[D&D] PerrySimm says, "Log on."

Onyx has arrived.

(From Fincul) Crank has arrived.

Kaylee has arrived.

[D&D] GM says, "I'm not sure where jnc is"

[D&D] Fincul asks, "Did he mention anything to you about times being good or bad?"

[D&D] GM says, "well, I have mail from him saying "sunday is fine" when I was asking about times"

[D&D] Kaylee asks, "And how about Matthew?"

[D&D] GM says, "I assume he heard we were actually going to do it then"

[D&D] GM says, "matthew can't make it at all this weekend, but since he was the only one we were going ahead anyway"

[D&D] Fincul nods.

[D&D] Kaylee says, "Hmm, he logged on this morning, so he should be OK."

[D&D] Kaylee says, "(as far as knowing when)"

[D&D] Kaylee says, "But it was 3:30 in the morning, so he might be asleep."

[D&D] GM says, "(we'll give him 5 more minutes, then start)"

[D&D] Fincul says, "So last week, we had just done the basic research, and were about to decide whether or not to pay for the more advanced research on the Thing Under the Lake."

[D&D] GM says, "mmhm"

[D&D] GM says, "also there was some question of how healing was going to be arranged and how long you felt like waiting"

[D&D] GM says (to Fincul), "you, personally, might get some benefit by paying the 50 gold to get access to the advanced research part of the library, since you can do spell research there"

[D&D] GM says, "and then I guess you found an item or two back there you could potentially identify, again if you wanted to spend the time"

[D&D] Fincul says, "If the research fee would cover more than just today's research, I'd be in favor of paying it."

[D&D] GM says, "yeah, it's for six months"

[7thsea] sara says, "I think the lizard would take some satisfaction in having some of his potions quaffed, so I'll do that."

[D&D] Fincul says, "That seems like a pretty good bargain."

[D&D] Kaylee says, "I think the best bet is to spend today in non-combat, and get jnc's character to heal us."

[D&D] Fincul says (to Kay), "I'm good with that, since the Thing doesn't appear to be Raz-related."

[D&D] Fincul says, "Or rather, to spend tomorrow -- I think it's still evening."

[D&D] Onyx says, "ilac re: potion quaffing"

[7thsea] schep says, "I get the feeling that wasn't a 7th Sea comment."

[D&D] Kaylee says, "Right."

[7thsea] Onyx says, "yeah, I was logged in in two windows and was having an out-of-personality experience. sorry."

[D&D] Kaylee asks, "Who's Raz?"

[D&D] Fincul says, "Lionhead's nom du deity."

GM says, "Ok, so you decide to take it easy this evening and the next day after all your hard monster-slaying work of the day"

[D&D] Kaylee says, "Ah,r ight."

[D&D] Fincul says, "(Took me a bit of effort to hunt it down in the last transcript too :) )"

GM says, "Skalheth hangs out outside the city walls, communing with nature"

GM says, "(and preparing healing spells)"

GM asks, "what do the rest of you do?"

Fincul checks on the crate and the weapons.

Onyx keeps up with her daily workouts, regardless of injury.

Fincul says, "I'd like to do some further research on the chamber and door we found yesterday, to see if I can learn what we would be up against if we attempted to breach it."

GM says (to Fincul), "they seem to still be there, undisturbed under the bed (and you recall, incidentally, that a few of them were detected as magic)"

Kaylee says, "It sounded to me like we'd want to make sure *nobody* opened it."

Kaylee says, "But more research sounds apropos, yes."

[D&D] Fincul says (to GM), "No change to the note, I take it."

GM says (to Fincul), "you pay the fee to the librarian and he enters your name in the books, and then you spend some hours studying"

[D&D] GM says, "right, the note remains in the crate undisturbed"

[D&D] Fincul asks, "Also, so now we have a pendant and some candlesticks with Raz's marks, as well as some miscellaneous booty (gems and whatever). Do we want to hunt down Raz's followers and see if they want the stuff returned?"

[D&D] Fincul asks, "Or, alternately, to reward us for our help in casting out the evils that had infested his shrine?"

Kaylee heads out to see if she can find current Raz worshippers, as aluded to by the temple guy.

GM says (to Fincul), "finally you come up with a few scraps of information, the most interesting of which consists of the journal of some adventurers, not unlike yourselves, from a hundred years or so ago"

Fincul says, "Hmm. Interesting."

Fincul takes notes.

GM says (to Fincul), "they had apparently found a map leading to a treasure-filled crypt where some ancient warlord had entombed himself and some loyal followers along with his most precious treasures"

[D&D] Kaylee says, "Now I'm wondering if this other party was an old campaign inky was in ;-)"

GM says, "The motive for this entombing is unclear, but for the adventurers it was an obvious move to seek out and open the tomb in the hopes of looting it"

GM says, "unfortunately, when they breached the door, they were assaulted by what are described as "savage, unnatural things""

Fincul nods. "Fools. Didn't they do their research first?"

GM says, "they fought them off but were badly wounded, and the cleric (of Raz, in fact) who was travelling with them detected a strong evil presence deeper in the tomb"

GM says, "they re-sealed the tomb, and worked into the door wards to hold the evil in"

GM says, "and that's where the journal scrap ends"

[D&D] Fincul asks, "Worked what into the wards?"

Fincul says, "Hmm."

[D&D] GM says, "sorry, that's "worked wards into the door""

[D&D] Fincul asks, "Hmm. Are there indications to suggest that the place they found was the same as the one we did?"

[D&D] GM says (to Fincul), "well, there are notes that there was a great bronze door set into the wall of a large cavern"

[D&D] GM says, "which is pretty suggestive"

[D&D] GM says, "they talk about it being led up to by a long tunnel, though"

[D&D] Kaylee asks, "Nothing about the beast outside the door?"

[D&D] GM says, "(one end of which you collapsed)"

[D&D] Kaylee asks, "We collapsed?"

[D&D] Fincul asks, "We collapsed?"

[D&D] GM says, "sorry, they collapsed"

[D&D] Fincul says, "Oh, OK."

[D&D] Fincul says, "Good, that fulfills my 'but there was no other entrance into the chamber' concerns."

[D&D] GM says, "they reported nothing in the cavern, except that some animals from the swamp had made their home there -- there's a note about an angry family of badgers"

[D&D] Fincul says, "Anything about the experience levels of the party? :)"

[D&D] Kaylee says, "When badgers go wrong, next week on FOX D&D."

GM says, "meanwhile, Kaylee has made inquiries, and come to the home which appears to be the center of Raz worship in the city"

Fincul checks if the story indicates whether or not the savage, unnatural things were sealed *inside* the bronze door, or whether they were left outside, possibly inside the big chamber.

[D&D] Fincul says, "(Whoops -- I'lllcheck that later, post-Kaylee.)"

GM says, "it's on the edge of the noble's district, but somewhat run-down -- it looks like it was in fine shape maybe 50 years ago, but hasn't been kept up since"

[D&D] GM says (to Fincul), "it sounds like the adventurers defeated some of them, and forced the others back inside the door before shutting it"

[D&D] Kaylee says, "(Sara is afk, but watching, and will tag along with Kayle)"

[D&D] GM says, "it doesn't sound like they left anything evil or dangerous outside the door"

Kaylee knocks on the door.

[D&D] Kaylee asks, "Also, a home, not a temple?"

GM says, "There's a long pause, and then eventually someone comes to the door, and swings it open a crack. "We don't have -- oh, hello. Can I help you?" the middle-aged woman says."

[D&D] GM says, "right -- but that's not too uncommon for less popular denominations"

Kaylee asks, "Hi! I'm Kaylee, a follower of Laevala. I understand this is where Raz worshippers congregate?"

GM says, "She seems slightly surprised. "Yes -- yes, this is Raz's House in this city.""

Kaylee says, "I ask because when out in the swamp, we found this pedant, which we are given to understand is a representation of Raz."

Kaylee holds out the pendant.

GM says, "The woman takes it and her eyes widen. "Out in the swamp, you say? You must come in and tell me all about it.""

GM says, "She reaches up and unlatches the door-catch, and ushers you in."

Kaylee exclaims, "Thank you!"

Kaylee enters, along with Onyx.

[D&D] Fincul says, "(A pedant is the representation of Raz? Do his followers get the 'Correct Minor Imperfection' spell at level two?)"

[D&D] GM says, "hooray"

[7thsea] Onyx says, "lo"

[D&D] Kaylee exclaims, "Hee!"

[D&D] Kaylee says, "(er, afk ellric a sec)"

GM says, "She takes you down a short hallway (which, again, seems originally nice, but now the carpet is somewhat threadbare, and there are certain missing spots on the wall where possibly paintings used to hang) and into a sitting-room with a pair of couches and an empty fireplace"

GM says, ""You sit here," she says, "And I'll get you something to eat." She bustles out of the room again."

[D&D] Onyx says, "back"

Onyx says (to Kaylee), "Hmph. House looks worn."

[D&D] Kaylee says, "(back)"

[D&D] Onyx says, "btw, pedant was FUNNY"

GM says, "She bustles back in with a tray, on which are some tarts, a small bottle of wine and some glasses, all of which she hands around"

GM says, "Behind her, following slowly, is an old man"

GM says, ""Granser," she says, "These are the ones who found it.""

[D&D] Kaylee asks, "Do we have any idea of how long ago that temple looked like it was sacked?"

Kaylee exclaims, "Hi Granser!"

Skalheth has arrived.

[D&D] Skalheth says, "Sorry I'm late."

[D&D] GM says, "fifty or a hundred years ago, probably, given all the overgrowth above"

[D&D] Fincul says (to Skalheth), "Hey, good to see you."

[D&D] Kaylee nods.

Onyx manages a small bow from where she is seated.

[D&D] Kaylee says, "Yay Skalheth"

[D&D] Onyx says, "Hi Skal"

[D&D] Fincul says, "We're following up on yesterday's research, both about the door and about Raz."

[D&D] Skalheth asks, "Raz?"

[D&D] Fincul says, "Lionhead."

[D&D] Skalheth says, "Oh, I forgot we'd foudn a name."

Kaylee takes a tart. "Ah, these are excellent."

Onyx looks a bit nervous handling her glass, and wraps her fingers around it very gently.

GM says, "The man walks over a bit arthritically, but thrusts out a hand for a handshake. "Ule Dennin," he says. "Raz's Scout of Mor's End""

[D&D] Fincul says, "I signed up for the mage guild, and found out that rich warlord entombed himself and a bunch of helpers/treasure around there once (according to story), and a hundred years ago, a party tried to scoop it, but got knocked about a bit, and decided to ward up the big brass door and escape instead."

Kaylee shakes Ule's hand enthusiastically.

Kaylee then realizes she might hurt the guy, and eases off.

[D&D] Fincul says, "Now Kaylee and Onyx are visiting the Last Few Raz-ites in town, to catch them up on the happenings, while you prep healing spells in the fresh swampy air."

[D&D] Skalheth says, "Good, good."

GM says, "He lets go of your hand with some relief. "I understand you found this amulet out in the swamp -- whereabouts did you find it?""

GM says, "His other hand turns it over carefully, tracing the workmanship."

Onyx thumps herself on the chest with her free hand. "Name's Onyx."

Kaylee says, "Off the trail, not too far outside the city. There was a shrine."

GM says, "He tilts his head up to meet Onyx's gaze. "Pleased to meet you -- were you two, er, the discoverers?""

Onyx says, "Some ruins, back that way <gestures with free hand>. In d'swamp."

Kaylee says, "Two of them--a couple friends were with us."

GM says, ""A shrine, you say? Could you describe this shrine?""

