Start of #YL1000 buffer: Fri Jul 29 23:27:51 2005 [12:57] * Now talking in #YL1000 [12:57] * Murdoc is now known as `Doc|afk [13:33] * Diceaholic has joined #YL1000 [16:37] * `Doc|afk is now known as Murdoc [17:40] * Taylen has joined #YL1000 [17:43] * Reyolen has joined #YL1000 [17:57] * Gil has joined #YL1000 [18:05] * Reyolen is now known as Kerjak [18:05] * Murdoc is now known as `Doc [18:22] * Kerjak is now known as Kerjak|Away [18:25] <`Doc> ========= 4GAME BEGINNING ========= [18:25] <`Doc> After a series of unfortunate events, Gil, Marigold, Pair, and Cedric finally return to Millie's home, rejoining the rest of their comrades. The sun rose a couple hours ago, and as is the way with farms, most of the new residents have joined the old ones in performing the day's work. Upon their return, they find Tobin and Kerjak watching over the still-sleeping Mirra. [18:25] <`Doc> ========= 4FREE ROLEPLAY ========= [18:25] <`Doc> Agaven is currently out of sight. [18:27] <`Doc> Gil and Marigold, having spent the night awake and wandering, are both extremely exhausted. [18:27] * Taylen yawns "Sleepy druid." [18:28] * Taylen is now known as Marigold [18:29] <`Doc> "Im gonna go see if I can help out," Pair quickens her pace as the group comes in sight of the farm. "Rest up, we leave in afternun." [18:31] * Marigold wanders over and curls up beside mirra [18:31] * Gil blinks. "Alright. Make sure Socks gets hay and water, and sleep for that matter. I'm going to do that myself. Well, minus the sleep. Wait, no. The hay. That's what I meant." [18:33] <`Doc> Pair doubles back, and takes Socks by the reigns (sp?), "Okay, common, horsie." [18:33] * Gil nearly crawls over to Mirra and Marigold, lays next to Mirra, wraps himself in his bedroll, and is out like a light. [18:34] * Gil mutters "Hey. Hay. Hey, hay" in his sleep. [18:35] * Marigold purrs in her sleep [18:36] * Kerjak|Away is now known as Kerjak [18:38] <`Doc> Kerjak: The missing members of the group returned a couple hours after Pair and Cedric went to find them. Everyone's back now, though Gil and Marigold have both gone directly to sleep. [18:39] * Kerjak just watches over everyone patiently [18:39] <`Doc> Kerjak: About mid-afternoon, Mirra stretches, yawns, and sits up, rubbing her eyes. [18:40] "Good morning, Mirra. Did you sleep well?" [18:42] <`Doc> Mirra looks around, "When'd I go to sleep. Last thing I remember was walking back from the bandit camp. And where'd this come from?" she asks, holding up a small woodcarving of an owl. [18:43] * Kerjak thinks for a moment, then says, carefully, "I dunno if I should be the one to explain that to you...you'd better ask Gil. Anyway, about the sleeping...I guess you were just tired." [18:44] dieroll 1d20+5 (bluff) [18:44] * Diceaholic --> "Kerjak rolls 1d20+5 (bluff) and gets 14." [18:45] * Marigold mrowls and murmurs something lost in the conversation [18:45] * Gil giggles in his sleep. [18:47] <`Doc> Mirra looks at Marigold and Gil sleeping on either side of her, "Is there something going on I should know about?" [18:49] <`Doc> Mirra pokes Gil in the side. [18:49] "Oh, you better let them sleep. They're probably very tired." [18:50] <`Doc> Gil: You awaken, mostly rested but still a bit groggy, to a sharp though not very forceful poke in your ribs. [18:50] * Gil rolls, and mutters "...but there's never enough darkness yet. It can't be time." [18:50] <`Doc> "Huh?" Mirra blinks [18:51] * Gil blinks, and sits roughly up on his hand. "Mwah?" [18:51] "Master Gil, I believe you have some explaining to do. Oh, and good morning...afternoon." [18:51] * Gil shakes his head groggily. "Ergh. Can't it wait until, I dunno, evening? I've been on a horse all night riding in circles." [18:52] <`Doc> "Where'd this come from?" Mirra asks, then gestures to Kerjak, "He said I should ask you." [18:53] * Gil blinks more, suddenly a little more awake. "Oh, hey, you're talking in full sentences again. That's good. You were having coping problems being out here, so I gave you the owl to try and cheer you up a bit." [18:54] * Gil smiles. "It didn't exactly work, but I thought it was worth the attempt." [18:55] * Marigold murmurs 'mmmm mirra, gil...mmmm" [18:55] <`Doc> "Uhm... okay, I guess." She stumbles a bit getting to her feet, then goes wandering off, with the statue in one hand. [18:56] * Kerjak follows, as stealthy as possible [18:56] dieroll 1d20+6 (move silently) [18:56] * Diceaholic --> "Kerjak rolls 1d20+6 (move silently) and gets 16." [18:56] * Gil hops up and leaves his bag, heading after her. "So, uh... you don't remember me giving that to you?" [18:57] <`Doc> Mirra looks at the statue, holding it up in front of her, "Not really." [18:59] * Gil shrugs. "Ah well. No harm done, for what it's worth. You gave us all a bit of a start is all. Just so you know, we all pretty much agreed that we're going to head to East and grab a boat to Vista, then bring you home and deal with trying to work out the problem there." [18:59] * Marigold wakes from the lack of warm body beside her and looks around confused "Mirra?" [19:01] * Gil smiles again. "Feel free to keep the statue, by the way. I actually carved a message into the bottom that I thought would cheer you up. It's thus officially 'yours.' [19:01] " [19:02] <`Doc> Mari: Tobin's hanging around keeping lookout. The goblins have all apparently gone about farm business. [19:02] * Marigold looks around for mirra [19:03] <`Doc> <> [19:03] dieroll 1d20+2 [19:03] * Diceaholic --> "Marigold rolls 1d20+2 and gets 20." [19:04] <`Doc> Gil: Mirra glances at the bottom of the statue, then stuffs it into her bag. "Thanks, I'll get someone to read it for me later. By the way, that seems like an aweful long way to go if we're headed for Eneri." [19:06] <`Doc> Mari: You can see Gil and Mirra wandering off towards the supply cart. Robert is sitting on the side of Millie's house, watching them idly. The other two mercenaries appear to be discretely following Gil and Mirra. [19:06] * Gil nods. "We need the trip, though, because the only way I know my way