You have just entered room "fromtheashes."
PsychoQuadDuck has entered the room.
FFFan80 has entered the room.
THENinjaRabbi has entered the room.
NebbieQ has entered the room.
The Net Spider has entered the room.
Lithaladhwen: *When we last left off, Kerov, Char'rynn, Lym, Eve, and Stephan were putting to rest a dead child named Azrim in the city of Biddeford... or what's left of it.*
THENinjaRabbi: *Makes sure the ground is not defiled or anything*
Lithaladhwen: *cemetary ground looks fine. In fact, it's one of few areas in the city left untouched by Azrim*
FFFan80: .....
FFFan80: >\/>; ...do we have to say prayers or shit like that?
The Net Spider: Hmmm...you know...
THENinjaRabbi: Uh..
The Net Spider: *Sensitivity to Psychic Impressions. i.e., what's happened here? A graveyard is too much to resist...*
Lithaladhwen: *Lots of dead people have been buried in very standard funerals. In fact, Lym may well be standing on someone's beloved aunt*
The Net Spider: Figures. Oh well, interesting visions.
THENinjaRabbi: I don't think we need to say anything. Just...bury him and pay our respects.
The Net Spider: He didn't seem picky about the particulars.
Lithaladhwen: As long as you find someplace better than an ashtray?
FFFan80: Definitely
FFFan80: ....
FFFan80: Well angel man, you're the closest to a holy man we have, you pick somewhere.
THENinjaRabbi: ...
THENinjaRabbi: Alright, how about right there? *points to some corner that doesn't have any markers nearby*
Lithaladhwen: Doesn't look like an ashtray to me. Fits the bill nicely.
The Net Spider: Okay...so...who has a shovel or mindnumbingly convenient digging magic?
The Net Spider: Gravedigging magic, if possible.
FFFan80: .......
FFFan80: e.e;
PsychoQuadDuck: Not really my area, unfortunately.
Lithaladhwen: If I felt like bothering I could desintegrate some of the ground, but then we'd have nothing to fill the hole with, would we?
PsychoQuadDuck: IM: Who uses MAGIC to dig graves?
The Net Spider: *Shrugs, gets down on his knees and starts working with his hands.*
Lithaladhwen: *pulls out a cigarette* So. You guys know this kid or what?
Lithaladhwen: *Lym doesn't find anything disturbing under the topsoil. Just more dirt. He can dig a nice hole if he wants to pull out the occasional tree root or rock*
The Net Spider: *He totally does.*
Lithaladhwen: *He succeeds at digging*
THENinjaRabbi: All we know is that his remains were disturbed and we're fixing that.
FFFan80: Well, if we're going to bury him properly, we'll need something to dig with.
Lithaladhwen: Oh. Well aren't you just the nicest guy in the world.
Lithaladhwen: *lights cigarette* Burying total strangers.
THENinjaRabbi: Well, isn't that the correct thing to do?
FFFan80: I'll go check the town... if anyone wants to come too, go nuts.
THENinjaRabbi: If someone finds my corpse lying on the side of the road, I hope someone buries it.
FFFan80: >\/>; IM: And get this the fuck over with.
Lithaladhwen: Yeah. Sounds about right.
Lithaladhwen: I'll check with you.
FFFan80: Alright.
FFFan80: *starts off*
Lithaladhwen: How much you weigh?
FFFan80: ....*stops*
FFFan80: .....
FFFan80: Why? o.ó
Lithaladhwen: *lifts the broom she's dragging around like a charwoman*
The Net Spider: Uh, hey, I dug a hole, you know....no need to get digging implements...
The Net Spider: Unless you don't like my hole. *sheepish.*
Lithaladhwen: We could fly if you like.
FFFan80: .....
FFFan80: Lemme get back to you on that in a sec
FFFan80: Kid?
FFFan80: How deep is your hole?
The Net Spider: *Sticks his arm in it.*
The Net Spider: *His arm is half concealed.*
FFFan80: ....
THENinjaRabbi: That might be enough...
The Net Spider: I could dig deeper! *Digs deeper.*
FFFan80: Until it starts raining and shit.
Lithaladhwen: Lym. They're burying ashes. You're probably fine.
The Net Spider: Well, you'd think. *shrug.*
PsychoQuadDuck: She has a point. It's not like we're trying to bury a full body.
PsychoQuadDuck: Still, a little deeper might be good.
The Net Spider: ... *Deeper!*
PsychoQuadDuck: *Char'rynn goes to help this time*
The Net Spider: Oh, thank you.
Lithaladhwen: *to Stephan* So. You want to go check things out, or you want to watch them dig a hole?
FFFan80: Meh... might as well see if anyone's left around.
Lithaladhwen: You gonna ride with me?
Lithaladhwen: *eyebrow*
FFFan80: ....*sighs* Sure, whatever.
Lithaladhwen: All right. Now this isn't like riding two to a horse. You can't be shy. Need to get right up behind me and hold on. 'Kay?
FFFan80: o_ó
FFFan80: ...ok
FFFan80: ...exactly how long have you been doing this?
Lithaladhwen: Flying? Couple years. *steps over the broom so that she's straddling it like a hobby horse. Motions him to stand behind her*
FFFan80: 6\/<; *hops on!*
Lithaladhwen: And you might want to ride side-saddle on that. Men don't always do well riding on what amounts to a wooden rail.
The Net Spider: She's right. Take it from another flier.
The Net Spider: One with, you know, balls.
FFFan80: ......
Lithaladhwen: *nods to Stephan*
FFFan80: e_e; ..thanks for the tip
The Net Spider: *Thumbs up.*
Lithaladhwen: *Once Stephan is over the broom she lifts it experimentally to give him an idea of what it feels like* You all right so far? Just grab my waist and hold on.
THENinjaRabbi: *winces*
FFFan80: Alright
FFFan80: >\/>; ...just don't get us killed
Lithaladhwen: I have no intention of killing you. *lifts off and starts the broom at walking pace about three feet off the ground* You want to go faster?
FFFan80: Whatever's easier for ya
Lithaladhwen: *broom speeds up to jogging pace and lifts another ten feet off the ground as they turn the corner toward the main road of Biddeford*
FFFan80: ...so is flying like this 'normal' where you come from?
THENinjaRabbi: So...how'd you end up in that cave?
Lithaladhwen: If you can afford a broom. I don't really come from anywhere in particular. Been running all over the place since I was a kid. Roving around. The broom just makes it easier on the feet.
Lithaladhwen: And it doesn't eat either.
FFFan80: ...k
The Net Spider: Same way I end up most places.
Lithaladhwen: Anyplace in particular you want to check out?
FFFan80: Anywhere it looks like stuff is breathing
THENinjaRabbi: And that is...?
The Net Spider: I was just kind of, you know, looking around. With Eve, of course. Got too curious for my own good, I guess.
The Net Spider: Snake guys grabbed us and starved us for a while.
The Net Spider: Then you guys showed up!
The Net Spider: Thanks for that again.
Lithaladhwen: Stuff is breathing, huh? So you looking for things that are alive rather than your dead friend?
FFFan80: ...yes.
PsychoQuadDuck: They didn't try and aggravate the starving thing like I've heard of some people doing, did they?
Lithaladhwen: Don't think we'll find much, but we can have a look. *turns down an alley* If anyone's still here it'll be poor people. They can't afford to go anywhere, I'm sure.
THENinjaRabbi: Any reason WHY you were grabbed?
FFFan80: Can't hurt to look.
The Net Spider: Probably for noticing their existance.
The Net Spider: I don't think they were going to do anything with us. Just wanted to be bastards before we died.
Lithaladhwen: *in a pile of debris is what's probably a man in what might have been clothes. He's gripping the remains of a sandwich*
The Net Spider: And they didn't want us going off and spreading word about their little home, i imagine.
Lithaladhwen: Look. Guy.
FFFan80: Let's go look.
PsychoQuadDuck: IM: I guess that's a no.
PsychoQuadDuck: That's a rather vile form of secrecy if you ask me.
THENinjaRabbi: Hm.
THENinjaRabbi: I've seen some snake people before.
THENinjaRabbi: I wonder what they're up to..
Lithaladhwen: You there. Whatcha doing here?
Lithaladhwen: *He tosses the sandwich at Eve, then realizes he still wants to eat it and goes to retrieve it*
The Net Spider: Well. I certainly didn't appreciate it.
FFFan80: .....
The Net Spider: As for what they were up to, at least regarding the boy's ashes, I've already told you it didn't seem like much.
FFFan80: *gets between Eve and the man*
Lithaladhwen: Eating. Not being bothered by loud young people flying in and out of my head. That's what.
The Net Spider: You seem terribly suspicious of Yuan Ti.
Lithaladhwen: What you want, boy?
FFFan80: .....
FFFan80: I haven't been a 'boy' for over a decade.
Lithaladhwen: C'n I help you with somethin' or are you gonna let me get my lunch?
FFFan80: Answer some questions, and maybe.
Lithaladhwen: *crosses her arms and waits*
Lithaladhwen: Questions about what.
THENinjaRabbi: ...Yuan Ti?
THENinjaRabbi: Is that what they're called?
FFFan80: Well, for starters
The Net Spider: Oh, yeah, sure. Unless my guess is off.
FFFan80: What you've seen going on the past few weeks
THENinjaRabbi: Well, every time I've seen one of these things, my evil sense goes crazy.
Lithaladhwen: I haven't seen a thing. Except a bunch o'rich people leaving town because their stuff went up in flames.
Lithaladhwen: S'why I don't have stuff, myself.
The Net Spider: Hmmm...
The Net Spider: I can certainly confirm that these particular ones were jerks.
FFFan80: Notice anything out of the ordinary?
FFFan80: Other than, you know, pyro ghost boy there >\/>
The Net Spider: Been seeing them around recently?
Lithaladhwen: Well, I seen a lot of things that may or may not be there.
Lithaladhwen: I saw a giant purple lizard last week singing Inustani choir music.
Lithaladhwen: I don't think it was real.
Lithaladhwen: Was it?
FFFan80: .......
THENinjaRabbi: Only a few.
FFFan80: *facepalms*
FFFan80: IM: The scary thing is... that wouldn't shock me at this point.
THENinjaRabbi: There was one at this person named "Dawn"'s estate.
FFFan80: No idea.
THENinjaRabbi: And we think that Dawn has sinister motives.
FFFan80: Anything else come to mind?
The Net Spider: Oh?
The Net Spider: Tell me all about it.
Lithaladhwen: If that wasn't real I prob'ly can't help you. It did sound nice though. I was kind of sad to see it go. The angels took it because it sounded like it belonged with them, or so they said.
Lithaladhwen: I think they're just selfish, but boy were they pretty.
THENinjaRabbi: *Proceeds to tell everything he knows about Dawn, that boy and his headband*
The Net Spider: Sounds interesting. Anything you wanna know about the whole fiasco?
THENinjaRabbi: What else do you know?
THENinjaRabbi: *narrows his eyes*
FFFan80: Uh huh.
The Net Spider: Nothing at all. But it's not too hard to find out.
