FE 2

[4:20:22 PM | Edited 4:20:39 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: So, it's a couple days after you guys signed up with Canto. Those of you that take him up on his offer of room and board at the Bearded Unicorn get settled in, those of you who don't have been making preparations for your new life of ADVENTURE.

[4:23:34 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: You have become familiar with the staff of the Unicorn -- there's Irwin, the barkeep, who runs the pub, who's a stoic duergar fellow. He has three adult children who also work there. There's Cag and Cas, a pair of twins, who work as waitstaff when necessarily. They are both very outgoing and friendly and extremely flirty with you all. Then there's Lenore, Irwin's oldest daughter, who mostly works as a bard, providing the Unicorn's music. You also know she works to keep the books of the place.

[4:24:02 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Canto himself seems to come and go a lot -- you actually haven't seen him since he signed you all up.

[4:24:34 PM] Ander: ((Cag and Cas, boys, girls, one of each, or unknown?))

[4:25:29 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Cag is a man, Cas a woman. Their true names are longer, though they never tell you what their names are short for.

[4:27:21 PM] *** Ander would like to get drunk and attempt to show what she tried to do to that mugger in the alley to a chair. ***

[4:27:57 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Your food is free, but they do eventually make you pay for drinks.

[4:28:17 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: But sure, go ahead, just make an attack roll.

[4:28:39 PM] Ander: ((16 with 6 dam))

[4:29:04 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: You guys are all sitting around one evening, and Ander gets drunk, and attacks a chair, for some reason.

[4:29:38 PM] Ander: "And that hic and that...is what would've happened to his face had the other one not come behind me with the fecking knife."

[4:29:57 PM] *** Vydea nods along. "Impressive." ***

[4:32:20 PM] *** Vydea is no longer dressed like a librarian, for what it's worth. Except for that first day, she's mostly been in nice clothes of a deep blue with hints of silvers or golds. She does also carry some sort of a bag that seems over-stuffed with things and is never far from a notebook. ***

[4:35:05 PM] *** Vashti sips her tea.

"I'll take your word for it." ***

[4:35:09 PM] Vydea: Are you unaccustomed to fighting people with knives then, Ander?

[4:35:41 PM] Ander: "What?  No.  I've fought plenty with knives.  Just...it's been a while.  I was...out of practice."

[4:36:00 PM] Vydea: I meant fighting against people who are using knives themselves.

[4:36:04 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Irwin:  You owe me a chair, you.

[4:36:29 PM] Ander: "Eh, just put it on me tab, Win."

[4:37:29 PM | Edited 4:37:33 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Irwin:  That is not how tabs work, and you don't have one.

[4:39:02 PM] Ander: "Materi--*hic*--Material concerns will weigh down your mind, friend.  Seek solace from within.  ...and I'll pay you back once we get a job."

[4:39:11 PM] *** Vydea glances at Irwin and back to Ander. "You know... that's not a way to get on the good side of someone who can spit in your food." ***

[4:39:26 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Irwin:  Yes. 'Can'.

[4:40:14 PM] Daneel: We will reimburse you for the chair and Hopefully there will be no more combat demonstrations on furniture.

[4:40:20 PM] *** Vashti is looking increasingly uncomfortable. ***

[4:41:27 PM] *** Vydea looks at Vashti for a long moment, examining her. ***

[4:42:20 PM] Ander: "I promise, I shall buy you a new chair.  Whenever the robot pays us."

[4:43:48 PM] *** Vashti is making much the same face as anyone would, if exposed to a nails-on-chalkboard screech. ***

[4:44:33 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Canto steps through the front door. "That seems racist.  I feel like I should be insulted."

[4:45:11 PM] *** Ander stiffens and turns to see Canto behind her. "...I meant it in a good way?" ***

[4:45:42 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Canto:  Mmmm. So, you figure out a name?

[4:45:56 PM] *** Vydea turns to smile at Canto. "Evening, Canto." ***

[4:46:19 PM] *** Ander composes herself. "Name for what?" ***

[4:46:31 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Canto:  Your company.

[4:46:50 PM] Ander: "Didn't we go with Outsiders?

[4:47:09 PM] Kite: Correct.

[4:47:36 PM] Vashti: I think we did, unless I've somehow wandered into a parallel universe.

[4:47:41 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Canto:   You're sticking with that? All right.

[4:48:03 PM] Vashti: Which has been known to happen.

[4:48:25 PM | Edited 4:48:29 PM] Ander: "...I mean...I don't have a better one.  Anyone else mind?"

[4:48:40 PM] *** Vydea shrugs. ***

[4:49:56 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Canto:  Anyway, I have a job for you.

[4:50:27 PM] *** Vashti mumbles "I swear, it was 'Mordenkein dwarf fortress tales', not Mordenkain. ***

[4:51:02 PM] *** Vydea perks up, notebook at the ready. ***

[4:51:44 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Canto:  I have a... let's say friend. He's an old wizard. He's got something in his basement he wants out.

[4:52:03 PM] Kite: What is it?

[4:52:34 PM] Vydea: This wouldn't be one of the Eight, would it?

[4:52:35 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Canto:  Probably rats. Something vermin-y.

[4:53:06 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Canto:  Huh? No. Cranky old bastard named Glyph 92.

[4:53:44 PM] Ander: "Huh, I've never met a Mek Wizard before.  That sounds cool."

[4:53:47 PM] *** Vydea writes. ***

[4:54:09 PM] Vydea: Ninety-two? That sounds.... excessive.

[4:54:17 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Canto:  He's old and weird and afraid of rats.

[4:54:45 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Canto:  Yeah. Usually when a Mek has that many iterations they don't really advertise.

[4:55:03 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Canto:  And a lot of us get.... a bit squirrely after too many.

[4:55:37 PM] Vydea: Interesting.

[4:55:44 PM] Vydea: When? Where?

[4:56:06 PM] Kite: How so?

[4:56:20 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Canto:  He has a tower over in the Mage Ward.

[4:56:48 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Canto:  Memory gets faulty, personality quirks get a bit.... amplified.

[4:57:08 PM] *** Ander deflates a bit the more about this job is revealed, but doesn't speak out. ***

[4:57:50 PM] Kite: Intriguing.

[4:58:04 PM] Vydea: Well. I'm excited. Is anyone else excited?

[4:58:15 PM] Kite: Yes.

[4:59:24 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Canto looks at Ander. "Gotta start somewhere, kid.   Anyway, here's the address.  Go there, talk to him, figure out what he needs."

[5:00:24 PM] Ander: ((What time is it now? I assumed this was at night.))

[5:00:37 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Yep, it's early evening.

[5:00:51 PM] Vydea: Does he expect us tonight? Or in the morning?

[5:01:26 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Canto:  Tonight. You keep adventurer hours now. And he keeps 'crazy old wizard' hours.

[5:01:48 PM] *** Kite nods. ***

[5:01:57 PM] *** Vydea nods, writes something down, shuts her notebook and stands. "Let's go then!" ***

[5:02:05 PM] *** Ander goes to the bar. "May I have a quick cup of coffee?" ***

[5:02:29 PM] Ander: "Nevermind, no time."

[5:02:43 PM] Vydea: Oh! Canto, I meant to ask... would you mind signing my book? It must have slipped my mind last time.

[5:02:47 PM] *** Vydea holds out a book and quill. ***

[5:03:48 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Canto: .... why?

[5:04:29 PM] Vydea: I collect people. Well, their signatures. Autographs!

[5:05:10 PM] Vydea: You'd be my best yet. None of the others are famous... yet.

[5:05:33 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Canto:  ... I don't really think I count as famous, but okay.

[5:05:59 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: He signs it in Mek.

[5:06:09 PM] *** Vydea smiles! "Thank you!" ***

[5:06:12 PM] Ander: ((Is that like binary? :P ))

[5:06:26 PM] Kite: How many signatures have you acquired?

[5:06:53 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Kind of. It's more like the buzz of an old modem translated into written language.

[5:06:55 PM] Vydea: Lots. I'd like to get all of yours too.

[5:07:29 PM] Vydea: (The book of signatures is a different one from the notebook she's been taking notes in. It's probably half full of scribbles.)

[5:08:00 PM] Vydea: One day, I hope to get the Eight.

[5:08:02 PM] Ander: "...you don't use these signatures for magic, right?"

[5:08:34 PM] Vashti: That is a valid concern, actually.

[5:08:44 PM] Vydea: Magic? No. I just feel like it's... a little part of them I can keep with me.

[5:09:08 PM] Ander: "Oh, that's good."

[5:09:53 PM] *** Kite signs, neatly. It looks printed. ***

[5:10:15 PM] Vydea: Thanks!

[5:12:06 PM] Ander: "We should get going, right?  Help this soul...clear out his basement."

[5:12:11 PM] Vydea: Yes!

[5:12:12 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: So you guys head out?

[5:12:19 PM] *** Ander does ***

[5:12:36 PM] *** Vydea does too! She's very excited. ***

[5:12:53 PM] *** Ander will follow Vydea, who has the address. ***

[5:13:48 PM] *** Kite goes last to secure the party! ***

[5:14:12 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: You guys head out! Song's Heart is a big, bustling city, even at night, so there's still lots of folks out and about.

