10. Chicken of the Woods
Nov 29, 2015 8:08:58 GMT
Post by joo on Nov 29, 2015 8:08:58 GMT
Session 10
Chicken of the Woods
29 November 2015
00:40 <joo> In the last session, you travelled with the magician Ira back from the now-sealed tomb of Owtheus to her home in the south-eastern reaches of Arlingson's Forest. There you stayed the night, and did various things.
00:42 <joo> Now it is the morning, you are all rested and healed, and your packs are full of supplies. The world lies before you: <http://i.imgur.com/7ucuR6Y.png>. What will you do next?
00:43 <Vaylon> Do you have a link to the Pastebin which describes the Bonds of Fire?
00:43 <joo> Vaylon: it is now described here: wrymrpg.proboards.com/thread/309/custom-items-spells
00:43 <Bruce> Damn. This is the whole world?
00:43 <Theo> Was it gold thread I stole? I can't remember.
00:44 <joo> Sparrow stole a pool of gold thread (worth 200 coins), and some curious-looking purple-blue gemstones.
00:44 <Vaylon> joo: Thanks.
00:44 <joo> ...a spool.
00:44 <joo> Both are 0 weight.
00:46 <joo> Sparrow is also carrying around a stinking dragonfly corpse like some kind of hobo, and he still has an unidentified vial of clear liquid.
00:47 <Theo> Ha! I still have that? XD
00:47 <joo> As far as I know.
00:47 <Theo> Sparrow asks Ira if she has any use for the corpse.
00:47 <joo> Hahahah.
00:48 <joo> Ira wrinkles her nose. "So that's what that smell was coming from. Thanks goodness - I thought it was just you."
00:49 <joo> She says, "The carapace of dragonflies both common and giant have some medicinal properties when ground up into a paste. There is also a gland that can be used to extract an essence that repels insects."
00:50 <joo> She looks critically at the corpse you have. "I fear it is too late for this one, though. If you had a fresh specimen, there could be some use from it."
00:50 <Vaylon> Hawthorn says, pointing to the dead dragonfly, "We used it to ward off further attacks by the creatures. Crude but effective."
00:51 <Theo> Sparrow furrows his brow and huffs, stroking the corpse on his lap, though he tilts his head with interest, "Can you show me where this gland is? It may be too late for this one, but it'd be handy if I come across another."
00:51 <joo> "If you happen to catch another one, I'd be happy to show you how to make something from it! Their meat can also make a passable stew, if you're in need."
00:51 <Theo> Sparrow gags.
00:53 <joo> Ira nods. She goes into her study and comes back with a scalpel, then lays the corpse on a table under some light. She makes an incision underneath the dragonfly's wings, revealing a small yellow organ that gives off a foul smell when squeezed.
00:54 <joo> "Dilute the squeezings of this and rub it all over yourself, and no insect smaller than a dragonfly will dare to bite you."
00:55 <Vaylon> Hawthorn watches the procedure with an arched eyebrow before turning to Waldemar. "Perhaps we should travel to Middleheim and seek the mage that Ira mentioned; he may be able to tell us something about Owtheus."
00:56 <Theo> Sparrow nods, watching Ira closely. He doesn't react to the smell at all.
00:58 <Bruce> He lives in the attic of a brothel, after all.
00:58 <joo> Heh.
00:58 <Bruce> Probably smells all kinds of foul shite.
00:59 <joo> I thought it was a tanner - in which case, that statement would still hold.
00:59 <Bruce> Oh.
00:59 <Theo> It was a tanner. He just visits the brothel a lot.
01:00 <joo> His second home, as it were.
01:00 <Bruce> joo, didn't we find a Dead Mage from Middleheim in the tomb, or something?
01:00 <joo> So it has been hypothesised:
01:00 <joo> 03:22 <joo> Ira speaks to you all: "I have gone over my memories of last night, and I will hypothesise that the corpse we saw belonged to a mage from the city of Middleheim. There is a mage there by the name of Anastagio whom I'd suspect of being involved, if that is the case. He's a good man - he taught me a lot of what I know - but he can't keep his nose out of anything when it's good for him. If you e
01:00 <joo> ver happen t
01:01 <joo> o be in the area, send him my regards, and tell him about our little adventure."
01:02 <Bruce> We still don't know what caused the Unsealing, right?
01:02 <joo> Correct. Ira certainly doesn't know.
01:07 <Bruce> Waldemar scratches his chin, nodding at Hawthorn. "Yes, there is still more to this we haven't yet uncovered. And perhaps other opportunities await us in the mountains."
01:07 <joo> As the morning goes on, Ira's two daughters, Peony and Acacia, come in with pails of water drawn from a spring. They say that since the wind has changed, there is a great column of smoke blowing from the North.
01:08 <joo> "A forest fire, perhaps," Mohar says. "It's been years since the last one."
01:09 <Bruce> Everyone glances awkwardly at Hawthorn, and then the laugh track plays.
01:09 <Vaylon> On the map, joo, is the black line that leads from the inland sea to Haisford a river?
01:09 <Vaylon> Haha.
01:09 <joo> Yes, that's the River Hais. I should have made it clearer, I suppose.
01:10 <joo> wrymrpg.proboards.com/thread/308/maps has another map.
01:10 <joo> ...on which it isn't labelled either.
01:11 <joo> The River Hais flows from the great inland sea between the mountains to the west, cleaves Arlingson's forest in two, then runs South, feeding into the Haismire.
01:11 <Vaylon> Hawthorn nods to Waldemar. He frowns at the news from the two girls. "North, you say? The Shrine of Dysus is in that direction. And we must head back that way to reach the River Hais." He glances at Sparrow. "Perhaps from there you can decide whether you wish to continue accompanying us or if you wish to return to Haisford."
01:12 <joo> It's not known whether there's a place where water flows out of the Haismire, because it's largely uncharted.
01:12 <Vaylon> Hawthorn turns to Ira. "Before we depart, I should warn you that a gang of evil men were searching the forest from us. They came from Haisford."
01:12 <Vaylon> *for us
01:14 <Vaylon> "A man by the name of Jenkins. His heart is as black as coal. Even had he not attempted to kill us on our journey here, I would have seen it, being gifted sight of the unseen."
01:14 <joo> "Evil men?" I'd wonder if they survived a journey through the forest or the swamp, as not many do; but we shall stay vigilant. She nods.
01:14 <joo> Er... the quote ends after "vigilant."
01:15 <Vaylon> Since today is a new day, Hawthorn will prepare new spells while he can.
01:16 <Bruce> whats my xp at,
01:17 <joo> Waldemar, Sparrow and Hawthorn are at 8/10, 6/11 and 1/11 XP, respectively.
01:17 <Bruce> thx
01:18 <Theo> Sparrow nods at Hawthorn, glancing at Waldemar, "I'll be staying until my weapons are replaced."
01:18 <joo> Also, as adventurers, you probably are conscious of the fact that you are all weaponless, except for Sparrow, who has a dagger, a belt knife and 4 throwing daggers.
01:18 <Bruce> Weaponless? I have my Voice.
01:18 <joo> (The belt knife is more of a tool than a weapon.)
01:19 <joo> Yes, indeed, both Waldemar and Hawthorn are in possession of ways of defending themselves other than physical weapons.
01:20 <Vaylon> pastebin.com/Rpiz8wEK
01:20 <Bruce> Waldemar chortles. "Ah, fair enough. Perhaps in Middleheim we will find you a Magic blade. Over there, I hear, they use them even to slice cheese."
01:20 <Vaylon> Nice.
01:21 <Vaylon> Hawthorn has 1/11 XP? I thought he had 6.
01:21 <Vaylon> <joo> So Sparrow gains 2 XP, Hawthorn gains 1, and Waldemar gains 2; they then have 8/10, 6/11 and 1/11 XP, respectively. They also all have full health after this extended rest.
01:22 <joo> Oh...
01:22 <joo> Maybe I said the names in the wrong order, there.
01:22 <joo> Let me check.
01:23 <joo> Before that: 03:54 <joo> So Sparrow gains 2 XP, Hawthorn gains 1, and Waldemar gains 2; they t
01:23 <joo> hen have 8/10, 6/11 and 1/11 XP, respectively. They also all have full health afte
01:23 <joo> r this extended rest.
01:23 <joo> (Sorry about the line breaks.)
01:23 <joo> Oh, wait, that's the same one.
01:24 <Bruce> ur losing it
01:24 <Vaylon> Yes. Hawthorn is my character. The Cleric.
01:24 <joo> Before that:
01:24 <joo> 08:32 <joo> If there are no more bonds, then Hawthorn gains 2+3+1+1=7 XP, Sparrow gains 1+3+1=5 XP, and Waldemar gains 1+3+1=5 XP.
01:24 <joo> 08:32 <Vaylon> Hey, I can level up again.
01:24 <joo> 08:32 <joo> That leaves them with 10/10, 14/10 and 6/10, respectively.
01:25 <Vaylon> ... So Sparrow had 14/10 XP in the earlier quote, and 8/10 XP in the latter quote?
01:26 <joo> Yes, so I said them in the wrong order.
01:26 <Vaylon> Okay... so Hawthorn has 1/11 XP.
01:27 <joo> We went from (H 10/10, S 14/10, W 6/10) to (H 1/11, S 6/11, W 8/10).
