[7thsea] PerrySimm says, "Logging."

DiegoValdez begins to log also.

Gamemaster says, "Arr. We start."

Maxwell goes off to have a word with Lo"wenherz.

Lowenherz has entered from behind the curtain.

DiegoValdez rather gets the impression that he's arrived at an awkward time.

[7thsea] DiegoValdez asks, "In room with us?"

Gamemaster asks, "anyone left behind doing something special?"

DiegoValdez was just looking at the trophies and hoping to make an appointment.

[7thsea] Eolo asks, "when we left off, maxwell was going to talk to the guy and see about accomodations, right?"

[7thsea] DiegoValdez says, "Right. We're just waiting for him...."

Giovanna frowns and looks around.

DiegoValdez hums an Eisen tune under his breath. Knowing a little Eisen makes it easier.

[7thsea] Giovanna rolls 5k4: 5 1 7 7 1 | 20

Eolo waits for Maxwell for a bit, staring at the trophies.

DiegoValdez asks (of Eolo), "Fascinating, no?"

Eolo shrugs.

Eolo says, "notches on a belt."

Giovanna shivers and begins to pace.

Eolo glances over at Giovanna. "Something wrong?"

Giovanna says, "...no."

DiegoValdez notes the interesting not-a-normal-animal "notch", and turns his attention to the other two.

Eolo shrugs.

DiegoValdez says, "It seems we're all a bundle of nerves ... except maybe you, senor."

DiegoValdez says, "Still ... we might as well try to make the best of it."

Eolo says, "explore the town a bit."

DiegoValdez says, "try the different ... what're they called? Wursts."

(From Gamemaster) Maxwell and Lowenhertz enter

Eolo looks up.

DiegoValdez snaps to attention.

Lowenherz says (to Giovanna), "Are you alright? You seem abit sickly, m'lady."

[7thsea] Giovanna asks, "what language is he speaking?"

[7thsea] Lowenherz says, "vodacce"

Giovanna looks warily at Lowenherz. "I find the food here does not yet sit well with me."

DiegoValdez thinks, "another language I don't know ... well, at least it's fairly similar to Castillian ..."

Giovanna has disconnected.

Gamemaster says, "ack"

[7thsea] DiegoValdez says, "Huh. Not sit well with her, indeed."

[Crows-Nest] CharlesAlgun asks, "Dead of food poisoning?"

Gamemaster says, "I'll hold his next line for after she reconnects :-)"

[Crows-Nest] Maxwell says, "How ironic"

Lowenherz says (to Maxwell), "Go on, then."

Maxwell says, "Ah, yes. I have a bit of a story to tell."

BastardJack has connected.

[Crows-Nest] BastardJack says, "Arr."

DiegoValdez says (to Maxwell), "Ah, I like a good story...."

[Crows-Nest] DiegoValdez says, "Arr."

[Crows-Nest] CharlesAlgun says (to Jack), "Arr."

Maxwell says, "While in Montaigne, another courier of Lo"wenherz gave me a letter, telling me not to open it, but to wait with it in Crieux."

DiegoValdez listens attentively.

Eolo glances over.

Maxwell says, "Immediately after I met Umberto and the group of you, a man in a black mask contacted me."

Maxwell says, "He showed me a seal of Lo"wenherz, asked for the letter, which I never opened, and gave me another letter to be delivered to Lo"wenherz."

Eolo says, "excellent"

Maxwell says, "Unfortunately, at our party, that fellow Macmillan somehow obtained the letter -- I suppose someone must have picked my pocket."

DiegoValdez says, "Oh. That does not sound good...."

Maxwell says, "He confronted me in private and read the letter's beginning. It spoke of plans to invade Montaigne, involving bribery and such."

Eolo says, "my"

Maxwell says, "As a representative of Eisenfu"rst Sieger, he was enraged. He threatened to show the letter to the Montaigne nobility and forced me to promise a fraction of the conquered lands."

Eolo says, "heh"

Eolo says, "it's nice outrage can be settled so easily."

DiegoValdez asks, "Sieger? What is Sieger's interest in this?"

Maxwell says (to Diego), "Extortion, mostly."

Maxwell says, "Anyway, the catch to the whole matter is this: Eisenfu"rst Lo"wenherz was never involved in any of this, right from the start."

Eolo says, "excellent"

Eolo says, "truly, it makes me quite homesick."

DiegoValdez asks (of Maxwell), "this is a setup, then?"

Maxwell (to Eolo) frowns. "This is a sticky situation."

DiegoValdez gives Eolo a funny look.

Maxwell says, "So it seems the courier Erich was a traitor, and I've been played for a pawn."

DiegoValdez says, "But ...."

Eolo asks, "who was Erich? the man who gave you the original letter, or the man in the mask?"

Maxwell says, "The way things are going, this will lead to a war -- but between Lo"wenherz and Sieger."

Lowenherz says, "To clarify, the letter I actually sent Maxwell was meant to be opened, and it detailed a land dispute he was to settle in Dore because it interfered with my purchase of some horses."

Maxwell says (to Eolo), "The first one, whom I recognized and trusted."

Maxwell says, "It may not have been the same letter."

DiegoValdez frowns in confusion.

Giovanna has connected.

Eolo asks, "are you sure he was the one? could not have the man to meet you in Crieux been intercepted and an imposter substitued?"

[Crows-Nest] Maxwell says (to Giovanna), "*** You have missed the exposition ***"

Lowenherz says (to Giovanna), "Better? You looked about to collapse for a moment there."

[7thsea] Giovanna says, "sorry, machine crashed so hard that it wiped my internet configuration and I had to redo everything"

[7thsea] Eolo says, "gah"

[7thsea] Giovanna is NOT happy about that one

[7thsea] Lowenherz says, "wow"

[7thsea] DiegoValdez says, "ick"

Maxwell says (to Eolo), "He gave contradictory instructions concerning my assignment. It is possible someone decieved him into thinking there were important matters, but... I don't know."

Lowenherz says, "He was never meant to go to Crieux."

[7thsea] Eolo says, "summary: maxwell met this guy Erich who told him to meet somebody in crieux with a letter. he met the guy and gave him the letter, and received a different one. at the manor, somebody picked maxwell's pocket and got the second letter"

[7thsea] Giovanna says, "ack"

[7thsea] Eolo says, "then Macmillan showed Maxwell the letter"

[7thsea] Eolo says, "(which we saw)"

[7thsea] Eolo says, "and used it to blackmail him into some concessions to Macmillian's eisen boss"

[7thsea] Giovanna says, "oof"

[7thsea] Eolo says, "now it turns out that lowenherz didn't send the original letter"

Lowenherz asks (of Maxwell), "And you have no idea when it was pickpocketed?"

[7thsea] Eolo says, "and apparently this has bad implications for Lo"wenherz and Sieger's relations"

[7thsea] Giovanna says, "hunh."

Lowenherz says, "It would require...some sort of physical contact...hm..."

Maxwell says, "Hm, it was a busy day. But this was not too long after Macmillan arrived, actually."

DiegoValdez asks, "But ... MacMillan is an Avalon name, no?"

Lowenherz says, "Yes, I don't know why he's working for him either."

DiegoValdez asks, "What has he to do with Sieger?"

Lowenherz says, "I presume he's on contract."

Lowenherz says, "I've heard rumors of him hiring non-Eisens for some sort of special work."

Lowenherz says, "Everyone has been rather tight-lipped about it in the courts, I'm afraid."

Eolo asks, "I'm not quite clear what grudge Sieger holds here. he wouldn't believe the letter was a forgery?"

Lowenherz says, "No."

DiegoValdez says (to Eolo), "This Sieger is a madman."

Lowenherz says, "He's not known for being nice or understanding, though."

Maxwell says, "Right, he believes we're spinning a lie to back out of the 'deal'."

Maxwell asks (of Lowenherz), "You believe Sieger could be behind this? Would he go to such lengths to make an excuse to attack anyone?"

Lowenherz says, "Well, the problem with assuming the entire setup is Sieger's -- hmm..."

DiegoValdez asks, "Did Sieger not lose the mountainous area of his lands to Montaigne after the War of the Cross?"

DiegoValdez says, "He must be trying to get them back."

Lowenherz says, "That's certainly a possibility. Also certainly why he wants a hand in this 'deal.'"

Lowenherz says, "Whether he started the deception or not."

DiegoValdez says, "From what I've heard, there is literally nothing he would not do ... for his land."

Lowenherz says, "Indeed."

Lowenherz asks (of Maxwell), "Do you have any suggestions?"

Eolo says, "so it seems the man will have to be tracked down, then, and the seal recovered."

Maxwell says (to Lowenherz), "What do you know about Erich? If we could figure out for whom he might be working..."

Lowenherz says, "Yes, that's one trail we could follow. Certainly we must find the perpetrators of this deception, whether it leads to Sieger or not."

Lowenherz says, "He's been in good standing with me for 10 years. I'm quite frankly shocked by the whole matter."

Lowenherz says, "I don't see who could've gotten to him."

Maxwell frowns.

DiegoValdez says (to Lowenherz), "Anything I can do for you in this matter, senor...."

Eolo says, "as I said, perhaps he acted in good faith and the second man was gotten to"

Maxwell asks (of Eolo), "The second?"

Eolo asks, "has he vanished?"

Lowenherz asks, "Yes, but why did he give different instructions?"

Eolo says (to Maxwell), "the man Erich told you to meet"

Lowenherz says, "I could certainly understand his disappearance being foul play rather than voluntary, but his differing instructions are strange, then."

DiegoValdez asks, "It is strange ... but if this Erich is involved, why the change of letters in Crieux at all?"

Maxwell says, "He wore a mask, and was almost certainly an impostor altogether, only with a conterfeit seal."

Maxwell says (to Diego), "Yes, it would be interesting to know what exactly that first letter was."

Eolo asks, "how hard would it be to get a counterfeit seal?"

Lowenherz says, "I suppose someone could have intercepted him just barely out and given him new orders...in which case it was the original letter."

Maxwell says, "Perhaps I even helped them plot their schemes."

Lowenherz says (to Maxwell), "I did merely say bring it to you to open it."

Lowenherz says (to Eolo), "They are easily to be had in Vodacce, I hear."

Eolo grins.

Eolo says, "many things are, if you know who to ask"

Maxwell says, "And he explicitly told me not to open the letter."

Lowenherz says, "Yes."

Lowenherz asks, "Well, presume: somehow, an imposter, on Erich's route, gives him new orders that seem official enough to be believed. How would this be accomplished?"

DiegoValdez says, "I don't suppose we could simply go to Sieger and ask him......"

Eolo shrugs. "If they had an official seal, presumably they could change his orders."

Lowenherz says, "Hmm. We may have to at some point."

DiegoValdez asks (of Lowenherz), "with a man in a black mask?"

Maxwell says (to Diego), "We don't even know that Sieger is behind this."

Eolo says, "it might be useful to find out how Macmillian got the letter"

Lowenherz says (to Diego), "No, no, he wouldn't trust that at all."

DiegoValdez says (to Eolo), "With a rose, of course."

DiegoValdez says (to Lowenherz), "hm."

Maxwell exclaims, "Gruenwald!"

DiegoValdez asks, "what?"

Maxwell says, "I shook his hand the moment he entered."

DiegoValdez says (to Maxwell), "but that means you know exactly where his hands were."

Eolo says, "one of them."

Maxwell says, "One, at least."

Eolo grins.

DiegoValdez says, "But he was standing right next to MacMillan...."

DiegoValdez says, "Who could have dipped into your pocket as you shook hands with Gruenwald."

Maxwell says, "Possibly."

DiegoValdez asks, "Well, I think it matters not how the deed was done ... what is to be done about it?"

Giovanna looks green and stumbles a little

Giovanna falls down.

Maxwell says (to Giovanna), "You're sure you're ..."

DiegoValdez exclaims (at Giovanna), "!?!"

DiegoValdez scoops the lady up.

Giovanna is unconscious.

Eolo glances over.

Maxwell asks (of Federico), "What's happened to her?"

Eolo says, "clearly the food agrees with her less than I thought."

DiegoValdez exclaims (at Giovanna), "Senorita? Wake up!"

Eolo says, "please place the lady on a couch."

Eolo looks around for someplace suitable to have her set.

DiegoValdez carries Giovanna over to a couch. "But I thought she didn't eat breakfast ... I'm sure it must be from lack of food...."

Eolo shrugs. "Possibly, but I think unlikely."

Lowenherz touchs Giovanna's forehead.

Eolo kneels down beside, and listens for breath and pulse.

Lowenherz says, "Hmm..."

DiegoValdez hesitates, then loosens the laces on her bodice. just to facilitate easier breathing. Right.

Eolo asks (of Lowenherz), "is there a doctor in the house?"

[7thsea] Giovanna exclaims, "!"

[7thsea] Eolo says, "once a bodice-ripper, always a bodice-ripper."

[7thsea] DiegoValdez says, "Hey, I'm not ripping anything ..."

Lowenherz says, "Not here. Go outside and down to the very end of the street, the red house should be Brunhilde's, she's a doctor."

Eolo does so.

Eolo hurries down the street and knocks on the door.

Maxwell waits concernedly.

Lowenherz says, "A woman in her mid-40s opens the door. It looks like she's mixing some herbs inside."

Giovanna gasps in her sleep, but does not come back to consciousness. If anything she looks worse.

DiegoValdez fans Giovanna's face with a handkerchief.

Eolo says (to Brunhilde), "a friend of mine has been taken suddenly and severely ill"

Eolo asks, "could you come with me please?"

Gamemaster says, "Yes, yes, of course, one moment."

Gamemaster says, "She goes in a back room and comes out with a brown leather bag."

Gamemaster asks, "What seems to be the trouble?"

Eolo leads Brunhilde back to the manor, talking as he walks.

Eolo says, "she had been having .. odd dreams, previously. she seemed a trifle faint, then collapsed unconscious"

DiegoValdez says (to Maxwell), "Perhaps we should get some water ... it might be needed."

Maxwell says, "Right."

Eolo says, "there was a green pallor, but I am unsure if it can be attributed to nausea or poison"

[7thsea] DiegoValdez asks, "Someone failed her Poison roll....?"

Lowenherz says, "Brunhilde arrives"

Maxwell runs out to get some water.

(From Giovanna) A faint sheen sweat shows on Giovanna's face.

Gamemaster says, "ack, wrong window"

Eolo walks over to see how Giovanna's condition has progressed. He looks mildly concerned.

DiegoValdez sponges off the perspiration with the handkerchief.

Gamemaster says, "Giovanna wakes up."

Maxwell comes back with a full jug, small sponge, and small metal cup.

Gamemaster says, "Brunhilde looks Giovanna over carefully."

Giovanna sits bolt upright, her hair falling out of its arrangement all around her.

Gamemaster asks, "Are you all right, dear?"

DiegoValdez asks (of Giovanna), "What happened?"

Giovanna looks around at everyone very carefully.

[7thsea] Eolo says, "hair in disarray, bodice opened -- if that's not a good time, I don't know what is."

DiegoValdez is kneeling beside the couch with a soggy handkerchief.

Eolo standing behind, glancing cooly over.

[7thsea] DiegoValdez exclaims, "Loosened! *Loosened*! Not opened!"

[7thsea] Eolo says, "yeah, like you castillians ever do things by half-measures"

Giovanna notices her dishevelment and dumbly starts straightening things up.

[Crows-Nest] CharlesAlgun says (to Diego), "Yeah, but she knows that's because you jsut barely managed to get it tied back up again in time."

Maxwell sets the jug down, somewhat relieved.

Gamemaster says, "Bruenhilde rummages through her bag"

Giovanna says (with an unconvincing calm), "I don't suppose anyone has a glass of water? I think I could use a drink."

[Crows-Nest] DiegoValdez exclaims, "damn you, Avalon! Foiled again!"