[5:14:25 PM] *** Vashti trundles along, looking somewhat annoyed. ***

[5:15:32 PM] Vydea: Have any of you done this before?

[5:15:57 PM] Ander: "Cleared vermin?  When I was young, yes."

[5:16:05 PM] Vydea: No, no, adventuring!

[5:16:24 PM] Vashti: Somewhat.

[5:16:40 PM] Ander: "Ah, no."

[5:16:58 PM] Kite: I had a trial before I graduated.

[5:18:09 PM] Daneel: No, usually trouble occurs without me having to seek it out.

[5:18:36 PM] Ander: "You said you had not, yes?  You are here to write?"

[5:18:43 PM] Vydea: Right.

[5:19:48 PM] Ander: I would think you would be somewhat disappointed. From what I understand, tales of adventure are supposed to be grand. This seems like a rat-catching duty.

[5:20:05 PM] Kite: Most likely most adventures begin that way.

[5:20:34 PM] Vydea: I'm not disappointed at all. It's all about perspective.

[5:22:19 PM] Ander: Well, we shall see how that pays out.

[5:23:03 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: You guys find yourself in front of Glyph 92's tower! Picture a lighthouse -- there's a tower, rising from a house at the bottom.

[5:23:43 PM] Kite: That does not seem a practical dwelling place. ... perhaps Meks don't suffer knee ailments.

[5:24:07 PM] Vydea: Kite or Vashti? Since you have experience, would you like to take point?

[5:24:23 PM] Ander: I think it's a wizard things. I am told magic types love their towers.

[5:24:35 PM | Removed 5:24:42 PM] Ander: This message has been removed.

[5:24:43 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: You're currently in the Mage Ward, and there are a lot of towers.

[5:24:55 PM] *** Kite nods, and goes first. ***

[5:25:08 PM] *** Ander stands behind Kite, just in case things go sideways. ***

[5:25:20 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Do you knock on the door?

[5:25:32 PM] *** Vydea watches the group, fascinated. ***

[5:25:35 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: I mean, you could bust in, but I wouldn't suggest that as a DM.

[5:26:13 PM] *** Kite will knock. ***

[5:27:08 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: There's at least three signs that say no soliciting. You use the knocker, and it sounds a lot louder than it should, because magic.

[5:28:03 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: After a few moments, a small hatch opens on the door, and you see a pair of glowing green eyes regarding you. "WHAT."

[5:29:05 PM] Kite: Canto sent us to assist with your basement woes.

[5:29:21 PM] Kite: Good evening.

[5:29:35 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: He regards you for a long moment. "What's the password?"

[5:29:44 PM] *** Vydea checks her notes. ***

[5:30:04 PM] Ander: "...I don't think he gave us one?"

[5:30:34 PM] *** Vydea shakes her head. "Try... we're here to kill rats." ***

[5:30:41 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: The hatch closes.

[5:30:52 PM] Kite: We were not given a password.

[5:32:29 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: After a moment, the door opens. There's no one behind it, and you hear a voice from up above you. As you step in, You see that the tower itself is like a lighthouse, with a staircase winding up above you, and doors on either side.

[5:32:45 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: "Come on, then, I haven't all evening, I'm old, and I'll probably die at any moment."

[5:32:47 PM] Kite: Thank you.

[5:32:54 PM] Kite: ... are you ill?

[5:32:58 PM] *** Kite starts walking up the steps. ***

[5:33:04 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Voice:  Probably!

[5:33:15 PM] *** Ander enters ***

[5:33:23 PM] *** Vydea will follow along, probably near the back of the group. ***

[5:34:09 PM] Kite: You are uncertain?

[5:34:16 PM] Ander: "...no offense...how do you get ill?"

[5:34:25 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: It takes about a minute to get up the stairs, and you find the old Mek up there, mostly covered by robes, seated at a large desk. THe top of the tower seems dominated by a mage's study.

[5:34:25 PM] *** Vydea checks the back of the door for the hatch to see if the eyes were a contraption of sorts. ***

[5:34:42 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Nope! There's nothing on the back of the door. Not even a hatch.

[5:34:51 PM] Vydea: Fascinating.

[5:35:15 PM] Kite: Sir.

[5:35:18 PM] *** Vydea hurries to catch up. ***

[5:35:50 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Mek:  I am Glyph 92. ARe you here about the used mason jars?

[5:36:05 PM] Kite: No. We are here to assist with your basement problem.

[5:36:19 PM] Ander: "...the what?"

[5:36:24 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: He narrows his eyes suspiciously. "Who told you I had a basement?"

[5:36:31 PM] Kite: Canto 7.

[5:37:01 PM] Daneel: Canto 7 told us that you needed something removed from your basement.

[5:37:04 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: He sighs heavily, his voice tinny.

[5:37:40 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Glyph:  Well, if you're HERE, you might as well help with my basement. Since you know about it anyway. Make yourSELVES useful.

[5:37:53 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: The volume of his flanged voice seems to go up and down at random.

[5:38:17 PM] Ander: "...are you trying to do that?"

[5:38:26 PM] Kite: Very well. Where is the basement access point?

[5:38:40 PM] Daneel: What is the problem in the basement?

[5:38:56 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Glyph:  Do WHAT.

[5:39:24 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Glyph:  Oh, yes. I had insects. INSECTS.

[5:39:53 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Glyph:  So I introduced rats. You know what that gets you? RATS.

[5:40:02 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Glyph:  I HATE RATS.

[5:40:21 PM] Daneel: If you hate them why did you bring them in?

[5:40:34 PM] Kite: ... because he had insects?

[5:40:49 PM] *** Ander whispers to Daneel. "I think this will go faster if we just...stop asking questions." ***

[5:41:39 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Glyph:  Rats EAT insects.

[5:41:55 PM] Vydea: Maybe spiders would be a better choice.

[5:42:09 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Glyph:  ANYWAY. Downstairs. Door on the left. SPIDERS, WHERE

[5:42:31 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: He stands up suddenly, and his hands come alight with magical energy.

[5:42:34 PM] *** Ander sighs heavily and goes for the door. ***

[5:43:30 PM] Daneel: It's ok, no spiders around. We are going down to the basement to deal with the rat problem.

[5:43:37 PM] Vydea: No spiders, sir. Would you mind autographing my book for me?

[5:43:45 PM] *** Vydea holds out her book and quill. ***

[5:43:57 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Glyph:  .... all right.

[5:44:05 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: He signs it distractedly.

[5:44:15 PM] Vydea: Thank you so much! We'll get right on your problem.

[5:44:26 PM] *** Ander opens the door and goes through. ***

[5:44:35 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: You guys head downstairs?

[5:44:41 PM] *** Ander does, yes. ***

[5:44:55 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: It takes another minute to get down. Everyone roll Perception.

[5:44:58 PM] *** Vydea follows. ***

[5:44:58 PM] *** Kite goes last again. ***

[5:45:09 PM] Vydea: (15)

[5:45:26 PM] Ander: ((6))

[5:45:43 PM] Kite: ((... there are two, which one do I take?))

[5:45:49 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: ((The first.))

[5:45:52 PM] Kite: ((6!))

[5:45:59 PM] Daneel: (( 12 ))

[5:46:13 PM] Vydea: (there are two for when you have advantage/disadvantage)

[5:47:00 PM] Ander: ((If you got to the gear icon at the left side you can turn that off, I think. It's next to the "CORE", "BIO" and "SPELLS" tabs.

[5:47:38 PM] Vydea: (yeah i have it set to toggle)

[5:48:12 PM] Kite: ((S'fine, I can just ignore the second one.))

[5:48:30 PM] *** Vydea stops and lets Kite by. "What was that, sir?" ***

[5:48:32 PM] Ander: ((That works too.))

[5:48:42 PM] Ander: "What was what?"

[5:48:49 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Glyph:  What was WHAT?

[5:49:11 PM] Vydea: I thought you said something as we were leaving. I just wanted to make sure there wasn't anything else we needed to know.

[5:49:39 PM] Vydea: This is my first adventure and I'd really like to do an excellent job.

[5:49:48 PM] *** Kite pauses and waits for the others! ***

[5:49:49 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Glyph:  Oh! Right. the CAT. I let a cat LOOSE down there. The CAT. But I think it took its money and RAN.

[5:50:11 PM] Vydea: Oh! Ok. Is the cat also something you want removed?

[5:50:14 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Glyph:  NEVER TRUST A CAT TO DO A GROUP OF ADVENTURING... WHATEVER YOU ARES JOB.

[5:50:40 PM] Kite: ... cats are not typically task-oriented.

[5:50:58 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Glyph:  That is the NAME of my NEWSLETTER.

[5:51:17 PM] Ander: ((I have music going and "Who Wants to Live Forever" just came on. ...that is a bad omen.))

[5:51:17 PM] Vydea: Typically task-oriented?

