Lovely 13

[6:28 PM] Xho: It's been three days since you first met a little ghost girl and dosed Ulisse with some extremely powerful and very nasty potions. You've had a bit of time to do as you like, too--a date (?), a makeover, evading the law, and bringing a kitty cat to an enthralled, adoring child. Ulisse has largely kept to his bedroom, so you haven't had to deal with him much. Beauty, Chance's cat, or possibly the tabaxi's boss/manager, depending on how you look at it, has inexplicably occasionally gotten into your room and demanded pettings, and seems to have form an attachment to Ann's rat, which the rat has seemingly cautiously accepted. [6:28 PM] Xho: Both Wanda, the reporter, and Qiva, the pirate hunter, have been around. [6:30 PM] Pharolvir: has changed his look and now wears some tight pink colored armor with a bare midriff, more obvious glam make-up, piercings all over his face and has shaved his head into a sort of undercut. [6:30 PM] Pharolvir: has also been brewing some new concoctions. [6:32 PM] Ann: has set up an activity area for the rat In The living room  area some climbing posts some toys and some tunnely things and probably at least one wheel [6:33 PM] Pharolvir: will make breakfast for today [6:34 PM] Xho: Beauty has co-opted some of the toys, but generally shares. And likes to play chase with the rat. Since she's sort of a petite little lady, they're pretty close in size, and neither of them seems the least bit interested in hurting the other. You get the feeling Beauty feels that sort of thing would be beneath her. [6:36 PM] Pharolvir: "...I am not sure how much we should encourage this.  I'm remembering old tales about toads and scorpions." [6:36 PM] Xho: Blub blorps inquisitively. [6:36 PM] Xho: Beauty just licks her paw. [6:37 PM] Ann: I have talked to them everything is fine [6:37 PM] Chance: I remember that story. Didn't the toad give the scorpion some treasure? [6:37 PM] Pharolvir: "...not in the version I've heard" [6:38 PM] Xho: Blub makes an effort and manages to produce somewhat of a stripey effect in black, brown and white. [6:39 PM] Pharolvir: pets Blub and gives him some bits of bacon. [6:39 PM] Xho: He dissolves them with a burble. [6:39 PM] Pharolvir: "In the version I heard, the scorpion stings the toad, drowning them both." [6:39 PM] Ann: That’s a depressing story [6:40 PM] Chance: That sounds like a dreadful story to tell children. [6:40 PM] Xho: Beauty mews prettily. [6:40 PM] Pharolvir: "So are most fairy tales, really." [6:40 PM] Chance: 'Don't help people! They will only murder you.' [6:40 PM] Chance: That is only true about 60% of the time in my experience. [6:40 PM] Xho: The rat rolls a little mouse toy over to Beauty, who bats at it lazily. [6:41 PM] Ann: I don’t know no one has tried to murder me [6:41 PM] Chance: Others experiences might be different of course, depending on how one lives their life. [6:42 PM] Pharolvir: "Can't say I've had to worry much about being murdered either." [6:42 PM] Xho: There's a knock at the door, as you have all tempted fate like a LOT. [6:42 PM] Ann: To be fair I only have the last week or two to go on [6:42 PM] Ann: goes to the door and opens it [6:42 PM] Pharolvir: places wheat cakes on everyone's plate. [6:43 PM] Xho: The rat looks at Pharol expectantly. [6:43 PM] Pharolvir: gives a bit of bacon to Rat and Beauty. [6:44 PM] Xho: It's Tython. "Hey, just wanted to check in. How's our patient doing? Everything still attached, no catastrophic metamorphosis or anything?" [6:45 PM] Pharolvir: steps forward. "He's a bit weak, but otherwise fine.  No discussion of horrific visions and no odd apendages I've seen."(edited) [6:47 PM] Xho: Tython: Wow, changed your look, huh? You still got safety gear for labwork, right? [6:47 PM] Xho: Tython: Almost lost a toe one time when I wore sandals. [6:47 PM] Chance: No one should ever wear sandals. [6:47 PM] Pharolvir: "I wanted to experiment a bit.  But I obviously have my safety gear.  Never mix chemicals without goggles." [6:48 PM] Pharolvir: flips his hair in a somewhat prideful way. "I'm attempting to find a look that's more...who I want to be, I guess." [6:49 PM] Xho: Tython: Looks good to me! ... I'm kind of fashion-challenged though. At least, that's what everybody says. Oh, and I brought up your mail. [6:49 PM] Xho: He holds out an envelope to whoever's closest. [6:49 PM] Chance: takes it. [6:49 PM] Xho: Beauty mock-pounces Chance's foot as if to illustrate the unwisdom of sandals. [6:50 PM] Pharolvir: "Fashion knowledge doesn't seem as useful up here as back home.  If you are fine with how you look, that's probably all that matters.  ...and safety." [6:52 PM] Xho: Tython: Yeah, I used to have this great pair of shorts and a shirt with pineapples on it, but uh, it didn't pass the safety test. ... I have a lot of scars. [6:52 PM] Pharolvir: "Well...sometimes you want good lounging wear." [6:53 PM] Chance: reads the letter. [6:57 PM] Chance: finishes his breakfast! [6:58 PM] Xho: Ann's rat climbs up on Beauty and goes to sleep. [6:59 PM] Pharolvir: "...thank you very much, Tython." [7:00 PM] Xho: Tython: Oh, sure. Um. You guys need anything, you let us know. ... and I'm glad he's doing OK. [7:00 PM] Xho: He heads out. [7:00 PM] Xho: ... you can actually hear the rat snoring. [7:00 PM] Pharolvir: "...so, Chance.  What's in the letter?" [7:00 PM] Chance: holds up a map of the sewers. "Slavers!  In the sewers.  The Sky Hawk wants us to go liberate slaves and maybe kill slavers." [7:01 PM] Ann: Oh right I forgot we agreed to that [7:01 PM] Pharolvir: "...oh...I guess that can be a day." [7:02 PM] Ann: looks to see how beauty feels about being used as a bed [7:03 PM] Pharolvir: "...I must confess, I don't know anything about hunting slavers." [7:04 PM] Xho: Beauty doesn't seem to mind! [7:05 PM] Pharolvir: "...is there...a plan of attack?" [7:06 PM] Chance: Also she suggests we dodge Qiva. [7:06 PM] Chance: studies the map. [7:06 PM] Pharolvir: "Well, we've been doing that." [7:07 PM] Ann: I mean we go in the sewers we find slavers we stop them or get killed trying [7:07 PM] Ann: Seems fairly simple [7:08 PM] Pharolvir: "...I was hoping there were more steps to avoid that whole "killed trying" bit." [7:08 PM] Chance: That is down to us. [7:10 PM] Xho: The map is pretty simple, actually. There are only a couple turns and it's actually not far from one of the entrances to the inn. [7:10 PM] Pharolvir: "...should we sneak out the window?" [7:10 PM] Chance: Always. [7:11 PM] Pharolvir: "...I should tell Ulisse I'm going out." [7:12 PM] Chance: Oh, we have plenty of time. She says midnight tonight, and that there are five guards. 7:13 PM] Ann: Spaced out or all together? [7:14 PM] Chance: No details on that, there's no way to tell. IT's not like these people submit their patrol routes and schedules for approval. [7:14 PM] Pharolvir: "That's very disorganized." [7:15 PM] Ann: To be fair they are running an illegal sewer slaving operation I doubt organization is high on their list [7:16 PM] Xho: Blub bubbles. [7:17 PM] Pharolvir: "...I don't know.  If I ran an operation that was illegal, I'd feel like organization was even more important.  