DiegoValdez says (to Giovanna), "Yes, yes of course."

Lowenherz says, "I'll ask Franz to fetch one...one moment..."

DiegoValdez looks to Maxwell.

Lowenherz goes

Lowenherz steps behind the curtain.

Eolo calls after Lowenherz "Or wine?"

Franz has entered from behind the curtain.

Maxwell fills up the cup and offers it to Giovanna. "Do you know what hit you?"

Giovanna says dryly, "It must be the food."

Franz asks, "Ah, I see you already have one. What happened?"

DiegoValdez says (to Giovanna), "You didn't have any food, as I recall."

Giovanna is trying to tuck her hair back into its usual configuration, though it's obvious that she's not used to doing this without the help of a maid.

Maxwell says (to Franz), "The lady fell ill, rather suddenly."

Lowenhertz has entered from behind the curtain.

[7thsea] Eolo says, ">USE T-REMOVER ON LOWENHERTZ"

[7thsea] Maxwell says, "eeeagh, his spelling got worse"

Giovanna says, "The lady has had a difficult journey." Her voice is a bit tart. "I'm sorry to have caused you all concern."

[7thsea] Lowenhertz says, "heh"

Maxwell frowns.

(From Giovanna) The glint in her eyes suggests that she doesn't want to answer any further questions at the moment.

Maxwell asks (of Giovanna), "You're sure you'll be alright then?"

DiegoValdez says (to Giovanna), "Perhaps you should lie down for a bit."

Eolo murmurs "thank Theus her charm survived the ordeal intact"

Giovanna says (to Maxwell), "Nothing is ever sure. But I don't think that there's anything that can be done."

Gamemaster says, "Brunhilde hands Giovanna a root from her bag."

Gamemaster says, "This'll help get your strength back, dear."

Giovanna looks at Eolo with a flicker of a smile. "Thank goodness there's someone who isn't going to treat me like a child," she mutters.

Giovanna accepts the root and looks at it dubiously. "You want me to gnaw on this thing?"

DiegoValdez stands up and takes the handkerchief back in a pocket.

[7thsea] DiegoValdez says, "It's Morgia Root."

[7thsea] Gamemaster says, "close enough"

Giovanna nibbles a little of the root.

Eolo asks, "better than sausages?"

Gamemaster says (to Giovanna), "You feel a slight tingle in your mouth, and slightly energized."

[Crows-Nest] CharlesAlgun asks, "Can you make root beer?"

Giovanna says (to Eolo), "That wouldn't be difficult."

Giovanna says (to Brunhilde), "Thank you."

Gamemaster says, "you see Lowenherz whisper something to Giovanna"

Giovanna's glance flickers, and she murmurs a reply.

DiegoValdez asks (of Giovanna), "Would you prefer if we left you to rest and continued the discussion elsewhere?"

Giovanna glances dubiously at Lowenherz.

Franz asks, "I'll be going, then, right. Anyone for a spot to eat?"

Giovanna says, "Whatever seems best to you." There's still some hint of something -- resentment, anger, a little wildness from her awakening. "It seems that I am not in a position to make the decisions."

Franz says, "I'll take you to the kitchen if you'd like."

Franz goes

Eolo raises an eyebrow.

Maxwell says, "I for one, haven't had anything since breakfast."

Maxwell follows.

Eolo kneels before Giovanna. "M'lady, you have of course but to command."

Eolo asks, "would you care to dine?"

DiegoValdez says (to Giovanna), "You haven't been eating well all week. Dining is probably the best option."

Lowenherz says, "I need a word with the lady first, then we will join you."

DiegoValdez says (to Lowenherz), "Of course...."

(From Gamemaster) Bruenhilde seems satisfied, packs up and goes

Eolo sees her to the door, pressing some guilders on her before she leaves.

Giovanna stifles a smile at Eolo's behavior.

Eolo follows Maxwell.

DiegoValdez thinks, "odd ... does he know something about this?"

Eolo has, of course, risen first.

Gamemaster says, "we'll do this stage speak so you hear the conversation"

[7thsea] Giovanna says, "I hear walking on your knees is good for the soul."

[7thsea] Eolo asks, "if it's sarcastic, does that cancel it out or not?"

DiegoValdez bows courteously to the Eisenfurst, then proceeds after Maxwell.

Giovanna asks (of Gamemaster), "they're all listening at the door?"

Gamemaster says, "Nah, just they have to pretend they didn't :-)"

[7thsea] DiegoValdez says, "No ... it continues to preserve the sole and save on shoe leather."

[7thsea] Maxwell says, "We just get to use more dramatic irony if we know what it is we don't know."

[7thsea] DiegoValdez says, "yay dramatic irony."

[7thsea] Giovanna says, "but it's not really so much dramatic irony if you know IC"

Lowenherz says (to Giovanna), "You may be interested to know I have trained myself to notice the practitioners and use of certain magics."

DiegoValdez proceeds to the kitchen. Hmmm ... those sausages really aren't bad at all....

Giovanna sits rather rigidly on the sofa, regarding Lowenherz warily.

Giovanna asks, "Indeed?"

Lowenherz says, "You were easily recognizable as a Fate Witch, which is why I spoke to you in Vodacce."

Giovanna asks, "And what did you notice [a little ironic emphasis on this word] besides that?"

Eolo hunts around in the kitchen for anything besides sausages.

Eolo finds some cabbages, which he discards.

Lowenherz says, "I noticed something very disturbing. I have experienced the use of sorte cards before, on one of my family, in fact."

Lowenherz says, "This is why I trained myself to recognize this in the first place, in case it happened again."

Lowenherz says, "My wife three years past was somehow...changed."

Giovanna says, "I'm sorry to hear it."

DiegoValdez is fascinated by the variety of sausages. Weisswurst, bratwurst, badtowurst, worscomstowurst ... quite the wurst-case scenario here.

Lowenherz says, "She was the most peaceful person you could not, yet she became angry, erratic, for some mysterious reason nobody could ascertain."

Maxwell starts on a big plate of sausages and cabbage.

[7thsea] Giovanna says (to die), "hee"

Lowenherz says, "Eventually, she killed herself."

[7thsea] Giovanna says, "er, Diego"

Giovanna says (to Lowenherz), "And you don't know why? Usually there is some past offense that brings down a revenge, no matter how disproportionate. Or so, at least, I have heard."

Eolo finds some bread and some meat which may well not be pork.

Lowenherz says, "Well, there are personal issues involved, and I have suspicions. That particular matter is still not settled."

Giovanna asks, "'personal issues'? Are such things ever other than personal?"

Eolo unearths a dusty bottle of unknown vintage from the back of a cupboard.

[7thsea] Eolo says, ""All sorcery is personal", I believe the phrase goes."

Lowenherz says, "Please, I'd rather not go into it. But what I'm worried about right now is what just happened."

Giovanna asks, "And what do you know about it?"

Lowenherz says, "Whatever that was, it was a far more aggressive attack than my wife ever experienced."

Giovanna says, "Forgive me for feeling a bit dubious, but the fact that I am Vodacce is obvious, and anything else might be a guess on your part."

Giovanna says, "And I am not in a mood to be credulous."

DiegoValdez asks (of Eolo), "No sausage for you, senor?"

Lowenherz says, "If you have had a loved one decompose before your eyes, as I did...you recognize it ever after."

Eolo says, "I think I must concur with the lady's opinion upon the food."

Lowenherz says, "In any case, this is serious, and I suggest you find whoever is doing this and make them stop immediately. Please let me know if there is any way I can help."

Giovanna says, "But what possible position can I have in all this? Unless you enraged some nonna so greatly that she strikes at any lady to enter your house. Which seems extreme, even for the most jealous of discarded lovers. Not, that is, to make any assumptions."

DiegoValdez says (to Eolo), "Oh? I was told that these (holds up a bit of salami, pepperoni and spicy-Vodacce) were Vodacce-style sausages."

Lowenherz says, "No, I don't suggest whoever attacked my wife attacked you."

Maxwell says, "It's hard for me to believe not liking wurst. But I suppose it depends what you're used to."

Eolo says, "ah. I had not noticed them."

DiegoValdez asks (of Eolo), "Besides ... here we are in Eisen, with all that Eisen has to offer. Why not enjoy it?"

Lowenherz says, "I'm sure you have suspicions of your own who might have personal animosity."

Giovanna leans forward a little. "Tell me, sir, how many Vodacce women are there in this general vicinity? There can't be many, or the cuisine, at least, would have improved.

Eolo says, "but all flavors in moderation."

[7thsea] Eolo says (to Giovanna), "yay"

Lowenherz says, "None except you, as far as I know."

Eolo asks, "I *am* enjoying Eisen. is it not obvious?"

DiegoValdez thinks, "moderation? what's that?"

Giovanna settles back a little in her seat.

DiegoValdez says (to Eolo), "Ah, well forgive me, senor."

Giovanna says (to Lowenherz), "If all you had to tell me is that I just experienced something unpleasant that should not be repeated, you might have spared your breath."

Lowenherz says, "Well, it's merely that...I was too late...in saving my wife...so I am naturally concerned if a similar sort of thing happens in my house."

Giovanna says (to Lowenherz), "It seems to me that despite your refusal, this MUST have to do with your past experience -- if only because there can only be so many Fate Witches in this general area."

DiegoValdez says (to Maxwell), "I'm used to fruits, seafood and beef ... this wurst is something novel."

Giovanna says (to Lowenherz), "But I don't mean to seem ungracious. I will appreciate your assistance, if you have any to give."

Lowenherz says, "Marinna is...back? This, I don't believe. And she only had personal revenge on her mind."

[7thsea] Eolo exclaims, "!!!"

Giovanna says, "Perhaps there is a connection that is not obvious."

[7thsea] Maxwell asks (of Eolo), "Good wurst?"

Giovanna seems to remember her manners, relax a bit.

Giovanna asks, "Is there anything that you can tell me about her, without saying more than you dare about yourself?"

[7thsea] Eolo says, "perhaps I am mistaken."

Lowenherz says, "When I was in Vodacce...in my younger years....I had met her."

[7thsea] DiegoValdez asks (of Eolo), "?"

Giovanna inclines her head slightly, not meeting Lowenherz's eyes directly, as though to give him privacy for this revelation.

[7thsea] Eolo says, "well, let me hear the rest of the story."

Lowenherz says, "I don't want to go into detail, but for a moment -- true love was involved."

Lowenherz says, "After...it was shattered...I moved on with my life."

Giovanna says, "I understand." Giovanna's voice is surprisingly sympathetic. "Pray go on. Skipping the most personal bits."

DiegoValdez says (to Maxwell), "I must say ... I rather think I'm in love with this sausage-cuisine...."

[Crows-Nest] CharlesAlgun says, "I knew you'd be getting some intrigue..."

[Crows-Nest] Maxwell says, "I knew they'd be getting some intrigue. But I had special information."

Lowenherz says, "She'd apparently not."

Lowenherz says, "I never did see her in person when it happened, but I knew it was her."

Giovanna asks, "How?"

Maxwell asks (of Diego), "What, will you live here for the wurst?"

Lowenherz says, "Just...a personal sense of it...and I kept having dreams..."

Giovanna looks up swiftly and away.

DiegoValdez says (to Maxwell), "Hm ... no, I suppose not. one must move on with one's life."

Giovanna asks (of Lowenherz), "Dreams?"

DiegoValdez says (to Maxwell), "Perhaps I'll dream of it."

Lowenherz is shaking

Lowenherz says, "Please, don't make me describe them."

Giovanna stands up abruptly. "I can imagine."

DiegoValdez happily tucks into his wurst.

(From Giovanna) She walks over to the nearest window and looks out.

Gamemaster says, "There's some sort of shouting starting outside...you can't tell the sorce"

Gamemaster says, "[This is to everyone]"

Gamemaster says, "Some yelling back and forth"

DiegoValdez swallows the knackwurst and looks up.

Giovanna opens her mouth to speak again, but becomes distracted.

Eolo places the wine back in the cupboard, wipes his hands, and walks to the common room.

Eolo asks, "something going on?"

Maxwell asks, "Hm. Should we see what that is?"

DiegoValdez follows along. "What's this?"

Lowenherz says (to Maxwell), "Please check outside for me, I was just finishing talking with Giovanna."

DiegoValdez says (to Maxwell), "I think we should."

Maxwell leads anyone who will follow outside.

DiegoValdez follows Maxwell.

Eolo glances at Giovanna, then steps outside.

Lowenherz says, "You can hear it clearer now...."

Lowenherz says, "'My baby! Has anyone seen my baby!'"

Eolo shrugs.

DiegoValdez looks for the source of the commotion.

Lowenherz asks (of Giovanna), "Is there anything else you wish to ask?"

Giovanna says (to Lowenherz), "I would only wonder why I have been chosen as a victim. I am not aware of anyone bearing me so serious a grudge. What I have done -- I have done for the best."

Maxwell goes around toward the shouting.

Gamemaster says, "There's a woman in rags shouting in the street at people in houses"

Giovanna says, "But perhaps you had best attend to what is outside."

Gamemaster asks (of Maxwell), "You! Have you seen my baby?"

Eolo follows the others but keeps his distance.

Maxwell says (to woman), "Calm down! I don't know what you're talking about."

Maxwell asks, "What happened?"

[Crows-Nest] Maxwell says, "Of course, the monster got it."

Gamemaster says, "Gone! Just a splatch of blood..."

[Crows-Nest] Eolo says, "mm, monster."

DiegoValdez expresses dismay.

[Crows-Nest] DiegoValdez exclaims, "Kill the beast!"

Maxwell says, "Oh my. How horrible."

Gamemaster says, "Window was locked, it was."

DiegoValdez asks, "Where did this happen? At home?"

Giovanna goes outside as well, after having straightened her clothes the rest of the way to the best of her ability.

Gamemaster says, "But I find it open, and there...my Hilde...my little Hilde..."

Gamemaster says, "She breaks down sobbing"

Giovanna goes up to the woman. "How long ago was this?"

Gamemaster says, "She's sobbing uncontrollably"

[7thsea] Maxwell says, "also, language barrier I'd think"

[7thsea] Gamemaster asks (of Giovanna), "what language are you saying this in?"

[7thsea] Giovanna says, "mm yeah"

DiegoValdez is at a loss for words.

[7thsea] Giovanna says, "Montaigne, but she probably wouldn't understand anyway"

[7thsea] Gamemaster says, "no"

Eolo says (to Giovanna), "her daughter appears to have vanished"

Maxwell explains to Giovanna what the woman has said.

Giovanna asks (of Eolo), "How recently? Just now?"

Eolo shrugs.

Eolo asks (of Woman), "how recently did this happen?"

Gamemaster says, "She's moaning and rocking back and forth"

[7thsea] Giovanna says, "I really need to learn Eisen one of these days."

DiegoValdez puts an arm around the woman to lend her support.

Maxwell says, "Well, she probably just found out."

Gamemaster says, "Found the crib just now...left for an hour to buy some bread..."

Giovanna looks relieved. For a moment it looked as though *she* might have to offer the woman some comfort.

[7thsea] DiegoValdez says, "Ha ha."

Eolo says, "odd that this happened in broad daylight."

Eolo says, "supernatural beasts tend to keep thief's hours."

DiegoValdez speaks carefully. "Will you show us where?"

Giovanna mutters, in Vodacce, something to the effect that in Eisen the monsters probably outnumber the people three to one and see no reason to keep night hours.

Lowenherz comes up

[7thsea] DiegoValdez says, "And Giovanna is probably right."

Lowenherz says, "I know where she lives, I'll lead...one of you stay with her."

[7thsea] DiegoValdez says, "Oh sh....."

DiegoValdez says, "I'll stay."

Eolo raises an eyebrow. "Keeps track of everyone in his town, eh?"

Eolo nods, and follows Lowenherz.

DiegoValdez guides the woman towards the manor.