home is from Vista - and as soon as we get you situated in Eneri, I need to find Togashi the Wise and make sure he's not... y'know... dead." [19:06] * Gil frowns. [19:07] * Marigold runs over to Gil and Mirra [19:08] <> [19:09] <`Doc> Gil: Marigold runs up behind you and Mirra. Mirra turns around, and says, sounding a bit disappointed, "Oh, hi." [19:10] * Marigold looks at mirra and just says softly "I'm sorry." and runs off for Millie's house rubbing the back of her head [19:11] <`Doc> Gil: "Huh?" a fairly obvious confused look rolls over Mirra's face as Marigold runs away. [19:13] * Gil sighs. "She said something that made you go into your little fugue of homesickness, and I think you sorta hit her in the head or something, and so she feels very sorry for most of what she said and did yesterday. She made certain that we put you getting home first on our list of things to do." [19:14] <`Doc> Gil: "Uhm..." it takes her a moment to work this out, "then why are we going all the way to Vista?" [19:16] * Gil shrugs. "The mercenaries said hiring a boat from the east to get to Vista would be faster than walking to Eneri. I think. Yesterday was a bit tough to follow, you must understand, and I spent all night walking lost with Marigold after trying to find her when she ran off. So I'm a little muddled." [19:16] <`Doc> Mari: On your way back to the house, you cross paths with Agaven, "Oh good, you're back." [19:18] * Marigold stops suddenly and nods quietly "Do you have anything for a hurt head?" [19:18] "And really, Vista's the only way I can find my own way back home. So we need to stop by there anyways, eventually. So I thought it would be sort of like knocking two items off the list at once." [19:18] <`Doc> Mari: "Certainly," Agaven replies, "have a seat and let me take a look at you." [19:19] <`Doc> Gil: "But then you'd have to walk from Vista to Eneri. I thought that was further." [19:19] * Marigold sits on the ground and looks at her feet [19:19] * Gil frowns slightly. "I don't know, honestly. It sounded like a good idea, the way they said the boats run." [19:20] <`Doc> <> [19:21] dieroll 1d20+1 (listen) [19:21] * Diceaholic --> "Kerjak rolls 1d20+1 (listen) and gets 18." [19:22] "I thought that way we could all have a quick trip back, get you home, and then get to my Uncle as soon as we could manage. I only know the way from Vista, and they made it sound like a quicker trip from the East." [19:23] "Do you a quick way to Vista from Eneri?" [19:23] "We could just take that way, if it is faster." [19:24] <`Doc> Mari: Agaven starts combing her fingers through the fur of your head, "Looks like she did a number on you." [19:24] * Marigold just keeps staring at her feet [19:26] <`Doc> Gil: "Not much goes close to Eneri. That's part of the point, Eneri's hunters need a lot of ranging room. I know we get a fair amount of foot traffic from Desoto, though." [19:28] <`Doc> Mari: You feel a cooling sensation on your head as Agaven rubs in a salve. [19:28] * Pved has joined #YL1000 [19:29] * Pved is now known as Agaven [19:29] <`Doc> ========= 4INCOMING DATA - PLEASE WAIT ========= [19:29] * Gil frowns. "If we went to Malthazar and got a short hop to Desoto, would it be quicker to get you home, then go back to Desoto and go through to Vista?" [19:29] * Marigold sighs "mmm" [19:29] <`Doc> <> [19:40] <`Doc> ========= 4FREE ROLEPLAY ========= [19:41] <`Doc> Gil: Mirra shrugs, "I dunno, never been far from Eneri before." [19:41] * Agaven smiles at Marigold, "anything specific in mind?" [19:41] "Something to make it stop aching. [19:42] <`Doc> Agaven: Marigold has a lot of lumps on her head under the fur, and a few small cuts. [19:43] * Gil sighs. "See, that's my problem as well. I always followed the trade routes. All I know of, roadwise, is Vista to home and the other forest trade-roads - but I can't find them without the cities as landmarks. And I've only really been on a ship once. I don't know how quick they run." [19:44] <`Doc> dieroll 1d20 [19:44] * Diceaholic --> "`Doc rolls 1d20 and gets 15." [19:44] <`Doc> Gil: "Didn't someone say they'd travelled a lot? Not the mercenaries, somebody else." [19:44] "I just want to get you home, then get home myself. My Uncle was on one of those papers we found in that bandit camp, with Millie and Robert's original name. He's in danger, and I want to make sure he's safe. I just want to make sure we can all get home." [19:46] <`Doc> Gil: "I just want everything straightened out back home, so this whole thing can be over. I'm not sure I want to be a hunter anymore." [19:46] * Gil nods. "Pair did... but didn't she agree with the mercenaries?" He shakes his head. "We need to get going soon, anyways, if we're not going to spend the night here again." [19:47] * Gil sighs. "How about we go to Malthazar, and talk about plans on the way?" [19:47] "It's close, and we'll be getting a boat either way." [19:47] <`Doc> Gil: Mirra comes to a stop, "I just realized, I was headed for the cart, but we've passed it already." She turns around and starts walking back. [19:48] <`Doc> Gil: "I guess that makes sense," Mirra adds. [19:48] * Agaven scratches her head, and continues treating Marigold's, "I've been gathering materials for just the thing...although it needs cooking first. [19:48] * Gil looks around. "So I suppose you're not going to come with us after we get everything straightened out in Eneri? I didn't expect you would, but... I suppose it's weird to hear you say it." [19:49] * Marigold says quietly "Okay." [19:50] <`Doc> Gil: "I don't know what I'm going to do," Mirra sighs. [19:50] <`Doc> Mari: Your head feels better. [19:51] * Marigold sighs softly and murmurs [19:51] "In the meantime, does that feel better?" [19:52] * Marigold nods [19:52] * Gil nods. "Neither do I. I mean, I know what I need to do now. I need to go make sure Togashi The Great is okay. But then what? Turn this over to the militia, send him into hiding, hope it works out?" He shakes his head. [19:52] <`Doc> Gil: When you and Mirra reach the cart, Robert is there waiting for