Cause then I'd have greater control.  Which means it'd be less likely one of my employees betrayed me to the law." [7:17 PM] Pharolvir: "But I am not especially knowledgeable in these areas." [7:17 PM] Xho: Beauty opens one eye and meows at Pharol. [7:18 PM] Chance: I'm not saying they don't have patrols, just that Sky Hawk probably didn't have access to them. [7:18 PM] Chance: Wait, are you saying you can run a better slaver ring? [7:19 PM] Pharolvir: looks at Beauty. [7:20 PM] Pharolvir: "I most certainly am not.  I'm just speculating on how I feel a slave ring might be run.  And acknowledging my own ignorance in the process." [7:20 PM] Pharolvir: will pet Beauty a bit. [7:20 PM] Xho: She purrs, careful not to dislodge the rat snoozling on her back. [7:21 PM] Xho: Is there anything you guys want to do before you go beat up some slavers? [7:21 PM] Pharolvir: will tell Ulisse where they are going and ask him to watch Blub. [7:24 PM] Xho: Anything else? [7:26 PM] Chance: doesn't have much! He's ready to go. [7:29 PM] Pharolvir: ((If I were smarter and knew the class better, I'd probably change out my spell layout. But I am not.)) [7:30 PM] Xho: Okay, in that case we'll fastforward a little bit to the end of the evening, as you head out into the city and from there, into the sewers. [7:30 PM] Xho: As it IS a big city, and one full of elves, who don't have the same rest cycle as humans, it's still pretty lively and there's plenty of traffic out and about, though less than during the peak daylight hours. It's probably a bit easier for Pharolvir to see than it usually is, too. [7:31 PM] Pharolvir: ((Pharol can finally stop squinting.)) [7:33 PM] Xho: The sewer entrance that the Sky Hawk marked is in the back of an alley in the inner city, which sounds much scarier than it is. Above the massive manhole people's laundry is fluttering in the breeze, and there are a few bicycles (newfangled horse machines) locked to metal stands against the wall, too. The alley has its trash bins, but it looks more or less tidy. [7:34 PM] Pharolvir: will keep lookout. [7:35 PM] Xho: You head into the sewers, which also sounds much more disgusting than it is. This is apparently an old storm sewer drain, so while it smells a bit of mold and dampness, that's about it. Since it's been a dryer spring than usual, you're standing in about half an inch of water flowing deeper into the storm sewers, but that's about it. [7:36 PM] Xho: There are some rats, which mostly ignore you. Ann's rat is unimpressed, and stays on her shoulder, like a king surveying his peons. [7:36 PM] Xho: Does Chance still have the map? [7:36 PM] Chance: Yep! [7:37 PM] Pharolvir: will try and stay in the middle of the group. [7:38 PM] Xho: Okay! Roll Survival. [7:39 PM] Chance: (8!) [7:39 PM] Pharolvir: ((Just Chance or everyone?)) [7:39 PM] Xho: Just Chance. [7:42 PM] Xho: This isn't a dungeoncrawler game, so I won't belabor the mazey nature of the sewers. Partly because it's actually not that mazey; these are the storm sewers and they have to empty at the river, so there aren't a ton of humanoid-sized tunnels to mistakenly turn into, and since you're going the same way the water is flowing it's not as difficult as you would have thought. ... with the map. Without it, well. That wouldn't be fun. [7:43 PM] Xho: There is one spot where the terrain gets a little bit difficult--you need to cross a ledge with a sort of man-made waterfall coming off of it that's a bit narrow, as part of the ledge has fallen into the pond below. [7:44 PM] Xho: The water is still running--it's narrower here, so it's about 2 inches deep, and the ledge is about ten feet wide to the other side, where it gets wider again and then there's a ramp down to the pond area. [7:45 PM] Pharolvir: will tie a rope around us and to the other end of the ledge. [7:45 PM] Pharolvir: ((Prevent falling)) [7:46 PM] Xho: There are some metal fixtures on the wall that look like they're more or less made for that. [7:46 PM] Xho: Roll reflex saves to see how well you do! [7:46 PM] Pharolvir: ((21)) [7:48 PM] Chance: (What are the walls like?  I have a climbing speed of 20, if that can help with this layout.) [7:50 PM] Pharolvir: ((Btw, it's a DEX save in 5e. But doesn't really matter.)) [7:50 PM] Xho: Oh, god, I said Reflex, sorry. >.< I know that, I just said the wrong thing. [7:50 PM] Chance: (I do that all the time.) [7:50 PM] Pharolvir: ((S'no big deal)) [7:50 PM] Xho: The walls are damp and a little bit slippery! [7:51 PM] Ann: ((6)) [7:51 PM] Chance: ((22)) [7:52 PM] Xho: Pharolvir makes it across first and affixes the rope to the other side of the ledge, followed by Ann, who slips and takes a knee in the middle of the water. Roll another Dex save, Ann!(edited) [7:52 PM] Pharolvir: will hold the rope to try and keep her up. [7:53 PM] Ann: (( 7)) [7:54 PM] Xho: Yikes! Ann tries to get to her feet again and slips back onto her butt. [7:54 PM] Xho: One more dex check? [7:54 PM] Ann: ((22)) [7:55 PM] Xho: Nice! Using the rope, Ann crawls across the ledge, followed by Chance, who easily walks across it with the other end of the rope. [7:56 PM] Pharolvir: "Are you ok, Ann?"(edited) [7:58 PM] Ann: just wet at least this water hasnt tried to eat me yet [7:58 PM] Xho: Not yet! [7:58 PM] Pharolvir: "And it does not seem to contain bodily waste.  That's nice." [7:59 PM] Xho: You keep walking! [7:59 PM] Xho: Roll Perception! [7:59 PM] Pharolvir: ((20, unnat)) [8:00 PM] Ann: ((Nat 20 26 total)) [8:03 PM] Xho: @Theo ? [8:05 PM] Chance: (sorry, had a cat isue.) [8:05 PM] Xho: ((Oh shoot, are they OK?)) [8:05 PM] Pharolvir: ((Ah. Ok. Ignore my last text.)) [8:05 PM] Chance: ((12 perception. And yes, Yeti's just in time out.) [8:06 PM] Xho: Naughty. [8:06 PM] Xho: All of you hear a very faint sound way up ahead--crying. [8:07 PM] Chance: You hear that? [8:07 PM] Pharolvir: nods [8:07 PM] Ann: Yeah sounds like a group crying [8:07 PM] Pharolvir: "Probably the slaves." [8:08 PM] Ann: heads towards the crying [8:08 PM] Pharolvir: follows.  Stealthily. [8:09 PM] Xho: Roll for bein' all sneaky and stuff. [8:09 PM] Pharolvir: ((18)) [8:09 PM] Chance: ((I really hate Roll 20 lately.  8.)) [8:10 PM] Ann: ((11)) [8:13 PM] Xho: You see a light coming up ahead of you, and when you get a little closer to it, you suddenly see why the Sky Hawk had you go past the ledge--you're looking through a smallish hole in the wall (just large enough to crawl through, probably) into a largeish room, with the water running down a slope onto the left, and an empty area lower on the right, where there are at least 10 children between the ages of about 5 and 10 sitting on the ground. A few of them are crying and sniffling, which are the sounds you heard, and some of the other, older kids are trying to console them. There are three guards that you can see, mostly paying attention to the two lower entrances into the room--they either don't realize the upper passage you're looking through is there, or think no one could get through it. [8:15 PM] Pharolvir: "...if you can lure the guards out, I can rescue the kids.  