FFFan80: Listen... you know anyone else still hanging around?
The Net Spider: That's my trick. *taps his third eye.*
Lithaladhwen: Can I have my lunch back now?
FFFan80: Sure, whatever.
Lithaladhwen: Just a couple of my ladies.
THENinjaRabbi: ...
Lithaladhwen: *picks up his sandwich*
THENinjaRabbi: Hmm. What did Dawn do with that headband?
THENinjaRabbi: That's what I want to know.
The Net Spider: Well. That's really not the kind of question that's going to get good results...
The Net Spider: Might end up being something like "she put it on her head."
FFFan80: ...ladies.
The Net Spider: But I could see if I can figure out what she wants the headband for!
Lithaladhwen: I got ladies. Nice ladies. They'd like you. Young guy like you. *winks*
FFFan80: IM: ¬_¬ probably a pair of bloody rats knowing my luck so far
FFFan80: ......
FFFan80: <\/<; ...let's get going
THENinjaRabbi: Ok, that's fine by me.
Lithaladhwen: *mumbles and eats his sandwich*
The Net Spider: Hmmmm...
THENinjaRabbi: Whatever gets us the most information.
Lithaladhwen: Well that was interesting.
FFFan80: -\/-; ...for fuck's sake...
Lithaladhwen: Looks like you made a friend.
The Net Spider: *Hypercognition showoffing occurs yet again! Lym wants to know what Dawn hopes to accomplish with the headband.*
FFFan80: e_e
Lithaladhwen: Want to go find his ladies and see if you can make a couple more?
FFFan80: .....
FFFan80: I wouldn't have the slightest interest in that, thanks.
FFFan80: Can we just get going?
Lithaladhwen: *It gives her a transportation advantage. Carting around groups of children is really conspicuous, and since she can't just kill everyone that sees them, she needs another way to travel.*
Lithaladhwen: Yeah. Hop on.
FFFan80: *does so*
The Net Spider: Hmm...This begs a follow up question. *Lym knows he's going to get some rest soon, so he goes ahead and spends another 15 pp. What does Dawn need the children for?*
Lithaladhwen: *take off! swoosh!*
Lithaladhwen: *They follow her. In the religious sense. She's also teaching them to use their latent psionic abilities. Anything she needs done, either the children or her lieutenants can take care of.* (hold)
Lithaladhwen: *Frees up a lot of time for her, and she finds it gratifying. In fact, leading them is one of few things she genuinely enjoys.* (done)
The Net Spider: Man. Creepy.
THENinjaRabbi: Hm?
The Net Spider: *Explains this to those nearby.*
Lithaladhwen: *pulling into the cemetary now. touches down nearby*
THENinjaRabbi: I see.
THENinjaRabbi: So...we have a cult.
The Net Spider: Does that sound right?
Lithaladhwen: *Eve walks over to the group, reaching for another cigarette*
Lithaladhwen: Who has a cult?
THENinjaRabbi: Well, based on what I saw..
THENinjaRabbi: Dawn.
The Net Spider: *Sighs, explains again.*
Lithaladhwen: *Eve goes pale and breaks her cigarette trying to light it*
THENinjaRabbi: ...?
FFFan80: .....>\/>?
Lithaladhwen: Shit. Need another. *pulls out another and lights it competently enough*
FFFan80: Something the matter?
Lithaladhwen: Hm? No, just tired, that's all. Been a busy past couple of days.
FFFan80: ...uh huh.
THENinjaRabbi: You shouldn't smoke, you know.
THENinjaRabbi: It'll kill you.
Lithaladhwen: Yeah yeah. It'll kill me.
THENinjaRabbi: Especially since you're so young.
Lithaladhwen: *blows smoke at Kerov* I like smoking. Calms me down.
THENinjaRabbi: *coughs a little, and glares at her*
THENinjaRabbi: Well, shall we bury the boy now, if everyone's set?
FFFan80: Sure.
PsychoQuadDuck: We might as well.
Lithaladhwen: *is visibly agitated* Yeah. Get that done with.
FFFan80: >\/>
The Net Spider: *Quietly.* Eve?
Lithaladhwen: What.
The Net Spider: You sure everything's cool?
Lithaladhwen: Uh huh. Just tired.
FFFan80: I'm a little curious about that too.
THENinjaRabbi: ...it can wait for a little.
The Net Spider: Okay.
THENinjaRabbi: Um, I'm no priest, but I'll try to do this as well as I can.
FFFan80: ~\/~;
THENinjaRabbi: *Does a short little ceremony from what he's absorbed from the more priestly of the Paladins, and buries the remains*
FFFan80: ...see ya on the other side, kid.
The Net Spider: *Remembering his vision.* You had nice hands.
Lithaladhwen: Touching, Lym.
FFFan80: .......
THENinjaRabbi: ....?
FFFan80: e.e;
THENinjaRabbi: ....uh...
The Net Spider: Oh, um. My vision. From reading his jaw?
Lithaladhwen: So. Where are you going. I told you I'd take you someplace since you let me out.
Lithaladhwen: *lights another cigarette with the lit end of this one. she's really on a roll*
FFFan80: ...guess we need to report back.
THENinjaRabbi: Yeah.
FFFan80: Unless you wanna check the estate first
THENinjaRabbi: So we'll be going back to Doma.
THENinjaRabbi: Or whatever.
Lithaladhwen: Okay. We can't fly all of you, I think. So we walk?
Lithaladhwen: Lym, you coming?
The Net Spider: Sure. *Shrug!*
THENinjaRabbi: Walking's fine.
Lithaladhwen: All right. On then.
FFFan80: Little exercise won't kill us.
The Net Spider: *Hops on his broom and starts flying around. 'cause flying around is fun.*
Lithaladhwen: One of these might. *gestures with cigarette hand* Unless you and Feathers both disapprove.
PsychoQuadDuck: I can't really say anything about those.
FFFan80: If you wanna choke on smoke, I couldn't give a rats ass.
Lithaladhwen: Good. Thank you. *walks faster to leave people behind a little*
THENinjaRabbi: Pfft. Youngsters today.
THENinjaRabbi: *mutters*
FFFan80: ....
FFFan80: Like you were never young, right?
FFFan80: ¬_¬
THENinjaRabbi: ...
THENinjaRabbi: Forget it, let's get going.
FFFan80: *smirks and starts off*
PsychoQuadDuck: *proceeds to follow with the rest of the group*
Lithaladhwen: *walk walk*
The Net Spider: *fly!*
Lithaladhwen: *Eve keeps her distance ahead of the group*
FFFan80: ...well someone's scared shitless of Dawn, apparently.
Lithaladhwen: *after they've walked for a while, it almost sound like Eve is talking to herself* *lowmutter*
Lithaladhwen: ...no... because I *mutter mumble*
Lithaladhwen: ...*mumble* told you already *mutter* can't just...
THENinjaRabbi: *Perks up and triest to listen more closely*
Lithaladhwen: *indignant noise*
Lithaladhwen: *stops for a moment*
The Net Spider: Eve? You're making me really curious.
Lithaladhwen: Don't you call me a mindless philosopher!
Lithaladhwen: Lym. Don't. Another time.
Lithaladhwen: *waves him away like a bug*
Lithaladhwen: *resumes walking with no more muttering*
The Net Spider: .....
PsychoQuadDuck: ...you know what? I'm not even going to bother trying to understand that one.
The Net Spider: *Now he's muttering too.* I must respect people's privacy...I must respect people's privacy.
FFFan80: Probably involves that mental crap of there's.
THENinjaRabbi: *shrugs*
Lithaladhwen: *flicks away her cigarette*
THENinjaRabbi: *is quiet for the rest of the journey*
Lithaladhwen: *Eve is also*
The Net Spider: *Ditto.*
PsychoQuadDuck: *Char'rynn's quiet from here, and surprisingly so is that bow of hers*
Lithaladhwen: *It's early evening when the party reaches Doma Capital. Something about it reminds them of where they just came from. Namely the smell.*
Lithaladhwen: *Smells like smoke. And there's a lot of noise coming from the street where they were supposed to meet their Druid employer*
FFFan80: .......
PsychoQuadDuck: *immediately goes to investigate that noise*
FFFan80: ...something's not right here
Lithaladhwen: *others going to follow?*
FFFan80: *hurries!*
The Net Spider: Not awesome. *hops off his broom and follows.*
THENinjaRabbi: *hurries quickly*
FFFan80: >_< IM: ...don't like Mid be near here... please....
Lithaladhwen: *The sound of a frightened crowd of people is set against a more disturbing roaring crackling noise*
Lithaladhwen: *When the party gets on the street, there's no mistaking the commotion in front of the Jade Dragon. The inn is in flames, and the adjacent buildings are partially blackened from the smoke.*
The Net Spider: ~Looks ahead with his third eye, from the relatively safe distance.*
THENinjaRabbi: ...
THENinjaRabbi: Sweet Mithra, my inn!
The Net Spider: *Er. Make that, looks inside the jade dragon.*
THENinjaRabbi: ...where am I going to get my drink now?
THENinjaRabbi: *drinks
Lithaladhwen: *There's a large crowd in front of the inn. Most of them look either afraid or confused.*
NebbieQ: *And at the scene of fire...*
Lithaladhwen: *Lym sees fire.*
NebbieQ: *Should be familiar sight for some of the group. Tis Seigi Kei, the androgynous Nekojin youth and swordfighter extraoardinaire.*
NebbieQ: *And for the record, Kei is doing a lovely job of looking confused.*
NebbieQ: Is anyone still inside?!
THENinjaRabbi: only one way to find out!
THENinjaRabbi: I'm going in.
Lithaladhwen: Hey! You guys!
FFFan80: ?!
PsychoQuadDuck: Y-....huh?
THENinjaRabbi: ...what?
Lithaladhwen: Where the hell have you been? *shouted by an elf shoving her way out of the crowd*
The Net Spider: I am so lost.
FFFan80: Busy. Look, we don't have time to talk about your little job, case you didn't notice.
FFFan80: *thumbs at the Jade Dragon*
Lithaladhwen: It's fine! They're all out!
FFFan80: Everyone?
NebbieQ: What about the fire?! Is anyone coming to put it out?
FFFan80: The Dragon-Half? Little hyper kid? His Dog? Pain in the ass Dragoon?
Lithaladhwen: I was there when it happened.
NebbieQ: *Looks about for the goblin crew in the crowd.*
Lithaladhwen: Alex smelled it before anyone else.
Lithaladhwen: *eyes widen* Shit. *ducks back into the crowd*
FFFan80: ....?
FFFan80: Hey where the hell are you going?!
THENinjaRabbi: Get back here!
Lithaladhwen: *emerges with a slightly singed fox in her arms*
PsychoQuadDuck: .....well that wasn't what I was expecting when she ducked into the crowd.
NebbieQ: We need to get someone to help! Water mages, citizens with water, anybody!
NebbieQ: The gaurd!
Lithaladhwen: *sets Alex down on the ground away from the crowd*
Lithaladhwen: Hold on. I can help.
FFFan80: ¬_¬; IM: Dan's probably shitting himself right now.