01:27 <joo> Yes.
01:27 <Vaylon> Okay.
01:27 <Vaylon> Hawthorn prepares his usual rotes as well as Detect Alignment, Detect Magic, Revealing Light, and Calm Flames.
01:28 <joo> Very well.
01:30 <joo> Are you all resolved to travel North, then?
01:30 <Vaylon> Yes.
01:31 <Theo> Yup
01:31 <Bruce> I'm not afraid of some fire, even if I am unarmed. I'll punch that shit right out, m8.
01:33 <joo> Is Sparrow going to act as the Guide once again? If so, what course will you take? A straight line through the forest?
01:35 <Theo> Sure. We could head through the forest to the crossroads and maybe follow the road then stop at Eastbrook?
01:36 <joo> By the crossroads, do you mean the place where the forest trail meets the path beside the river, where you sighted that monolith?
01:36 <Vaylon> Hawthorn is almost certainly going to want to investigate the column of smoke.
01:37 <Theo> Yeah.
01:42 <joo> Hmm... this will be a Perilous Journey. Assign a trailblazer, scout and quartermaster, and each roll+WIS.
01:42 <Vaylon> Hawthorn will once again act as the quartermaster.
01:43 <Vaylon> !r 2d6+3 Quartermaster
01:43 <PageBot> Vaylon: 11=6+2(+3) Quartermaster
01:44 <Bruce> Waldemar will have to Scout, unfortunately.
01:44 <Bruce> !r 2d6 Scout
01:44 <PageBot> Bruce: 7=4+3 Scout
01:46 <Theo> !r 2d6-1 trailblazer
01:46 <PageBot> Theo: 4=1+4(-1) trailblazer
01:51 <joo> Walking north through the forest, you find your way obstructed by thickets, incursions of marshy terrain, and difficult to climb rocky hills. It takes you a whole two days by the time you get close to the site of Dysus's shrine, but thanks to Hawthorn's management of rations, you only consume 1 ration each.
01:52 <Vaylon> Hawthorn's studies perhaps enabled him to spot some more-or-less edible foragables along the way.
01:52 <joo> Yes, perhaps you pop off a few mushroom heads.
01:52 <Vaylon> Mushrooms, let's say.
01:52 <Vaylon> Haha.
01:53 <joo> What is the name, appearance and known alchemical properties of the mushroom(s) you find?
01:54 <Vaylon> I imagine they were nothing more than the common sulphur shelf fungus, the so-called "chicken of the woods," a bright orange fungus that grows in the appearance of shelves on the side of mainly deciduous trees.
01:55 <Vaylon> As for alchemical properties, well, they can be used to make healing poultices.
01:56 <joo> Chicken of the woods, eh? He he he.
01:57 <joo> Well, you find these in plenty enough that you could make some healing poultice, too while you camp on the night of your journey.
01:57 <joo> Hmm... well...
01:58 <joo> Assuming that it doesn't require any specialise equipment or other ingredients, which I think is reasonable.
01:59 <Vaylon> All right. Hawthorn will make a set of healing poultices, then.
01:59 <joo> You can gain Poultices and Herbs (1 weight, 2 uses, slow).
01:59 <joo> The herbs are just some grass that Hawthorn sprinkled in to make it match the name.
02:00 <joo> While walking through the forest in the evening after dark, you hear some distant howls of wolves, but you see no sign of them.
02:01 <Bruce> i can howl too bitch 1v1 me
02:01 <joo> In the morning, however, as you're approaching the clearing, you notice some whole animal skeletons protruding from the leaves on the forest ground.
02:02 <joo> Notably, they don't appear to have been scavenged, and there is a curious number of them in this particular place.
02:02 <joo> *as you're approaching a clearing
02:03 <Vaylon> Hmm. Too bad I can't talk to animals.
02:03 <joo> In the clearing in the distance, you see what looks a bit like a lizard walking across the ground, but as it turns, it looks more like a bird.
02:04 <joo> Suddenly, it turns fully towards you, and you all feel regarded by its little black eyes. What do you do?
02:07 <Bruce> They don't appear to have been scavenged? Are they covered in grotty fucking rotten meat?
02:08 <joo> No; they are all almost fully skeletonised. They don't show the scattering of bones that evidences carrion animals.
02:08 <joo> It looks like they just sat down and died there, and were left undisturbed.
02:09 <Bruce> Oh, I see.
02:10 <Bruce> Waldemar furrows his brow, and looks to Hawthorn and Sparrow, asking in a low voice: "What do you suppose that creature is?"
02:11 <Vaylon> Hawthorn studies the creature for a moment.
02:11 <Vaylon> !r 2d6+2 Spout Lore
02:11 <PageBot> Vaylon: 9=4+3(+2) Spout Lore
02:14 <joo> Hawthorn, you identify this creature as the Cockatrice of legend - an aberration born when a toad incubates the egg laid by a rooster during a certain alignment of the heavens - it is part cock, part lizard, and it's known that it can kill its enemies by slowly paralysing them.
02:14 <Vaylon> Oh, shit.
02:14 <joo> (Some legends say the paralysis is by touch, some by breath, and some by the touch of its beak. You don't know which is true.)
02:15 <joo> Er...
02:15 <joo> I mean, some say that it can paralyse just by looking at you.
02:16 <Vaylon> "Keep your distance!" warns Hawthorn in a quiet voice. "It is undoubtedly a cockatrice. We should make haste from here and not enrage it."
02:19 <Bruce> Waldemar strokes his moustache, eyes widening. "Well said. Let us withdraw!"
02:19 <joo> The way past this clearing will be difficult, as it on the slope of a hill, and the branches are thick. What way will you take to avoid the cockatrice?
02:21 <joo> (I mean that the tree branches are great in density, not that they have large girth.)
02:22 <joo> The creature flaps a pair of wings, and briefly lifts into the air, letting out a sharp keening sound. It lands on a tree branch closer to you, still staring down at you.
02:23 <Bruce> Waldemar whispers to Sparrow: "Guide us forward, Sparrow -- you are most experienced in avoiding notice... and with birds, I presume."
02:23 <joo> Heh.
02:23 <Vaylon> Haha.
02:28 <Theo> Sparrow keeps his eyes on the back of the cockatrice, not looking at the head of the creature, "It's already noticed us." he says softly, applying some oil of Tagit to one of the throwing knives he'd slowly taken from his coat, "We need to move slow, into the trees. If it starts to get aggressive, I'll try put it to sleep."
02:28 <joo> Sparrow, you also recall that some way back the way you came, there was a viable path leading more to the right, but it would seem to take out right to the edge of the forest, where it meets the plains south of Haisford, or an uncertain way to the West whose viability you couldn't determine.
02:30 <joo> Which exact way will you lead the party relative to the clearing, Sparrow?
02:33 <Theo> Retreat and take the uncertain path west!
02:35 <joo> Very well. As you retreat back along your path, your legs all feel heavy and it's difficult to move... but the feeling eases as you move further away from the creature. Going west away from your previous path, the ground becomes lower and wetter.
02:36 <Vaylon> Whew.
02:36 <joo> Shortly you come to an expanse of water. There are a number of fallen trees around this pool, and in its midst, some water-lilies are growing. The chirping of insects is loud, here.
02:37 <Vaylon> I doubt we could have killed it, but it would have had some treasure, I bet.
02:37 <Vaylon> I don't have any combat spells.
02:37 <Vaylon> I have a question about Revealing Light -- it says that I need a vessel for the spell. What does that mean, exactly?
02:38 <joo> Sparrow, the smell that has now become familiar to you of dragonfly BO drifts subtly here. You think you could probably find some if you looked.
02:38 <Bruce> Probably the same way Light works.
02:38 <Vaylon> Okay.
02:38 <Bruce> In that you need to Light Up your staff.
02:38 <joo> Vaylon: the vessel is the the chain, in this case.
02:38 <Vaylon> Oh, I see.
02:39 <joo> But otherwise, it might be possible to choose a vessel.
02:39 <joo> (I suppose that would be made more clear.)
02:39 <Theo> Sparrow looks around for a new pet.
02:41 <joo> Sparrow, through some trees, you spot a place where several giant dragonflies are indeed hovering. If you were very careful, you might be able to catch one of them without drawing attention to yourself.
02:42 <joo> (But you'd have to kill it, I think.)
02:43 <joo> (Note: from earlier, you've expended one use of Oil of Tagit, and one of your throwing knives is poisoned with it.)
02:44 <Theo> Yep
02:44 <Theo> Sparrow looks for a dragonfly far from the main group, hoping to throw his poisoned dagger at it.
02:46 <joo> Now that I'm looking at the rules for Oil of Tagit, I notice that "you have to carefully apply it to the target or something they eat or drink," but I suppose it's too late for that, and shall have to be Canon that oil of tagit is a Touch poison.
02:47 <joo> That makes the skill Envenom a bit less useful, but at least it still applies to Goldenroot.
02:50 <Bruce> Sparrow says, "Eat this!" and then stabs the dagger into the dragonfly's mouth.
02:50 <Vaylon> Haha.
02:51 <joo> I will say that this manouevre consists of one instance of defying danger with dexterity, to not be noticed by any other foes while doing this, and, if that's successful, a Backstab.