I have acid that should eat through those chains." [8:16 PM] Chance: Hmmmm. [8:16 PM] Chance: Distraction, then. [8:16 PM] Chance: I can do this. [8:16 PM] Xho: One of the guards steps over in front of the kids. [8:16 PM] Ann: ((Can we get to the lower entrances?)) [8:17 PM] Xho: According to the map, probably not, unfortunately, unless you blow through a wall somehow. [8:18 PM] Xho: Guard: Listen, I know you're hungry and upset, but it's not really that bad. You're going to be important people someday. I've got food coming, just sit tight. [8:18 PM] Xho: Guard: It'll be a better life for all of ya. [8:18 PM] Pharolvir: clenches in anger [8:19 PM] Xho: A couple of kids start crying again, and the others aren't too sure what they should believe. [8:19 PM] Ann: will look for loose rock or cracks near roughly one of the lower entrances would be [8:19 PM] Xho: Guard: ... 'specially if you like stabbin' people. [8:20 PM] Xho: There are some! [8:20 PM] Pharolvir: "There must be a door, somewhere." [8:21 PM] Xho: Guard: Anyway, I've seen 'em. Fancy clothes, fancy houses, all the food you can eat. Better than livin' on the streets. [8:21 PM] Xho: One little half elven boy says "I wasn't living ON the streets!" [8:22 PM] Chance: climbs down as quietly as he can. [8:22 PM] Xho: Where, inside the room? [8:22 PM] Chance: (Yes.) [8:22 PM] Xho: Guard: Better than an orphanage too! Or do you LIKE all that stale bread they give ya? I sure didn't, I can tell ya that! [8:23 PM] Pharolvir: will have his crossbow ready. Just in case. [8:23 PM] Xho: Roll for Stealth, Chance! [8:23 PM] Chance: (23.  Halfway decent that time.) [8:24 PM] Ann: will launch a geyser of salt water at a weak point in the wall near where one of the lower entrances would be [8:24 PM] Xho: Nice! They don't seem to notice Chance, and the kids don't either, since their attention is on the guard that's talking. [8:25 PM] Xho: Nice. The wall bursts open! [8:25 PM] Pharolvir: hides [8:26 PM] Ann: turns into a bear and comes in roaring [8:26 PM] Chance: changes his face! He now looks like... never mind, apparently! [8:27 PM] Xho: All three guards turn to Ann; a couple of the kids scream. So does one of the guards! [8:27 PM] Xho: Initiative! [8:27 PM] Pharolvir: ((7!)) [8:27 PM] Chance: ((14)) [8:28 PM] Ann: ((12)) [8:29 PM] Xho: Round 1: Chance, Ann, Pharolvir [8:29 PM] Xho:  Chance(edited) [8:31 PM] Chance: was in mid shapechange, then he sees the bear and shrugs! "Quick!  Sewer bears!" [8:32 PM] Chance: then blasts the guy who was addressing the children. [8:33 PM] Chance: ((13 to hit, 1 damage. >_< ))

1 [8:34 PM] Xho: That is a hit, and he does take a point of damage! [8:35 PM] Xho:  Baddie [8:35 PM] Xho: The man who just took a point of damage turns around and fires a hand crossbow at Chance. [8:35 PM] Chance: ((AC is 16.)) [8:35 PM] Xho: He misses! [8:36 PM] Xho:  Ann [8:37 PM] Ann: will charge and attack the closest guard by where she burst through [8:37 PM] Xho: Roll for it! [8:37 PM] Ann: ((20 for the bite and 15 for the claws to hit)) [8:38 PM] Xho: Both hit! Roll damage! [8:38 PM] Ann: ((12 damage from the bite 7 damage from the claws)) [8:39 PM] Xho: He falls, bleeding copiously into the water under his feet. [8:39 PM] Xho:  Flunky 1 [8:39 PM] Xho: Is bleeding to death. [8:40 PM] Xho:  Flunky 2 dashes to Flunky 1 and casts a spell on him. [8:40 PM] Pharolvir: ((So now he's his? )) [8:40 PM] Xho: ((well, hers, but yes!)) [8:41 PM] Xho:  Pharolvir [8:41 PM] Pharolvir: ((How many baddies are there?)) [8:42 PM] Xho: There's Baddie, who was the one talking to the kids that Chance shaved 1 point off, Flunky 1, who was just unconscious and still looks pretty bad, and Flunky 2, who cured Flunky 1 and is undamaged. [8:42 PM] Xho: Sky Hawk told you there would be 5. [8:43 PM] Pharolvir: will run in and shoot the lead baddie with a poisoned arrow. [8:43 PM] Xho: Roll! [8:43 PM] Pharolvir: ((......nope. That's a natural 1)) [8:44 PM] Xho: He slips a bit on the damp ground, and misses, narrowly avoiding hitting one of the kids. [8:44 PM] Pharolvir: As a bonus action Pharol would like to say "That was a warning shot!  Flee now if you value your lives!" [8:44 PM] Xho: Smart! [8:44 PM] Xho: Round 2: Chance, Baddie, Ann, Flunky 1, Flunky 2, Pharolvir(edited) [8:45 PM] Xho:  Chance [8:45 PM] Pharolvir: ((...I take it he did not take my threat seriously.)) [8:45 PM] Xho: He hasn't had a turn yet. [8:45 PM] Xho: But you can roll deception. [8:46 PM] Xho: With disadvantage. 8:46 PM] Pharolvir: ((Still a 6.)) [8:46 PM] Xho:  Chance? [8:47 PM] Chance: draws his hatchet and charges the lead baddy! He curses him with Hexblades Curse and swings! (The Curse is a bonus action that means I get advantage against him.) [8:47 PM] Xho: Nice! [8:48 PM] Chance: ((22.)) [8:48 PM] Xho: Hits! [8:48 PM] Chance: ... wait, not advantage. Does an 11 hit?)) [8:49 PM] Xho: It does not. [8:49 PM] Chance: ((It's a bonus to damage rolls, not attack rolls, I misread. :))) [8:49 PM] Xho: Ah, gotcha. [8:50 PM] Pharolvir: ((...this is why smarter adventurers come up with a plan first.  )) [8:50 PM] Xho: Nobody's perfect. [8:50 PM] Chance: ((This is super on brand for us.)) [8:50 PM] Xho:  Lead Baddie [8:50 PM] Xho: "Hey assholes, what do you think you're doing? Do you even KNOW how much trouble you're in?" [8:51 PM] Pharolvir: "...Maybe?" [8:51 PM] Chance: I like how you're enslaving children and we're the assholes.  That speaks to a rough upbringing.  Are you okay?" [8:51 PM] Xho: He moves over to where the bear and the other two flunkies are, switches to a shortsword and takes a swing at Ann. [8:51 PM] Chance: ((Do I get an attack of opportunity?)) [8:52 PM] Xho: ((Nope, he Disengaged.)) [8:52 PM] Chance: ((okay!)) [8:52 PM] Xho: Does a 16 hit? [8:53 PM] Xho: Does a 14 hit too? [8:53 PM] Ann: ((Yep ac is 11 as a  bear)) [8:54 PM] Xho: 17 damage to the bear, as he slices into you with that sword, surprisingly fast for such a large person. [8:54 PM] Xho:  Ann [8:55 PM] Ann: will do both attacks against the guy that just sliced her [8:55 PM] Ann: ((13 for bite 24 for claws)) [8:56 PM] Xho: Both hit! [8:57 PM] Ann: ((11 bite damage 12 claws damage)) [8:57 PM] Xho: You rip him open like a Wintermas present! He's still on his feet, but he's bleeding pretty copiously now. [8:57 PM] Pharolvir: "...I warned you." [8:58 PM] Xho:  Flunky1  casts a spell on himself! [8:59 PM] Xho:  Flunky2 casts another spell on the leader, and his wounds close up a little bit! [9:00 PM] Xho:  Pharolvir [9:00 PM] Pharolvir: will shoot another poison bolt at the main baddie. [9:00 PM] Xho: Roll! [9:01 PM] Pharolvir: ((12?)) [9:01 PM] Xho: Hits! [9:01 PM] Pharolvir: ((He takes 4 points of damage and I need him to make a CON save.)) [9:02 PM] Xho: ((10.)) [9:02 PM] Pharolvir: ((Not good enough! My DC is 13!)) [9:03 PM] Pharolvir: ((He is considered poisoned. All his attacks and ability checks are at disadvantage until he saves from the poison or is de-poisoned by a spell or potion.)) [9:03 PM] Xho: nods. [9:03 PM] Xho: When does he get a new save? Every round on his or your turn? [9:04 PM] Xho:  Round 3: Chance, Baddie, Ann, Flunky 1, Flunky 2, Pharolvir [9:04 PM] Pharolvir: ((...um...I don't know. ...every round?)) [9:04 PM] Xho:  Chance [9:05 PM] Chance: goes after the one that keeps healing people. [9:05 PM] Xho: Flunky 1 or Flunky 2? [9:05 PM] Chance: (Flunky 2.) [9:05 PM] Xho: Roll for it! [9:06 PM] Xho: Anything more than a 10 hits. [9:06 PM] Chance: (23 to hit, 5 damage.) [9:07 PM] Xho: She yelps and clutches her side. [9:07 PM] Xho:  Baddie [9:08 PM] Xho: "You don't know who you're dealing with!" [9:08 PM] Xho: He slashes at Ann again, trying to get rid of the bear before he moves on to the rest of you. [9:09 PM] Xho: He misses, twice, as the poison works its way into his system. [9:09 PM] Xho:  Ann [9:09 PM] Pharolvir: ((  )) [9:10 PM] Ann: will do the bite attack on lead baddie and claws on flunky 1 [9:10 PM] Ann: ((Both are 23 to hit)) [9:10 PM] Xho: Both hit! [9:11 PM] Ann: ((Baddie  gets  8 damage flunky 1 9)) [9:12 PM] Ann: ((Bonus action Ann will use a spell slot to heal 1d8)) [9:12 PM] Xho: The leader falls, face-down in the water, and Flunky 1 drops too, bleeding copiously again. [9:13 PM] Xho:   Flunky 2 looks at them, looks at you, backs away and runs out the nearest entrance. [9:15 PM] Xho:  A figure steps out from the other door on the lower level, however. It's a short, slight elven woman with bright orange hair in a very ornate bun arrangement; she's wearing a heavy, ornate iron collar and a black layered cloth outfit that closely resembles armor, though it is definitely cloth of some kind. She's carrying an array of knives of various styles at her belt and looks unimpressed, generally. [9:16 PM] Xho: She just looks at you all, and the situation, pretty much. [9:16 PM] Pharolvir: "........hello?" [9:16 PM] Xho:  Pharolvir [9:16 PM] Pharolvir: "...I am going to free these children now.  I suggest you don't try to stop me." [9:17 PM] Xho: We'll just end initiative for the moment. [9:17 PM] Pharolvir: will go and try using acid to eat through the chains [9:17 PM] Xho: Woman: Why? [9:17 PM] Chance: We do not like slavery here. [9:17 PM] Chance: Who are you? [9:18 PM] Xho: She ignores the question. "Consider that you may be wrong." [9:18 PM] Chance: Never. [9:18 PM] Pharolvir: is freeing them and ignoring her. [9:19 PM] Xho: "They would have had an education. Training. A place of great importance." 9:19 PM] Chance: But they wouldn't be free. And this is not a negotiation. [9:19 PM] Xho: It's worth noting that she has kind of a weird accent. [9:19 PM] Chance: You are from Tarkishi? [9:20 PM] Xho: "Power is freedom." [9:20 PM] Chance: Freedom is freedom. Power without freedom means you are a thing to someone. A weapon, an asset. [9:21 PM] Chance: What is your name? [9:21 PM] Xho: "You do not need to know that. For now. I sought to save these children." [9:22 PM] Pharolvir: "...who here feels saved?" [9:22 PM] Chance: I am going to call you Beatrice. [9:23 PM] Xho: The kids just stare at Pharolvir. [9:23 PM] Ann: growls in agreement and keeps sniffing the air trying to see if more people are coming [9:23 PM] Xho: You do catch another scent. [9:24 PM] Xho: In the same direction as the other flunky ran. [9:24 PM] Chance: It's probably the other guards. [9:24 PM] Chance: How many others are there, Beatrice? [9:25 PM] Xho: "I have no further interests here." [9:25 PM] Xho: She turns and slips out the door she walked in from. [9:25 PM] Pharolvir: "...I don't like her." [9:25 PM] Chance: Mmm. [9:25 PM] Chance: How are the chains coming? [9:25 PM] Xho: There's a loud click from the entrance you guys came in from, just as the chains fall off the kids, finally. CLANK. [9:26 PM] Pharolvir: "Done." [9:26 PM] Xho: Qiva steps out cautiously, moving her crossbow from where Beatrice was to pointing it at Chance's head. [9:27 PM] Xho: Qiva: I knew it. [9:27 PM] Chance: Hey, we found slavers operating under your city. You're welcome. [9:27 PM] Xho: Qiva: You're all pirates. [9:27 PM] Pharolvir: "I am NOT!" [9:27 PM] Pharolvir: "Do I look like a pirate?" [9:28 PM] Chance: ... you do. [9:28 PM] Chance: I didn't want to say, but you do. [9:28 PM] Chance: You're not though. [9:28 PM] Chance: Aren't you with the guard? [9:28 PM] Xho: Qiva: Pirates can look like anything. You're all under arrest. [9:28 PM] Chance: Do you not see the slavers? [9:29 PM] Xho: One of the kids starts crying again. [9:29 PM] Chance: Do you not see the children? [9:29 PM] Xho: Qiva: ... the slaver you let escape? [9:29 PM] Pharolvir: "I'm terribly sorry that after fighting off three of them we didn't immediately attack the next person who came in here!" [9:31 PM] Chance: I think you let her escape. [9:31 PM] Chance: Our priority was the children. [9:32 PM] Chance: Yours clearly is not, so what is your excuse? 9:32 PM] Ann: walks over and gets in between Qiva and Chance blocking her shot [9:33 PM] Xho: Qiva looks at Ann, then looks at the children, then growls and lowers the crossbow. "... fine." [9:33 PM] Ann: growls back as softly as a bear can while still being threatening [9:34 PM] Chance: turns his back on Qiva and works on helping get the children oriented and out of here. [9:35 PM] Chance: IS this all of you? Did they take anyone away? [9:35 PM] Xho: She puts her weapon away and picks up one of the littler kids. [9:35 PM] Ann: keeps an eye on her but tries to seem nicer to stop scaring the kids [9:35 PM] Xho: An older orcish boy, probably around age 10, shakes his head. "No, it's just us." [9:36 PM] Xho: They are pretty wary of the bear. [9:36 PM] Chance: Don't worry! This is a friendly sewer bear. [9:36 PM] Xho: The lead thug has bled out by this point, by the way. [9:37 PM] Chance: pats him down for orders or documents or something. [9:37 PM] Chance: (or shiny things.  >_>) [9:37 PM] Xho: Roll for it! [9:37 PM] Xho: The other one has drowned. [9:38 PM] Chance: (14 investigation.) [9:38 PM] Pharolvir: will check the other one. [9:38 PM] Pharolvir: ((20 investigation)) [9:39 PM] Ann: will clean off the blood in the water still watching the kids and Qiva [9:40 PM] Xho: Easily done. [9:40 PM] Xho: Qiva is murmuring in elven to the little one in her arms, and steadfastly ignoring the rest of you. [9:43 PM] Chance: looks at the map to try and get us out of the sewers! [9:44 PM] Pharolvir: smiles at Qiva. [9:45 PM] SmallGalaxy: Bobbin peeks around one side of the sewer wall, into the room. "HONK" [9:45 PM] Pharolvir: "Bobbin!" [9:45 PM] Pharolvir: "Hello!" [9:45 PM] SmallGalaxy: "Hello!" [9:45 PM] Ann: growls cheerfully at Bobbin [9:46 PM] Xho: Qiva nods at Pharolvir, frowning a little bit. [9:46 PM] Pharolvir: "Don't worry.  Ann's being a sewer bear right now." [9:46 PM] Xho: Chance thinks he knows the way out! Roll Nature. [9:47 PM] SmallGalaxy: "There are worse things to be." Bobbin speaks, in their usual patchwork speech. [9:48 PM] Chance: (15) [9:48 PM] Xho: Qiva: Like a pirate. [9:48 PM] Xho: Chance leads you all out of the sewers! The bigger kids help the littler kids. [9:49 PM] Pharolvir: "And Captain Qiva is being somewhat domestic right now.  Which is a very cute look on her." [9:49 PM] Ann: brings up the rear keeping an eye out for any ambushes or anything [9:50 PM] Xho: Qiva: What is that supposed to mean? [9:51 PM] Xho: You make it out of the storm sewers pretty easily, actually, and climb back up onto the street. [9:51 PM] Chance: helps the kids out onto the street. [9:51 PM] Pharolvir: "It means most women would get all huffy to have to look after children where I am from.  