3. Quiet Log Time
Oct 13, 2015 0:04:36 GMT
Post by joo on Oct 13, 2015 0:04:36 GMT
Session 3
Quiet Log Time
31 May 2015
00:01 <joo> Who is ready to adventure?
00:02 <Theo> Just opening all my pages now
00:04 <Bruce> Born ready.
00:08 * Vaylon arrives.
00:09 <joo> Welcome.
00:11 <Vaylon> Thank yuo!
00:11 <Vaylon> Let us begin.
00:15 <joo> Your characters are in Arlingson's forest, by the path leading from the river to a shrine known to be in this forest, and you had just been fighting some unsavoury townspeople who followed you here, but were driven off by your defence.
00:16 <joo> Waldemar and Sparrow have moderate wounds, and Hawthorn is quite badly wounded, but he can still walk because he's such a beast.
00:16 <Theo> XD
00:16 <joo> What do you do?
00:17 <joo> It is now early evening, with the light just starting to visibly wane.
00:19 <Bruce> Hmm... do either of you guys have bandages?
00:19 <Theo> Sparrow looks to the sky, frowning slightly, "Darkness is upon us." he says softly, more to himself, "We 'ave a choice. Carry on forward, find shelter or head back."
00:20 <Theo> I don't have any
00:21 <Vaylon> Hmm.
00:21 <Vaylon> Hmm.
00:22 <Vaylon> I have 9/21 HP, right?
00:22 <joo> Yes.
00:22 <Vaylon> And are these correct for the others? Waldemar: 14/22, Sparrow: 16/19
00:22 <joo> Yes, indeed.
00:24 <Vaylon> Hawthorn frowns and shakes his head. "Some of my prayers are still with me, but I think it best to hold onto them for now. I have no bandages or medicine save for one potion, which I will retain in case of emergency. Let us press onward and try to lose Jenkins and his remaining men."
00:24 <Bruce> Waldemar nods. "Onward."
00:25 <joo> Is sparrow still dragging that dead dragonfly around? It's starting to attract some flies.
00:26 <joo> Oh, wait, no, it isn't.
00:26 <joo> Not yet!
00:26 <Vaylon> I thought the dragonfly corpse repelled flies?
00:26 <joo> Yes, it does.
00:26 <Bruce> Giant flies!
00:26 <joo> Hahah.
00:27 <joo> Eventually it will completely decay, presumably. It would be pretty disgusting to leave that in your backpack for a month.
00:27 <joo> In any event, the corpse has 1 weight.
00:28 <Bruce> The giant dragonfly corpse turns into snakes and they start biting you!
00:28 <joo> XD
00:28 <Theo> D:
00:29 <Vaylon>
00:29 <joo> Will you proceed down the path the way you were going before, then? If you take the dragonfly corpse with you, it lets off a musk that seems to repel insects in a short radius.
00:30 <Theo> Sparrow is keeping his corpse
00:30 <Vaylon> Yes, that's what we'll do, but Sparrow's our leader, it seems.
00:30 <Vaylon> And his course!
00:30 <joo> Of corpse.
00:30 <Theo> XD
00:31 <joo> You return to the site of your battle with the other dragonflies. Beyond, the path is almost completely dark. Do you proceed without a light?
00:31 <Theo> Sparrow nods at Hawthorn and hefts the dead dragonfly onto his back again, "On we go then." he says, a smirk on his face.
00:32 <Theo> Hmm...shall we have a lantern that attracts giant moths or not?
00:32 <Vaylon> Hawthorn holds his staff aloft and begins to pray.
00:33 <Vaylon> !r 2d6+2 Cast a Spell (Light)
00:33 <PageBot> Vaylon: 10=6+2(+2) Cast a Spell (Light)
00:33 <joo> This giant moth arrives, and it desires to join your party! img.thesun.co.uk/aidemitlum/archive/01586/Moths_1586867a.jpg
00:33 <joo> (joke)
00:33 <Theo> Recruit the moth!
00:33 <Vaylon> XD
00:34 <Vaylon> A soft white light appears from the top of his staff, lighting their way.
00:35 <Theo> Sparrow nods at Hawthorn and presses onward
00:35 <joo> The light from Hawthorn's staff sends out long shadows from the trees, and also illuminates a path of wet spongy earth and frequent clusters of ragged stone which continues downwards in a sloping curve, so that you cannot see what is at its end.
00:36 <joo> The sound of old, creaking wood comes from the trees on either side, and you can see some of the trees in the distance swaying, although this isn't a windy day.
00:38 <joo> You walk on for about an hour in these conditions until you come to a massive dead log, soaked with water and crawling with ants, that has fallen across the path.
00:38 <joo> The reek of stagnant marshy decay is at its strongest yet, here - and ahead, some natural light floods into the path.
00:39 <joo> Will you climb over the log and continue?
00:40 <Vaylon> So it's a fallen tree, really, right? A massive one?
00:40 <joo> Ah, yes. I should say "tree" rather than "log".
00:40 <Vaylon> What is the diameter of the log?
00:40 <joo> Hahaha.
00:40 <Bruce> www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3kmSJ8obuM
00:41 <joo> The average diameter of the log is 1.2 metres.
00:41 <joo> Its bark is black and gnarled, and overgrown also with fungus and creepers.
00:42 <Vaylon> Well, sure. Some of us could just leap over it. Like Sparrow, probably.
00:42 <Theo> Sparrow coughs and covers his mouth with his hand. He reaches out a foot and kicks the tree.
00:42 <Bruce> Ah, excellent. Waldemar sells one of the creepers all of his dragonfly corpses, waiting 24 hours between each transaction.
00:42 <Vaylon> LOL
00:43 <Theo> Sparrow looks around the log closely, checking for traps
00:43 <joo> Hahah.
00:44 <Theo> !r 2d6+2 (Trap expert)
00:44 <PageBot> Theo: 11=4+5(+2) (Trap expert)
00:45 <joo> Sparrow, you have 3 hold.
00:45 <Theo> joo, is there a trap here?
00:45 <joo> Oh, yes.
00:46 <joo> Sparrow, when you kick the log it gives a slightly hollow sound and some of the bark flakes away. With your sharp eyes, you can see something long and chitinous squirming under the log.
00:46 <Vaylon> Oh, dear.
00:47 <Theo> Sparrow looks around and frowns, bending to one knee, "Something smells off."
00:47 <Theo> joo, how is the trap activated
00:47 <joo> If somebody about the weight of a human were to climb over the log, they would fall through the rotten wood and be at the mercy of this creature.
00:48 <Theo> (In before "Kicking the log")
00:48 <joo> Hahaha.
00:48 <Theo> joo, what else is hidden here?
00:50 <joo> Hmm...
00:50 <joo> Nothing else is hidden in the immediate vicinity.
00:51 <Theo> Sparrow peers through the crack he made in the bark and backs away quickly, "We go around." he says hurriedly, walking briskly the path around the log.
00:52 <joo> Will you go around the root end or the branch end?
00:52 <Theo> Roots
00:53 <Vaylon> Whatever Theo says is fine with me.
00:54 <joo> Sparrow leads the way swiftly into the murk of the trees surrounding where this one fell. You come to where its roots (which are now sticking out at an unnatural angle from its bottom) used to be buried, and there's a pool of stinking muddy water, around which some opportunistic vines with bright red flowers have already begun sprouting.
00:56 <joo> The air seems thicker even this small distance into the forest, and the sounds of shifting branches and creaking trunks louder. However, you come to no harm, and emerge to the other side of the path.
00:57 <Vaylon> everythingwentbetterthanexpected.jpg
00:57 <Theo> XD
00:57 <Vaylon> Hawthorn turns around and peers at the log, then looks ahead. He glances at Sparrow. "This is the path to the shrine, yes?"
00:58 <joo> Ahead, there is a massive clearing in the forest. In the place of living trees, there's a large marshy pool with bits of dead tree sticking out of it. In the centre, a steep rocky hill rises again, where a few hardy trees - hawthornes and such - cling to the ground; and you can see that the path continues on the other side of the water up this hill.
00:58 <joo> But most importantly, hundreds of dragonflies hover over the water!
00:59 <Vaylon> Giant ones?
00:59 <joo> Uh, yes... giant dragonflies!
00:59 <Vaylon> ಠ_ಠ
00:59 <Theo> "As far as I know. Never come this far before." Sparrow comments over his shoulder, trudging onwards, stopping just before they reach the water with a muttered, "Fuck."
00:59 <Bruce> I suggest we: www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Tu3aljjIeY
01:01 <Bruce> I think joo and I are fighting to have more insects in our campaigns.
01:01 <joo> The rocky protrusion also extend to the right, creating a path over the water that disappears into the trees.
01:01 <Vaylon> Haha.
01:02 <Vaylon> What would be the point of going back?
01:03 <Bruce> I'm not really suggesting that.
01:04 <Vaylon> Hawthorn glances from Sparrow to Waldemar. "Have either of you gentlemen any ideas as to how to get past these creatures? It seems as though our path continues beyond them."
01:05 <joo> I should note also that the dragonflies are keeping mostly to the surface of the water. The ridge that extends to the West from the rocky hill into the forest seems to be free of them.
01:05 <joo> However, there's no obvious path to get there!
01:06 <Theo> Sparrow chuckles, "Aside running an' hiding?" He points to the rocky protrusion, "Could go over that. Keeping quiet. Or..." He grins, "'ow's yer swimming gentlemen?"
01:06 <joo> Some dragonflies nearer to the shore turn and regard your party with interest.
01:08 <Theo> Are there any reeds around?
01:08 <joo> Hmm... yes, there are some unhealthy-looking clumps of reeds along the shore.
01:08 <Vaylon> Hawthorn looks a bit flustered. "I cannot swim."
01:09 <Bruce> Hawthorn, cast Cure Light Wounds on the reeds.
01:09 <joo> Hahah.
01:09 <Vaylon> Or Purify
01:11 <Theo> Okay. I say we take the reeds and swim across
01:12 <Theo> Defy danger quick thinking
01:12 <joo> Good idea. Hawthorne can probably survive by himself.
01:12 <Bruce> Hahaha.
01:12 <Theo> XD
01:13 <Vaylon> All right, how do you want to handle that, joo?
01:14 <joo> Is Hawthorne going to enter the water?
01:16 <Vaylon> Yes.
01:16 <Bruce> Put the dead dragonfly on Hawthorne's head, and Waldemar will carry him on his shoulders as he swims.
01:16 <Vaylon> Haha.
01:16 <Vaylon> Okay!
01:17 <Theo> !r 2d6 (Defy Danger: Quick Thinking)
01:17 <PageBot> Theo: 7=4+3 (Defy Danger: Quick Thinking)
01:17 <joo> You start to put your demented plan into action.