NebbieQ: I am going to get help. Is anyone going to come with me?
Lithaladhwen: *strides over to the front of the inn* Actually. *shouts* Hey!
Lithaladhwen: I'll be right back!
NebbieQ: Where are you going?
Lithaladhwen: *pushes through the door of the inn*
FFFan80: ........
NebbieQ: I thought she said that everyone was out.
FFFan80: Is she out of her bloody mind?
The Net Spider: I am so useless in so many situations. *Sighs.*
FFFan80: ...allright.
PsychoQuadDuck: She'd have to be to go into a burning building.
FFFan80: I don't know what this'll do to the building, but better than the whole block going up.
Lithaladhwen: *the fire begins to shrink a little, then a little more... and eventually it's just a few licks of flame on the edges of the building*
FFFan80: ......
FFFan80: .....
FFFan80: What the fuck?
Lithaladhwen: *Yadali walks out grinning from ear to ear. She points to Stephan.* What do you think of Druids now, huh? Ass.
NebbieQ: ...what did you just do? o.o
Lithaladhwen: *picks up Alex* Not my freaking job to freaking.....
NebbieQ: *Looks at the other buildings. How are they faring?*
THENinjaRabbi: ...
Lithaladhwen: *scorched, but not burning. Apparently it was highly localized*
NebbieQ: *Sighs in relief.* Praise the heavens that it did not spread.
Lithaladhwen: Stupid freaking... This is what you people get! Everyone thinks it's so great to live in some big city. Sure. Druids are crazy. Druids live like rodents in the woods.
Lithaladhwen: And then I have to save everyone's asses!
PsychoQuadDuck: *ignoring the ranting* Now that the fire's settled..... what started this?
Lithaladhwen: *shouting at the crowd* What do you think now?
NebbieQ: Young miss, please, calm down...
Lithaladhwen: *crowd ignores her*
Lithaladhwen: You shut up. Where were you?
THENinjaRabbi: Calm down, miss. Caaaaalm.
NebbieQ: I was out of town until a few moments ago.
Lithaladhwen: I was looking for you a while ago.
NebbieQ: IM: Hmph. And to think I was about to thank her for what she just did...
Lithaladhwen: *heavy sigh* At least Alex is all right.
PsychoQuadDuck: IM: Note to self. NEVER work for a Druid again. EVER.
NebbieQ: I am sorry that I cannot be in town every time a stranger wishes it.
PsychoQuadDuck: IM: Bunch of impatient ninnies.
NebbieQ: *Kei's tail flicks, obviously annoyed.*
NebbieQ: Maybe you could explain to me?
Lithaladhwen: Forgiven. *another sigh* Look. I'm going to go check to make sure no one got trampled. I'll see you... across the street or something in an hour.
Lithaladhwen: *runs away*
NebbieQ: Would you like any-
NebbieQ: ...help.
PsychoQuadDuck: *sigh*
THENinjaRabbi: ....I suppose not.
Lithaladhwen: *Alex gets up and follows*
THENinjaRabbi: *sighs*
NebbieQ: *Looks to the others* Do you know her?
Lithaladhwen: What. The. Fuck.
THENinjaRabbi: We're sorta...well, working for her.
NebbieQ: Is she...always like this? o.o;
NebbieQ: She seems hotheaded, but it could just be the fire.
FFFan80: ...never... the fuck... again... fucking... hippies.... >_<+++
The Net Spider: I am mystified.
THENinjaRabbi: *shrugs*
Lithaladhwen: What. The fuck.
FFFan80: *sighs*
NebbieQ: It is still good to see you two again, Mister Kerov and Mister Stephan.
FFFan80: What is it now? >\/>
FFFan80: *nods to the Nekojin*
Lithaladhwen: You people are bizarre. I can see why Lym likes you.
FFFan80: ....
The Net Spider: They're so weird and inexplicable! *Nods vigorously.*
FFFan80: *ignores the comment for now*
FFFan80: So where the hell have you been?
THENinjaRabbi: I tried to have a normal life once.
FFFan80: *to Kei*
The Net Spider: Every five seconds I want to read one of their possessions or hypercognate or something.
NebbieQ: A few friends of mine needed my help.
NebbieQ: Sadly, these friends do not live in the city. >.>;
Lithaladhwen: You would. Seers.
NebbieQ: Could someone explain to me why I was needed?
Lithaladhwen: *Kerov notices something on the building across the street from the inn*
THENinjaRabbi: *narrows his eyes and looks up at whatever it is*
Lithaladhwen: *Into the wood has been scorched the outline of a large bird with wings outstretched*
NebbieQ: *Waits for an explanation, tail flicking back and forth all the while.*
FFFan80: Remember that little job of ours, with the missing kids?
NebbieQ: Yes, I do.
NebbieQ: That was a few weeks ago, correct?
FFFan80: *nod*
FFFan80: Well, it seems she or someone else wrecked the estate
NebbieQ: That could be very troubling.
NebbieQ: Do you have any idea about what happened, exactly?
Lithaladhwen: *Stephan notices someone in the front of the crowd as it's parted by a few ragged children*
FFFan80: Not entirely. We got a little sidetracked by a ghost and som...
THENinjaRabbi: Hey. Look up at that.
NebbieQ: A ghost?
Lithaladhwen: *This person looks more enraptured than frightened by what's left of the fire*
FFFan80: o.ó? *looks*
NebbieQ: *Looks!*
PsychoQuadDuck: *glances over*
FFFan80: ...hold on a sec.
THENinjaRabbi: *points at the burning bird thing*
FFFan80: *heads over*
Lithaladhwen: *He looks about eleven or twelve years old and one arm is covered in burn scars*
Lithaladhwen: *He ducks back into the crowd*
NebbieQ: ...so this was not an accident. e.e
FFFan80: *tries to follow!*
Lithaladhwen: Oh hell. What now.
Lithaladhwen: Feathers. Your friend's running away.
The Net Spider: *Follows blindly.* Hmmm...
Lithaladhwen: Oh for fucks' sake. *follows*
PsychoQuadDuck: Kerov, now might be a time to stop staring. *follows the others*
Lithaladhwen: *Stephan thinks he knows where the kid is headed, but the air is still pretty smokey and there are a lot of people running around, several of whom are children*
NebbieQ: *Follows suit, trailing after the rest of the group.*
FFFan80: *tries to keep following*
The Net Spider: What are we looking for?
NebbieQ: For our friend.
FFFan80: Some kid. Was staring at the fire like it was his best friend.
Lithaladhwen: Of course he was.
NebbieQ: ...this child. Did he look familiar?
NebbieQ: IM: It's unlikely, but...
The Net Spider: What's he look like?
FFFan80: *describes what he can remember*
NebbieQ: *Does he look anything like the kid on a mission?*
The Net Spider: *Starts using his nifty eye to scan the crowd and surrounding area for kid matching description.*
Lithaladhwen: *Looks a hell of a lot like Joss, yes. The burns are pretty distinctive*
FFFan80: ...why the hell would he be burning shit up like that?
NebbieQ: We can ask him when we find him.
Lithaladhwen: *Far ahead of the crowd running at full tilt are three children. Two boys and a girl. One boy splits off and goes down an alley to the left, while the two others turn away to the right down the street*
FFFan80: *any of them look familiar?*
Lithaladhwen: *From the back, Stephan only recognizes one. Joss.*
FFFan80: .....
FFFan80: They're trying to split us up.
NebbieQ: Joss is the most important one right now.
Lithaladhwen: *Kei thinks at least one of the other two might be familiar*
The Net Spider: Lead the way.
FFFan80: I agree, let's haul ass then.
FFFan80: *tries to go after 'Joss'*
NebbieQ: *Goes after the wayward psion as well.*
PsychoQuadDuck: *follows Stephan, not wanting to get separated from the rest of the group*
Lithaladhwen: *Stephan turns down the left alley, which seems to end in shadow. Joss gets to the end of it and turns around.* Hi! *after which Dawn steps up behind him and lays a hand on his shoulder. They disappear.*
Lithaladhwen: Hey! Wait! What the hell are you doing?
PsychoQuadDuck: IM: I don't get what's up with the kid and I don't think I want to know.
Lithaladhwen: Guys!
The Net Spider: *Trace teleport.*
Lithaladhwen: *she's going across the street in the direction of the other two kids*
The Net Spider: This way! *runs in that direction.*
NebbieQ: Right!
NebbieQ: *Runs after him.*
NebbieQ: How do you know where they are, though?
Lithaladhwen: Damn you, Lym! Who are we chasing?!
PsychoQuadDuck: *follows along as well*
The Net Spider: It's one of my things!
NebbieQ: The woman! I think he knows where the woman is!
The Net Spider: Eve, we're chasing Dawn! she's fucking creepy, though, watch out.
Lithaladhwen: *stops in mid-stride*
Lithaladhwen: (let's wait for Adam just a sec)
NebbieQ: (Any idea what's up with him?)
Lithaladhwen: (phone call I guess.)
Lithaladhwen: (must have been on the phone for a while. >.< )
Lithaladhwen: (okay... resume RP now that we have everyone again.)
THENinjaRabbi: Hurry up! We gotta get moving!
THENinjaRabbi: *to Eve*
Lithaladhwen: You don't understand! You-- shit! Lym! *starts up again and follows Lym*
THENinjaRabbi: *Chases after Eve*
FFFan80: .....
FFFan80: ¬_¬ ...she's not telling us something.
THENinjaRabbi: IM: Daamit, this woman's hididng something. Stupid youngsters.
THENinjaRabbi: Oh REALLY?
FFFan80: .....
THENinjaRabbi: Hey. I don't get that many chances to be sarcastic. Let me take them.
NebbieQ: *It's a good thing that they're all going in the same direction, at least!*
FFFan80: e.e
THENinjaRabbi: *Is running as fast as he can*
NebbieQ: IM: I have no idea what's going on with any of this! >.<
Lithaladhwen: *everyone following into the bystreet after the kids?*
THENinjaRabbi: *I think so*
NebbieQ: *Yep.*
The Net Spider: *Yes. Incidentally, Reddopsi. I get it for 150 minutes.*
PsychoQuadDuck: *yes Char'rynn is*
Lithaladhwen: *When the party turns that corner the first things they see are three children and one green-haired young woman. Kei recognizes the two that Stephan and Kerov would not. Joss, Rendon, and Rilla are standing with Dawn.* (hold)
Lithaladhwen: *As everyone gets to the alley, she moves herself between the party and her young friends.* Well. How completely ...predictable.
THENinjaRabbi: You.
Lithaladhwen: I expected you'd end up here. But you. *looks to Eve*
FFFan80: <\/<?
Lithaladhwen: What are you doing here?
Lithaladhwen: *edges back, bumping into Kerov and starting away* I go where I please.
Lithaladhwen: Do you.
Lithaladhwen: *smile*
THENinjaRabbi: ...
Lithaladhwen: And have you told your new friends who you are, Eva? No. I can see that you haven't.
NebbieQ: What is the explanation for this? e.e
Lithaladhwen: That's no way to begin a constructive relationship, Eva. With deception.