[5:51:22 PM] Daneel: So insects to rats to a cat to adventurers? No other random animals?

[5:51:32 PM] Kite: ... Task-Oriented, Cats, or Cats are Not Typically Task-Oriented?

[5:51:33 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Glyph:  WHAT

[5:51:56 PM] *** Ander ignores this conversation and keeps going. ***

[5:51:58 PM] *** Vydea smiles at Kite. "I like you." ***

[5:52:11 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Glyph:  Do WHAT you NEED to, I HAVE to find that SPIDER

[5:52:39 PM] *** Vydea follows the others. "Will do!" ***

[5:52:44 PM] Kite: Thank you.

[5:52:45 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: You think you hear the sounds of magical combat coming from up above as you head downstairs as he contends with... whatever.

[5:52:57 PM] *** Kite heads down the stairs first! ***

[5:53:14 PM] Kite: ... perhaps it was Typically Task-Oriented.

[5:53:22 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: So you're at the door to the basement!

[5:53:23 PM] Ander: "Great.  Now we have to worry about that crazy old goat dropping his whole tower on us."

[5:53:37 PM] *** Ander will open the door and go in first. ***

[5:53:51 PM] *** Kite goes second. ***

[5:53:53 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: I believe Kite had taken the lead!

[5:54:10 PM] Ander: ((I thought she was taking the rear))

[5:54:21 PM] Kite: Unlikely. Then a clean basement would not be relevant.

[5:54:24 PM] Vydea: (Kite is all places.)

[5:54:37 PM] Ander: ((Kite is everywhere and nowhere, all is Kite!))

[5:54:45 PM] Kite: ((I was in the back, then people waited, then I moved to the front.))

[5:55:05 PM] Kite: ((Then you went first so I dropped back.))

[5:55:16 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Okay. So who opens the door?

[5:55:20 PM] Ander: ((I think I went first, Daneel and Vashti were behind me and Kite was in the back but then Vydea let her pass))

[5:55:24 PM] *** Ander does! ***

[5:55:40 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Make a Con save.

[5:55:54 PM] Ander: ((Not bad, 14))

[5:56:11 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: You take 2 pts of cold damage, and you hear a voice from above you. "OH!  Mind the TRAP.

[5:56:20 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Glyph:  Because of the RATS.

[5:56:35 PM] Vydea: Oh! Ander, are you ok?

[5:56:51 PM] *** Ander shivers with a scowl on her face "...th-th-th-THANKS FOR THE W-W-W-WARNING!" ***

[5:57:12 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: As Ander open the door, she just got a tiny bit blasted by shards of ice.

[5:57:27 PM] Kite: I have an extra sweater, if you would like to borrow it.

[5:58:01 PM] Ander: "Thanks, but I'm fine.  Keep an eye out for more traps.  I don't trust this guy to have forgotten any OTHERS."

[5:58:01 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: But the door, she is open.

[5:58:13 PM] *** Ander will CAUTIOUSLY step through. ***

[5:58:31 PM] *** Vydea will keep her eyes peeled. ***

[5:58:39 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Nothing else explodes, and Ander sees a stone staircase leading down into a pitch dark basement.

[5:59:08 PM] *** Kite lights a lantern and follows. ***

[6:00:07 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: There's light now! It's a wizard's basement. It's pretty spacious, with boxes and crates and covered furniture, along with various other odds and ends lying about loose.

[6:00:22 PM] *** Vashti does not seem to need a lantern, oddly enough. ***

[6:00:31 PM] *** Ander will still lead if people let her. ***

[6:00:54 PM] *** Vydea will kind of wander in the back, looking at lots of things. (She also doesn't need a lantern 'cause elf darkvision) ***

[6:01:12 PM] *** Kite goes second, holding the lantern so the others can see. ***

[6:01:32 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Give me perception checks.

[6:01:43 PM] Vydea: ((22!))

[6:01:51 PM] Ander: ((Better, 18))

[6:01:56 PM] Kite: ((15.))

[6:02:28 PM] Daneel: (( 18 ))

[6:03:51 PM] Vashti: [16]

[6:04:03 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: You guys all smell mold, and decay, and musty basement smell, along with something like faintly curdled milk.

[6:04:19 PM] *** Vydea writes that down. ***

[6:04:21 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: And you guys all hear skittering.

[6:04:32 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: From all around you.

[6:05:06 PM] Ander: "Well, sounds like his insect hunting patrol's been breeding"

[6:05:11 PM] *** Kite tries to see where it is. ***

[6:05:21 PM] Ander: "Or he got way too many."

[6:05:41 PM] *** Vashti also surveys her surroundings ***

[6:06:04 PM] *** Vydea pokes around in a corner. ***

[6:06:44 PM] *** Ander goes towards the closest sounding skitter and cracks her knuckles. ***

[6:08:18 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Give me investigation rolls, since you're now searching more deliberately. Now, it's a big basement, how far apart do you go from each other?

[6:08:33 PM] Vydea: (22!)

[6:08:46 PM] Ander: ((8))

[6:08:59 PM] *** Ander will stay fairly close to Kite and the lantern. ***

[6:09:05 PM] Vashti: ((20))

[6:09:17 PM] *** Vydea will wander a bit, but not more than like 20' away from the closest person. ***

[6:09:42 PM] *** Vashti tries to stay close. if she wanders more than 5 feet, she will cast light on random loose objects ***

[6:10:02 PM] Kite: ((20, because of course I roll well when it doesn't matter!))

[6:10:19 PM | Edited 6:10:35 PM] Vashti: [ :D ]

[6:11:14 PM] *** Daneel will stay near the staircase and cast light on a box nearby if it gets dark. ***

[6:11:19 PM] Kite: ... that is a very sizeable rat.

[6:11:25 PM] Kite: ... being chased by something even larger.

[6:11:50 PM] Ander: "...I can't see it.  Where?"

[6:12:03 PM] *** Kite points, or tries. ***

[6:12:23 PM | Edited 6:12:50 PM] Vashti: Guys, I think I found something. seems like some sort of fancy rod.

[6:13:01 PM] Ander: "Probably something magic.  I wouldn't touch it, if I were you."

[6:13:03 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: She points! you guy look where she points, and she anticipates where it's going to be, and you see a rat, being chased by something skittering after it, insect like.

[6:13:24 PM] *** Vydea doesn't want to miss the fight, so she comes back closer to the group. "There's a bit of Darkness over there too." ***

[6:13:27 PM] Badlands Hammerhead:  ANd you're, like, catching a glipse of it through boxes and clutter, it's not clear.

[6:13:43 PM] Kite: ... that may be an extremely large spider.

[6:13:53 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Okay, so now what I'm going to have you do is roll initiative to determine an order in which things happen.

[6:14:05 PM] Vydea: (17)

[6:14:27 PM] Vashti: (10)

[6:14:27 PM] Kite: ((17.))

[6:14:32 PM] Ander: ((16))

[6:15:22 PM] Daneel: (( 14 ))

[6:15:34 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Okay, hold on just a sec.

[6:16:43 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: ((I don't know how to map.))

[6:24:58 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: I'm not using the map for combat, just for reference.

[6:25:12 PM | Edited 6:25:27 PM] Ander: ((Ah. Ok.))

[6:25:44 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: I'll figure out how to use it for next time when there's combat, but this isn't necessarily combat yet.

[6:26:01 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: So, we'll go with Vydea first.

[6:26:45 PM] *** Vydea figures Vashti's close enough, so she'll see if she can sneak closer to the dark thing and see what it is. ***

[6:27:09 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Okay, gimme a stealth check.

[6:27:17 PM] Vydea: (nat 20- 25)

[6:27:56 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: How close do you get?

[6:28:34 PM | Edited 6:28:55 PM] Vydea: (Is it a thing with a boundary? Like an edge to touch or avoid touching?)

[6:28:40 PM | Edited 6:28:49 PM] Vydea: (Or is it just... murky?)

[6:29:10 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: You can't really tell,w hat with your view being obstructed by clutter.

[6:29:39 PM] *** Vydea will try to look around the crates and stuff then, as close as necessary. ***

[6:30:09 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Give me a perception check as you edge closer, trying to get a better look at it.

[6:30:22 PM] Vydea: (18)

[6:31:57 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Do you have any actions?

[6:32:12 PM] Vydea: (Not yet. She's gonna hang back a bit and observe.)

[6:32:19 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Kite!

[6:32:42 PM] *** Kite just waits, holding the lantern up a bit! ***

[6:33:22 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: The rat and whatever is chasing it have gone out of sight, but you have an idea of where they're going.

[6:33:49 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Just holding for now?

[6:34:14 PM] Kite: ((Yeah!))

[6:34:20 PM] Kite: ((Also BRB.))

[6:34:23 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Okay! Ander.

[6:34:57 PM] Ander: ((I saw where the bug and rat ran off?))

[6:35:07 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Yep.

[6:35:20 PM] *** Ander chases after it, drawing her sword. ***

[6:35:34 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: All right, give me a perception roll.

[6:35:50 PM] Ander: ((Not good, 8))

[6:35:58 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Okay, what's your AC?