Kaylee describes the first building with the statue in it.

Kaylee asks, "How old is that? Did you have to abandon it for some reason?"

Onyx says, "'bout so big <more gesturing, which results in wine sloshing over the edge of the glass>"

[D&D] Kaylee exclaims, "Yay!"

Onyx mutters invectives under her breath, and tries to clean up.

GM says, "The man seems intent on some train of thought. "That's very interesting -- and was this amulet, ah, lying on the floor of this shrine?""

GM says, "The woman hastens over with a cloth and starts dabbing at the wine"

Onyx says, "Yeah, some poor sap lost 'is head."

Onyx says, "T'others lost their souls, but th' bodies was still there. We fought."

GM says, "The man looks narrowly at Onyx. "And this was all in the building your friend mentioned?""

Onyx says (to Woman), "Sorry 'bout that. I'm not so good with glasses."

Kaylee says, "Well, there is more, but I hesitate to divulge much, since there was something potentially evil at the end."

Kaylee says, "And I'm not sure that the less that know of it, the better for all."

GM says, "The man studies the amlet carefully for a minute."

Onyx says, "Looked right nasty."

Kaylee says, "But if you know of a reason the shrine might have been deserted..."

GM says, ""Let me suggest something, then, and you can tell me if I'm right." He looks up at you. "You stumbled, perhaps, on some passage downwards in the shrine -- and it led into a series of tunnels and rooms -- and there was something evil down there -- which, I judge, you must have defeated, if you are back in the city to tell of it, with this amulet.""

Kaylee smiles, and nods.

Onyx says, "Close 'nuff."

GM says, "The woman looks over at him, excitedly. "Granser, is this from the dark night?""

Kaylee says, "But it looked like there might have once been something worse."

GM says, ""It must have been," he says, shaking his head. "After all this time--""

GM says, "He holds up a hand. "I should perhaps explain a bit first.""

Onyx asks, "Uh, dark night?"

Onyx says, "Most of 'em is dark, what makes this one differ'nt"

Kaylee hides a smile.

GM says, ""I was but a journeyman in Raz's service at the time, perhaps 80 years ago now -- it is only Raz's favor that has kept me alive this long.""

GM says, ""That shrine was the centerpiece for Raz's service in the area, out in the swamp but such was fitting for Raz's followers.""

Kaylee nods.

GM says, ""For a few weeks there'd be occasional strange noises in the sanctuary, ones we couldn't place -- scraping, or stones grinding, or the like""

Onyx . o O ( Eighty years? He is indeed blessed by his god to live so long. )

GM says, ""We had passed them off as burrowing animals, or the earth settling, or something unimportant -- but then one day in the midst of services, things broke through the wall""

GM says, ""There was screaming, and blood, and --" He covers his eyes."

Kaylee holds the man's hand and pats it.

Onyx asks, "Uh, things? What kinda 'things'?"

Kaylee says, "Those rat creatures, Onyx."

Kaylee says, "Only undoubtedly many more than we found."

GM says, ""Teeth and claws -- I saw them tear apart the priest at the head of the room, and I was puking my guts out, and --""

GM says, ""Next I knew I was above ground again, me and perhaps one or two others.""

Kaylee nods silently.

Onyx says, "Oh, well, sure, a few of 'em ain't so bad, but a swarm - that'd be th' death."

GM says, "He shrugs. "The mantle of Scout fell to me, but I wasn't strong enough to carry it -- we left the shrine alone and returned to the city, but that had struck a death-blow to the congregation, along with the treasures we'd lost down below.""

GM says, ""It's been fading ever since, though of course my daughter's been a great comfort, and done her best to bring it back to what it was.""

GM says, "(The woman has moved to stand behind him at this point)"

Onyx asks, "Yer other followers, mebbe in other cities, they couldn't help y' out?"

GM says, "He shrugs. "We asked for some help -- scraped together what we could and sent a company of a half-dozen mercenaries down -- never heard from them again.""

Onyx winces.

Onyx says, "Probl'y best you didn't."

GM says, ""Did you, er, find their remains?""

Kaylee says, "Were there tales after that of something new in the swamp? We defeated some undead monstrosity ourselves, but there were scratches on the walls were it came from over eight feet high."

Onyx says, "Uh, yeah, sure, we found 'em. Nasty."

Kaylee frowns. "I wonder if they became the zombies we had to fight."

Onyx says (to Kaylee), "O'course they were! Poor bastards. Mebbe we should put 'em to pyre, right and proper."

Kaylee says, "There were the remains of your compatriots, too, though thankfully not zombified. Skeletons, at this point."

Kaylee If there is a place in town you would like them buried, we could probably venture back in to retrieve the remains.

[D&D] Kaylee says, "(Only said, not emoted)"

GM says, "He winces. "I hope there is some way we could -- yes, that would be good, we must arrange for their burial. But you clearing out the sanctuary is a good omen -- perhaps, though I am old, there will still be time to try and rekindle the flame of Raz.""

[D&D] zarf has left the channel.

Onyx says, "Ahm not haulin' them critters anywhere. It ain't right. Fire'll purify 'em and let the souls drift where they need t'be."

Onyx frowns at Kaylee. "An' if my time comes, don' you be puttin' me in the ground, neither!

Kaylee grins. "Right, I'll remember that."

Kaylee says, "But it's kind of hard to burn bones."

Onyx grows, "See that'cha do."

Onyx asks (of Granser), "How do you rekindle th' flame?"

Kaylee says (to Ule), "Well, I don't know if you want to try to refurbish the shrine and temple, but there's more."

Kaylee says, "Past the tunnel where the creatures burst in on you was a great cavern."

GM says, "He smiles. "That will be up to my daughter, I think -- she is the one who leads services now, as I am too old to, and she will have something to speak of.""

GM says, "Ule pauses. "More?""

Kaylee says, "And in the cavern was a great brass door, warded against opening."

Kaylee says, "From what we can gather, the door was designed to hold back something evil."

Onyx says, "Th' wards was warm."

GM says, ""I don't know what this is," Ule says, "But it has an uneasy sound to it.""

Kaylee says, "Which means there might be something even worse not too far past your old temple."

Kaylee nods.

GM says, "He frowns. "It does not sound like there was much of a --""

Onyx asks, "Yeah?"

GM says, "He breaks off. "Well, that would explain where came the things that broke into our temple.""

Onyx asks, "A what?"

Onyx asks, "An' who closed th' door since?"

GM says (to Onyx), ""It does not sound," he says, "Like the wards did their job.""

Kaylee says, "Well, it depends on what side of the door the evil was supposed to be."

Kaylee says, "Maybe you're right, and the evil that was imprisoned behind it broke out the other way, into your temple."

Kaylee says, "But maybe they were stuck outside instead, and there's more evil yet beyond the door."

GM says, "He frowns. "Well -- I do not wish to lead you into any danger, but were you planning on looking behind the door?""

Onyx says, "Come see. We'll keep you safe. <thoughtful look> Probl'y."

Kaylee says, "Hence my unease when I first met you--should you try to restore the shrine, it might bring unwarranted attention to that door, and bring people to try to open it."

Kaylee says, "I didn't want to open it before knowing what might be beyond."

Kaylee asks, "You said there were the rat creatures--did you happen to see anything else?"

Onyx says, "Really big nasties." Onyx sighs. "Wish m'clan were here.""

GM says, "He shakes his head. "I remember bigger things, two -- or more? -- big as a man, and an awful stench -- but it was 80 years ago.""

Onyx says, "Really big smelly nasties. Even better."

[D&D] Kaylee asks, "Hey, those scratches didn't look like they could have been made by the rats, did they?"

[D&D] Kaylee says, "I've been operating on the assumption there was something else that probably made 'em."

[D&D] GM says, "um, it's certainly possible that they could have -- although you're calling them rat-creatures, they were three or four feet tall humanoids with teeth and claws"

[D&D] Kaylee says, "Right."

[D&D] Skalheth asks, "Didn't you say the scratches were like 8 feet high?"

[D&D] GM says, "with the one with the stench being a five or six feet tall version of them"

[D&D] GM says (to Skalheth), "yeah"

[D&D] Skalheth says, "Actually, I guess that's the reach of a 4-foot rat creature with arms outstretched."

[D&D] Fincul says, "For reference, I'm just over five feet, and can easily reach an eight-foot ceiling."

[D&D] Onyx says, "somehow I doubt they stood on each others' shoulders just to scratch the walls. sounds like these other things were the more likely culprits."

[D&D] Fincul says, "With the flat of my palm, even."

[D&D] Kaylee says, "Hey, they were bored."

[D&D] Fincul says, "Er, s/five/six, of course."

[D&D] Onyx says, "I'm 5'2" and I can't reach our 7 foot ceiling, so I dunno."

Kaylee says, "Well, something else."

[D&D] Onyx says, "Maybe they just jumped a lot."

Kaylee stands, rummages around in her robes.

Kaylee says, "In the bottom of a barrel, we found a few trinkets. These were alloted to me, but I trade in stories, not capital, and you two are clearly the rightful owners."

[D&D] Fincul asks, "Also, didn't the human-sized one have longer-than-human arms?"

Kaylee produces a small package.

Kaylee hands it to the man.

[D&D] GM says, "yeah, it was kind of ape-like"

[D&D] GM says, "so what is Kaylee handing over here? I'm not quite sure who kept what from the barrel"

[D&D] Fincul says, "So, sounds like ones like the last one we fought, but several of them, not just the one."

[D&D] Kaylee says, "This would be some of the gems, probably. Not the thing that was magical."

[D&D] Kaylee says, "I'm just assuming we divvied it up."

[D&D] Fincul says, "Yeah, I think I still have the dust (although I'd be willing to give it back to them if I were there, I'm not there...)"

[D&D] Kaylee says, "Dust, that's right."

GM says, "Ule opens the package and his eyes widen. "I had no idea," he says. "I knew there was some treasure there, but I had no idea where it was or that it could ever be recovered.""

Kaylee says, "I believe others of our group might also wish to return their portions, but for now, I'll just speak for myself."

GM says, "He rises. "We must do fairly by you," he says. "You will take half of these back to keep, and if you choose to aid us by clearing out whatever lies beyond the door, we will give you the other half.""

[D&D] Fincul asks, "Who had the candlesticks?"

Kaylee says, "That's most generous, sir."

Kaylee asks, "So you think the time has come to open the door?"

Onyx asks, "D'you recollect anythin' further 'bout the monsters? Anythin' at all that might give us an edge over th' critters?"

GM says, ""I think I would very much like it to be done," he says. "Though I admit I do not know what lies on the other side.""

GM says, "Ule pauses. "If I were fifty years younger I'd go with you myself," he says. "But as it is -- ah, I know.""

GM says, "He steps out of the room for a minute and returns with four small flasks. "This water is blessed," Ule says. "It burns the undead like fire.""

Onyx eyes wide. "Very nice, very nice. Many thanks."

GM says, ""Knowledge-wise, though, I can tell you but little -- the undead are not as normal creatures are. They must be hacked to pieces, generally, before they lie still and their souls are released.""

GM says, ""The weaker ones are mindless, like golems -- they do only what they are commanded to do. The stronger ones are like wolves, savage but animals. And the strongest yet are as cunning and wily as men, and sometimes much older.""

Kaylee nods.

Onyx asks, "Would fire do th' same? Or must we hack at 'em?"

GM says, "Ule strokes his chin. "There are three forms of the undead -- those with bodies, those of bones, and those with spirits""

Onyx says, "Not that Ahm against hackin', mind, it just seems disrespec'ful to hack at the dead."

