaphine. It happens," Nolanos says, hoping to comfort her.(edited)

[8:27 PM] Wingy - Urrak D'Akshi: "I'm always in fer the straight forward approach"

[8:28 PM] DM: Several minutes pass as you stand there with the body before you hear Hux on the other side. "Who's there?"

[8:29 PM] Alex - Nolanos: "Just your friendly neighborhood adventurers."

[8:29 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: "The kraken from the sea, here to give you dead bodies and daggers." Seirixori mutters, still salty.

[8:30 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: Ravaphine chuckles at Seir's quiet comment

[8:30 PM] DM: Hux: "Who?"

[8:31 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: "The strange people who showed up earlier and you wanted us to take care of something. We took care of it, and found some useful information you should probably know."

[8:32 PM] DM: Hux: "You haven't taken care of anything!"

You can, just faintly, still hear the wails of the ghost coming from the west.

[8:32 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: "Huh, didn't think about that one. Well, I'm sure that captain might be missing his dagger."

[8:33 PM] Wingy - Urrak D'Akshi: "We're in the process o' takin care of that thing with this thing that we need t' show ye"

[8:33 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: "Should... a few of us go back to the ghost lady?"(edited)

[8:34 PM] DM: A small opening in the gate swings open, just enough to see through. "You're going to have to give me a damn good reason to open this gate at night."

[8:35 PM] Ryleigh (Nicole): "I do apologize Hux, I know that we are asking a tremendous favor, but the wailing will not stop until the woman receives justice for the crime committed against her. And, we have proof that she was not only murdered but we're aware of who the murderer is." Gestures to Rav to show the dagger.

[8:36 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: Ravaphine hands the dagger to Urrak(edited)

[8:36 PM] Ryleigh (Nicole): Ryleigh sets down the body and unwraps it enough to show Hux the chest wound, "we found it lodged here."

[8:37 PM] Wingy - Urrak D'Akshi: Urrak unsheathes and resheathes the dagger

[8:37 PM] DM: He narrows his eyes. Then shuts the opening. You hear muffled talking for a moment, then silence.

[8:39 PM] Ryleigh (Nicole): "Please, I would not ask you to endanger your people by opening the gate if this wasn't urgent. The captain of the ship that we arrived upon must not be allowed to leave the harbor in the morning. If you still wish us to stay outside the city for the evening, we shall, but please don't allow him to set sail before this is resolved."(edited)

[8:40 PM] DM: A couple minutes later, you hear more noise and the gate opens enough that you can pass through one at a time. On the other side, you see Hux and four guards, two of which are still tightening their armor like they'd just shown up."

[8:40 PM] Ryleigh (Nicole): Ryleigh picks up the wrapped body and enters the city.(edited)

[8:41 PM] Wingy - Urrak D'Akshi: Urrak follows behind, cautiously

[8:41 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: Rav follows

[8:41 PM] Alex - Nolanos: Nolanos also follows

[8:41 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: Seirixori grumbles as she walks in after the rest.

[8:42 PM] DM: As soon as you're all inside, the gate is shut and barred again. There are a total of six guards around you with Hux.

Hux: "You'll forgive our hesitation to allow you free reign. Let me see her."

[8:44 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: Ravaphine unwraps the body in Ryleigh's arms

[8:46 PM] DM: Once the face is uncovered, you see everyone react, even if just subtly , disgusted by the sight and smell. Hux looks at her and frowns. "Ah... Bristol. And that is Seifer's dagger. Where'd you find her?"

[8:46 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: "In a cave, under the lighthouse."

[8:47 PM] DM: Perception checks all around.

[8:47 PM] Alex - Nolanos: "It was lucky for us that the tide was so low, or we wouldn't have found it as easily."

[8:48 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: ((20))(edited)

[8:48 PM] Alex - Nolanos: ((16))

[8:48 PM] Wingy - Urrak D'Akshi: ((20))

[8:48 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: ((20))

[8:48 PM] Ryleigh (Nicole): ((3))

[8:50 PM] DM: Hux: "A cave at the coastline? Curious. How did you know to look there?"

[8:51 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: Seirixori stares at Hux, but says nothing. Flashing her eyes a little, but continues to look at him.

[8:52 PM] Wingy - Urrak D'Akshi: "The woman wailing on the hill by the lighthouse. She's a ghost, a lost spirit. She...possessed me and showed me how she died and who killed her. The Captain...he kicked her off the cliff after stabbing her t' death"

[8:54 PM] DM: He frowns. "That's awfully dramatic."

You hear a voice coming from up the street. "And a load of bullshit at that. What's the idea of pulling me outta my cups here, Hux?"

Two guards are escorting Captain Seifer towards you and the rest of the crew of the ship is following behind. Most of them look ready to fall over drunk.

[8:55 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: "Hello, Captain." Seirixori grins, showing off her full sharp teeth, letting her eyes change from their normal silver to black, before going back to the silver.

[8:56 PM] Alex - Nolanos: "Really?  Care to explain how your dagger wound up in this woman's chest then, Captain?"

[8:57 PM] DM: He glances at the dagger. "Hey! That's my-- not only did you stowaway on my boat but ya steal my dagger too?"

[8:58 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: "Now, now, Seifer, it's not nice to tell lies. Don't you know what happens to little boys who lie?"

[8:58 PM] Ryleigh (Nicole): Ryleigh looks up as the Captain approaches, "Nice try but your crew can vouch that none of our party left the deck once you pulled my comrades from the water, and I'm sure they can tell us how long your dagger has been missing - since you keep them so readily on display."

[8:58 PM] Alex - Nolanos: "The lies people tell to cover their own hides, honestly."

[8:59 PM] DM: The big woman with the eyepatch and tangled blonde hair hiccups as she leans on one of the men. "Weren't you complaining you lost it a while back?"

[9:00 PM] Alex - Nolanos: Nolanos simply raises an eyebrow. See?(edited)

[9:00 PM] DM: Rat: "Yeah, he was whinin' that the one I gave him wasn't as good as his to cut the lines."

[9:01 PM] Wingy - Urrak D'Akshi: Urrak cracks her knuckles "Sounds t' me like you've got some explanin' t' do."

[9:01 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: "He may not be the only one," Seirixori grumbles, still keeping her eye on Hux.

[9:02 PM] DM: Seifer rolls his eyes. "So where'd you find it then? Low tide beach? Pick it up and decide to frame me for whatever this is? Maybe whoever stole it gave it to you."

[9:03 PM] Ryleigh (Nicole): Ryleigh moves to stand somewhat between Urrak and the Captain, then says firmly over her shoulder, "Justice will be served Urrak, be mindful of your actions while we are around innocents."

[9:05 PM] Wingy - Urrak D'Akshi: Urrak growls a bit but steps back "We found that dagger in the last place y'left it," Urrak points to the body "In the chest of the woman y'said y' loved."

[9:06 PM] DM: He smiles. "The only woman I love is my wife Dita and she's at home."