FFFan80: *hand at the ready of his weapon hilt*
Lithaladhwen: *shaky voice* Don't moralize to me. Aren't you the one who called me a mindless philosopher?
PsychoQuadDuck: *her hand is near her bow by now*
THENinjaRabbi: *Has Goel out*
Lithaladhwen: *smiles again*
FFFan80: *checks to see how the kids are reacting to all this... if at all*
Lithaladhwen: Since you seem insistent on deceiving them and ruining possible valuable alliances...
Lithaladhwen: *kids are staring at the party's weapons*
Lithaladhwen: Allow me.
FFFan80: ....
FFFan80: *tightens grip*
NebbieQ: *Kei's hand moves towards the katana in her slash, waiting for what Dawn has planned.*
Lithaladhwen: Sirs. Kei. Allow me to introduce Eva. The only other psion in the Valerian family.
Lithaladhwen: If you can call her that.
Lithaladhwen: A Valerian, I mean.
Lithaladhwen: There, Eva. Doesn't that feel better?
THENinjaRabbi: You do realize that I don't even understand what that means.
Lithaladhwen: *is frozen in place like a rabbit about to bolt*
THENinjaRabbi: IM: Talk, bitch. Say something I can use.
NebbieQ: IM: Only other psion...she must be talking about themselves.
PsychoQuadDuck: IM: Only... other.... in the family?
FFFan80: .......
FFFan80: .......
The Net Spider: Okay, so, you're related.
Lithaladhwen: *starts breathing heavily and glances back behind her to the exit*
NebbieQ: IM: So they're related. Now we just need to see how loyal she is to her.
PsychoQuadDuck: As far as I'm concerned that means nothing more.
NebbieQ: You are avoiding our questions.
NebbieQ: What are you doing with these children?
The Net Spider: She's controlling them.
The Net Spider: They do her dirty work.
FFFan80: ...no shit.
Lithaladhwen: I've given them a home. I've given them a chance to fulfill their potential.
NebbieQ: And at what price? e.e
Lithaladhwen: And they have mor autonomy than you give them credit for.
The Net Spider: I don't like this.
FFFan80: ...my ass you have.
THENinjaRabbi: You have a cult.
The Net Spider: Eve. Come on. If you can't deal with this situation, I want you out of here. And if you can, I want you to tell me what to do.
Lithaladhwen: Do you think they had it better with their parents? Do you know what's happened to some of these children?
NebbieQ: I am not faulting you for giving them a home.
PsychoQuadDuck: We don't care. You've more likely than not ruined the children's lives.
Lithaladhwen: *Eve is keeping an eye on the party like they're as much the enemy as Dawn*
FFFan80: I couldn't give a bloody fuck. You're using them.
Lithaladhwen: You fail to understand anything.
NebbieQ: But you're-he has the right of it. You are using them for our own ends.
Lithaladhwen: I'm treating them like adults. In exchange for training and protection, I ask only for their loyalty and the occasional favor.
FFFan80: You're taking a bunch of kids who've had shit lives, and twisting their hopes for a good life to meet your own needs.
FFFan80: So in my book.
Lithaladhwen: I'm giving them a good life.
Lithaladhwen: I'm giving them a chance to be more.
PsychoQuadDuck: So you've just admitted you ruined them by saying you ask for their loyalty.
FFFan80: That would make you a scheming, selfish bitch. e.e
Lithaladhwen: I have not ruined them. I am the only one they have who cares for their well-being.
PsychoQuadDuck: ......liar.
Lithaladhwen: You would not understand.
Lithaladhwen: But they do.
FFFan80: And that involves setting a fucking inn on fire.
NebbieQ: Others can take care of them without using them to do their dirty deeds.
NebbieQ: Like what Mister Stephan just mentioned.
Lithaladhwen: *The children stare at the party, daring them to start a fight*
PsychoQuadDuck: Look, bitch, you've been found out. Admit it.
FFFan80: Where friends and fucking family of mine spend their time.
THENinjaRabbi: Why bother lighting an inn on fire? Jeeze.
Lithaladhwen: It is one building. And I have my reasons.
Lithaladhwen: I do not need to justify myself to you.
FFFan80: .....
FFFan80: *sword is drawn*
FFFan80: Like fuck you don't. e_e
PsychoQuadDuck: .....don't put yourself above us.
THENinjaRabbi: YOU JUST BURNED DOWN MY WATERING HOLE FOR NO REASON.
THENinjaRabbi: You better damn well justify yourself.
Lithaladhwen: Joss. Rendon. Rilla. Say goodbye. We're leaving before they do something they'll regret. *teleports and is gone*
NebbieQ: ...what about this person you-
NebbieQ: ...
Lithaladhwen: *Eve bolts for the end of the alley*
PsychoQuadDuck: .....dammit.
THENinjaRabbi: Fucking hell.
The Net Spider: Shit.
PsychoQuadDuck: Someone find out where they are. Fast.
THENinjaRabbi: *Chases after Eve*
The Net Spider: *Trace teleport.*
NebbieQ: That woman, can she help us track Valeran down?
THENinjaRabbi: I dunno, help me!
FFFan80: She's going to, one way or another <\/<
Lithaladhwen: *West a very short distance. She's probably trying to throw you off.*
FFFan80: *follows*
The Net Spider: She's this way!
Lithaladhwen: *Kerov catches up to the panicked girl first, but she doesn't stop*
The Net Spider: Okay. I'm not going on my own....
NebbieQ: I will come with you. The others can catch up.
PsychoQuadDuck: I'm going with you, don't worry.
FFFan80: *keeps following Kerov*
The Net Spider: Alright. If we do this, there is a fight. Prepare accordingly.
THENinjaRabbi: *Tries to grab ahold of her*
The Net Spider: *Runs toward Dawn.*
Lithaladhwen: *succeeds*
PsychoQuadDuck: *follows after Lym*
Lithaladhwen: *Lym would know that she's teleported, not run away. By a short distance I mean 'not a hundred miles'*
NebbieQ: *Going with the diviner.*
THENinjaRabbi: Slow down, girl!
THENinjaRabbi: Dammit, for a smoker, you run fast.
Lithaladhwen: Stop it! Get away from me!
The Net Spider: *Where, then? I know where. Is she close?*
THENinjaRabbi: I'm not letting go. Now calm down. Calm. Deep breaths.
FFFan80: You know.
Lithaladhwen: *About a mile away. Make a wisdom check.*
FFFan80: e_e; ...running from us, isn't exactly endearing you to us right now.
Lithaladhwen: Fuck you! And you! Let me go!
OnlineHost: The Net Spider rolled 1 20-sided die: 16
Lithaladhwen: *tries to pull away and obviously fails*
The Net Spider: *19.*
THENinjaRabbi: I'm not trying to hurt you.
Lithaladhwen: *From his experiences with Eve's teleporting, he figures that Dawn is hopping short distances to prevent herself from being followed.*
THENinjaRabbi: Just calm down.
The Net Spider: *Stops running, gasping for breath.* Shit. Shit...okay...never mind. Everybody stop. Let's go find Eve.
Lithaladhwen: *her breathing steadies a little*
PsychoQuadDuck: *stops*
NebbieQ: ...you wouldn't happen to have something to ride, would you?
The Net Spider: I have a broom, but she's gone, trust me.
Lithaladhwen: Then what do you want.
NebbieQ: A...broom?
The Net Spider: I could tell you where if you really want, but we're not getting there without someone like Eve.
The Net Spider: Yeah. It flies.
Lithaladhwen: *paranoid glare at Kerov and Stephan*
THENinjaRabbi: Just...calm down.
NebbieQ: ...I see.
PsychoQuadDuck: Uh-huh.
FFFan80: ...I'd think that would be obvious.
Lithaladhwen: *swallows hard*
FFFan80: What do you know about what's going on here?
THENinjaRabbi: Why do you think we're going to do anything to you?
NebbieQ: Let's go find her, then.
NebbieQ: IM: Maybe she can explain this better...when she calms down, at least.
The Net Spider: Alright. *Heads off in that direction, assuming he has any idea at this point where that is.*
Lithaladhwen: *starts near-hyperventilating and fumbles for a cigarette*
THENinjaRabbi: *Helps her get one out*
Lithaladhwen: *swallows again* Thank you.
THENinjaRabbi: You're welcome.
THENinjaRabbi: *Decides to wait a bit for her to calm down*
Lithaladhwen: *shaky nod as she lights it*
NebbieQ: *Following along.*
PsychoQuadDuck: *follows along as well*
Lithaladhwen: *Yeah, Lym can tell where everyone else has gone*
Lithaladhwen: *doesn't talk for a few minutes, trying to smoke in peace*
FFFan80: *taps foot impatiently* 9\/9
Lithaladhwen: Can you please just give me some air.
THENinjaRabbi: Can I trust you not to try anything?
Lithaladhwen: You hovering over me isn't helping.
FFFan80: Give us a reason to trust you, and maybe.
Lithaladhwen: As much as I can trust you, now that you know.
FFFan80: Considering you just tried to run from us a second ago, no right now. 6\/6
THENinjaRabbi: Fair enough.
THENinjaRabbi: *Gives her some air*
Lithaladhwen: *ducks her head and sits down cross-legged on the groud*
Lithaladhwen: *smokes some more*
Lithaladhwen: ... I'm sorry.
NebbieQ: Is she alright?
Lithaladhwen: *isn't looking at anyone at all, just down at the ground*
THENinjaRabbi: It's ok.
THENinjaRabbi: Not like we had much time to exchange too much information anyways.
The Net Spider: Okay. So. Just to be sure my judgment is good on this one.
The Net Spider: If I see Dawn, I should try to kill her?
The Net Spider: Or at least turn her into a potato shaped wad of flesh?
Lithaladhwen: *looks up at Lym abruptly* You don't know what she can do.
The Net Spider: I could find out.
Lithaladhwen: Just... *sighs and looks down*
The Net Spider: You could tell me.
Lithaladhwen: You still wouldn't understand.
FFFan80: I'd be a bit curious myself.
NebbieQ: Please, Miss, tell us all you know about her.
THENinjaRabbi: Yeah.
PsychoQuadDuck: We wouldn't? Just try to explain.
Lithaladhwen: *grinds out her cigarette and buries her face in her hands*
The Net Spider: Well. Eve. Maybe I wouldn't. But you can try.
Lithaladhwen: *w* I can't believe this is happening.
Lithaladhwen: *looks up* She's my sister. We grew up together. For a while at least.
NebbieQ: *nods*
Lithaladhwen: She was... she was everyone's sweet little blonde babydoll.
Lithaladhwen: Everyone loved her.
PsychoQuadDuck: IM: And they hated Eve.
Lithaladhwen: She was the only one of Paul and Catherine's children who would even talk to me.
Lithaladhwen: His wife hated me the most, I think.
FFFan80: ...
THENinjaRabbi: Hmm.
Lithaladhwen: She...
NebbieQ: *Waits patiently for her to continue.*
Lithaladhwen: I didn't have many friends for a long time. Because everyone knew about Paul and my mother. She was just a maid. And you know what that made me?