Kaylee hides another smile.

GM says, ""The ones with bodies burn like anything else, and so with the ones that are bones. The latter, in fact, turn your blades as you strike them -- it is better to use a hammer or a club to break the bones.""

GM says, ""But the ones that are pure spirit can usually only be struck by magical spells, or by enchanted weapons.""

Onyx nods. "Clubs. Good.

GM says, "Ule looks from side to side. "Neither of you have the appearance of a mage -- is it possible that one of your companions are?""

Kaylee nods.

Onyx says, "M'axe is blessed."

[D&D] Fincul asks, "Hmm. Is a Flaming Sphere considered magical fire?"

Kaylee says, "And another who is fairly in tune with nature."

[D&D] Fincul checks the description.

[D&D] Onyx says, "It would make sense that any spell would be magical, but D&D is not constrained to logic."

[D&D] Fincul says, "'...can be extinguished by any means that would put out a normal fire of its size.' So, it itself presumably is not just normal fire."

[D&D] Kaylee says, "There you go."

[D&D] Onyx says, "For example, the long bow is really a short-range weapon, but anyway . . ."

GM says, ""They are probably already aware, then, but you should warn them that undead have no true minds as the living do, and enchantments that work against the mind are useless, as do sicknesses or poisons that seek to reduce the health of the body. And against most, spells of cold are useless as well -- generally fire and steel are the best weapons, or other magics.""

[D&D] Skalheth says, "Hmm, perhaps I should get my club out."

[D&D] (from Kaylee) Skalheth parties like it's 799.

[D&D] Fincul says, "It might behoove us to ID those magic weapons we got from the crate."

GM says, ""And -- you spoke of your weapon being blessed? -- it is true that some of the more powerful undead are only affected by magical weapons, or sometimes silver.""

Onyx says, "Ahm good w' fire an' steel. Mebbe I'll fetch me a war-hammer. Hmph."

Kaylee says, "Usually I just pound on 'em."

[D&D] Fincul says, "So that those of us without magic can use them, in case we meet any ghosties."

GM says, "Ule rises. "I think my daughter and I have much to discuss -- if there is any assistance we can offer you, please return to this house and let us know.""

Kaylee says, "Though maybe I could find some magical gloves..."

Onyx says, "My clan's shaman blessed this axe <points to it on her back>."

Kaylee nods.

[D&D] GM asks, "anything else? or are we cutting to the next day?"

Kaylee says, "We'll be sure to be back, if only to tell you our plans."

[D&D] Fincul says, "I'd like to check a couple more things in the library."

Onyx says, "Thanks. Much obliged. We'll see iffen we cain't clean out a few o' dem critters. We'll drop by."

[D&D] Fincul says, "If there's time."

Onyx says, "Iffen we can."

[D&D] GM says, "yeah, sure"

[D&D] Kaylee says, "How much are the gems &c worth? I might use mine to pick up some magical gloves, if I can find any."

Fincul looks for information on what it would take to actually open this door.

[D&D] Fincul says, "We might need to spend some on a Dispel Magic scroll."

[D&D] Onyx says, "I think I have the platinum ingot. It might take more time that we have to put a silver edge on my axe."

Kaylee says, "Oh, one other thing--I don't suppose you or your daughter are healers? I myself can set bones and the like, but it takes a while."

[D&D] Fincul says, "Since that spell's a bit above my level otherwise."

GM says, ""Of course," he says. "If you need healing, we will be happy to see to you.""

[D&D] Onyx says, "Kaylee's afk-ellric again. He'll (she'll?) be right back."

GM says, "(and indeed, he and she'll heal you guys for whatever Skalheth doesn't)"

GM says (to Fincul), "it looks like, in fact, you can bypass the door with a crowbar"

GM says (to Fincul), "as long as you aren't the evil thing it's warded against"

Onyx and Kaylee head back to the inn.

Fincul says, "My! What shoddy workmanship. What would you expect from adventurers who don't bother with their research, though..."

[D&D] Kaylee says, "We're both down 5; might as well do that now."

Onyx gets a real meal to top off those bite-size tarts.

Fincul also checks whether or not his suspicions about the dust probably being either Appearance of Disappearance hold true, before heading back and sharing info.

Kaylee exclaims, "Bite-sized? I could barely eat three of them!"

Onyx grins. "Yeah, but yer jus' a wee mite yerself.

[D&D] Fincul asks, "Hmm. Does that mean that the things scratching at the stone *were* what it was warded against, or just that they're evil things, and that it's probably warded against evil and/or undead in general?"

[D&D] Skalheth asks, "So only three people needed healing?"

[D&D] GM says, "between your sketch and your research, you can work out that it was probably warded against undead in general"

[D&D] Onyx says, "I need some. I'll happily take a potion, or whatever."

[D&D] Skalheth asks, "When Kaylee said, `We're both down 5`, was that you and Kaylee?"

[D&D] Kaylee says, "If we'd like to go tomorrow, we could all let Ule heal us instead of spending an extra day for Skalheth."

[D&D] Kaylee says, "Yes, Onyx and I are both down 5 hit points."

GM says, "Meanwhile, let's see"

[D&D] Onyx says, "I think I was down five, if Lucian remembers correctly (my last HP notes were from a previous week, where I nearly died)."

[D&D] Skalheth says, "Ok, whatever. Either I heal you all or Uwe heals you all."

[D&D] Skalheth says, "I was trying to see if I had enough spell slots to do healing plus cast another spell, but I IC I wouldn't be making that calculation anyway, so I'll just forget it."

[D&D] Skalheth looks at his spell list. "Hey! I can use that rolling sphere spell too!"

[D&D] Fincul says, "So, we get back to the inn, share stories, get healed by Skal and Ule..."

[D&D] GM says, "right"

[D&D] Fincul asks, "What time is it?"

[D&D] Kaylee says, "Sounds good to me."

[D&D] Onyx says, "afk"

[D&D] GM asks, "so what did Kaylee hand over to the man? all the packages except for the one Fincul had?"

[D&D] Kaylee says, "I just gave him my share, which I assumed was 1/5 of the total."

[D&D] Kaylee asks, "And he gave back half of that?"

[D&D] GM says, "right -- the total total was 1000, so you ended up with 100"

[D&D] Kaylee says, "Gotcha."

[D&D] Fincul says, "I'd be willing to consider that Kaylee had the whole 1000, if it simplifies things at all."

[D&D] Kaylee says, "Not exactly enough for magic gloves, but hey."

[D&D] GM says, "that's fine too -- I'm just wondering how much got handed over"

[D&D] Kaylee says, "I was thinking 1/5."

[D&D] Fincul says, "Since, so long as none of us are nasty or evil, we're going to consider the rest of it that wasn't handed over as off-limits and not our property anyway."

[D&D] Fincul says, "(Well, I assume we are, I mean.)"

[D&D] GM asks (of Fincul), "okay, and are you identifying the magic weapons?"

[D&D] Kaylee says, "Right, we can say the other half was given later, though since we seem to be planning on breaching the gap, he'll probably give it all back anyway."

[D&D] Fincul says, "I'm going to ask the rest of the party if they want me to spend the cash to or not."

Fincul says, "If you wish, I can spend one hundred gold of our funds to perform a divination spell, to learn about these magic weapons we have."

Fincul says, "In hopes that they may be of some use against the undead."

Kaylee shrugs. "OK by me."

Fincul nods. "If there are no objections, then I should have the information shortly after nightfall this evening."

[D&D] GM says, "right then -- and what else did you want to identify? Skalheth seems to have identified his boots already, and the dust, some experimentation shows, seems to be something for changing your appearance"

[D&D] Onyx says, "back"

[D&D] Fincul asks, "A la Dust of Illusion, rather than Disappearance?"

[D&D] GM says, "yeah"

[D&D] GM says, "actually, I think you may have -- oh, right, there was also the potion"

[D&D] GM says, "I think those are all you haven't identified yet"

[D&D] (from Kaylee) GM . o O (Mental note--use a different item list.)

[D&D] Fincul says, "If either of the weapons seems to have a different or stronger aura than what I ID, I'll give it a second go."

[D&D] Fincul says (to GM), "There's also the ring's extra ability."

[D&D] GM says, "true"

[D&D] Fincul says, "If both weapons seem to match their identifications, then I'll do the potion."

[D&D] Kaylee asks, "You get 3/shot?"

GM says, "Fincul studies and casts, and determines the short sword and dagger are both enchanted with basic melee spells, to give +1 to hit and damage"

[D&D] Fincul says, "Er, their auras, I mean."

[D&D] Fincul says (to Kay), "Yeah, one per caster level."

GM says, "and the potion cures moderate wounds"

[D&D] Kaylee nods.

GM says, "Arly already has his enchanted sword and doesn't need another, although he goes out and purchases a mace, and spends some time hefting it experimentally."

Fincul says, "Both of these weapons are enchanted to improve their performance, and should be able to interact with even non-corporeal spirits."

[D&D] Onyx says, "Nice weaponry."

Onyx says, "Nice weaponry."

Fincul says, "Indeed."

[D&D] Kaylee asks, "How much would magic gloves be?"

[D&D] GM says, "right, that"

[D&D] Onyx says, "just be sure they match your shoes, honey. you wouldn't want to clash. :-)"

[D&D] GM says, "if you'd like to spend what you got back from the man -- the 500 gold -- you can buy some gloves that'll take on a +1 enchantment for 5 rounds, three times a day"

[D&D] Kaylee says, "I think I might have had some left over..."

[D&D] Kaylee checks.

[D&D] Fincul says, "My computer's acting up. Going to try a reboot."

[D&D] Kaylee says, "Aha, my slippers of spider climb were 2000."

[D&D] Kaylee asks, "Leaving me 500? Could I get the same permanent for 1000?"

[D&D] Kaylee says, "Alternatively, I could carry the dagger, since I can use that."

[D&D] GM says, "permanent weapons (and the equivalent) cost 2000 -- for 1000, you can get ones that are enchanted to hit things and have a +1 bonus to hit, but no damage bonus"

[D&D] GM says, "or that"

[D&D] Kaylee says, "OK, I'll spend my own 500 for the temp gloves, and maybe trade 'em in later for more permanent ones."

[D&D] GM says, "right"

GM asks, "any more preparations, extra weapon purchases, etc? or heading onwards to the door the next day?"

[D&D] Fincul says, "Back."

[D&D] Onyx says, "I think we're good. Just don't ask Onyx to carry the glass flasks - she's not so good with glass. :-)"

[D&D] Fincul says, "Also, ready, I think."

[D&D] Fincul asks, "Did we buy a crowbar?"

[D&D] Kaylee exclaims, "Ha!"

[D&D] GM says (to Fincul), "let us say that you do, then"

[D&D] Kaylee imagines the lot of us gathering around the door again. "Uh, how do we open it?"

[D&D] Onyx would volunteer to bash it in, of course. ;-)

GM says, "ok, onwards then -- back into the swamp, which again has noises off in the distance but no actual encounters, then to the shrine, then moving aside the cover that you put on, then down the rope, and into the cavern (past the mangled bodies) and at last outside the door, bronze with silver runes"

[D&D] Kaylee asks, "Also, are we sure, like, we're not going to be overwhelmed? Did the journal seem to indicate a lower level of adventurers than we?"

[D&D] Skalheth exclaims (at Kaylee), "Metagaming!"

Onyx lights a couple sticks of incence, and pushes them upright into the ground.

[D&D] Kaylee says, "s/lower level/weaker ;-)"

[D&D] GM says, "unfortunately, it was more in story form than detail form -- it's not exactly clear how powerful they were at the time"

[D&D] Kaylee asks, "Can we recreate the runes in a pinch?"