[9:08 PM] Ryleigh (Nicole): Ryleigh takes a threatening step towards the Captain and points to her holy symbol, "do you know this symbol Captain? I serve the God of Truth, you can either tell us the truth or I will command you to - either way - your secrets will no longer be yours."

[9:08 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: ((12 insight))

[9:08 PM] Wingy - Urrak D'Akshi: ((11 insight))

[9:08 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: ((8 insight on hux, sad))

[9:09 PM] Alex - Nolanos: Nolanos points  lightly at the Captain's mouth, "I think you have something in your teeth. Oh wait, it's just the lies you're spouting through them."

[9:09 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: ((17 insight on hux))

[9:13 PM] Alex - Nolanos: ((10 insight on cap))

[9:13 PM] DM: Hux frowns and sighs. He beckons one of the sailors forward, the young man who said he lost his sister, and gestures to the body, putting his hand on the boy's shoulder.

"Bristol? But... she was..."

[9:14 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: "Killed in cold blood with this dagger, which just so happens to belong to your captain"(edited)

[9:14 PM] Wingy - Urrak D'Akshi: "The Sea didn't take yer sister after all."

[9:15 PM] DM: The boy, Whistler, turns to the captain. "It was you? She wouldn't tell me who. Said I wouldn't understand."

[9:16 PM] Wingy - Urrak D'Akshi: "Y'spoke to the specter as well, boy?"

[9:17 PM] DM: He turns to look at you, tears in his eyes. "No... before she went missing. She was seeing someone, but wouldn't tell me who. Last time I saw her, she told me she was gonna have a baby."

[9:17 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: Seirixori grins, opening her mouth just slightly and whispers so only the Captain can hear it, "Now, now, Captain, lying isn't going to help you. They do have a devil among them."

[9:20 PM] DM: Seirixori- intimidation check.

[9:21 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: ((19))

[9:21 PM] Wingy - Urrak D'Akshi: "Y' couldn't bear the thought o' yer wife findin' out you've been sneakin' round behind her back, so you killed your mistress and tossed her off a cliff...I've seen a fair share o'evil in this world...but yer one of the worst devils I've come across."

[9:22 PM] DM: Seifer shakes his head and starts backing away. "No, now wait a minute... don't you..."

[9:22 PM] Ryleigh (Nicole): Ryleighs eyes, hot with anger, continue to stare down the Captain.

Hux tilts his head and the two guards next to him grab him by the arms.

[9:23 PM] Wingy - Urrak D'Akshi: "Make sure he never sees the light o' day again."

[9:23 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: "Do you believe us now, Hux?"

[9:23 PM] DM: Hux: "He'll only be seeing one more dawn from above the shoreline."

[9:24 PM] DM: Perception checks?

[9:24 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: Ravaphine turns to Whistler "I am sorry for your loss. We will get her on her way home. Justice will be served"

[9:24 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: ((16))

[9:24 PM] Alex - Nolanos: ((9))

[9:24 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: ((23))

[9:24 PM] Wingy - Urrak D'Akshi: ((19))

[9:24 PM] Ryleigh (Nicole): ((4))

[9:26 PM] DM: Whistler's tears start falling. "Thank you."

The two women come forward and kinda lean on him in comfort. "Come on, Swab. We'll get ya a drink."

Eyepatch: "Always knew that guy was an asshole."

[9:26 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: "I don't think I hear her crying anymore" Rav says as she turns her head in the direction where the crying used to come from

[9:26 PM] DM: Once you all take a second to listen, you realize that the crying has stopped.

[9:27 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: "Imagine that."

[9:27 PM] Ryleigh (Nicole): Ryleigh turns to Hux, "What will his punishment be?"

[9:27 PM] DM: Hux covers Bristol's face with the tarp and gestures to two of the guards to come take her from you. "We only have one punishment here. The deep."

[9:29 PM] Ryleigh (Nicole): Ryleigh nods, "so it is your form of execution?"

[9:29 PM] Alex - Nolanos: "How about... we don't give him the option to come back as a minion of the Kraken?"(edited)

[9:29 PM] Wingy - Urrak D'Akshi: "Certainly doesn't sound like a picnic either way..."(edited)

[9:29 PM] Alex - Nolanos: "Er.. not that its my place to say."

[9:30 PM] DM: Hux frowns at Nolanos. "It is not."

[9:30 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: "Where will Bristol's final resting place be?"

[9:31 PM] DM: As the two guards take her away, Hux straightens up a bit. "You've done what I asked and, given Pumanath is still with you, I assume that means he'll vouch for you?"

Zunis nods once.

"You can find rooms up the street at the Oyster. For now, it is late and I have a fair mind to see my own wife again."

[9:33 PM] Wingy - Urrak D'Akshi: "A rest sounds most welcome after this...adventure.'

[9:33 PM] DM: Hux: "Find me in the morning, here at the wall, and we'll see what we can do about this... thing you're looking for."

[9:34 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: "Thanks," Seirixori waits for them, Hux especially to leave, "I think we might have another problem."

[9:34 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: "What do you mean?"

[9:34 PM] Ryleigh (Nicole): "What it is?" Ryleigh inquires.(edited)

[9:34 PM] DM: They do all leave, the guards resume their post or go back into the fort to go back to bed. The sailors wander up the road.

[9:35 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: "I'm pretty sure he knows about the other caves, which probably also means the tunnel we found."

[9:36 PM] Alex - Nolanos: "Which means he  most likely knows that the Kraken takes minions by 'saving' them from drownings."

[9:36 PM] Alex - Nolanos: "And that he knows more than he lets on about the component."

[9:37 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: "That or a minion himself" Seirixori shrugs, "That wasn't a very well traveled tunnel, and those tracks... I don't like this."

[9:38 PM] DM: Zunis: "Wait... you think Captain Drakkar might be the minion? Ballsy."

[9:38 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: "Speaking of minions, don't we need to find a minion? Maybe we should all take a rest first before taking on this task"

[9:38 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: "I almost missed it, but he seemed worried when I mentioned that cave under the lighthouse, until Nolanos mentioned it was the one we found during low tide."(edited)

[9:39 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: "So many secret tunnels everywhere"

[9:40 PM] Wingy - Urrak D'Akshi: "I thought somethin seemed off about him...and when he mentioned the only form of punishment in this town is the Deep...what if he's just makin' more minions?"(edited)

[9:40 PM] Alex - Nolanos: "Exactly! I don't trust him. Granted, I never met him before today, but this wasn't exactly a good first impression."(edited)

[9:41 PM] DM: Gunnloda: "Maybe the middle of the street isn't the best place for this conversation, dears."

[9:41 PM] Wingy - Urrak D'Akshi: "Aye, yer right. Should we head t' the Oyster?"(edited)

[9:42 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: "Do we need to? Or do we want to go search those caves?"

[9:42 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: "Well, search them more than Nolanos and I did."

[9:43 PM] Alex - Nolanos: "I would like to look at them a bit more, personally."

[9:43 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: "Maybe we can identify those tracks"

[9:44 PM] Wingy - Urrak D'Akshi: "Aye, I suppose we should before anythin' or anyone comes t' destroy them."