Lowenherz says (to Eolo), "Unlike *some* nobles, I care for my people, yes."

Giovanna follows Lowenherz as well, holding her skirt well away from the ground and scanning up and down the street as she walks, as though looking for someone.

Lowenherz starts walking

[7thsea] DiegoValdez says, "Mmmmm ... Vodacce ankles...."

Eolo drops back a bit to talk to Giovanna.

[7thsea] Giovanna says, "you're with the peasant chyk"

Eolo asks (of Giovanna), "did he offer any explanations?"

[7thsea] Eolo says, "she might have nice ankles too."

Giovanna looks sidelong at Eolo and keeps her voice very low. "None that satisfy me."

Lowenherz comes to a small house

Giovanna says (to Eolo), "Somehow I seem to have been involved in an old vengeance that should affect only him... unless--"

Maxwell says, "I'll stay as well. We don't need everyone looking--"

[Crows-Nest] CharlesAlgun says, "She probably doesn't have a bodice to rip, though. That may be a good or a bad thing, depending on your tastes."

Eolo frowns. "We can't seem to take any trips without complications arising."

Franz says, "The front window on the right side is open"

Franz says, "There's a trail of blood leading from inside to the outside and then along by a couple feet"

Eolo walks over to the window and kneels, looking for tracks.

Gamemaster says, "Ack, I keep using the wrong window"

Giovanna says (to Eolo), "(wryly) And I thought I was sparing my sanity by leaving the talon behind."

Giovanna stops talking and stares at the mess.

Eolo says, "I didn't get the impression it could be left so easily."

[7thsea] Eolo rolls 5k3: 3 7 9 7 3 | 23

DiegoValdez takes the woman to the kitchen and politely asks if they have coffee. Or a suitable substitute.

[7thsea] Eolo says, "(wits + keen senses + hunting)"

[7thsea] Eolo says, "er, s/hunting/tracking/. and I think that might should be 6k3."

Gamemaster says (to Eolo), "You find two trails leading around behind..."

[7thsea] Eolo says, "(but whatever.)"

[7thsea] Eolo asks, "behind where?"

Gamemaster says (to Eolo), "the house"

Eolo says, "this way."

Eolo follows the trails.

Gamemaster says (to Eolo), "One of them is wide but indistinct...like something being dragged, or something with a very low body dragging against the ground"

Gamemaster says, "The other one is footprints, but the left leg has a circular mark"

Gamemaster says, "Rather than of a foot."

[7thsea] Eolo asks, "and the other only goes to or from the house? not to and then from?"

[7thsea] Eolo exclaims, "yay, pirates!"

Gamemaster says, "You can't tell exactly, but it seems to go both wys"

Eolo looks to see where the trails lead, and if the others are following.

Gamemaster says, "Anyway, the tracks go to a rocky part of terrain where they drop off because there isn't mud to track in"

Eolo frowns.

Gamemaster says, "The rocky plain is about 50 meters north of the house"

Eolo says, "this can wait, I suppose."

DiegoValdez says (to Max), "I hope they come back soon and tell us what they found ..."

Eolo says (to others), "the trail disappears back there -- perhaps we should look into the house."

Gamemaster says, "About 500 meters north of that you see the trees of a forest"

Maxwell says (to Diego), "[whisper] Perhaps we should talk about something else."

Lowenherz says (to Maxwell), "I'll go see to Hilde Sr....keep me informed."

DiegoValdez says (to Maxwell), "<hrrmph> So ... about Sieger...."

Gamemaster says, "Er, I thought Maxwell was with the group"

Gamemaster says, "Guess not"

Gamemaster says, "Well, he goes back anyway"

Eolo shrugs.

Gamemaster says, "Hilde Sr. is still moaning leaning back and forth"

Eolo says (to Giovanna), "once again just us, I suppose."

Eolo tries the doorknob.

[7thsea] Maxwell says, "And the bots, I think."

Giovanna nods.

Gamemaster says, "It's open"

Eolo steps inside.

Giovanna follows, a pace behind.

[7thsea] Eolo says, "chaperones, I like to call them."

Gamemaster says, "It's a tiny peasant house, not much here except some wooden furniture."

Eolo says, "odd that whoever this was would have used the window."

Giovanna searches the place carefully nonetheless.

[7thsea] DiegoValdez asks, "Er ... is Lowenherz telling Max and me to go to the peasant house?"

Eolo glances around at the window and the bloodstain.

[7thsea] Gamemaster says, "No, he's going back to check on Hilde"

[7thsea] Gamemaster says, "he's not telling you anything yet"

[7thsea] DiegoValdez says, "right."

Gamemaster says, "It's a short wooden crib that has a blood splash on it, and some blankets on the bottom."

Eolo frowns.

Eolo says, "probably not a head wound. those bleed too much."

Gamemaster says, "Perception checl"

[7thsea] Eolo rolls 4k3: 10+4 7 1 10+6 | 37

[7thsea] Giovanna rolls 5k4: 5 10+9 10+3 9 7 | 48

[7thsea] Eolo says, "can't put nothin' past us vodacce"

Gamemaster says, "There's a fragment of an herb of some sort in the blankets"

Giovanna remarks, almost casually, "Whatever is going on here is very serious and very ugly indeed. I can't speak to the rest, but someone in this town is adept in sorte to a degree I have seldom even heard of."

Giovanna looks carefully at the herb, trying to figure out whether she recognizes it.

Gamemaster asks, "any particular skill you want to apply?"

Gamemaster says, "you can't use straight wits"

[7thsea] Giovanna says, "poisoning, I suppose"

Gamemaster says, "ok, shoot"

[7thsea] Giovanna rolls 5k4: 4 8 9 4 5 | 26

Gamemaster says, "It's not any poison you recognize."

Eolo says, "there is of course a certain precedent for children in sorcery."

[7thsea] Eolo asks, "can I use survival?"

Giovanna asks (of Eolo), "Being used?"

Gamemaster says (to Eolo), "yes"

[7thsea] Eolo rolls 4k3: 8 2 6 10+5 | 29

Giovanna says, "This is not the sort of thing a child would practice."

Gamemaster says, "It's Palmest, which is an herb with a scent attractive to animals"

Eolo says, "hmm"

[7thsea] DiegoValdez says, "Sure it is ... if the child's name is Wednesday."

[7thsea] Eolo says, "hee hee"

Eolo says, "I was thinking more of the children as sacrifices. but hmm."

Eolo picks up the herb, and sticks it in his pocket.

Giovanna says (to Eolo), "That, I confess, had occurred to me almost immediately."

Eolo says, "palmest -- for attracting animals"

Giovanna frowns.

Eolo says, "but the tracks are clearly those of a human"

Eolo says, "and it would not make sense for him to place the herb there to pretend as though an animal had attacked"

Giovanna says, "I wonder whether everything that goes on two legs is human."

Eolo says, "there is that."

Eolo asks, "is there else that can be found here, or should we return to the others?"

Giovanna checks over the furniture as carefully as she can.

[7thsea] Giovanna rolls 5k4: 9 7 3 1 6 | 25

Gamemaster says, "Nothing in the furniture is abnormal or out of place."

[7thsea] Giovanna asks, "anything else? behind tables, on chairs? any symbols or marks?"

[7thsea] Giovanna says, "aha."

Giovanna shakes her head. "I don't see anything."

Gamemaster says, "No mystic symbols or anything"

Eolo says, "hmm"

Eolo asks, "and the window? how was it opened?"

Eolo says, "perhaps the catch was forced from the outside, but that would leave marks."

Gamemaster says, "You haven't examined the window yet"

Eolo does so.

[7thsea] Eolo rolls 4k3: 8 3 10+7 3 | 28

Giovanna looks as well.

[7thsea] Giovanna rolls 5k4: 8 9 10+6 4 2 | 37

Gamemaster says, "There's very slight scuff marks on the bottom of the left and right side"

Eolo says, "could be from wedges. or from someone climbing in."

Gamemaster says, "As if rubbed intensively"

Eolo asks, "but, again, why not the door?"

Giovanna asks, "Does it look like it might have been propped?"

Eolo says, "hrm"

Eolo smells the window ledge.

Giovanna says (to Eolo), "If what came in was not human, perhaps it does not use doors."

Gamemaster says, "But there's no sign of physical damage"

DiegoValdez says (to Maxwell), "...so, about Sieger ... you know, I feel somehow responsible...."

Gamemaster says, "The window is currently unlocked, however"

Maxwell says (to Diego), "Responsible? Nonsense."

Eolo says, "but .. I regret not being as well-informed about this country as I would like. particularly now."

[7thsea] Eolo rolls 4k3: 9 8 1 8 | 25

[7thsea] Eolo asks, "smell anything?"

[7thsea] Eolo asks, "or other traces of something having been rubbed on?"

Gamemaster says, "The blood is fresh"

DiegoValdez says (to Maxwell), "if Castille had taken possession as per the Weissberg treaty, none of this would have happened."

Gamemaster says, "There's what *might* be an animal scent, but you can't tell"

Gamemaster says, "It's very faint"

Giovanna asks (of Eolo), "It's an odd place. What's your impression of Lowenherz?"

Eolo says, "he seems fairly competent -- I'm surprised things could get to this state without him noticing."

Maxwell smirks.

Giovanna says, "Certain things he seems to notice well enough."

Eolo raises an eyebrow.

Giovanna hesitates, as though trying to make up her mind about something.

DiegoValdez thinks, "oh, there's that smirk again...."

Giovanna says, "I suppose you know how to keep a thing to yourself. [In the tone of one making a very great concession.]"

Eolo says, "some have told me that -- but of course I can't name names."

Giovanna grins, but the look quickly fades. "Well then -- what happened earlier was a sort of attack. Someone does not much care for me."

Lowenherz comes back to the scene of the crime

Eolo looks up.

Giovanna falls abruptly silent.

Lowenherz checks the tracks

Eolo says, "mind the tracks, your lordship."

DiegoValdez says (to Maxwell), "...so technically it's a Castillian province that's causing this grief...."

Lowenherz says, "I know how to mind tracks. I was a monster hunter back in the day. Even got called to go places like Montaigne and Vodacce to solve some particular knotty problems."

Giovanna looks a bit abstracted and faintly annoyed.

Eolo opens the door and escorts Giovanna out.

Maxwell says (to Diego), "if-it-weres are all well and good, but hardly anything to worry about."

Lowenherz says, "They don't seem to know how to handle monsters in those places."

Eolo grins.

Lowenherz says, "And keep their existence quiet, I've found."

Giovanna goes silently.

Lowenherz says, "Very interesting, all round."

Eolo says, "it is true we Vodacce must come to Eisen for training."

Lowenherz says (to Eolo), "So, what's your prognosis."

Eolo says, "it's unclear"

Lowenherz says, "Well, I clearly see one man with a peg leg and...hm..."

Eolo says, "a man apparently came to the window and forced it open"

Eolo says, "I can't think why"

Lowenherz says, "The other track could be a creature that is very low to the ground."

Eolo says, "perhaps he entered through the door and merely left through the window"

Eolo asks, "not the child's body, dragged?"

Lowenherz asks (of Eolo), "What about the door?"

Lowenherz says (to Eolo), "Too wide, in my opinion, but it's possible."

DiegoValdez says (to Maxwell), "Mm. I wonder if the threat of Castillian annexation of Sieger would give us any leverage...."

Lowenherz says, "Presumable good Hilde threw open the door to check inside once she saw the blood."

Eolo nods.

Lowenherz says, "I don't see anything anomalous in it being unlocked."

Eolo says, "in the crib, I found this"

Eolo shows the herb to Lowenherz.

Eolo says, "and tracks of .. some animal on the window ledge"

Lowenherz says, "Hm. I've never seen that before."

DiegoValdez says (to Maxwell), "I mean, it's not as if the Weissberg treaty has been annulled."

Eolo says, "palmest, I believe. the scent is pleasing to animals"

Lowenherz says, "Hmm."

Eolo asks, "is it not native to eisen, then?"

Maxwell says, "hmm. I'm not sure how seriously such a threat would be taken."

Lowenherz says, "No."

Eolo says, "not that that stops herbalists from procuring it"

DiegoValdez grins. "Not seriously at all. Your friend Sieger would probably spit in our faces."

Eolo says, "but it seems to remove the possibility that the woman placed it in the crib herself"

Lowenherz says, "Is there anything else you wish to look at here? I'll get some of my people to come and clean it up otherwise."

Eolo says, "the tracks lead onto rocks behind the house, and then into the forest, I suppose."

Lowenherz says, "Right, I noticed that."

Lowenherz says, "An excellent place to hide anything."

Eolo says, "not unless the lady--". He glances at Giovanna.

Giovanna says, "No."

Giovanna says, "I imagine what is to be found has already been found."

Lowenherz says, "Yes, I'll try to clean this before Morte comes, he'll be as distressed as Hilde."

Eolo says, "very well"

Eolo asks, "should we retrieve our friends and then head into the forest?"

Lowenherz asks, "Do you think you can track them?"

Eolo says, "I have had a certain amount of experience. but if you have an expert, I would prefer his counsel."

[7thsea] DiegoValdez says, "Heh ... Max and I are waiting on conveyor belt 4...."

[7thsea] Eolo says, "I'm pushin' for it."

[7thsea] Giovanna says, ">GET FRIENDS"

[7thsea] Eolo says (to Giovanna), "it's >FUCK FRIENDS, and take it to #awitl"

Giovanna says, "I don't know that I'd be much help in such a pursuit."

Lowenherz says, "We are fairly free of monsters here...since about 10 years ago."

Lowenherz says, "So all the experts have left."

Lowenherz says, "This really is the first incident we've had in a long time."

[7thsea] Giovanna says, "illusionary swords don't grow on trees, you know."

Eolo asks, "we think it is a monster, thing?"

[7thsea] Giovanna says, "er"

[7thsea] Eolo says, "s/thing/then/"

Lowenherz says, "Well, that's certainly a case for it not being a monster."

Eolo says, "mm"

Lowenherz says, "But at least someone tried to make it look that way, but the tracks...it's so sloppy...an amateur could see it."

Eolo says, "I suppose the peg-legged man could have opened the window, then let his low-bellied friend in"

Lowenherz says, "Hmm."

Lowenherz asks, "Perhaps trained with the herb? Could the scent be used to do that?"

Lowenherz says, "I'm afraid I'm not an herb expert."

Eolo asks, "perhaps the doctor--?"

Lowenherz says, "Yes! Ask Bruenhilde."

Eolo says, "in any case, we should tell our friends the news."

Lowenherz says, "I need to make a stop by her anyway to make sure she checks on Hilde and Morte."

Lowenherz says, "Yes, yes."

Lowenherz says, "Let's go."

Eolo starts walking back.

DiegoValdez discusses the political ramifications of the War of the Cross with Max, who was probably there.

Giovanna follows.

Gamemaster says, "(back)"

Eolo says, "the child is, of course, missing from the house"

[7thsea] Maxwell says, "I thought the Kreuzkrieg was a couple generations back."

Eolo says, "there are tracks of a man leading to the window and -- something else."

[7thsea] DiegoValdez asks, "About 2-3 years ago?"

Eolo says, "they lead out from the window, where there is a blood trail, across some rocks, and most likely into the forest"

[7thsea] Maxwell says, "really? well, okay."

DiegoValdez nods.

Eolo says, "I thought perhaps we should investigate"

Eolo says, "the trail was fresh -- we might catch up"

DiegoValdez says, "Of course we should. The poor woman...."

Maxwell says, "Hm, interesting."

Maxwell says, "Let's not waste time then."

Lowenherz says, "I'll take care of matters here."

Eolo asks (of Giovanna), "and for you?"

DiegoValdez pats the two swords at his side and straightens his cummerbund.

Eolo hands Lowenherz the herb.

Giovanna says (to Eolo), "Go ahead."