I think it's sweet you can show compassion." [9:51 PM] SmallGalaxy: "Even being a corpse is not all that terrible, so long as you are not also awake, aware, and helpless. A fate I would not wish upon even those who deserve it." Bobbin speaks, again in that moth-wing voice. [9:52 PM] Pharolvir: "...Bobbin, we really need to talk about that voice someday.  I'm very concerned." [9:52 PM] Xho: The kids  mostly just stand there awkwardly; two of them take the opportunity to run. [9:53 PM] Chance: You're welcome! [9:53 PM] Chance: waves. [9:53 PM] Xho: Qiva: They're only children. [9:53 PM] SmallGalaxy: "Perhaps." [9:53 PM] Xho: Little girl: What do we do now? [9:54 PM] Chance: Well, we get you home. Or to some reasonable alternative depending on your circumstances. [9:54 PM] Xho: Little girl: I don't have a home. [9:54 PM] Ann: turns back to normal at this point(edited) [9:54 PM] Chance: What's your name? [9:54 PM] Xho: Little girl: Jaena. [9:55 PM] Xho: Jaena: What's yours? [9:56 PM] Chance: I am Seventh Last Chance. [9:56 PM] Xho: Jaena: ... does your teacher call you Seventh? [9:56 PM] Chance: My friends usually just call me Chance. How did they get you? [9:56 PM] Xho: Jaena: Do you have six brothers and sisters? [9:57 PM] Xho: Jaena: They said there was food. And there was food, but then they grabbed me too. [9:57 PM] Xho: Orcish boy: She was lying about it being better, right? [9:57 PM] Chance: She definitely was. [9:57 PM] Chance: She wanted to make you like her -- blind and wrong. [9:58 PM] Xho: Orcish boy: She was blind? [9:58 PM] Chance: Okay. Which of you don't have homes to return to? [9:58 PM] Chance: Figuratively. [9:58 PM] Chance: Spiritually. [9:58 PM] Xho: All of them raise their hands except the Orcish boy. [9:59 PM] Xho: Boy: ... well kind of. Some of us are from St. Cuthbert's.(edited) [9:59 PM] Chance: All right. How do they treat you there? [10:00 PM] Xho: Boy: ... it sucks, but the folks are real nice. Everything all hand-me-downs and there's never enough food. [10:00 PM] Chance: Okay. Well. You kids are going to come with us and we'll get you some good food, all right? [10:01 PM] Pharolvir: "...uh..." [10:01 PM] Chance: And then we'll figure out what to do from there. [10:01 PM] Xho: Jaena: You're not gonna put us in chains again, are you? [10:01 PM] Chance: Nope! [10:01 PM] Chance: If anyone tries I will shoot them. [10:01 PM] Chance: And Ann will eat them. [10:01 PM] SmallGalaxy: "Goodness, no!" Bobbin speaks, using the voice of a dwarven matron. [10:02 PM] Xho: Qiva: There's a street vendor who does great tacos a block away. [10:02 PM] Xho: Qiva: ... then they wouldn't have to worry about getting stuck somewhere. [10:02 PM] Chance: I was thinking of just taking them back home so they can have a real meal. But it's a good suggestion. [10:03 PM] Xho: Orcish boy: ... tacos with meat? I can eat like ten tacos. [10:03 PM] Xho: Jaena: You can not. [10:03 PM] Xho: Orcish boy: I totally CAN. [10:03 PM] Chance: All right, let's see. [10:03 PM] Chance: Miss Everhart, please lead on. [10:03 PM] Pharolvir: smiles [10:04 PM] Xho: Qiva sighs, and heads for the taco stand. Again, it's an elf-heavy city, so it's still open even though it's 1 a.m. [10:04 PM] SmallGalaxy: "Tacos! Tacos! Tacos!"(edited) [10:04 PM] Chance: pays for all the tacos the stand people can make, and a healthy tip on top of it. [10:05 PM] Pharolvir: will chip in on that. [10:05 PM] Xho: As it turns out, the little boy, whose name is Garash, cannot eat 10 tacos, but he does manage to polish off six of them, which is pretty impressive for a small person. A lot of the kids try to squirrel away some of their food for later, but you guys manage to convince them to eat their fill by just agreeing to buy them extra tacos to bring back for the other kids. [10:05 PM] Xho: All of you should roll Persuasion for me here. [10:05 PM] Chance: ((12.)) [10:06 PM] Ann: ((1 unnatural)) [10:07 PM] Pharolvir: ((6)) [10:07 PM] SmallGalaxy: [18] [10:07 PM] Pharolvir: ((Somehow, Bobbin is the most persuasive.)) [10:08 PM] SmallGalaxy: [despite not actually having stats] [10:08 PM] Xho: You manage to get all the kids to go to St. Cuthbert's, wielding extra tacos. Qiva, by the way, has a word with the taco purveyor and manages to finagle a pretty good discount from the vendor. [10:09 PM] Xho: The adult in charge of the orphanage, a nun of St. Cuthbert's, seems surprised to see all of them, and a little bit concerned, but promises to find places for all of them, though some of the littlest might have to double up. [10:10 PM] Ann: will cast good berry twice and give 20 berries to the nun to help feed the kids for the next day [10:10 PM] Xho: They share out the tacos to the other kids who are still awake (mostly elves) and save the rest for the next day. [10:11 PM] Xho: She hugs Ann and thanks her! [10:11 PM] Pharolvir: "...they're very sweet kids." [10:13 PM] Chance: nods. [10:13 PM] Xho: Nun: They are. [10:13 PM] SmallGalaxy: "Every creature deserves a chance to thrive." There's the voice again. [10:13 PM] Pharolvir: "...that one's less morbid, at least." [10:14 PM] Xho: Qiva says goodbye to her little elven friend, and gives her a necklace she was wearing. [10:16 PM] Xho: Qiva: Now what?(edited) [10:17 PM] Pharolvir: "Good question." [10:17 PM] Chance: Indeed. [10:17 PM] Ann: Are we still under arrest is the big question [10:18 PM] Xho: Qiva: ... I know you know where she is. And I'm going to catch her. [10:18 PM] Chance: Not sure what crimes have been committed. [10:18 PM] Chance: We really don't. [10:18 PM] Xho: She turns her back on you guys and walks away! [10:18 PM] Chance: Thanks! [10:18 PM] Chance: For the help with the kids. [10:19 PM] Chance: I think she likes me. [10:19 PM] Pharolvir: "Oh, definitely." [10:20 PM] Chance: Almost 75% of my relationships start this way. My last girlfriend tried to stab me in my sleep when we first met. [10:20 PM] Xho: You head back to your room! [10:21 PM] Xho: Well, rooms. If Chance is still off by himself. [10:21 PM] Ann: is distracted and lost in thought [10:23 PM] Pharolvir: "...well, we're definitely on her radar now." [10:23 PM] Ann: goes straight to the bathroom when we get back to the rooms [10:23 PM] Pharolvir: "Hope Sky whatever appreciates this." [10:23 PM] Pharolvir: "...Ann?" [10:23 PM] Chance: We always were. [10:24 PM] Chance: pulls out the pouch of gems he took off the slaver and splits them up three ways. [10:24 PM] Pharolvir: "...thank you, Chance.  That was very sweet of you to think of us." [10:25 PM] Xho: Ulisse waves as you walk in; he's just sitting quietly on the couch with a book. [10:25 PM] SmallGalaxy: "Apologies for not helping much. Was busy." [10:25 PM] Pharolvir: "Hi!  How are things here?" [10:25 PM] Xho: He looks a bit pale, but otherwise, for the rest of you who haven't really seen him for a few days, mostly OK. [10:25 PM] Pharolvir: "It's ok, Bobbin.  