[9:44 PM] Ryleigh (Nicole): Ryleigh sighs, "I'm going to Oyster and I'll meet up with you lot a littler later" and heads towards the bar.(edited)

[9:45 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: Seirixori sighs, "No, it's fine. We'll all go to the Oyster. I'm just... impatient. Besides, I'm sure I can find the trail again, either way."

[9:46 PM] Alex - Nolanos: "At the very least, we know where it begins now."(edited)

[9:46 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: "Or well, a short break... and then I can follow the trail."

[9:46 PM] Wingy - Urrak D'Akshi: "I could use a pint after solvin' a murder."

[9:47 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: "Makes me miss the cask"

[9:47 PM] DM: So you head up to the Oyster.

[9:48 PM] DM: It's about what you'd expect of a seaside sort of bar. There's a burly man with a towel shooing off extremely drunk people as he cleans up for the night.

[9:48 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: "Are you still opened sir?"

[9:49 PM] DM: "Depends on what fer. Beds upstairs for a copper. Got three rooms for a silver each. Bar's closed. Kitchen's closed."

[9:50 PM] Wingy - Urrak D'Akshi: "Bars closed?" Urrak frowns and mumbles to herself "What kind o' torture is this...?"

[9:50 PM] DM: "'Course it's closed. It's near dawn."

[9:52 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: "Should we get a room or two, then?"

[9:52 PM] Wingy - Urrak D'Akshi: "It's dusk somewhere, friend. It's dusk somewhere...."

[9:54 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: "Right... so, rooms? 1 ... 2? How long are we staying?"

[9:54 PM] Alex - Nolanos: ((what's the barkeep doing right now?))

[9:54 PM] Alex - Nolanos: ((or really where is he looking?))

[9:54 PM] DM: The man looks up at you all from stacking chairs on the tables. "...Ain't but one bed in each room. Less you like to sleep in a pile."

[9:55 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: Seirixori grins, "Those can be fun piles."

[9:55 PM] DM: "Lots a'cots in the common room though."

[9:57 PM] Alex - Nolanos: "What do you all think? Cuddle party? We're getting close enough, right?"(edited)

[9:57 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: "I'm fine with no bed. I just need  a little bit of floor space"

[9:58 PM] Wingy - Urrak D'Akshi: "Aye. I'm plenty rested m'self." Urrak places a silver piece on the bar. "One room, please."

[9:59 PM] DM: He kinda looks at you all again and shakes his head. "Whatever floats your boat. Take the one to the left."

[10:01 PM] DM: So you go upstairs and see a bunch of cots, some empty, some with drunks sleeping in them... and there's some doors that lead to tiny rooms along the wall. You open the one to the far left and... it's a bit of a squeeze, but you get everyone inside except Ryleigh who decided to hang back.

[10:02 PM] Wingy - Urrak D'Akshi: Urrak heads into the room. When she gets in, she removes the greatsword from her back and the leather chestpiece from her torso. "A little break will help us form a solid plan"

[10:02 PM] Wingy - Urrak D'Akshi: She sits crosslegged on the floor

[10:02 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: Seirixori sits on the floor, against one of the walls, "Right so... I can follow that trail again if we need to. I just need to rest a bit before shifting again."

[10:03 PM] Wingy - Urrak D'Akshi: "Take the bed then, Ser. A nap should 'elp."

[10:03 PM] DM: Gunnloda sits next to Seirixori. Zunis leans against the door.

[10:03 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: Ravaphine takes a seat on the floor(edited)

[10:04 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: "What? No, I... the floor here is fine." she says, a little uncomfortable at the thought.

[10:07 PM] Wingy - Urrak D'Akshi: "So, there's a secret tunnel under a warehouse that leads further in town. You an' Nolanos tracked the scent of a scrap o' fabric  that was in the place where we saw the component via portal...so what's our next course of action?"

[10:07 PM] DM: So for short rests, you can heal by rolling a hit dice (up to 3 of them) and adding your con to each, if you want to, and you can also recharge anything that's short rest dependent (most of them have an SR next to the name of it on your sheet's resource trackers)

[10:08 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: "We can either travel that way again, which, as you all know, took us a few hours, or maybe see if we can find another entrance to them. However... that might take even more time."

[10:09 PM] Wingy - Urrak D'Akshi: "Time doesn't seem t' be of abundance currently"

[10:09 PM] Wingy - Urrak D'Akshi: "We have a lead, I think it's best we follow it."(edited)

[10:10 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: "It might be difficult if people are around the warehouse though, when we get there."

[10:11 PM] Alex - Nolanos: "Not if we go at night again"(edited)

[10:12 PM] Wingy - Urrak D'Akshi: "Aye, we can wait out the day in town. Might even be able t' get some more info from townsfolk."

[10:12 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: "Ah... I might... stay here if that's the case then."

[10:13 PM] Alex - Nolanos: "We could also use the time to purchase some supplies, like health potions."

[10:13 PM] DM: Zunis: "Small town like this isn't likely to have much magic available."

[10:14 PM] Alex - Nolanos: "True, but it could still be worth looking around."

[10:18 PM] DM: Zunis: "Are we resting for the night then?"

[10:19 PM] Wingy - Urrak D'Akshi: "Aye Zunis, appears so." Urrak hands him a copper

[10:19 PM] DM: He looks at your money and kind of frowns at you. "I'll go see about getting the other two rooms then. It's a bit... crowded in here."

[10:20 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: “The more the merrier, Zunis. We’re all friends here!”

[10:20 PM] DM: Zunis opens the door and steps out... and anyone following him out the door can go to sg1.

[10:17 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: Seirixori tilts her head towards Gunnloda and whispers, "So, to get totally off topic, but I've been wanting to ask, 9 gods?"

[10:18 PM] DM: Gunnloda: "Aye. Nine of 'em."

[10:18 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: Seirixori scrunches her face a little, "Can I ask why so many?"

[10:19 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: “There’s a god for everything”

[10:22 PM] DM: Gunnloda smiles. "Vatru tends to combine their gods into one-- well, two-- groups. Makes it easier to pray to a collection than trying to remember which god does which, I think."

[10:21 PM] Alex - Nolanos: Nolanos makes his way over to Ravaphine, sits down next to her and whispers, "I don't know about you but I'm parched. Want to help me get a drink?"

[10:22 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: Ravaphine smiles mischievously. “I would love to help! I’m feeling a bit peckish so I hope they have peanuts”

[10:23 PM] Wingy - Urrak D'Akshi: "Right. Well I plan on bein' at peak performance for our tunnel excursion so if y' excuse me, I'm going t' get a cot t'rest on. See y' soon,"(edited)

[10:23 PM] Wingy - Urrak D'Akshi: Urrak walks out the door and downstairs

[10:23 PM] Alex - Nolanos: "Now there's an idea." Nolanos smiles as well.

[10:24 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: "Oh, that... makes sense. Um... so where is Vatru?"