Lithaladhwen: Nothing.
FFFan80: ....
FFFan80: IM: Well damn.
Lithaladhwen: Except to Dawn. She called me her sister.
The Net Spider: *Sits down and silently gestures as if to bum a smoke off of Eve, knowing her love for sharing the poisonous good things in life.*
Lithaladhwen: She talked to me.
Lithaladhwen: *she gives him one*
Lithaladhwen: She played with me.
Lithaladhwen: But sometimes--
Lithaladhwen: *shakes her head*
NebbieQ: Sometimes...?
FFFan80: ...sometimes, what?
PsychoQuadDuck: IM: There goes my thought for why Dawn's acting like she is.
Lithaladhwen: You don't know the things she shows you. You don't know what she can make you do. Whether you want to or not.
Lithaladhwen: I knew.
The Net Spider: *Gently.* What do you mean?
Lithaladhwen: No one else had any idea, but we helped each other learn our powers. She was a little older than me, so she knew more.
Lithaladhwen: But I watched her learn. I watched her learn how to get what she wanted from the adults and they never knew what she was doing.
Lithaladhwen: Never.
THENinjaRabbi: ...
Lithaladhwen: *face in hands again* I don't think the ones that are left still realize it.
Lithaladhwen: So stupid.
NebbieQ: *nods*
Lithaladhwen: *shakes her head*
Lithaladhwen: *pulls out her wineskin*
NebbieQ: IM: She's just not using her powers, she's using her charm.
NebbieQ: When was the last time you saw her, before all of this?
Lithaladhwen: *drinks a hell of a lot of wine before speaking*
Lithaladhwen: Saw her? Couple of years ago.
Lithaladhwen: But heard from her... that's more common.
FFFan80: ...
NebbieQ: Oh?
The Net Spider: When you were talking to yourself.
Lithaladhwen: ...
Lithaladhwen: *drinks a little more and wipes her mouth on the back of her hand*
Lithaladhwen: I don't think she wants to hurt me. I don't.
Lithaladhwen: But I think she would.
THENinjaRabbi: So you're worried.
The Net Spider: Does she have a hold on you?
The Net Spider: I'm not trying to accuse you, I'm concerned.
Lithaladhwen: If she did you wouldn't be able to believe anything I said.
Lithaladhwen: So don't bother.
The Net Spider: Well. Again. I can always check. But I wondered what you meant by the "hearing from her" comment.
NebbieQ has left the room.
Arch mage144 has entered the room.
NebbieQ has entered the room.
Lithaladhwen: (we green?)
Arch mage144: (*checks*)
Lithaladhwen: (shaddup.)
The Net Spider: (woo)
Arch mage144: (More of a whitish-pink.)
Lithaladhwen: Hear from her. You ever stop to think why I don't like you talking at me in my head?
Lithaladhwen: Why it pisses me off?
Lithaladhwen: *stands up* Look. I don't know what you want, but I don't want any part of this. You'll find out why if you don't get your acts together and leave this alone.
Lithaladhwen: All of you.
NebbieQ: Do you have any idea what she's planning?
FFFan80: She could have just killed my brother, or my partner.
The Net Spider: I have to say Eve that this bothers me.
FFFan80: That's not happening. e.e
The Net Spider: I don't know if I can let well enough alone when she's doing things to children.
Lithaladhwen: I'm sorry, Stephan. But that... none of this has anything to do with me! I've gone to a lot of trouble so that nothing she does has anything to do with me.
NebbieQ: You don't have to get involved.
NebbieQ: Just give us the information we need.
FFFan80: .....
Lithaladhwen: *sigh* But I am. She knows that I'm here.
THENinjaRabbi: Well...
Lithaladhwen: She won't leave me alone now.
THENinjaRabbi: Then we'll keep her busy.
NebbieQ: If you are already involved, then you might as well help us.
NebbieQ: Strength in numbers.
Lithaladhwen: I can't just... I don't know what I should do. She's my sister. She was the only friend I ever had as a child.
Lithaladhwen: And now, what?
Lithaladhwen: I go with you? We kill her? What?
FFFan80: If we have to.
The Net Spider: Killing might not be the solution.
FFFan80: You seemed pretty sure she'd do the same to you.
The Net Spider: But yeah. Maybe.
Lithaladhwen: *sigh* That's not the point.
THENinjaRabbi: There might yet be another way.
Lithaladhwen: You know why I don't travel under my real name? So I can be different.
THENinjaRabbi: If so, we'll find it.
Lithaladhwen: So I won't be connected to her. And now you want me to do something just because she would.
NebbieQ: We are overlooking one very important fact, however.
NebbieQ: *Says in a quiet tone* Her *ahem* employer?
Lithaladhwen: *looks up* What?
FFFan80: ...oh, the bloke Hakaril mentioned.
NebbieQ: If she manages to get the children to help him out, it would be very dangerous for everybody.
Lithaladhwen: Who's "him" please?
FFFan80: Don't know what the hell Dia's place would have to do with him, though.
Lithaladhwen: What the hell! What's going on?
THENinjaRabbi: Uh, some guy named...uh...
NebbieQ: She is apparently in league with a powerful wizard.
THENinjaRabbi: Elaith. Yeah, that's it.
The Net Spider: Hm.
THENinjaRabbi: From what I read on him, creepy guy.
PsychoQuadDuck: IM: This is completely out of my league.
THENinjaRabbi: But he's dead.
THENinjaRabbi: So, not much to worry about ther.
THENinjaRabbi: *there
NebbieQ: He was a necromancer, correct?
The Net Spider: Um...wasn't she?
FFFan80: Oh yes
NebbieQ: He could have allies to solve that problem.
FFFan80: Because people always stay dead e.e
THENinjaRabbi: IM: Then again, nothing stays dead around here...
The Net Spider: I could find out if he's alive!
FFFan80: .......
Lithaladhwen: *pulls out a cigar* Little cigarettes are not going to help me right now.
FFFan80: How, exactly?
The Net Spider: *Levetates his broom a couple feet off the ground and sits there comfortably.*
Lithaladhwen: *lights cigar and draws deeply on it, holding in the smoke for a while before blowing it out*
Lithaladhwen: Damn it.
The Net Spider: The same way I do everything. You didn't get it yet? I'm a psionicist, just like that Dawn lady, and Eve here.
Lithaladhwen: *wince*
Lithaladhwen: IM: Just like that Dawn lady.
The Net Spider: Oh, not that -- sorry.
Lithaladhwen: S'okay.
NebbieQ: If you can, please do so.
The Net Spider: Well. Alright...
The Net Spider: *Hypercognition! Is Dawn working for/with Elaith, and if so, on what plane does he currently reside?*
Lithaladhwen: *I'm pretty sure you have to pick a question for that.*
The Net Spider: *Alright. We'll start with the second part. What plane is Elaith on?*
Lithaladhwen: *He's dead. Hardcore deader than most people will ever be.*
The Net Spider: Well...he's dead...
The Net Spider: Should I check if she's working for him in some way anyhow? As a necromancer and all it's a possibility.
FFFan80: Doesn't mean his soul isn't still futzing around somewhere...
The Net Spider: I suppose. I don't know.
NebbieQ: *nods* If you can.
The Net Spider: *Okay. Do it again. (Byebye PP.) Is Dawn working for/with Elaith?*
THENinjaRabbi: Wait, so you mean something that was killed STAYED dead?
FFFan80: I'm as stunned as you are >\/>;
PsychoQuadDuck: I think that's a first.
NebbieQ: ...you talk as if that's strange. >.>
NebbieQ: IM: Honestly. Have these people never dealt with death in their entire lives?
Lithaladhwen: *She worked for him for a very long time. She will probably always be dedicated to him. However, she died before he did and has not been in contact with him since. If someone's helping her, it's not Elaith*
The Net Spider: *Relays this information.*
FFFan80: For most people, you're right.
FFFan80: But speaking for me, I seem to have a knack for pissing off people who don't stay dead <\/<
Lithaladhwen: So. This is awesome.
Lithaladhwen: *said past her cigar* You should have left me to starve in peace.
NebbieQ: Excuse me?
THENinjaRabbi: Sorry, but letting people kill themselves isn't my style.
The Net Spider: So, we can safely assume -- I will not be wasting my energy checking this -- that she's like to bring Elaith back. That it may even be a major priority.
FFFan80: Well
Lithaladhwen: Can you do that? I mean... there's a time limit, right?
FFFan80: If we had a fucking clue what she's trying to do.
The Net Spider: Uh. Well. I wouldn't be the person to ask.
NebbieQ: Hmn.
The Net Spider: I guess I could try to figure that out.... *sigh.*
Lithaladhwen: I know how it works with psionics.
FFFan80: For all we know, she's trying to amass a psio... whatever army for herself.
NebbieQ: Could you see where she stasy, permanently?
Lithaladhwen: But magic might be different.
The Net Spider: I doubt she could get a whole army, from what little I do know of the kind of thing she's probably pulling.
Lithaladhwen: She doesn't need one.
Lithaladhwen: I promise you.
Lithaladhwen: *looks down*
FFFan80: Then stop being so fucking vague
The Net Spider: But, sure, why not...we're going to go get some shut-eye soon, right? Let's try this one more time, and then I stop showing off...
FFFan80: And say WHY.
FFFan80: What the hell.
FFFan80: Can she do?
THENinjaRabbi: *sighs*
FFFan80: I don't care how fucking bad it is.
Lithaladhwen: She can control your mind. In ways I don't think you quite comprehend yet.
PsychoQuadDuck: Please, stop with the 'we can't comprehend' stuff and just say it.
Lithaladhwen: And you *jabs at him with her index finger* are just the kind of hot-headed idiot she'll go after!
NebbieQ: ...so she takes control of us.
FFFan80: ...........
NebbieQ: What sort of things would she use us for, then?
FFFan80: *pulls off a gauntlet*
Lithaladhwen: She can literally take control of you. You see what she wants you to see. Feel what she wants you to feel.
NebbieQ: For any specific purpose?
The Net Spider: *Okay, one last try and I'm giving up on this... In six months, where does Dawn plan to be in her life?*
Lithaladhwen: You do what she wants you to do. Her whole family is dead because of her.
THENinjaRabbi: Ok, ok, think rationally.
THENinjaRabbi: There are ways to block magical effects.
THENinjaRabbi: Is there a way to block these...psionic thingies?
NebbieQ: What?
Lithaladhwen: (hold you louts)
FFFan80: *Eve suddenly finds Stephan's hand connecting rather bluntly against the side of her face*
Lithaladhwen: *She intends to be teaching the children.*
Lithaladhwen: *her head stays turned to the side*
FFFan80: Don't you FUCKING DARE
FFFan80: Talk down to me
FFFan80: When YOU'RE wallowing in fucking self pity and not doing shit.
THENinjaRabbi: ...
Lithaladhwen: *looks away for a moment and doesn't speak*
Lithaladhwen: *teleports*
THENinjaRabbi: Great.
The Net Spider: ...
PsychoQuadDuck: ....Stephan, you IDIOT.
NebbieQ: ...