02:52 <joo> (You can choose to make your damage non-lethal in this case, if you choose.)
02:53 <Theo> !r 2d6+2 (Defy Danger)
02:53 <PageBot> Theo: 7=4+1(+2) (Defy Danger)
02:54 <joo> You're not noticed for now, but you ended up closer than you'd like to the other dragonflies. Go ahead with the Backstab roll.
02:56 <Theo> !r 2d6+2 (Backstab)
02:56 <PageBot> Theo: 12=5+5(+2) (Backstab)
02:57 <Theo> Rawr!
02:58 <Theo> I'll take the damage first with the dagger then decide on the second
03:00 <joo> If you're making a ranged attack, then Cheap Shot doesn't apply; but you can choose two from the list for Backstab.
03:01 <joo> Right... so roll d8+d6 damage, making it stun damage if you like.
03:03 -!- Broose [~brooose@861A21D8.94127801.7CE0BFB4.IP] has joined #DungeonWorld
03:03 -!- mode/#DungeonWorld [+o Broose] by PageBot
03:04 <joo> I believe the poison will still apply even if you deal lethal damage, but of course you'll probably kill it then.
03:04 <Theo> !r d8+d6
03:04 <PageBot> Theo: 4+1
03:04 <Theo> That was pathetic
03:04 -!- Bruce [~brooose@861A21D8.94127801.7CE0BFB4.IP] has quit [Ping timeout: 182 seconds]
03:05 -!- Broose is now known as Bruce
03:05 <joo> What is your second choice, and do you choose to execute this Fly?
03:07 <joo> I suppose the only one that makes sense is giving an advantage against the other dragonflies, should you end up fighting them.
03:07 <Theo> Yes it will suffer a death. I take the +1 forward.
03:12 <joo> Sparrow, as you're stooping to pick up the slain dragonfly, some others take notice of you and start to hover towards you. You'll have to escape from here quickly if you want to avoid them. However, you'll either need to skirt around the pond of water here, which will give them more time to catch up with you, or go across the pond itself.
03:14 <Theo> Why change the habits of a lifetime? I'll go through the pond.
03:15 <Theo> Like so: youtu.be/Oe3St1GgoHQ?t=151
03:16 <joo> What were Waldemar and Hawthorn doing while Sparrow was hunting dragonflies?
03:17 <Bruce> Hahaha. Is Sparrow giving one of these interviews?
03:17 <Theo> Totally~
03:17 <Bruce> Waldemar was probably trying to convince Hawthorn to give him an extra serving of Beans.
03:18 <Vaylon> Haha.
03:18 <Vaylon> You'll just stink up the camp!
03:18 <Vaylon> I mean, even more than usual.
03:19 <Vaylon> Did we Make Camp? If not, then I suppose Hawthorn was just watching Sparrow pensively.
03:19 <joo> Probably not, as it was just the morning.
03:20 <joo> However, Hawthorn and Waldemar are probably far away enough to not get involved in this Hoedown, should they choose. They can meet Sparrow on the other side of the pond, if they go around its edge.
03:20 <joo> Sparrow, you can probably achieve something like that, by leaping from lilypad to lilypad, if you're dextrous enough.
03:20 <joo> If you fail, you'll probably get soaked, however.
03:21 <Theo> I am also picturing him running toward the others with his prize, screaming at them to run whilst chased by a hoard.
03:21 <joo> Heh.
03:21 <joo> That sounds accurate.
03:21 <Bruce> WALDEMAR. WALDEMAR! START THE PLANE. START THE PLANE.
03:22 <Theo> Hahaha!
03:25 <Vaylon> Very well -- Hawthorn, possibly following Waldemar, will circle around the pond to meet Sparrow on the opposite end.
03:26 <Theo> Defy danger with dex then, joo?
03:27 <joo> If Sparrow wants to cross the pond without wading or swimming, yes.
03:27 <Theo> !r 2d6+2 (Defy Danger+Dex)
03:27 <PageBot> Theo: 4=1+1(+2) (Defy Danger+Dex)
03:27 <Theo> D:
03:27 <joo> Hohoho.
03:29 <Vaylon> Uh-oh.
03:29 <Theo> joo was itching for me to fail that roll. I can sense it.
03:29 <joo> Sparrow, you fail to keep your balance on the lilypads, and you topple into the water in the middle, where it's deep enough to cover your head. While under the water, an item drifts out of your packs and is lost. What is it?
03:30 <Theo> Can I lose one of his throwing daggers or would it be all of them?
03:30 <joo> Hmm..
03:31 <joo> I'll say that given the severity of the situation, it would have to be all units of one item.
03:31 <Theo> I'll lose the belt knife then.
03:32 <joo> Very well. As you swim (as I assume) towards the other end of the pond, you see a bright green water snake darting at you. What do you do?
03:33 <Theo> First, scream
03:34 <joo> Waldemar and Hawthorn, you hear Sparrow screaming. It seems he's in some peril. What do you do?
03:35 <Vaylon> Hawthorn looks at the lake, then at Waldemar.
03:36 <joo> Sparrow has the chance to act against the snake (due to Shoot First), but he'll need to act quickly to avoid getting bitten.
03:36 <Vaylon> "I have no weapons or magics for battle other than some aid for injuries."
03:37 <Bruce> Waldemar doesn't want to get into another Water Fight. Not after what happened. He whips out a rope from his adventuring gear and throws it into the pond for his homey to grab.
03:38 <joo> Of course, Hawthorn assumed Sparrow was getting eaten by another giant crocodile.
03:38 <joo> Very well. I think that may count as Aid, depending on what Sparrow is going to do.
03:38 <Bruce> Yeah.
03:39 <Theo> Sparrow draws his dagger in an attempt to defend himself, should the snake attack, but swims for the rope.
03:40 <joo> The snake is definitely attacking. If you want to defend yourself with your dagger, you can do that, but I think it excludes immediately grabbing the rope.
03:41 <joo> If you want to grab the rope, Defy Danger with DEX, with aid from Waldemar.
03:41 <Theo> Scrap the dagger then. I'm just going for the rope.
03:42 <Theo> What's roll+bond? +1?
03:42 <joo> Yes, but Waldemar would be making this roll.
03:43 <Bruce> !r 2d6+1 Aid
03:43 <PageBot> Bruce: 7=1+5(+1) Aid
03:43 <Theo> Yeah I just wasn't sure.
03:43 <Bruce> Oh god.
03:43 <Bruce> A giant crocodile is coming.
03:43 <joo> XD
03:43 <Theo> XD
03:44 <joo> Take +1 to your roll, Sparrow.
03:44 <Theo> !r 2d6+3 (Defy Danger+Dex)
03:44 <PageBot> Theo: 8=3+2(+3) (Defy Danger+Dex)
03:44 <Vaylon> Oh, dear.
03:44 <Theo> Oh...
03:44 <Theo> It is a giant crocodile.
03:45 <joo> Funnily, I read this on Wikipedia: "The twelfth century legend was based on a reference in Pliny's Natural History[1] that the ichneumon lay in wait for the crocodile to open its jaws for the trochilus bird to enter and pick its teeth clean.[2]"
03:45 <joo> I have no idea what it means, but it must be relevant.
03:45 <Theo> ;_;
03:45 <joo> Hahaha. No, there's no crocodile in this case.
03:46 <joo> However, Sparrow, the snake does follow you as you're getting out of the water, and it slithers onto the ground... and, Waldemar, it slithers towards you specifically!
03:46 <joo> What do you do?!
03:46 <joo> Out of the water, you can see it's green with orange spots down its length.
03:47 <Bruce> What is the Girth of the snake?
03:48 <joo> The snake is about 3cm in Diameter, and 1m long.
03:49 <Bruce> Waldemar stomps this dumbass snake with his Boot!
03:49 <joo> Roll Hack and Slash, I think.
03:49 <joo> Hack and Stomp.
03:51 <Bruce> !r 2d6+1 Hack and Slash
03:51 <PageBot> Bruce: 7=4+2(+1) Hack and Slash
03:51 <Bruce> !r d6 Damage
03:51 <PageBot> Bruce: 3 Damage
03:53 <joo> !r d6-2 -- Damage to Waldemar
03:53 <PageBot> joo: 2=4(-2) -- Damage to Waldemar
03:55 <Vaylon> Hawthorn steps forward and helps Waldemar pull Sparrow from the water. Stepping in close near the snake, he places a hand on Waldemar's shoulder and begins to chant.
03:55 <Vaylon> !r 2d6+3 Cast a Spell: Cure Light Wounds
03:55 <PageBot> Vaylon: 9=2+4(+3) Cast a Spell: Cure Light Wounds
03:55 <joo> Waldemar, your boot comes down firmly on the snake, crushing it; but before it dies, it manages to bite through your pants. The bite itself is probably not what you have to worry about, though.
03:56 <Vaylon> Hawthorn will lose the spell for now, I suppose!
03:56 <Vaylon> !r 1d8 Healing
03:56 <PageBot> Vaylon: 8 Healing
03:56 <Bruce> Damm. You should have saved that 8.
03:56 <Vaylon> Yeah...
03:56 <joo> For the record, I don't think Cure Light Wounds has an affect on venom.