## Novaphine Antics

[10:25 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: Ravaphine makes her way down to the bar and listens for any movement or the barkeep

[10:25 PM] Alex - Nolanos: Nolanos gets up and goes with her

[10:25 PM] Alex - Nolanos: ((roll for stealth?))

[10:25 PM] DM: The barkeep is currently talking to Zunis, but yeah, if you want to be sneaky, roll stealth.

[10:26 PM] DM: Barkeep: "Only one room left. The only normal looking one of the bunch took it after you left."

[10:26 PM] DM: Ravaphine ((20))

[10:27 PM] Alex - Nolanos: ((16 frekc))

[10:28 PM] DM: He doesn't make any indication that he sees either of you, and simply takes the coin from Zunis before returning to the corner to clean.

[10:29 PM] Alex - Nolanos: ((how far is he from the actual bar?))

[10:29 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: Ravaphine motions to nolanos to get low

[10:29 PM] DM: Probably like... twenty feet or so.

[10:29 PM] DM: He's still stacking chairs ontop of tables.

[10:30 PM] Alex - Nolanos: Nolanos casts Mage Hand and guides it to the bar, grabbing a bowl of peanuts and bringing it back

[10:30 PM] DM: Sleight of Hand check.

[10:30 PM] DM: Is your hand invisible?

[10:30 PM] Alex - Nolanos: ((FREIICKKKin 10))

[10:30 PM] Alex - Nolanos: yes

[10:31 PM] DM: When you go to move the bowl, since this is a new thing for you, you knock into the bowl, causing it to shift. The man perks up and looks around the bar, but mutters to himself and grabs the broom from the other corner to start sweeping.

[10:32 PM] Alex - Nolanos: Nolanos takes a quick breath and tries again.

[10:32 PM] DM: Roll again.

[10:33 PM] Alex - Nolanos: ((22!!!))

[10:34 PM] DM: The bowl floats right on over to you, silently.

[10:35 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: Ravaphine silently air claps

[10:35 PM] Alex - Nolanos: Nolanos is freaking thrilled that that actually worked

[10:36 PM] Alex - Nolanos: So he tries again, this time, with beer. ((is it in a cask or in bottles?))

[10:36 PM] DM: There are some large casks behind the bar for beer, but there are a few bottles of spirits... liquor, wine, etc.

[10:37 PM] Alex - Nolanos: Nolanos silently mouths to Rav "Beer, wine, or liquor?"

[10:38 PM] Alex - Nolanos: "I vote beer" again, silent

[10:38 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: Ravaphine, only here for the peanuts, tells him “beer”

[10:38 PM] Alex - Nolanos: ((wait how heavy is the cask?))

[10:39 PM] DM: Very.

[10:40 PM] Alex - Nolanos: Nolanos quickly realizes that an entire cask of beer probably weighs more than 10 lbs so he decides to go for the wine instead.

[10:40 PM] DM: They're like... 30 gallons.

[10:41 PM] Alex - Nolanos: Yeahh its a lot

[10:41 PM] Alex - Nolanos: ((12 for the wine))

[10:41 PM] DM: Roll it.

[10:41 PM] DM: This time the man does see it, rising up from behind the bar.

[10:42 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: ((Does he see us?))

[10:42 PM] Alex - Nolanos: Nolanos dissipates the hand and hides behind the wall(edited)

[10:42 PM] DM: He nearly drops his broom, then comes over and tries to swing the broom around the bottle, like he's trying to hit an invisible thief.

[10:42 PM] DM: Do you drop the bottle?

[10:43 PM] Alex - Nolanos: Wait did i have it?

[10:43 PM] DM: Yeah, you were lifting it into the air when he spotted it.

[10:45 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: Ravaphine grabs Nolanos’ hand and tiptoe runs back into the room with Seir and gunnloda while quietly shutting the door

[10:46 PM] Alex - Nolanos: Nolanos looks like he wanted to stay a minute longer, but decides Rav probably has the better idea and willingly follows her upstairs(edited)

[10:47 PM] DM: I meant that if you dismissed the hand, the bottle would've fallen to the ground.

[10:47 PM] DM: But ok!

[10:47 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: ((Yeah I was afraid that it shattered everywhere))

[10:47 PM] Alex - Nolanos: I know, but idk i was going to change it to just placing it back down(edited)

[10:47 PM] DM: It would've just fallen with a thud. Glass was sturdy and thick. lol

[10:48 PM] DM: So you're back in the room with the other two?

[10:48 PM] Alex - Nolanos: I suppose so

[10:48 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: ((We can pretend you fixed it before I mad dashed lol and then try again later))

[10:49 PM] DM: They're still sitting there, talking.

[10:49 PM] Alex - Nolanos: (I vote that yes)(edited)

[10:50 PM] Alex - Nolanos: "HI. Um. Peanuts?"

[10:50 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: Ravaphine notices that the two seem like they are in a deep convo. “Sorry to burst in”

[10:50 PM] Alex - Nolanos: Nolanos holds out the bowl as an apology of sorts for interrupting.

[10:51 PM] DM: Gunnloda raises her eyebrow at your sudden appearance and flustered look, then answers, "It's all right. Your room as much as anyone's."

[10:54 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: "No, thanks..." Seirixori looks at the bowl a little weary, then turns back to Gunnloda.

[10:54 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: “We’ll leave you two to your conversation. Apologies for the intrusion!” Ravaphine peeks her head out of the room to make sure the barkeep didn’t follow

[10:55 PM] DM: You don't see him. Just lots of people trying to sleep.

[10:55 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: She turns to nolanos “what if one of us distracts him while the other attempts to collect? I’m not too much of a people person but we can try”

[10:57 PM] Alex - Nolanos: "What do you have in mind?"(edited)

[10:57 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: “Since people are approaching him anyway for rooms and places to stay, might as well distract him from floating wine bottles”

[10:59 PM] Alex - Nolanos: "Do you want to do the distracting then?"

[11:00 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: “It’s worth a shot!” Ravaphine says before heading back down to the bar “ready?”

[11:02 PM] DM: He's moved from sweeping to mopping.

[11:02 PM] Alex - Nolanos: Nolanos whispers  "idea!"

[11:03 PM] Alex - Nolanos: "what if you go in, i make a ghost and you can be 'OOOHHnnOO'"

[11:04 PM] Alex - Nolanos: "actually nevermind thats a terrible idea, you just do what feels right."

[11:06 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: “That would work in a situation for intimidation, but this poor barkeep might have a heart attack!” Ravaphine whispers with amusement in her voice

[11:07 PM] Alex - Nolanos: Nolanos collects himself a bit and whispers back, "You're right, you're right. Another time, maybe. For now, I'll follow your lead."(edited)

[11:08 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: “Do you want to try your mage hand one more time or should I just go ahead and start talking to him?”

[11:09 PM] Alex - Nolanos: "Let me try one more time. Let's see if it works."

[11:09 PM] Alex - Nolanos: ((14))

[11:10 PM] DM: He whips around, super quick when the bottle slides on the shelf. Roll stealth, both of you.