you, "Did you two have a nice walk?" [19:53] "We talked. If you can, get everyone together. As we agreed, we're going to Malthazar - but we need to discuss where we're going from there. Mirra suggested something that might be quicker." [19:55] <`Doc> Gil: "Oh?" Robert tilts his head slightly. [19:55] <`Doc> dieroll 1d20 [19:55] * Diceaholic --> "`Doc rolls 1d20 and gets 3." [19:56] * Gil nods. "It might cost more, but if we get a boat to Desoto and go to Eneri and back from there, we might be able to get to Vista and then home without the long walk inbetween." [19:57] <`Doc> Gil: "Makes sense. Pair's in the fields, I'll get her and Tobin. Maybe you two can find where Kerjak and Cedric went." [19:57] <`Doc> dieroll 1d20 [19:57] * Diceaholic --> "`Doc rolls 1d20 and gets 17." [19:57] * Agaven nods, "Good." [19:58] <`Doc> Gil: Robert heads out towards the fields, where the goblins and bears are working. [19:58] "Thank you." [19:59] * Marigold stands back up and wanders towards the house again [19:59] * Gil nods, and looks around. "Will do." [19:59] <`Doc> Mari: The bear den entrance isn't far away. [19:59] <`Doc> Gil: "Where do you suppose we should start looking?" Mirra asks, glancing around. [20:00] <`Doc> dieroll 1d20 [20:00] * Diceaholic --> "`Doc rolls 1d20 and gets 17." [20:00] dieroll 1d20+7 (spot) [20:00] * Diceaholic --> "Gil rolls 1d20+7 (spot) and gets 19." [20:01] <`Doc> Gil: You spot the two mercenaries crouching in the brush nearby. [20:01] * Gil points. "I would say we should ask them." [20:01] * Gil starts walking over to Kerjak and Cedric. [20:02] <`Doc> Gil: Mirra's gaze follows your gesture, "Oh, that was easy." [20:03] * Gil grins. "Of course it was. Given their hiding, I'd say they were watching us." He calls over. "Get your stuff - we're packing for Malthazar." [20:04] <`Doc> Gil: Cedric stands up from the brush, "Glad to hear it." He walks over to join you. "We'll get Tobin and start packing everything." [20:05] * Kerjak waves at Gil, then goes back to Tobin to get his pack. [20:05] <`Doc> Cedric heads in Tobin's direction as well. [20:06] * Gil smiles. "Well, that's taken care of. Let's go get our stuff." [20:06] <`Doc> Mari: When you reach the house, you find most of the occupants are goblin children. A few of the adults are watching over them, along with minding the two bear cubs. [20:07] <`Doc> Agaven: Pair and Robert walk over to you. "Time to get your stuff, werr going soon, back on the road," Pair says briskly. [20:08] * Marigold halts suddenly at the sight of the goblins "Where's ikky?" [20:09] <`Doc> Mari: The goblins mostly don't notice you, but little Meebie comes over with Puppy, "All out there, making a farm." [20:10] <`Doc> Mari: "Oh!" Meebie runs off again, diving into the hay. [20:10] * Marigold smiles softly at Meebie "Are you taking care of puppy or is she taking care of you hmm?" [20:10] * Marigold reaches down and ruffles puppy's ears [20:10] * Agaven starts gathering her things [20:11] * Gil starts heading off to where he left his pack, only to pause. "Oh, by the way - the owl says 'The world doesn't get worse if you enjoy it.' It's a little bit of Gnomish wisdom. You seemed to be having a poor time, so I thought I'd hand that off to you." [20:11] <`Doc> Mari: Puppy nuzzles your hand. Meebie pops up after a moment with tiger in one arm and dragging a bag, "They say it okay I go with you!" [20:12] * Marigold smiles "Good I'd like that." [20:12] <`Doc> Gil: Mirra scratches her head, "Uhm, okay." [20:14] * Kerjak grabs his pack and all the rest of his stuff and turns to Tobin, "Time to go." [20:14] * Gil shrugs. "It made more sense yesterday, I assure you, but basically it's the reason I'm still able to smile right now with this mess that's going on. It's quite a useful thing to keep in mind." He then continues on to gather and repack his bedroll. [20:14] "I can teach you all about the animals and plants and stuff then." [20:16] <`Doc> Mari: "Yay!" Meebie hops. Tiger wriggles free, and steps down from Meebie, wanders over to you, and hops up into her bag, popping her head out. [20:16] * Marigold reaches back and scritches Tiger's head\ [20:17] <`Doc> Tiger purrs. [20:17] <`Doc> ========= 4INCOMING DATA - PLEASE WAIT ========= [20:22] <`Doc> As everyone gathers their belongings together, including the three horses and enough tents for the small group of travellers, Marigold takes the time to plant Thu in a sunny spot and say goodbye. Cedric finds out from Millie about how to reach the nearest trade road, which will take the group to Malthazar. [20:24] <`Doc> By evening, everything is ready for departure. Meebie hugs her parents goodbye, Pair starts playing a travelling song, Gil starts the mules pulling the cart, and the group sets off, leaving Millie, Lon, the miniature bears, and the goblin tribe behind. [20:25] <`Doc> Once the group has reached the road, Robert raises the question, "So, once we reach Malthazar, where do we go from there?" [20:25] <`Doc> ========= 4FREE ROLEPLAY ========= [20:26] * Marigold walks along avoiding walking near either pair or mirra for a chance actually walking alone as much as possible [20:27] * Gil takes detailed notes on how to get back to Millie's home. [20:28] "Well, Mirra suggested that it might be quicker to take the boat to Desoto and go from there to Eneri and back. She says people make that trip all the time, so there should be an established path and it won't involve a lengthy overland travel again." [20:28] "I think if we do that, then head to Vista, we'll save time and get Mirra home quicker." [20:29] "Whatever you feel is best, Master Gil..." [20:30] * Gil shrugs. "Well honestly, I wanted to ask Pair's opinion. Is it quicker? It just seems to be for me, since there's less travel on land." [20:31] <`Doc> "Fine with me," Robert replies. Pair answers, "I go where ever my feets take me, and that sounds good. I want Mirra to be happy." "You don't need to talk about me like I'm not here," Mirra says, slightly irritated. [20:31] <`Doc> <> [20:31] "I'll go along with that, I