[6:36:13 PM] Ander: ((16))

[6:36:59 PM] Kite: ((Back!))

[6:38:16 PM | Edited 6:38:47 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: You go over to the wall, where you saw the rat last, and you notice a big crack in the stone floor and wall, and something flies out of it, at you -- it's not a bug. It's a dessicated, animate humanoid hand skittering around like an evil Thing from the Addams Family movies. It slashes at you, but your reflexes are pretty good, and you sidestep it.

[6:38:47 PM] Ander: "Song's grace!"

[6:38:56 PM] *** Ander tries to stab it! ***

[6:39:04 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Roll!

[6:39:17 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: That does not hit.

[6:39:40 PM] Ander: ((Can I get a bonus action or was finding it a bonus action?))

[6:39:52 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: I'll give you one.

[6:40:03 PM] *** Ander would like to try and kick it into the lantern light. ***

[6:40:16 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: That kite is holding?

[6:40:25 PM] Ander: ((Yeah, towards the group, basically))

[6:40:35 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Okay, gimme a roll.

[6:40:48 PM] Ander: ((24))

[6:40:56 PM] Ander: ((8 Dam, if that counts here))

[6:41:35 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: That hits. The thing is not hardy, though, as you kick it, it flies to pieces that go scattering across the floor.

[6:41:45 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Daneel!

[6:42:43 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Daneel?

[6:42:49 PM] Kite: ... what was that?

[6:43:36 PM] *** Daneel will head towards the rest of the group. ***

[6:43:48 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: I was assuming you were already with them.

[6:44:14 PM] Daneel: (( I was back by the staircase I believe.))

[6:44:39 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Okay, you move forward just in time to see a bit of dried up index finger roll into your foot.

[6:45:13 PM] Ander: "We've got fecking zombie hands!"

[6:45:32 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: You guys still hear skittering.

[6:45:52 PM] Kite: ...

[6:45:55 PM] Kite: ... pardon?

[6:46:05 PM] Daneel: Is that what this is part of?

[6:46:54 PM] *** Daneel will pick up the finger and hold it away from him. ***

[6:47:08 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: It's very dry.

[6:47:28 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: A rat runs up to Kite! It tries to climb up her boot.

[6:48:46 PM] *** Kite lets it. ***

[6:49:02 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: It climbs up kite and tries to hide somewhere on her person.

[6:49:12 PM] *** Kite lets it into her bag. ***

[6:49:23 PM] *** Kite will then close it. ***

[6:49:27 PM] Kite: ... I have secured the animal.

[6:49:40 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Vashti! What's your AC?

[6:50:44 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Vashti?

[6:51:05 PM] Vashti: [11. Sorreh.]

[6:52:11 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Another disembodied hand comes at you from behind some crates, this one throws itself at you and is inexplicably wielding a bloody cleaver. It jumps at you and slashes you on its way, dealing 3 pts of damage.

[6:53:55 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: A third crawling claw lunges at Daneel. Whats your AC, Daneel?

[6:54:09 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: ... never mind, it flies past you, missing.

[6:54:13 PM] Daneel: (( 12 ))

[6:54:22 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Yeah, it rolled a 6.

[6:54:33 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Vashti! You're up.

[6:58:00 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: You got two crawling claws visible, one with the bloody cleaver that attacked you.

[6:59:05 PM] *** Vashti will attempt to Eldritch Blast the nearest one, which is probably the cleaver-wielder. ***

[6:59:18 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: YEs, indeed, blast away!

[7:01:47 PM] Vashti: [proficiency is 2, right?]

[7:02:15 PM | Removed 7:02:27 PM] Vydea: This message has been removed.

[7:02:17 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: ((Yeah.))

[7:02:47 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: That is indeed a hit.

[7:03:17 PM] Vashti: [3 bits of hurtiness]

[7:03:21 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: You kill it.

[7:03:35 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: It bursts apart, dropping the bloody cleaver.

[7:04:02 PM] Kite: That is extremely disturbing.

[7:04:19 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Vydea!

[7:05:16 PM] Vydea: (Is there anything smallish i might be able to throw nearby? )

[7:05:25 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Oh, sure.

[7:05:34 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: You can find a small bit of masonry.

[7:05:47 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Not bigger than a pebble.

[7:05:47 PM] *** Vydea will throw something to make a noise on the other side of the thing. ***

[7:06:14 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Okay! Hmm, gimme a dex check.

[7:06:30 PM] Vydea: (16)

[7:07:05 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: You guys watch as suddenly a black tendril pops up and smacks at a part of the floor, near the corner Vydea is engrossed with.

[7:07:41 PM] Kite: This is increasingly appearing to be an unacceptable basement.

[7:07:53 PM] *** Vydea will sneak back towards the group, noping the heck away. ***

[7:07:56 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: A rumbling comes from the corner.

[7:08:05 PM] Ander: Anyone else getting really worried what the geezer's been up to down here?

[7:08:43 PM] Kite: Extremely.

[7:09:19 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: A long, slinky figure appears. moving very low to the floor, and coming into view around a crate. It's very black, and is vaguely feline, except for the tendril coming off its back and its six legs.

[7:09:36 PM] Kite: "Cat."

[7:09:45 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Kite!

[7:10:04 PM] Vashti: It's at least cat-shaped. Well, mostly cat-shaped.

[7:10:25 PM] Kite: ... we appreciate your assistance; the rat has been secured.

[7:10:45 PM] *** Kite has no idea if it understands or not, but she's not going to hurt something that looks like a cat until she's sure, dammit. ***

[7:11:01 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: It growls. Gimme... hmmm, a perception check.

[7:11:07 PM] Ander: "...Kite...you know there were multiple rats, right?"

[7:11:21 PM] Ander: ((Everyone or just Kite?))

[7:11:25 PM] Kite: "Were."

[7:11:26 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: ((Just kite.))

[7:11:31 PM] Kite: ((18!))

[7:14:10 PM] *** Kite drops to one knee and holds her hand out to the cat-thing. "I can't think of anything reassuring to say, and you likely couldn't comprehend it anyway, so I am hoping my tone of voice will carry the statement adequately." ***

[7:15:10 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Make an animal handling check. If you don't have the skill, just a straight cha roll.

[7:15:32 PM | Edited 7:16:30 PM] Kite: ((Wisdom now, unfortunately!))

[7:15:41 PM] Kite: ((5!))

[7:16:22 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Roll a charisma check if you don't have the skill. :)

[7:16:47 PM] Kite: ((21!))

[7:17:34 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: It eyes you, and doesn't seem ready to pounce! It lets you get closer to it. and you can touch it if you want.

[7:17:54 PM] Ander: "...what is happening right now?"

[7:18:19 PM] *** Kite touches it quite gently. ***

[7:18:22 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Ander! Its your turn, and there's still one more claw that just attacked Daneel.

[7:18:41 PM] *** Ander walks over and stomps the hand to death. ***

[7:19:08 PM] Ander: ((24 to hit, 6 Dam))

[7:19:13 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: That is pretty much what you do, you squish it.

[7:19:40 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: That is all the claws that you've seen, so we'll drop out of initiative for now.

[7:19:56 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: If it starts up again, I'll use the same numbers.

[7:20:08 PM] *** Ander heads for the stairs, immediately. ***

[7:20:24 PM] *** Vydea is still sneaky. ***

[7:20:44 PM] *** Kite scritches the big kitty behind the ears. ***

[7:21:04 PM] *** Ander will leave the group if need be. She is going up to see Glyph. ***

[7:21:08 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: The displacer beast blinks, and is able to open its other eye. One of the stumps of its tentacles also stops oozing.

[7:21:15 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Everyone roll perception.

[7:21:28 PM] Ander: ((14))

[7:21:33 PM] Vydea: (17)

[7:21:47 PM] Kite: ((2. I mean, the kitty has her full attention, so.))

[7:21:50 PM] Kite: Good cat. Good.

[7:21:56 PM] Daneel: (( 20 ))

[7:21:58 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: It accepts Kite's pettings and makes a weird, somehow horrible and pitiful sounding mewling type noise.

[7:23:04 PM] *** Ander stops as it does this. ***

[7:23:08 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Daneel, Ander, and Vydea notice that the skittering noises have stopped, but there are these piteous squeaking noises coming from the crack in the wall.

[7:23:13 PM] Vashti: [10. Vashti is also somewhat distracted by the cat.]

[7:24:06 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: People can also roll Arcana if they got it.

[7:24:29 PM] *** Ander goes over to the crack and looks inside. ***

[7:25:15 PM] *** Daneel will head over to the crack as well ***

[7:25:29 PM] Kite: This is a very small displacer beast. ... is it a baby?

[7:26:02 PM] *** Ander will allow Daneel over, but does her best to shield Daneel as they approach. ***

[7:26:10 PM] Kite: Good potentially-kitten, good.

[7:26:14 PM] *** Vydea comes out from the corner. "It killed a bunch of those hands." ***

[7:26:42 PM] Kite: Very good potentially-kitten.