[11:11 PM] Alex - Nolanos: ((11))

[11:11 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: ((12))

[11:12 PM] Alex - Nolanos: "RUN!" Nolanos whisper yells and takes off, Rav's hand in his

[11:12 PM] DM: His eyes dart around, looking for motion. "I know someone's down here."

[11:13 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: “Where are we going” she whispers

[11:13 PM] Alex - Nolanos: 'The room?" he whispers back(edited)

[11:14 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: Ravaphine and nolanos quietly make their way back to the room after only being gone 2 minutes

[11:14 PM] Alex - Nolanos: ''Or maybe a different room, i dunno there was a vibe" he says outside the door(edited)

[11:15 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: “Maybe we can go crash with Ryleigh. I’m sure she won’t mind” she opens the next door just a crack and peeks in

[11:15 PM] DM: She's not in there.

[11:15 PM] Alex - Nolanos: "What the what?"

[11:16 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: Ravaphine opens the door more ((is there nobody inside?))

[11:16 PM] DM: It's empty.

[11:17 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: “Interesting. She didn’t come here by poofing in, so this is rather odd”

[11:17 PM] DM: She has teleported out from here before.(edited)

[11:17 PM] Alex - Nolanos: Nolanos looks around the room, trying to get an idea of where she went. "Odd is definitely an appropriate term..."

[11:18 PM] DM: She wasn't at the ghost possession, for example.

[11:19 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: “Unless she has poofed away, which wouldn’t surprise me since I suppose she has before. Well, feel free to sprawl out on the bed if you would like. I prefer my trances done on the ground. Sorry we couldn’t get any of your wine by the way”

[11:23 PM] Alex - Nolanos: "Eh, that's alright. To be completely honest, I'm not usually much of a drinker. I just had a lot of fun with you."

[11:25 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: “That was a lot a fun! From all the seriousness as of late. But tomorrow brings another job” she says shyly because she’s never had a friend like this before. “We best get some rest. We have a long day planned”

[11:28 PM] Alex - Nolanos: Nolanos smiles back warmly. He's never had much luck with friends either, so this is nice. "Indeed. Sleep well, or uh, trance well?" he laughs awkwardly. "Goodnight, friend."

[11:29 PM] Alex - Nolanos: Before he actually goes to sleep, he nudges the bowl of peanuts to her with a smile.

[11:31 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: “It’s the small victories!” Ravaphine then nods once and then does some weird yoga poses before sitting cross legged in the corner, heading into a trance

Alex - Nolanos: "To the small victories"

## Devil's Food

*[*10:24 PM*]* Felicia - Seirixori*:* "Oh, that... makes sense. Um... so where is Vatru?"

[10:27 PM] DM: "Vatru is..." she pauses and glances around. "They all left us here."

[10:30 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: Seirixori looks around, "Oh, maybe they did want separate rooms after all." She clears her throat, slightly nervous now because someone is always around, "Right so... Vatru?" she starts picking at her cloak.

[10:34 PM] DM: "Well..." She holds up her hand in a fist. "Say this," she points at her middle finger, "is Vyon, where Bellbury is. Over here," she points at the space next to her thumb, "is Vatru. And here," she points to the back of her hand, "is Ardabeh."

[10:37 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: "Oh, that would be the reason for the surprise I take it." She chews her lip, "That's... kind of far if anyone were to try and, I don't know... visit?"

[10:39 PM] DM: "For anyone but Poni, I suppose. It's a farther trip by boat than most."

[10:41 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: Seir nods and looks at Gunnloda for a second then looks at the cloak between her fingers, "Do you think we'll be sent back right away when we fix it?"

[10:43 PM] DM: "I... don't know. I suppose that'd be a question for Poni."

[10:44 PM] DM: "I get the feeling you're not eager to go home."

[10:48 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: Seirixori chuckles lowly, "I'm not really sure I'd ever call it that to be honest. It's not very welcoming." She shrugs, and pulls her knees up, resting her head on them as she looks at Gunnloda, "What were you doing again before all this? I know you said you hadn't been home in a while."

[10:48 PM] DM: Nolanos and Ravaphine burst through the door, and return to main chat.

[10:50 PM] Alex - Nolanos: "HI. Um. Peanuts?"

[10:50 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: Ravaphine notices that the two seem like they are in a deep convo. “Sorry to burst in”

[10:51 PM] DM: Gunnloda raises her eyebrow at your sudden appearance and flustered look, then answers, "It's all right. Your room as much as anyone's."

[10:50 PM] Alex - Nolanos: Nolanos holds out the bowl as an apology of sorts for interrupting.

Seirixori: "No, thanks..."

[10:51 PM] DM: Gunnloda: "I've been at a temple in Forsa for the last couple years. I travel a lot."

[10:54 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: “We’ll leave you two to your conversation. Apologies for the intrusion!” Ravaphine peeks her head out of the room to make sure the barkeep didn’t follow

[10:54 PM] Felicia - Seirixori looks at the bowl a little weary, then turns back to Gunnloda, "I miss traveling, we used to move around a lot when  I was younger."(edited)

[10:58 PM] DM: "Just in Ardabeh?"

[11:00 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: "I think so? I know names of towns and such, but the people," she sighs sadly, "my... family? I guess you could call them. I was the only child after a time and they taught me more how to survive than any actual schooling so I don't really know anything outside of where I'm from."

[11:01 PM] DM: She nods. "It's not uncommon. Most people don't know anything outside their own areas."

[11:03 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: "Well, that makes me feel better." She says, sincerely. "Would you mind if I asked about your family?"

[11:04 PM] DM: "What about them?"

[11:05 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: She shrugs again, "What it was like growing up I guess?" She laughs, "Sorry I'm still terrible at talking to people."

[11:06 PM] DM: She laughs and pats your knee. "You're not that bad. I imagine it must be hard for you, always being judged by what you look like before you get a chance."

[11:09 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: Seirixori blushes, "You make it easier..." she clears her throat" A-all of you make it easier. It's been a really long time since a bunch of strangers don't turn away because of a choice someone else made for me." She looks down again, picking at a thread on her boot, "So uh, home life?"

[11:14 PM] DM: She sighs and shrugs. "I grew up in Dhog Lodir in one of the underground cities. It was pleasant enough. Parents, siblings, lots of cousins. Not much to say really."

[11:19 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: "Oh, okay." Seirixori shifts and then moves to stand, realizing again hat they keep getting left alone. She holds out a hand to Gunnloda, "Want to sit on the bed? Probably more comfortable than the floor."

[11:20 PM] DM: "Probably." She takes your hand and stands, then sits on the bed instead.

[11:24 PM] DM: "Softer than the ones at the temple. Not the Cask, though."

[11:25 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: Seirixori hesitates just slightly before making up her mind and moves to sit on the bed as well, "Did you learn to cook from them, or was that from all your traveling?"

[11:26 PM] DM: Her brow furrows a little, momentarily. "A little of both. Mostly dwarven before and... well, after was different."

[11:30 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: "After...? I... I mean, you don't have to tell me, I'm just..." Seirixori shifts nervously, "I just like to know you better..." she ends up mumbling the last bit.