01:18 <Theo> Well...it wasn't a total fail >_>
01:20 <joo> ...however, you're not fast enough to avoid attracting the attention of a number of dragonflies. You all manage to submerge yourselves, with Waldemar keeping Hawthorn afloat from beneath, and using long hollow pieces of reed to breathe from, just before the dragonflies reach you. But from the murky water (which stings your eyes, but is just about tolerable), you can see their shadows hovering ...
01:20 <joo> ... above the water.
01:21 <Vaylon> Well, then.
01:22 <Theo> Sparrow silently curses himself from below the surface of the water, looking up at the shadows, for ever thinking of this ridiculous idea.
01:22 <joo> Hawthorn, your staff continues to glow even underwater! You can see some eels and other strangely shaped fish swimming in these waters.
01:23 <Vaylon> Oh, good.
01:23 <joo> You're able to make it to the opposite shore, but still the giant dragonflies dance above the surface, seeming to wait for you to emerge.
01:24 <Bruce> I suppose it's too late to trade Hawthorne to the dragonflies in exchange for mercy.
01:25 <Vaylon> Stealthily, Hawthorn takes out some pieces of meat from his supplies and tosses it high up into the air!
01:25 <Vaylon> I'm going to try to distract the dragonflies long enough to get us out of here.
01:25 <joo> Your food is going to get pretty 144.
01:25 <Vaylon> No, that food is gone, man.
01:26 <Vaylon> I'll use four rations.
01:26 <Bruce> Waldemar will see about that later.
01:27 <joo> Hmm... very well. You throw some Chunks of Meat into the air, and the dragonflies dive at it. You all have a small moment to get under cover.
01:27 <Bruce> Under cover? It's time to bounce, m8.
01:28 <Vaylon> Yeah, it's time for us to get out of here.
01:28 <joo> But presumably you want to get out of sight of the dragonflies.
01:28 <joo> Where indeed the onward path leads.
01:28 <Vaylon> Yeah.
01:28 <joo> Everybody defy danger with DEX!
01:29 <Theo> !r 2d6+2
01:29 <PageBot> Theo: 8=4+2(+2)
01:29 <Vaylon> !r 2d6-1 Defy Danger (DEX)
01:29 <PageBot> Vaylon: 9=6+4(-1) Defy Danger (DEX)
01:29 <Theo> How the fuck did you roll higher than me???
01:29 <joo> Heh.
01:30 <Bruce> And I'm about to get a full success.
01:30 <Bruce> !r 2d6-1 Defy Danger With DEX
01:30 <PageBot> Bruce: 6=1+6(-1) Defy Danger With DEX
01:30 <joo> Hahaha.
01:30 <Bruce> o.
01:30 <joo> Your hubris has been repaid!
01:30 <Bruce> *actually just wanted some facking xp*
01:36 <joo> Waldemar, as you clamber heavily up the slimy shore of the swampy waters, your foot sinks into some soft mud, and suddenly a noxious gas bubbles up from the water.
01:36 <Bruce> Here we go. I'm going to die high as fuck.
01:37 <joo> The disturbance causes further bubbles of gas to rise from the water further away... and green, sickly flames are ignited above the water's surface. In the flame, emaciated faces appear and turns their eyes on Waldemar.
01:37 <joo> Further up the path, a mournful howling is heard, and a foul wind blows down the path.
01:38 <joo> You all manage to escape up the path, but a horde of dragonflies comes after you.
01:38 <joo> What do you do?!
01:39 <Vaylon> wat
01:41 <Bruce> Damn. Dragonflies and ghosts.
01:41 <Bruce> Let's see if we can get them to fight each other.
01:42 <Theo> I like that idea
01:42 <Vaylon> Is there anything preventing us from going forward down this path?
01:42 <joo> I'm sure the dragonflies will fuck the ghosts up.
01:43 <Vaylon> Well, I'm not having of this ghost shit.
01:44 <Vaylon> Hawthorn raises his pendant. "Spirits of the dead, begone!"
01:44 <joo> No, there's nothing blocking the rocky path among dead and barely alive trees that goes up the side of this hill.
01:44 <Vaylon> !r 2d6+2 Turn Undead
01:44 <PageBot> Vaylon: 11=4+5(+2) Turn Undead
01:44 <Bruce> Damn, I forgot about that move.
01:44 <joo> Hawthorn, if you take the time to do that, the dragonflies will surely catch up with you.
01:45 <Bruce> Hawthorne transforms into a ghost and joins them against us.
01:45 <joo> Hahah.
01:45 <Vaylon> I will if you don't get these dragonflies off me.
01:45 <Bruce> Waldemar will stand in Hawthorne's defense.
01:45 <Vaylon> So be it!
01:46 <Vaylon> Let's try to go down the path as quickly as we can while fighting off the dragonflies.
01:46 <Theo> I'll also stand in his defence
01:46 <Bruce> !r 2d6+2 Defend Hawthorne
01:46 <PageBot> Bruce: 9=2+5(+2) Defend Hawthorne
01:47 <Theo> !r 2d6+1 Defend Howthorne
01:47 <PageBot> Theo: 10=3+6(+1) Defend Howthorne
01:47 <joo> Deity: The Firebringer (euphemism)
01:47 <joo> What does that mean?
01:47 <Vaylon> That's a euphemism for the god's name (which I'm too lazy to think of).
01:47 <joo> Oh.
01:48 <Bruce> The Howthorne? Let's hope the Wherethorne doesn't make an appearance.
01:48 <Vaylon> Hahaha.
01:48 <Theo> Oops XD
01:48 <joo> Hahah.
01:49 <Theo> I have no excuse
01:49 <joo> Well, Hawthorn holds his fire opal pendant aloft with conviction, and it shines with a wholeseme fiery light, challenging the sickly green glow of the flames. The faces turn into visages of fear, and then they go out like blown candle flames.
01:50 <joo> As long as you continue to brandish your holy symbol, no undead may come within reach of you.
01:50 <joo> However, the dragonflies are not deterred by this, and they swarm at Hawthorn from all sides. Sparrow has 3 hold and Waldemar 1 in defending Hawthorn.
01:51 <joo> Dragonflies dive at Hawthorn, attracted by his lights. What do you do?
01:52 <Vaylon> Hawthorn continues to pray and hold aloft the holy pendant as the two men leap to his defense.
01:52 <Bruce> Waldemar redirects the attack to himself.
01:53 <joo> Waldemar leaps into the midst of the dragonflies, and they decide he looks much more succelent than the priest. Five dragonflies attempt to bite you at once, Waldemar.
01:53 <joo> What is Sparrow doing?
01:53 <Theo> Sparrow unsheathe his blades, muttering "Time to play." before running at one of the dragonflies
01:53 <joo> Is that a use of your Defend hold?
01:54 <Theo> No, because Waldemar used his
01:54 <Theo> Unless there are more dragonflies on Hawthorne?
01:55 <joo> Hmm... well, I'll say that your hold still counts for those dragonflies at this moment, since you're acting simultaneously to Waldemar.
01:55 <Theo> All right then
01:59 <Vaylon> I'm going to be a while. Don't let me die! >_>
01:59 <joo> IRL, Vaylon?
01:59 <joo> What does Sparrow do, then?
02:00 <joo> You can still attack a Dragonfly, of course, but you'll lose the option of losing your hold if you do that.
02:00 <joo> *of using
02:01 <Theo> I shall halve the damage or effect of the attack
02:02 <joo> !r d4+4 / 2 -- damage to Waldemar
02:02 <PageBot> joo: 6=2(+4) / 2 -- damage to Waldemar
02:02 <joo> Waldemar loses 2 HP.
02:03 <joo> Hawthorn is longer distracted by his incantation. He will come with you if you choose to flee now. What do you do?
02:04 <Theo> I saw we try flee
02:05 <Bruce> Yes, let us Bounce.
02:07 <Vaylon> Sorry about that.
02:08 <Bruce> r u ok.
02:08 <Vaylon> Mom and Michael forced me to sit and look at their vacation pictures. Thankfully there weren't too many.
02:08 <joo> Heh.
02:09 <joo> Very well. You certainly can do that. No roll is necessary... for now. You run along the upward-sloping rocky path, the dragonflies following behind you. As you turn a corner, the view opens up to a large wooden arch, painted in flaking red, consisting of two legs and a top piece that curves downwards and extends from the sides. It looks like this: ...
02:09 <joo> ... <http://cache-graphicslib.viator.com/graphicslib/media/02/hakone-shinto-shrine-photo_997634-770tall.jpg>.
02:09 <Vaylon>
02:09 <joo> Beyond it, the path resolves into a worn set of stone steps, which lead up to a squat wooden building.
02:10 <joo> Shadows taking the vague shapes of men, which were hovering about the building, recede from Hawthorn's light.
02:11 <Vaylon> Huffing and puffing after the long bout of continuing prayer and from fleeing from the dragonflies, Hawthorn looks up at the decaying structure in interest. Hawthorn glances at Waldemar and nods to the structure, still holding his symbol aloft.
02:13 <joo> Around the building are decayed, long-dead traces of vegetation... and what look like torn clothing and armour.
02:14 <Theo> Sparrow sighs and gestures around himself, "Well, here we are."
02:15 <Bruce> Waldemar looks back. Is the dragonfly horde still following them?
02:15 <joo> Yes, indeed, the dragonflies are still close on your tail.
02:15 <Vaylon> Oh, shit.
02:16 <Vaylon> www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9J5tYShNY8
02:17 <Theo> XD
02:18 <joo> The shrine has a large wooden gate, currently ajar, leading into its until interior.
02:18 <joo> *unlit
02:19 <Vaylon> Well, no time to dawdle, gentlemen. Hurry up, let's go inside!
02:19 <Theo> Sparrow looks at the pair, and nods at Hawthorn, gesturing them both inside before him
02:19 <Bruce> Waldemar starts sprinting, and prays that the giant dragonflies haven't yet learned how to operate doors.
02:21 <Vaylon> Hawthorn hurries up after Waldemar.
02:22 <Theo> Sparrow follows behind
02:22 <joo> Give me a minute. I'm making a peanut butter and strawberry jam sandwich.
02:23 <Theo> I have bacon sandwiches
02:23 <Vaylon> I have chocolate chip and toffee cookies.
02:23 <Bruce> I have nothing.
02:23 <joo> Hahahah.
02:23 <Vaylon> Haha.
02:32 <joo> You pass the threshold of shrine's gateway, and enter the building. To the left and right are pairs of stone basins, one below empty and with a sink hole, and one above brimming with now unclean and slimy water.
02:33 <joo> A short passageway extends into a large room before you... in which stand human corpses in varying stages of decay, that look at you with slightly glowing green eyes.
02:34 <joo> But they back away slowly before Hawthorn's light towards the edges of the room, exposing a view to a set of steps leading up to another chamber, from which a green-gold glow and the sound of weeping comes.
02:35 <joo> Around the edges of the room are carved wooden statues, now wet and covered in moss.
02:36 <Vaylon> Are the dragonflies still on our tails?