Lowenherz says, "Yes, I'll ask Bruenhilde about it when I see her."

Eolo says, "there was a strange herb in the crib, palmest. the smell is pleasant to animals."

Eolo leads the way to the forest, then.

Lowenherz goes

Franz steps behind the curtain.

DiegoValdez walks along. Yay adventure.

Lowenherz steps behind the curtain.

Eolo kneels at the forest entrance, and looks for tracks.

[7thsea] Eolo rolls 6k3: 7 8 4 7 10+6 4 | 31

Giovanna finds her way back to one of the quieter rooms, and does an arcana check on Lowenherz.

Gamemaster says, "There's a trail, yes."

[7thsea] Giovanna rolls 4k3: 8 2 1 8 | 18

Gamemaster says (to Giovanna), "Hierophant, inverted"

[7thsea] Maxwell says (to Giovanna), "use 'nx 4k3', etc."

[7thsea] Giovanna says, "mm right"

[7thsea] DiegoValdez says, "Yay Hierophant inverted."

Giovanna shuffles the sorte deck

Eolo says, "here's the trail .. I suppose we follow"

Eolo loads his crossbow as he walks.

DiegoValdez says (to Eolo), "Lead the way."

Giovanna checks for Cups strands.

[7thsea] Giovanna rolls 4k3 (no explosions): 8 8 1 3 | 19

Gamemaster says, "It's a fairly obvious set of tracks, branches are broken or tossed aside along the way"

Eolo asks (of Maxwell), "Lowenherz had said there hadn't been any monsters in this area for years -- had efforts been made to clear them out?"

DiegoValdez has a sword drawn ... the normal sword, not the Marquis'.

Gamemaster says (to Giovanna), "There's two..."

Gamemaster says (to Giovanna), "One, a very strong one, seems to lead to his dead wife"

Gamemaster says (to Giovanna), "The other is very faint"

Gamemaster says (to Giovanna), "you don't know where it goes"

(From Gamemaster) trudge trudge trudge

[7thsea] Eolo says, "yay"

Gamemaster says, "The sun occasionally pokes its way in, but it's a thick forest."

Giovanna says, "Okay. Swords strands, on myself."

Giovanna says, "If I'm allowed to do that, that is."

Gamemaster says, "yes"

[7thsea] Eolo says, "ooh, clever."

[7thsea] Giovanna rolls 4k3 (no explosions): 7 9 1 8 | 24

Maxwell asks, "It doesn't seem anyone's been trying to disguise any of this, does it?"

DiegoValdez says (to Maxwell), "so much the better for us."

Gamemaster says, "The tracks adruptly drop off"

DiegoValdez says (to Maxwell), "....or not...."

Eolo says (to Diego), "or the worse."

DiegoValdez looks around.

Eolo looks to see if there's any explanation, then up.

Gamemaster says (to Giovanna), "ok, this one's complicated"

[7thsea] (from Eolo) Gamemaster says "It's kind of like the florida ballot."

Maxwell looks at the ground and undergrowth.

Gamemaster says (to Giovanna), "you have one to your father, but that one is same as it's been since you fled"

Gamemaster says (to Giovanna), "there's a couple more very tangled ones, however"

Gamemaster says (to Giovanna), "And one...you recognize where it goes...but....you are afraid to look..."

[7thsea] Eolo says, "whoah"

Giovanna says, "I concentrate"

Giovanna says, "er."

Giovanna concentrates.

Giovanna forces herself to look.

Gamemaster says, "It goes to Beatrice Caligari. Who is one of the most powerful Fate Witches in Vodacce."

[7thsea] Giovanna says, "yeesha"

[7thsea] DiegoValdez exclaims, "EEAGH!"

Gamemaster says, "She has black strands dangling off her like claws"

[7thsea] Eolo says, "let's all change our names and pretend we don't know Giovanna."

Giovanna shivers, suddenly deathly cold.

[7thsea] DiegoValdez says (to Giovanna), "It's been nice knowing you."

[7thsea] Giovanna asks, "can I tell where any of the other tangly ones go?"

[7thsea] Gamemaster says, "that other one is too dominating"

[7thsea] Eolo says, "er, I mean, c'mon, we can take her -- there's like six of us and only one of her."

Gamemaster says, "Oh, one last detail"

Gamemaster says, "The conflict strand to her is actually not that strong"

[7thsea] Giovanna says, "she's just doing this for fun, then. or pay, I suppose..."

[7thsea] Eolo exclaims, "for pay? to think a vodacce would do such a thing!"

Giovanna grimly shuffles the deck and does a swords check for Lowenherz as well, looking for any related strands.

[7thsea] Giovanna rolls 4k3 (no explosions): 1 1 6 4 | 11

[7thsea] Eolo says, "you could perhaps do maxwell too"

Gamemaster asks, "Er, what happened to everyone else?"

[7thsea] Maxwell asks, "Should we roll stuff?"

[7thsea] DiegoValdez says, "We're looking around where we are."

Eolo was looking around in the forest.

Gamemaster says, "right. perception"

[7thsea] Maxwell rolls 3k3: 7 4 2 | 13

[7thsea] DiegoValdez rolls 3k3: 6 7 7 | 20

[7thsea] Eolo rolls 4k3: 9 1 4 1 | 14

[7thsea] Eolo says, "urf, there goes my rep."

[7thsea] Maxwell says (to eolo), "Tracking might help though."

Gamemaster says, "eolo do an extra tracking roll with resolve"

DiegoValdez turns slowly, scanning the surroundings.

[7thsea] Eolo rolls 4k2: 7 3 2 1 | 10

[7thsea] Eolo says, "bleh."

Gamemaster says, "It's quiet. TOO quiet."

Gamemaster says, "Muahaha. Oh, wait."

Eolo shakes his head.

Eolo says, "I can't tell .."

DiegoValdez whistles, listens. Tries a bird call.

Gamemaster says, "Maxwell, finesse"

[7thsea] Maxwell rolls 3k3: 4 6 4 | 14

DiegoValdez says, "Where are the woodland creatures? I hear nothing."

[7thsea] Maxwell says, "On top of me, it would seem."

[7thsea] Eolo exclaims, "ha!"

Gamemaster says, "There's a snapping sound as a pit opens up below Maxwell"

Maxwell exclaims, "yah!"

DiegoValdez exclaims, "MAX!"

[7thsea] Gamemaster rolls 2k2: 9 9 | 18

Eolo says, "damn, sloppy."

Gamemaster says, "18 flesh. You fall about 10 feet down"

[7thsea] Maxwell rolls 3k3: 10+9 5 1 | 25

Eolo steps backwards and looks around, crossbow ready.

Gamemaster says, "It's a fairly small pit, was covered with branches"

Maxwell says, "Oof. I think I'm alright, more or less."

Eolo listens for anything attracted by the noise.

Gamemaster asks (of Giovanna), "Are you doing anything else?"

DiegoValdez squats at the edge of the pit. "Maxwell?"

Maxwell looks around the pit.

[7thsea] Maxwell rolls 3k3: 8 6 4 | 18

DiegoValdez asks, "Need a hand up?"

Giovanna says (to Gamemaster), "Er, I was doing a swords check on Lowenherz"

Gamemaster says (to Maxwell), "alot of dirt"

Giovanna says, "but I think it failed."

Gamemaster says (to Giovanna), "right. you missed that"

Giovanna says, "Right."

[7thsea] Maxwell asks, "climbable?"

Eolo doesn't hear anything, and steps forward.

Eolo says, "rope."

Gamemaster says, "Just by hands? Not really."

Gamemaster says, "You can try."

DiegoValdez pulls off his cummerbund, doubles it (remembering what happened the last time) and lowers an end into the pit.

Eolo unwinds it from his pack, and lowers it down.

Giovanna does a swords check on Maxwell, just for thoroughness.

[7thsea] Giovanna rolls 4k3 (no explosions): 6 9 7 2 | 22

DiegoValdez looks at Eolo's rope. "Oh, silly me."

[7thsea] Gamemaster says, "there's one to Macmillan"

Eolo says, "after the island, I thought it best to be prepared."

[7thsea] Gamemaster says, "he probably already knew that :-)"

DiegoValdez puts the cummerbund back on.

Eolo grins.

Eolo says, "but I can't fault you for being well-dressed."

[7thsea] Giovanna says, "Yes, probably."

Maxwell grabs on to the rope and climbs.

[7thsea] Maxwell rolls 4k3: 8 8 5 7 | 23

Gamemaster says, "'tis fine"

Eolo rests on the edge of the pit and looks in.

Giovanna sighs and gathers the deck again.

[7thsea] Eolo rolls 4k3: 5 1 7 1 | 13

[7thsea] Eolo asks, "can I tell if it's animal or man made?"

[7thsea] Eolo says, "(probably not)"

Maxwell brushes himself off at the top.

DiegoValdez gives Max a hand. To Eolo: "And it reminds me ... I had a rope in my pack, too...."

Eolo asks, "old habits die hard, eh?"

Maxwell asks, "Well. So what's this doing here?"

[7thsea] Gamemaster asks, "just can't resist using pieces of clothing as rope, can you?"

DiegoValdez says (to Max), "Trying to capture would-be hunters, no doubt."

[7thsea] Eolo says, "untying, tying, he's not picky"

Eolo rises and replaces the rope.

Giovanna begins poking around the common room, looking for anything unusual. It's kind of a desultory search, but better than doing nothing.

[7thsea] DiegoValdez says, "Tonight must be my "let's get nekkid" night."

Gamemaster says (to Giovanna), "There's alot of people frantically running around"

[Crows-Nest] CharlesAlgun says, "I'm going to disconnect, but theoretically, Perry should live. Just boot him when this is all over, and I'll clean him up tomorrow."

[Crows-Nest] Eolo says, "cool, thanks"

Gamemaster says (to Giovanna), "Lowenherz spots you"

Lowenherz has entered from behind the curtain.

Lowenherz asks (of Giovanna), "How are you feeling?"

Eolo says, "it seems unlikely this would have been done by the .. kidnappers as they fled."

[Crows-Nest] CharlesAlgun waves, "Have fun with Captain Hook and the ticking Crocodile."

CharlesAlgun has disconnected.

Eolo says, "so they must have known about it and prepared in advance"

Maxwell says, "I suppose this trail is not the one we were looking for."

DiegoValdez looks at the trail, to see if it leads right to the pit.

Eolo says, "well"

DiegoValdez says, "Perhaps the kidnapping was only a bait, to lure someone in."

Eolo steps back a bit, and looks for a side-trail.

Gamemaster says (to Diego), "No, but it's abit too tangled and confused at this point to really tell"

Giovanna says (to Lowenherz), "Less than entirely well."

Eolo says (to Diego), "that seems somewhat over-elaborate, though"

Eolo says, "for a few guilders you can just have them hit over the head"

DiegoValdez asks (of Eolo), "You can?"

Lowenherz asks (of Giovanna), "Have you ever....manipulated a strand yourself?"

DiegoValdez considers his own profession. Oh yeah, you can.

Eolo laughs.

Giovanna says (to Lowenherz), "I am hardly that skillful."

Gamemaster says, "perception check, all"

Eolo says, "there are also what you might call, ah, non-specialists"

[7thsea] Eolo rolls 4k3: 7 6 1 9 | 22

[7thsea] Maxwell rolls 3k3: 10+10+3 7 9 | 39

Eolo says, "who are less skilled and therefore cheaper"

[7thsea] Eolo says, "woo"

[7thsea] DiegoValdez rolls 3k3: 5 8 7 | 20

Gamemaster says, "You hear some sort of shuffling noise below you"

Maxwell asks, "what's that noise?"

Eolo asks, "beneath the ground?"

Eolo steps back.

DiegoValdez asks, "The du Dore drachen?"

Lowenherz says, "I'm sorry, it's just I'm still abit uneasy, you like...abit like her...."

DiegoValdez grasps a nearby low-hanging tree-branch with one hand.

Giovanna smiles tightly. "If I had power of that degree, we might both be safer."

Maxwell puts an ear to the ground, trying to identify or locate it.

Gamemaster says, "There's definitely something moving down there."

Lowenherz says, "I suppose so."

Eolo asks (of Maxwell), "but you saw no exits from the pit?"

DiegoValdez taps his foot on the ground.

Giovanna says, "As it is, I can only perceive what is happening to me."

Maxwell says (to Eolo), "It looked like a simple dirt pit."

Eolo frowns.

Lowenherz asks, "You don't know anyone of stronger mein who could help you?"

Gamemaster says, "There seems to be some sort of hollow space"

Eolo says, "bizarre"

Giovanna says (to Lowenherz), "I am not in a position to ask anyone for help."

DiegoValdez asks (of Eolo), "What is it?"

Maxwell looks at Diego's foot.

Lowenherz asks, "Why not?"

Eolo asks, "a tunnel?"

Eolo asks, "I don't have a shovel -- do either of you?"

Maxwell says, "I'm starting to think it's a shame I sold back those caving and digging tools."

Giovanna says (to Lowenherz), "Excuse me. For someone with so many secrets, you exhibit a strange degree of curiosity."

[7thsea] Eolo says, "hee hee"

Lowenherz grins.

Lowenherz frowns

Lowenherz says, "Yes..."

[7thsea] Eolo says, "patented Giovanna smack-down"

DiegoValdez says, "Not I...."

Lowenherz says, "I suppose I've built up myself in a contradictory position...I am trusting and mistrusting at the same time."

Eolo asks, "would it be worth returning to the town to find one?"

Maxwell kicks at the soil over the hollow space.

Eolo says, "unless we could improvise with a branch or something -- or perhaps there is an entrance we are overlooking"

Gamemaster says, "Perception, all."

[7thsea] Eolo rolls 4k3: 10+2 10+9 4 7 | 38

[7thsea] Maxwell rolls 3k3: 3 7 3 | 13

[7thsea] DiegoValdez says, "and mistrusting? Hah."

[7thsea] DiegoValdez rolls 3k3: 5 8 5 | 18

Giovanna smiles a little meanly.

Giovanna says, "I had noticed it."

Giovanna asks, "Are you sure your own strands have not been touched, your character not given a certain ambiguity?"

Lowenherz says, "It seems that way, sometimes."

Gamemaster says (to Eolo), "There's a really odd looking branch near the ground"

Gamemaster says (to Eolo), "It looks tied down somehow"

Eolo says, "ah"

Eolo inspects it more closely.

Maxwell says, "Well. Perhaps there's something else to the pit, or, hm."

[7thsea] Eolo asks, "a trap? or a lever?"

DiegoValdez asks (of Eolo), "?"

Maxwell asks, "what's that?"

Eolo says, "this branch seems a bit unusual"

[7thsea] Gamemaster says, "that's what *you* are supposed to answer, not me :-)"

Giovanna asks (of Lowenherz), "And you doubt and second guess yourself?"

Eolo looks to see what it's connected to.

Lowenherz says, "Yes."

Maxwell steps close to a tree's trunk.

[7thsea] Eolo rolls 5k3: 8 8 2 2 2 | 18

[7thsea] Eolo says, "traps + keen senses."

Giovanna says (to Lowenherz), "A dangerous sort of ally to have."

DiegoValdez darts his eyes around the surrounding trees, in case someone is watching them,

Gamemaster says, "It seems to be some sort of lever"

[7thsea] Eolo says, "grf, that should be 6k3 also. oh well."

Eolo says, "here goes."

Eolo pulls the branch.

Maxwell says (to Diego), "Step back."

DiegoValdez is stepping back.

DiegoValdez is also maintaining his hold on the branch overhead.

Lowenherz says (to Giovanna), "Well, enough of sorrow, tell me of more pleasant things."

Lowenherz asks, "What have you seen in your travels?"

Lowenherz says, "If that is, of course, more pleasant."

Giovanna bursts out in a dry laugh.

[7thsea] (from DiegoValdez) Lowenherz says, "Like ... sausages."