[11:35 PM] DM: Gunnloda's quiet for a moment... several moments... "I... something happened and... it changed everything." She kind of huffs a half-laugh. "It's a bit cliche, isn't it? That's... what happened to you too. Probably a lot of us in this little group."

[11:36 PM] DM: "I don't expect many farmers or merchants have a story like that."

[11:42 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: Seirixori grins, scrunching her nose in the process, "I would hope not, can't let them have all the fun." She snorts, more out of disbelief of what she said. "Well, someone did tell me not too long ago that being alone sucks and to think about letting people in a little. So, maybe one day if you wanted to share?"

[11:47 PM] DM: She smiles with a touch of sadness. "I appreciate the offer, really. And.. maybe one day if we don't wind up on opposite ends of the world. I just... you've already had more than your share of pain in the short time you've been alive. I don't want to add to it."

[11:54 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: "Well, I don't know if I'd stay that far away now that I know there's other people out there who actually like my company." She grins and reaches out, squeezing Gunnloda's hand. "How about your favorite food then?"

[11:57 PM] DM: Gunnloda smiles again, this time a real one. "Well... I'm always on the lookout for new foods to add to my recipe book. It might be time to make a visit to Ardabeh myself. I hear their spices are delicious."

[12:03 AM] Felicia - Seirixori: Seirixori lights up considerably at the thought, "Yeah? Why wait?" she lets out a little nervous giggle, "I mean... I could- I can bring some back probably too? If, if I get teleported back, I can get some and keep them with me for when I come back to you."

[12:09 AM] DM: Gunnloda just shakes her head, on the verge of laughter. "I feel sorry for everyone who never gave themselves the chance to get to know you. You're adorable. ... a little terrifying when you want to be, but... I missed being around earnest youth."

[12:12 AM] Felicia - Seirixori: Seirixori grins again, "Thank you, I think. Besides, I don't really plan on going anywhere, voluntarily, so I guess you won't have to miss it anymore."

[12:19 AM] DM: "It was a compliment." The smile fades a little as you see her withdraw a little into her mind, like she's thinking. "When I left Dhog Lodir, Vatru wasn't random. I followed someone there. Someone... special to me, though in the end, I suppose I wasn't as special to her. I'm only 85. I wasn't ready to 'retire'. You remind me of... happier times. From before everything changed."

[12:26 AM] Felicia - Seirixori: "But you're... you... I mean," She fumbles over her words, "I think you're special." She huffs, kind of put off by this random person she doesn't know.(edited)

[12:28 AM] DM: She actually blushes this time, freckles lost in the pink. She pauses, looking for the right words.

[12:31 AM] DM: "I... think I understand her better today than I have the last thirty years."

[12:32 AM] DM: She almost physically winces when she realizes what she said. "That's not..." she closes her eyes, frustrated with herself.

[12:34 AM] Felicia - Seirixori: Seirixori reaches out again, pausing for a second before giving a light mental shrug to herself and threads her fingers through Gunnloda's, giving a comforting squeeze and leaving her hand there, "It's fine, take your time. Or we can just, talk about some other stuff if you want." She smiles sheepishly.

[12:41 AM] DM: She squeezes back and takes a deep breath, her eyes still closed. "She was older than me... in solar years and dwarf years and she was always so hesitant where I was so eager. She thought that I confused being grateful for her saving my life with real feelings.  I followed her like a lost puppy, little more than a child chasing after a woman near twice my age... and halflings don't live as long as dwarves do. Now... I find myself where she was and I can't help but wonder if it's me or what I do. If I'm going to end up hurting you in the end like she did me." There's a brief pause and she finally opens her eyes and looks at you. "If I care enough about either answer to stop myself."

[12:50 AM] Felicia - Seirixori: Seirixori blinks owlishy and opens her mouth to say something but closes it. She's sure she's silent for way too long, but she's trying to process everything and she's trying to separate what she thinks is being said to what she wants to be said and if it needs to be separated. Now she's just confusing herself. So she just says the first thing that pops into her head, "Druids live for a very long time, you know." She blushes, because *really*?

## Ryleigh's Extra-Curriculars

[11:54 AM] DM: Ok, so you've found the murderer, brought him to the land's law and put the ghost to rest. There's still something very uneasy about the place though, so when your companions all file into a single room with a single bed, you ask the barkeep for a separate room and...

[11:57 AM] Ryleigh (Nicole): Ryleigh thanks the barman for her room and leaves the Oyster before the others can spot her.

[11:58 AM] DM: Ok. You can see the main road, which the Oyster sits on at the curve, comes up from the lower city, then turns east towards the other gate out. To the south you can see the mostly ruined fort-like structure that Hux told you to return to in the morning for further discussion. It's also the direction they took Captain Seifer.

[11:59 AM] Ryleigh (Nicole): She heads the direction that they took Captain Seifer, hoping to find where they're keeping him until his punishment is issued.

[12:04 PM] DM: As you approach the fort, you can see that there have been some modifications since whatever tore the top half of the fort down happened. There's now extensions added with wood where once was stone. The left half, as you look south, is smaller, but mostly still stone. Then there's the gate that you came through, and the right half is longer but also has these wooded structures butted right up against it, almost like they've grown out of it. You do see a door on the far right and another on the far left, and you can recall seeing one on the right side, on the edge of the wall closest to the gate itself.

[12:10 PM] DM: You think you might have seen them take Seifer into the door that was closest to the gate.

[12:10 PM] Ryleigh (Nicole): ((are there guards around?))

[12:10 PM] DM: Perception check.

[12:11 PM] Ryleigh (Nicole): ((lol 3))

[12:11 PM] DM: You're not sure! There was one here when you tried to come in, but you don't see one or hear one.

[12:11 PM] Ryleigh (Nicole): ((passive perception is 9 - so not much better))

[12:13 PM] Ryleigh (Nicole): Ryleigh attempts to approach the door closest to the gate stealthily.

[12:13 PM] DM: Roll it.

[12:13 PM] DM: Disadvantage because heavy armor.

[12:14 PM] Ryleigh (Nicole): ((15))

[12:15 PM] DM: You creep up to the corner and as you peek around, you do see a guard standing in the corner between the gate and the door, picking his nails with a dagger.

[12:15 PM] DM: He doesn't seem to react to your presence.

[12:24 PM] Ryleigh (Nicole): Ryleigh decides a distraction isn't viable and moves out of the shadows towards the guard, clearing her throat loudly to ensure she does  not frighten him.(edited)

[12:26 PM] DM: He jerks upright, no longer leaning against the wall. His hand automatically moved to the hilt of his sword at his hip. "Move along." You recognize his voice.

[12:33 PM] Ryleigh (Nicole): "Excuse me, I was wondering if I could have a word with the accused? During my training I spent time with Clerics and although I am a paladin, my conscience feels the need to allow the accused a final repentance for his sins. I know such a request is unorthodox, but I am willing to leave my weapons in your possession as collateral for my good will."

[12:34 PM] DM: Go ahead and roll deception.