[D&D] Kaylee asks, "Or just re-shut the door?"

[D&D] Skalheth asks, "If you want to metagame more, the GM is obviously pushing us toward this, so - how much of an asshole do we think he is?"

[D&D] GM says, "you can pry out the door without disturbing the runes"

[D&D] GM says, "it's not clear how firmly in place it'll stay at that point, but maybe if it's enchanted it won't matter"

Fincul pulls out a narrow metal club, wedge-shaped at one end, and hands it to Onyx.

Fincul asks, "Would you do the honors?"

[D&D] Kaylee says, "Right, then."

Onyx says, "M'pleasure. Thanks."

Onyx tugs, gently at first, then slowly applies more pressure.

GM says, "Metal grates on stone, and Onyx slowly levers the door outwards"

GM says, "It tilts partway in its frame, but there's enough room to pass on by"

[D&D] Kaylee says (to Skalheth), "(heh)"

Fincul pats himself down, speaking something in a low voice.

GM says, "Into the darkness beyond, which your torches pick out as a largish room, perhaps as big as the altar room you just went through"

[D&D] Kaylee says, "(altar room == room with other statue in it?)"

Onyx trades the crowbar for her axe, and steps into the room.

[D&D] GM says, "yeah"

Skalheth unslings his shield.

Fincul follows.

GM says, "Arly draws his sword and brings up the rear."

Kaylee mutters, "Well, they weren't waiting on the other side with bated breath..."

GM says, "The room, as mentioned, is large, with exits in all four directions. Taking your entrance as from the south, the north exit is an archway flanked by two stone statues of warriors, and the east and west as other, smaller archways"

Kaylee examines the warriors.

Fincul says, "A warrior motif. Consistent with the hypothesis that it's the burial chamber of a deceased warlord."

Onyx gestures east. "That way, ahm thinkin'.

GM says, "The warriors are up on small pedestals, holding axes crossed across the archway"

Fincul checks if there's any apparent mechanism to drop the axes on unwary passers through.

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

GM says, "The torch-light picks out murals on the walls, somewhat dusty and faded, showing a man going down to the underworld, followed by his slaves bearing treasures"

Kaylee listens at each of the doors.

Kaylee rolls 20-sided dice: 13 | 13 + 2 = 15

GM says (to Kaylee), "doorways, you mean? there's a slight scraping from the west; the other two are dead silent"

[D&D] Kaylee says, "Right."

Kaylee says, "There's something scraping in that direction."

Kaylee points west.

GM says (to Fincul), "you don't see anything loose on the statues, although you don't have the training to find anything fancy"

Kaylee says, "Those rat-men, I shouldn't wonder."

Kaylee asks, "Should we go get 'em?"

Skalheth says, "Yess."

Onyx says, "More hackin'. Long as its on live critters, Ah like it."

[D&D] Kaylee asks, "Should we get a standard marching order?"

Fincul says, "We wouldn't want them to escape into the rest of the shrine while we explored. I concur."

[D&D] Skalheth says, "I think we have it, except that you didn't mention when you came in."

[D&D] Kaylee says, "OK, I'll be fourth, then."

[D&D] Skalheth says, "Onyx - Skalheth - Fincal - Arly. Not sure where you fit in."

[D&D] Skalheth says, "Fincul"

[D&D] Kaylee asks, "Unless we want to be sneaky--you have those boots, right?"

[D&D] Skalheth says, "Yeah."

Skalheth says, meditatively, "Hurr..."

Skalheth asks, "Should we close the doors?"

Fincul asks, "Can we?"

[D&D] Kaylee asks, "So switch Skal and Onyx when sneaking?"

Kaylee says, "Let's try. I'll stay on the other side in case you can't open it from the inside."

Fincul looks to see if there's any handles to pull them shut with.

[D&D] Fincul says, "(Er, there're, I mean.)"

Kaylee stays outside with the crowbar.

[D&D] Onyx says, "Unless Skal wants to go as an advance scout I don't think having one sneaky person will make any difference."

GM says, "yeah, there's a handle on this side"

GM says, "and from here you can work out way to open it from within"

GM says, "although it's still not clear how it'd be opened from without"

GM says, "(short of a crowbar)"

Fincul does the pushing-and-pulling testing from this side, to make sure everything works as advertised.

[D&D] Kaylee asks, "Right--Skal ahead maybe 15 feet?"

GM says, "(yeah)"

[D&D] Fincul says, "Go for it."

Kaylee says, "Oh, good."

[D&D] Fincul says, "He can sneak out while we're making lots of covering noise with the door."

[D&D] Skalheth says, "Oh, ok."

Kaylee says, "Yeah, let's close the door, then."

[D&D] Onyx says, "Right, Onyx et al aren't exactly quiet types. She's just monosyllabic."

[D&D] Skalheth says, "(Tell me that in character)"

Kaylee enters the room again.

Fincul asks (of Skalheth), "Since you have on the toe slippers, how about you scout ahead, while we get ourselves neatly locked in?"

Kaylee says (to Skalheth), "Within sight, though--don't want him getting jumped."

Kaylee says, "But maybe a few feet will help give us a heads-up before we alert the inhabitants."

Onyx looks doubtful, but shrugs.

Skalheth looks startled at the suggestion, then nods.

Skalheth starts off down the passage, trying not to clatter his bones.

[7thsea] Jota says (to Ghogg), "On the Bjorg front, it looks like josh *might* be able to fit in an every-other-week game, but not until a few weeks from now, minimum."

[7thsea] Ghogg says, "well, inky's still on a roll"

Onyx follows at a short distance.

GM says, "Skalheth heads down the corridor, using his darksight to pick out the way ahead"

Fincul takes up his position within eye-shot of Onyx, when she's a suitable distance away.

GM says (to Skalheth), "you see a room with a large stone table in the middle, with some things piled on top -- dishes, perhaps"

Kaylee travels with Fincul, Arly close behind.

GM says (to Skalheth), "and, just at the edge, an all-too-familiar familiar stench"

Skalheth . o O ( Dishes? )

GM says, "(er, -1 familiar)"

Skalheth stops and mimes sniffing the air, hoping Onyx can see him.

[7thsea] Ghogg says, "But that's good news."

[7thsea] inky says, "I am planning on bringing this to a halt when you want to get started"

[D&D] (from Fincul) Skalheth sniffs. "Snakes?"

[7thsea] Ghogg says, "We could use a Bjorg"

[7thsea] Ghogg thinks

[7thsea] Ghogg says, "Eisen needs at least one extra session"

Onyx gestures for Fincul to wait a moment.

[D&D] Kaylee says, "Heh."

[7thsea] Ghogg says, "I could start with them earlier."

Fincul waits.

Onyx makes inquiring gestures at Skalheth.

Skalheth who isn't actually looking behind him, doesn't see any gestures, and continues on.

Onyx follows dutifully, and motions Fincul to come on.

[D&D] GM says, "as you actually head into the stench, you'll need to make a DC 15 fortitude save"

[7thsea] Miseri says, "Arrr"

Fincul follows.

[7thsea] Kaylee says, "I'm writing up a synopsis--I've done Avalon, and am almost done with Eisen."

[D&D] Skalheth says, "Oops, I knew I forgot something."

[7thsea] inky says, "really? cool"

[7thsea] Kaylee says, "(This is Lucian, btw ;-)"

Skalheth rolls 20-sided dice: 8 | 8 + 4 = 12

[D&D] Skalheth says, "I have a Resistance spell I could have cast..."

[7thsea] Ghogg says, "I probably should look through and see if there's any important bits you didn't realize were important bits"

[7thsea] Kaylee nods.

[D&D] Skalheth says, "So much for forewarning."

[7thsea] Kaylee says, "The Avalon summary's up at the Act 3 site."

[D&D] Onyx says, "Oh, I dunno, watching you pass out warned the rest of us. ;-)"

[D&D] GM says, "hee hee"

[D&D] Kaylee asks, "Can you back up, retch, and try again?"

[D&D] Ghogg asks, "where are you?"

Ghogg has arrived.

Ghogg says, "Oh, there."

Ghogg sits in the spectator seats

[D&D] Onyx says, "Oh, sure, the nice smell of vomit will completely cover the maloderous oder. Yay."

[D&D] Fincul asks, "Is there a light source at the end of the corridor, BTW? Or just where Arly's at?"

GM says, "Skalheth does, however, get close enough to see that there are three creatures, one large and two small, gnawing bones under and on top of the table"

[7thsea] Kaylee says, "http://www.bioc.rice.edu/~lpsmith/IF/7thSea/Act3/"

[D&D] GM says, "I dunno, who's got lights? Arly's got a torch"

[D&D] Fincul says (to Ghogg), "We're investigating what is suspected to be the tomb of a deceased warlord. Likely to be infested by undead."

[D&D] Skalheth asks, "I'm about 20 feet ahead of them, without a light. What'd that failed save actually do to me?"

[7thsea] (from Miseri) Ghogg says, "Oh yeah, there's this bit that says that Diego is actually the rightful Imperator of Eisen, but you all haven't noticed it yet."

[D&D] GM says, "-2 to hit/saves"

[D&D] Fincul isn't bringing a light, because of the sneaking, and because he's got low light vision.

Skalheth, feeling queasy, backs up as silently as he can to confer with his friends.

[D&D] Kaylee probably has a light.

[D&D] Kaylee says, "Let's say I have a lantern at this point, actually."

[D&D] Fincul says, "Ah, good."

[D&D] Kaylee says, "Assuming they're relatively inexpensive."

[D&D] GM says, "yes"

[D&D] Kaylee says, "Something we can cover if need be."

[D&D] Fincul asks, "Is Onyx a normal human?"

[D&D] Onyx says, "Nope, the only lanterns in town were solid gold. Too expensive to buy, and too heavy to carry, even if we could afford it."

GM says, "Thanks to his boots, Skalheth backs up without being noticed."

[D&D] Onyx says, "Sorry, I seem to be feeling a bit punchy today."

[D&D] Kaylee says, "Hee"

[D&D] Onyx says, "Yes, she's a normal human, she just happens to be a barbarian."

Skalheth nauseausly whispers, "Three of them. One big one."

[D&D] Kaylee says, "Two lanterns, let's say, one for Arly and one for me."

[7thsea] Ghogg says, "oh, you *think* you're joking"

[D&D] Fincul says, "Hmm. So Skalheth is probably invisible to her."

[7thsea] Miseri says, "<ulp>"

[D&D] GM says, "hmm, point"

[D&D] GM says, "but nevertheless"

GM asks, "so, what are you doing?"

Fincul relays whatever information has been relayed to him.

[D&D] Onyx asks, "I can hear him, though, if he talks to me, right?"

[7thsea] Ghogg asks, "where's the bit where Cadiz gives the information about the ledger?"

Kaylee asks, "Rush them?"

[7thsea] Miseri says, "Part 1"

[D&D] Kaylee says, "Scene 9, I think."

[7thsea] Miseri asks, "or is it a different ledger?"

[D&D] Kaylee says, "ILAC"

[7thsea] Kaylee says, "Scene 9, I think."

[D&D] GM says (to Onyx), "yeah"

Onyx says, "Could we lure 'em here? Don't want to alert the swarm, an' all."

Onyx asks (of Skalheth), "Anythin' past the one room? More corridors, mebbe?"

Skalheth leans against the wall and tries to recover.

Skalheth says, "Couldn't see."

Onyx says, "Poor bastard, y'look right peaked."

Skalheth says, "Hurr. I am out of balance."