02:36 <Theo> Sparrow gips at the sight and smell before him, taking a moment to compose himself.
02:37 <joo> The dragonflies approach the threshold of the shrine, but none venture to enter, rather just hovering there uncertainly.
02:41 <Vaylon> Well, I can't blame them.
02:42 * Vaylon pokes Bruce. "You still playing?"
02:42 <Bruce> Waldemar grits his teeth, pulling out his axe and watching the corpses walk back. "What evil must have taken hold of this place." He whispers.
02:42 <Theo> Sparrow looks behind him, his mouth set in a grim line, "I'm starting to wish the dragonflies had taken me."
02:43 <Vaylon> Hawthorn can't stop praying, right?
02:43 <Vaylon> I mean, he could, but that would the turn undead effect, right?
02:44 <joo> Yes, indeed. If he stopped praying or holding the symbol aloft, the effect would end. That means he can do something with his other hand, I suppose, but probably not fight with a staff.
02:45 <Vaylon> Okay.
02:45 <Vaylon> Well, it's up to you guys to figure out what's going on, now.
02:45 <Vaylon> We're boned.
02:46 <Theo> I'd say discern realities, but my wisdom is through the floor
02:48 <Bruce> Waldemar points towards the steps. "Hawthorne, lead us onward, if you can keep these spirits away."
02:48 <Theo> Sparrow looks to the others, nodding at Waldemar.
02:49 <Vaylon> Hawthorn nods at Hawthorne and uncertainly begins to walk up the steps to the next chamber.
02:50 <Vaylon> Fuck.
02:50 <joo> Hahaha.
02:50 <Theo> LOL!
02:50 <joo> Hawthorn and Hawthorne, the ghost-busting superhero team.
02:50 <Vaylon> You guys should stop misspelling my name.
02:50 <Vaylon> Hawthorn nods at Waldemar!
02:52 <Theo> Sparrow follows reluctantly, his sword at the ready
02:54 <joo> In the middle of the next chamber is an offertory box. Above it floats the translucent, wispy figure of a woman, who glows with golden-green light, larger in scale than a real human being, who is garbed in leaves; but her eyes are dark and sunken and her skin sallow. Her hair appears like strands of moss, and tears flow from her eyes, pooling on the floor.
02:55 <joo> She looks at the approaching humans and her faces becomes twisted with anger, and she screams, long and piercing.
02:55 <Bruce> Does anyone have a few coins to tip this ghost?
02:55 <joo> Two wooden statues on either side of the entrance to this room suddenly straighten and move to block the entrance.
02:57 <Vaylon> We all have coins, I think.
02:57 <Vaylon> Is the box intended to accept money?
02:57 <joo> "Begond, intruders!" The woman screams, and the statues open their eyes, which glow with green, and advance towards you.
02:58 <Theo> Sparrow takes a few coins from his belt pouch, hesitantly stepping forward, "Please. We come to pay respects to your shrine."
02:58 <joo> Yes, the box has long slots on top that accept coins, but prevent someone from reaching in and taking its contents.
02:59 <joo> The statues are of tall men in a strange, archaic garb. One of the comes at you, Sparrow, and draws back its fist to punch you!
02:59 <joo> *them
02:59 <joo> The apparition of the woman appears to ignore your words.
03:00 <Bruce> Waldemar swings out with his axe, to chop that statue's wooden arm apart!
03:00 <Theo> "Shit. She's lost." Sparrow curses, attempting to move out of the way of the oncoming punch.
03:01 <Theo> !r 2d6+2 Defy Danger (+Dex)
03:01 <PageBot> Theo: 10=4+4(+2) Defy Danger (+Dex)
03:01 <Vaylon> Hawthorn hesitates to approach the offertory box, after which it seems to be too late.
03:02 <joo> Sparrow, the statue lumbers at you and throws a heavy punch, which you evade. Waldemar, you can deal your damage against this statue; but the other statue is now moving to attack you.
03:02 <Bruce> !r d6 Damage to statue
03:02 <PageBot> Bruce: 2 Damage to statue
03:02 <joo> Hawthorn, the undead behind are gathered around the edge of your circle of light, watching you intently.
03:03 <Vaylon> This moment affords Hawthorn the opportunity to study this situation and the spirit before him.
03:03 <Vaylon> He can do this while continuing to pray, correct?
03:04 <joo> Yes, I'm sure he can.
03:04 <Vaylon> !r 2d6+2 Discern Realities
03:04 <PageBot> Vaylon: 10=4+4(+2) Discern Realities
03:04 <Vaylon> What should I be on the lookout for?
03:05 <Theo> After successfully evading the oncoming statue, Sparrow turns his attention to the statue going for Waldemar, running at it with a cry.
03:06 <joo> Waldemar, your axe leaves groove in the wood of the statue's arm, but doesn't sever it. You also knock it back a bit with the force of your blow. The other statue is coming at you from the side, aiming a low punch at your torso.
03:08 <joo> Hawthorn, you should be on the lookout for the spirit before you, who is an immortal spirit of great power, you sense, but not undead. She seems also to command influence over the entities within this shrine, such as the statues, which she could use against you.
03:08 <Bruce> Hmm... Waldemar will brace himself to endure this punch, and reaches for a torch from his adventuring gear at the same time.
03:08 <joo> And of course there are the undead humans behind you.
03:09 <joo> Is Sparrow doing anything else while running at it, or is he just playing Chicken?
03:10 <Vaylon> What here is not what it appears to be?
03:10 <Theo> Sparrow is going to try use backstab on it whilst it's distracted going after Waldemar
03:11 <Theo> Actually, I will just roll damage for backstab rather than try for extras
03:11 <Theo> !r d8
03:11 <PageBot> Theo: 1
03:11 <joo> Which of your 4 weapons will you use?
03:11 <Theo> \o/
03:12 <joo> I'll note that stabbing a wooden statue probably won't be very effective, but cutting with a sword might be.
03:12 <Theo> Yes, I was about to say longsword
03:13 <joo> Hawthorn, you sense that while this spirit appears to be malevolent and evil, it is, at its core, not a wicked being. Rather, it has been corrupted by some magical influence.
03:14 <Vaylon> What is about to happen?
03:14 <joo> Waldemar, defy danger with CON to endure the punch.
03:14 <joo> You may roll to Backstab, Sparrow!
03:15 <Vaylon> She opted not to roll.
03:15 <joo> Oh, I see.
03:16 <joo> Sparrow draws his new longsword, which shines in the light from Hawthorn's magic, and hews at the statue from behind, sending splinters of wood flying.
03:17 <Bruce> !r 2d6+2 Defy Danger with CON
03:17 <PageBot> Bruce: 10=2+6(+2) Defy Danger with CON
03:18 <joo> Hawthorn, you can sense that the spirit is growing angry, and could very soon attack the party personally.
03:19 <joo> Waldemar, you absorb the punch with your flab, giving you enough time to light a torch! What do you do now?
03:20 <Vaylon> "Stop! Stop!" cries Hawthorn, thrusting out his staff in front of Waldemar. "There's goodness in this spirit left!"
03:21 <Theo> "Then how so we stop these blasted things trying to attack us?" Sparrow shouts back, pulling his longsword from his current statue's back.
03:21 <joo> The walking corpses at the foot of the stairs groan, and shamble towards Hawthorn.
03:22 <joo> Sparrow, the statue turns to you, raising one arm to defend itself, and bringing the other one down in a chop.
03:23 <Bruce> Waldemar quickly lights up his torch, holding it out and backing away, and looks to Hawthorn. "What can be done? The battle is joined!"
03:24 <Theo> Sparrow tries to evade the chop by leaping backwards
03:24 <Theo> !r 2d6+2 Defy Danger (+Dex)
03:24 <PageBot> Theo: 12=5+5(+2) Defy Danger (+Dex)
03:24 <Vaylon> "Forest spirit, please, we beseech you. We only came as pilgrims." He puts all of his coins in the offertory box, and he stares at the spirit with a pleading look in his eyes. With that, he turns to Waldemar, snatching the torch from him, and he slowly sprinkles one of his healing potions on the flames.
03:25 <Vaylon> Not quickly enough to put out the torch, mind you.
03:25 <Vaylon> "Firebringer, I ask you for this boon: purge her of her ilness!"
03:26 <joo> In which direction is Waldemar backing away?
03:26 <Bruce> Waldemar's reaction: new1.fjcdn.com/thumbnails/comments/4658039+_88acfd77c853b744b3eb04e5bbdb1597.jpg
03:26 <Bruce> Backwards.
03:27 <joo> Which way is that?
03:27 <Bruce> Probably back towards the zombies.
03:27 <joo> Very well.
03:27 <joo> Waldemar, you feel bony fingers clawing at your back, and a pair of slimy hands snakes around your neck.
03:28 <Theo> And that was the last we saw of Waldemar. GG
03:29 <joo> Sparrow, you leap back dexterously, and even manage to avoid landing amid the zombies! But both statues now stride towards you angrily.
03:29 <Bruce> Waldemar lets his axe fall to the floor, roars, and turns around to punch anything behind him in the facking face with his brass knuckles.
03:29 <joo> However...
03:31 <joo> Hawthorn, you trickle the healing potion onto the naked flame, and it spits and bubbles, evaporating into a reddish cloud.
03:31 <Bruce> Let's get high.
03:32 <joo> The forest spirit starts striding towards your angrily with her hands held out, fingernails long and green, curved like claws... but at that moment, the cloud of evaporate wafts towards her, and starts to surround her.
03:33 <joo> Waldemar, roll Hack and Slash!
03:33 <Bruce> !r 2d6+1 Hack and Bash
03:33 <PageBot> Bruce: 10=3+6(+1) Hack and Bash
03:33 <Bruce> Waldemar puts all of his weight into the punch.
03:34 <Bruce> !r d6 d6 Damage to zombie
03:34 <PageBot> Bruce: 2 3 Damage to zombie
03:36 <joo> Aided by the brass knuckles, your fist smashes into the zombie's decaying ribcage and almost breaks its spine. It reels backwards.
03:38 <joo> Hawthorn, the forest spirit shines with a golden light! She starts to look less sickly, and she lets out a long sigh, stopping where she is.
03:39 <Vaylon> Hawthorn grasps a flask of water from his rations and begins to pray.
03:40 <Bruce> Does this dude even have rations anymore?
03:40 <joo> She looks about her, confused. "Priest of the Fire God, what trick is this? What has become of my shrine?"
03:40 <Theo> Do I still have two defend hold from earlier?
03:40 <joo> No, that hold doesn't apply anymore, since you aren't defending the same thing.
03:41 <Theo> Yeah Vay just told me. Thanks
03:41 <Bruce> I see you guys have been working on your telepathy.
03:41 <Theo> Yup!
03:42 <Vaylon> I'm surprised you haven't heard me yet.
03:43 <joo> Waldemar, the undead clamber up the stairs, almost surrounding you. You feel hands grip your legs and try to pull you off your feet. Another half-decayed corpse leaps at you with its mouth open, ready to bite you!