think." [20:31] <`Doc> "You can go where you want, but I plan to head back to Terranada once I'm paid," Cedric puts in his two CP. [20:32] * Marigold drifts off to the side looking for pretty flowers [20:32] * Gil blinks. "You're not taking the second contract?" [20:32] "OH yes, there is that. Did we work out the details yet?" [20:34] "Not yet. I figured it'd mostly just be an extension of the first one, with some minor changes to make me the person putting capital instead of Marigold. And something to make this trip at least somewhat worthwhile to Mirra, since you certainly did help us." [20:35] "Well, from the sound of it, there won't be a lot of danger or loot in this next little errand. How does splitting the loot benefit us in that case?" [20:35] <`Doc> "Money's all well and good, so long as there's time to spend it," Cedric replies. He looks at Tobin, who shrugs, "We 'as to take a boat either way, an' I'm all for earnin' th' extra coin." [20:35] dieroll 1d20+2 to find pretty flowers [20:35] * Diceaholic --> "Marigold rolls 1d20+2 to find pretty flowers and gets 10." [20:36] <`Doc> Marigold: There are some pretty wildflowers along the trail. [20:37] * Marigold picks a few here and there humming softly [20:38] * Gil shrugs. "You realize that part of this involves going to help my uncle Togashi, right? And that we'll thus be dealing with the hirelings of this "Big Nasty" character, and each group we've dealt with who has been paid by him has been in posession of a big chest of coin and gems, right? [20:39] <`Doc> dieroll 1d20+13 [20:39] * Diceaholic --> "`Doc rolls 1d20+13 and gets 15." [20:40] <`Doc> Pair plays a light tune, but throws in too many chords for her own good. <> [20:40] "Well, Master Gil, don't you think this contract should wait until we know what we're dealing with here? I don't want to sign up for guard duty, and end up with having to topple an entire crime syndicate, if you can catch my drift." [20:42] * Marigold continues gathering flowers [20:43] "Who said anything about toppling the head of this thing? I just want to make sure my Uncle is safe and protected. If you think I'm going to suggest that less than a dozen individuals go after something capable of sending bands of hirelings scurrying across the peninsula, you're mistaking me for someone out of their mind." [20:44] "That's a job for the militia. We have the maps, we have names, we have testimony. I think they'll believe us." [20:44] <`Doc> "I know someone made that suggestion," Robert comments, "though I don't believe it was Gil." [20:44] * Marigold tries to make a nice bouquet [20:45] "Well, it really doesn't matter to me in the end. If Cedric and Tobin are alright with it, I'm up for it." [20:45] <`Doc> "We don't always have to work together," Cedric chuckles. [20:46] "Out of your mind until the contract is secure, I'm sure." [20:48] "Cedric, I'm still new to this mercenary business, you know that. I just don't have a feel for it..." [20:48] * Kerjak gets lost in thought [20:48] "Hold on, who said militia?" [20:49] * Gil looks over at Agaven. "Tell me, do I look like the sort of person whose interest is in continent-spanning conspiracy? I'd love to just be able to return home, make sure everything's safe, get some fresh pipe tobacco, and call it a day." [20:49] * Marigold takes the flowers she gathered and goes to find Mirra [20:49] <`Doc> Marigold: Mirra's walking with the others along the trade road. [20:49] "And yes, I'd love to just turn it over to the militia and let them handle it." [20:50] * Marigold runs over and hands the flowers to mirra with a shy smile [20:50] "I take a personal interest in my Uncle, because he's my Uncle." [20:50] "Hell, half of what I know I know because of him." [20:51] <`Doc> "I believe what she's trying to say," Robert chimes in again, "is that the militia is centered in Terranada, which is both out of our way and on our do-not-return list at this point." [20:51] "And I'm willing to help you with your uncle, though if you're to drag the militia, or anything even remotely Terranada related into this, the answer is No." [20:52] <`Doc> "Maybe the hunters can help you," Mirra says. "We're going there anyway, and there are a lot of them." [20:53] * Agaven crosses her arms [20:53] * Gil shrugs. "So we copy the maps, write some testimony, and if the mercenaries are going to go back there anyways at the end of this mess they can carry the information with them. I doubt anyone's happy with the idea of 'dark plans afoot.'" [20:53] "We'll just leave your names out." [20:54] "Nononono, I think you missed it the first time: No." [20:55] "Well, I'm not going back. Your uncle could already be dead by the time we get there. Obviously, we need to get there as soon as possible to discover the threat." [20:55] <`Doc> Mirra accepts the flowers from Marigold, "What're these for?" [20:56] * Gil raises an eyebrow. "So the options are that we assume the people in hiding have to remain that way until either they or the problem dies, we go after this thing ourselves and hope we don't die from messing with continent-spanning conspiracy more than we already have, or we just ignore the lot of it and let whatever this thing is happen?" [20:57] "Because I'm sorry." [20:57] "I didn't mean to make you act all strange especially after...." [20:58] * Marigold looks at her feet [20:58] <`Doc> "I don't understand," Mirra looks at Marigold, confused. "Sorry for what?" [21:00] "Gil, I categorically, positively, absolutely, without a doubt, utterly refuse to go anywhere near Terranada." [21:01] * Marigold looks up and sniffles "I'm sorry for making you stop when you ran away and for not taking you back home right away and for making out with you in the plants and making you go all weird and stop talking normally and for sitting on your lap so that you wanted to hit me even if I just wanted you to talk and stop just staring at things like you were a tree in bad soil." [21:01] "Or it's militia." [21:01] * Gil nods. "Alright. So your better suggestion... is?" [21:03] "We go check on your