[7thsea] Gamemaster says, "yay"

Giovanna says (to Lowenherz), "Let me tell you a story of a man who plucked a rose out of the wrong bit of air..."

[7thsea] DiegoValdez says, "Yay"

Gamemaster says, "After a long wait a trapdoor creaks up"

[7thsea] Eolo laughs.

[7thsea] Eolo says, "but I'm crying on the inside."

Maxwell says, "Aha."

Eolo grins.

Eolo listens to see if he can identify the sound now.

[7thsea] Eolo rolls 4k3: 9 9 5 1 | 23

DiegoValdez says, "This fiend is looking more human by the minute."

Gamemaster says, "There's a dark set of steps leading down"

Gamemaster says, "You can't see really much farther in"

Maxwell draws a dagger.

Eolo asks, "I suppose we go down?"

Gamemaster says, "The sound is gone now"

Eolo removes a lantern from his pack and lights it

Maxwell lights a second lantern.

DiegoValdez says, "There doesn't seem to be a second option...."

Eolo starts down the steps, examining them as he goes.

Maxwell says, "We could turn back. But I don't see why."

[7thsea] Eolo rolls 6k3: 9 3 10+2 6 6 5 | 27

[7thsea] Eolo says, "(traps)"

DiegoValdez opts to reserve his lantern, for now.

Gamemaster says, "Franz walks up to Lowenherz and Giovanna"

Franz has entered from behind the curtain.

Maxwell asks (of Diego), "Shall I take up the rear?"

Franz says (to Lowenherz), "Trouble with the horses, sir. I think you'd better come."

DiegoValdez says (to Maxwell), "certainly ..."

DiegoValdez walks down behind Eolo.

Maxwell follows in back.

Gamemaster says, "It's not too far before you get into a tiny room....there's lots of bones thrown around...."

DiegoValdez says, "ermf."

Gamemaster says, "It's circular-shaped, and there's a tiny passage lead-off to the northeast"

Eolo says, "hmm"

Gamemaster says, "And in the corner, is this...thing..."

Maxwell says, "ugh"

Gamemaster says, "It's about 5 feet long, with large teeth and an oversized snout"

Eolo lifts his crossbow.

Gamemaster says, "It's munching on something..."

Eolo says, "damnation."

Gamemaster says, "Looks like part of a human"

Eolo says, "that's evidence."

Lowenherz goes

DiegoValdez crosses himself with his free hand.

Gamemaster says, "It looks up at lets out a loud SNORT"

DiegoValdez readies his sword.

Gamemaster says, "I need initiative"

[7thsea] Eolo rolls 3 dice: 9 9 8

[7thsea] DiegoValdez rolls 4 dice: 5 3 6 6

[7thsea] Eolo rolls 1 die: 1

[7thsea] Maxwell rolls 2 dice: 7 5

[7thsea] Eolo says, "wow"

[7thsea] Eolo says, "well, ok. 1 8 9"

[7thsea] DiegoValdez says, "3 5 6"

[7thsea] Gamemaster asks (of Eolo), "too quick on the dice reflexes, eh?"

[7thsea] Gamemaster rolls 3 dice: 7 5 2

[7thsea] Maxwell asks, "Btw, adult remains, or infant remains?"

[7thsea] Eolo says, "thank the lord for combat reflexes."

[7thsea] Gamemaster says, "it looks like a tiny hand"

[7thsea] Gamemaster says, "but it's hard to tell"

Gamemaster says, "Eolo, go"

DiegoValdez thinks about the poor mother back in town.

Eolo fires his crossbow straight at the thing.

[7thsea] Eolo rolls 7k4: 2 9 7 7 1 8 9 | 33

Gamemaster pokes Giovanna with the idling stick

[7thsea] Eolo says, "(grf, should have raised.)"

Gamemaster says, "<Sproooing!>"

Gamemaster says, "damage"

Giovanna says, "sorry"

[7thsea] Eolo rolls 2k2: 8 9 | 17

[7thsea] Gamemaster rolls 4k4: 9 7 5 5 | 26

[7thsea] Giovanna says, "Lowen has just been looking at horses, though, right? It's not very likely that I'd go after him"

Gamemaster says, "Critter snarls and rushes at Eolo"

Gamemaster says, "It's sort of a bizarre walk"

[7thsea] Eolo says (to Diego), "this is where you jump in heroically"

[7thsea] Eolo asks (of GM), "low to the ground?"

Gamemaster says, "Like it's sliding and propelling its body with it's legs (4 of them)"

Gamemaster says, "[visualize a demented looking anteater]"

[7thsea] DiegoValdez says, "It's got 4 Brawn. Or 3 Brawn and Toughness. I think I'm going to need all my actions."

[7thsea] Giovanna says, "I have a hard time imagining a sane-looking anteater."

[7thsea] Gamemaster says (to Giovanna), "well, actually, in a sec you probably will...."

[7thsea] DiegoValdez exclaims, "Eeagh! It's Cyril Sneer!"

[7thsea] Eolo says, "woo boy"

[7thsea] Eolo says, "or cerebus"

Lowenherz returns

Lowenherz asks (of Giovanna), "What do you know about poisons?"

Lowenherz says, "Someone poisoned my horses. They're all dying."

Giovanna says, "No more than anyone else of my station-- ah."

Giovanna says, "Perhaps I had better have a look, after all."

Lowenherz says, "Franz will be here in a second, I'll get Bruenhilde again."

Giovanna goes with Lowenherz to the stables.

[7thsea] DiegoValdez says, "Hee ... Giovanna's station, indeed ... 'aha, so you're an expert?'"

[7thsea] Eolo says, "hee hee"

[7thsea] Gamemaster says, "he knows his Vodacce, obviously"

[7thsea] Giovanna says, "or then again, she doesn't go."

Lowenherz goes

Franz enters

Gamemaster says, "ok, back to the action"

[7thsea] Maxwell asks, "The beast spent its action moving around, or is still going to attack?"

[7thsea] Gamemaster rolls 4k4: 3 5 6 7 | 21

Gamemaster asks (of Eolo), "hit?"

[7thsea] Eolo says, "yeah, 20 to hit"

Eolo winces as the thing bites.

[7thsea] Gamemaster rolls 6k2: 2 5 6 8 9 9 | 18

[7thsea] Eolo rolls 2k2: 9 5 | 14

Gamemaster says, "It clamps it's teeth around your leg"

Eolo lets out an involuntary gasp.

Gamemaster says, "and bites hard"

Eolo says, "feel free to step in any time, guys."

DiegoValdez slices at the thing. "Snout OFF my friend, fiend!"

Gamemaster says, "Diego"

[7thsea] DiegoValdez rolls 7k4: 10+8 4 10+6 4 5 2 8 | 47

[7thsea] Eolo says, "yay"

[7thsea] Eolo says, "diego to the rescue"

Gamemaster says, "Damage"

[7thsea] DiegoValdez says, "shoulda raised."

[7thsea] DiegoValdez rolls 4k2: 1 4 2 2 | 6

[7thsea] DiegoValdez says, "definitely shoulda raised."

Gamemaster says (to Giovanna), "Presuming you follow Franz, you make it back to some stables"

[7thsea] Gamemaster rolls 4k4: 2 1 9 9 | 21

Gamemaster says, "One dramatic on the beast"

Gamemaster says, "Diego again"

Giovanna says, "I inspect the horses"

[7thsea] DiegoValdez says, "Max before me, I think."

Gamemaster says, "Franz says, "Just happened this morning.""

[7thsea] Giovanna says, "ack dammit. I am getting used to the GameMaster's way of announcing events"

Gamemaster says, "They all look more or less unconscious"

Gamemaster says, "Although still standing"

[7thsea] Eolo says, "or to diego's stories"

[7thsea] Maxwell says, "And I'm tied with the beast -- which has higher Panache I think."

[7thsea] Giovanna says (to Eolo), "That too"

[7thsea] Eolo asks, "higher initiative total, you mean?"

Gamemaster says, "No, Diego first"

DiegoValdez holds.

Giovanna checks them around the eyes, nose, and mouth for any unexpected liquids, discoloration of the mucous membrane, or signs of blood.

Gamemaster says (to Giovanna), "resolve + poisons"

Giovanna looks into their ears as well.

[7thsea] Giovanna rolls 4k3: 9 7 8 9 | 26

[7thsea] DiegoValdez says, "mucus membranes? someone's been reading her Herriot...."

Gamemaster says, "Mm, Eolo."

[7thsea] Gamemaster rolls 4k4: 4 4 6 5 | 19

Gamemaster says, "But his second bite misses, presumably fazed by Diego's slash"

Gamemaster says, "Maxwell, go"

Maxwell stabs at the creature's backside.

[7thsea] Maxwell rolls 5k3: 3 2 8 9 8 | 25

[7thsea] DiegoValdez says, "<snicker>"

Gamemaster says, "damage"

[7thsea] Maxwell asks, "that's (brawn + 1) keep 2 right?"

[7thsea] Eolo says, "yeah"

[7thsea] Maxwell rolls 4k2: 5 6 5 5 | 11

Gamemaster says (to Giovanna), "You recognize it as something called Legion's Caress"

Gamemaster says, "Which takes a very long and painful time to work"

[7thsea] Giovanna asks, "Do I know of an antidote?"

Gamemaster says, "In game terms, 1 dramatic wound a month"

Gamemaster says, "It's also very very expensive."

Gamemaster says, "And rare."

[7thsea] Giovanna asks, "and does it work by direct application to the body? through food? what part of Theah does it come from?"

Gamemaster says, "You don't know of an antidote."

Gamemaster says, "Injested."

Gamemaster says, "Ingested, I mean"

Gamemaster says, "ack"

Maxwell makes a gash in the thick hide.

[7thsea] Gamemaster rolls 4k4: 10+8 3 8 5 | 34

Giovanna wipes her hands carefully on her dress and turns to Lowenherz. "The bad news is, your horses cannot be rescued. The good news is, this isn't you. So far, anyway.

Gamemaster says, "The critter head-butts Maxwell"

[7thsea] Gamemaster rolls 5k4: 6 10+10+8 8 8 7 | 51

[7thsea] Gamemaster rolls 3k1: 4 7 6 | 7

[7thsea] Maxwell says, "Um, I'll take that."

Gamemaster says, "You are thrown against the wall, 7 flesh wounds, brawn check"

[7thsea] Maxwell rolls 3k3: 3 3 6 | 12

Giovanna says, "I'd recommend against eating anything prepared by anyone you don't trust absolutely."

Gamemaster says, "Also you are breathless and stunned for the next action"

[7thsea] Maxwell says, "fail because of pit."

Gamemaster has disconnected.

Gamemaster exits stage left.

Franz has disconnected.

Franz steps behind the curtain.

Gamemaster has entered from behind the curtain.

Gamemaster says, "Ack."

Gamemaster says (to Giovanna), "also, this was given to the horses, remember"

Gamemaster says, "they tend not to carefully check their food"

Gamemaster says, "Ok, back to the combat"

Gamemaster says, "Maxwell just got knocked against the wall"

Gamemaster says, "Diego"

[7thsea] Giovanna says, "naturally, but if someone can poison a horse, he can probably also poison a man."

Giovanna asks (of Lowenherz), "Who has access to the feed?"

[7thsea] Gamemaster says, "yep."

Gamemaster says, "It's just Franz right now"

DiegoValdez goes for a more vicious strike (2 raises)

[7thsea] DiegoValdez rolls 7k4: 9 9 7 10+1 7 7 6 | 36

[7thsea] Eolo says, "yay"

[7thsea] DiegoValdez rolls 6k2: 4 4 4 7 10+6 1 | 23

[7thsea] Giovanna says, "okay, all this time I for some reason thought Lowenherz was still in here"

Gamemaster says, "Franz says, 'I usually do the feeding. Did it today, bright and early, about 6 in the morning.'"

[7thsea] Gamemaster says, "remember, he left to get the doctor"

[7thsea] Gamemaster says, "Franz escorted you to the stables"

Giovanna asks, "And have you seen anyone around since then?"

[7thsea] Giovanna says, "mm, I thought-- okay. sorry."

Gamemaster says, "Haven't been in here, been abit busy, you could say."

Giovanna nods to this.

Gamemaster says, "Door was locked like normal."

Giovanna goes over and looks at the door and lock very carefully.

[7thsea] Gamemaster rolls 4k4: 8 3 2 3 | 16

Gamemaster exclaims, "bing!"

Gamemaster says, "hm, drama die"

[7thsea] Eolo asks, "she pushed the doorbell?"

[7thsea] Gamemaster rolls 1k1: 1 | 1

[7thsea] Gamemaster rolls 1k1: 3 | 3

Gamemaster says, "There, 1 dramatic :-)"

[7thsea] Eolo laughs.

Gamemaster says (to Giovanna), "perception, straight, unless you want to use a skill"

[7thsea] Giovanna rolls 5k4: 3 8 7 1 3 | 21

[7thsea] Giovanna asks, "also, are there any windows?"

[7thsea] Maxwell says, "Yeah, but Diego has one more action, so it's pretty much dead anyway."

Gamemaster says, "The lock hasn't been forced"

DiegoValdez cuts a gash in the creature's neck. It'll either have a scar for life, or be turned into a trophy with greater ease.

Gamemaster says, "But it's a padlock, so if it was picked it could've been put back on"

Gamemaster says, "Diego, go"

[7thsea] Giovanna asks, "windows?"

[7thsea] Alex says (to Giovanna), "Awwwk! Word on the street is that Windows is what we deserve. Also, what I keep flying into when inky lets me out of my cage."

[7thsea] Gamemaster says, "two dusty ones. perception to check"

DiegoValdez goes for symmetry. 'nother gash, other side.

[7thsea] Giovanna rolls 5k4: 9 7 4 9 3 | 29

[7thsea] DiegoValdez rolls 7k4: 8 3 2 8 7 2 3 | 26

[7thsea] Gamemaster says, "they aren't the type that open"

[7thsea] Gamemaster says, "also they don't look broken or pushed"

[7thsea] Giovanna says, "I hope the TN to notice that they don't open was like .5 :)"

Gamemaster says, "damage"

[7thsea] Giovanna says, "okay"

[7thsea] Gamemaster says, "that was a pre-roll thing I didn't get in in time :-)"

[7thsea] Eolo says (to ALex), "hee hee"

[7thsea] Alex exclaims (at Eolo), "Awwwk! No parse found!"

Giovanna goes outside and looks around

[7thsea] DiegoValdez asks, "er, that was with the 2 raises, right?"

Gamemaster asks, "perception, or something else?"

[7thsea] Giovanna says, "perception again"

[7thsea] Giovanna rolls 5k4: 1 6 2 9 8 | 25

Lowenherz has disconnected.

Lowenherz has connected.

[7thsea] DiegoValdez says, "Or never mind, 4k2."

Lowenherz arrives with Bruenhilde

[7thsea] DiegoValdez rolls 4k2: 8 5 3 2 | 13

Lowenherz asks (of Giovanna), "What do you know about it?"

Giovanna makes a little face and a bit of a shrug. She wants to see what Bruenhilde has to say.

Lowenherz says (to Bruenhilde), "Go check, then."

Lowenherz says, "I can't look anymore myself..."

Lowenherz sits on a rock

[7thsea] Gamemaster rolls 4k4: 5 4 1 1 | 11

Gamemaster says (to Diego), "dramatic again"

Giovanna regards Lowenherz with a mixture of pity, contempt, and dread.

Gamemaster says, "Eolo, go, unless Diego wants to use held"

Giovanna says (to Lowenherz), "Whoever hates you does so thoroughly."

[7thsea] Giovanna says, "IRTA 'unless Diego wants to be held'"

[7thsea] Eolo asks, "can I draw a dagger and stab?"

[7thsea] DiegoValdez says, "I've already used held. 3 attacks done."