Skalheth says, "I forgot... Wait a moment."

[D&D] Skalheth asks, "Are we all gathered together now, or just me and Onyx?"

[D&D] Onyx says, "All of us."

[D&D] Kaylee says, "All together, yeah."

[D&D] Fincul says, "(Lost connection there again -- hope this isn't going to be one of those days...)"

[D&D] Fincul asks, "How long is the hallway?"

[D&D] GM says, "about 30 feet"

[D&D] Skalheth asks, "Who got paralyzed/nauseated yesterday?"

[D&D] GM says, "you got paralyzed, arly and kaylee were nauseated, I believe"

[D&D] Fincul asks, "Can I line up several for a mystic bolt?"

Skalheth begins to mumble and sign in the air. At the culmination of his spell, he beckons to Fincul.

[D&D] Fincul says, "I've got low light vision, and it's got a 30ft range."

Skalheth gestures to Arly, that is.

[D&D] GM says, "you might be able to hit the large one and a small one with the bolt, yeah. the other small one is on top of the table"

Skalheth touches Arly's brow and casts Resistance (+1 saves for 1 minute) on him.

Skalheth repeats the process with Kaylee.

Kaylee exclaims, "Thanks!"

[D&D] Skalheth says, "Hm, perhaps not a good idea to use both my Resistance's now."

Kaylee exclaims, "Let's go!"

GM says, "Arly nods thoughtfully."

[D&D] Fincul says, "Bah. It *is* one of those days."

[D&D] Kaylee asks, "It only lasts a minute, right?"

[D&D] Fincul reads scrollback.

Kaylee heads down the hall into the stench.

[D&D] GM says (to Kaylee), "Fincul's probably going to cast a spell, here"

Fincul says, "I think that I can strike two of them from here."

Fincul says, "We could draw them out that way, and waylay them at the doorway."

Onyx mimes wrapping a scarf around her mouth and nose.

Kaylee says, "Go for it."

Onyx very quietly asks, "Cloth?"

Kaylee climbs the wall and crouches by the ceiling.

Fincul says, "I don't think I could speak clearly enough to cast with a cloth over my mouth."

Fincul lines up his spell, and lets fly a bolt of orange light.

Onyx borrows an extra scarf from Kaylee. The bright colors look a little odd next to all the leather Onyx is wearing.

GM says, "There is a sizzle and then surprised snarls from the creatures"

GM says, "All three come loping out of the room, the big one first, and then the other two (one of which seems to be limping)"

Fincul ducks off to the side, to let the heavy hitters do the actual heavy hitting.

GM says, "everyone else roll dc 15 fortitude saves"

Onyx rolls 20-sided dice: 16 | 16 + 6 = 22

GM says, "(I guess it's been long enough that Skalheth can reroll, if he likes)"

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

Skalheth rolls 20-sided dice: 11 | 11 + 4 = 15

[D&D] Onyx says, "oh, that was my initiative. I'll reroll for fortitude."

GM says, "Arly:"

GM rolls 1 20-sided die: 16 | 16 + 6 = 22

Skalheth rolls 20-sided dice: 2 | 2

Kaylee rolls 20-sided dice: 10 | 10 + 5 = 15

[D&D] Skalheth says, "Well, I'm dead last."

Onyx rolls 20-sided dice: 9 | 9 + 5 = 14

[D&D] Kaylee says, "Woot, thanks for the extra 1."

GM says, "Arly's init:"

GM rolls 1 20-sided die: 7 | 7 + 8 = 15

[D&D] Fincul says, "Is init being rolled as well? I should probably assume I'm last, since I just acted."

[D&D] Onyx asks, "does the scarf make any difference? Or does it just make me look silly?"

[D&D] GM says, "ok, everyone made the save, looks like. so acting first (in a surprise round): Arly, Kaylee, Onyx, Skalheth, Fincul"

[D&D] Fincul says, "+1 to disguise attempts as a belly dancer."

[D&D] GM says (to Onyx), "it was going to give you a +1 to the save, but then you made the sasve anyway, so"

GM says, "Arly swings his sword at the big creature"

GM rolls 1 20-sided die: 18 | 18 + 8 = 26

GM rolls 1 8-sided die: 7 | 7 + 4 = 11

GM says, "Arly grins darkly as his sword slices into the large creature, which snarls at him."

GM asks, "Kaylee?"

Kaylee falls on the big one from above, and pummels it in the head with her fists.

Kaylee rolls 20-sided dice: 19 | 19 + 5 = 24

Kaylee rolls 20-sided dice: 3 | 3 + 5 = 8

Kaylee rolls 6-sided dice: 1 | 1

Kaylee pokes it in the eye.

GM asks, "Onyx?"

[7thsea] Ghogg asks (of Kaylee), "did I actually say '54 centuries' or did I give a specific day?"

[D&D] Fincul says, "Kaylee the Zombie Boinker."

[D&D] (from Onyx) Kaylee I do a finger-poke in the library.

Onyx rolls 20-sided dice: 15 | 15 + 7 = 22

[D&D] Skalheth exclaims (at Fincul), "Eagh!"

[D&D] Fincul says (to Skal), "Sluggy ref."

[7thsea] Kaylee says, "You have a number of days, and I calculated."

[D&D] Onyx asks, "what do we need to hit?"

[D&D] GM says, "16 to hit the big one, 14 the small ones"

[7thsea] Kaylee says, "1974xx, I believe."

Onyx rolls 12-sided dice: 8 | 8 + 2 = 10

[D&D] Fincul asks, "Does that take into account Kaylee and Arly flanking it?"

[7thsea] Kaylee says, "Which I divided by 365"

GM asks (of Onyx), "which one was that against? the big one?"

Onyx strikes the creature a mightly blow to the ribs. *Thwack*

[D&D] Onyx says, "yeah, the big'un."

[D&D] GM says, "no, you're right, that should have had a +2 (although normally it couldn't be flanked, since it has the smaller ones on either side, but Kaylee dropped from the ceiling)"

GM says, "Onyx's blow slices it right in half, leaving only the two smaller ones (one of which Fincul's spell wounded)"

GM asks, "Skalheth?"

Kaylee tumbles off the back as the creature falls, doing a flip and landing on her feet.

Skalheth charges the wounded one.

[D&D] Skalheth asks, "Can I get a charge bonus here, or is it too cramped?"

[D&D] GM says, "I think it's too cramped"

Skalheth rolls 1 20-sided die: 3 | 3 + 5 = 8

Skalheth charges right past the wounded one.

GM says, "oops"

GM asks, "Fincul?"

Fincul swings his staff at the wounded one.

[D&D] Fincul asks, "So this is +2, right?"

[D&D] GM says, "yes"

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

Onyx . o O ( why is Skalheth charging the wall? )

Fincul smacks the ground threateningly, it would appear.

GM says, "(new round, the creatures start attacking:)"

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

GM says, "(not very quickly, it would appear)"

GM says, "Arly swings his sword at the unwounded one."

GM rolls 1 20-sided die: 9 | 9 + 8 = 17

GM rolls 1 8-sided die: 6 | 6 + 4 = 10

[D&D] Fincul says, "No so unwounded anymore."

[D&D] Fincul says, "Er, not so."

GM says, "He chops an arm off, and the creature growls"

GM asks, "Onyx?"

Onyx rolls 20-sided dice: 1 | 1 + 7 = 8

GM says, "(er, sorry, I guess it was actually Kaylee's turn -- she can go now)"

Onyx's axe makes a mighty *thwack*, uselessly, against the wall.

Kaylee pummels one, then kicks it.

Kaylee rolls 20-sided dice: 19 | 19 + 3 = 22

Kaylee rolls 20-sided dice: 20 | 20 + 3 = 23

Kaylee rolls 20-sided dice: 9 | 9 + 3 = 12

[D&D] Onyx exclaims, "nice!"

[D&D] GM says, "not bad"

[D&D] Fincul says, "Woo."

[7thsea] Kaylee says, "Arr, no crit."

[D&D] Kaylee says, "Arr, no crit."

[D&D] GM asks, "does that +3 include your flanking bonus?"

[D&D] Kaylee says, "Oh, no, it didn't."

[D&D] Kaylee asks, "Still, 14--would that have been a miss?"

[D&D] GM says, "no, that's a hit"

[D&D] Kaylee says, "Well, hey."

[D&D] GM says, "just enough"

Kaylee rolls 3 6-sided dice: 5 2 2 | 9

GM says, "Kaylee kicks its head off"

GM asks, "Skalheth?"

GM says, "(only one left)"

Skalheth rolls 1 20-sided die: 12 | 12 + 5 = 17

Skalheth rolls 1 8-sided die: 3 | 3 + 2 = 5

Skalheth turns on the last rat-thing and jabs at it.

GM says, "The spear jabs through its chest and it falls to the ground."

Fincul says, "Well, that was a nice way to start things off."

Onyx thrusts her fists in the air, and looks like she's about let out a war-whoop, but thinks better of it at the last second, and settles for kicking her heels.

Skalheth says, "Hurr," in satisfaction.

Fincul checks the corpses for signs of unlife. Also, loot.

[D&D] Fincul asks, "Same kinds of critters we dealt with before?"

GM says, "These ones are much better-dressed than the previous creatures you've seen, or at least their original rags are"

[D&D] GM says, "yeah, looks like"

GM says, "the larger one has a gold ring on its finger, and seems to have been wearing fine cloth at one time, although it's now all scraps"

Onyx looks around the room for any hidey-holes.

Skalheth examines the bones on the table.

Fincul passes around the ring to anyone who wanted a look.

GM says, "(proceeding into the next room, I assume)"

Kaylee examines the bones they were gnawing on.

Fincul proceeds after Skalheth to the tabled room.

[D&D] Onyx asks, "do the rags look like they were once robes, or some sort of uniform?"

GM says, "the room is laid out like a banquet was held here, possibly the wild kind where all the food is tossed to the ground and torn apart and all the plates are smashed"

[D&D] GM says, "mm, more like robes"

GM says, "the table itself would have been tipped were it not stone and very heavy"

Onyx says, "Hmph. Someone had fun. Lots o' someones."

Skalheth looks under it.

Fincul says, "Hmm. This reminds me of certain seafaring cultures, wherein it's considered polite to fling one's refuse behind oneself when dining."

GM says, "the walls here have murals, with the same nobleman from the previous room sitting at the head of a long table laid out with a feast, and watching various entertainments, ranging from dancing-girls to people being branded with hot irons"

Fincul checks for undead dancing girls.

Kaylee says, "Not a nice guy."

Onyx says, "An' people say *I'm* a barbarian."

GM says, "under the table is more remains of the feast, broken bottles, bones, smashed plates, and decayed things that were probably once food"

GM says, "Tossed carelessly against a wall is a scrollcase"

GM says, "and, if you have an eye for the valuable, there are a set of four silver wine goblets"

Fincul takes a look at the scrollcase, picking it up.

Skalheth looks around for other exits.

GM says, "the plates may have been nice at one time too, but now they're so many shards"

GM says (to Skalheth), "nothing except the way you came"

[D&D] Skalheth says, "Silver shards sounds like a promising spell component, actually."

[D&D] Kaylee says, "Ceramic, one presumes."

[D&D] GM says, "yeah"

GM says (to Fincul), "it's bone, reasonably standard, and sealed shut with wax"

GM says, "(which is also reasonably standard)"

Fincul pockets it for now, to give it a better inspection later.

Kaylee asks, "Well, heading east?"

[D&D] Onyx says, "afk"

Fincul says (to Kaylee), "That seems like a good next choice."