[7:27:00 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: the wounds on the thing close more, and it bumps her hand with its head.

[7:27:10 PM] *** Daneel will stop on his way to the crack to inspect a box. ***

[7:27:15 PM] Vydea: Are you healing it?

[7:27:26 PM] Kite: Yes. A small amount.

[7:27:47 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Ander looks in the crack and you can see three more rats, clustered in a crevice and squeaking fearfully.

[7:27:51 PM] *** Ander is still looking in the hole, if she can see anything. ***

[7:28:00 PM] Ander: ((nevermind, lol))

[7:28:08 PM] *** Vydea holds her hand out for the "Cat" to smell. ***

[7:28:22 PM] *** Ander turns to Kite. "Would anyone object if I kill the rats?" ***

[7:28:37 PM] Kite: Put them in my bag instead, with the other one.

[7:29:24 PM] *** Ander goes over and grabs Kite's bag and hands it to Vydea "Here, you have a better reach than I do.  And I've got business to attend to." ***

[7:29:38 PM] Kite: Business?

[7:30:06 PM] Daneel: How many of those hand things have we seen?

[7:30:12 PM] *** Vydea looks at the bag, confused. ***

[7:30:21 PM] Vydea: There's a pile of them where the cat was sleeping.

[7:31:02 PM] Ander: "Great, if they're alive, stick them in the bag.  If not, grab the three in the wall."

[7:31:04 PM] *** Vydea will... try to coax the rats into the bag? "Here, ratty ratty?" ***

[7:31:07 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: The rat that Kite saved earlier squeaks and pokes its head out. It's a weird looking rat, you realize -- it's big, and it has no hair on its little rat arms, its front legs.

[7:31:18 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: And it seems... buff? That's why it seems so big.

[7:31:48 PM] Vydea: A pile of hands, not rats.

[7:32:04 PM] *** Ander goes up the stairs and to where we met Glyph. ***

[7:32:14 PM] Vydea: Should she go by herself?

[7:32:38 PM] Kite: No.

[7:32:38 PM] Vydea: And what did you all see running around? Has that been dealt with?

[7:32:44 PM] Kite: I will stay with the "cat."

[7:32:48 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: The door is locked.

[7:32:57 PM] Ander: ((The basement is locked?))

[7:33:00 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Yep.

[7:33:34 PM] Ander: "...that rusty, decaying mother of--"

[7:33:42 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: The displacer beast has its head fully in Kite's lap.

[7:33:50 PM] *** Ander draws her sword and prepares to chop the door down. ***

[7:33:53 PM] Vashti: What'd he do?

[7:34:16 PM] Vydea: There are better ways to open doors.

[7:34:31 PM] Vydea: Swords aren't great at it.

[7:34:43 PM] Kite: Good cat, good.

[7:34:48 PM] Kite: Why would he lock us in?

[7:35:04 PM] *** Vydea continues to try to coax the rats into the bag. ***

[7:35:29 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: The jump in once the rat that's already in the bag squeaks at them.

[7:35:44 PM] *** Vydea closes the bag and sets it next to Kite. ***

[7:35:55 PM] Vashti: Oh. Let's just hope he planned for us to die to those things, and isn't coming to finish the job himself.

[7:35:56 PM] *** Daneel will look around the basement for any movement or noises. ***

[7:36:16 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: It's all pretty quiet now, no more squeaking, no more skittering.

[7:36:27 PM] *** Vydea then rifles through her own pack for some picks. "May I?" ***

[7:36:56 PM] *** Ander looks at the door like she's consider, but does lower her sword. "...fine." ***

[7:37:24 PM] *** Vashti picks up the rod she mentioned earlier, and begins examining it. ***

[7:37:47 PM] *** Vydea tries to pick the lock! (20) ***

[7:37:57 PM] Kite: Good kitten. Good.

[7:38:16 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Vashti, roll arcana.

[7:39:05 PM] Vashti: [10.]

[7:40:46 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: THe lock clicks open!

[7:41:10 PM] *** Vydea tucks her picks away. "There you are." ***

[7:41:26 PM] Ander: "Thanks."

[7:41:36 PM] *** Ander shoots past and up to Glyph. ***

[7:41:36 PM] Kite: Indeed.

[7:41:50 PM] *** Vydea follows. ***

[7:42:24 PM] Ander: ((Does anyone follow me?))

[7:43:46 PM] *** Kite doesn't, but Vyd does! ***

[7:43:50 PM] *** Kite is staying with kitty. <3 ***

[7:44:41 PM] *** Vashti will also head out with Ander, still eyeing the rod with suspicion. ***

[7:44:52 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Is she taking the Rod?

[7:46:19 PM] Vashti: [yeh. If Glyph turns out to not actually be a terrible person who wanted to use us for flesh golem bits, he'll get it back.]

[7:46:49 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Okay, so it seems like everyone but Kite is going?

[7:47:07 PM] *** Daneel will stay in basement with Kite. ***

[7:47:32 PM] *** Ander goes and bursts into Glyph's study, or wherever we were. ***

[7:47:51 PM | Removed 7:48:19 PM] Vydea: This message has been removed.

[7:48:14 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: This is the basement.

[7:48:31 PM] Kite: I wonder if the cat will follow us back.

[7:49:13 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: The cat is actually sleeping right now, head in Kites' lap.

[7:49:30 PM] *** Kite is very still. ***

[7:49:54 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: The rats in the bag squeak, and the cat twitches an ear at it.

[7:51:18 PM] Daneel: It might, it seems to like you well enough.

[7:52:00 PM] Daneel: Though it might like anyone who didn't just lock it in a basement.

[7:54:14 PM] Kite: Possible.

[7:54:17 PM] Kite: I also healed it.

[7:54:26 PM] *** Kite checks the cat's gender. If displacer beasts have that. ***

[7:55:18 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: It's... hard to tell, but you think it's a boy? It's rather very dark furred, and so dark it seems like a shadow that moves around and has dimension.

[7:56:11 PM] Kite: Good boy.

[7:59:25 PM] Kite: ... I wonder why he locked us in.

[7:59:43 PM] *** Daneel will for lack of anything else to do start organizing some of the clutter. ***

[8:00:21 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: You find the rod that Vashti mentioned earlier -- it's made of black metal,with gold trimming, and two buttons -- one on the top, and one on the bottom.

[8:00:23 PM] Daneel: It could have been locked whenever shut to prevent the insects or rats from getting out.

[8:02:05 PM] Kite: I wondered about that as well.

[8:02:18 PM | Removed 8:03:28 PM] Kite: This message has been removed.

[8:03:07 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: ((Never mind, there's no rod, Vashti took it, I forgot, my bad.

[8:03:33 PM] Kite: Perhaps he thought the zombie fingers were spiders.

[8:04:30 PM] Daneel: No I think he ordered those. I found a box over here.

[8:05:38 PM] Kite: ... I wonder why.

[8:06:17 PM] Daneel: I doubt we would know even if we asked him.

[8:06:37 PM] Kite: True. He does seem somewhat... impaired.

[8:09:51 PM] *** Ander re-enters the basement. ***

[8:10:07 PM] Vydea: Oh, he's harmless. Reminds me of my great-great-great-great uncle Carric.

[8:10:34 PM] *** Kite is sitting with the kitty's head in her lap, gently scratching behind his ears! ***

[8:11:08 PM] Daneel: So did he mention why he ordered the hands?

[8:11:52 PM] Ander: "Never trust wizards, Vy.  They sit in their towers, plotting and scheming and suddenly you're going "hey, when did my town get ravaged by zombies"!

[8:12:06 PM] *** Ander turns to Daneel. "He doesn't remember.  Just cause!" ***

[8:12:18 PM] Kite: ... are there additional zombies, whole or part?

[8:12:44 PM] Vydea: Probably not. And we got paid! We should head back to the pub for a victory drink.

[8:13:05 PM] *** Ander looks in. ((What would my share of the gold be?)) ***

[8:13:20 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: You have no idea how this works.

[8:13:27 PM] Kite: All right.

[8:13:40 PM] *** Kite tries to nudge kitty awake. Gently. With scritchings. ***

[8:13:58 PM] *** Vashti will set the rod down somewhere out of the waym but noticeable.

"The old fart wasn't murderous, so I'll just leave this here." ***

[8:14:13 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Oh, he was just dozing, he stirs as soon as you start moving.

[8:14:43 PM] Kite: Good kitty. Do you want to come with me?

[8:15:09 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: He just watches you, but doesn't seem like you're going anywhere without him.

[8:15:56 PM] *** Ander turns to Vydea. "Hey...can I borrow...like...five gold?" ***

[8:16:10 PM] Kite: Come on, then.

[8:16:23 PM] *** Vydea tilts her head. "Ok? Right now?" ***

[8:16:37 PM] *** Kite grabs her bag of rats, and heads toward the exit, motioning to the displacer beastie. ***

[8:16:40 PM] Ander: "Yeah, I wanna stop somewhere on the way back to the Unicorn."

[8:16:40 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Taking the rats with you?

[8:16:50 PM] Kite: ((Yep!))