uncle, carefully avoiding anything Terranada related, as it's a bit too close as it is, and then we see what to make of the aforementioned continent-spanning conspiracy." [21:03] <`Doc> Mirra stops walking for a second, her face bewildered. She then shakes herself out of it, and runs to catch up to the group, "Marigold, I truly, honestly, have no idea what you're talking about, but if it really happened, maybe that's a good thing. Just take me home like you promised, so I can stop wondering what the heck is going on." [21:04] * Marigold nods softy but looks less happy then before somehow and wanders off to the other side of the road again [21:05] "We need more information right now, anyway. Let's just check on your Uncle right now, because for all we know, he's just fine." [21:05] "Indeed." [21:06] * Marigold walks quietly along [21:07] * Gil shrugs. "What, you'd think I'd suggest seeing the militia before going to help Togashi? Mirra's trip itself is more than enough to worry me over time, but we promised we'd get her home as soon as she helped us get the goblins to the Shortlands, and we've done that." [21:07] * Gil thinks, and turns to Mirra. "You said we might ask the hunters for help?" [21:07] <`Doc> "It sounds like everyone knows what they're doing," Cedric replies. "If you folks want to avoid Terranada, that's fine. I'm headed back there, so I can take whatever you need back with me. Tobin, you're sticking with them, right?" Tobin nods, "Fer the righ' price." [21:08] <`Doc> Mirra nods, "There are lots of hunters, and folks always pass through. If you can talk them into helping, they can keep a lookout for this Big Nasty person, and the word should reach Sormala and Reia before long." [21:08] "Alright, Cedric. I'll drop by and see you later, but I have to tell you I'm debating whether to even stay a mercenary at this point. Don't tell the guild anything, though, okay?" [21:09] * Marigold drifts back over towards mirra and just walks quietly beside her for a bit [21:09] <`Doc> "No problem," Cedric replies. "Besides, so long as your dues are paid, the guild won't care much either way." [21:10] "That's good to hear. The last thing I need are some mercenaries after ME." [21:10] * Gil smiles. "Well, that ought to at least keep more trouble from reaching the goblins and halflings before we can find more help to stop this thing from becoming a recurring issue." [21:11] <`Doc> "Does anyone actually know what this Big Nasty looks like?" Mirra asks [21:12] * Gil shakes his head. "The only people who did know were the goblins..." He pauses, and looks around for Meebie. [21:12] <`Doc> Gil: Meebie's riding on the wagon, though she seems to have buried herself in the supplies. [21:15] * Gil smiles. "Hey, Meebie? If you're not too busy, we have a few questions you might could help us answer." [21:15] * Marigold plucks the occasional wildflower and attempts to braid it into her hair and fur [21:17] <`Doc> Meebie's head pops out from under a pile of assorted non-weapon miscellany, "Okay." [21:19] * Gil nods. "Alrighty, we didn't realize at the time, but it's sorta important to know eventually, so - did your parents ever say what 'Big Nasty' actually looked like?" [21:21] <`Doc> "Uhm..." Meebie thinks for a moment, "Daddy sayd once. He was like a..." she thinks again, then switches over to speaking Goblin, "Like a giant bat." [21:22] <`Doc> "What'd she say?" Robert and Mirra ask almost simultaneously. [21:23] * Gil nods, then turns to Robert and Mirra. "Large, sort of bat-like. I'm not sure what is big with bat-wings, though." [21:23] * Gil then turns back to Meebie, and continues in Goblin. "Know color of bat?" [21:24] * Marigold hums [21:24] <`Doc> Meebie thinks, "Nope." [21:24] * Gil nods. "Okay. Still helps. Any other stuff?" [21:25] <`Doc> Meebie continues in Goblin also, "Daddy said not to let him see me, 'cause if he spit at me I could melt away." [21:26] * Agaven walks by Pair [21:26] * Marigold tries to see if she can braid wildflowers into Mirra's hair and fur as long as she is there [21:26] * Gil nods and smiles, finishing in Goblin. "Well, we keep you safe." He then switches back to Common. "Thanks Meebie. You were a big help." [21:26] <`Doc> Mari: Mirra lets you. [21:27] * Marigold smiles and braids smiling for a bit [21:27] "So what's going on with this big nasty?" [21:27] <`Doc> dieroll 1d20 [21:27] * Diceaholic --> "`Doc rolls 1d20 and gets 20." [21:27] <`Doc> "Sounds like a dragon," Pair says with a frown. [21:28] * Agaven squeaks. [21:28] "Meebie said Ikky told her she shouldn't be seen by the thing, because it's saliva melts things. And now that I think about it, I agree. Sounds dragonish, at the very least. It'd explain the chests of gems and coin, anyways." [21:29] "Dragons, eh? Sounds exciting." [21:29] <`Doc> Pair continues, not deterred by the conversation, "Dragons are these big winged things, there's all different kinds, some good, some bad. But I thought they were just stories until a week ago." [21:30] * Marigold tries to think back if her druid trainers mentioned anything about dragons [21:30] <`Doc> Mari: They didn' [21:30] <`Doc> <> [21:30] <`Doc> "A week ago?" Robert looks surprised. [21:30] "Why'd you stop thinking they were stories a week ago?" [21:30] "Maybe they are just stories then and he isn't a dragon at all?" [21:30] * Gil is similarly-stunned. [21:30] * Marigold resumes braiding [21:32] "That could be. I've certainly never seen a dragon." [21:32] <`Doc> "I saw one, just after we met Mirra. It was a long way off though, I tried to sing to it but it didn't come," Pair seems almost oblivious to the problem. [21:32] * Gil blinks. [21:32] "Used to frighten us with stories of say what?" [21:32] * Marigold frowns "Why would you want a thing that melts children to come to you?" [21:32] "You... SAW one?" [21:33] "Ohcrapohcrapohcrap." [21:33] <`Doc> "I thought it was a good dragon," Pair said. [21:33] "But what if it wasn't?" [21:33] "Please tell me you have a good reason." [21:33] "You really saw one, Pair?" [21:34] * Marigold smiles and pats