03:43 <Vaylon> Hawthorn says to the spirit, "I know not yet, gentle spirit, but I intend to discover the reason for it." He turns to the zombies. "Please, spirits, be at peace! Stand down! We mean you no harm!"
03:43 <joo> Needless to say, the smell alone is difficult to bear.
03:43 <joo> What is Hawthorn trying to do with the water?
03:44 <Theo> Sparrow runs toward Waldemar, sword poised to try run the zombie about to attack Waldemar through.
03:44 <Vaylon> He's going to try to sanctify the water to make it holy and then sprinkle it around the room to keep the zombies at bay.
03:44 <Vaylon> Can he try that?
03:45 <Theo> !r 2d6 (Hack and Slash)
03:45 <PageBot> Theo: 10=5+5 (Hack and Slash)
03:46 <Theo> I'll avoid damage
03:46 <joo> Oh, I almost forgot.
03:46 <joo> !r d4+2 -- damage to Waldemar
03:46 <PageBot> joo: 6=4(+2) -- damage to Waldemar
03:46 <Theo> !r d8+1
03:46 <PageBot> Theo: 7=6(+1)
03:47 <joo> Yes, Waldemar, I think the Sanctify rote covers that! Although I don't know if it will keep the zombies at bay indefinitely, holy water will probably be harmful to them.
03:47 <Vaylon> !r 2d6+2 Cast a Spell: Sanctify
03:47 <PageBot> Vaylon: 4=1+1(+2) Cast a Spell: Sanctify
03:47 <Theo> Ouch
03:48 <joo> Sparrow, the two statues block your path; however...
03:48 <Theo> Ah I was mistaken where I was placed. My attack goes to one of the statues
03:49 <joo> The spirit calls out to them, "Guardians! You have been remiss in your duties! My shrine is beset by foul creatures."
03:49 <joo> She floats forward and extends her arm, placing a hand on each of the statues' heads, and he green glow from their eyes fades, being replaced with a golden light.
03:50 <joo> The shrine guardians will join you in your attack, Sparrow!
03:50 <Theo> Woo!
03:51 <Theo> I think I'm getting tired. I'm misreading words and punctuation XD
03:51 <joo> Er, when I said "Waldemar" earlier, I meant "Hawthorn."
03:52 <Vaylon> That damage was to me?
03:52 <Vaylon> Oh!
03:52 <joo> Hawthorn, you feel like you've asked too much of your god, and your contact with it weakens.
03:52 <Vaylon> I see it, now.
03:52 <Vaylon> Oh, dear.
03:52 <joo> Take -1 ongoing to cast a spell.
03:52 <joo> The water remains Unholy.
03:53 <joo> (Heh, not really Unholy. Just mundane.)
03:53 <Vaylon> Non-holy.
03:53 <Vaylon> Right. Waldemar brandishes his holy symbol and tries to turn back the undead once more!
03:53 <Vaylon> !r 2d6+2 Turn Undead
03:53 <Bruce> You guys have issues.
03:53 <PageBot> Vaylon: 8=5+1(+2) Turn Undead
03:53 <joo> Sparrow, your sword pierces through the zombie attacking Waldemar, which falls limply, and the wooden guardians wade into the fray on either side, clearing away the zombies.
03:54 <Bruce> The real Waldemar will try to throw the zombies off of him and get behind the guardians so they can handle some of this bullshit.
03:54 <Bruce> Or, if that's no longer necessary, he'll just sprint there unmolested.
03:55 <Theo> Sparrow uses his foot to hold down the zombie whilst he withdraws his sword from it, trying to get behind the statues
03:56 <joo> Hawthorn's pendant glows with a holy light again, although not so fiercely as before. The zombies reel backwards, and the statues advance on them, breaking limbs and smashing heads.
03:56 <Vaylon> Hooray!
03:57 <Vaylon> They're on our side, now.
03:57 <Vaylon> Well, they're not against us, anyway.
03:57 <joo> The forest spirit floats up behind them, and looks out over the shrine. "What has happened to my beautiful forest?" She shrieks.
03:57 <Vaylon> Here's how I imagine the statues: webspace.webring.com/people/tu/um_12223/guard.jpg
03:58 <joo> Just big old wooden cylinders?
03:58 <Bruce> thats a fuckn fence m8
03:58 <joo> Well, I can't say I didn't consider it, but they're more anthopomorphic than that.
03:58 <joo> +r
03:58 <joo> The spirit presses her hands together and starts to chant in a powerful voice.
03:58 <Theo> Sparrow throws the dragonfly corpse in front of him, "It seems the swamp is flowing into your forest, kind spirit."
03:59 <joo> The ground rumbles, and vines burst forth from the ground beneath the zombies!
03:59 <Vaylon> Maybe we can recruit her into the party.
03:59 <Bruce> can u finish this dungy 4 us.
03:59 <joo> Hahaha.
04:00 <joo> The vines, which are thick and covered in sharp thorns, tear the zombies to pieces and start pulling them into the ground.
04:01 <joo> But the forest spirit floats forward and looks out of the door of her shrine, and starts to weep again.
04:01 <joo> The statues return to the their position guarding the offertory box.
04:02 <Vaylon> "Gentle spirit, I sensed you were afflicted by some malady -- can you tell me who or what did this to you?"
04:02 <joo> The spirit turns to Sparrow. "I fear you are right. There is an evil magic flowing in from the swamp. Even I was overcome by it, and I see it has turned many of my trees away from my will."
04:03 <Vaylon> Wow, joo really wants us to go to this swamp where we find... a THOUSAND DRAGONFLIES!
04:03 <Theo> LOL!
04:03 <joo> Hahah.
04:07 <joo> The spirit floats up into the air. "Brave adventurers, I thank you for freeing my mind. I commune with the parts of this forest still under my control to find the source of this evil. She spreads a hand over the shrine. "You may rest here. This place, at least, I can heal, and you will be protected while near me."
04:09 <Vaylon> Hawthorn breathes a sigh of relief. "Thank you, gentle spirit. We will honor you and the shrine."
04:09 <Bruce> Waldemar picks up his axe and straps it back to his belt. "This is turning into quite the story! Let us see it through, then, once we've rested."
04:09 <joo> Small shoots of green growth start to emerge from the floor, and vines snake up the walls. The wooden beams of the shrine, which were grey and decaying, seem to shine with new life.
04:10 <joo> A bed of soft grass replaces what was once a wooden floor in the lower room.
04:10 <Vaylon> "What is your name? If it is proper to say, or a name that we may call you."
04:11 <joo> Does anybody wish to suggest the local forest goddess's name?
04:12 <Theo> Dysus
04:12 <joo> Dysus, Goddess of Forests and Vacuum Cleaners.
04:13 <Theo> Totally!
04:13 <joo> That's acceptable.
04:14 <joo> She opens one eye and looks at you, Hawthorn. "Not many mortals have seen my true form," she says, "so it's true that I have not much to lose; but telling you my true name would be going to far, I think." She gives a faint smile. "But the mortals who used to worship me called me 'Dysus.'"
04:14 <joo> *too far
04:16 <Vaylon> Hawthorn bows. "Dysus, then." He turns to his comrades. "Well! I hope this is the story you were looking for, Waldemar. And you, Sparrow -- I hope we proved our bravery."
04:16 <Theo> Sparrow doesn't say anything, merely dropping four coins into the offerings box and sitting by one of the statues, cleaning his sword of zombie juice.
04:20 <Vaylon> Eww, zombie juice.
04:20 <Bruce> Waldemar sits down to rest. "Where next? I would like to see the mystery of what's happened here solved."
04:20 <joo> The coins clink as they drop into the box, as if falling among others. Dysus chuckles without opening her eyes. "It has been a long time since anyone has paid tribute to the shrine. Most come only seeking to plunder it. You and your companions have paid me more than any wealth can buy, though I appreciate the gesture."
04:23 <joo> This would be a good place to end the session, if everyone is in accord.
04:23 <Vaylon> I think so, yes. Time for some well-earned rest!
04:24 <Bruce> Sounds good to me.
04:24 <joo> !missed-rolls
04:24 <Theo> Yup
04:24 <PageBot> Missed rolls (estimated): Theo: 0 of 7, Vaylon: 1 of 6, Bruce: 1 of 4. Full list: <http://pastebin.com/JQrtmaCM>.
04:24 <joo> Did you learn anything new and important about the world?
04:25 <Theo> Something from the swamp is spreading corruption further afield
04:25 <joo> Yes, that counts.
04:25 <Theo> Enough to affect spirits
04:25 <Vaylon> And we learned the forest spirit's name and what happened to her.
04:25 <Bruce> We learned about the Spirit of the Forest, but not about the Secret of the Forest.
04:25 <Vaylon> Well, sort of what happened.
04:26 <joo> Did you overcome a notable monster or enemy? I will say you did overcome the corrupted forest spirit.
04:27 <Vaylon> Yep.
04:27 <joo> Did you loot a memorable treasure? Not yet.
04:28 <joo> Who satisfied their alignment move?
04:28 <Vaylon> I think I did: "Endanger yourself to heal another."
04:28 <Theo> I didn't
04:28 <joo> Certainly!
04:29 <joo> Sparrow almost satisfied his alignment move, but unfortunately he didn't avoid detection by the dragonflies.
04:29 <Bruce> No, I don't think I did.
04:30 <joo> Are there any bonds to resolve or form?
04:30 <Theo> Not for me
04:31 <Vaylon> Hmm.
04:32 <Vaylon> I'll resolve this bond: "Sparrow seems shady, but he isn't evil. I should determine whether or not it might behoove me to have him accompany me on future journeys."
04:33 <Vaylon> I'll replace it with this one: "Sparrow's quick thinking and acting came in handy. I'll have to persuade him to continue accompanying us."
04:33 <joo> Replace it with "im going to get rid of sparrow. he made me go into the w@er
"
04:33 <Vaylon> XD
04:34 <Theo> XD
04:36 <Vaylon> Is that bond okay, Theo?
04:36 <Theo> Yeah
04:39 <Vaylon> How much XP does everyone get?
04:41 <joo> If there are no further bonds, then Hawthorn gains 5 XP, and Sparrow and Waldemar gain 2 XP each. Then Waldemar has 5/8 XP, Sparrow 12/8, and Hawthorn 9/8.
04:41 <joo> Since you have an opportunity to rest, Sparrow and Hawthorn can level up in the next session, or even now, if you like.
04:41 <Vaylon> Yay!
04:42 <Theo> \o/
04:42 <Vaylon> I'll take some time to think about mine.
04:42 <Theo> I'll wait until the next session
04:43 <joo> I like the Improvisation that went on in this session.
04:43 <Bruce>
04:43 <joo> Oh, wait, I forgot 1 XP for Waldemar.
04:43 <Vaylon> XD
04:43 * Vaylon pats Bruce.