THENinjaRabbi: ...Ok, I hate to do this, but at least I agreed with you, Stephan.
THENinjaRabbi: But that doesn't help us.
FFFan80: *glares at Char'rynn*
The Net Spider: *Make a will save, Stephan.*
NebbieQ: *Mutters something in Nekonian. It sounds quite rude, whatever it is.*
OnlineHost: FFFan80 rolled 1 20-sided die: 18
FFFan80: (27)
The Net Spider: *You made it. That was supposed to be a Control Body. Does he notice?*
Lithaladhwen: *nah*
The Net Spider: *Can I try it again? Lym's fucking pissed.*
Lithaladhwen: *yeah.*
OnlineHost: FFFan80 rolled 1 20-sided die: 3
FFFan80: (12)
The Net Spider: *Much better. You failed. DC was 23.*
The Net Spider: *Stephen finds that he can't resist kneeling.*
THENinjaRabbi: Um, Stephan, what're you doing?
FFFan80: ......*kneels?*
FFFan80: ...the FUCK?
The Net Spider: *Stephan finds that he can't help but punch himself in the face in the exact same way he did to her.*
FFFan80: >#@ *SMACK*
THENinjaRabbi: ...
NebbieQ: ...
THENinjaRabbi: Ok, listen. I know you feel bad.
THENinjaRabbi: But don't beat yourself up about it.
NebbieQ: ...he isn't doing this.
THENinjaRabbi: ...literally.
THENinjaRabbi: How can you tell?
PsychoQuadDuck: *somehow Char'rynn's getting pleasure from watching instant karma strike Stephan*
NebbieQ: Why would a man hit himself in the head?
NebbieQ: It makes no sense.
The Net Spider: I don't think punching her was very polite, Stephan.
THENinjaRabbi: ...Atonement?
NebbieQ: ...
The Net Spider: *Lym's face is tense with concentration. He is livid.*
NebbieQ: ...he is not the sort of man for atonement, I think.
NebbieQ: *Ear twitches.*
FFFan80: ......e\/@
THENinjaRabbi: Oh, so what's happening then?
THENinjaRabbi: Shit, is it Dawn?
NebbieQ: IM: What an imbecile. e.e
PsychoQuadDuck: If it were Dawn, Stephan probably would have attacked us, not himself.
The Net Spider: No. It's me. And all he's going to do is learn some...manners.
NebbieQ: ...stop this.
THENinjaRabbi: Let him go. What he did wasn't that bad.
NebbieQ: Let him go, and he'll apologise. Is it a deal?
FFFan80: Like fuck I am.
NebbieQ: We don't have time for any of this!
PsychoQuadDuck: Kerov, he could have screwed up our one chance.
The Net Spider: Then what I've done isn't that bad either.
THENinjaRabbi: I think Eve could've used a nice smack about there. At least someone did it.
THENinjaRabbi: We'll find another way.
THENinjaRabbi: There's ALWAYS another way.
PsychoQuadDuck: Three hundred gil says there isn't.
NebbieQ: Dawn is a threat to all of us. We can't waste time fighting amongst each other.
The Net Spider: Stephan, I'm about to release you.
THENinjaRabbi: I'll take that bet.
FFFan80: And beat me up more to make yourself feel better, right? e.e
The Net Spider: You don't want me to do what comes next if you try to hurt me after I do that.
The Net Spider: Behave yourself, and we'll call it even. You dumb son of a bitch.
FFFan80: e\/e
The Net Spider: *Releases him.*
THENinjaRabbi: *sighs*
OnlineHost: FFFan80 rolled 1 66-sided die: 25
PsychoQuadDuck: IM: If they expect me to up and chase this wench today, it isn't happening.
FFFan80: ....*gives the kid a glare, and turns off from the group for a bit*
NebbieQ: Now that this is done, maybe we should talk to the general. v_v;
The Net Spider: A wise decision.
NebbieQ: Could you talk to Miss Eve for us? She seems to trust you more than us.
The Net Spider: Yes, actually, that was my next move.
The Net Spider: Do any of you have anything nice to say? If not, say nothing at all.
NebbieQ: And if you can, try and find out as much about her sister as possibele from her.
NebbieQ: IM: This isn't going to end well...
The Net Spider: I'm not going to ask anything of her. If there's something we need ot know, I'll find out for myself.
The Net Spider: With a little research, based on my own knowledge, I can certainly spread some light on what her powers may be.
NebbieQ: But her goals?
NebbieQ: She si the one who knows Dawn the best.
NebbieQ: Whether or not she likes it, she is involved now.
The Net Spider: I keep telling you. I can find out anything.
PsychoQuadDuck: I'd also suggest finding out the countermeasures to her powers as well.
FFFan80: *out of curiousity... anything breakable but not overly costly nearby?*
The Net Spider: And I'm not pressing her for anything. She has a right to uninvolvement.
THENinjaRabbi: I say we leave her alone.
NebbieQ: But will Dawn allow her to stay uninvolved?
NebbieQ: Think of it this way.
The Net Spider: I don't know.
NebbieQ: By talking to her, you can get more ideas of what you will need to find out.
The Net Spider: Anyway. Excuse me. *Takes his broom up and out of range of the group, with which he is obviously still very pissed.*
NebbieQ: *sighs*
NebbieQ: *Looks over at Stephan. How's he faring?*
The Net Spider: *Lym is going to finish off his mindfuckery for the evening by trying something he knows Eve will hate.*
FFFan80: *looks like he's about to cast something on nearby inanimate objects... assuming they exist*
Lithaladhwen: *of course*
Lithaladhwen: *there's a burned building down the street if he'd like*
Lithaladhwen: *If he wants to blow it up more or something*
FFFan80: *Then off goes a Force Wave spell!*
The Net Spider: *He wants to use Correspond and talk to Eve. His first message: "I'm sorry. I made the stupid one regret what he did. I know you don't like this. But I want you to know I'm here for you."*
The Net Spider: *In case you don't recall, at this point she can respond if she wants, or not if she doesn't. If she does, she gets 25 words.*
Lithaladhwen: *Wow. Force wave is sent. The building neither dodges nor resists. You want to roll damage for that?*
FFFan80: *Nope!*
FFFan80: -\/-++
Lithaladhwen: *no response*
Lithaladhwen: *at least she didn't yell at him to get out like normal*
The Net Spider: *"Anyway, I'm going to stay with them for now...this seems important. But I won't ever call on you for help. You're free."*
Lithaladhwen: ..
Lithaladhwen: You're wrong.
Lithaladhwen: *the connection is cut off*
THENinjaRabbi: So, how'd it go?
The Net Spider: *He flies back down.*
Lithaladhwen: *Eve is now surrounded by psionic static and will probably be unreachable for a while*
The Net Spider: Nice work on the building there, dumbass.
Lithaladhwen: *Catapsi!*
FFFan80: .....
The Net Spider: Okay. So. We have totally lost her. She won't talk to me anymore, and forget getting any information -- not that I would have asked.
THENinjaRabbi: So we're going to need another way.
FFFan80: It could have been your face. Now shut the fuck up if you don't want me to talk back to you.
The Net Spider: I just wanted you to know that the option had been forcibly closed off for you by genius over there.
The Net Spider: *Ignores Stephan.*
PsychoQuadDuck: In other words, we're screwed.
FFFan80: *does likewise*
Lithaladhwen: *Catapsi will only last for a few minutes. He knows he could conceivably try again.*
THENinjaRabbi: We're not screwed.
The Net Spider: *He won't bother her.*
The Net Spider: Okay, once again, I can really find out anything we need to know. Ever. Forever. Don't worry about information.
PsychoQuadDuck: Fool yourself all you want, Kerov.
NebbieQ: I still don't like this.
The Net Spider: Worry about using that information wisely.
NebbieQ: *Looks to Char'ryn* We still have a chance.
NebbieQ: As long as we are still breathing, we still have a chance.
PsychoQuadDuck: As I said, fool yourselves all you want.
THENinjaRabbi: *stands up straighter* Ok. I don't have time to sit here and cry about what happened.
THENinjaRabbi: We've got to get moving on this before people get hurt, killed, maimed, or worse.
NebbieQ: He is right.
Lithaladhwen: *A dog sniffs the JD near where Stephan blasted it*
The Net Spider: I think, before we do anything, that we ought to sit down and think for a little while. And rest.
PsychoQuadDuck: IM: What an idiot. He still doesn't get it.
The Net Spider: Rushing into a situation with Dawn will never be to our advantage. We have to think it out first.
Lithaladhwen: *It yaps at the party and runs over to them*
NebbieQ: That we do.
NebbieQ: However, we have a friend who might be able to help us.
Lithaladhwen: *It's followed by another, slightly slimmer fox*
The Net Spider: Oh?
NebbieQ: It would be to our advantage if we talk to him as soon as possible.
THENinjaRabbi: Ah, that elf druid.
THENinjaRabbi: We forgot to meet her.
NebbieQ: No, not her.
THENinjaRabbi: No, I'm saying we forgot to meet her.
NebbieQ: By the way...could you explain what her involvement is in this?
Lithaladhwen: *the little fox becomes an Elf* I remembered.
Lithaladhwen: So. Everyone all right?
THENinjaRabbi: We'll be fine.
The Net Spider: More or less. Basically. So to speak.
Lithaladhwen: Kay. Who are you?
PsychoQuadDuck: *suddenly, the voice that is Char'rynn's bow speaks up* Physically they are, but mentally the lizard lady is not, nya.
FFFan80: *reluctantly heads over to listen to the hippi... er, druid*
The Net Spider: Lyminali Eddress.
Lithaladhwen: *offers hand for a really vigorous handshake*
The Net Spider: *vigorously shakes hand back.* I'm sorry, I'm...moody...it's nice to meet you, miss...?
Lithaladhwen: Yadali Volpecula at your service. Or rather....
Lithaladhwen: you're at mine at the moment if you're working with them.
Lithaladhwen: Hi.
NebbieQ: Would you happen to be a representative?
Lithaladhwen: Huh? Yeah, sure.
The Net Spider: Right now I'm following my own whims.
Lithaladhwen: I can respect that.
NebbieQ: Of the General?
Lithaladhwen: Good way to live. The best way.
Lithaladhwen: Yeah!
Lithaladhwen: Actually, I am.
NebbieQ: Ah, I see.
Lithaladhwen: Informally.
THENinjaRabbi: *nods*
Lithaladhwen: So... I'm guessing the thing was bad. The thing with the dead people and the stuff?
THENinjaRabbi: Yes. It was.
Lithaladhwen: How bad?
NebbieQ: *Just listens, for now.*
Lithaladhwen: Like... 'Bother General Hakaril' bad?
PsychoQuadDuck: Bad the dead people bit was not. Bad a connected bit was.
Lithaladhwen: Uh... huh.
The Net Spider: How does he feel about Dawn Valerian and her children?
Lithaladhwen: What? Dawn? Oh. That.
Lithaladhwen: He has issues with her.
Lithaladhwen: Major ones.
THENinjaRabbi: It's that bad.
Lithaladhwen: It's kind of weird actually.