03:56 <joo> *effect
03:56 <Vaylon> No, I don't believe it does, either.
03:56 <joo> It does have an Affect, if you pretend you're curing venom.
03:58 <joo> Waldemar, your wound is closed by Hawthorn's magic, but an unwholesome burning sensation still remains, and it seems to spread up your leg. You feel still able to walk for now.
03:59 <Bruce> "Curses. I fear its bite was venomous." Waldemar mutters.
03:59 <Vaylon> Hawthorn looks worriedly at Waldemar, and he picks up the snake. What does he know about this particular snake?
03:59 <Vaylon> !r 2d6+2 Spout Lore
03:59 <PageBot> Vaylon: 13=6+5(+2) Spout Lore
04:00 <joo> This particular snake? Well, its name is Sharon, and...
04:00 <joo> (joke)
04:05 <joo> Waldemar, this snake is colloquially known as the Swamp Wither. Its poison spreads throughout the body and causes effects similar to old age in humans, and eventual death if untreated.
04:06 <Bruce> wow. im so smart i didnt even have to roll for that
04:06 <Vaylon> Haha.
04:06 <joo> Fuck.
04:06 <joo> Hawthorn, I mean.
04:06 <Vaylon> All right -- and something useful?
04:08 <joo> Yes, I'm getting to that: a regular antitoxin will stop the patient from dying, although the poison's effects will remain for a short time. The true antidote can be made with the blood of a baby no more than a month old and the flower of a water lily; this concoction will reverse the previous effects, and even leave the person taking it feeling a bit more vital than usual.
04:08 <Vaylon>
04:08 <Bruce> the fuck they teach u at the temple
04:09 <Vaylon> It must have been some damn dark tome from which Hawthorn read this!
04:09 <joo> Hahaha.
04:09 <joo> What's wrong with taking a bit of baby blood if it saves a man's life?!
04:10 <Vaylon> Slowly, reluctantly, Hawthorn explains to Waldemar what he knows about the Swamp Wither. Is there a water lily flower nearby?
04:10 <joo> Incidentally, Sparrow knows enough about poisons that he could extract the rest of this snake's venom (1 use) if he wanted.
04:11 <Vaylon> Sparrow hears the explanation, too, so he knows what the poison does.
04:11 <joo> Yes, there are many water lilies in easy reach. Unfortunately, there are no newborn babies growing nearby, though.
04:11 <Vaylon> Rats.
04:11 <Vaylon> It has to be a human baby?
04:11 <Bruce> We'll have to improvise.
04:11 <Vaylon> Or could we use, say, a ... baby chicken or something?
04:11 <Bruce> Waldemar locks Hawthorn in captivity until the stress causes him to reproduce asexually.
04:12 <Vaylon> Haha.
04:12 <joo> No, it can be a baby of another species, but if it's not human, a human taking the antidote will permanently gain some attributes of the race it was taken from.
04:12 <joo> (That is, if they are affected by the poison; the longer they've been poisoned, the greater the effect.)
04:13 <Theo> Sparrow does milk the snake to get the rest of the venom.
04:13 <Vaylon> Interesting.
04:13 <joo> Incidentally, this is how some people willingly gained animal-like traits.
04:13 <Vaylon> Hawthorn clarifies this part for Waldemar.
04:13 <joo> Gain 1 unit of Wither Venom, which is a "touch" poison.
04:15 <Vaylon> "Take one of these flowers," he says to Waldemar, "and we will attempt to make the true antidote, as distasteful as I find the idea." He mutters, "Perhaps there is some way to do it with little harm."
04:16 <Bruce> Waldemar rubs at his forehead. "Damn troublesome snakes!" He frowns at Hawthorn. "I have little desire to grow wings, sir!"
04:18 <Vaylon> Hawthorn nods. "No, but if you did, this would be your opportunity to do so."
04:18 <joo> You're now not far from the site of Dysus's Shrine, and, indeed, you now detect some smoke on the air.
04:19 <Theo> Sparrow looks at Hawthorn, his expression neutral, "I will obtain the second part of the antidote when I get chance." he says quietly before glancing to the sky.
04:20 <joo> "Just give me 9 months."
04:21 <Vaylon> Hawthorn sniffs the air and frowns. "I hope this smoke does not originate at Dysus's shrine."
04:21 <Theo> (I was going to say that, joo!)
04:23 <Bruce> Sparrow has been training his entire life for this.
04:23 <Theo> XD
04:24 <joo> Sparrow, through the trees you can see grey plumes of smoke drifting from the East and North. The shrine itself lies East.
04:26 <joo> Do you continue your journey now?
04:26 <Vaylon> I don't see why not.
04:29 <joo> If you do, you soon come to a familiar-looking rocky piece of land that rises almost out of the trees: this is the piece of land that offers a bridge over the pool of swamp water surrounding the island on which the shrine stands.
04:30 <joo> The island itself is notably different from when you were last there: there is new, green growth all over it that seems to have progressed at an impossible rate. The shrine building can be glimpsed at its peak.
04:30 <joo> Beyond this island, however... a charred landscape of burned forest stretches out.
04:31 <joo> About halfway to the horizon, the signs of a raging forest fire on the eastern side of the shrine island are visible, and at its edge, the fires still burns and sends up a curtain of ashy-grey smoke.
04:32 <Bruce> Hey, it's healthy for a forest to have a little fire once in awhile. We did Dysus a favor.
04:32 <joo> The rocky path of this land bridge continues onto the shrine island. What do you do?
04:33 <Vaylon> "Well... perhaps we should visit Dysus." He glances at Waldemar. "Is there any reason we should not?"
04:37 <Bruce> Waldemar strokes his moustache. "None that I see, though she may ask that I do her favor."
04:41 <Vaylon> Hawthorn nods. "Just as well, then. Let us speak to her and repay our debts where we may."
04:42 <Bruce> Fucking scumbag forest spirits. I can't believe we really owe her after all this.
04:47 <joo> Well, if you proceed into the shrine, then you find it empty at first except for the two carven figures, which are now stationary but still bear the marks of Waldemar's axe and of Sparrow's sword. However, as your cross the threshold, the air shimmers, and the forest goddess Dysus shimmers into view.
04:47 <joo> *you
04:48 <joo> She looks to be in good spirits, and she says with a slight smile, "Ah, you have returned! Have you come with my groom-to-be?"
04:48 -!- Theo [~Theo@from.the.sofa] has quit [Ping timeout: 183 seconds]
04:49 <Bruce> A goddess, now?! Damn, she's gone mad with power.
04:50 <joo> What do you think she is?
04:50 <Bruce> A Spirit.
04:50 <Vaylon> A genius loci.
04:50 <Bruce> That's only a few Power Levels over a Ghost.
04:51 <joo> Yes, she's a local goddess, and she's also been called a forest spirit.
04:51 <joo> Local Goddess Ruins Everything.
04:51 <Vaylon> Hahaha.
04:51 <Bruce> The gods have organized themselves into regional governors, I see.
04:51 <joo> The very pretext of all of this was that there was a "forest goddess."
04:52 <Vaylon> Hawthorn, noting the smile, glances at Waldemar, and he takes off the golden sash, handing it to Waldemar. "I believe you have a story to tell."
04:54 <Bruce> Waldemar has a troll grin on face. "I'm afraid old Owtheus will only have his fellow skeletons to court, from now on. Through trickery, we escaped unchallenged with one of his treasures."
04:55 -!- Theo [~Theo@from.the.sofa] has joined #DungeonWorld
04:56 <joo> Theo: pastebin.com/BKaSUuWm
04:56 <Theo> Thank you
04:57 <joo> Dysus chuckles. "So I gathered, in fact. Owtheus used the token you left with him to communicate with me for a while after you left. I learned some interest new curses from the time of the Giants, but I soon grew tired of it and severed the connection."
04:57 <joo> *interesting
04:59 <Bruce> Waldemar chortles. "My apologies."
04:59 <joo> She clasps her hands together, and looks over all of you. "You have my thanks, adventurers, for this noble deed you have performed. I am sure that many others would thank you too if they knew the significance."
05:00 <Theo> Sparrow huffs, folding his arms and leaning against a wall.
05:00 <joo> To Waldemar, she says, "I consider your oath to have been fulfilled... but do not forget the promise you made me of a further favour. We will speak of that, later."
05:02 <joo> "Until then, I have a little reward for you all." She gestures to the statues standing near the offertory box, and they stand aside. "You may have the contents of this box. It is worldly treasure that was given to me by worshippers that are all long dead now, so its significance to me is now nothing. I think this is a new age in the forest, a time for new beginnings."
05:02 <Bruce> Waldemar, as he slowly dies of poison: www.usasports360.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Tiger-Woods-drunk-566x526.jpg
05:03 <joo> She glances at the golden chain that Waldemar holds. "You may also keep my 'bride price'. I have no want for such instruments of the arcane."
05:05 <Vaylon> Hawthorn says, "I would gladly speak in your praise when we return to civilization. Perhaps you will yet have new faithful to bring you offerings."
05:05 <Bruce> Didn't one of us put money in that box?
05:05 <joo> Yes. She's fucking scamming you!
05:06 <Vaylon> Hahaha.
05:06 <Vaylon> Well, it's a good thing we did put some money in there. We'd have nothing else.