04:43 <joo> Waldemar has 6/8 XP. He still can't level up.
Quiet Log Time
31 May 2015
00:01 <joo> Who is ready to adventure?
00:02 <Theo> Just opening all my pages now
00:04 <Bruce> Born ready.
00:08 * Vaylon arrives.
00:09 <joo> Welcome.
00:11 <Vaylon> Thank yuo!
00:11 <Vaylon> Let us begin.
00:15 <joo> Your characters are in Arlingson's forest, by the path leading from the river to a shrine known to be in this forest, and you had just been fighting some unsavoury townspeople who followed you here, but were driven off by your defence.
00:16 <joo> Waldemar and Sparrow have moderate wounds, and Hawthorn is quite badly wounded, but he can still walk because he's such a beast.
00:16 <Theo> XD
00:16 <joo> What do you do?
00:17 <joo> It is now early evening, with the light just starting to visibly wane.
00:19 <Bruce> Hmm... do either of you guys have bandages?
00:19 <Theo> Sparrow looks to the sky, frowning slightly, "Darkness is upon us." he says softly, more to himself, "We 'ave a choice. Carry on forward, find shelter or head back."
00:20 <Theo> I don't have any
00:21 <Vaylon> Hmm.
00:21 <Vaylon> Hmm.
00:22 <Vaylon> I have 9/21 HP, right?
00:22 <joo> Yes.
00:22 <Vaylon> And are these correct for the others? Waldemar: 14/22, Sparrow: 16/19
00:22 <joo> Yes, indeed.
00:24 <Vaylon> Hawthorn frowns and shakes his head. "Some of my prayers are still with me, but I think it best to hold onto them for now. I have no bandages or medicine save for one potion, which I will retain in case of emergency. Let us press onward and try to lose Jenkins and his remaining men."
00:24 <Bruce> Waldemar nods. "Onward."
00:25 <joo> Is sparrow still dragging that dead dragonfly around? It's starting to attract some flies.
00:26 <joo> Oh, wait, no, it isn't.
00:26 <joo> Not yet!
00:26 <Vaylon> I thought the dragonfly corpse repelled flies?
00:26 <joo> Yes, it does.
00:26 <Bruce> Giant flies!
00:26 <joo> Hahah.
00:27 <joo> Eventually it will completely decay, presumably. It would be pretty disgusting to leave that in your backpack for a month.
00:27 <joo> In any event, the corpse has 1 weight.
00:28 <Bruce> The giant dragonfly corpse turns into snakes and they start biting you!
00:28 <joo> XD
00:28 <Theo> D:
00:29 <Vaylon>
00:29 <joo> Will you proceed down the path the way you were going before, then? If you take the dragonfly corpse with you, it lets off a musk that seems to repel insects in a short radius.
00:30 <Theo> Sparrow is keeping his corpse
00:30 <Vaylon> Yes, that's what we'll do, but Sparrow's our leader, it seems.
00:30 <Vaylon> And his course!
00:30 <joo> Of corpse.
00:30 <Theo> XD
00:31 <joo> You return to the site of your battle with the other dragonflies. Beyond, the path is almost completely dark. Do you proceed without a light?
00:31 <Theo> Sparrow nods at Hawthorn and hefts the dead dragonfly onto his back again, "On we go then." he says, a smirk on his face.
00:32 <Theo> Hmm...shall we have a lantern that attracts giant moths or not?
00:32 <Vaylon> Hawthorn holds his staff aloft and begins to pray.
00:33 <Vaylon> !r 2d6+2 Cast a Spell (Light)
00:33 <PageBot> Vaylon: 10=6+2(+2) Cast a Spell (Light)
00:33 <joo> This giant moth arrives, and it desires to join your party! img.thesun.co.uk/aidemitlum/archive/01586/Moths_1586867a.jpg
00:33 <joo> (joke)
00:33 <Theo> Recruit the moth!
00:33 <Vaylon> XD
00:34 <Vaylon> A soft white light appears from the top of his staff, lighting their way.
00:35 <Theo> Sparrow nods at Hawthorn and presses onward
00:35 <joo> The light from Hawthorn's staff sends out long shadows from the trees, and also illuminates a path of wet spongy earth and frequent clusters of ragged stone which continues downwards in a sloping curve, so that you cannot see what is at its end.
00:36 <joo> The sound of old, creaking wood comes from the trees on either side, and you can see some of the trees in the distance swaying, although this isn't a windy day.
00:38 <joo> You walk on for about an hour in these conditions until you come to a massive dead log, soaked with water and crawling with ants, that has fallen across the path.
00:38 <joo> The reek of stagnant marshy decay is at its strongest yet, here - and ahead, some natural light floods into the path.
00:39 <joo> Will you climb over the log and continue?
00:40 <Vaylon> So it's a fallen tree, really, right? A massive one?
00:40 <joo> Ah, yes. I should say "tree" rather than "log".
00:40 <Vaylon> What is the diameter of the log?
00:40 <joo> Hahaha.
00:40 <Bruce> www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3kmSJ8obuM
00:41 <joo> The average diameter of the log is 1.2 metres.
00:41 <joo> Its bark is black and gnarled, and overgrown also with fungus and creepers.
00:42 <Vaylon> Well, sure. Some of us could just leap over it. Like Sparrow, probably.
00:42 <Theo> Sparrow coughs and covers his mouth with his hand. He reaches out a foot and kicks the tree.
00:42 <Bruce> Ah, excellent. Waldemar sells one of the creepers all of his dragonfly corpses, waiting 24 hours between each transaction.
00:42 <Vaylon> LOL
00:43 <Theo> Sparrow looks around the log closely, checking for traps
00:43 <joo> Hahah.
00:44 <Theo> !r 2d6+2 (Trap expert)
00:44 <PageBot> Theo: 11=4+5(+2) (Trap expert)
00:45 <joo> Sparrow, you have 3 hold.
00:45 <Theo> joo, is there a trap here?
00:45 <joo> Oh, yes.
00:46 <joo> Sparrow, when you kick the log it gives a slightly hollow sound and some of the bark flakes away. With your sharp eyes, you can see something long and chitinous squirming under the log.
00:46 <Vaylon> Oh, dear.
00:47 <Theo> Sparrow looks around and frowns, bending to one knee, "Something smells off."
00:47 <Theo> joo, how is the trap activated
00:47 <joo> If somebody about the weight of a human were to climb over the log, they would fall through the rotten wood and be at the mercy of this creature.
00:48 <Theo> (In before "Kicking the log")
00:48 <joo> Hahaha.
00:48 <Theo> joo, what else is hidden here?
00:50 <joo> Hmm...
00:50 <joo> Nothing else is hidden in the immediate vicinity.
00:51 <Theo> Sparrow peers through the crack he made in the bark and backs away quickly, "We go around." he says hurriedly, walking briskly the path around the log.
00:52 <joo> Will you go around the root end or the branch end?
00:52 <Theo> Roots
00:53 <Vaylon> Whatever Theo says is fine with me.
00:54 <joo> Sparrow leads the way swiftly into the murk of the trees surrounding where this one fell. You come to where its roots (which are now sticking out at an unnatural angle from its bottom) used to be buried, and there's a pool of stinking muddy water, around which some opportunistic vines with bright red flowers have already begun sprouting.
00:56 <joo> The air seems thicker even this small distance into the forest, and the sounds of shifting branches and creaking trunks louder. However, you come to no harm, and emerge to the other side of the path.
00:57 <Vaylon> everythingwentbetterthanexpected.jpg
00:57 <Theo> XD
00:57 <Vaylon> Hawthorn turns around and peers at the log, then looks ahead. He glances at Sparrow. "This is the path to the shrine, yes?"
00:58 <joo> Ahead, there is a massive clearing in the forest. In the place of living trees, there's a large marshy pool with bits of dead tree sticking out of it. In the centre, a steep rocky hill rises again, where a few hardy trees - hawthornes and such - cling to the ground; and you can see that the path continues on the other side of the water up this hill.
00:58 <joo> But most importantly, hundreds of dragonflies hover over the water!
00:59 <Vaylon> Giant ones?
00:59 <joo> Uh, yes... giant dragonflies!
00:59 <Vaylon> ಠ_ಠ
00:59 <Theo> "As far as I know. Never come this far before." Sparrow comments over his shoulder, trudging onwards, stopping just before they reach the water with a muttered, "Fuck."
00:59 <Bruce> I suggest we: www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Tu3aljjIeY
01:01 <Bruce> I think joo and I are fighting to have more insects in our campaigns.
01:01 <joo> The rocky protrusion also extend to the right, creating a path over the water that disappears into the trees.
01:01 <Vaylon> Haha.
01:02 <Vaylon> What would be the point of going back?
01:03 <Bruce> I'm not really suggesting that.
01:04 <Vaylon> Hawthorn glances from Sparrow to Waldemar. "Have either of you gentlemen any ideas as to how to get past these creatures? It seems as though our path continues beyond them."
01:05 <joo> I should note also that the dragonflies are keeping mostly to the surface of the water. The ridge that extends to the West from the rocky hill into the forest seems to be free of them.
01:05 <joo> However, there's no obvious path to get there!
01:06 <Theo> Sparrow chuckles, "Aside running an' hiding?" He points to the rocky protrusion, "Could go over that. Keeping quiet. Or..." He grins, "'ow's yer swimming gentlemen?"
01:06 <joo> Some dragonflies nearer to the shore turn and regard your party with interest.
01:08 <Theo> Are there any reeds around?
01:08 <joo> Hmm... yes, there are some unhealthy-looking clumps of reeds along the shore.
01:08 <Vaylon> Hawthorn looks a bit flustered. "I cannot swim."
01:09 <Bruce> Hawthorn, cast Cure Light Wounds on the reeds.
01:09 <joo> Hahah.
01:09 <Vaylon> Or Purify
01:11 <Theo> Okay. I say we take the reeds and swim across
01:12 <Theo> Defy danger quick thinking
01:12 <joo> Good idea. Hawthorne can probably survive by himself.
01:12 <Bruce> Hahaha.
01:12 <Theo> XD
01:13 <Vaylon> All right, how do you want to handle that, joo?
01:14 <joo> Is Hawthorne going to enter the water?
01:16 <Vaylon> Yes.
01:16 <Bruce> Put the dead dragonfly on Hawthorne's head, and Waldemar will carry him on his shoulders as he swims.
01:16 <Vaylon> Haha.
01:16 <Vaylon> Okay!
01:17 <Theo> !r 2d6 (Defy Danger: Quick Thinking)
01:17 <PageBot> Theo: 7=4+3 (Defy Danger: Quick Thinking)
01:17 <joo> You start to put your demented plan into action.
01:18 <Theo> Well...it wasn't a total fail >_>
01:20 <joo> ...however, you're not fast enough to avoid attracting the attention of a number of dragonflies. You all manage to submerge yourselves, with Waldemar keeping Hawthorn afloat from beneath, and using long hollow pieces of reed to breathe from, just before the dragonflies reach you. But from the murky water (which stings your eyes, but is just about tolerable), you can see their shadows hovering ...