Fincul asks, "Should we attempt the same modus operandi?"

[D&D] Onyx says, "well, never mind. Lucian took Ellric, so Kaylee's afk instead of me."

Fincul asks, "That is to say, sending one person to scout ahead of the rest of the party?"

[D&D] GM says, "kid handoff"

Skalheth says, "I agree."

[D&D] Fincul asks, "Does Lucian have better diplomacy rolls?"

[D&D] Onyx says, "Yeah, Ellric got pissed at me when I asked if he had a wet diaper."

Skalheth tears a strip from, his cloak, moistens it from his waterskin, and ties it around his face.

Skalheth starts off eastward.

Onyx follows at a reasonable distance.

Fincul follows Onyx at a distance.

GM says (to Skalheth), "the east corridor is similar, opening up into a smaller room which is lined with book-covered shelves"

GM says (to Skalheth), "the floor is covered in bones"

GM says, "and something -- it's hard to say, with darkvision -- there's the impression of something else moving around in there"

Skalheth thinks a moment, then tries to get closer.

GM asks (of Skalheth), "stepping into the room, or just getting closer?"

[D&D] Fincul says, "AFK briefly."

Skalheth says (to GM), "Closer if I can without entering the room. If I still can't make it out, I'll go in."

[D&D] Fincul says, "Back."

GM says (to Skalheth), "it looks like -- well, it looks like the sensation of movement; like there's something there, but all you can actually see is the flicker of its passage as it darts around the room"

[D&D] Skalheth exclaims, "Grr. I had a nice spell to use in this situation, but I swapped it out for a second copy of - oh, wait, I didn't! It's the one I kept!"

[D&D] Skalheth asks, "Is there a chance of targetting it with a spell?"

[D&D] GM says, "yeah"

Skalheth backs off thoughtfully and returns to the group.

[D&D] GM says, "it seems to be moving at the speed of a running human"

Skalheth says (to group), "There is something moving in there, but it's hard to see."

Skalheth says, "I think I can illuminate it. Prepare yourselves."

Kaylee scales the wall again.

Onyx says, "Hmph. Bats ain't likely this far down."

Fincul, unsure of how to prepare himself for whatever Skalheth does, pre-emptorily flinches instead.

Onyx readies her axe.

GM says, "Arly grunts and draws his sword"

Skalheth notices the flinch. "I will be outlining it in fire. I don't know what it is, except it seems to be darting around with the speed of a running man."

Skalheth asks, "Are you ready?"

[D&D] Kaylee asks, "So it'll be Burning Man when you get done with it? Where's the peyote?"

Onyx asks, "Hmph. In that case, lemme get a bit in front of you, so I can hit it sooner, eh?"

[D&D] Onyx exclaims, "Ha!"

Fincul says, "Aye."

Fincul gets out of Onyx's way.

Onyx edges closer.

Skalheth hisses, "All right, go!"

Skalheth marches towards the end of the tunnel, readying his spell.

[D&D] Matthew says, "Uhhhhhhhhhh."

[D&D] Matthew says, "Are we having a game today? I thought we weren't."

[D&D] Fincul says, "Hey, it's Arly."

[D&D] Onyx exclaims, "Yay, Arly!"

[D&D] GM says (to Matthew), "cf bb"

[D&D] Fincul says, "Come help us fight a mysterious but speedy phantom thing."

[D&D] Onyx says, "Skalheth was about to light it."

[D&D] Fincul says, "And then we can all sing 'Happy Birthday'."

[D&D] GM says, "hee hee"

[D&D] Kaylee says, "Dude, cast the spell already ;-)"

[D&D] Fincul says (to Arly), "Your unknown potion is Cure Moderate Wounds, and you now have a mace, I think."

[D&D] GM asks (of Matthew), "feel like coming over for an hour or so?"

Skalheth cries, "Sissthek mil saviens flicia!" and (if it works) eerie green flames outline an area of the room.

Ghogg roots for the monsters

[D&D] Skalheth says, "Sorry. That was Faerie Fire."

Onyx strikes as soon as she can aim.

[D&D] Skalheth says, "Pale glow outlines all creatures and objects in a 5-ft-radius, negating concealment, blur, invisibility, and similar."

[D&D] Fincul says, "I think it's more macho if you don't tell us the name of that one when you cast it."

GM says, "The flames do indeed surround something -- two somethings, in fact -- but there's no real creature to be seen, just dark silhouettes surrounded by green flames"

[D&D] Skalheth says (to Fincul), "Yes, that's why I didn't IC."

[D&D] GM says, "hee hee"

[D&D] Fincul asks, "How long does it last?"

[D&D] GM says, "a minute/level, so probably til the end of combat"

GM says, "meanwhile, the bones on the floor clatter and rattle"

[D&D] Kaylee asks, "Bones on the floor?"

GM asks, "but the silhouette-things don't emerge from the room -- are you going in after them?"

[D&D] Fincul asks, "Are the bones in the corridor or the room?"

[D&D] GM says, "only in the room"

[D&D] GM says, "covering the floor, only slightly less thickly than the walls are covered with shelves"

[D&D] Onyx exclaims, "yup, I charge in!"

Onyx races into the room, axe swinging!

[D&D] Skalheth says, "Is going to cast another spell (wasn't going to bother at first, but didn't realize there were two)."

[D&D] GM says (to Onyx), "ok, attack away"

[D&D] Skalheth asks, "Do I have to wait for init to do this?"

[D&D] GM says, "yeah, okay, everyone roll init"

Fincul rolls 1 20-sided die: 19 | 19 + 0 = 19

GM says, "Arly:"

GM rolls 1 20-sided die: 20 | 20 + 8 = 28

Onyx rolls 20-sided dice: 2 | 2 + 7 = 9

Skalheth rolls 1 20-sided die: 2 | 2

[D&D] Skalheth asks, "Again?"

Kaylee rolls 20-sided dice: 7 | 7 + 3 = 10

Onyx's charge disrupts her aim, and she slices viciously at the air next to the creature.

[D&D] Fincul says, "I guess the real Arly won't be coming to join us after all."

[D&D] Fincul asks, "Should someone roll for Ellric and/or Kaylee?"

[D&D] Matthew says, "Wow, I totally missed that bb message."

[D&D] GM says (to Onyx), "roll initiative first, please"

[D&D] GM says, "and for kaylee"

[D&D] Matthew says, "I thought we were playing next week."

[D&D] Onyx says, "I'm assuming I didn't need to roll initiative since I was charging in first, and Kaylee rolled a 10."

[D&D] GM says, "well, that too"

[D&D] Kaylee asks, "I did roll, right?"

[D&D] GM says, "sorry, just for the record, we'll be playing any week there's no more than one person who can't make it"

[D&D] Onyx says, "alrighty - here goes."

[D&D] Fincul says (to Kaylee), "Oh, whoops... sorry, it got lost in my output."

[D&D] GM says (to Kaylee), "sorry, so you did"

Onyx rolls 20-sided dice: 12 | 12 + 6 = 18

[D&D] GM checks scrollback

Arly has arrived.

[D&D] GM says, "so Arly, Fincul, Onyx, Kaylee, Skalheth"

Arly says, "Uhhhh..."

GM rolls 1 20-sided die: 19 | 19 + 2 = 21

[D&D] Arly says, "Can someone bring me up to date, please? :)"

[D&D] GM says, "woo, fast creatures"

[D&D] Onyx asks, "do you want me to attack again?"

[D&D] GM says, "Arly, creatures, Fincul, Onyx, Kaylee, Skalheth"

[D&D] Skalheth says (to Arly), "Sure. I have some time."

[D&D] GM says (to Arly), "right now you're about to attack some weird silhouette-creatures in an old library, the floor of which is covered with rattling bones"

[D&D] GM says (to Arly), "so roll for that"

[D&D] Skalheth says, "We met the last living (local) worshippers of Lionhead, and they were overjoyed that we'd cleared their shrine."

[D&D] GM says, "(you need a 13 to hit)"

[D&D] Arly asks, "Uh, is that 1d20+8?"

[D&D] GM says, "right"

[D&D] Skalheth says, "And we decided since they want to rebuild it, we'd clear out the dangerously-close undead filled tomb instead of leaving well enough alone."

Arly rolls 1 20-sided die: 1 | 1 + 8 = 9

[D&D] Onyx exclaims, "'Cause that's just the kind of heroes we are!"

[D&D] Arly says, "Ugh."

[D&D] Arly exclaims, "I'm leaving again if this is going to happen!"

Arly has disconnected.

Arly goes home.

[D&D] GM says, "hee hee"

GM says, "The creatures swarm around Arly."

[D&D] Fincul blinks.

[D&D] Skalheth says, "So we went in and found a crossroads. Went west, fought 3 more rat-things and found a scroll, then went east and found a room full of bones with silhouette creatures. I cast a spell to make them visible by outlining them in green flame."

GM rolls 1 20-sided die: 7 | 7 + 3 = 10

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

[D&D] Skalheth exclaims (at Arly), "Yay! Way to draw their attacks and then leave!"

[D&D] Fincul asks (of Skal), "ANd some silver goblets -- who got them?"

[D&D] Skalheth shrugs.

[D&D] Fincul says, "(I'll assume a nebulous 'someone' picked them up.)"

GM says, "Arly ducks out of the way of the first, but as he swings his shield up to block the second, its -- hand, for the lack of a better word -- passes right through the shield and brushes against his arm"

GM says (to Arly), "a chill runs up your arm, like it's been out in the snow"

[D&D] GM says (to Arly), "(and you temporarily lose one strength point)"

Arly says, "Urgh."

[D&D] Arly says, "Uh..."

[D&D] Arly says, "I'm so confused here."

GM asks, "Fincul?"

[D&D] Skalheth says (to Arly), "No, you lost strength, not intelligence."

[D&D] GM says, "hee hee"

[D&D] Onyx says, "hee"

[D&D] GM says, "for right now it doesn't matter, since you went from str 17 to str 16, so your, eg, attack bonus doesn't change"

[D&D] GM says, "if you lose another point it'll drop from +3 to +2 and so on"

[D&D] Fincul says (to Arly), "Picture a small library at the end of a long stone hallway. Inside the library, two invisible phantoms are picked in silhouette out by green firey lights. You just tried to attack one, but it got you instead."

Fincul moves forward to the room.

[D&D] Ghogg says, "And if you lose too many points you become Arly Jerky. Mmm, Arly."

[D&D] Fincul asks (of GM), "How close are they to the walls?"

[D&D] GM says, "they seem to be staying close to the walls, except when they leap off to strike"

[D&D] Kaylee asks, "Do these guys seem like things that would require magic to hit? Should I roll wisdom?"

Fincul says, "Curses."

Fincul exclaims, "Immortis!"

[D&D] GM says (to Kaylee), "well, Ule did say something about insubstantial creatures (which these look like) requiring magic to hit"

[D&D] Kaylee says, "Right, OK."

Fincul thrusts his staff in the air.

[D&D] Fincul casts Disrupt Undead at one of the shapes.

Fincul rolls 1 20-sided die: 4 | 4 + 1 = 5

[D&D] Fincul says, "Well, that was less than spectacular."

GM says, "The shape dodges out of the way, and Fincul's spell vanishes against the bookshelf"

GM says, "now Onyx"

Onyx rolls 20-sided dice: 13 | 13 + 7 = 20

Onyx rolls 12-sided dice: 12 | 12 + 2 = 14

[D&D] Onyx exclaims, "yay!"

Onyx's axe is buried in the middle of the whatever-it-is.

GM says, "Onyx's axe swipes neatly through one of the creatures -- and passes through insubstantially"

[D&D] Onyx says, "un-yay."