Gamemaster says, "Oh, heh. right"

Gamemaster says, "Eolo, yeah, stab"

Lowenherz says, "I have suspicions now...I don't believe in coincidences..."

Eolo pulls a knife from his sleeve, stabbing it downwards in the same motion.

[7thsea] Eolo rolls 6k4: 2 3 5 8 4 8 | 25

Giovanna asks (of Lowenherz), "Yes?"

Lowenherz says, "Nickolaus's visit was conviently timed with these...incidents..."

[7thsea] Eolo rolls 3k2: 1 10+6 6 | 22

Lowenherz says, "I'm presuming Sieger ordered..."

Lowenherz cries

Giovanna says, "That seems a petty and foolish--"

Giovanna regards Lowenherz, a bit appalled and uncertain of how to react.

Giovanna eventually thinks of getting out a handkerchief, which she offers.

Lowenherz says, "Damn the man. My horses. He must have even studied me beforehand."

Giovanna says, "Don't tell me you have a strong emotional attachment to your animals."

Lowenherz takes the handkerchief and sneezes

[7thsea] Giovanna says, "EW"

Giovanna says (to Lowenherz), "Feel free to keep that. I have others."

Lowenherz says, "Ahm...thank you."

Lowenherz says, "I'll trade you one of mine later, if you like. They're stored up somewhere."

[7thsea] Gamemaster rolls 4k4: 8 8 5 1 | 22

Gamemaster says, "Eolo stabs the creature...it squeals..."

Giovanna asks (of Lowenherz), "(mock sympathetically) Don't get them out much, I suppose?"

Gamemaster says, "Blood flows out of it but...it's a strange color...it's sort of greenish"

Gamemaster says, "It splashes freely"

Gamemaster says, "Finesse"

Gamemaster says, "everyone"

[7thsea] DiegoValdez rolls 4k4: 5 6 7 7 | 25

[7thsea] Eolo rolls 4k4: 3 10+9 10+2 5 | 39

[7thsea] Maxwell rolls 3k3: 5 5 3 | 13

[7thsea] Eolo says, "I knew that extra point would come in handy"

Lowenherz says, "Not for awhile."

Lowenherz says, "I haven't cried in two years."

Gamemaster says, "Eolo and Diego dodge out of the way, but some of the blood splashes on Maxwell's clothing"

Giovanna asks, "... your wife...?"

Gamemaster says, "There's a hissing sound and part if it dissolves"

DiegoValdez says, "ick."

Giovanna says, "I find action more useful than sorrow. Especially... punitive action."

Lowenherz says, "Indeed."

Eolo hastily looks to wipe his dagger.

Lowenherz puts the handkerchief in his pocket

Giovanna says, "In the meantime, I would, ah, suggest that you refrain from foods that you haven't seen cooked."

Maxwell says, "Hm. A nasty-blooded creature."

Lowenherz says, "I can't beat him in an open fight, so I'll have to work something out."

DiegoValdez steps back from the pool of ... er ... blood.

Giovanna smiles almost pleasantly.

Lowenherz says (to Giovanna), "Yes....I take it you have experience with these sort of things."

Eolo rips off a strip of shirt to bind his leg wound with.

Giovanna lowers her eyes modestly.

Eolo takes an experimental step or two, wincing quietly.

[7thsea] Eolo says, "hee hee"

DiegoValdez says, "Spawn of Legion, no doubt ... Federico would have something to say about this."

[7thsea] Eolo says, "you'll make her blush"

DiegoValdez says (to Eolo), "You'll live."

Eolo says, "anything of note here? if not, I suppose we head onwards."

Eolo says, "indeed, unless its bite is poisonous."

Giovanna says, "I have a certain acquaintance with poisons. The one used on your horses is slow, taken by ingestion, incurable, and exceptionally expensive."

Giovanna speaks in a low tone, as if this will somehow soften the cruelty of what she has to say.

Lowenherz says, "Expensive? Odd. Sieger's one lack of resource right now is money."

DiegoValdez says, "We should see that the child ... what remains of it ... is given a decent burial."

Lowenherz says, "Unless he's come by some somehow."

Lowenherz says, "Or maybe he just stole the poison."

DiegoValdez says, "Perhaps on the way back."

Gamemaster asks, "Er, did you feel like inspecting the rest of the place?"

Giovanna says, "It's not the sort of thing you would trivially find available to steal."

Lowenherz says, "No."

Eolo looks around.

[7thsea] Eolo rolls 4k3: 3 8 7 10+6 | 31

Gamemaster says, "Well, there's still that passage, and there's still alot of bones"

DiegoValdez inspects the (most recent) remains and surrounding area.

Eolo says, "I can't imagine anything much would be kept in the beast's chambers, but it seems worth a shot."

Giovanna says, "In any case, I will strike you a bargain. If you will help me find my enemy, I will help you take your revenge on yours."

Gamemaster says, "And there's a hand of a child"

Eolo says, "ah"

Gamemaster says, "That's about it"

Eolo looks through the bones a bit.

[7thsea] Eolo says, "(in retrospect, I should have kept that herb)"

Lowenherz says (to Giovanna), "Very well."

Lowenherz asks, "Do you have any suspicions who your enemy is?"

[7thsea] DiegoValdez says (to Eolo), "I think some of the scent stuck ... probably why the beast went for you."

Giovanna says, "I don't much care for this man's methods. A scattershot and undisciplined plot..."

Giovanna wrenches herself away from this thought.

Gamemaster says (to Eolo), "You find some munched pieces of the same herb"

Giovanna says (to Lowenherz), "I can only imagine that whoever is doing this to me has been hired or persuaded. I don't think I number any strong fate witches among my personal enemies -- unless of course I have somehow offended the same woman who attacked your family."

Eolo pockets them, although a bit late now.

Giovanna refrains from mentioning a certain name, which even now makes her shudder.

Lowenherz asks, "Hired or persuaded by who?"

Eolo asks, "nothing else? then we move on?"

Lowenherz says, "We could perhaps...unhire...or unpersuade..."

Gamemaster says, "Nothing else you can find"

Maxwell says, "Let's see what's down the corridor, yes."

Giovanna puts her hand to her head and turns away. "The only things I can think of -- make no sense. I can imagine being sought, but not punished in this way."

Lowenherz asks, "Punished?"

[7thsea] DiegoValdez says, "If you think we're going to go after Beatrice Caligari ... Diego is Loyal, but a lot of hubris-activating is going to happen before he tries to take out that woman."

Eolo steps down the corridor.

Giovanna bites her lip.

[7thsea] Gamemaster says, "or GM spent drama dice? :-)"

Giovanna says, "I'd rather not elaborate."

DiegoValdez follows, wiping off his blade with the soggy hanky.

[7thsea] Maxwell asks, "Wait, did Eolo get dramatic wound(s)?"

[7thsea] Eolo says, "yeah, 1"

Lowenherz says (to Giovanna), "Well, let me try to ask circumspectly then."

DiegoValdez asks (of Eolo), "You mentioned a peg-legged man...?"

Eolo nods.

Eolo says, "probably the beast's trainer"

Gamemaster says, "The corridor turns southeast, and then goes to a little alcove"

Eolo says, "his tracks led with it to the house"

Eolo looks into the alcove.

Gamemaster says, "It has a blanket set down and some books and a cooking pot, not much else"

DiegoValdez says, "Hm. It seems our enemy is literate."

Maxwell's attention is drawn first to the books.

Eolo says, "odd"

DiegoValdez looks at the book titles.

Lowenherz says, "Acually, a different question first..."

Eolo says, "it seems odd he would camp out here, having gone to the trouble of constructing this place"

Giovanna asks (of Lowenherz), "yes?"

Lowenherz asks, "You said you were not that powerful...is that because you have not had practice...or you are half-blood?"

Maxwell says (to Eolo), "Perhaps if he did not wish to be found."

Giovanna says, "The latteer. I'll never be much of a threat."

Lowenherz says, "Ah. Hm."

Lowenherz bites his lip.

Lowenherz says, "Very mysterious then."

Giovanna says, "Not on the order of the person we are dealing with."

Giovanna asks, "Mysterious?"

Lowenherz says, "You are radiating power beyond what a half-blood should."

DiegoValdez looks under the blanket.

Giovanna frowns

Eolo says, "but surely he would have provided for a bedroom at the time he built this place"

Giovanna asks (of Lowenherz), "Just how exactly do you tell these things, and what margin is there for error?"

DiegoValdez says, "Perhaps this is the bedroom."

Lowenherz says, "I'm quite sure."

[7thsea] Maxwell asks, "This is still underground, or did I miss something?"

[7thsea] Eolo says, "right"

[7thsea] DiegoValdez says, "Still underground"

Lowenherz says, "Perhaps there is more to your personal history than you even know....but somehow....hm."

Lowenherz says, "No, I believe you are half-blood. It's different."

[7thsea] Eolo says, "but it's not natural, right? so you'd think whoever dug it out would have made a bedroom"

[7thsea] Eolo says, "if he was going to be staying there much"

Giovanna asks (of Lowenherz), "is it all sorte power?"

Gamemaster says, "Ok, switching back"

Maxwell asks (of Eolo), "What makes you think this isn't the bedroom?"

Gamemaster says, "Book titles: are in Eisen. General tomes about monsters"

Eolo says, "it seems so -- crude"

Gamemaster says, "The blanket is sitting on the ground"

Gamemaster says, "It's about 10 books"

Eolo says, "of course, perhaps he did not make this himself"

DiegoValdez says (to Eolo), "Not all of us can be princelings."

Eolo says, "that would explain why he kept the monster in his parlor"

Lowenherz says, "No, it's Sorte."

Maxwell says, "These books are about monsters. I suppose one of them would describe what we just faced."

Eolo nods.

DiegoValdez says, "I would call it a one-room shake with a graveyard for a front garden."

[7thsea] DiegoValdez says, "Er, 'shack'."

Lowenherz asks, "Have you ever...when using a deck, had something unusual happen?"

[7thsea] Eolo says, "(so the corridor doesn't continue any?)"

Giovanna asks, "Such as what?"

Lowenherz says, "I'm not sure. A dealing of the cards different from what you were ever taught."

Giovanna says, "I have seen the usual sorts of things-- just what my-- that is, just what I was taught to look f--"

[7thsea] Gamemaster says, "it ends there"

Giovanna stops.

Eolo says, "well"

Giovanna says, "Not... while awake."

Eolo moves the blanket, searching for any other hidden things in the area.

[7thsea] Eolo rolls 4k3: 10+8 8 10+9 3 | 45

Gamemaster says, "No hidden catches or anything, no."

Ender arrives at home.

BastardJack has disconnected.

DiegoValdez says, "Whoever lives here is going to be back, you know ..."

Maxwell looks in the pot.

Gamemaster says, "It's empty"

Maxwell says, "Good. We need to take care of this criminal."

Eolo says (to Diego), "hmm"

Eolo says, "he will of course be alerted by the pit outside"

DiegoValdez says, "Perhaps we should stake out the ... parlour, as you call it. Or the woods outside."

Giovanna asks (of Lowenherz), "What do you know about such things?"

Eolo says, "but we could recover that, then wait outside for him to come"

Maxwell takes one volume of the monsterpedia and looks through it.

Giovanna asks (of Lowenherz), "For that matter, who was it who taught you to see what you see?"

Eolo says, "or inside, but of course he will be alerted when he sees the signs of battle"

DiegoValdez says, "So we catch him before he comes inside."

Eolo says, "but that will make it easier for him to flee"

Lowenherz says, "I taught myself. It's difficult to explain the whole process how -- but...I suppose my relationship with my wife, somehow..."

DiegoValdez says, "Speaking of which, perhaps we should go back to the entrance."

Lowenherz says, "In any case, I started reading books on the subject. Volumes and volumes."

Giovanna asks (of Lowenherz), "and they mentioned something about... decks misbehaving?"

Giovanna asks, "When, and under what circumstances?"

Lowenherz says, "And eventually, I began to...see....when things happened that were magical."

Maxwell says, "If we lay in wait until he begins to descend the stairs, he would be trapped."

Lowenherz says, "Decks misbehaving...hm...there's a story, once."

Lowenherz says, "About the blank hand"

Giovanna asks (of Lowenherz), "The blank hand?"

Lowenherz says, "But I gathered it to be...metaphorical, somehow."

Eolo says, "mm"

Giovanna asks, "What's the story?"

DiegoValdez turns and begins walking back to the front room.

Eolo says, "I just fear losing him if he comes near to the entrance, is alerted, and leaves without entering him"

Eolo follows, still talking.

Eolo asks, "perhaps one should wait without and the others within?"

DiegoValdez says, "Well, one of us could wait inside, and the other two outside."

Lowenherz says, "Well, a powerful Fate Witch, who ... no, I don't remember her name ... wanted revenge on a noble of some sort."

Maxwell says, "better perhaps if we keep the ability to retreat."

[7thsea] DiegoValdez says, "timing"

Lowenherz says, "And when she started maniuplating the strands, instead of the normal cards, they all turned up blank."

Eolo nods.

Lowenherz says, "She received a Fate Lash which eventually killed her."

Maxwell says, "since there seems to be no exit but the one."

Giovanna looks faintly ill.

Giovanna says, "I see."

Eolo says, "the only other question being if we expect him to return soon"

Giovanna says, "Well, fortunately, I have never seen such a thing when the cards were in my own hands."

Maxwell puts the volume in his pack.

Eolo says, "I still can't imagine why he struck so boldly, in daylight"

Lowenherz says, "Well, I've heard it in two versions."

Eolo says, "in any case we should take the books, yes"

Giovanna asks (of Lowenherz), "oh?"

Lowenherz asks, "In one, she's found lying dead with the cards dealt out...now, how could people have known what her intent was, if she was already dead?"

[Crows-Nest] Maxwell says, "Because we're IF players at heart, of course."

Giovanna asks (of Lowenherz), "and in the other?"

[Crows-Nest] Eolo says, "yay"

Lowenherz says, "She survived afterwords and told her husband what happened before expiring."

DiegoValdez says, "Hm."

Maxwell takes the rest of the books, too.

[Crows-Nest] Maxwell says, ">EMPTY BOOKSHELF INTO KNAPSACK."

Giovanna says (to Lowenherz), "I see."

Gamemaster says, "A slip of paper falls out of one"

[7thsea] Eolo asks, "wait, did I miss something? which was the book you took along?"

DiegoValdez picks up the paper

DiegoValdez says (to Max), "you dropped this."

[7thsea] Maxwell says, "Oh, I just picked up the first one earlier and flipped through it."

[7thsea] Eolo says, "ah ok"

Maxwell asks, "Hm, what is that?"

Gamemaster says, "It looks water-smeared"

DiegoValdez shrugs and looks at the paper. "I think it was stuck in between the pages."

Gamemaster says, "But it has a line on the top about 'services rendered'"

Giovanna says (to Lowenherz), "Well, I assure you, I utterly lack the ability to do any such thing. Perhaps what you are seeing is a sort of afterglow, the power of my enemy reflected in her victim."

Gamemaster says, "And there's some smudged lines, but you recognize a list of different types of monsters"

Gamemaster says, "And one that lists 'training test fees.'"

Lowenherz says, "No, there's something else. Perhaps..."

Eolo asks, "a bill?"

Lowenherz asks, "Could there be a method of reading the cards...not yet discovered?"

DiegoValdez has presumably arrived back in room one by now, and looks over at the man-eating aardvark, wondering.

Giovanna says, "What would that even mean? The cards are what they are."

Lowenherz says, "Yes, yes, but you deal them in a certain way: swords, cups, arcana, or whatnot, and you configure it to account for each one, there's certain rules in play."

Lowenherz says, "These rules didn't invent themselves."

DiegoValdez gets a bit of cloth (probably the soggy hanky if nothing else is available), and wraps the little hand in it.