05:06 <Bruce> Waldemar nods at Dysus, handing the fat chain back to Hawthorn, and takes a look at the contents of Dysus' box.
05:06 <Bruce> It's probably just a bunch of fucking leaves and twigs.
05:07 <Vaylon> Hawthorn bows to Waldemar and to Dysus, and he re-wears the chain reverently.
05:07 <Vaylon> What's in the boooooox?
05:09 <Vaylon> Hawthorn joins Waldemar to peer into the box with him.
05:10 <joo> The top of the box is slotted, and its frame is fitted tightly around the top, but it can be removed with some strain. Inside is a large pile of coins of all types. Many of them bear strange designs that you don't recognise, and those you do seem to be from several centuries ago. The four coins that Sparrow dropped in stand out among them, on the top.
05:11 <joo> If these were all coins of the contemporary type, based on the metals they're made of, they would be worth about 900 coins. However, Sparrow, you think that if you spoke to the right people, you could sell about 1/3 of them to collectors and other enthusiasts for a higher price.
05:12 <Bruce> Ohh, my.
05:12 <Vaylon> Hawthorn picks up one of the more ancient-looking coins and examines it with interest. "I only wish for enough to provide for food and drink and perhaps a set of writing implements. When we return to Haisford, I desire to send word back to my temple of the events that have transpired here. They will be happy to receive the knowledge."
05:14 <Vaylon> He glances from Waldemar to Sparrow. "The two of you may divide it as you see fit. You have certainly earned it."
05:14 <Vaylon> He smiles at Sparrow. "And you may finally get your weapons!"
05:15 <joo> Hawthorn, the coin you pick up is gold, cut in the shape of a septagon, and has a blocky, angular script on it around an imprint of a head wearing a helmet.
05:15 <joo> The reverse side has just writing on it in the same script, but larger - maybe the value of the coin.
05:16 <Vaylon> Interesting! Hawthorn studies the script to see what he can discern.
05:16 <Vaylon> !r 2d6+2 Spout Lore
05:16 <PageBot> Vaylon: 11=5+4(+2) Spout Lore
05:17 <Vaylon> O
05:17 <Vaylon> Whoops.
05:17 <Vaylon> I'm curious about what Waldemar will spend his money on.
05:18 <Bruce> When we reach somewhere Civilized, he will probably buy a dirty sWord and some plate armor.
05:19 <Bruce> He has to keep up with the latest in Noble Fashion, after all.
05:19 <Bruce> Also, probably some kind of Horn.
05:21 <Vaylon> Like a battle horn?
05:21 <Vaylon> Or ... hunting horn, I suppose.
05:22 <joo> Hawthorn, you recognise the writing as being an older form of Acrolitic Script, which is used in the languages of several lands to the North of where your temple is in Eastbrook. That region used to be the site of a human civilisation called the Juventian Empire, and the figure on the coin is likely to be General Juventius, from what you've heard about him.
05:23 <Bruce> Yes, something like that.
05:23 <joo> Acrolitic Script evolved to become more rounded and flourishing as the lands there became more peaceful and less disciplined, but it retains the essential shapes, and you can therefore guess also that the value of the coin is 20 of some smaller unit.
05:26 <joo> Will you Disgorge the entire contents of this box? I am sure you can rip open your shirts, or something, to carry it in if you all divide it up.
05:26 <Vaylon> Hawthorn excitedly explains the Juventian coin to Waldemar. "There is wealth in these coins beyond gold or silver: a myriad of stories perhaps never to be told. How did such a valuable coin come to be in Dysus' possession? Perhaps some great general or nobleman once venerated her."
05:27 <joo> Incidentally, Waldemar, you know something about General Juventius, or "The General," as he was a famed hero.
05:27 <Bruce> Hahahaha.
05:28 <joo> So you may ask one question about him.
05:28 <Bruce> What is his Claim to Faim?
05:31 <joo> Before the Juventian Empire was formed, the region it encompasses was composed of a multitude of feuding states. Juventius united them not by force, as some would have done, but through careful diplomacy whenever possible, and so was able to gain enough support to defeat a minority of his remaining enemies in battle.
05:31 <joo> Of course, he was also a gifted General, and that's what most people remember him for, because of the famous battles he personally fought in at the end of his campaign.
05:33 <joo> The Juventian empire was a golden age of knowledge and art, though it maintained standing armies right up until internal disputes again lead to its dissolution into smaller states.
05:34 <Bruce> Standing armies? What a strange idea. I don't expect it to ever make a comeback.
05:34 <joo> There have even been suggestions that Juventius was descended from one of the half-giants sired by Otheus, although there is no known evidence of this.
05:34 <joo> *Owtheus
05:35 <joo> Now, Waldemar, what tale, song, or legend did you learn this (some or all of it) in?
05:36 <Bruce> Waldemar mentions all of this. "Curious indeed how such a coin ended up here." He says, as he begins filling his fat Pockets.
05:36 <Bruce> Waldemar knows all of this from the play, "Juventius", written by one of his rivals, but he'll never admit that he actually went and saw it performed.
05:37 <joo> Who is this Rival?
05:37 <joo> Regarding the weight of coins...
05:37 <Vaylon> The cleric listens in wonder at Waldemar's tale. "I shall keep this coin, then, as a memory of this journey," says Hawthorn, his gaze returning to the script carved into the golden coin.
05:39 <joo> In the Aevun campaign, the rule was that every 100 coins more than 100 weighed 1 load, rounding down, but since there's an opportunity to revise that, it doesn't seem to me like 100 coins really is that much.
05:40 <joo> Er... rounding up, I mean.
05:40 <Vaylon> I based the weights on those suggested by the treasure table, but the treasure table is inconsistent since the table clearly has more valuable coins weighing less.
05:41 <Vaylon> The equipment page states, "100 coins in standard denominations is 1 weight. The same value in gems or fine art may be lighter or heavier." I suppose that includes exotic coins.
05:41 <joo> Oh.
05:42 <joo> Well, I suppose if you're just carring around Dirty Common Coins, 100 "coins" worth might be more than 100 physical coins, so that's fair enough.
05:42 <Vaylon> For example, one of the entries on the treasure table is: "A chest of coins and other small valuables. 1 weight but worth 3d6×100 coins."
05:43 <Vaylon> For what it's worth, I don't suggest establishing the gold coin system like I had.
05:44 <joo> I probably will avoid mentioning specific types of coin where possible, but I won't deny their existence.
05:45 <joo> I don't think it's likely that anyone is going to obtain enough low-denomination coins for it to be a problem, so I'll say for now that every 200 coins is 1 weight, rounding down. Therefore, 199 coins is 0 weight, 200 coins is 1 weight, 399 coins is 1 weight and 400 coins is 2 weight.
05:46 <joo> If Hawthorn is going to take only that single coin, then Sparrow and Waldemar would both each get 450 coins, weighing 2 each.
05:46 <joo> -both
05:46 <Vaylon> Okay.
05:46 <Bruce> The rival is Francis Metz, a more established playwright who has no Respect for Waldemar or his Family.
05:47 <joo> Does Francis Metz live in Blackstone?
05:47 <Bruce> Yes, but he also went to Wizard School in Middleheim. He's one of those Renaissance Assholes.
05:48 <joo> Hahaha.
05:48 <Vaylon> Hah.
05:48 <joo> At least he must have a respect for the Truth, if Waldemar trusts his account of Juvenitus Caesar.
05:50 <joo> I'll also assume that you take the coins at random, so about 150 of each share is in saleable rare coins.
05:50 <joo> If you pay attention, you can keep those aside for later use, if you like.
05:51 <Bruce> Waldemar thinks his next project will establish him as the sickest new playwright in town, though: a two-part play of Owtheus' life, and then his fall at the hands of a band of Heroes.
05:51 <joo> Heh.
05:51 <Vaylon> Hawthorn goes back to Dysus, and he says, "What is the nature of the smoke in the horizon? Is it a forest fire, or is it something more sinister?"
05:51 <joo> Hahahah. Hawthorn's going to pretend he doesn't know.
05:52 <Vaylon> Oh...
05:52 <Vaylon> Is it really the fire I started?
05:52 <joo> Well, you don't know, I suppose.
05:52 <Bruce> This is the circle of life, m8. Don't worry about it.
05:52 <joo> But it seems likely, given that you did start a fire......
05:53 <Vaylon> To be fair, there was a really big and evil bear after us.
05:53 <Bruce> Those trees seemed resourceful enough to put out a fucking fire. It's not our fault they fucked up.
05:54 <joo> Dysus says, "It seems to be a fire that started off the East shortly after you left," she says. "My forest has suffered fires before, so I am not overly concerned." If she knows about the fire you started, she doesn't show any sign of it. "In fact, it might even be for the best, because many of the old trees, who had turned against my will, were destroyed in it, making way for new life."
05:55 <joo> She floats to the door of the shrine and gestures out: "even now, new growth bursts forth from among the remains of the old."
05:55 <joo> If you focus, you can indeed see that some shoots are rising up from the ashes.
05:56 <joo> Dysus adds, "I hope it does not harm the humans living near the edge of the forest to the East; but that is out of my hands." She shrugs.
05:56 <Bruce> Holy Shit.
05:56 <Vaylon> So what you're saying is that you'd like us to keep setting the place on fire.