[D&D] Skalheth asks (of Onyx), "Didn't you say your axe was magic?"

[D&D] Fincul asks, "Who got the +1 sword?"

[D&D] GM says, "my notes say it's only masterwork"

[D&D] GM says, "but yeah, this might be a good time for Onyx to pull out the +1 shortsword"

[D&D] Onyx says, "Apparently, I was confused as to where the plus one came from. Yes, I had claimed earlier this session that it was magic, but I guess not."

GM asks, "in any case, Skalheth?"

Kaylee activates her gloves, drops down on the shapes.

[D&D] GM says, "oops, sorry, Kaylee"

[D&D] Onyx says, "If I had realized that, I'd have done something different."

[D&D] Kaylee asks, "Flanking yet, or normal?"

[D&D] GM says, "yes flanking"

Kaylee rolls 20-sided dice: 8 | 8 + 5 = 13

Kaylee rolls 20-sided dice: 9 | 9 + 5 = 14

[D&D] GM says (to Onyx), "sorry, I guess we'll ascribe it to barbarian confusion"

[D&D] Kaylee asks, "I needed 13?"

[D&D] GM says, "right"

[D&D] Kaylee says, "Oh, oops, and I forgot to add the +1, so yay me."

Kaylee rolls 2 6-sided dice: 6 5 | 11 + 2 = 13

Kaylee gloves punch right into what appear to be the critical spots on the hantoms.

[D&D] Kaylee says, "phantoms, sigh."

GM says, "They flicker unsteadily as her gloves smash into them -- it's like punching mud"

GM asks, "now Skalheth?"

GM says, "(but it does seem to be having some effect, as the silhouette starts to deform)"

Skalheth hesitates as he sees Onyx's axe go through it. "Hurr... she said it was magic? Try this instead!"

Skalheth waves his hands, chants, and tosses a pinch of sulphur from under his robes - and it turns into a flaming sphere.

Onyx reaches out to grab whatever Skalheth is offering, preferable not by the sharp end.

[D&D] Skalheth says (to Onyx), "No, I was talking to myself. Sorry."

Fincul exclaims, "No!"

[D&D] Onyx says, "Or not, since fire-handling is really not my forte. :-)"

[D&D] GM says, "heh heh"

[D&D] Kaylee exclaims, "Hee!"

Skalheth's face screws up in concentration as he tries to remember how Fincul did this last time.

GM says, "the creatures rush to get out of the way"

Skalheth guides the sphere toward whichever shape gives him more room to maneuver. Don't want to burn the friends.

[D&D] Onyx says, "No, just the fiends."

Skalheth . o O ( Hurr, just like herding animals. )

GM rolls 1 20-sided die: 7 | 7 + 3 = 10

GM says, "one of the creatures, caught away from the wall, is directly in the sphere's scorching trail"

GM says, "(roll 2d6)"

Skalheth rolls 2 6-sided dice: 6 1 | 7

GM says, "something sizzles and flares"

Onyx asks, "Who's got the Holy Water?"

GM says, "next round, Arly's turn"

[D&D] Fincul says (to Onyx), "Kaylee or you, I would imagine."

[D&D] GM says (to Onyx), "you do, I thought, although you could have handed it around"

Arly rolls 1 20-sided die: 14 | 14 + 8 = 22

[D&D] Arly says, "Yay."

Kaylee asks, "Would it work on insubstantial things like these?"

[D&D] GM says (to Arly), "I assume you're attacking the one by Kaylee, not the one by the flaming sphere"

[D&D] Onyx says, "Onyx declined them, due to being bad with glass . . ."

[D&D] GM says, "ah yes"

[D&D] GM says (to Arly), "ok, so roll for damage, 1d8+4"

Arly rolls 1 8-sided die: 3 | 3 + 4 = 7

[D&D] Fincul says (to Onyx), "So they were passed around, I guess."

[D&D] Kaylee says, "Yeah."

GM says, "The thing flickers and waves as Arly's sword passes through -- it's not like cutting into something real; maybe more like slicing spiderwebs"

GM says, "They lunge out again, one at Kaylee and one at Onyx"

GM rolls 1 20-sided die: 14 | 14 + 3 = 17

GM rolls 1 20-sided die: 7 | 7 + 3 = 10

GM says, "Onyx dodges, but Kaylee feels the same strange weakness going over her"

GM says, "meanwhile, from the floor, bones snap together, as two things rise in roughly humanoid form"

GM asks, "Fincul?"

Kaylee says, "Yeeugh."

Skalheth mutters, "Heard that coming."

[D&D] Fincul asks, "Between the skeletons and the phantoms, can I line up two or more things?"

[D&D] GM says, "you can line up the two skeletons, or a skeleton and a phantom"

Fincul moves so that he can point through a skeleton at one of the phantoms, shouting "Hava-Shuul!"

Kaylee exclaims, "Have at you! Yeah!"

GM says, "The skeleton drops instantly as Fincul's ray passes through it, losing whatever weird energy it had just gained"

GM says, "The phantom flickers more, losing even more of its shape and becoming less humanoid but still seeming to hang on"

GM asks, "uh, Kaylee?"

[D&D] Kaylee asks, "Was that the Onyx one or the Kaylee one?"

[D&D] Kaylee says, "I think Onyx goes first."

Onyx rolls 20-sided dice: 8 | 8 + 7 = 15

[D&D] GM says, "oops, sorry"

[D&D] Onyx says, "I'm aiming at the skeleton-thingys, if there is one."

[D&D] GM says, "there is, and that's a hit"

Onyx rolls 12-sided dice: 9 | 9 + 2 = 11

Kaylee strikes back at the one that just attacked her.

Kaylee rolls 20-sided dice: 9 | 9 + 4 = 13

Kaylee rolls 20-sided dice: 6 | 6 + 4 = 10

Kaylee rolls 6-sided dice: 1 | 1

Onyx's axe makes music on the bones.

[D&D] Kaylee says, "Oops, d6+1."

GM says (to Onyx), "You can feel your axe-blade bumping off the bones; it's clearly made to cut flesh and not smash bones -- but still, you bash through most of the skeleton's ribcage, and it's only barely on its feet"

GM says, "Kaylee's swipe strikes at the edge of the shape, distorting it slightly"

GM asks, "uh, Skalheth?"

[D&D] Kaylee says, "(I was assuming no flanking, since it just attacked me, btw)"

[D&D] GM says, "reasonable enough"

Skalheth guides the sphere towards the phantoms again.

[D&D] GM says (to Skalheth), "I think we decided last time you can also take an action"

GM says, "The same phantom attempts to dodge again"

GM rolls 1 20-sided die: 5 | 5 + 32 = 37

GM says, "er"

GM says, "that would be an 8, actually"

[D&D] Kaylee says, "That's some bonus ;-)"

GM says, "which means that it does not dodge, and takes another 2d6"

[D&D] Fincul says, "Yeah, directing the sphere is only move-equivalent, so you can attack anything within reach."

Skalheth moves into the room and tries to swing his club at the skeleton.

GM rolls 2 6-sided dice: 2 6 | 8

[D&D] Skalheth says, "Oh, so I can't move at the same time? I think I'm in the doorway, so there's not much I can do then."

Skalheth rolls 2 6-sided dice: 6 3 | 9

[D&D] Skalheth says, "Er, um."

GM says, "(causing it to flicker and wobble)"

[D&D] GM says, "sorry, I'll take yours"

[D&D] GM says, "and you can take a five-step into the room and attack the skeleton, if you want"

Skalheth rolls 1 20-sided die: 16 | 16 + 4 = 20

Skalheth rolls 1 6-sided die: 2 | 2 + 2 = 4

Skalheth brains a skeleton with his cudgel.

GM says, "The remaining skeleton is smashed into bone pieces, and collapses"

GM says, "so the situation is that both the phantoms are wavering but still around, and the two skeletons have collapsed"

GM says, "and it is next round and Arly's turn"

[D&D] Kaylee says, "And he gets flanking this time."

[D&D] GM says, "good point, so he can roll 1d20+10"

[D&D] Kaylee says, "Wow."

[D&D] GM says, "so I will laugh and laugh if he rolls a 2"

Arly rolls 1 20-sided die: 18 | 18 + 8 = 26

[D&D] Kaylee says, "Heh."

[D&D] GM says, "(okay, guess not)"

[D&D] Arly exclaims, "See, I don't suck ALL the time!"

[D&D] GM says, "hee hee"

[D&D] GM says, "roll damage"

Arly rolls 1 8-sided die: 5 | 5 + 4 = 9

GM says, "Arly's sword cuts into the creature, and again it meets with not-quite-enough resistance, even as it continues to distort until it's now a shapeless blob"

GM says, "then, as two more skeletons rise from the pile of bones, the creatures attack again, at Arly and at Kaylee"

GM rolls 1 20-sided die: 15 | 15 + 3 = 18

GM rolls 1 20-sided die: 14 | 14 + 3 = 17

GM says, "freezing them both with icy-cold touches"

Kaylee exclaims, "Ow!"

[D&D] GM says (to Arly), "so now, temporarily at least, you're at only +2 strength bonus, so you'll roll 1d20+7 to hit and do 1d8+3 damage"

[D&D] Kaylee says, "Which puts me at -1 damage, sadly. But the gloves are still on for +1."

[D&D] Arly says (to GM), "Hmm, okay."

GM asks, "Fincul?"

Fincul swings his staff at one of the skeletons.

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

GM says, "oops"

Kaylee exclaims, "I think the phantoms are summoning the skeletons--let's focus on them first!"

GM asks, "Kaylee?"

[D&D] Kaylee says, "Again, onyx is first ;-)"

Onyx readies her axe broad-side this time.

Onyx rolls 20-sided dice: 15 | 15 + 7 = 22

[D&D] GM says, "man, I'll get this right eventually"

Onyx rolls 12-sided dice: 4 | 4 + 2 = 6

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

[D&D] GM asks (of Onyx), "attacking which? a skeleton?"

[D&D] Fincul says, "I do think that the +1 shortsword might be called for, perhaps."

Kaylee scrambles up the walls again, then flips around, diving at the phantom as it follows.

[D&D] Onyx says, "yes, 'cause they're corporeal."

Kaylee rolls 20-sided dice: 17 | 17 + 4 = 21

Kaylee rolls 20-sided dice: 10 | 10 + 4 = 14

[D&D] GM says, "okay"

Kaylee rolls 2 6-sided dice: 4 6 | 10

[D&D] Skalheth says, "Kaylee is so very Matrix."

GM says, "Onyx smashes into the skeleton, doing a slightly better job of crunching bones this time, but still, an axe isn't the best tool for the job"

[D&D] Onyx asks (of Fincul), "Good idea. Once the skeletons quit rising, I'll try it. Do you have it?"

[D&D] Fincul says, "I assumed you did."

GM says, "meanwhile, Kaylee punches at the phantom until it disperses into a wisp of black shadow"

[D&D] Onyx says, "Okay, sure. I'll switch weapons in bit, then."

GM asks, "Skalheth?"

[D&D] Skalheth says, "...except actually the scene I was just picturing was Toad in the subway station in X-Men."

[D&D] Kaylee says, "Heh ;-)"

[D&D] GM says, "hee hee"

Skalheth directs the sphere towards the remaining phantom, and absently swings his cudgel toward the other skeleton.

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

Skalheth rolls 1 6-sided die: 1 | 1 + 2 = 3

[D&D] Skalheth says, "(Assuming 14's a hit.)"