Sorry we ended up dragging you into this." [10:26 PM] Xho: Ulisse: Quiet, as far as I can tell. I haven't been downstairs. [10:26 PM] Pharolvir: will go and check his forehead for a fever. [10:27 PM] Xho: Nope, pretty normal. [10:27 PM] Xho: There's a knock on the door! [10:27 PM] Pharolvir: "Good.  You don't seem to be backsliding." [10:27 PM] Pharolvir: sighs and answers it. [10:29 PM] Xho: Pharolvir is met with a drawn hand crossbow, which is then immediately pointed away from him and toward Chance, behind Pharol. It's a shortish humanoid person wearing a dark blue cloak and hood, and with a staff in the hand not holding a crossbow. [10:30 PM] Pharolvir: "...Chance...you have a friend over." [10:31 PM] Xho: ((Check your PMs.)) [10:32 PM] Pharolvir: "..." [10:32 PM] Pharolvir: tries to wrestly the crossbow from them. [10:34 PM] Chance: I don't know who this person is! Is this 'point crossbow day'? [10:34 PM] Xho: Roll a strength check, Pharol. [10:35 PM] Pharolvir: ((16.)) [10:36 PM] Chance: Also why do you assume that the crossbow is for me? [10:36 PM] Xho: She gently pushes Pharolvir back with the staff and draws the hand crossbow back out of his reach. [10:36 PM] Pharolvir: stays down and blows some hair out of his face. "Who are you?" [10:37 PM] Xho: Woman: Please back up and let me in. I need to know what's going on. [10:37 PM] Xho: (She didn't knock him down, just shoved him back a tiny bit.) [10:37 PM] SmallGalaxy: "What's going on?" Bobbin repeats, with a questioning lilt added at the end. [10:38 PM] Pharolvir: has his hands up and backs up. [10:38 PM] Pharolvir: "You're from the Underdark?" [10:38 PM] Xho: The woman steps in, awkwardly, and closes the door behind her. [10:39 PM] Xho: Woman: Yes. ... I think I was not given the whole story here. [10:39 PM] Pharolvir: "I don't know what story you're looking for." [10:40 PM] Xho: Woman: ... probably not the one where you were kidnapped by a demon. [10:40 PM] Pharolvir: ((Is Ulisse still in the room?)) [10:41 PM] Xho: Ulisse coughs the cough of someone trying very hard not to laugh. However, he's also already got a butter knife in one hand and he's somehow standing a lot closer to the door than you remember. [10:41 PM] Xho: Yes. [10:41 PM] Pharolvir: smirks but says nothing. [10:42 PM] Xho: Woman: ... I will put this away, and we can have a discussion. I apologize for frightening you. [10:43 PM] Pharolvir: nods. "Sure.  We can all be friends here." [10:44 PM] SmallGalaxy: "This is amenable." A very deep voice, like one would expect from a mountain. [10:44 PM] Xho: She puts the hand crossbow away, carefully, and holds up her empty gloved hand, and the staff in the other hand. "Now you can tell me what's going on here." [10:45 PM] Pharolvir: "You didn't answer who you were.  I think you have me at a disadvantage still." [10:46 PM] Chance: Or what story you heard. Or anything except that you own a crossbow. [10:46 PM] Xho: Woman: ... I'm your fiancee. Technically. [10:46 PM] Pharolvir: ".................oh fuck." [10:46 PM] Chance: Congratulations! [10:47 PM] Xho: Woman: ... do you mind if I sit down, please? [10:47 PM] SmallGalaxy: Bobbin mimics wedding bells. [10:48 PM] Xho: Ulisse raises his eyebrows and leans against the wall, butter knife no longer evident. [10:48 PM] Pharolvir: glares at the two of them. [10:48 PM] Pharolvir: "Go ahead." [10:49 PM] Xho: She goes and sits in one of the chairs, leaning heavily on the staff. She has a pretty severe limp, which might be why it looked so awkward when she came in. [10:49 PM] Pharolvir: ((Is she still wearing her cloak over her face?)) [10:50 PM] Xho: The hood, yes. [10:51 PM] Xho: She pulls the hood back after she's sitting; it's a pretty average looking Drow woman with green eyes and long hair, braided and tucked behind her ear on one side of her face and loose and covering her face on the other side. [10:52 PM] Pharolvir: "...what happened to Netha?" [10:53 PM] Xho: Woman: ... nothing. You didn't... you didn't have feelings for her, did you? [10:54 PM] Pharolvir: "...none I'd care to share.  My mother taught me not to speak ill of women from noble houses." [10:55 PM] Xho: Woman: Oh, good. [10:55 PM] Xho: You can all roll perception. [10:55 PM] Xho: Woman: ... you don't remember me, do you. [10:55 PM] Pharolvir: ((12)) [10:56 PM] Pharolvir: "...I'm sorry, no." [10:56 PM] Xho: Woman: Netha's my half-sister. [10:56 PM] Chance: (13!) [10:57 PM] Pharolvir: "...oh...I'm very sorry." [10:57 PM] Chance: Who's Netha? [10:57 PM] Xho: Woman: So is everybody she meets, practically. [10:57 PM] Xho: She makes a face. [10:57 PM] Xho: Woman: She's awful. [10:57 PM] Pharolvir: "My fiancee.  Or...I guess former fiancee?  I feel like there's a story there.  She's...well, yes.  Awful was a good word." [10:58 PM] Chance: So now this is your new fiancee. [10:58 PM] Xho: Woman: I'm May'afay? ... they always called me Sunshine. [11:00 PM] Pharolvir: "Sunshine!  I do remember you a bit!" [11:01 PM] Xho: She smiles. [11:01 PM] Pharolvir: "...ah...I'm sorry.  Um...can I call you May?" [11:01 PM] Pharolvir: "Sunshine just...I mean, if you like it, it's fine.  I just don't uh...well..." [11:01 PM] Xho: Woman: I don't mind Sunshine anymore. [11:02 PM] Pharolvir: "Ah.  Good." [11:02 PM] Xho: Sunshine: You changed your look. [11:03 PM] Pharolvir: blushes. "Yes, I did.  Um, these are my friends, by the way.  This is Seventh Last Chance.  Bobbin is here.  And this...uh...this is..." [11:03 PM] Xho: Sunshine: I like it. [11:03 PM] Xho: Ulisse: Ulisse. Happy to meet you. [11:04 PM] Pharolvir: blushes further at the praise. [11:04 PM] Pharolvir: "I...thank you." [11:06 PM] Chance: waves. [11:06 PM] Chance: He chose to look like a pirate on the worst possible day for it. [11:06 PM] Pharolvir: "It's not--!  ...It's not a pirate outfit." [11:06 PM] Xho: Sunshine: I don't think he looks like a pirate. I think he looks... [11:06 PM] Xho: Ulisse: Daring. [11:07 PM] Xho: Sunshine: Yes! Daring. Exactly. [11:07 PM] Chance: Pirates are daring. [11:07 PM] Xho: Ulisse: Good ones. [11:07 PM] Xho: Sunshine: Well, yes. Anyway, I wasn't important enough before. I suppose I'm still not, really, but I'm a little bit more... someone, now. Netha didn't want to let you go but I managed to bargain with her. [11:08 PM] Pharolvir: "...bargain?" [11:09 PM] Xho: Sunshine: With my inheritance. It's not really important. [11:10 PM] Pharolvir: "....................." [11:10 PM] SmallGalaxy: Bobbin is just making themself comfy. They pull out their knitting and absent-mindedly start knitting a thing. It appears to be blue. [11:13 PM] Xho: Sunshine: ... I'm sorry, I didn't mention. We found an elder brain and a whole community of illithids after you left. There were a lot of casualties. Don't worry, no one from your family was involved! But they'd been stockpiling things. [11:13 PM] Pharolvir: "........wait, what?" [11:13 PM] Pharolvir: "While I was gone you had a whole war with Illithid?" [11:14 PM] Xho: Sunshine: No, no. It was just one raiding party. We didn't realize it was an elder brain until we were there. I saved as many as I could. [11:15 PM] Xho: She touches a little gold necklace with the image of a rising sun on it. [11:15 PM] Pharolvir: "....I'm so sorry." [11:15 PM] Pharolvir: "We uh...we fight a lake...sometimes." [11:16 PM] Xho: Sunshine: A lake? ... I'm sorry, my common isn't that good. I don't think I caught that. [11:16 PM] Pharolvir: "It's a...magic lake.  