a braid into place [21:34] <`Doc> Pair looks confused, "Why wouldn't it be a good one? But it was a long way off, I never found out. Just saw it blocking some stars at night." [21:34] * Gil blinks. "It might not be a good one because 'Big Nasty [21:35] "Something about eating maidens, I believe.." [21:35] <> [21:35] "Whats a maiden?" [21:35] * Gil blinks. "It might not be a good one because 'Big Nasty' was just described as a dragon, and it spits meltiness and seems to be spending money on kidnapping." [21:35] "Though that might be a different story. it's been a long time.." [21:36] <`Doc> "Pair, *where* did you see it?" Robert becomes insistent. [21:36] "Was it the one about the sailor, the soldier and the nun?" [21:36] * Agaven shrugs. [21:37] <`Doc> Pair thinks a moment, then points in a generally inland direction, "Over the woods. It was a long way off, so maybe over the wildlands." [21:37] <`Doc> "I thought it was a bird at first," she adds, "but it moved to slow, so it had to be big and far away." [21:38] "Are we really going to go dragon hunting?" [21:38] <`Doc> "I vote not," Robert replies to Kerjak. [21:38] * Marigold has quit IRC (Ping timeout) [21:38] * Gil twitches. "Not if I can help it. I like being solid." [21:39] <`Doc> "Maybe we should leave out the description," Cedric chimes into the conversation. [21:40] <`Doc> "I mean, after all, this Big Nasty is keeping a low profile, so odds are you'll mainly see more bandits." [21:41] "Which we do know how to deal with, after a fashion. Still, seems like we'd be overstepping our bounds a little bit." [21:42] * Gil nods. "We could tell them about the travelling, seemingly-paid bandits. We can't really talk about the head of this thing without giving away how we know, anyways, and I'm not sure anyone besides us will accept goblin testimony." [21:42] "And if they FIND a dragon at the head of this mess, well... may the gods help them, I suppose. [21:42] <`Doc> Meebie disappears back into the pile of assorted non-pokey items in the cart. [21:43] <`Doc> "Why do you suppose a dragon would want to keep a low profile?" Mirra wonders aloud. [21:44] "Why do dragons do anything?" [21:45] "Why do I still suspect someone wants to involve the militia?" [21:46] * Gil shrugs. "Militia, no militia, I'm at least telling the hunters in Eneri. If nothing else, it might help secure the safety of the goblins a bit more-effectively." [21:48] * Agaven switches to the only relevant language, Draconic: "One has to wonder about that, really...what's to stop them turning around and murdering them?" [21:49] "Agaven...what is your problem with the militia? They're not so bad, having dealt with them myself on occason. They're a little stiff, but that's to be expected." [21:50] * Gil chuckles, and switches to Draconic as well. "Well, I'm not going to TELL them where the goblins are. Gods know they already tried to kill them once. But informing them that a set of bandits had been raiding from near the woods into the Shortlands, seemingly coming from the area, and that maps had been found for the wildlands on another group of bandits detailing the location ought to do it." [21:51] "Oh, it's nothing personal, Kerjak. I hope not, at least." [21:52] <`Doc> "What happens if they decide to check out the locations in person? You know, for the safety of the targets," Robert asks. [21:54] * Gil shrugs. "So we don't give exact directions. Or we give the story, show the gems as proof, and say we left the map with the halflings and don't remember the exact way. We have enough forms of proof to avoid having to give exact destinations and a chance for the goblins to be found." [21:54] * Agaven continues in Draconic: "If they do find the goblins, they'll massacre them all, more or less as we were planning before we met them. Plus, compassion seems our monopoly." [21:55] <`Doc> Robert comments in Draconic, "I think the mercenaries may be unhappy if we don't cash in all the gems." [21:56] * Gil responds in kind. "The goblins have far more to worry about from our own destination than they do from the hunters. They're in farmland now. I trust Millie and Lon to know how to handle it, though." [21:56] "You know, I don't appreciate not being included in the loop. What are you speaking, anyway?" [21:57] "And if we don't use the gems, we can use the swords. Or the armor. Or any number of things." [21:57] * Agaven grins at Kerjak, "Guess." [21:57] * Gil shrugs. "Draconic. They're trying to talk me out of telling any authorities at all. Frankly, I think leaving this sort of thing unknown is a bad idea." [21:58] "It's not our responsibility, anyway. And you think the militia will just drop everything to investigate this? What is our evidence?" [21:58] "Anyway, the militia can't handle a DRAGON, that's for sure." [22:00] "Mmhm. Leave the militia out of it." [22:00] * Gil points out various parts of the wagon and his own posessions. "Let's see... maps for goblins, detailing locations which forces later were sent to from a separate group... a sheet of paper with names of people who have been targetted... the arms and armor of the group of bandits which we took care of... and two chests of gems and coin. I think that ought to prove SOMETHING." [22:02] <`Doc> Robert glances at the wagon and listens, then comments in Draconic, "Maps we can't turn over without opening the Goblins up to local probing, names we can't let anyone read aloud, gems we need to exchange for gold to pay off the mercenaries, and arms and armor that could come from anywhere." [22:04] * Gil growls. "So what then? We gather up all these people and go running off over the seas and into the wilderness, to live in exile? We let them live out their days in constant risk, or fully isolated from society? Or do we just go fight a bloody dragon, and get turned to mushy paste?" [22:04] "And you're one of these people I'm discussing, so I figured you'd be a little more amenable towards keeping them safe." [22:06] "Running around yelling about dragons and conspiracies does not equate to keeping anyone