PsychoQuadDuck: *Char'rynn herself seems a bit withdrawn and gloomy right now*
Lithaladhwen: He doesn't seem all that judgmental to me...
FFFan80: ...what with Hakaril isn't....
Lithaladhwen: Anyway! He'll want to know that.
NebbieQ: That is who we are going to talk to
Lithaladhwen: So... we should go get hold of him, then.
Lithaladhwen: You wanna?
NebbieQ: Yes, please.
The Net Spider: I'd certainly like to talk to him. I've been reading about the man for an eternity, now.
Lithaladhwen: Ookay, then.
PsychoQuadDuck: Meet him I'd like. Stories about him lizard lady tells.
Lithaladhwen: Let's see. Where-- hell. Who am I kidding. It's General Hakaril. He's in his office.
THENinjaRabbi: A word of warning. Don't touch anything in his office.
THENinjaRabbi: You don't know if it'll eat you or something.
The Net Spider: Noted.
Lithaladhwen: Well, we'll go there, then. Meantime... you mind updating me on what's going on here?
Lithaladhwen: You seem to know what's going on.
PsychoQuadDuck: Suspicious stuff lizard lady refuses to touch anyway, nya.
Lithaladhwen: Any takers?
THENinjaRabbi: Sure.
PsychoQuadDuck: (Wrong font from me, people.)
THENinjaRabbi: *Explains everything he can*
Lithaladhwen: Huh. You see.... I remember when she died. I remember when Elaith died. That was weird.
The Net Spider: Were you...um...watching, or something?
Lithaladhwen: I kind of killed him. One time.
THENinjaRabbi: And he came back.
Lithaladhwen: Someone killed him. Then me. Then someone else killed him.
THENinjaRabbi: Nothing stays dead here.
Lithaladhwen: Then he stayed dead.
The Net Spider: Wow.
Lithaladhwen: Well, he was the avatar of Reshtaha.
The Net Spider: WOW.
Lithaladhwen: He doesn't stay dead if he doesn't want to.
The Net Spider: Wait a second. The avatar of Reshtaha is dead?
Lithaladhwen: *arrival happens*
NebbieQ: ...so the gods are getting involved?
Lithaladhwen: One of them. He was for a while.
Arch mage144: (Arrival where?)
Lithaladhwen: They were involved.
THENinjaRabbi: Always fun.
Lithaladhwen: *outside the office*
NebbieQ: Why?
Lithaladhwen: I dunno.
Lithaladhwen: Because they felt like it.
Lithaladhwen: I met Kazeros. He's awesome.
Lithaladhwen: I liked him.
PsychoQuadDuck: Feel like involving gods never do.
Lithaladhwen: Anyway... you go on in. I need to go get some food for Alex in the kitchen
The Net Spider: Uh. Alright...
Lithaladhwen: Seeya! Good luck with the angry General!
Lithaladhwen: *promptly leaves*
THENinjaRabbi: ...
PsychoQuadDuck: *Char'rynn is still quite in a dull mood*
THENinjaRabbi: *knocks on the door*
Arch mage144: ...who is it?
FFFan80: ¬_¬ IM: ...this should be interesting.
Arch mage144: *door swings open, the General still at his desk, twitching his fingers in an absent-minded welcoming gesture*
NebbieQ: Hello, sir.
The Net Spider: ..... Sir.
THENinjaRabbi: Hello again, Hak.
Arch mage144: *actually looks at the people paying him a visit*
FFFan80: *hn's*
PsychoQuadDuck: *Char'rynn is still listless at this point*
Arch mage144: Oh. Kerov, Stephan, that one nekojin fencer, Char'rynn, and a man I've never met.
Arch mage144: What do you want?
The Net Spider: Lyminali Eddress, sir.
Arch mage144: I didn't ask for your address. *blinks*
THENinjaRabbi: The Jade Dragon burned down.
Arch mage144: ...WHAT!?
THENinjaRabbi: Dawn did it.
FFFan80: Yup.
Arch mage144: ......
Arch mage144: Okay. That's it. That's fucking it.
Arch mage144: First, she steals an orb to enslave a bunch of extraplanar dragons by masquerading as a friend.
Arch mage144: Then, it turns out that she's working for one of the most sinister and powerful wizards in existence.
Arch mage144: Now she's preventing me from getting my evening tea.
FFFan80: .......
THENinjaRabbi: We have to figure out some way to stop her.
FFFan80: Well thank the Gods you have your priorities straight e_e;
NebbieQ: And what she has in mind next.
Arch mage144: That much is obvious. Was anyone injured?
NebbieQ: IM: It's sad that he's being the voice of reason right now.
NebbieQ: No.
The Net Spider: No. She got away.
THENinjaRabbi: Nobody was hurt in the fire.
FFFan80: But you can bet Dia's going to be pissed. Wherever she is.
Arch mage144: She went out of town.
FFFan80: Good thing, apparently.
Arch mage144: I don't actually know where. Riss'ar and Ara were supposed to be in charge of the Inn.
FFFan80: ...Riss'ar?
THENinjaRabbi: I'm sure they're ok.
Arch mage144: If I were petty and vengeful, I'd order you to bring me her head on a pike.
THENinjaRabbi: IM: Note to self: Make sure Ara's ok.
Arch mage144: I am many things, but not petty and vengeful.
The Net Spider: Come to think of it...what in the hell was this diabolical genius doing burning down a tavern, anyway?
Arch mage144: Therefore, I don't care if you bring me her head. Just kill her.
THENinjaRabbi: That's what we can't figure out.
Arch mage144: Fuck. Great Lord Agnostic only knows.
Arch mage144: I'm not a mind-reader, nor am I a seer.
The Net Spider: I mean. Was there anything important in there?
Arch mage144: Alcohol?
The Net Spider: I am!
Arch mage144: You're what?
The Net Spider: A seer, I mean.
Arch mage144: ......
Arch mage144: Wait, seriously?
THENinjaRabbi: Yeah, he is.
THENinjaRabbi: He helped us out a lot.
Arch mage144: Then why the fuck are you asking me questions?
The Net Spider: Totally.
FFFan80: ¬_¬ *glare*
The Net Spider: Well...
The Net Spider: You know, I don't like to waste my power when some old-fashioned investigation will do the job.
The Net Spider: I do have my limits, you know.
The Net Spider: ...so I guess you guys want me to try to figure out what she was up to burning the bar down, right?
Arch mage144: You could do that, but I'll be honest with you.
Arch mage144: I don't really think it's that important.
Lithaladhwen: (gasp)
FFFan80: And why is that?
THENinjaRabbi: So...she just did it out of spite?
Arch mage144: I'm more concerned about something else that's been cropping up recently. It may or may not be related.
NebbieQ: She might be trying to scare us. It might be a test for the children.
Arch mage144: It was probably a plea for attention.
THENinjaRabbi: Shoot.
THENinjaRabbi: What's going on?
The Net Spider: Mm/
The Net Spider: *?
PsychoQuadDuck: *much quieter* Right you were, Char'rynn.
Arch mage144: I was talking to Darin yesterday, and he said that he sensed a massive chronological distortion pattern.
THENinjaRabbi: And that means...?
Arch mage144: *headscratch* It means that someone is fucking around with time.
THENinjaRabbi: Hm.
FFFan80: .......
The Net Spider: O.O
NebbieQ: ...how?
The Net Spider: Ewwww.
Arch mage144: I don't mean on the small-scale. This is not "someone is speeding up their movements."
Arch mage144: I don't know precisely what was done.
THENinjaRabbi: Hm.
THENinjaRabbi: Shit.
PsychoQuadDuck: I'm getting the impression you're saying that the distortion pattern's linked somehow with the wench we call Dawn.
The Net Spider: ...here's an interesting question...is that something I can even find out?
Arch mage144: But either a huge group of hyperactive mages decided to have a 100-haste-spell salute or someone's been doing some major alterations on the fabric of time.
Arch mage144: I wouldn't know the extent of your powers, but if our resident time mage couldn't tell me precisely what happened...
THENinjaRabbi: Do you know WHERE it's happening?
The Net Spider: I have to doubt that if someone changes, say, the past, I would be able to deduce that they had done it.
Arch mage144: Where is less important, in this case.
Arch mage144: What's really important is when.
NebbieQ: And what is happening?
NebbieQ: You said time is changing, but not the effects.
NebbieQ: IM: This is very strange. ._.
Arch mage144: Well, I'll be honest. My grasp of temporal physics is not good.
Arch mage144: I can get you to another plane, but another time is way out of my league.
The Net Spider: *Without saying a word to indicate what he's up to, Lym attempts hypercognition. This is too much to resist. He wants to know how time has been changed in the last few months.*
Lithaladhwen: (How many PP does he have left?)
The Net Spider: (84 after this manifestation.)
Lithaladhwen: *For the world at large... it hasn't. There has been some minor displacement. I.E. Someone has moved in time.*
The Net Spider: Okay...apparently I can tell you someone has moved in time.
NebbieQ: IM: How does someo-gah. I give up.
Arch mage144: That'd be consistent with Darin's statements. He couldn't tell me what happened, but he said it was big.
THENinjaRabbi: *is confused by the whole "time travel" thing*
Arch mage144: I assume that time travel leaves some very odd ripples.
NebbieQ: IM: ...maybe I should start learning more about magic. >.> Would that make things easier?
The Net Spider: I don't think I'm going to get anything useful out of this, but I'm going to try one more thing.
The Net Spider: *He wants to know who did the moving through time.*
FFFan80: ....wait.
FFFan80: If they already went back
FFFan80: And succeeded.
FFFan80: Then isn't it too late to stop whatever the hell they changed?
FFFan80: *confused? You bet!*
The Net Spider: Well... *Eyes Silvar curiously.* I seem to have learned a little...but not very much.
Arch mage144: ...isn't that the confusing part, Stephan?
Arch mage144: >_< I hate time travel. It never makes any sense. Plus, it's supposed to be impossible.
THENinjaRabbi: Just try not to think about it, I guess.
FFFan80: Apparently not.
Arch mage144: I read a book once that attempted to explain the paradoxes involved.
FFFan80: ...paradoxes?
Arch mage144: It turned out that the book was actually written by a deranged wizard who wanted to produce a book that left the reader incapable of coherent thought.
Arch mage144: So he decided to write about the most incomprehensible bullshit possible and then curse it.
THENinjaRabbi: ...
FFFan80: ....
NebbieQ: ...
Arch mage144: I had a headache for three weeks.
The Net Spider: Sir. Is that the extent of your experience with time travel?
Arch mage144: I told you, time travel is theoretically impossible.
Arch mage144: If you want a headache, I can show you some mind-bending diagrams of...er...something.
The Net Spider: I'm certainly interested in information on the subject.
Arch mage144: Supposedly, the book makes sense if you learn to read in four dimensions, which somehow amounts to being able to have read the book yesterday.
NebbieQ: This is...I am afraid I will be of no use on figuring out what's happening.
FFFan80: >\/>; IM: ...how the fuck does Midoku put up with this...
The Net Spider: So, sir, you brought this up...does that mean you think something can be done to investigate it?