You know...magic." [11:17 PM] Xho: Sunshine: Oh. [11:17 PM] Chance: We've really only fought a lake once, to be honest. [11:18 PM] Xho: Sunshine: ... that's still very strange. In the Underdark you usually fight things living in the lakes. [11:18 PM] Chance: WE live in a world of magical nonsense. [11:20 PM] Xho: Sunshine: Anyway. Somehow everyone thinks I'm someone now. And... well, I always thought if anything ever happened, and my situation changed, maybe I could... talk to your mother. [11:20 PM] Pharolvir: "...my mother?  ...why?" [11:22 PM] Xho: Sunshine: ... to ask if I could marry you, obviously? ... I sort of hoped you'd remember me but I remember you. You were always sneaking off to the library and looking at books. And you knew all kinds of things about magic too. [11:23 PM] Pharolvir: "..........oh.  ......OH!  ........ooooooooh." [11:23 PM] Pharolvir: "...wait, you...want to marry me?" [11:24 PM] Chance: She already said she was your fiancee. [11:24 PM] Pharolvir: "Mothers arrange marriages for their sons in the Underdark, Chance." [11:25 PM] Chance: I figured from context. [11:25 PM] Chance: I just do not know why it's suddenly a surprise. [11:25 PM] Xho: Sunshine: Well, yes, obviously. After you disappeared everyone thought you were dead, but I had some divinations done and they pointed me up here. [11:26 PM] Pharolvir: "............that's....very inventive." [11:27 PM] Pharolvir: is looking at Ulisse. [11:27 PM] Xho: Sunshine: They said there was a demon, so I thought I'd have to get a group to rescue you, but that didn't seem right. [11:27 PM] Pharolvir: "...................no.  No, that's unnecessary." [11:27 PM] Xho: He looks very, very neutral. [11:28 PM] Xho: Sunshine: ... I couldn't do it myself, I was... wounded in the fighting. [11:29 PM] Pharolvir: "Your leg.  That's what happened?" [11:29 PM] Pharolvir: "I'm sorry." [11:30 PM] Xho: Sunshine: Not... just that. I can still have children, though! If you want them. [11:31 PM] Pharolvir: "Oh!  ...good." [11:31 PM] Pharolvir: reaches over and picks up Blub, almost subconsciously. [11:32 PM] Pharolvir: just starts petting him. [11:32 PM] Xho: Sunshine: Is that a baby gelatinous cube? It's adorable. [11:34 PM] Pharolvir: "Oh, yes.  He's a sort of accidental mixture of many different concoctions.  He seems to have gained some low level sentience.  He can control his color as a primitive form of communication and chooses when to heighten his acidity level to eat and what to eat.  I call him Blub.  He has a bit of fey powder in him, it's a really funny story.  Actually, no it isn't.  It's probably boring.  Am I boring you?  I'm boring you.  I'm sorry." [11:34 PM] Xho: Sunshine: Fey powder? What does that do? [11:35 PM] Chance: looks between the two of them, fascinated. [11:35 PM] Pharolvir: "...it's a sort of...wild magic generator.  It reacts to the arcane energies within various substances to formulate random effects.  Highly unstable unless used properly." [11:36 PM] Pharolvir: "And it was stored on a high shelf at this potions shop in town.  I've been sort of...helping out there.  NOT THAT I'M...working or anything.  I wouldn't need to take away your position as breadwinner.  It's...a very non-threatening...thing." [11:37 PM] Pharolvir: mutters under his breath. "Somebody please kill me." [11:37 PM] Chance: knocks something off the table. [11:37 PM] Chance: Oops. [11:38 PM] Chance: I'd better get a towel. [11:39 PM] Xho: Sunshine: I think--oh, I'm sorry. I... can't really help, with... [11:39 PM] Xho: She sort of gestures awkwardly at her leg. [11:40 PM] Chance: Oh, I wouldn't dream of it anyway. You are a guest, after all. [11:40 PM] SmallGalaxy: Bobbin wanders off for a bit. [11:40 PM] Pharolvir: "...so...where are you staying?" [11:41 PM] Xho: Sunshine: I don't know. I thought I'd have to rescue you, so I... was going to ask what you wanted to do afterward. [11:42 PM] Pharolvir: "................Well...I uh......hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh." [11:43 PM] Xho: Sunshine: ... and I suppose you might have had to work up here, if you ran out of money. I hope it was all right. I couldn't come any faster, I had to talk to Netha first. And your mother. [11:44 PM] Pharolvir: straightens up. "I got by." [11:44 PM] SmallGalaxy: Bobbin returns with a bunch of mugs, a large pot, and a ladle. [11:44 PM] SmallGalaxy: "Cocoa?" [11:44 PM] Xho: Sunshine: Because you're very clever. And a very strong man. [11:45 PM] Xho: Sunshine: Yes, please. ... thank you. [11:45 PM] Pharolvir: "...do you...actually know how to make cocoa, Bobbin?" [11:46 PM] Xho: Sunshine: ... we could have a library, you know. I like to read too. They always used to... well, it's not important, but. [11:47 PM] Pharolvir: "They used to what?" [11:47 PM] SmallGalaxy: The Kenku ladles out mugs to Pharo, Sunshine, and others, pointedly refusing to answer that question. It certainly looks and smells like cocoa, at least. [11:48 PM] Pharolvir: "I guess you do.  Thank you, Bobbin." [11:48 PM] Xho: Sunshine: Steal my books and throw them into the river. Or whatever was around. Sometimes the stables. [11:49 PM] Chance: sips his probably cocoa. [11:49 PM] Xho: She sips the cup gratefully. It's a little clumsy; her left hand doesn't seem terribly mobile. [11:49 PM] Pharolvir: "...you were hurt really bad, then." [11:51 PM] Pharolvir: "I am sorry I wasn't there." [11:51 PM] Xho: Sunshine: I'm glad. You probably would've been killed. A lot of people were, we didn't know how many there were going to be. [11:52 PM] Xho: Sunshine: ... if.... if it's too much for you, I'll understand. [11:54 PM] Pharolvir: "......I think I can handle it.  But we don't have to talk about it if you don't want to." [11:55 PM] Xho: Sunshine shakes her head. "It won't go away. Or get much better, they said. It had to do with the fluid in the elder brain tank when it caught fire." [11:56 PM] Chance: Did it explode? [11:56 PM] Xho: Sunshine nods. "I wasn't conscious at that point, though." [11:56 PM] Chance: Were you a fighter? To have gotten all the way to the main brain is an impressive feat. [11:57 PM] Xho: She shakes her head. "No. I'm a healer. ... I'm a priestess of Lathander." [11:58 PM] Chance: Oh! Huh. That seems an unusual choice for the Underdark. [11:59 PM] Xho: Sunshine: He's... not popular there, no. [11:59 PM] Pharolvir: "...you really went all in on that nickname, huh?" [11:59 PM] Pharolvir: smirks. [11:59 PM] Chance: Is that why they threw your books away? [11:59 PM] Chance: Because they were jerks? [11:59 PM] Xho: Sunshine: ... that's why I got the nickname. And... yes. [12:00 AM] Xho: Sunshine: Netha's the worst of all of them. [12:00 AM] Pharolvir: "I can imagine." [12:01 AM] Xho: Sunshine: She used to tell me I was a curse on the whole family. [12:02 AM] Xho: Sunshine: I thought for sure you'd... well, that you'd rather have me. [12:03 AM] Pharolvir: "Oh, I definitely would.  