safe, especially not you." [22:06] <`Doc> "Just think about it for a moment," Robert says in Common. "We turn the maps and names over. Eventually somebody reads the names, then goes to check on the areas with the maps. So now Millie and your uncle are revealed, and the goblins could wind up dead. Not to mention what happens if someone reads *my* name while we happen to be nearby." [22:07] <`Doc> "I'm seriously hoping that nothing bad happens from us repeating the word 'dragon' over and over." [22:08] "The authorities aren't going to do anything outside of Terranada (sp?) without just cause, anyway. You show them this, and they'll probably direct you to the Mercenary Guild." [22:08] * Gil shakes his head. "And so if we end up incapacitated, no one knows anything about any of this and everyone's boned. And I suppose no one has ANY idea how to solve this particular problem?" [22:09] "Until we know more, no. That's what I've been saying, we need more information." [22:09] <`Doc> "We start with what we have. Take care of Mirra first, so hopefully we'll have friends in Eneri to fall back on. Then we visit your uncle, and sort out from there where to go, and whether he should come with us." [22:10] "I think Robert knows what he's talking about here, but, uh, don't forget we need to cash the gems." [22:11] * Gil frowns. "When I went on this fool's errand, I didn't expect it to be so foolish. You're basically suggesting that we fight what seems to be a HUGE, DEADLY THING without any backup at all. If I had known we were this dedicated to ending up as paste, I'd have left instructions with Millie to do something else if we didn't show back up in a year or so." [22:12] <`Doc> "I'm suggesting that we avoid fighting a huge deadly thing for as long as possible, and hope it gets frustrated and leaves." [22:12] "Exactly...though if we survived, we'd be heroes...wait, no, bad Kerjak." [22:13] <`Doc> Tobin busts out laughing. [22:14] * Gil shakes his head. "Look, all I've read are books. They're not necessarily true. But from all I've been exposed to about dragons, when they get frustrated Bad Things Go Down. I'd rather someone have some notice of what was going on besides us. Preferably someone with an Arrow of Dragonslaying." [22:15] <`Doc> "A what?" Mirra makes a point of looking confused. [22:15] "You just made that up." [22:15] * Gil frowns. "It was in a story. If it is real, I wish we had one." [22:15] <`Doc> Pair looks at her wrist for no apparent reason. [22:16] "Gil, let's worry about this later. Let's just get to your uncle as soon as possible...oh, and take Mirra home." [22:16] "What he said." [22:16] "If we run across any dragons on the way, we'll run away. Easy!" [22:16] <`Doc> "An dinnae forget abou' gettin' paid," Tobin chuckles. [22:17] "Well, of course." [22:17] "That had better go without saying." [22:18] * Gil sighs, and lays down on the steering mount of the wagon. "Sure, let's just wait until we annoy the thing for the THIRD time. Then we can worry about what to do about it." [22:18] <`Doc> "Why, ye tired o' hearin' it, lass?" [22:19] * Gil mutters to himself about priorities, the group in general, and something about melting. [22:19] <`Doc> "I just thought of something completely unrelated," Robert makes his presence known. "Meebie's gonna stick out like a sore thumb when we hit town." [22:20] "Actually, no I'm not. I could use my payday." [22:20] "Hrm." [22:22] <`Doc> "Oh, and Gil, there *are* people working on this. They're just not technically the proper authorities." [22:22] <`Doc> "Though come to think about it, when it comes to a dragon they might be more proper authorities than the proper authorities," Robert chuckles halfheartedly. [22:24] * Kerjak gives Robert a wary look, before quickly hiding it and saying, "You may have a point there." [22:24] * Gil looks up. "I'd be happy to hear about any potential allies. So far, all of them have either been people we've saved or people you've knocked off the list of options. And the ones we've saved can't quite do much more than we can, considering we had to save them." [22:25] * Agaven puts on her glasses so that she can peer over the top of them at Robert, and then puts them away again. [22:25] * Gil pauses. "Come to think of it, I'd be happy with a deep glass of good wine. But that'd also be good." He sighs, and drops his head back to the wagon. [22:26] <`Doc> "I can't really elaborate," Robert replies, "sorry." [22:27] * Gil sighs once again, pointedly, for emphasis. "Given the course of current events, I'm not surprised. Have we burst into flame spontaneously yet, or is that just on the todo list?" [22:27] "More or less." [22:28] <`Doc> "I think we'll leave that for when I'm old and... let's just say grey, for reference purposes." [22:29] <`Doc> "I'd rather not burst into flame at all, thanks," Mirra says, trying to contribute to the conversation. [22:31] "I'd prefer to wake up just about now, and have it be about 10 days ago when we were off after agreeing on humanitarian movement of goblins and there was no vast continental conspiracy headed by things which can melt you." [22:31] "But that's just me." [22:32] "You alright, Gil?" [22:32] <`Doc> "Try rolling it back three or four years," Robert replies. [22:33] "You're usually so cool and collected, Master Gil. Anyway, isn't this so much more exciting? I'm actually starting to get a little scared." [22:34] "Actually..four years does sound about right.." [22:35] * Gil sighs. "Frustrated. Very, very frustrated. We have a danger we can't fully identify, can't combat if it is what we're imagining it to be, our only allies either depend on us for protection or can't even be mentioned to me, and all of this is landing square on my head with no way for me to just deal with it all. And it's threatening the person who basically gave me half of everything I currently have to deal with it." [22:36] "It's not in my comfort zone. Not at all. I could do moving goblins, I could do helping farmers under bandit assault, but this is just..." He pauses, and points a finger