[8:16:51 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Okay. The beastie follows.

[8:16:57 PM] Kite: I should buy a cage for the rats as well.

[8:17:04 PM] *** Vydea pulls out her personal coin purse and counts out 5 gp for her. ***

[8:17:07 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: They squeak.

[8:17:12 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: From the bag.

[8:17:34 PM] Kite: ... to protect you from outsiders more than keeping you in the cage. Perhaps we can find a latch for the inside.

[8:17:44 PM] *** Ander splits off from the group as you walk back. ***

[8:17:48 PM] *** Daneel will follow keeping as far away from the cat as possible. ***

[8:17:54 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: SQUEEEEEAK.

[8:18:10 PM] *** Ander does not break away after hearing that. ***

[8:18:27 PM] Ander: "We are not keeping those things if they can get out and run around whenever they want."

[8:18:30 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: So you leave the tower. Once outside, the displacer beast seems to disappear into the darkness around you.

[8:19:00 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: You know he's there, and following you.

[8:19:05 PM] *** Vydea heads back to the Unicorn. ***

[8:19:10 PM] Kite: I believe they are intelligent.

[8:19:13 PM] *** Kite to the bag: If you would prefer I can let you out, however. ***

[8:19:20 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: SQUEEEEEEAK

[8:19:32 PM] Kite: ... it would be more dangerous than staying with us, but it is up to you.

[8:19:44 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: SQUEEEEEAK

[8:19:47 PM] Ander: "...do you speak rat?"

[8:19:52 PM] Kite: No.

[8:19:53 PM] Vydea: What if they go back to Glyph's basement?

[8:20:04 PM] Ander: "Then I think they said you should let them out."

[8:20:09 PM] Kite: ... I doubt that.

[8:20:16 PM] *** Kite opens the bag so they have the option of leaving, though! ***

[8:21:05 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: THe big one, the musclely one, tumbles out, and squeaks, then starts toward Glyph's tower! But he stops after a few feet, squeaks at you, then goes a few more feet, turns back to you, squeaks.

[8:21:25 PM] Kite: You can stay with me if you like.

[8:21:29 PM] Ander: "...does...does the rat want us to follow him?"

[8:21:30 PM] Vydea: ... I think it wants us to follow.

[8:21:33 PM] Kite: ... I believe so.

[8:21:35 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: SQUEAK!

[8:21:38 PM] *** Kite shrugs, and does. ***

[8:21:40 PM] Ander: "...I am interpretting a reat."

[8:21:43 PM] *** Vydea does too. ***

[8:21:49 PM] *** Ander groans and follows. ***

[8:21:56 PM] *** Daneel follows the rat as well. ***

[8:22:07 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: He's leading you back to the tower, stopping in front of the door.

[8:22:51 PM] *** Ander follows. "...ok, now what?" ***

[8:23:04 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: The rat scratches at the door.

[8:23:17 PM] *** Ander knocks. ***

[8:23:30 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: The hatch opens. "WHAT."

[8:23:51 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: "OH, it's YOU.  I didn't FORGET to pay you, did I?"

[8:24:11 PM] Vydea: No, no... we just forgot something downstairs in our rush to leave. Can we come back in and grab it?

[8:24:24 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: The door opens!

[8:24:32 PM] Vydea: Thank you!

[8:24:43 PM] *** Ander will follow the rat wherever it goes. ***

[8:24:48 PM] *** Kite will too. ***

[8:25:06 PM] *** Vashti is curious, and follows. ***

[8:25:10 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Displacer Beastie stays outside, but lingers around, waiting.

[8:25:13 PM] *** Vydea also follows from behind. ***

[8:25:52 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: You follow the buff rat down into the basement.

[8:26:10 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: IT climbs up a crate and sits beside the rod.

[8:26:25 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: It chitters at you.

[8:26:30 PM] Ander: "...ok...Daneel, you know magic.  Care to take a look?"

[8:26:35 PM] *** Kite tells the cat "good cat" before she heads in. ***

[8:26:48 PM] Vydea: What if the rat is the adventurer and this rod will change him back?

[8:27:02 PM] Ander: "...that does kind of add up."

[8:27:11 PM] Vydea: I should use that in a book.

[8:27:43 PM] *** Vydea leans down to the rat. "Are you in the Brotherhood of Awesome?" ***

[8:27:54 PM] Kite: What adventurer?

[8:28:06 PM] Vydea: Oh, Glyph mentioned another adventuring group that failed.

[8:28:13 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: The buff rat squeaks, and you swear you see him flex.

[8:28:15 PM] Ander: "The clanky bot mentioned another group he sent down here and 'conveniently' forgot about."

[8:28:23 PM] Vydea: And look at his little muscles. Looks like the guy who was flexing at you in the---

[8:28:30 PM] Vashti: Wait a second.

[8:28:38 PM] Kite: Hence sentient rats. I see.

[8:28:40 PM] *** Ander laughs. " snort Oh...oh man...HAHA...You got all tiny!" ***

[8:28:51 PM] Vydea: That's adorable.

[8:28:58 PM] *** Vashti goes back to the basement to check if the rod is where she left it. ***

[8:29:03 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: he scratches at the rod.

[8:29:12 PM] *** Vydea pushes a button. ***

[8:29:19 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Roll a 1d2.

[8:29:31 PM] Ander: ((This could go very badly.))

[8:29:32 PM] Vydea: (1 lol)

[8:29:49 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Vydea poofs, and where she was, there is now a rat.

[8:29:56 PM] Vydea: Squeak.

[8:30:09 PM] Kite: Ah. Not that button.

[8:30:10 PM] Ander: "...ok...not that button.  Vashti!  Daneel!  Help!"

[8:30:33 PM] Kite: Can you push the other button? ... perhaps with your nose?

[8:30:33 PM] *** Vydea tries to push the other button in rat form. ***

[8:30:39 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: You cannot.

[8:30:50 PM] *** Vashti attempts to push that button for Vydea. ***

[8:30:58 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Roll 1d2!

[8:31:15 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: There's another rat, and one less Vashti.

[8:31:25 PM] Vydea: Squeak!

[8:31:30 PM] Ander: "OK STOP!"

[8:31:44 PM] Kite: ... please attempt to push the button as rats before we try anything else.

[8:31:48 PM] *** Daneel will go over to the rod and push a button. ***

[8:31:50 PM] *** Vashti just sits there grumpily. ***

[8:31:53 PM] *** Vydea tries to climb up to Kite's shoulder. ***

[8:31:58 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Roll, DAneel.

[8:32:02 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: 1d2.

[8:32:18 PM] Ander: ((WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE!))

[8:32:38 PM] Ander: ((TRY AN ARCANA ROLL BEFORE YOU PUSH, SEE HOW IT WORKS!))

[8:32:42 PM] *** Kite lets her. ***

[8:32:54 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Daneel?

[8:33:07 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: (I'm going to kill you all by turning you into rats.))

[8:33:10 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: poof

[8:33:11 PM] Daneel: (( 1 ))

[8:33:15 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: There's another rat.

[8:33:16 PM] *** Kite tries looking at it, but cannot really tell what it does. ***

[8:33:39 PM] *** Ander grabs the rod from Kite's hand AND DOESN'T PRESS ANYTHING! ***

[8:33:42 PM] Kite: ... all of you can get in my bag or perhaps ride a shoulder if you prefer.

[8:33:52 PM] Kite: We may need Canto's assistance.

[8:33:56 PM] Ander: "Yes, Kite, grab the rats."

[8:34:07 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: I mean, you can't all roll 1s.

[8:34:12 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: ((Except you can.))

[8:34:12 PM] Vydea: Squeak!

[8:34:15 PM] *** Ander goes up to Glyph with the rod. "Kite, bring them with me!" ***

[8:34:18 PM] Kite: ((Actually...))

[8:34:24 PM] *** Kite does. ***

[8:34:44 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: I mean, you guys are in full control of your faculties, you're just rats.

[8:34:57 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: So you can follow just fine.

[8:35:13 PM] Ander: ((I figured they'd be slowed by...you know...being rats.))

[8:35:19 PM] *** Vydea rides on Kite's shoulder. She's going to write about this later. ***

[8:35:20 PM] Kite: ... my apologies. I am somewhat too literal-minded for arcane magic, so did not study it sufficiently to analyze the object.

[8:35:26 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Rats can be pretty quick.

[8:35:32 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Anyway, you're all going up to Glyph?

[8:35:48 PM] *** Ander is. ***

[8:35:49 PM] *** Kite will stick with Ander, sure! Canto is her backup assistance. :) ***

[8:36:01 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: He's still doing his crossword.

[8:36:06 PM] Ander: "Kite, you did not push a button without knowing what it is.  You're my new favorite."

[8:36:25 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: "Are you here ABOUT the insects?  It's BEEN dealt with."

[8:36:41 PM] *** Ander holds up the rod. "You, tell me what this is and how it works." ***

[8:37:21 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Glyph stares at Ander. "You catch more FLIES with magnetism than YOU do with GRAPES, young goblin."