Not that that's...a high bar." [12:03 AM] Chance: facepalms, just a little. [12:03 AM] Xho: Sunshine: It really isn't. [12:03 AM] Xho: Sunshine: Even with the... [12:04 AM] Pharolvir: "Not that...I'm not saying you're...I mean you would be wonderful for any man!  I just...I mean..." [12:04 AM] Xho: She gestures to her left side again. [12:04 AM] Pharolvir: "Huh?  Oh.  ...oh, no, that's not an issue at all." [12:05 AM] Xho: Sunshine: But I don't want any man. I like you. [12:05 AM] Pharolvir: "........we spoke...like...once.  You just like that I read." [12:06 AM] Xho: Sunshine: And you were kind to me. And you were really smart, and brave, and funny. You talk about real things, things that matter. [12:08 AM] Pharolvir: "........that is...I've never had a woman say that about me before.  And that's...I mean...It's very flattering and...sweet.  And you yourself are also clearly smart and brave and...deeply sure in what you want." [12:10 AM] Xho: Sunshine: You don't have to decide right away if you don't want to. And you haven't even seen... that. I couldn't let you make any promises without seeing. [12:10 AM] Xho: She makes a vague gesture at the part of her face that's behind the hair. [12:11 AM] Pharolvir: "...I have shoved a whole bunch of metal in my face on purpose.  I am sure you're fine." [12:11 AM] Pharolvir: "But...I have other factors." [12:12 AM] Xho: Sunshine: I like your face. .... what other factors? Do you owe someone money, or... is it something I can help with? [12:14 AM] Pharolvir: "No, nothing like that.  I just...I mean, we're still dealing with the lake situation.  I've been uh helping Ulisse here, actually.  Men problems, nothing to worry about, but you know how it is.  I...uh...I have been making obligations with people here." [12:14 AM] Pharolvir: "I just...there's a lot I need to consider." [12:15 AM] Chance: We rescued a bunch of slaves tonight and Pharo was almost arrested for piracy. [12:15 AM] Pharolvir: "......that's what you're choosing to bring up?" [12:15 AM] Chance: Yes? [12:16 AM] Xho: Sunshine: Slaves? I thought slavery was illegal here. That's horrible, I'm glad you saved them. [12:16 AM] Chance: I mean, we were all almost arrested for piracy. [12:16 AM] Chance: And we all rescued slaves. [12:17 AM] Xho: Ulisse shifts, slightly, still leaning on the wall. [12:17 AM] Chance: Buuuuut this situation seems Pharo-centric.(edited) [12:17 AM] Chance: I was just reading the room. [12:17 AM] Xho: Sunshine smiles. "I said he was brave. If I could still go into battle we could have gone together." [12:18 AM] Xho: Sunshine: ... if you wanted it. [12:19 AM] Pharolvir: "...I should go...analyze some chemicals.  I am glad you've found some respect, and I am very glad you are alive.  ...maybe we can talk again, sometime." [12:20 AM] Xho: Sunshine: ... sometime? [12:20 AM] Pharolvir: "I mean...we will see each other.  I'm sorry, this is just...I wasn't expecting to be found.  Or, if I was...I wasn't expecting this." [12:20 AM] Pharolvir: "And I wasn't expecting it now." [12:21 AM] Xho: Sunshine: Oh, I see! Good. ... may I call on you tomorrow? [12:21 AM] Pharolvir: ".....sure.  Yes.  That'd be great." [12:22 AM] Xho: Sunshine: I'm sorry, I know I shouldn't have barged in like this, I just... had to make sure you were all right. Thank you. [12:23 AM] Xho: She stands up, using the staff, and limps over to Pharol, taking his hands in her hand and just barely kissing them, as is polite. [12:23 AM] Pharolvir: allows it and smiles. [12:23 AM] Pharolvir: "...thank you." [12:24 AM] Xho: Sunshine: Thank you for at least... thinking about it. Even though I'm... well. I know it. But I think I could make you happy anyway. Just... think about it. [12:25 AM] Xho: She limps out, leaning on the stick the whole way. [12:25 AM] Pharolvir: takes a massive breath after she leaves. [12:25 AM] Pharolvir: "Ulisse, I'm sorry.  I...I wasn't expecting that." [12:26 AM] Xho: Ulisse: I had gathered not. Are you all right? [12:28 AM] Pharolvir: "...I don't know.  Maybe.  ...I am glad it wasn't her sister.  The last time I met her she drove a fork into my leg as a joke." [12:28 AM] Chance: I'd better go check on the cat. [12:28 AM] Pharolvir: "But this is just.  It's like...if I was ever discovered I was expecting it to be this whole uphill battle to dignity and explaining myself.  And then Sunshine shows up and...there were no hills." [12:28 AM] Pharolvir: "Yes, thanks for the help, Chance." [12:29 AM] Chance: No problem! She seemed kind, and brave. You should accept her offer, or turn her down, but do not make her think she has a chance when she really doesn't. That would be cruel. [12:30 AM] Chance: leaves! [12:30 AM] Pharolvir: nods [12:31 AM] Xho: Ulisse motions to his room, or Pharol's. It's not totally clear which. [12:32 AM] Pharolvir: nods and follows. [1:02 AM] Pharolvir: goes over to the bathroom and knocks. "Ann?  ...are you ok in there?" [1:03 AM] Ann: You hear water running and light sobbing [1:04 AM] Pharolvir: "...Ann?  ...can...can I come in?" [1:06 AM] Ann: very faintly says”I’m fine” [1:06 AM] Pharolvir: "......that's not very convincing.  ...are you sure you don't want to talk?" [1:06 AM] Ann: You can come in [1:07 AM] Pharolvir: does so [1:08 AM] Ann: ((Entering there is soap and water everywhere the taps are running Ann is huddled in a corner of the room in a ball her hands and arms scrubbed raw)) [1:08 AM] Pharolvir: ".....Ann?" [1:09 AM] Xho: Even the rat looks distressed. He's gnawing on his little tail. [1:10 AM] Pharolvir: "...what happened?  Ann, what's wrong?" [1:12 AM] Ann: .....Tore into them ....just ripped them apart... still feel it [1:12 AM] Ann: goes back over to the sink and starts washing her hands and arms again [1:12 AM] Pharolvir: "...the slavers?" [1:15 AM] Pharolvir: "...it's ok.  They were bad people doing bad things.  You helped save children." [1:15 AM] Xho: The rat runs in a little circle and then sits down again. [1:15 AM] Ann: And then how the children looked at me after [1:17 AM] Pharolvir: "...they weren't fully there.  They were already scared and worried." [1:19 AM] Xho: (Also, you were a bear.) [1:19 AM] Pharolvir: "...and yes, being a bear probably didn't help." [1:21 AM] Pharolvir: "Nobody here is scared of you, though." 1:22 AM] Ann: I am [1:23 AM] Ann: Part of me enjoyed ripping into them I felt like they deserved it [1:24 AM] Pharolvir: goes up and hugs Ann. [1:24 AM] Pharolvir: "I think this time they did." [1:24 AM] Ann: awkwardly hugs back probably getting Pharol all wet [1:26 AM] Pharolvir: "...if you're really scared, there are probably people we can talk to.  But I believe you're good.  You rushed in to save those kids.  You kept me safe from the wolf when we first met.  You're really brave and caring." [1:26 AM] Ann: Ok [1:27 AM] Ann: I will clean up in here thank you Pharolvir [1:27 AM] Pharolvir: "Ok.  ...it is like...2:30 in the morning.  We should meditate." [1:27 AM] Pharolvir: "Good night." [1:27 AM] Xho: The rat relaxes a little bit. [1:28 AM] Ann: good night [1:28 AM] Ann: goes to the rat and pets it trying to talk calmly to it as she does and beginning to clean up the bathroom [1:31 AM] Xho: The rat is OK! It was just worried about Ann.