at the sky. "...It's rude is what it is." [22:36] "You think too much, just let life flow along. Hell, if I actually sat down and thought about my life right now, I'd feel pretty hopeless, too." [22:37] <`Doc> "What's your uncle do, anyway?" Cedric asks idly, "You make him sound pretty important." [22:38] "He makes magic, and infuses it into physical items. Little good it's done me, but he helped me learn the tiny bits of spellcasting I *do* know." [22:38] <`Doc> "Could he make an arrow of dragonslaying?" Pair references Gil's earlier statement. [22:38] "Mm, there has to be something in common between them." [22:39] "Gil totally made that up." [22:40] * Gil shrugs. "If anyone could here, it'd be him - but I doubt he'd want to. He focused on conveniences. Little items to do what needed to be done, basically. They were really neat, though I didn't get to see many. Most people bought them almost as they were made, or specifically comissioned things. He was very busy, most of the time, though he did always take time for our family meals." [22:41] * Gil sighs. "He'd make the peas march. It was funny." [22:41] "Doesn't really sound like he should be a target..." [22:42] "He shouldn't." Gil speaks resolutely. [22:43] <`Doc> "And what exactly makes someone a target?" Robert asks sternly. "If it was just me, I might have an answer, but I can find no discernable reason for a dragon, or anyone for that matter, to have an interest in Millie." [22:44] "Very puzzling...all the more reason to learn more. Shall we get going?" [22:44] What do you, her, and Gil's uncle have in common, I wonder? [22:45] <`Doc> "We are moving," Pair points out to Kerjak, "see my feet?" [22:45] <`Doc> Robert looks at Gil a moment, but says nothing. [22:46] <`Doc> <> [22:47] dieroll 1d20+1 [22:47] * Diceaholic --> "Gil rolls 1d20+1 and gets 9." [22:47] dieroll 1d20+2 [22:47] * Diceaholic --> "Agaven rolls 1d20+2 and gets 17." [22:50] * Agaven glances at Robert [22:50] <`Doc> dieroll 1d20 [22:50] * Diceaholic --> "`Doc rolls 1d20 and gets 3." [22:50] <`Doc> Robert doesn't notice. [22:53] * Kerjak has quit IRC (Ping timeout) [22:54] "Are -you- alright, Robert?" [22:54] <`Doc> "Yeah," Robert replies, "why do you ask?" [22:56] * Kerjak has joined #YL1000 [22:56] "You seem unsettled...and so present." [22:57] <`Doc> "Present? Oh, right. I guess since you folks accepted me for who I am, I've been a bit more relaxed is all." [22:58] * Agaven smiles, "I'm glad." [23:00] * Taylen has joined #YL1000 [23:00] * Taylen is now known as Marigold [23:02] "True nature? Did I miss something?" [23:03] "Relaxed is good..though, careful is a virtue." [23:04] "I like being relaxed." [23:04] <`Doc> "I'm sure I'll pick it up again soon," Robert replies, looking up briefly at the night sky. [23:05] * Marigold walks along beside mirra happier now [23:06] "Ah, it's alright. Just making sure you're okay...though, as for relaxed, something we'll all need a bit of I think...though it will have to wait a little while. To cook, I suppose." [23:06] * Gil continues laying back against the cart, nervously kicking his feet against the wood. [23:06] "Especially Gil." [23:07] * Marigold smiles at Mirra "You look good with the flowers." [23:08] <`Doc> Mirra smiles lightly back at Marigold, "Thanks." [23:08] * Gil sighs. "I just want to go home. I don't know what I'm going to do when I get there - it won't be safe, apparently. But I just want to be able to imagine that I'm not mixed up with something this much bigger than I am." [23:08] "Lots of things are bigger than us though, can't hide from them so might as well get mixed up." [23:09] * Marigold gestures at the trees [23:09] * Gil frowns. "Trees don't eat, melt, or squash me." [23:09] "They could squash you, lots of bigger things can, like moose." [23:10] * Marigold leans next to mirra and whispers quietly "I'll try and clear things up at your home, but if you feel up to it afterwards I'd like you to coem travel with me, we can even bring stuff from your home so you don't get sick again." [23:12] <`Doc> "I'll need to think about it," Mirra replies. [23:12] <`Doc> ========= 4INCOMING DATA - PLEASE WAIT ========= [23:12] * Marigold nods "I know." [23:12] * Gil sighs. "I just don't know what to do. I don't like my options. My dad always said that the option always exists to walk away from a bad deal - and that isn't one." [23:12] *there [23:12] "Not here." [23:13] "Sometimes you can't walk away no matter how bad things get. Sometimes you have to turn and make like the badgers." [23:13] <`Doc> <<*sigh*>> [23:15] <`Doc> ========= 4FREE ROLEPLAY ========= [23:17] * Agaven sighs, "Even if you do go back, it won't feel safe, and it won't feel right...home isn't about the bricks and mortar." [23:17] * Gil stares up at the sky. "We may live in holes, and we may have a touch of white hair on us, but I assure you - I'm just a Gnome. If I could do ferocity to any decent degree, I wouldn't be so bothered by all this. I don't fight, though. I solve problems. And I can't see a solution here." [23:18] * Marigold smiles at Gil "I am ferocious when need be, I'll help you." [23:18] "It's like I know I'm getting a raw deal, yet I'm forced to take it. It's not right at all. It's like taxes." [23:19] * Gil manages to break through his melancholy for a brief smile, and looks over at Marigold. "Thanks, Marigold." [23:20] * Marigold looks at Agaven "Maybe, the whole world is my home though." [23:20] "Just one of those things, really. And that makes you lucky, Marigold." [23:21] 'and with the trees around I always have friends, though I prefer to have some of the mobile varity around." [23:21] * Marigold grins at Gil and Mirra, and then the others even [23:22] * Gil shrugs, speaking a little sarcastically. "I'd drink to that, but I'm out. Remind me to get some wine when we're in the city." [23:22] "I'll share." [23:23] "Is wine good?" [23:23] "Hopefully." [23:23] * Marigold smiles [23:24] * Reyolen has quit IRC [23:24] <`Doc> ========= 4SESSION OVER ========= End of #YL1000 buffer Fri Jul 29 23:27:51 2005