[8:37:27 PM] Kite: ... it's a potentially dangerous magic object.

[8:37:43 PM] Kite: Our acquaintance ran into some difficulties.

[8:37:51 PM] Kite: ... I do not believe flies are magnetic?

[8:37:54 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Glyph stares at the rod. "Oh, yes -- I called it a ROD of RATTENING."

[8:38:08 PM] Ander: "Let me guess, it turns people and things into rats?"

[8:38:22 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Glyph:  Just PEOPLE, when they press the BUTTON.

[8:38:36 PM] *** Ander holds the rod out of his reach. "Which button?" ***

[8:38:49 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Glyph:  DEPENDS.

[8:38:59 PM] Ander: "...the fuck does that mean?"

[8:39:05 PM] Kite: Is there a way to reverse it?

[8:39:12 PM] Kite: I believe they would prefer to remain bipedal humanoids.

[8:39:20 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Glyph:  Press the OTHER button. The one THAT doesn't RAT.

[8:40:17 PM] Ander: "...but which button is which?"

[8:40:17 PM] *** Vashti would say she tried that, but she knows that she can only squeak. And so, she seethes. ***

[8:40:29 PM] Vydea: Squeak!

[8:40:31 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Glyph stares at the rod. "I don't remember which ONE."

[8:40:34 PM] Ander: "...wait a second."

[8:40:42 PM] *** Ander places it on the floor. "I need a rat." ***

[8:40:58 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: I would say you have a rainbow of rats to choose from.

[8:41:04 PM] *** Daneel will run over. ***

[8:41:19 PM] Ander: "Daneel...point to the button that you pushed."

[8:42:12 PM] *** Daneel will run to the one He thinks he pushed. ***

[8:42:21 PM] Kite: ... Wait.

[8:42:39 PM] Kite: If we push the un-rat button, do all the rats become their previous selves?

[8:42:50 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Glyph:  Oh, yes.

[8:42:54 PM] *** Kite nods. ***

[8:43:02 PM] Kite: In that case, let us both push a button simultaneously.

[8:43:14 PM] Ander: ...yeah, that makes sense.

[8:43:27 PM] *** Vydea hops off Kite's shoulder onto the desk. ***

[8:43:37 PM] *** Kite sets her bag down and takes one end of it. ***

[8:44:14 PM] Kite: Count down from three, push the button on the word "go." Which will function as zero.

[8:44:25 PM] *** Ander nods and takes the other end ***

[8:44:32 PM] Kite: Three. Two. One. GO.

[8:44:38 PM] *** Kite pushes a button! ***

[8:44:43 PM] *** Ander pushes the other button! ***

[8:45:13 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: There's a popping noise as there are suddenly one and a half adventuring groups in Glyph's study.

[8:45:30 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Glyph:  I am NOT in the mood to ENTERTAIN.

[8:45:36 PM] Kite: Yes. Our apologies.

[8:45:45 PM] *** Kite puts the rod down, picks up her bag and heads downstairs. ***

[8:45:45 PM | Removed 8:46:31 PM] Vydea: This message has been removed.

[8:46:14 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Everyone is de-ratted, including the four members of the Brotherhood of Awesome.

[8:46:51 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Glyph:  Ah, why don't you keep it.

[8:46:56 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: He tosses the rod to Vashti.

[8:47:09 PM] Vydea: ...I will if you don't want it.

[8:47:17 PM] Ander: "I say we destroy it."

[8:47:56 PM] Kite: ((I can think of situations where it might be useful.))

[8:47:57 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: The Brotherhood say nothing as they quietly make their way away from their shame.

[8:48:02 PM] Vashti: I'll just put it in my backpack for now. I'll figure out what to do with it after I get some caffiene in my system.

[8:48:13 PM] Vydea: Shall we then?

[8:48:18 PM] *** Kite is outside scritching behind her kitty's ears again. <3 ***

[8:48:24 PM] *** Vydea leaves too. ***

[8:48:40 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Yep! You gys head back to the Unicorn. The displacer beast follows you home.

[8:48:51 PM] *** Ander heads off to do her errand first. ***

[8:48:57 PM] *** Ander breaks from the group. ***

[8:48:58 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: That's easy enough.

[8:49:10 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Actually, no, not this time of night.

[8:49:12 PM] *** Kite is very happy about her new pet. ***

[8:49:14 PM] *** Daneel tries his best to keep away from the displacer beast. ***

[8:49:36 PM] *** Ander meets everyone back at the unicorn and gives Vydea back her gold. ***

[8:49:41 PM] Vydea: I think a story from the point of view of a rat would be fascinating, don't you?

[8:49:44 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: You can't find anywhere to buy chairs at this time of night, maybe tomorrow.

[8:49:58 PM] *** Vydea looks for Canto. ***

[8:49:58 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Canto:  How'd it go?

[8:50:08 PM] Daneel: Weird.

[8:50:10 PM] Kite: Yes. Was it disconcerting?

[8:50:11 PM | Edited 8:50:20 PM] Ander: "Your friend is crazy and going to kill someone."

[8:50:17 PM] *** Vydea hands him the pouch. "This is also the Brotherhood of Awesome's cut. They... had some issues." ***

[8:50:20 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Canto:  He's not my friend.

[8:50:23 PM | Edited 8:50:41 PM] Kite: A large tentacled cat followed me home.

[8:50:29 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Canto:  .... I can see that.

[8:50:49 PM] Kite: He is a Good Cat.

[8:50:52 PM] Vydea: It was... odd. Even riding on your shoulder, it was still so different.

[8:51:18 PM] Kite: Rats are extremely intelligent and can learn a great deal.

[8:51:22 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Canto takes the money. "I'll work out shares and the guild dues, and get you your shares in the morning.  Good work."

[8:51:50 PM] Vydea: Thank you!

[8:51:59 PM] *** Ander starts looking very intently at Vydea's face. ***

[8:52:38 PM] *** Vydea stares back. ***

[8:52:48 PM] Ander: "...did you always have those whiskers?"

[8:52:51 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: You will all have 75 gold a piece when all is said and done, so write that down. And a Rod of Rattening.

[8:52:56 PM] *** Kite looks at both of them, a bit puzzled. ***

[8:53:05 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Which could be useful now that you know how to deactivate it.

[8:53:55 PM] *** Vydea feels her face. ***

[8:54:07 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: It doesn't actually take two people, just one person, pressing both buttons, to undo it, and you can't do it if you're in rat form.

[8:54:21 PM] Vydea: (also 18 insight to see if she's just fucking with her)

[8:54:33 PM] Ander: ((She is totally fucking with her))

[8:54:44 PM] *** Ander snorts a little laugh as Vydea feels her face. ***

[8:54:55 PM] *** Kite buys some food, preferably something for herself and for Kitty. ***

[8:55:41 PM | Edited 8:56:29 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Kitty, for what its worth, seems pretty loyal to Kite now, and tolerant of the rest of you. It seems somewhat trained.

[8:56:09 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: It's an adult, maybe a young adult, and is a bit runty. It's not as big as a normal displacer beast. And now it only has one tentacle.

[8:56:50 PM] Kite: The others must have wounded the cat.

[8:57:10 PM] Ander: "Or one of the hands did."

[8:57:11 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: You'd gather that the crawling claws just swarmed it.

[8:57:27 PM] *** Vydea orders a mug of ale and sits down with her notebook to start writing. ***

[8:57:33 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: and the bloody cleaver was used to cleave off its tentacle.

[8:57:38 PM] Kite: ... true. They were there in sufficient numbers, and the cat preceded them.

[8:57:49 PM] *** Kite feeds him. ***

[8:57:50 PM] Ander: "...what are you gonna name him?"

[8:58:45 PM] Kite: Perhaps after the sound he makes. Murr.

[8:59:36 PM] Ander: '...works for me."

[8:59:58 PM] Vashti: Adorable.

[9:00:43 PM] Kite: I am extremely glad no one was hurt badly.

[9:01:18 PM] Ander: "I got hit in the face with icicles and an entire group of people spent the night as rats in a basement of nightmares."

[9:01:22 PM] *** Vydea nods. "Does anyone have any thoughts they'd like me to write down about this adventure? Quotes?" ***

[9:01:38 PM] *** Kite does heal Ander, though. ***

[9:01:46 PM] Kite: True.

[9:02:08 PM] *** Kite thinks about it. ***

[9:02:22 PM] Kite: People should be more responsible pet owners.

[9:02:43 PM] Ander: "If something fails twice, don't try it for a third time."

[9:03:07 PM] Daneel: It might have worked.

[9:03:44 PM] Kite: Additionally, Murr is a good cat.

[9:05:42 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: He eats his food.

[9:05:50 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: He yawns at Daneel, showing his teeth.

[9:06:15 PM] *** Daneel edges further away. ***

[9:06:56 PM] Kite: He eliminated substantial undead hands on his own.

[9:07:12 PM] Ander: That's true. I only got two.

[9:07:23 PM] Ander: ...I guess there are worse first adventures, though.

[9:07:29 PM] Kite: Significantly.