05:56 * Bruce learns a lesson from joo's campaign, and starts several wildfires in his hometown.
05:57 <joo> I heard that's popular where you live.
05:58 <joo> Sparrow and Hawthorn, as you're unloading the coins from the box, a curious object unlike the others rolls out from the middle of the pile: a silvery ring that glints with a curious blue when it catches the light, which rolls around on its side in a circle before stopping some way from the box.
06:00 <Vaylon> Hawthorn thinks about this for a while. "My order teaches that the Firebringer stole the secret of fire from the old gods who protected it jealous, and he gave it to the first mortal races. Fire is a tool. We are sent out into the world to be friendly with all good living things, and to discover and keep knowledge and to bring warmth, light, and cheer."
06:00 <Vaylon> *jealously
06:02 <Vaylon> Hey, it's Owtheus. upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3a/Mitsukuni_defying_the_skeleton_spectre_invoked_by_princess_Takiyasha.jpg
06:03 <joo> Hahahah.
06:07 <joo> Dysus listens carefully, then she comments: "That is a good sentiment, and a good way to live. Regardless of what mortals know its secrets, fire is a part of nature and will happen eventually with or without their help. It can do good things or bad, or both, but I accept and love it as I do all other natural things."
06:11 <Vaylon> Definitely getting the impression we shouold set the shrine on fire.
06:11 <joo> Hahaha.
06:11 <Vaylon> *should
06:13 <joo> Sparrow, Waldemar, what are you doing?
06:15 <Bruce> Waldemar is stuffing his Pockets.
06:18 <Vaylon> Hawthorn nods in response to Dysus's words, and he eventually goes back over to Hawthorn and Sparrow. Spotting something glinting on the floor, he stoops down and picks up the ring, peering at it curiously. Are there any markings or script on it?
06:19 <joo> Yes: the ring is inscribed with tiny prancing figures around its outer edge, which are dressed in the motley of court jesters.
06:19 <Bruce> Hawthorn goes back over to Hawthorn and Sparrow.
06:19 <joo> As you hold it, a thought comes unbidden into your head: "Take off your clothes and put me on your finger!"
06:19 <Vaylon> Yikes.
06:19 <Vaylon> *Waldemar
06:21 <joo> Do you obey? (Y/N)
06:21 <Vaylon> No!
06:21 <joo> 2 bad.
06:21 <Vaylon> Hawthorn looks suspiciously at the ring, and he sets it back down, if he can, and begins to mutter some arcane words, waving his hands over the ring.
06:21 <joo> Heh. The ring offers no resistance to you putting it down.
06:22 <Vaylon> !r 2d6+3 Cast a Spell: Detect Magic
06:22 <PageBot> Vaylon: 10=4+3(+3) Cast a Spell: Detect Magic
06:22 <joo> Just making sure that wasn't a telepathic message from Dysus, eh?
06:22 <Vaylon> One can never be too sure!
06:22 <joo> Which sense do you attune?
06:23 <Vaylon> Hawthorn will be able to sense magic through touch.
06:23 <joo> Okay; what things do you touch?
06:24 <Vaylon> I was imagining that hings sort of radiated heat or something, maybe.
06:24 <Vaylon> *things
06:24 <joo> Yes, they probably do; but you'd still need to be close enough to distinguish them as the source of the eat.
06:24 <joo> *heat
06:24 <joo> So, in fact, if your hand is close to the ring, it does give off a heat.
06:25 <Vaylon> But he touches the silver ring, at any rate, and the coin he got, and I suppose anything else that Waldemar and Sparrow want him to touch, if you know what I mean.
06:25 <joo> Heh.
06:25 <joo> The ring is hot to the touch, and when you touch it, the voice returns: "I'll show you something good if you put me on!"
06:26 <joo> The coin shows no signs of being magic, from your touch.
06:26 <joo> However, the golden chain you're wearing is quite hot indeed.
06:26 <joo> You can feel it through your clothing.
06:27 <Vaylon> No surprise there!
06:29 <Vaylon> Hawthorn says, "Waldemar, there is a peculiar ring I found on the floor just now. Perhaps it came from the pile of offerings. I heard a voice when I touched it. The ring is most certainly magical. See what you can make of it."
06:29 <Vaylon> He relates the sayings that the ring told him.
06:29 <joo> Dysus raises her eyebrows in the background. "I do get some strange offerings."
06:33 <Bruce> Waldemar picks up the ring to see if it talks to him.
06:36 <joo> A thought comes into your mind, too, Waldemar: "Get naked and put me on! I bet you'll look beautiful!"
06:39 <Bruce> Waldemar frowns. "What a strange ring."
06:39 <Bruce> Waldemar is a rebel, so he puts on the ring without taking his clothes off.
06:41 <joo> When Waldemar puts on the ring, he and the clothes and possessions he's wearing disappear from sight to everyone, including himself.
06:43 <joo> An amused thought comes into your mind, Waldemar, "Ahh, you didn't do as I said, you naughty boy! Well, I suppose the naked part was a bit of an embellishment. But look! Imagine all the things you could do, and nobody would know!"
06:44 <Vaylon> Hawthorn blinks in surprise.
06:44 <Vaylon> "Waldemar! Where did you go?" he cries.
06:44 <Bruce> Waldemar softly chortles. "I am right here."
06:46 <Vaylon> The cleric strokes his beard thoughtfully. "I see! So the magic of the ring made you disappear, then."
06:46 <Vaylon> I bet Waldemar knows stories about heroes who had such magic rings.
06:46 <Bruce> Waldemar takes off the ring. Does he re-appear?
06:47 <joo> Yes, I believe there was one called Bilbo Baggins....
06:47 <joo> Yes, when Waldemar removes the ring, he and his clothes and possessions all reappear.
06:48 <Vaylon> Haha.
06:49 <joo> The ring doesn't bring to mind any particular legends that Waldemar knows. Perhaps nobody noticed the heroes who wore thing ring, for some reason.
06:49 <joo> *this
06:52 <Bruce> "Quite the find," Waldemar says, probably wishing Dysus looked through her donation box more often so they could use this earlier.
06:53 <Vaylon> Heh.
06:53 <Vaylon> Hawthorn nods. "Though I would suggest perhaps to be wary of the voice I heard in the ring. Who knows what it wants?"
06:54 <Vaylon> I can't think of anything more to do at Dysus's shrine.
06:54 <joo> "I want to see you naked," a thought in your mind suggests, Waldemar.
06:57 <Bruce> Waldemar can only barely distinguish these thoughts from his normal ones, so he ignores that.
06:57 <Vaylon> Haha.
06:57 <joo> Hahah
07:01 <joo> If you're done collecting your coins, Dysus has something to say to you, Waldemar:
07:03 <joo> "As for the favour I desire from you in exchange for my hand in marriage:" she smiles, "I said that my domain is all of this forest, but strictly that can only be said for the Southern half of the forest. At some point while my mind was lost, the flowing water of the river cut off the Northern forest from my influence."
07:04 <joo> "And now the resistance is too hard to penetrate it. The roots of trees used to run under the river to connect my domain, but that is no longer the case it seems, and no trees want to grow that way now."
07:07 <joo> "I wish to reclaim the Northern forest for my own. That is what I wish for you to achieve for me. I don't know how it might be done - I've heard about mortals working the earth to change its shape, to circumvent rivers and other things." She shrugs. "I don't know of these things, so that is why I'm asking you."
07:09 <Vaylon> That's quite the request.
07:09 <Bruce> Yes, but then we can finally get married.
07:09 <joo> That's what happens when you agree to an unconditional favour.
07:11 <joo> She adds, "There is a tree loyal to me who used to be able to walk over the land. If it could be planted in the middle of the river somehow, he could act as my bridge between these two halves... but not in the river as it is now."
07:13 <Bruce> Waldemar strikes a deal with the King of Beavers to have a dam built.
07:13 <joo> "I realise that this might take a bit of time to do, but I hope you can achieve it on your life, or at least set it in motion." She smiles softly. "I will not ask you to bind yourself by oath this time, as this is just a favour that I ask."
07:15 <joo> And she says with a wink, "And you've seen that favours to me are duly rewarded, of course. I'd be glad to offer you a boon within my power, once this is done."
07:16 <Bruce> ohh, my.
07:18 <Bruce> Waldemar bows his head forward. "It is only a matter of time before I am a fabulously wealthy playwright and adventurer. When I have the resources, I will dedicate them to this end, my lady."
07:19 <Vaylon> Heh.
07:19 <joo> She nods graciously in return. "My thanks."
07:20 <Vaylon> Hawthorn strokes his beard in thought, but he says nothing.
07:21 <joo> Do Sparrow or Waldemar have any more business to do in the shrine?
07:22 <Bruce> Nope. Waldemar wants to get the Feck out of here for a Shopping Spree.
07:23 <joo> Waldemar, you become conscious that the pain throbbing from your leg has spread further up your body. You feel unusually tired.
07:23 <Bruce> Oh, Christ, I forgot about that.
07:23 <joo> Do you think you that you can walk this one off? If so, you're welcome to try to match your Constitution against it.
07:24 <Bruce> Waldemar puts the team on his back and plays through the pain.