Giovanna asks (of Lowenherz), "You mean-- do a different sort of layout?"

Giovanna says, "Custom became as it is because it works."

Lowenherz says, "Hmm. Probably nothing."

Giovanna asks (of Lowenherz), "No, I'm curious -- do you have something particular in mind?"

Giovanna asks, "An alternate way of dealing them?"

Lowenherz says, "I recall the researches of a particular Regina --...my memory is failing me now as well. She was obsessed with finding all possible patterns of the Sorte."

Lowenherz says, "Apparently driven into madness, but her journal supposedly exists in some archive in Vodacce."

Maxwell says, "Let's get back to the surface then, and look for hiding places."

Giovanna raises her eyebrows. "Her journal? She wrote this down?"

DiegoValdez nods.

Eolo says, "right then."

Lowenherz says, "Yes."

Giovanna looks thoughtful.

Eolo emerges, and starts looking for branches to recover the pit.

DiegoValdez makes sure the grisly little package is safe, then proceeds up.

Lowenherz asks (of Giovanna), "I suppose the Vodacce don't teach women these days how to read, do they?"

Giovanna says, "Unfortunately, a book wouldn't be useful to me. Especially one buried in the back of some Prince's tower."

DiegoValdez says (to Eolo), "It might not be a bad idea to leave the pit uncovered ... we might be able to push him in if/when he goes to check it."

Lowenherz says, "This woman I mention, oh, it must have been 500 years ago."

Giovanna says (to Lowenherz), "They do not."

Giovanna says, "An old tradition, then."

Maxwell says, "We could push him just as well if it is covered, probably."

Giovanna says, "Your interest must be compelling indeed for you to expend so much energy in the study of something you hate."

[7thsea] Maxwell says, "duh, find brane"

Eolo says (to Diego), "an excellent point."

Eolo says, "very well then"

Lowenherz says (to Giovanna), "My wife was compelling enough, yes."

Eolo looks around for a spot to hide in.

[7thsea] DiegoValdez says, "Heh. I can just imagine Giovanna thinking, 'we modern women are more civilised now. we leave vulgar activities like reading and writing to the lower classes.'"

Gamemaster says, "There's lots of branches and stuff"

Gamemaster says, "You can pretend to be a bush"

[7thsea] Eolo says, "I don't suppose you guys took ambush."

Giovanna says (to Lowenherz), "Your wife -- forgive my bluntness -- is dead. Have you been harboring a hope of revenge, all this time? Nothing else makes sense to me."

[7thsea] DiegoValdez says, "Ambush? Diego? Hah."

Lowenherz says, "All my research comes from the year she was in pain."

[7thsea] Maxwell says, "No. Maybe I should be farther away or something."

Lowenherz says, "I haven't done any since."

[7thsea] Eolo says, "well, I didn't either, I mean"

Giovanna has the grace to look just a little abashed.

[7thsea] Maxwell says, "Oh, right."

Giovanna says, "I see."

DiegoValdez decides to climb a tree.

DiegoValdez says, "(and hide overhead.)"

Gamemaster says, "right."

Maxwell steps into a thick bush and ducks down.

Gamemaster says, "I need wits + stealth rolls from all of you"

[7thsea] Maxwell rolls 6k3: 10+8 9 10+3 9 9 3 | 40

[7thsea] Eolo rolls 5k3: 6 1 8 7 2 | 21

[7thsea] DiegoValdez rolls 3k3: 6 9 9 | 24

[7thsea] Maxwell says, "Not bad, mr. nosneak."

Gamemaster says, "Ok, everyone's sneaky"

Maxwell proceeds to wait and listen.

Eolo waits patiently.

DiegoValdez ponders if it would not be better to drop down and challenge the blackguard to a fair fight instead.

[7thsea] Maxwell says, "hee"

DiegoValdez realises, of course, that Eolo would have his head if he did that.

Eolo spends his time loading his crossbow and sighting at various points along the trail.

DiegoValdez studies the ground and the branches for an appropriate mode of attack/confrontation.

Lowenherz asks (of Giovanna), "Is there anything more about your situation you can say?"

Maxwell carefully holds his knife, still with traces of the poisonous blood.

Gamemaster says, "You hear someone walking"

Gamemaster says, "<trudge> <trudge> <trudge>""

DiegoValdez grips the branch below him, tensing.

[Crows-Nest] Maxwell says, "Finally, we meet the trudge."

Giovanna says (to Lowenherz), "Only that those who have a reason to be angry with me also have a reason to want me alive, presuming they want me back at all."

[Crows-Nest] Eolo exclaims, "ha!"

Gamemaster says, "Vaguely in the distance you see a middle-aged man walking...he has brown hair and eyes, thick physique, and...he has two legs."

DiegoValdez frowns.

Eolo murmurs "odd."

Eolo waits to see what the man does.

DiegoValdez looks at the tracks the man's leaving behind.

Lowenherz says, "Hm..."

Lowenherz asks, "So, theoretically, these persons looking for you, is there anyone connected with them that could also have self interest?"

Lowenherz asks, "Some who perhaps would not mind your death?"

[7thsea] Gamemaster says, "ack. what did you do with the pit? I missed that."

Giovanna thinks.

[7thsea] Maxwell asks, "Hrm, we didn't try to close the trap door, did we?"

[7thsea] Eolo says, "left it uncovered. I would think we'd have closed the trap door, though"

Giovanna says, "I can't -- I really can't imagine why."

Gamemaster says, "He sees the pit"

Giovanna says, "If anything, I did a favor to the other people involved in this."

Gamemaster says, "He walks up slightly and looks at it."

[7thsea] Maxwell says, "If it closes easily, yeah."

Gamemaster says, "He plods nervously for a moment, then looks around his feet carefully"

[7thsea] Maxwell asks, "Who's closest?"

[7thsea] DiegoValdez says, "I'm right overhead."

[7thsea] Eolo says, "I guess if I've got a crossbow I don't need to be right by"

[7thsea] DiegoValdez says, "I guess I'm closest...."

Lowenherz says, "Well, I can't guess any further without detail. But it would be guesswork just the same."

Giovanna nods

Lowenherz says, "Now, I've been stalling, but...it looks like I'm going to have to kill my horses."

Lowenherz stands up

[7thsea] Eolo asks, "they shoot horses, don't they?"

Lowenherz says, "You may want to go somewhere else for a while."

Lowenherz says, "I promised myself I'd never do this, but...this isn't a broken leg...."

Giovanna nods

Giovanna says, "I'm truly sorry."

Gamemaster says, "He glances up again and keeps walking"

Giovanna turns away and goes into the house.

Gamemaster says, "He whistles a little"

Lowenherz enters the stable

[7thsea] DiegoValdez wonders if they just missed a major plot point.

[7thsea] Eolo asks, "whistling?"

[7thsea] Gamemaster says, "you know what whistling is? :-)"

[7thsea] DiegoValdez says, "just put your lips together and blow."

Gamemaster says, "Anyway, he's going off in the distance now"

[7thsea] Maxwell says, "ppppb"

[7thsea] DiegoValdez has never managed to get the hang of whistling.

DiegoValdez relaxes slightly. Obviously not their prey.

Gamemaster says, "It's starting to get dark"

[7thsea] Eolo says, "oh, duh. I was thinking it was lowenherz who was whistling."

[7thsea] Gamemaster says, "hee"

[7thsea] Gamemaster says, "whistle, shoot horses"

Gamemaster says, "Crickets chirp"

Eolo gives it a bit longer.

Gamemaster says, "Time passes . . ."

Gamemaster asks (of Giovanna), "Doing anything?"

DiegoValdez occupies himself by imagining the sort of background music they would have if this were an opera.

Giovanna says (to Gamemaster), "Trying to settle my nerves, I think. It's been a long day."

Gamemaster says (to Diego), "Depends on if it's Glass or Verdi"

Giovanna goes looking for a fortifying beverage.

Maxwell begins to feel glad he's squatting and not up a tree.

(From Gamemaster) Time passes . . .

[7thsea] Maxwell asks, "Sun's set completely?"

DiegoValdez shakes his head, dispelling this really odd notion of a musical piece made up of one constantly repeating note. That would never work.

Gamemaster says, "hee"

[7thsea] Gamemaster says, "now it has"

Eolo gives it about an hour past sunset, then stands.

Lowenherz enters

Lowenherz asks (of Giovanna), "Would you care to join me for supper?"

Gamemaster says, "ack, dinner"

Gamemaster says, "supper is lunch"

[7thsea] DiegoValdez says, "Arrrgh. Shoulda tried to cold-read the guy."

Giovanna asks (of Lowenherz), "Who cooked it?"

Maxwell crawls out of the bush.

Lowenherz says, "Ah. An interesting question."

Lowenherz says, "Franz did."

Maxwell asks (of Diego), "Comfortable seat?"

Gamemaster says, "Hee"

Eolo shrugs.

DiegoValdez sighs and swings down from his perch. "It's for the birds, senor."

Maxwell says, "Well, that's odd."

Giovanna asks (of Lowenherz), "Franz fed the horses, too. How well do you know him?"

Eolo says, "we might as well return, I guess."

Eolo says, "ah"

Lowenherz says, "He's been with me since the beginning....."

DiegoValdez says, "We only saw one man, and he wasn't leaving peg-leg marks."

DiegoValdez says, "I wonder who he was."

Giovanna asks, "The beginning?"

Eolo walks back to the trapdoor, and places a small twig, so he'll be able to tell later if it's been opened.

Maxwell says, "An expert in monsters builds a hideout, has his pet commit one crime, and doesn't return."

Giovanna asks, "And his mind hasn't been tampered with?"

Eolo says, "one crime that we know about."

Lowenherz says, "Since I retired from monster-hunting and got myself a proper staff."

Lowenherz says, "Yes...well..."

Eolo starts walking back to the inn.

Lowenherz asks (of Giovanna), "I don't suppose you could...ascertain...if he's trustable?"

[7thsea] Eolo asks (of Maxwell), "or had you found us other quarters?"

Giovanna's eyes flicker. I could try.

DiegoValdez asks, "one ... wait, that village we passed through, they were talking about a beast with a large snout...?"

Giovanna does a swords reading on Franz.

[7thsea] Giovanna rolls 5k4 (no explosions): 10 5 6 8 5 | 29

Maxwell says (to Diego), "Hmm."

Eolo says, "I had thought that was hairier, more wolfen -- but perhaps I misremember"

Maxwell sees that Eolo is heading for the inn. "I'm not sure, but I believe you may stay in the palace."

Lowenherz says, "No swords whatsoever"

Giovanna also does a coins reading on Franz.

[7thsea] Giovanna rolls 5k4: 6 3 2 10+10+8 7 | 44

DiegoValdez says (to Maxwell), "In any case, if he's an expert, perhaps senor Lowenherz might be able to identify him. He did say that practically all the experts were gone from this area."

Gamemaster says, "No coins either"

DiegoValdez walks alongside Max.

Giovanna says (to Lowenherz), "He doesn't seem to bear you any grudge or to be in anyone else's employ."

Giovanna frowns slightly, struck by something cold and a little worrying.

Giovanna does a staves reading on Franz.

[7thsea] Giovanna rolls 5k4: 7 4 2 4 3 | 18

Gamemaster says, "He's got one to Lowenherz"

Maxwell asks, "But first, were we to see to a burial?"

Gamemaster says, "That's it"

Gamemaster says, "You are back in town"

Gamemaster says, "It's night now"

DiegoValdez says (to Maxwell), "Yes. I have the, er, remains."

Giovanna releases a relieved breath. "For a moment I thought he had none."

Giovanna says, "No strands at all would be-- disturbing."

DiegoValdez asks (of Eolo), "Where is the house?"

Giovanna says (to Lowenherz), "In any case, I think you have nothing to fear from Franz, but I would caution you to make sure that nothing leaves his sight, even for a moment, before it reaches yours."

Giovanna says, "Poisoning takes only an instant. Or so I understand."

Lowenherz gives Giovanna a look

Giovanna smiles reassuringly.

Lowenherz says, "I'm glad you're on our side."

Eolo says, "we walked past it to get to the forest"

Eolo says, "it's right over there."

DiegoValdez says (to Eolo), "Oh, right."

Lowenherz says, "Well, come, I'll taste your food if you want. I wouldn't mind taking abit of poison myself after what I did this afternoon."

Giovanna says (to Lowenherz), "Very well. I will join you for dinner under those conditions, and one other as well."

DiegoValdez turns his steps towards the house and knocks on the door.

Gamemaster says, "It slightly creaks open"

Gamemaster says, "A short and dirty-faced man pokes his head out."

DiegoValdez takes off his hat. "Er. Good evening."

Lowenherz says, "Yes"

Lowenherz asks, "?"

Giovanna asks (of Lowenherz), "May we have something other than sausage?"

Gamemaster says, "Morte says, "'allo.'"

Lowenherz grins.

Lowenherz says, "I did spend some time in Vodacce, remember."

DiegoValdez says (to Morte), "Senor ... I bring sorrowful news...."

Lowenherz asks, "What would you like?"

Giovanna brightens suddenly.

Giovanna asks, "I don't suppose Franz knows how to make a proper pasta?"

DiegoValdez hopes he got the words right.

Lowenherz says, "He does."

Giovanna says, "Perhaps something with garlic? And then for dessert..."

[7thsea] Eolo says, "don't drool on the furniture, now"

[7thsea] DiegoValdez asks, "Did Max and Eolo come along?"

[7thsea] Giovanna says, "she hasn't had anything to eat since yesterday, remember"

[7thsea] Eolo says, "I was with you, yeah"

[7thsea] DiegoValdez asks, "Or am I the lone bringer of sad tidings?"

[7thsea] Maxwell says, "Yeah, I just don't know what to say."

[7thsea] Giovanna says, "and it wasn't very pleasant then"

Gamemaster says, "Morte says, 'I hav' had 'em plenty already.'"

Gamemaster says, "You notice he's been crying."

DiegoValdez says (to Morte), "We ... my friends and I ... went into the forest to find the beast."

DiegoValdez says (to Morte), "We found it, and we dealt with it ... but ...."

DiegoValdez slowly takes out the hanky-wrapped, er, parcel.

Gamemaster says, "Morte looks."

Gamemaster says, "Morte says, 'Can yew bury it? I don' want my wife to see that that's what is..'"

Lowenherz asks, "dessert?"

Maxwell says, "We're horribly sorry about your loss, sir."

Giovanna asks (of Lowenherz), "(hopefully) cheese?"

[7thsea] DiegoValdez says, "Okay, this counterpoint is way disturbing."

Lowenherz says, "We are in short supply, but for you I'll break out the stock."

[7thsea] Giovanna says, "'dark humor', my dear Diego."

Gamemaster says, "Morte says, 'What happened to the beast?'"

Giovanna tucks a hand into Lowenherz's elbow and allows herself to be taken dinnerwards.

DiegoValdez says (to Morte), "We'll take it ... her ... to your local priest if you'll direct us. Perhaps it would be best if you came too."

DiegoValdez says (to Morte), "As for the beast, it's dead now."

Gamemaster says, "Morte says, 'Thank 'ye. Church is five houses down to the left, then around the back,'"

Gamemaster says, "(arrived at dinner)"

Maxwell says (to Morte), "Theus' blessings to you and your wife."

Gamemaster says, "Morte says, 'Aye, you too. Come by sometime for a bite to eat if you like. Just not tonight.'"

Gamemaster says, "Morte closes the door."

Maxwell nods.

Gamemaster says, "There's plates of bread laid out"

Maxwell silently heads for the church.

DiegoValdez puts his hat back on and turns in the direction of the church

Gamemaster says, "Franz is arranging utensils"

Lowenherz says (to Franz), "Could you find some pasta to cook up for our guest here? Also, break out the cheese later."

Eolo shrugs and follows them.