[12:35 PM] Ryleigh (Nicole): ((15))

[12:36 PM] DM: He eyes you for a minute. "You don't look like no holy folk I've ever seen. 'sides, I can't let you in nowhere without Cap's permission."

[12:38 PM] Ryleigh (Nicole): Ryleigh gives a nod, "I understand, I also take my duty very seriously. Who exactly is your superior? Is it Hux?"

[12:39 PM] DM: "Captain Drakkar, yes."

[12:39 PM] DM: ((THAT'S TACTICAL INFORMATION!))

[12:47 PM] Ryleigh (Nicole): Knowing that she can't bother Hux, Ryleigh tries a different tactic. Her body language becomes more relaxed, causal even, "He must have a lot of faith in you, to task you with something as important as guarding a murderer..." her voice is also more sultry, "I like a man of duty, a man of action..." she smiles charmingly at him while making no effort to hide the way her eyes run the length of the man's body, then winks at him.

[12:51 PM] DM: He flushes and his hand curls tighter around the hilt of his sword automatically. "Y- yeah. I- uh... I'm not guarding Seifer, though. Guarding the gate is much more important."

[12:57 PM] Ryleigh (Nicole): Ryleigh takes a few steps closer, her smile never faltering, "that is an important job..." she runs a finger the length of the guards jaw, "you must be among the bravest men"  and she places a kiss to his cheek, "could you help a lady in need?" Ryleigh quirks an eyebrow, leaving the comment up for interruption, "and maybe tell me where Seifer is?" she glances down that the mans lips.

[1:07 PM] DM: He's pressed right up against the wood of the gate now. "I mean... that's uh... that's... tactical information.... but..." His eyes flick to the door next to you. "I guess there's... there's no harm if you leave your... that's... you carry an axe."

[1:12 PM] Ryleigh (Nicole): Ryleigh smiles mischievously, then takes a step back and hands him her axe and shield, "I do. Maybe I'll show you how to use one sometime."

[1:13 PM] DM: He kinda staggers under the sudden weight of things put in his arms unexpectedly.

[1:15 PM] Ryleigh (Nicole): As Ryleigh opens the door she glances back and winks at the dazed guard.

[1:16 PM] DM: He looks a little panicked for a second and shhhh's you as he fumbles with the gear, trying to set it up against a wall inconspicuously. "Don't be gone long."

[1:18 PM] Ryleigh (Nicole): She makes her way down the hallway, searching for the Captain as quickly and quietly as she can.

[1:18 PM] DM: There is a hall, all in stone, with two wooden doors along the right hand wall, then another hall to the north, and a third door facing you at the end of the hall.

[1:19 PM] DM: Roll stealth while you're at it, since you're going back into sneak mode.

[1:20 PM] Ryleigh (Nicole): Ryleigh comes to the first door and presses her ear to it, listening for any noise. ((stealth 18))

[1:20 PM] DM: Perception!

[1:21 PM] DM: You hear absolutely nothing. In fact, you think you might have gone deaf.

[1:21 PM] DM: Did someone cast Silence?

[1:22 PM] Ryleigh (Nicole): Confused, Ryleigh cracks the door just enough to peer in.

[1:23 PM] DM: It's what looks like a barracks.  Several beds  in a row, some with sleeping guardsmen, some empty. Each with a chest at their feet.

[1:24 PM] Ryleigh (Nicole): Ryleigh closes the door gently and makes her way to the next one, doing the same thing - first attempting to hear for any noise.

[1:24 PM] DM: Roll again lol

[1:24 PM] Ryleigh (Nicole): ((2))

[1:24 PM] DM: Nothing.

[1:25 PM] Ryleigh (Nicole): Ryleigh once again cracks the door enough to glance into the room.

[1:26 PM] DM: It's an armory. Mostly empty stacks of shields, swords, and spears for arming a militia in short-order.

[1:27 PM] Ryleigh (Nicole): She closes the door quietly and moves to the door at the end of the hall, again listening for any sound. ((3 lol now its just funny))

[1:28 PM] DM: Nothing. Down the hall, you see another door, though the walls of the hall and the far wall all shift to wood instead of stone.

[1:29 PM] Ryleigh (Nicole): Ryleigh slowly opens the door at the end of the hallway, just peaking into it.

[1:30 PM] DM: Looks like what you might be looking for. Bars from floor to ceiling with a couple horizontal bars to deter any bending. One cell, about 10x20, built into the entire west wall. Inside is Seifer, sitting on a bare mattress, hands shackled, feet shackled, head bowed. Roll another perception check for me for funsies.

[1:31 PM] Ryleigh (Nicole): ((9 I should just never roll perception))

[1:32 PM] DM: ok.

[1:32 PM] Ryleigh (Nicole): Ryleigh enters the room.

[1:33 PM] DM: Seifer looks up and his lip curls when he sees you, but he drops his head again.

[1:37 PM] Ryleigh (Nicole): "Captain" she says with no warmth.

[1:38 PM] DM: "Can't a man die in peace around here?"

[1:39 PM] Ryleigh (Nicole): "Do you believe that you deserve to die in peace?"

[1:39 PM] DM: He looks up, eyes narrowed. "And what, you think you're gonna come in here and play at executioner?"

[1:41 PM] Ryleigh (Nicole): Ryleigh raises her hands, "I am unarmed, I did not come here to play executioner. But I am curious, what will happen to you once you are sent to the deep?"

[1:42 PM] DM: His eye twitches. "What does it matter to you, outsider?"

[1:44 PM] Ryleigh (Nicole): Ryleigh weighs her words carefully, "I care what happens to the innocent people caught outside the walls of this city at night. I want to know if there is a way to help them, to help people who aren't deserving of your fate, people like your wife."

[1:48 PM] DM: Roll persuasion.

[1:49 PM] Ryleigh (Nicole): ((26 - nat 20))

[1:53 PM] DM: He looks at you for a long moment then shakes his head. "Ye can't help. We're beyond that. We all return to the sea sooner or later. All but Bristol." He looks away. "Maybe I actually saved her."

[1:58 PM] Ryleigh (Nicole): Ryleigh's eyes flash with anger and her voice turns harsh, "You murdered her for no purpose other than your own personal gain. Do not insult her memory by believing you did anything but bring her pain and misery in her final moments of life. You cursed her soul, damned her to wail into the night until her murderer was brought to justice. You're a disgusting excuse for a human. The least you could do in your final hours is tell me what happens once you become a servant of the deep."

[2:01 PM] DM: He stands angrily. "Don't you get it? We're all servants of the deep. Cursed. We can't leave but by death. We throw our babies in the pit and welcome them back when they've grown and when we grow old we walk back into the sea to return to the deep."

[2:04 PM] Ryleigh (Nicole): Ryleigh's eye widen with realization, "you're all cursed? everyone?"

[2:07 PM] DM: He huffs and turns his head again, glaring at the corner of the room. "The bloodlines of those who were here before." He looks back at you, eyes narrowed. "If I were you, I'd get the fuck out of Bleakmourne and as far away as you can before it learns you're here."