[9:07:50 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Canto:  It's never just 'Kill 10 Rats'.

[9:08:02 PM] Vydea: I liked it.

[9:08:15 PM] Kite: I would prefer not to kill rats.

[9:08:52 PM] Ander: "...why didn't you mention the other missing party, Canto?"

[9:09:06 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Canto:  I didn't know about it.

[9:09:13 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Canto:  What other party?

[9:09:30 PM] Ander: "...the Brotherhood.  Kite gave you their gold."

[9:09:44 PM] Vydea: I did.

[9:09:59 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Canto shrugs. "I don't know.  Glyph didn't mention it."

[9:10:40 PM] Ander: "Right, sorry.  Vydea did."

[9:10:53 PM] Ander: "It's late and I'm not nearly drunk enough."

[9:11:20 PM] Kite: ... is there a minimum level required?

[9:11:41 PM] Ander: "In my case, yes."

[9:12:13 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: That's about all I got, I think.

[9:13:44 PM] *** Ander goes over to the bar with her new gold. "How much was the chair?" ***

[9:13:59 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Irwin:  5 silver.

[9:14:20 PM] *** Ander hands him a gold piece. "Here, buy a better one." ***

[9:14:21 PM] Kite: Strange.

[9:14:47 PM] *** Kite keeps feeding Murr meat. ***

[9:14:57 PM] Badlands Hammerhead: Murr is curled up under the table.

[9:15:03 PM] Daneel: What is strange?

[9:15:19 PM] Kite: That a minimum level of inebriation should be required.

[9:16:25 PM] Vashti: Some people need to disengage their rational thought processes a bit in order to deal with certain events.

[9:16:53 PM] *** Ander comes back to the table. "Hey, Vydea, can I see your book?" ***

[9:16:59 PM] Vydea: Which one?

[9:17:06 PM] Ander: "Your name book."

[9:17:10 PM] Kite: Ah, I see. ... I hope she isn't traumatized.

[9:17:17 PM] *** Vydea pulls her autograph book out. ***

[9:18:34 PM] *** Ander grabs a pen (I assume I can just find one about) and scrawls a big sloppy ANDER. Next to it you can see a "D" that's been scrawled out, so it kind of reads as "DANDER" under the crossing. ***

[9:18:50 PM] Vydea: Thanks!

[9:19:09 PM] *** Ander nods. "You did good." ***

[9:19:23 PM] *** Vydea tilts her head. "Is that your real name?" ***

[9:19:38 PM] Vydea: ...or a new name?

[9:20:52 PM] *** Ander blushes red. "I...writing common wasn't much of a...thing where I came from.  I kind of only learned two years ago." ***

[9:21:20 PM] Kite: It's a complex language.

[9:21:40 PM] Vydea: If you need practice, let me know! I'd be happy to help.

[9:22:01 PM] *** Ander blushes a bit more. ***

[9:23:46 PM] Vashti: If you need help, I am here as well. Writing is my job, after all.

[9:23:58 PM] Vydea: Is it? What do you do?

[9:24:06 PM] Ander: "...she's a scrivener."

[9:24:14 PM] Kite: I too, but I am likely not the best teacher available.

[9:24:19 PM] Vydea: Oh! Right... I wrote that down here.

[9:25:59 PM] Ander: "I...thanks.  But I am fine.  What I do doesn't need much writing."

[9:28:36 PM] Vashti: Fair enough, although something tells me that if this adventuring business gets serious, we'll be doing a lot of travelling. If so, learning things is an excellent way to pass the time.

[9:29:48 PM] Kite: Do you read music?

[9:30:35 PM] Vashti: I actually haven't had a chance to learn that, unfortunately.

[9:31:00 PM] Kite: I could assist with that.

[9:38:20 PM] Vashti: Hm. that should be interesting at some point. For now, though, it occurs to me that I should see if some poor sot is at the door of my shop, ringing the bell and getting no answer.

[9:38:35 PM] *** Kite nods. ***

[9:38:46 PM] Kite: Well done today.

[9:39:32 PM] Ander: "...why'd you join the church?"

[9:39:56 PM] Kite: They felt I had the aptitude. I felt... called.

[9:40:14 PM] *** Ander nods. ***

[9:41:06 PM] Kite: ... also, I greatly enjoy the singing.

[9:41:25 PM] Ander: ...an odd way to take up the calling, but ok.

[9:41:42 PM] Vydea: Singing is fun.

[9:42:24 PM] Ander: It is. I have found it quite useful. Although, I find that is also easier when...how'd you phrase it, Kite...inebriated?

[9:43:12 PM] Kite: Is it? One would think it would result in impaired pitch and tone.

[9:43:38 PM] *** Ander chuckles. ***

[9:43:38 PM] Vydea: Helps people with anxiety or stage fright, though.

[9:43:56 PM] Ander: "Not how I'd phrase it, but...yeah, basically."

[9:44:26 PM] Vydea: I wonder if those Brotherhood guys would let me interview them.

[9:44:47 PM] Kite: Possible.

[9:44:50 PM] Ander: "I am not sure they would be willing to discuss it.  Not right now, anyway."

[9:45:30 PM] Ander: They're being is built on their strength, size and power, and we saw them with all of that removed. It is a degrading experience, I am sure.

[9:46:04 PM] Vydea: That's what would make it such a powerful story, though.

[9:46:36 PM] Ander: "Not everyone is concerned with the best story.  Some people just want to forget those parts of their life."

[9:46:59 PM] *** Vydea considers that. ***

[9:47:31 PM] Kite: ... I do not think it would be healthy to build one's self-image on strength, size or power.

[9:48:17 PM] Ander: "...I'm gonna buy an ale, you want anything?"

[9:48:34 PM] *** Vydea lifts her still mostly-full mug. "I'm good." ***

[9:49:04 PM] *** Ander nods and goes to order. ***

[9:49:47 PM] Vydea: So... Kite. That's an interesting name. Where does it come from?

[9:50:22 PM] Kite: It refers to the predatory bird. My mother likes birds.

[9:51:24 PM] *** Ander returns with an ale. ***

[9:51:44 PM] Kite: She associates them with freedom.

[9:52:05 PM] Vydea: That's interesting! Did she not feel free herself?

[9:54:02 PM] Kite: Likely not. She works very hard.

[9:54:31 PM] Kite: ... the church offering to pay for all my schooling may have contributed to my choice to join the church as well.

[9:54:55 PM] *** Vydea nods. "I imagine that's the case for many." ***

[9:55:13 PM] Ander: "What did your mother do?"

[9:56:15 PM] Kite: She owns a small fruit stand here in town.

[9:56:49 PM] Ander: "Does your father help with that?"

[9:57:09 PM] Kite: I have never met my father.

[9:57:22 PM] Ander: "Oh...I'm sorry."

[9:57:26 PM] Kite: ... that I am aware of.

[9:58:07 PM] Ander: "...I don't understand."

[9:58:42 PM] Kite: I don't know what he looks like.

[9:59:13 PM] Ander: "Ah, so you might have met and never known.  I see."

[10:00:41 PM] Kite: Yes. ... I understand some people would find that distressing.

[10:02:05 PM] Ander: "...Does Vydea mean anything?  There a story behind your name?"

[10:02:19 PM] Vydea: Old family name. My great-aunt's.

[10:02:37 PM] Ander: "Elf side or human?"

[10:03:56 PM] Vydea: I suppose half-elf. My dad's side has been half-elf for generations.

[10:04:21 PM] Ander: "Ah...that's interesting."

[10:04:29 PM] Vydea: Not really.

[10:05:09 PM] Kite: I believe I need to sleep. Thank you for your work today.

[10:05:18 PM] Ander: G'night, Kite.

[10:05:25 PM] *** Kite nods. "Goodnight." ***

[10:05:29 PM] Vydea: Good night! I should probably go unpack too.

[10:05:37 PM] Ander: "Thanks yourself.  You did all the heavy lifting, really."

[10:05:41 PM] *** Kite heads up with her kitty. <3 ***

[10:05:54 PM] *** Ander stops Vydea. "Um, just...one thing, first." ***

[10:06:00 PM] Vydea: What's up?

[10:06:02 PM] Ander: "...I...uh...wanted to thank you.  Back at the tower.  I kind of lost my head and you kept everything level."

[10:06:24 PM] Vydea: Oh, you're welcome. I just... didn't want you to do something you might regret.

[10:06:51 PM] Ander: "...Master Scribe, my teacher...he would say my anger is my biggest barrier to my ki."

[10:06:58 PM] Ander: "And, I think he might be right."

[10:07:58 PM] Vydea: I know it's a little forward of me, but when I get really emotional, I like to journal. It helps. You might want to try it. Or talk it out if you're not comfortable writing.

[10:08:57 PM] Ander: "I am not sure I am comfortable with either of those right now, but thank you."

[10:09:05 PM] Ander: "I will meditate on it, though."

[10:09:33 PM] Vydea: Ok. Offer's open if you need it. Have a good night.

[10:09:44 PM] Ander: "You as well."

[10:09:47 PM] *** Ander goes to bed. ***