07:25 <Bruce> !r 2d6+2 Defy Danger with Constitution
07:25 <PageBot> Bruce: 10=6+2(+2) Defy Danger with Constitution
07:25 <Vaylon> Whew.
07:25 <joo> Very well. You weather the effects of the venom and don't suffer any extreme effects... for now.
07:25 <Bruce> www.youtube.com/watch?v=1P0yfq2wDvU
07:27 <joo> Hahaha.
07:28 <joo> Theo, are you present?
07:31 <joo> Well, this is a good time to end the session, anyway.
07:31 <joo> If there's any more business at the shrine, it can be dealt with in the next session.
07:31 <joo> !r missed-rolls
07:31 <PageBot> joo: Error: No dice rolls or choices specified. See !help roll 2 for correct usage.
07:31 <joo> Damn, again.
07:32 <joo> !missed-rolls
07:32 <PageBot> Missed rolls (estimated): Bruce: 0 of 4, Vaylon: 0 of 6, Theo: 2 of 5. Full list: <http://pastebin.com/r6i0R5N0>.
07:32 <joo> Did you learn something new and important about the world? (I think so.)
07:32 <Vaylon> Yep!
07:33 <joo> Did you loot a memorable treasure? Quite certainly.
07:33 <joo> Did you overcome a notable enemy or monster?
07:33 <Vaylon> We ran away from one.
07:33 <joo> It seems like you Chickened out of that one.
07:34 <Vaylon> I don't regret running away from a cockatrice.
07:34 <joo> Who satisfied their alignment move?
07:35 <Vaylon> Not I. Hawthorn rushed to heal Waldemar, but the danger had already passed by that point, I believe.
07:35 <joo> Yes, I suppose so.
07:36 <Bruce> I don't think I did.
07:36 <joo> Seemingly not.
07:36 <joo> I'll also say that Sparrow didn't manage to avoid detection or infiltrate any locations, unless Theo later has an argument that he did.
07:37 <joo> Finally, are there any bonds that anyone wishes to form or resolve?
07:37 <Bruce> Not 4 me.
07:38 <joo> How's that ballad about the adventures of Hawthorn going?
07:39 <Vaylon> Yes, how is it going?
07:39 * Bruce has left.
07:39 <Vaylon> Haha.
07:40 <Vaylon> I don't have any bonds, but I reserve the right to write one between now and the next session.
07:40 <joo> As you like.
07:41 <joo> Tentatively, then: Waldemar gains 2 XP and so has 10/10 XP and can reach level 4 when he next rests; Sparrow gains 4 XP and so has 10/11 XP; and Hawthorn gains 2 XP and so has 3/11 XP.
Chicken of the Woods
29 November 2015
00:40 <joo> In the last session, you travelled with the magician Ira back from the now-sealed tomb of Owtheus to her home in the south-eastern reaches of Arlingson's Forest. There you stayed the night, and did various things.
00:42 <joo> Now it is the morning, you are all rested and healed, and your packs are full of supplies. The world lies before you: <http://i.imgur.com/7ucuR6Y.png>. What will you do next?
00:43 <Vaylon> Do you have a link to the Pastebin which describes the Bonds of Fire?
00:43 <joo> Vaylon: it is now described here: wrymrpg.proboards.com/thread/309/custom-items-spells
00:43 <Bruce> Damn. This is the whole world?
00:43 <Theo> Was it gold thread I stole? I can't remember.
00:44 <joo> Sparrow stole a pool of gold thread (worth 200 coins), and some curious-looking purple-blue gemstones.
00:44 <Vaylon> joo: Thanks.
00:44 <joo> ...a spool.
00:44 <joo> Both are 0 weight.
00:46 <joo> Sparrow is also carrying around a stinking dragonfly corpse like some kind of hobo, and he still has an unidentified vial of clear liquid.
00:47 <Theo> Ha! I still have that? XD
00:47 <joo> As far as I know.
00:47 <Theo> Sparrow asks Ira if she has any use for the corpse.
00:47 <joo> Hahahah.
00:48 <joo> Ira wrinkles her nose. "So that's what that smell was coming from. Thanks goodness - I thought it was just you."
00:49 <joo> She says, "The carapace of dragonflies both common and giant have some medicinal properties when ground up into a paste. There is also a gland that can be used to extract an essence that repels insects."
00:50 <joo> She looks critically at the corpse you have. "I fear it is too late for this one, though. If you had a fresh specimen, there could be some use from it."
00:50 <Vaylon> Hawthorn says, pointing to the dead dragonfly, "We used it to ward off further attacks by the creatures. Crude but effective."
00:51 <Theo> Sparrow furrows his brow and huffs, stroking the corpse on his lap, though he tilts his head with interest, "Can you show me where this gland is? It may be too late for this one, but it'd be handy if I come across another."
00:51 <joo> "If you happen to catch another one, I'd be happy to show you how to make something from it! Their meat can also make a passable stew, if you're in need."
00:51 <Theo> Sparrow gags.
00:53 <joo> Ira nods. She goes into her study and comes back with a scalpel, then lays the corpse on a table under some light. She makes an incision underneath the dragonfly's wings, revealing a small yellow organ that gives off a foul smell when squeezed.
00:54 <joo> "Dilute the squeezings of this and rub it all over yourself, and no insect smaller than a dragonfly will dare to bite you."
00:55 <Vaylon> Hawthorn watches the procedure with an arched eyebrow before turning to Waldemar. "Perhaps we should travel to Middleheim and seek the mage that Ira mentioned; he may be able to tell us something about Owtheus."
00:56 <Theo> Sparrow nods, watching Ira closely. He doesn't react to the smell at all.
00:58 <Bruce> He lives in the attic of a brothel, after all.
00:58 <joo> Heh.
00:58 <Bruce> Probably smells all kinds of foul shite.
00:59 <joo> I thought it was a tanner - in which case, that statement would still hold.
00:59 <Bruce> Oh.
00:59 <Theo> It was a tanner. He just visits the brothel a lot.
01:00 <joo> His second home, as it were.
01:00 <Bruce> joo, didn't we find a Dead Mage from Middleheim in the tomb, or something?
01:00 <joo> So it has been hypothesised:
01:00 <joo> 03:22 <joo> Ira speaks to you all: "I have gone over my memories of last night, and I will hypothesise that the corpse we saw belonged to a mage from the city of Middleheim. There is a mage there by the name of Anastagio whom I'd suspect of being involved, if that is the case. He's a good man - he taught me a lot of what I know - but he can't keep his nose out of anything when it's good for him. If you e
01:00 <joo> ver happen t
01:01 <joo> o be in the area, send him my regards, and tell him about our little adventure."
01:02 <Bruce> We still don't know what caused the Unsealing, right?
01:02 <joo> Correct. Ira certainly doesn't know.
01:07 <Bruce> Waldemar scratches his chin, nodding at Hawthorn. "Yes, there is still more to this we haven't yet uncovered. And perhaps other opportunities await us in the mountains."
01:07 <joo> As the morning goes on, Ira's two daughters, Peony and Acacia, come in with pails of water drawn from a spring. They say that since the wind has changed, there is a great column of smoke blowing from the North.
01:08 <joo> "A forest fire, perhaps," Mohar says. "It's been years since the last one."
01:09 <Bruce> Everyone glances awkwardly at Hawthorn, and then the laugh track plays.
01:09 <Vaylon> On the map, joo, is the black line that leads from the inland sea to Haisford a river?
01:09 <Vaylon> Haha.
01:09 <joo> Yes, that's the River Hais. I should have made it clearer, I suppose.
01:10 <joo> wrymrpg.proboards.com/thread/308/maps has another map.
01:10 <joo> ...on which it isn't labelled either.
01:11 <joo> The River Hais flows from the great inland sea between the mountains to the west, cleaves Arlingson's forest in two, then runs South, feeding into the Haismire.
01:11 <Vaylon> Hawthorn nods to Waldemar. He frowns at the news from the two girls. "North, you say? The Shrine of Dysus is in that direction. And we must head back that way to reach the River Hais." He glances at Sparrow. "Perhaps from there you can decide whether you wish to continue accompanying us or if you wish to return to Haisford."
01:12 <joo> It's not known whether there's a place where water flows out of the Haismire, because it's largely uncharted.
01:12 <Vaylon> Hawthorn turns to Ira. "Before we depart, I should warn you that a gang of evil men were searching the forest from us. They came from Haisford."
01:12 <Vaylon> *for us
01:14 <Vaylon> "A man by the name of Jenkins. His heart is as black as coal. Even had he not attempted to kill us on our journey here, I would have seen it, being gifted sight of the unseen."
01:14 <joo> "Evil men?" I'd wonder if they survived a journey through the forest or the swamp, as not many do; but we shall stay vigilant. She nods.
01:14 <joo> Er... the quote ends after "vigilant."
01:15 <Vaylon> Since today is a new day, Hawthorn will prepare new spells while he can.
01:16 <Bruce> whats my xp at,
01:17 <joo> Waldemar, Sparrow and Hawthorn are at 8/10, 6/11 and 1/11 XP, respectively.
01:17 <Bruce> thx
01:18 <Theo> Sparrow nods at Hawthorn, glancing at Waldemar, "I'll be staying until my weapons are replaced."