[D&D] GM says, "yeah, barely"

GM says, "Skalheth's cudgel smashes into the skeleton"

GM says, "meanwhile, the phantom attempts to dodge ..."

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

GM says, "and once again fails"

[D&D] Onyx asks, "are the great axes double-headed (axe blade on both sides of the handle) or are they just really big single-headed axes?"

[D&D] GM says, "(these are the slowest fast phantoms I've ever seen)"

[D&D] Fincul says (to GM), "They're probably second-guessing themselves."

[D&D] GM says, "hee hee"

[D&D] Fincul says, "'Quick, dodge righ-- no, left!' Fzzt."

Skalheth rolls 2 6-sided dice: 6 2 | 8

GM says, "As the sphere fades, the phantom does too, consumed by the flames"

GM says, "and as the second phantom vanishes, the skeletons drop to the floor in a rattle of bones"

[D&D] Fincul says (to Onyx), "SRD lists a greataxe as just S, so presumably it's all pointy."

[D&D] GM says, "yeah, I think so"

[D&D] Onyx asks (of Fincul), "Translate, please? What is SRD and S?"

[D&D] GM says, "also, may I just mention that if the phantoms had ever made their save, the sphere would have happily rolled onto and set the bookshelves on fire"

GM says, "You pause for a breath."

[D&D] Fincul says, "SRD = Systems Reference Document, the free online short version of the PHB. And S = Sharp (B = Blunt, P = Piercing)."

Fincul asks (of Skalheth), "What were you THINKING?"

Skalheth exclaims (at Fincul), "I was thinking we were in DANGER!"

GM says, "to repeat the room description, it's lined with shelves as in a small library, with various books and scrolls on some of them"

GM says, "the floor, unlike most libraries, is littered with bones, bleached white as if by the sun"

Skalheth says, "I was keeping it away from the walls."

Fincul gapes at the walls, the many, many books, nearly destroyed by one simple little ball of flame.

[D&D] Onyx says, "Ah. I was wondering if I could swing blunt-side first, but apparently there isn't a blunt side. I shoulda kept the crowbar. :-)"

[D&D] Skalheth says, "Ok, all I got was the bones, and somebody mentioned `shelves` a while ago."

Onyx takes a moment to see if she can tell what kind of creature the bones came from.

GM says (to Onyx), "humans, yeah"

Fincul, when he gathers his senses, hurries to one wall and starts lavishing attention on their incredible find. Not quite drooling, but almost.

Skalheth gestures at Onyx. "Even her magic axe couldn't hurt them, so what else could we do?"

[D&D] GM says, "hee hee"

GM says (to Fincul), "it looks like this could potentially be pretty good, although many of them have surrended to the usual ravages of time"

GM says (to Fincul), "but it'll take a while to look through it fully"

Fincul says, "I identify and I identify for you people, magic sword this, magic dagger that, and what do you do? Swing axes and fireballs..."

[D&D] GM says, "hee hee more"

[D&D] Fincul asks (of GM), "What general quality level are they in?"

[D&D] Onyx says, "dumb barbarian behind the mouse"

GM says (to Fincul), "what you can tell from a first glance is there's a fair amount of stuff about the history of the area and the noble's various deeds of prowess, and a sideline in his researches in necromancy"

[D&D] GM says, "not so great, overall -- probably around half the library's in reasonable shape"

Fincul says, "We -- when we -- we'll have to find a way to transport the ones that can be transported..."

[D&D] Kaylee says (to GM), "Clearly, you haven't been to the libraries I have."

[D&D] GM says, "hee hee"

Fincul says, "When we finish, we can carry some -- carefully, though... some might fall apart... but we'll find a way..."

Skalheth, bored with the shelves already, looks around for other exits.

GM says, "no other exits, just back to the main room"

Fincul says (to Fincul), "I'll need tools. I can repair some of these... paste, and thread, and clips, and... but yes, it can be done..."

Fincul asks, "Do you think they'll be safe here? Alone, while we finish taking out the terrible, destructive forces at work in the rest of this tomb?"

Kaylee exclaims, "Hey, maybe a book opens a secret passage, like in "The Monk and the Crypt"!"

Onyx says (to Fincul), "Some big boxes to carry them back, mebbe."

Arly asks (of Kaylee), "What are the odds of that?"

Kaylee happily searches the room, climbing over shelves in the process.

Fincul's hand trembles as he caresses the binding of a slightly injured tomb of necromantic lore.

Fincul exclaims (at Kaylee), "Careful!"

Kaylee rolls 20-sided dice: 17 | 17 + 1 = 18

Kaylee exclaims, "Of course!"

GM says (to Kaylee), "it looks, as best you can see, like there's nothing here but books"

Kaylee says, "Darn."

GM says, "but you can't do a really thorough search without making Fincul freak out"

Fincul asks, "What are you looking for, exactly?"

Onyx says (to Fincul), "Pictures."

[D&D] Skalheth exclaims (at Onyx), "Hah!"

Kaylee says, "Something that looks like a hinged panel, or the like."

Skalheth asks, "Hmm. Don't we have a crate that makes things light?"

Fincul says, "We have a crate."

Fincul says, "The innkeeper has crates too -- hmm. We forgot to talk to him."

[D&D] Fincul says, "Dang, we should have checked with him two days ago about all the rope we sent him."

[D&D] Fincul says, "Since he said he'd give us half the cash if we could get payment out of Mendrick, for his bills."

[D&D] Fincul says, "And I'm sure the rope we had sent via ferry should have gotten there some time ago."

GM says, "the one good thing about stopping to search the room is eventually those chilled are feeling better"

[D&D] GM says, "yeah"

Fincul, when he calms down, says, "Is it alright if I take a few minutes to prepare a couple more spells?"

Arly says, "Make it quick. Who knows what else could be lurking here."

Fincul nods, and does so.

GM asks, "ok, and now what?"

Onyx makes some experimental swings with the short sword.

Fincul puts his spellbook away.

[D&D] Skalheth asks, "How long does that take?"

Fincul says, "Well. If this room can be assumed to be safe without us... we should continue through the third exit."

[D&D] Skalheth says, "I thought you could only do it after a night's sleep."

[D&D] Onyx says, "I'm ready to call it a day - I've some things I want to do while the sun is still up."

[D&D] Fincul says, "My studies were just 15 minutes."

[D&D] Fincul says (to Skalheth), "I had a couple slots left open, for flexibility."

[D&D] Skalheth says, "Cause if you can - oh, ok."

Kaylee says, "Further up and further in."

[D&D] Fincul says, "But I decided to scrap flexibility for firepower."

[D&D] Onyx asks, "Who needs dex when you've got str?"

[D&D] Skalheth asks (of Onyx), "Um. Can we pause while I ask a question?"

[D&D] GM says, "ok, this would probably be a good stopping point, then if Onyx wants to halt"

[D&D] Fincul says, "I'm OK with stopping or continuing, whichever."

[D&D] Skalheth asks, "Ok. Well, I'm starting an RL D&D game next week. How do people feel about going to every-two-weeks for this?"

[D&D] Onyx says, "I'd be okay with it. Some Sundays we'd like to go to lunch with friends after church."

[D&D] Skalheth says, "inky told me we'd probably be finishing up this segment this week, so I figured we'd explore the tomb today and then I could either go to every two or I could drop out."

[D&D] Fincul says, "Hmm. Could delay Ghogg. But that's my only concern."

[D&D] Kaylee says, "Well, there's the D&D thing, too."

[D&D] Fincul says, "But in any case, next weekend might be bad for me anyway, so."

[D&D] Fincul asks (of Kaylee), "Which thing do you mean?"

[D&D] GM says, "I don't have any objections to doing it either way -- actually, not this weekend but next weekend I'm going to be in california, so I'll be busy then"

[D&D] Kaylee says, "Oops, 7th sea."

[D&D] Fincul asks, "Hmm. Should we just play it by ear, like we've been doing?"

[D&D] GM says, "sounds like it, yeah"

[D&D] Kaylee says, "We could meet during the week some time to finish this off."

[D&D] Onyx says, "sure, that sounds good."

[D&D] Skalheth says, "Well, playing it by ear so far has ended up once a week, so..."

[D&D] GM says, "heh"

[D&D] Skalheth says, "Hm, so if we skip next week and then the week after, that's 3 full weeks. That's bad for momentum."

[D&D] GM says (to Kaylee), "that's true too, depending on people's schedules (mostly mine, since I'm in a different timezone)"

[D&D] Fincul says (to Skal), "Well, if I'm the only one that next weekend is bad for..."

[D&D] Onyx says, "so saturday and sunday are bad next week and the week after? We (Lucian and I) are free Friday after Father's day."

[D&D] Kaylee says, "It's harder to play spellcasters by proxy, of course."

[D&D] Fincul says, "(Specifically, Friday is very bad for me, Saturday's probably bad but not certain, and Sunday I dunno.)"

[D&D] Arly says (to Fincul), "Um, no, not at all."

[D&D] Arly says, "I think I might be able to do Sunday, but Saturday is completely out."

[D&D] GM says, "hrm"

[D&D] Fincul says, "So between Arly and me, next Sunday is a Maybe, it would appear."

[D&D] Onyx says, "We need an online calendar. :-)"

[D&D] GM says, "yeah, exactly."

[D&D] Fincul asks, "How is everyone other than Arly and me for a week from today?"

[D&D] Fincul says, "If everyone else is good, you can just guess that the odds are at least one of us might make it."

[D&D] GM asks, "well, Skalheth is planning on running his game then, right? or is that saturday?"

[D&D] Skalheth says, "I should clarify - I've already told people we're playing next Sunday, cause they were getting impatient."

[D&D] Fincul says, "Oh, whoops."

[D&D] Fincul says, "OK, it looks like we'll just have to do it two weeks from now, without inky."

[D&D] GM says, "hee hee"

[D&D] Skalheth says, "Although I can move it to next Saturday if I have to (I prefer not)"

[D&D] GM says, "nah, don't move it"

[D&D] Fincul asks, "Are there any non-weekend days that work at all?"

[D&D] Fincul says, "(I'm guessing probably not.)"

[D&D] Arly says (to Fincul), "Not this week."

[D&D] Onyx asks, "Well, see, it's 'cause Bruce is still taking his place. Once Morgan Freeman is back in the office, its all good, right?"

[D&D] Arly asks, "Also, did anyone log the game?"

[D&D] Fincul asks (of Arly), "Next week?"

[D&D] Fincul says (to Arly), "Perry."

[D&D] Arly says (to Fincul), "Maybe."

[D&D] GM says, "ok, so we'll wait and see"

[D&D] GM says, "definitely no game this coming up weekend or the weekend after, but maybe we can fit in something in between"

[D&D] GM says, "glad everyone could make it today, anyway"

[D&D] Onyx says, "Alrighty. On weeknights I can't go very late, though, 'cause I get up at really ungodly hours in the morning."

[D&D] Onyx says, "Yeah, today was fun."

[D&D] Arly says, "I wish I'd known about it. Sorry everyone."

[D&D] Kaylee says, "Eh, you were here for most of the fightin'."

[D&D] GM says (to Arly), "sorry, I hadn't realized you hadn't seen about it"

[D&D] Arly says, "But it's Tony weekend, and I've had so much stuff going on, I've barely been around the computer."

[D&D] GM says, "mm, fighting"

[D&D] GM says, "anyway -- good game, see everyone later"

GM has disconnected.

GM goes home.

Onyx has disconnected.

Onyx goes home.

Kaylee exits stage left.

Arly has disconnected.

Arly goes home.

Skalheth has disconnected.

Skalheth goes home.

Fincul has disconnected.

Fincul goes home.