01:20 <joo> ... above the water.
01:21 <Vaylon> Well, then.
01:22 <Theo> Sparrow silently curses himself from below the surface of the water, looking up at the shadows, for ever thinking of this ridiculous idea.
01:22 <joo> Hawthorn, your staff continues to glow even underwater! You can see some eels and other strangely shaped fish swimming in these waters.
01:23 <Vaylon> Oh, good.
01:23 <joo> You're able to make it to the opposite shore, but still the giant dragonflies dance above the surface, seeming to wait for you to emerge.
01:24 <Bruce> I suppose it's too late to trade Hawthorne to the dragonflies in exchange for mercy.
01:25 <Vaylon> Stealthily, Hawthorn takes out some pieces of meat from his supplies and tosses it high up into the air!
01:25 <Vaylon> I'm going to try to distract the dragonflies long enough to get us out of here.
01:25 <joo> Your food is going to get pretty 144.
01:25 <Vaylon> No, that food is gone, man.
01:26 <Vaylon> I'll use four rations.
01:26 <Bruce> Waldemar will see about that later.
01:27 <joo> Hmm... very well. You throw some Chunks of Meat into the air, and the dragonflies dive at it. You all have a small moment to get under cover.
01:27 <Bruce> Under cover? It's time to bounce, m8.
01:28 <Vaylon> Yeah, it's time for us to get out of here.
01:28 <joo> But presumably you want to get out of sight of the dragonflies.
01:28 <joo> Where indeed the onward path leads.
01:28 <Vaylon> Yeah.
01:28 <joo> Everybody defy danger with DEX!
01:29 <Theo> !r 2d6+2
01:29 <PageBot> Theo: 8=4+2(+2)
01:29 <Vaylon> !r 2d6-1 Defy Danger (DEX)
01:29 <PageBot> Vaylon: 9=6+4(-1) Defy Danger (DEX)
01:29 <Theo> How the fuck did you roll higher than me???
01:29 <joo> Heh.
01:30 <Bruce> And I'm about to get a full success.
01:30 <Bruce> !r 2d6-1 Defy Danger With DEX
01:30 <PageBot> Bruce: 6=1+6(-1) Defy Danger With DEX
01:30 <joo> Hahaha.
01:30 <Bruce> o.
01:30 <joo> Your hubris has been repaid!
01:30 <Bruce> *actually just wanted some facking xp*
01:36 <joo> Waldemar, as you clamber heavily up the slimy shore of the swampy waters, your foot sinks into some soft mud, and suddenly a noxious gas bubbles up from the water.
01:36 <Bruce> Here we go. I'm going to die high as fuck.
01:37 <joo> The disturbance causes further bubbles of gas to rise from the water further away... and green, sickly flames are ignited above the water's surface. In the flame, emaciated faces appear and turns their eyes on Waldemar.
01:37 <joo> Further up the path, a mournful howling is heard, and a foul wind blows down the path.
01:38 <joo> You all manage to escape up the path, but a horde of dragonflies comes after you.
01:38 <joo> What do you do?!
01:39 <Vaylon> wat
01:41 <Bruce> Damn. Dragonflies and ghosts.
01:41 <Bruce> Let's see if we can get them to fight each other.
01:42 <Theo> I like that idea
01:42 <Vaylon> Is there anything preventing us from going forward down this path?
01:42 <joo> I'm sure the dragonflies will fuck the ghosts up.
01:43 <Vaylon> Well, I'm not having of this ghost shit.
01:44 <Vaylon> Hawthorn raises his pendant. "Spirits of the dead, begone!"
01:44 <joo> No, there's nothing blocking the rocky path among dead and barely alive trees that goes up the side of this hill.
01:44 <Vaylon> !r 2d6+2 Turn Undead
01:44 <PageBot> Vaylon: 11=4+5(+2) Turn Undead
01:44 <Bruce> Damn, I forgot about that move.
01:44 <joo> Hawthorn, if you take the time to do that, the dragonflies will surely catch up with you.
01:45 <Bruce> Hawthorne transforms into a ghost and joins them against us.
01:45 <joo> Hahah.
01:45 <Vaylon> I will if you don't get these dragonflies off me.
01:45 <Bruce> Waldemar will stand in Hawthorne's defense.
01:45 <Vaylon> So be it!
01:46 <Vaylon> Let's try to go down the path as quickly as we can while fighting off the dragonflies.
01:46 <Theo> I'll also stand in his defence
01:46 <Bruce> !r 2d6+2 Defend Hawthorne
01:46 <PageBot> Bruce: 9=2+5(+2) Defend Hawthorne
01:47 <Theo> !r 2d6+1 Defend Howthorne
01:47 <PageBot> Theo: 10=3+6(+1) Defend Howthorne
01:47 <joo> Deity: The Firebringer (euphemism)
01:47 <joo> What does that mean?
01:47 <Vaylon> That's a euphemism for the god's name (which I'm too lazy to think of).
01:47 <joo> Oh.
01:48 <Bruce> The Howthorne? Let's hope the Wherethorne doesn't make an appearance.
01:48 <Vaylon> Hahaha.
01:48 <Theo> Oops XD
01:48 <joo> Hahah.
01:49 <Theo> I have no excuse
01:49 <joo> Well, Hawthorn holds his fire opal pendant aloft with conviction, and it shines with a wholeseme fiery light, challenging the sickly green glow of the flames. The faces turn into visages of fear, and then they go out like blown candle flames.
01:50 <joo> As long as you continue to brandish your holy symbol, no undead may come within reach of you.
01:50 <joo> However, the dragonflies are not deterred by this, and they swarm at Hawthorn from all sides. Sparrow has 3 hold and Waldemar 1 in defending Hawthorn.
01:51 <joo> Dragonflies dive at Hawthorn, attracted by his lights. What do you do?
01:52 <Vaylon> Hawthorn continues to pray and hold aloft the holy pendant as the two men leap to his defense.
01:52 <Bruce> Waldemar redirects the attack to himself.
01:53 <joo> Waldemar leaps into the midst of the dragonflies, and they decide he looks much more succelent than the priest. Five dragonflies attempt to bite you at once, Waldemar.
01:53 <joo> What is Sparrow doing?
01:53 <Theo> Sparrow unsheathe his blades, muttering "Time to play." before running at one of the dragonflies
01:53 <joo> Is that a use of your Defend hold?
01:54 <Theo> No, because Waldemar used his
01:54 <Theo> Unless there are more dragonflies on Hawthorne?
01:55 <joo> Hmm... well, I'll say that your hold still counts for those dragonflies at this moment, since you're acting simultaneously to Waldemar.
01:55 <Theo> All right then
01:59 <Vaylon> I'm going to be a while. Don't let me die! >_>
01:59 <joo> IRL, Vaylon?
01:59 <joo> What does Sparrow do, then?
02:00 <joo> You can still attack a Dragonfly, of course, but you'll lose the option of losing your hold if you do that.
02:00 <joo> *of using
02:01 <Theo> I shall halve the damage or effect of the attack
02:02 <joo> !r d4+4 / 2 -- damage to Waldemar
02:02 <PageBot> joo: 6=2(+4) / 2 -- damage to Waldemar
02:02 <joo> Waldemar loses 2 HP.
02:03 <joo> Hawthorn is longer distracted by his incantation. He will come with you if you choose to flee now. What do you do?
02:04 <Theo> I saw we try flee
02:05 <Bruce> Yes, let us Bounce.
02:07 <Vaylon> Sorry about that.
02:08 <Bruce> r u ok.
02:08 <Vaylon> Mom and Michael forced me to sit and look at their vacation pictures. Thankfully there weren't too many.
02:08 <joo> Heh.
02:09 <joo> Very well. You certainly can do that. No roll is necessary... for now. You run along the upward-sloping rocky path, the dragonflies following behind you. As you turn a corner, the view opens up to a large wooden arch, painted in flaking red, consisting of two legs and a top piece that curves downwards and extends from the sides. It looks like this: ...
02:09 <joo> ... <http://cache-graphicslib.viator.com/graphicslib/media/02/hakone-shinto-shrine-photo_997634-770tall.jpg>.
02:09 <Vaylon>
02:09 <joo> Beyond it, the path resolves into a worn set of stone steps, which lead up to a squat wooden building.
02:10 <joo> Shadows taking the vague shapes of men, which were hovering about the building, recede from Hawthorn's light.
02:11 <Vaylon> Huffing and puffing after the long bout of continuing prayer and from fleeing from the dragonflies, Hawthorn looks up at the decaying structure in interest. Hawthorn glances at Waldemar and nods to the structure, still holding his symbol aloft.
02:13 <joo> Around the building are decayed, long-dead traces of vegetation... and what look like torn clothing and armour.
02:14 <Theo> Sparrow sighs and gestures around himself, "Well, here we are."
02:15 <Bruce> Waldemar looks back. Is the dragonfly horde still following them?
02:15 <joo> Yes, indeed, the dragonflies are still close on your tail.
02:15 <Vaylon> Oh, shit.
02:16 <Vaylon> www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9J5tYShNY8
02:17 <Theo> XD
02:18 <joo> The shrine has a large wooden gate, currently ajar, leading into its until interior.
02:18 <joo> *unlit
02:19 <Vaylon> Well, no time to dawdle, gentlemen. Hurry up, let's go inside!
02:19 <Theo> Sparrow looks at the pair, and nods at Hawthorn, gesturing them both inside before him
02:19 <Bruce> Waldemar starts sprinting, and prays that the giant dragonflies haven't yet learned how to operate doors.
02:21 <Vaylon> Hawthorn hurries up after Waldemar.
02:22 <Theo> Sparrow follows behind
02:22 <joo> Give me a minute. I'm making a peanut butter and strawberry jam sandwich.
02:23 <Theo> I have bacon sandwiches
02:23 <Vaylon> I have chocolate chip and toffee cookies.
02:23 <Bruce> I have nothing.
02:23 <joo> Hahahah.
02:23 <Vaylon> Haha.
02:32 <joo> You pass the threshold of shrine's gateway, and enter the building. To the left and right are pairs of stone basins, one below empty and with a sink hole, and one above brimming with now unclean and slimy water.
02:33 <joo> A short passageway extends into a large room before you... in which stand human corpses in varying stages of decay, that look at you with slightly glowing green eyes.
02:34 <joo> But they back away slowly before Hawthorn's light towards the edges of the room, exposing a view to a set of steps leading up to another chamber, from which a green-gold glow and the sound of weeping comes.
02:35 <joo> Around the edges of the room are carved wooden statues, now wet and covered in moss.
02:36 <Vaylon> Are the dragonflies still on our tails?
02:36 <Theo> Sparrow gips at the sight and smell before him, taking a moment to compose himself.