[2:09 PM] Ryleigh (Nicole): She hesitates, "but how? how did this happen?"

[2:11 PM] DM: "Does it matter? You can't fight this with a sword. It's long done and we're done for. Least we get a chance to live for a time. I--" he cuts himself off and shakes his head.

[2:13 PM] Ryleigh (Nicole): "Why does it have to continue? No curse is everlasting. Who's responsible for this?"

[2:15 PM] DM: He looks at you with disbelief. "Ain't you been listening, girl? It's the deep. The beast beneath the waves. It keeps us like pets and playthings. I made up my mind not to play my part long ago. I couldn't leave, but I swore I wouldn't give it another of my blood."

[2:17 PM] Ryleigh (Nicole): "that's why you murdered her...because she was pregnant..." Ryleigh says.

[2:20 PM] DM: He slumps. "I panicked. She didn't deserve that, but it was done. Gods know what the deep'll do to me for my betrayal if it finds out I not only kept Bristol away from it, but another generation of Seifers as well."

[2:22 PM] Ryleigh (Nicole): "what do you think would happen if the town stopped giving children to the deep?"

[2:25 PM] DM: "You think this fort was built this way? Half crumbled?"

[2:27 PM] Ryleigh (Nicole): Ryleigh nods, "I see." She turns to leave, but before opening the door, she looks back the Captain, "what you did...it was wrong, but I understand your reasoning. May the gods have mercy on your soul."

[2:28 PM] DM: "If the gods had mercy, we'd all be dead in our beds tonight."

[2:29 PM] Ryleigh (Nicole): Ryleigh leaves and heads back down the hallway, toward the exit.

[2:29 PM] DM: You can proceed all the way down the hall without incident.

[2:30 PM] Ryleigh (Nicole): Ryleigh gathers herself before opening the door that leads to the main gate, she plasters on a smile and exits.

[2:33 PM] DM: The guard's still there, more alert than before. He shoves your gear back towards you like he's glad to be rid of it.

[2:38 PM] Ryleigh (Nicole): "Thanks handsome" she says and she takes her gear and goes to leave.

[2:38 PM] DM: He's happy to let you go as quickly as you will.

[2:39 PM] Ryleigh (Nicole): She heads back to the Oyster.

[2:40 PM] DM: The barkeep's sitting behind the bar, holding a broom like a weapon when you come in.

[2:40 PM] Ryleigh (Nicole): Ryleigh raises an eyebrow, "are you alright barman?"(edited)

[2:41 PM] DM: "Invisible thieves."

[2:42 PM] Ryleigh (Nicole): She surveys the room, "alright...well, good luck catching them" and excuses herself to her room

[2:43 PM] DM: Yours was supposed to be the second from the left, but when you open the door, you find a Nolanos, the dragonborn, sprawled across the bed and Ravaphine, the elf, in a trance on the floor.

[2:45 PM] Ryleigh (Nicole): Ryleigh sighs and mumbles, "of course these clowns would steal my room while I'm gathering information" she leaves the room and cracks the door to the next room.(edited)

[2:46 PM] DM: Zunis is there, sitting on the bed, writing in a notebook. He looks up and raises his green eyebrow at you. "Yes?"

[2:49 PM] Ryleigh (Nicole): Ryleigh steps into the room, "please excuse my intrusion Lord Zunis, but it seems a few of our companions decided to rest in my room while I was out. Would be any trouble if I slept in here tonight? If so, I don't mind sleeping in one of the community rooms."(edited)

[2:51 PM] DM: He shuts his book around his pen. "It is no trouble. I find it difficult to sleep ashore as it is. I couldn't help but notice the standard on your shield. Are you of a noble house as well?"

[3:01 PM] Ryleigh (Nicole): Ryleigh begins to undo the clasps on her armor, "Ah, sorry to disappoint you but no, I'm not of noble birth. It's unusual, or so I've been told by my guildmates, but I rose through the ranks on my own accord rather than by birthright."  Once her armor is neatly piled into a corner, she carefully makes a pallet on the floor, "Do you miss your home?"(edited)

[3:04 PM] DM: "I miss the comforts. I have no memory of the place my people come from originally, but that is what we are supposed to think of as "home." Thalaria, the city on this plane, is more like... a temporary home. An advance camp... though we've been there long enough that it has become a true coral town."

[3:16 PM] Ryleigh (Nicole): Ryleigh lays on her back, hands behind her head, staring at the ceiling intently. She hesitates, "and you're here because its your duty to protect this town?...to protect it from the deep? but, what is the deep?"

[3:20 PM] DM: "Not the town, the entire plane. The deep is a kraken, a being of great power and evil and sworn enemy of my people. Its... presence is nearly inconceivable to the people here, which is why they shroud it in myth and metaphor. I am here to find and eliminate what is called a 'scion', a kind of spy for the kraken."

[3:23 PM] Ryleigh (Nicole): "Is there any way to defeat the kraken? To free these people from its terror?"

[3:34 PM] DM: "In time, yes. But you must understand that even the full might of my people only made it flee to the darkest depths of the water plane. The best we can do for now is to mitigate its effects and hope to one day drive it back to the plane of water where it came from. To fight a kraken is like fighting a god."

[3:43 PM] Ryleigh (Nicole): Ryleigh sighs heavily, "I understand." She's silent for a long time, "The murderer, he mentioned that the townspeople are forced to give 'the deep' their children and that they are doomed to serve 'the deep' during life and then again in death. Do you believe there is truth to that statement or is he just shrouding an actual problem in 'myth and metaphor'? And what will finding this 'scion' help you accomplish?"(edited)

[3:50 PM] DM: "That is troubling. If they are actually giving their children to the sea, it sounds like an actual problem. We have no reason to believe there was a scion before a couple weeks ago, so they likely serve another purpose. Scions are capable of transferring their memories to their masters across great distances. The kraken may be checking up on them to make sure the town is fulfilling its demands."(edited)

[4:14 PM] Ryleigh (Nicole): "That's why the captain murdered her, because he refused to give the sea his child. Not that that excuses his actions, but I was not expecting the answers he gave me. And what can we do? nothing. We can not fight a god, but we should help these people." Ryleigh closes her eyes and exhales slowly, "I don't know what to do" she says more to herself than Zunis.(edited)

[4:18 PM] DM: "In the morning, we will reconvene with our allies and discuss what needs to be done, and I will send a message to my liege for advice and aid, but we must ready ourselves for the potential to be in an unwinnable situation. We are not equipped to take on a god. We must pursue attainable goals or our lives will be spent in vain."

[4:26 PM] Ryleigh (Nicole): "Yes, I know you're right. But it doesn't make this situation any easier to comprehend. Let's leave it for morning." Before she falls asleep, Ryleigh whispers to herself, "Vengeance, true vengeance, demands as much discipline and balanced application as any other discipline of the mind. Emotions must remain controlled, a thorough understanding of evil must be had, while body and will must both be honed to perfection to punish the greatest possible evil." She then repeats, "Emotions must remain controlled...to punish the greatest possible evil."

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