Arch mage144: As a result, a lot of its instructions were in some sort of past imperative tense.
Arch mage144: Hell no, I just thought it was an interesting story.
Arch mage144: Oh, wait. You meant about the time signatures, not the book.
The Net Spider: Right.
PsychoQuadDuck: *again this would be the bow speaking up* Giving me a headache you already are, and a head I don't even have.
PsychoQuadDuck: IM: Kunar.... not now.
Arch mage144: Since I can't isolate them, I'm kind of hoping that their effect will become obvious eventually.
The Net Spider: That is a fairly disquieting response!
Arch mage144: I can loan you the book, if you're bored.
The Net Spider: Why not!
Arch mage144: *stands up and starts rummaging through his bookshelves*
Arch mage144: Oh, yeah. Aside from burning down my favorite drinking spot, what's Dawn up to?
FFFan80: She has a bunch of kids working for her.
THENinjaRabbi: Starting a cult, possibly trying to hurt her sister.
PsychoQuadDuck: Brainwashing kids she appears to be.
The Net Spider: All psychic investigation points to training children.
Arch mage144: I see. Lovely.
Arch mage144: Ah, found it. *removes a dusty leatherbound book from his shelf*
Arch mage144: *in gold-leaf letters, the cover reads "Time Cubism"*
NebbieQ: She says she treats them as adults. Which means that if we come across them, she might expect them to fight like adults.
FFFan80: IM: ...note to self, if Mid ever brings that with him, he's not reading it >\/>;
Arch mage144: I don't think there's a "might" there.
THENinjaRabbi: I'm not killing kids. There's gotta be some way to neuralize her.
THENinjaRabbi: *neutralize
NebbieQ: Either way, it's something we need to be prepared for.
Arch mage144: Fine, you're relieved from duty. I'll kill them.
The Net Spider: I...can see killing them...it it comes to that...
NebbieQ: IM: What?
THENinjaRabbi: Woa.
THENinjaRabbi: Woah, woah woah.
FFFan80: Hold on there.
The Net Spider: I would prefer to investigate methods of freeing them.
THENinjaRabbi: YOU'RE not killing any kids either.
Arch mage144: You don't get it, do you?
Arch mage144: They're gone. There's probably no saving them now.
PsychoQuadDuck: Kill them Char'rynn would not.
FFFan80: ....
THENinjaRabbi: I'm coming along now, just to make SURE you don't do anything to them.
The Net Spider: Do you have a library with dependable reference on psionics?
NebbieQ: I am not going to take part in their slaughter.
PsychoQuadDuck: Unless take her over you insist I do.
NebbieQ: There must be another solution.
Arch mage144: What's the matter with you people?! They wouldn't think twice about killing you!
THENinjaRabbi: ...they're KIDS.
THENinjaRabbi: Not demons. They don't want your flesh.
THENinjaRabbi: They're KIDS.
Arch mage144: Are you going to stand there and let yourselves die just because the enemy is comprised of children? They're not children! They just look like children!
THENinjaRabbi: There's other ways to get someone out of your face than to blast them.
The Net Spider: I will say this much in the general's defense.
Arch mage144: They're sadistic thralls of a bitch-queen psionicist!
THENinjaRabbi: If we take out Dawn, the effect will end, right?
Arch mage144: Maybe.
The Net Spider: I am not familiar with the details of this variety of power.
Arch mage144: But if you think you'll manage that without killing any of them...
The Net Spider: But there are things a psionicist can do to a person. Things you can't change.
PsychoQuadDuck: Drop the effect killing Dawn would NOT do, Kerov.
THENinjaRabbi: *Narrows his eyes* I'm going to damn well try.
The Net Spider: I had the option, long ago, to learn a terrible power.
PsychoQuadDuck: *this would be still be that pesky bow speaking*
Arch mage144: Fine. Then you'd better have a lot of really effective ways of neutralizing targets without killing them.
The Net Spider: I could have put myself inside other people. Taken their bodies over.
Arch mage144: *gives Lym a very suspicious look*
The Net Spider: Instead, I learned body control.
The Net Spider: This is an option all seers have, sir. All psions.
NebbieQ: ...we can use that to our advantage, I think.
Arch mage144: That's better how?
The Net Spider: Because body control stops.
The Net Spider: And it doesn't kill the original personality.
PsychoQuadDuck: But vengeful they get.
Arch mage144: I see. You have a shred of human decency.
NebbieQ: Hmn. Do you think we could use that on the children?
Arch mage144: Look, this won't be the first time I've had to fight people I really didn't want to.
The Net Spider: No. Not for a second. It's fairly weak.
THENinjaRabbi: *grumbles*
Arch mage144: You have to realize that I was forced to beat most of my in-laws senseless.
Arch mage144: And I killed my father-in-law.
Arch mage144: ...I don't actually regret that one too much, in retrospect.
NebbieQ: *Gives the general a very odd look.*
PsychoQuadDuck: ...I imagine not, from what I've heard of in-laws.
NebbieQ: *Apparently she hasn't heard that much of the General's family life.*
Arch mage144: Not all in-laws are bad. If only my mother-in-law would quit trying to sleep with me.
NebbieQ: ...
PsychoQuadDuck: Okay, okay, I don't think I want to know about that one.
Arch mage144: She's a succubus. It happens.
THENinjaRabbi: *sighs*
Arch mage144: Alright, I suppose we didn't come here to discuss my family. The point is that an enemy is an enemy, even if they look like a child.
Arch mage144: That's her whole strategy, you realize. To make you feel guilty for killing kids.
THENinjaRabbi: It's still not right.
Arch mage144: If you let her accomplish that...she wins.
THENinjaRabbi: I'm still coming. But we'll each do our own thing then.
PsychoQuadDuck: ....I regret doing this, but you have me in on dealing with her and the children.
PsychoQuadDuck: Mainly because Kunar isn't going to shut up until I do.
PsychoQuadDuck: And I kinda owe you anyway.
Arch mage144: Look, nobody owes anybody anything right now.
NebbieQ: I will be coming as long, as well.
NebbieQ: along*
NebbieQ: IM: I can't just leave those children like that.
FFFan80: I owe her a fireball in the face for possibly killing people I care about. e.e
The Net Spider: I'm interested, for the moment...
The Net Spider: Although this time travel thing is going to drive me nuts until I figure it out... *drools at the time cubism book.*
PsychoQuadDuck: IM: So he forgot. Either that or I've lost a chance to pay him back.
Arch mage144: Hm.
The Net Spider: *Lym gets a funny look on his face.*
The Net Spider: .... Eve says she's sorry.
Arch mage144: Who?
The Net Spider: Not that I think she should be, or that you deserve to hear it.
Arch mage144: Uh. I am missing something here.
The Net Spider: She's a friend of mine. And Dawn's sister, as it turns out.
Arch mage144: Dawn has siblings?
The Net Spider: Apparently.
Arch mage144: ...and they aren't vile bitches?
The Net Spider: She's quite lovely, actually.
Arch mage144: I see.
THENinjaRabbi: Besides a smoking habit.
THENinjaRabbi: But I can forgive that.
NebbieQ: She is not the only one.
NebbieQ: ...just the only one who is still alive.
The Net Spider: But these assholes... *motions at them, specifically focusing on Stephan* drove her off because she happened to be a little freaked out...
The Net Spider: by running into her horrific bitch of an absurdly powerful, murderous sister.
Arch mage144: That's not so bad. One of my friends at Gunnir was a real chainsmoker. He used to roll clove cigarettes like nobody else.
PsychoQuadDuck: Tortured in her mind she looked, nya.
The Net Spider: Who no doubt perpetrated all sorts of traumatic acts on her in her childhood.
Arch mage144: I can only imagine.
NebbieQ: *If Kei had eyebrows instead of fluff, one of them would be raised.* I did nothing to drive her off, as you said.
THENinjaRabbi: Hey. I didn't smack her. But she needed a little jolt.
The Net Spider: I'm not interested in discussing it.
Arch mage144: Alright, look. I'm going to look for Darin. We're going to go look for books on time travel that make sense.
THENinjaRabbi: In any case, she's better off far away from here.
Arch mage144: That's probably a vain attempt, but we have to do something about that whole issue.
Arch mage144: Maybe the problem'll sort itself out, or maybe it was just a hiccup.
THENinjaRabbi: We can only ope.
THENinjaRabbi: *hope
Arch mage144: Perhaps I'll even figure out how to read in the past.
Arch mage144: ...maybe that's why Darin was such a good student.
Arch mage144: I bet he could have already read all of the books before they were assigned yesterday and have extra time to study for his exams so he could take them tomorrow as many times as he needed in the future.
Arch mage144: ...*looks like he might've managed to confuse himself*
FFFan80: ......
The Net Spider: I...I don't have a home right now. Or, well...any money to my name. Can I possibly impose upon you for a place to sleep, sir? And perhaps directions to a good library?
PsychoQuadDuck: *Once again it's the bow speaking* Baffle me you are, sir.
The Net Spider: I'd like to help get this straightened out. It's all very fascinating.
Arch mage144: The castle library is probably sufficient. You can have one of the guest rooms down this hall and to the right.
The Net Spider: Thank you very much.
Arch mage144: If you can't find it in the castle library, ask me where it is, and I'll find it for you.
Arch mage144: I've got a personal collection in one section that I'm starting to expand into a small demiplane I had constructed so as to take up less space.
PsychoQuadDuck: More impressive than her stories you make yourself sound, Hakaril.
The Net Spider: Wow. I...wow. *Has library erection.*
Lithaladhwen: (*has bibliogasm?*)
The Net Spider: (Quite.)
THENinjaRabbi: Since I'm here in Doma, I'll stay at my place. Gotta make sure Ara and Azra are ok. I'll meet you here tomorrow.
Arch mage144: What the hell's wrong with your weapon's grasp of language, Char? It speaks like it's using a sentence structure somewhat related to ancient Elvish.
PsychoQuadDuck: I honestly don't know.
NebbieQ: I can find another inn to stay at.
Arch mage144: Where'd you get it?
PsychoQuadDuck: I got it less than a year ago... after having to bail my tribe out again.
Arch mage144: I see.
PsychoQuadDuck: The only thing I know for sure about it, in fact, is that it hates black dragons with a passion.
THENinjaRabbi: *excuses himself*
NebbieQ: When can I expect to hear from you again?
The Net Spider: *Also excuses himself, conflicted between resting up and hunting down the awesome library.*
The Net Spider: *He will probably end up in the library.*
PsychoQuadDuck: *in any event, Char'rynn will have also found a way to excuse herself. If pressed she'll say she has a fiance to check on*
Lithaladhwen: (I'm sure they'll let him crash in there)
FFFan80: *heads out, intent to make sure a certain mage is ok* >\/>
Arch mage144: *salutes the group casuallly as they head out*
NebbieQ: IM: ...so much for the answer to my question. e.e;
NebbieQ: *Gets up, and leaves the room.*
The Net Spider has left the room.
Lithaladhwen: </rp?>
NebbieQ: <Sure>
Lithaladhwen: <logging>