02:37 <joo> The dragonflies approach the threshold of the shrine, but none venture to enter, rather just hovering there uncertainly.
02:41 <Vaylon> Well, I can't blame them.
02:42 * Vaylon pokes Bruce. "You still playing?"
02:42 <Bruce> Waldemar grits his teeth, pulling out his axe and watching the corpses walk back. "What evil must have taken hold of this place." He whispers.
02:42 <Theo> Sparrow looks behind him, his mouth set in a grim line, "I'm starting to wish the dragonflies had taken me."
02:43 <Vaylon> Hawthorn can't stop praying, right?
02:43 <Vaylon> I mean, he could, but that would the turn undead effect, right?
02:44 <joo> Yes, indeed. If he stopped praying or holding the symbol aloft, the effect would end. That means he can do something with his other hand, I suppose, but probably not fight with a staff.
02:45 <Vaylon> Okay.
02:45 <Vaylon> Well, it's up to you guys to figure out what's going on, now.
02:45 <Vaylon> We're boned.
02:46 <Theo> I'd say discern realities, but my wisdom is through the floor
02:48 <Bruce> Waldemar points towards the steps. "Hawthorne, lead us onward, if you can keep these spirits away."
02:48 <Theo> Sparrow looks to the others, nodding at Waldemar.
02:49 <Vaylon> Hawthorn nods at Hawthorne and uncertainly begins to walk up the steps to the next chamber.
02:50 <Vaylon> Fuck.
02:50 <joo> Hahaha.
02:50 <Theo> LOL!
02:50 <joo> Hawthorn and Hawthorne, the ghost-busting superhero team.
02:50 <Vaylon> You guys should stop misspelling my name.
02:50 <Vaylon> Hawthorn nods at Waldemar!
02:52 <Theo> Sparrow follows reluctantly, his sword at the ready
02:54 <joo> In the middle of the next chamber is an offertory box. Above it floats the translucent, wispy figure of a woman, who glows with golden-green light, larger in scale than a real human being, who is garbed in leaves; but her eyes are dark and sunken and her skin sallow. Her hair appears like strands of moss, and tears flow from her eyes, pooling on the floor.
02:55 <joo> She looks at the approaching humans and her faces becomes twisted with anger, and she screams, long and piercing.
02:55 <Bruce> Does anyone have a few coins to tip this ghost?
02:55 <joo> Two wooden statues on either side of the entrance to this room suddenly straighten and move to block the entrance.
02:57 <Vaylon> We all have coins, I think.
02:57 <Vaylon> Is the box intended to accept money?
02:57 <joo> "Begond, intruders!" The woman screams, and the statues open their eyes, which glow with green, and advance towards you.
02:58 <Theo> Sparrow takes a few coins from his belt pouch, hesitantly stepping forward, "Please. We come to pay respects to your shrine."
02:58 <joo> Yes, the box has long slots on top that accept coins, but prevent someone from reaching in and taking its contents.
02:59 <joo> The statues are of tall men in a strange, archaic garb. One of the comes at you, Sparrow, and draws back its fist to punch you!
02:59 <joo> *them
02:59 <joo> The apparition of the woman appears to ignore your words.
03:00 <Bruce> Waldemar swings out with his axe, to chop that statue's wooden arm apart!
03:00 <Theo> "Shit. She's lost." Sparrow curses, attempting to move out of the way of the oncoming punch.
03:01 <Theo> !r 2d6+2 Defy Danger (+Dex)
03:01 <PageBot> Theo: 10=4+4(+2) Defy Danger (+Dex)
03:01 <Vaylon> Hawthorn hesitates to approach the offertory box, after which it seems to be too late.
03:02 <joo> Sparrow, the statue lumbers at you and throws a heavy punch, which you evade. Waldemar, you can deal your damage against this statue; but the other statue is now moving to attack you.
03:02 <Bruce> !r d6 Damage to statue
03:02 <PageBot> Bruce: 2 Damage to statue
03:02 <joo> Hawthorn, the undead behind are gathered around the edge of your circle of light, watching you intently.
03:03 <Vaylon> This moment affords Hawthorn the opportunity to study this situation and the spirit before him.
03:03 <Vaylon> He can do this while continuing to pray, correct?
03:04 <joo> Yes, I'm sure he can.
03:04 <Vaylon> !r 2d6+2 Discern Realities
03:04 <PageBot> Vaylon: 10=4+4(+2) Discern Realities
03:04 <Vaylon> What should I be on the lookout for?
03:05 <Theo> After successfully evading the oncoming statue, Sparrow turns his attention to the statue going for Waldemar, running at it with a cry.
03:06 <joo> Waldemar, your axe leaves groove in the wood of the statue's arm, but doesn't sever it. You also knock it back a bit with the force of your blow. The other statue is coming at you from the side, aiming a low punch at your torso.
03:08 <joo> Hawthorn, you should be on the lookout for the spirit before you, who is an immortal spirit of great power, you sense, but not undead. She seems also to command influence over the entities within this shrine, such as the statues, which she could use against you.
03:08 <Bruce> Hmm... Waldemar will brace himself to endure this punch, and reaches for a torch from his adventuring gear at the same time.
03:08 <joo> And of course there are the undead humans behind you.
03:09 <joo> Is Sparrow doing anything else while running at it, or is he just playing Chicken?
03:10 <Vaylon> What here is not what it appears to be?
03:10 <Theo> Sparrow is going to try use backstab on it whilst it's distracted going after Waldemar
03:11 <Theo> Actually, I will just roll damage for backstab rather than try for extras
03:11 <Theo> !r d8
03:11 <PageBot> Theo: 1
03:11 <joo> Which of your 4 weapons will you use?
03:11 <Theo> \o/
03:12 <joo> I'll note that stabbing a wooden statue probably won't be very effective, but cutting with a sword might be.
03:12 <Theo> Yes, I was about to say longsword
03:13 <joo> Hawthorn, you sense that while this spirit appears to be malevolent and evil, it is, at its core, not a wicked being. Rather, it has been corrupted by some magical influence.
03:14 <Vaylon> What is about to happen?
03:14 <joo> Waldemar, defy danger with CON to endure the punch.
03:14 <joo> You may roll to Backstab, Sparrow!
03:15 <Vaylon> She opted not to roll.
03:15 <joo> Oh, I see.
03:16 <joo> Sparrow draws his new longsword, which shines in the light from Hawthorn's magic, and hews at the statue from behind, sending splinters of wood flying.
03:17 <Bruce> !r 2d6+2 Defy Danger with CON
03:17 <PageBot> Bruce: 10=2+6(+2) Defy Danger with CON
03:18 <joo> Hawthorn, you can sense that the spirit is growing angry, and could very soon attack the party personally.
03:19 <joo> Waldemar, you absorb the punch with your flab, giving you enough time to light a torch! What do you do now?
03:20 <Vaylon> "Stop! Stop!" cries Hawthorn, thrusting out his staff in front of Waldemar. "There's goodness in this spirit left!"
03:21 <Theo> "Then how so we stop these blasted things trying to attack us?" Sparrow shouts back, pulling his longsword from his current statue's back.
03:21 <joo> The walking corpses at the foot of the stairs groan, and shamble towards Hawthorn.
03:22 <joo> Sparrow, the statue turns to you, raising one arm to defend itself, and bringing the other one down in a chop.
03:23 <Bruce> Waldemar quickly lights up his torch, holding it out and backing away, and looks to Hawthorn. "What can be done? The battle is joined!"
03:24 <Theo> Sparrow tries to evade the chop by leaping backwards
03:24 <Theo> !r 2d6+2 Defy Danger (+Dex)
03:24 <PageBot> Theo: 12=5+5(+2) Defy Danger (+Dex)
03:24 <Vaylon> "Forest spirit, please, we beseech you. We only came as pilgrims." He puts all of his coins in the offertory box, and he stares at the spirit with a pleading look in his eyes. With that, he turns to Waldemar, snatching the torch from him, and he slowly sprinkles one of his healing potions on the flames.
03:25 <Vaylon> Not quickly enough to put out the torch, mind you.
03:25 <Vaylon> "Firebringer, I ask you for this boon: purge her of her ilness!"
03:26 <joo> In which direction is Waldemar backing away?
03:26 <Bruce> Waldemar's reaction: new1.fjcdn.com/thumbnails/comments/4658039+_88acfd77c853b744b3eb04e5bbdb1597.jpg
03:26 <Bruce> Backwards.
03:27 <joo> Which way is that?
03:27 <Bruce> Probably back towards the zombies.
03:27 <joo> Very well.
03:27 <joo> Waldemar, you feel bony fingers clawing at your back, and a pair of slimy hands snakes around your neck.
03:28 <Theo> And that was the last we saw of Waldemar. GG
03:29 <joo> Sparrow, you leap back dexterously, and even manage to avoid landing amid the zombies! But both statues now stride towards you angrily.
03:29 <Bruce> Waldemar lets his axe fall to the floor, roars, and turns around to punch anything behind him in the facking face with his brass knuckles.
03:29 <joo> However...
03:31 <joo> Hawthorn, you trickle the healing potion onto the naked flame, and it spits and bubbles, evaporating into a reddish cloud.
03:31 <Bruce> Let's get high.
03:32 <joo> The forest spirit starts striding towards your angrily with her hands held out, fingernails long and green, curved like claws... but at that moment, the cloud of evaporate wafts towards her, and starts to surround her.
03:33 <joo> Waldemar, roll Hack and Slash!
03:33 <Bruce> !r 2d6+1 Hack and Bash
03:33 <PageBot> Bruce: 10=3+6(+1) Hack and Bash
03:33 <Bruce> Waldemar puts all of his weight into the punch.
03:34 <Bruce> !r d6 d6 Damage to zombie
03:34 <PageBot> Bruce: 2 3 Damage to zombie
03:36 <joo> Aided by the brass knuckles, your fist smashes into the zombie's decaying ribcage and almost breaks its spine. It reels backwards.
03:38 <joo> Hawthorn, the forest spirit shines with a golden light! She starts to look less sickly, and she lets out a long sigh, stopping where she is.
03:39 <Vaylon> Hawthorn grasps a flask of water from his rations and begins to pray.
03:40 <Bruce> Does this dude even have rations anymore?
03:40 <joo> She looks about her, confused. "Priest of the Fire God, what trick is this? What has become of my shrine?"
03:40 <Theo> Do I still have two defend hold from earlier?
03:40 <joo> No, that hold doesn't apply anymore, since you aren't defending the same thing.
03:41 <Theo> Yeah Vay just told me. Thanks
03:41 <Bruce> I see you guys have been working on your telepathy.
03:41 <Theo> Yup!
03:42 <Vaylon> I'm surprised you haven't heard me yet.
03:43 <joo> Waldemar, the undead clamber up the stairs, almost surrounding you. You feel hands grip your legs and try to pull you off your feet. Another half-decayed corpse leaps at you with its mouth open, ready to bite you!