[7thsea] DiegoValdez says, "Huh. Devious idea pops into my mind ... 'cept it would probably never occur to straight-shootin' Diego...."

Gamemaster says, "Franz says, 'Aye, does the lady have a preference? I can do quite a few types.'"

DiegoValdez knocks on the door

[7thsea] Gamemaster says, "heh"

Giovanna says (to Franz), "A long straight noodle that will take the maximum amount of time to wind around the fork."

Gamemaster says, "Door opens"

[7thsea] Maxwell DGI

Gamemaster says, "It's a medium-sized woman in workman's clothes"

[7thsea] Maxwell asks, "Which sort of church have we come to?"

[7thsea] Gamemaster says, "Objectivist"

Gamemaster says, "Ayeh, what up? All gone for the night."

Maxwell says, "We need a burial service, I'm afraid."

Gamemaster says, "Franz says, 'Ah, that one's easy. Be ready in a snatch.'"

DiegoValdez asks, "Good evening ... are you the priest?"

Maxwell says, "He means pastor."

Gamemaster says, "No, priest is gone for a couple days."

Gamemaster says, "I just tend to the place. I can bury whatever needs it if you want a service later."

DiegoValdez says (to Maxwell), "perhaps we could get padre Federico to perform the final rites....."

[7thsea] Maxwell says, "chaplain. Whatever."

[7thsea] Gamemaster says, "well, this is 7th Sea names for everything anyway"

[7thsea] Gamemaster says, "it's abit confusing"

[7thsea] Maxwell just looked it up.

DiegoValdez nods to the woman and produces the little parcel.

Lowenherz lets Giovanna sit down and sits in the seat across from her

Lowenherz says, "I do still have some of my books, if you want to check them."

Giovanna says (to Lowenherz), "After dinner, I think."

DiegoValdez says (to woman), "You may have heard about the trouble earlier today ... the stolen child."

Lowenherz says, "I burned quite a few of them when I was upset, but since I was upset, I only took about half."

Giovanna smiles. "Emotion often clouds things."

Gamemaster says, "Ayeh. My."

DiegoValdez says (to woman), "we were unable to save the child, but ... if you could provide a decent burial..."

Gamemaster asks, "Ok, let me get a shovel....you say you have a priest?"

DiegoValdez says, "Si. Ja."

Gamemaster says, "Castillian, eh? My cousin married on'. Father had a fit. Father on the Castillian's side had one even more."

DiegoValdez nods, quite oblivious to any thought as to Vaticine Federico's reactions to performing rites in an Objectivist church.

Gamemaster gets a shovel

Gamemaster says, "Let's do a burial, then"

Gamemaster goes to the east side of the church, where the cemetary is

DiegoValdez nods again. Would really like this sad little affair to be over quickly.

Gamemaster says, "Franz comes back with a huge bowl of pasta"

Gamemaster digs

Giovanna looks pleased, but waits for Lowenherz to take the first bite

Lowenherz glances at Giovanna

Lowenherz takes a fork and eats a string of pastsa

Giovanna watches closely for signs of stiffness, respiratory trouble, or bad manners.

Lowenherz says, "I'm tempted to choke and fall over just to fool you, but I'm in too grim a mood for zany antics."

Lowenherz says, "Tastes fine. Good job, Franz."

Giovanna nods and digs in herself.

[7thsea] Eolo exclaims (at Low), "ha!"

Gamemaster says, "Is dug."

DiegoValdez lays the hand inside.

Gamemaster starts undigging

Maxwell crosses himself.

Eolo watches quietly, murmuring slightly under his breath.

Gamemaster says, "I'm assuming FedericoBot does his stuff"

Gamemaster finishes undigging

Gamemaster says (to Giovanna), "also, pasta is gooad"

DiegoValdez thanks the woman and FedericoBot.

DiegoValdez notes the location of the grave, and turns his feet towards the manor.

Gamemaster says, "I'll mark it an' tell the family, you go on ahead."

DiegoValdez says, "Salmon."

Eolo returns to the manor.

Gamemaster says, "(fast forward)"

Eolo says, "I see we're in time for dinner."

Gamemaster says, "Group enters on Giovanna and Lowenherz eating cheese"

DiegoValdez says, "Buenas noches."

Giovanna looks up.

Lowenherz says, "We still have pasta left, and the potato pancakes I think are still good."

Maxwell takes a seat, exhausted.

DiegoValdez says, "Thank you. I've fairly starving."

Eolo sits quietly and eats just as quietly.

DiegoValdez takes a seat. Looks at food, thinks, "what, no sausages?"

Giovanna looks thoughtfully at the others, but refrains from asking what they found.

DiegoValdez says, "I beg your pardon for the lateness ... we had to attend to a burial."

Maxwell asks (of Diego), "Could I see that 'bill' again?"

DiegoValdez says (to Maxwell), "Si. Here ..."

DiegoValdez passes the paper to Maxwell.

Maxwell looks thoughtfully at the list.

Gamemaster says, "perception roll"

[7thsea] Maxwell rolls 3k3: 2 7 9 | 18

Gamemaster says, "One bit that's smeared but you seem to be able to guess about..."

Gamemaster says, "You think it says 'Drachen'"

DiegoValdez says (to Lowenherz), "We killed the beast, but missed capturing its master. We think the master might have been a monster hunter, though."

Eolo says, "hrm"

Lowenherz says, "Hm."

Maxwell says, "Well. Apparently, a monster trainer, for hire."

Eolo says, "my impression was that it had been trained for him rather than he trained it for others"

Lowenherz says, "Monster hunters tend to kill, not train."

Maxwell asks (of Eolo), "Oh?"

Eolo says, "but I suppose this could have been its trial run before it was delivered"

Gamemaster says, "Franz enters."

Gamemaster says, "Man from earlier today here to see you."

Maxwell says, "He certainly had the knowledge to train it, assuming such information can be found in the books."

Lowenherz asks, "Nickolaus?"

DiegoValdez says, "oh yes, the books. Senor Lowenherz, you might be interested in those."

Gamemaster says, "Franz says, 'I think that's his name.'"

Lowenherz says (to Maxwell), "Can you come with me? I'll finish this discussion later."

Maxwell says, "Ah, yes."

Lowenherz stands up

Maxwell leaves his pack in the dining room.

Lowenherz goes to the foyer

Maxwell follows.

Gamemaster says, "Nickolaus is standing there."

Eolo walks to the kitchen to see about cleaning his leg-wound.

Gamemaster says, "Hello again."

Gamemaster asks, "I don't suppose you've reconsidered our agreement?"

DiegoValdez eats his pasta. Mmmm ... Eisen cooking is better than he's been led to believe.

(From Gamemaster) There's a long silence as the parties stare at each other.

Maxwell says, "It's an agreement we would not be able to honor, since we can hardly attack Montaigne in truth."

Gamemaster asks, "Oh, well, hm. Pity. I suppose I should mention, by the way...how are your horses?"

Maxwell asks, "Horses?"

Maxwell looks confused.

Lowenherz punches Nickolaus in the face with his fist

Gamemaster says, "Nickolaus flies back"

[7thsea] Eolo says, "dammit, I was going to talk to him."

[7thsea] Eolo says, "and now he has no teeth."

Gamemaster says, "Nickolaus hits the ground sprawled"

[7thsea] Eolo asks, "nickolaus works for sieger, right?"

Lowenherz says, "Get out of here. There was never any invasion."

[7thsea] Maxwell says, "Yes."

DiegoValdez sits back, stuffed. It's lovely to be able to sit comfortably, away from all that fighting, once in a while.

Gamemaster says, "Nickolaus stands up and checks his lip."

Gamemaster says, "Hm. Blood."

Gamemaster says, "It'll heal."

Eolo finishes washing his leg, re-bandages it with some clean cloth, and walks back into the dining room.

Gamemaster says, "Good day, then."

Gamemaster says, "Do let me know if you want to reconsider our agreement."

Gamemaster says, "Nickolaus goes."

Lowenherz says, "Bastard."

DiegoValdez says (to Eolo), "No sausage tonight."

Eolo says (to Diego), "tragic."

Eolo stares at the pasta with little appreciation, and eats it as if it were sausages.

DiegoValdez says (to Eolo), "Yes. I was growing quite fond of the weisswurst."

Lowenherz says (to Maxwell), "Get me some allies. I'll work out if there's any subtle way of getting at him."

Lowenherz heads back to the dining room

Maxwell follows back.

Eolo waits for the others to finish eating.

Giovanna mutters into her wine, "I don't suppose he would want to accept a gift of food."

Lowenherz sits down again

Maxwell asks, "I'll leave in the morning then?"

DiegoValdez looks up.

Lowenherz says (to Maxwell), "Yes, that's fine. It's been a busy day."

DiegoValdez asks, "Is something amiss?"

Maxwell says (to Diego), "Nothing new, I think."

Lowenherz says (to Diego), "Would you like to help bring down Sieger? Yes, of course you would. Great."

Lowenherz says (to Giovanna), "Don't forget to remind me about the books."

DiegoValdez blinks.

Giovanna (to Lowenherz) nods

Lowenherz fidgets

DiegoValdez asks, "What just happened?"

Lowenherz says, "Nickolaus declared war."

DiegoValdez says, "santa maria."

Eolo says, "nice."

Lowenherz says, "Mind you, I don't think they have many troops either. Bloody salted land, remember."

DiegoValdez nods.

Lowenherz says, "The problem is the man himself. He's evil and canny."

DiegoValdez asks, "and insane?"

Lowenherz says, "That too."

Eolo frowns

Eolo says, "that always makes it more complicated"

DiegoValdez says, "All I know is what I hear gossiped about in Castille ... that Sieger technically belongs to Castille as part of Eisen's concession at the end of the War of the Cross, but was never properly claimed ...."

Maxwell says, "anyway, the pasta looks good."

Lowenherz says, "Yes, there's always an upside to things."

Lowenherz says, "I need to go plan some things, but...."

Giovanna asks (of Lowenherz), "The books?"

[7thsea] Giovanna says, "though I'll need someone to read them to me"

Lowenherz asks (of Giovanna), "Care for some bedtime reading?"

Eolo asks, "books?"

Giovanna says (to Lowenherz), "I suppose I'll need someone to help me eke out the meaning"

Lowenherz asks, "Oh, dear, you aren't literate, are you?"

Giovanna looks a little annoyed.

Lowenherz says, "Yes, I probably know them better than any. Give me an hour, and I'll meet you and I kind find some relevant passages."

Giovanna nods. "Thank you."

Lowenherz asks, "Does anyone else have pressing issues?"

DiegoValdez says (to Lowenherz), "Well...."

Maxwell says, "There's this guide to monsters, but I don't believe that's pressing now."

Maxwell smirks.

DiegoValdez says (to Lowenherz), "I'd meant to ask about the question of arms deals between your konigreich and Montaigne ... but I rather think it's irrelevant now."

Lowenherz asks, "Arms deals?"

Lowenherz says, "Not unless I have an evil double somewhere."

[7thsea] Maxwell says, "I assumed there would probably be some. But maybe not."

DiegoValdez glances at Maxwell, confused.

Lowenherz says, "But...arms deals....hm....that gives me an idea...."

Maxwell says, "Hrm, yes, afraid I had to talk my way out of that one."

Lowenherz stands up.

Lowenherz asks (of Giovanna), "Where will you be in an hour?"

[7thsea] Eolo asks (of Lowen), "what do you think she is, able to predict the future?"

Giovanna says, "I suppose I could remain here --"

[7thsea] DiegoValdez says, "Hah"

Eolo says, "there is a bit more to talk about, I think."

Lowenherz says, "I'll see to it more cheese is brought out later, then."

Lowenherz leaves

Eolo says, "can't fault his taste in dinner"

[Crows-Nest] Maxwell says, "Sounds like a date."

DiegoValdez says (to Maxwell), "Is it my imagination, or......"

Eolo says, "although I don't know about his lackeys"

Eolo says, "or I suppose I should say villagers."

DiegoValdez asks (of Maxwell), "...or was that a tissue of lies you fed me, about your business in Montaigne?"

Eolo glances at Maxwell. "Present company excepted, of course."

Maxwell says (to Diego), "Well, I couldn't very well tell everyone I was holding a secret letter."

[7thsea] Gamemaster exclaims, "Oh! A secret letter is supposed to be secret! Now I get it!"

Maxwell says, "And every question seemed to bring its own answer..."

[7thsea] Giovanna says (to Eolo), "er, that would be MY taste in dinner, thank you very much"

[7thsea] Eolo says, "hee hee"

DiegoValdez strolls over to Maxwell and leans against his chair.

DiegoValdez says (to Maxwell), "You could simply have told me it was a secret message."

DiegoValdez says (to Maxwell), "You could have trusted me."

Maxwell says (to Diego), "From what I had heard about the business, it seemed the fewer who knew about it, the safer we would be."

DiegoValdez looks all hurt and disappointed.

Maxwell says, "Besides, I had only met you."

DiegoValdez sighs.

Gamemaster says, "Franz brings in another plate of cheese"

DiegoValdez says, "Right ... of course...."

Maxwell puts aside his food.

Giovanna looks over the plate of cheese with a discerning eye and picks out a piece of taleggio.

DiegoValdez slides into another chair and samples a bit of the cheese. "Next time, no more lies, si?"

Maxwell says, "I think I'll take these books to the library and look over them."

Maxwell says (to Diego), "Sir, my business is lies. I can't go making exceptions."

DiegoValdez says (to Maxwell), "sad sort of business, senor."

Gamemaster says, "after conversation is finished, we are folding up"

[7thsea] Gamemaster says, "also, all I can say is, wow. Alot of that did not come out how I expected."

[7thsea] Giovanna says, "hmm."

[7thsea] DiegoValdez asks, "Heh, really? which bits?"

[7thsea] Gamemaster says, "I really did almost cry at one part. And then Giovanna asked for cheese"

DiegoValdez turns his attention to his cheese, seeming quite absorbed.

[7thsea] Maxwell says, "The contrast through all that was astounding."

[7thsea] Eolo says, "yeah"

[7thsea] Gamemaster says, "and the line with Nickolaus was astoundingly evil. I hadn't written him quite like that."

[7thsea] Eolo says, "I don't know how he's going to tell me about umberto now. grumble grumble."

[7thsea] DiegoValdez asks, "Heh ... I think we were meant to confront that guy in the woods ... were we?"

[7thsea] Gamemaster says, "I'm mum on that topic"

[7thsea] DiegoValdez says (to Eolo), "Oh, it's easy ... we'll just storm Sieger, capture him and force him to tell us."

[7thsea] DiegoValdez says, "also, evil idea that popped into my head:"

[7thsea] Gamemaster says, "and Giovanna's long conversation with Lowenherz about the blank cards and such, I hadn't planned it out that way either"

[7thsea] DiegoValdez says, "The peg leg was a red herring ... that's why he never bothered to cover his tracks. He knew that anyone looking for him would be looking for a one-legged man."

[7thsea] Eolo says, "m'yeah"

DiegoValdez says, "And the guy in the woods WAS the trainer we were looking for."

[7thsea] Maxwell says, "Well, yeah."

[7thsea] Maxwell says, "But the guy never once looked at the trap door or limb."

[7thsea] Gamemaster says, "man, I love keeping you guys second-guessing"

[7thsea] Maxwell says, "The whole pit thing might have tipped him off, but"

[7thsea] Maxwell says, "he could also be just some trapper who doesn't know there's a sekrit place right next to his pit."

[7thsea] Eolo says, "mmhmm"

[7thsea] Eolo says, "that seems kind of unlikely, but possible"

Eolo says, "bedtime for me"

Eolo asks, "we're on friday as usual now?"

DiegoValdez says, "'night..."

Gamemaster says, "Yeah."

[7thsea] Maxwell says, "okay then, I log off and log out"

Eolo says, "ok"

Gamemaster says, "at which point we will start with the book parts"