03:43 <Vaylon> Hawthorn says to the spirit, "I know not yet, gentle spirit, but I intend to discover the reason for it." He turns to the zombies. "Please, spirits, be at peace! Stand down! We mean you no harm!"
03:43 <joo> Needless to say, the smell alone is difficult to bear.
03:43 <joo> What is Hawthorn trying to do with the water?
03:44 <Theo> Sparrow runs toward Waldemar, sword poised to try run the zombie about to attack Waldemar through.
03:44 <Vaylon> He's going to try to sanctify the water to make it holy and then sprinkle it around the room to keep the zombies at bay.
03:44 <Vaylon> Can he try that?
03:45 <Theo> !r 2d6 (Hack and Slash)
03:45 <PageBot> Theo: 10=5+5 (Hack and Slash)
03:46 <Theo> I'll avoid damage
03:46 <joo> Oh, I almost forgot.
03:46 <joo> !r d4+2 -- damage to Waldemar
03:46 <PageBot> joo: 6=4(+2) -- damage to Waldemar
03:46 <Theo> !r d8+1
03:46 <PageBot> Theo: 7=6(+1)
03:47 <joo> Yes, Waldemar, I think the Sanctify rote covers that! Although I don't know if it will keep the zombies at bay indefinitely, holy water will probably be harmful to them.
03:47 <Vaylon> !r 2d6+2 Cast a Spell: Sanctify
03:47 <PageBot> Vaylon: 4=1+1(+2) Cast a Spell: Sanctify
03:47 <Theo> Ouch
03:48 <joo> Sparrow, the two statues block your path; however...
03:48 <Theo> Ah I was mistaken where I was placed. My attack goes to one of the statues
03:49 <joo> The spirit calls out to them, "Guardians! You have been remiss in your duties! My shrine is beset by foul creatures."
03:49 <joo> She floats forward and extends her arm, placing a hand on each of the statues' heads, and he green glow from their eyes fades, being replaced with a golden light.
03:50 <joo> The shrine guardians will join you in your attack, Sparrow!
03:50 <Theo> Woo!
03:51 <Theo> I think I'm getting tired. I'm misreading words and punctuation XD
03:51 <joo> Er, when I said "Waldemar" earlier, I meant "Hawthorn."
03:52 <Vaylon> That damage was to me?
03:52 <Vaylon> Oh!
03:52 <joo> Hawthorn, you feel like you've asked too much of your god, and your contact with it weakens.
03:52 <Vaylon> I see it, now.
03:52 <Vaylon> Oh, dear.
03:52 <joo> Take -1 ongoing to cast a spell.
03:52 <joo> The water remains Unholy.
03:53 <joo> (Heh, not really Unholy. Just mundane.)
03:53 <Vaylon> Non-holy.
03:53 <Vaylon> Right. Waldemar brandishes his holy symbol and tries to turn back the undead once more!
03:53 <Vaylon> !r 2d6+2 Turn Undead
03:53 <Bruce> You guys have issues.
03:53 <PageBot> Vaylon: 8=5+1(+2) Turn Undead
03:53 <joo> Sparrow, your sword pierces through the zombie attacking Waldemar, which falls limply, and the wooden guardians wade into the fray on either side, clearing away the zombies.
03:54 <Bruce> The real Waldemar will try to throw the zombies off of him and get behind the guardians so they can handle some of this bullshit.
03:54 <Bruce> Or, if that's no longer necessary, he'll just sprint there unmolested.
03:55 <Theo> Sparrow uses his foot to hold down the zombie whilst he withdraws his sword from it, trying to get behind the statues
03:56 <joo> Hawthorn's pendant glows with a holy light again, although not so fiercely as before. The zombies reel backwards, and the statues advance on them, breaking limbs and smashing heads.
03:56 <Vaylon> Hooray!
03:57 <Vaylon> They're on our side, now.
03:57 <Vaylon> Well, they're not against us, anyway.
03:57 <joo> The forest spirit floats up behind them, and looks out over the shrine. "What has happened to my beautiful forest?" She shrieks.
03:57 <Vaylon> Here's how I imagine the statues: webspace.webring.com/people/tu/um_12223/guard.jpg
03:58 <joo> Just big old wooden cylinders?
03:58 <Bruce> thats a fuckn fence m8
03:58 <joo> Well, I can't say I didn't consider it, but they're more anthopomorphic than that.
03:58 <joo> +r
03:58 <joo> The spirit presses her hands together and starts to chant in a powerful voice.
03:58 <Theo> Sparrow throws the dragonfly corpse in front of him, "It seems the swamp is flowing into your forest, kind spirit."
03:59 <joo> The ground rumbles, and vines burst forth from the ground beneath the zombies!
03:59 <Vaylon> Maybe we can recruit her into the party.
03:59 <Bruce> can u finish this dungy 4 us.
03:59 <joo> Hahaha.
04:00 <joo> The vines, which are thick and covered in sharp thorns, tear the zombies to pieces and start pulling them into the ground.
04:01 <joo> But the forest spirit floats forward and looks out of the door of her shrine, and starts to weep again.
04:01 <joo> The statues return to the their position guarding the offertory box.
04:02 <Vaylon> "Gentle spirit, I sensed you were afflicted by some malady -- can you tell me who or what did this to you?"
04:02 <joo> The spirit turns to Sparrow. "I fear you are right. There is an evil magic flowing in from the swamp. Even I was overcome by it, and I see it has turned many of my trees away from my will."
04:03 <Vaylon> Wow, joo really wants us to go to this swamp where we find... a THOUSAND DRAGONFLIES!
04:03 <Theo> LOL!
04:03 <joo> Hahah.
04:07 <joo> The spirit floats up into the air. "Brave adventurers, I thank you for freeing my mind. I commune with the parts of this forest still under my control to find the source of this evil. She spreads a hand over the shrine. "You may rest here. This place, at least, I can heal, and you will be protected while near me."
04:09 <Vaylon> Hawthorn breathes a sigh of relief. "Thank you, gentle spirit. We will honor you and the shrine."
04:09 <Bruce> Waldemar picks up his axe and straps it back to his belt. "This is turning into quite the story! Let us see it through, then, once we've rested."
04:09 <joo> Small shoots of green growth start to emerge from the floor, and vines snake up the walls. The wooden beams of the shrine, which were grey and decaying, seem to shine with new life.
04:10 <joo> A bed of soft grass replaces what was once a wooden floor in the lower room.
04:10 <Vaylon> "What is your name? If it is proper to say, or a name that we may call you."
04:11 <joo> Does anybody wish to suggest the local forest goddess's name?
04:12 <Theo> Dysus
04:12 <joo> Dysus, Goddess of Forests and Vacuum Cleaners.
04:13 <Theo> Totally!
04:13 <joo> That's acceptable.
04:14 <joo> She opens one eye and looks at you, Hawthorn. "Not many mortals have seen my true form," she says, "so it's true that I have not much to lose; but telling you my true name would be going to far, I think." She gives a faint smile. "But the mortals who used to worship me called me 'Dysus.'"
04:14 <joo> *too far
04:16 <Vaylon> Hawthorn bows. "Dysus, then." He turns to his comrades. "Well! I hope this is the story you were looking for, Waldemar. And you, Sparrow -- I hope we proved our bravery."
04:16 <Theo> Sparrow doesn't say anything, merely dropping four coins into the offerings box and sitting by one of the statues, cleaning his sword of zombie juice.
04:20 <Vaylon> Eww, zombie juice.
04:20 <Bruce> Waldemar sits down to rest. "Where next? I would like to see the mystery of what's happened here solved."
04:20 <joo> The coins clink as they drop into the box, as if falling among others. Dysus chuckles without opening her eyes. "It has been a long time since anyone has paid tribute to the shrine. Most come only seeking to plunder it. You and your companions have paid me more than any wealth can buy, though I appreciate the gesture."
04:23 <joo> This would be a good place to end the session, if everyone is in accord.
04:23 <Vaylon> I think so, yes. Time for some well-earned rest!
04:24 <Bruce> Sounds good to me.
04:24 <joo> !missed-rolls
04:24 <Theo> Yup
04:24 <PageBot> Missed rolls (estimated): Theo: 0 of 7, Vaylon: 1 of 6, Bruce: 1 of 4. Full list: <http://pastebin.com/JQrtmaCM>.
04:24 <joo> Did you learn anything new and important about the world?
04:25 <Theo> Something from the swamp is spreading corruption further afield
04:25 <joo> Yes, that counts.
04:25 <Theo> Enough to affect spirits
04:25 <Vaylon> And we learned the forest spirit's name and what happened to her.
04:25 <Bruce> We learned about the Spirit of the Forest, but not about the Secret of the Forest.
04:25 <Vaylon> Well, sort of what happened.
04:26 <joo> Did you overcome a notable monster or enemy? I will say you did overcome the corrupted forest spirit.
04:27 <Vaylon> Yep.
04:27 <joo> Did you loot a memorable treasure? Not yet.
04:28 <joo> Who satisfied their alignment move?
04:28 <Vaylon> I think I did: "Endanger yourself to heal another."
04:28 <Theo> I didn't
04:28 <joo> Certainly!
04:29 <joo> Sparrow almost satisfied his alignment move, but unfortunately he didn't avoid detection by the dragonflies.
04:29 <Bruce> No, I don't think I did.
04:30 <joo> Are there any bonds to resolve or form?
04:30 <Theo> Not for me
04:31 <Vaylon> Hmm.
04:32 <Vaylon> I'll resolve this bond: "Sparrow seems shady, but he isn't evil. I should determine whether or not it might behoove me to have him accompany me on future journeys."
04:33 <Vaylon> I'll replace it with this one: "Sparrow's quick thinking and acting came in handy. I'll have to persuade him to continue accompanying us."
04:33 <joo> Replace it with "im going to get rid of sparrow. he made me go into the w@er
"04:33 <Vaylon> XD
04:34 <Theo> XD
04:36 <Vaylon> Is that bond okay, Theo?
04:36 <Theo> Yeah
04:39 <Vaylon> How much XP does everyone get?
04:41 <joo> If there are no further bonds, then Hawthorn gains 5 XP, and Sparrow and Waldemar gain 2 XP each. Then Waldemar has 5/8 XP, Sparrow 12/8, and Hawthorn 9/8.
04:41 <joo> Since you have an opportunity to rest, Sparrow and Hawthorn can level up in the next session, or even now, if you like.
04:41 <Vaylon> Yay!
04:42 <Theo> \o/
04:42 <Vaylon> I'll take some time to think about mine.
04:42 <Theo> I'll wait until the next session
04:43 <joo> I like the Improvisation that went on in this session.
04:43 <Bruce>
04:43 <joo> Oh, wait, I forgot 1 XP for Waldemar.
04:43 <Vaylon> XD
04:43 * Vaylon pats Bruce.
04:43 <joo> Waldemar has 6/8 XP. He still can't level up.