01:18 <joo> Also, as adventurers, you probably are conscious of the fact that you are all weaponless, except for Sparrow, who has a dagger, a belt knife and 4 throwing daggers.
01:18 <Bruce> Weaponless? I have my Voice.
01:18 <joo> (The belt knife is more of a tool than a weapon.)
01:19 <joo> Yes, indeed, both Waldemar and Hawthorn are in possession of ways of defending themselves other than physical weapons.
01:20 <Vaylon> pastebin.com/Rpiz8wEK
01:20 <Bruce> Waldemar chortles. "Ah, fair enough. Perhaps in Middleheim we will find you a Magic blade. Over there, I hear, they use them even to slice cheese."
01:20 <Vaylon> Nice.
01:21 <Vaylon> Hawthorn has 1/11 XP? I thought he had 6.
01:21 <Vaylon> <joo> So Sparrow gains 2 XP, Hawthorn gains 1, and Waldemar gains 2; they then have 8/10, 6/11 and 1/11 XP, respectively. They also all have full health after this extended rest.
01:22 <joo> Oh...
01:22 <joo> Maybe I said the names in the wrong order, there.
01:22 <joo> Let me check.
01:23 <joo> Before that: 03:54 <joo> So Sparrow gains 2 XP, Hawthorn gains 1, and Waldemar gains 2; they t
01:23 <joo> hen have 8/10, 6/11 and 1/11 XP, respectively. They also all have full health afte
01:23 <joo> r this extended rest.
01:23 <joo> (Sorry about the line breaks.)
01:23 <joo> Oh, wait, that's the same one.
01:24 <Bruce> ur losing it
01:24 <Vaylon> Yes. Hawthorn is my character. The Cleric.
01:24 <joo> Before that:
01:24 <joo> 08:32 <joo> If there are no more bonds, then Hawthorn gains 2+3+1+1=7 XP, Sparrow gains 1+3+1=5 XP, and Waldemar gains 1+3+1=5 XP.
01:24 <joo> 08:32 <Vaylon> Hey, I can level up again.
01:24 <joo> 08:32 <joo> That leaves them with 10/10, 14/10 and 6/10, respectively.
01:25 <Vaylon> ... So Sparrow had 14/10 XP in the earlier quote, and 8/10 XP in the latter quote?
01:26 <joo> Yes, so I said them in the wrong order.
01:26 <Vaylon> Okay... so Hawthorn has 1/11 XP.
01:27 <joo> We went from (H 10/10, S 14/10, W 6/10) to (H 1/11, S 6/11, W 8/10).
01:27 <joo> Yes.
01:27 <Vaylon> Okay.
01:27 <Vaylon> Hawthorn prepares his usual rotes as well as Detect Alignment, Detect Magic, Revealing Light, and Calm Flames.
01:28 <joo> Very well.
01:30 <joo> Are you all resolved to travel North, then?
01:30 <Vaylon> Yes.
01:31 <Theo> Yup
01:31 <Bruce> I'm not afraid of some fire, even if I am unarmed. I'll punch that shit right out, m8.
01:33 <joo> Is Sparrow going to act as the Guide once again? If so, what course will you take? A straight line through the forest?
01:35 <Theo> Sure. We could head through the forest to the crossroads and maybe follow the road then stop at Eastbrook?
01:36 <joo> By the crossroads, do you mean the place where the forest trail meets the path beside the river, where you sighted that monolith?
01:36 <Vaylon> Hawthorn is almost certainly going to want to investigate the column of smoke.
01:37 <Theo> Yeah.
01:42 <joo> Hmm... this will be a Perilous Journey. Assign a trailblazer, scout and quartermaster, and each roll+WIS.
01:42 <Vaylon> Hawthorn will once again act as the quartermaster.
01:43 <Vaylon> !r 2d6+3 Quartermaster
01:43 <PageBot> Vaylon: 11=6+2(+3) Quartermaster
01:44 <Bruce> Waldemar will have to Scout, unfortunately.
01:44 <Bruce> !r 2d6 Scout
01:44 <PageBot> Bruce: 7=4+3 Scout
01:46 <Theo> !r 2d6-1 trailblazer
01:46 <PageBot> Theo: 4=1+4(-1) trailblazer
01:51 <joo> Walking north through the forest, you find your way obstructed by thickets, incursions of marshy terrain, and difficult to climb rocky hills. It takes you a whole two days by the time you get close to the site of Dysus's shrine, but thanks to Hawthorn's management of rations, you only consume 1 ration each.
01:52 <Vaylon> Hawthorn's studies perhaps enabled him to spot some more-or-less edible foragables along the way.
01:52 <joo> Yes, perhaps you pop off a few mushroom heads.
01:52 <Vaylon> Mushrooms, let's say.
01:52 <Vaylon> Haha.
01:53 <joo> What is the name, appearance and known alchemical properties of the mushroom(s) you find?
01:54 <Vaylon> I imagine they were nothing more than the common sulphur shelf fungus, the so-called "chicken of the woods," a bright orange fungus that grows in the appearance of shelves on the side of mainly deciduous trees.
01:55 <Vaylon> As for alchemical properties, well, they can be used to make healing poultices.
01:56 <joo> Chicken of the woods, eh? He he he.
01:57 <joo> Well, you find these in plenty enough that you could make some healing poultice, too while you camp on the night of your journey.
01:57 <joo> Hmm... well...
01:58 <joo> Assuming that it doesn't require any specialise equipment or other ingredients, which I think is reasonable.
01:59 <Vaylon> All right. Hawthorn will make a set of healing poultices, then.
01:59 <joo> You can gain Poultices and Herbs (1 weight, 2 uses, slow).
01:59 <joo> The herbs are just some grass that Hawthorn sprinkled in to make it match the name.
02:00 <joo> While walking through the forest in the evening after dark, you hear some distant howls of wolves, but you see no sign of them.
02:01 <Bruce> i can howl too bitch 1v1 me
02:01 <joo> In the morning, however, as you're approaching the clearing, you notice some whole animal skeletons protruding from the leaves on the forest ground.
02:02 <joo> Notably, they don't appear to have been scavenged, and there is a curious number of them in this particular place.
02:02 <joo> *as you're approaching a clearing
02:03 <Vaylon> Hmm. Too bad I can't talk to animals.
02:03 <joo> In the clearing in the distance, you see what looks a bit like a lizard walking across the ground, but as it turns, it looks more like a bird.
02:04 <joo> Suddenly, it turns fully towards you, and you all feel regarded by its little black eyes. What do you do?
02:07 <Bruce> They don't appear to have been scavenged? Are they covered in grotty fucking rotten meat?
02:08 <joo> No; they are all almost fully skeletonised. They don't show the scattering of bones that evidences carrion animals.
02:08 <joo> It looks like they just sat down and died there, and were left undisturbed.
02:09 <Bruce> Oh, I see.
02:10 <Bruce> Waldemar furrows his brow, and looks to Hawthorn and Sparrow, asking in a low voice: "What do you suppose that creature is?"
02:11 <Vaylon> Hawthorn studies the creature for a moment.
02:11 <Vaylon> !r 2d6+2 Spout Lore
02:11 <PageBot> Vaylon: 9=4+3(+2) Spout Lore
02:14 <joo> Hawthorn, you identify this creature as the Cockatrice of legend - an aberration born when a toad incubates the egg laid by a rooster during a certain alignment of the heavens - it is part cock, part lizard, and it's known that it can kill its enemies by slowly paralysing them.
02:14 <Vaylon> Oh, shit.
02:14 <joo> (Some legends say the paralysis is by touch, some by breath, and some by the touch of its beak. You don't know which is true.)
02:15 <joo> Er...
02:15 <joo> I mean, some say that it can paralyse just by looking at you.
02:16 <Vaylon> "Keep your distance!" warns Hawthorn in a quiet voice. "It is undoubtedly a cockatrice. We should make haste from here and not enrage it."
02:19 <Bruce> Waldemar strokes his moustache, eyes widening. "Well said. Let us withdraw!"
02:19 <joo> The way past this clearing will be difficult, as it on the slope of a hill, and the branches are thick. What way will you take to avoid the cockatrice?
02:21 <joo> (I mean that the tree branches are great in density, not that they have large girth.)
02:22 <joo> The creature flaps a pair of wings, and briefly lifts into the air, letting out a sharp keening sound. It lands on a tree branch closer to you, still staring down at you.
02:23 <Bruce> Waldemar whispers to Sparrow: "Guide us forward, Sparrow -- you are most experienced in avoiding notice... and with birds, I presume."
02:23 <joo> Heh.
02:23 <Vaylon> Haha.
02:28 <Theo> Sparrow keeps his eyes on the back of the cockatrice, not looking at the head of the creature, "It's already noticed us." he says softly, applying some oil of Tagit to one of the throwing knives he'd slowly taken from his coat, "We need to move slow, into the trees. If it starts to get aggressive, I'll try put it to sleep."
02:28 <joo> Sparrow, you also recall that some way back the way you came, there was a viable path leading more to the right, but it would seem to take out right to the edge of the forest, where it meets the plains south of Haisford, or an uncertain way to the West whose viability you couldn't determine.
02:30 <joo> Which exact way will you lead the party relative to the clearing, Sparrow?
02:33 <Theo> Retreat and take the uncertain path west!
02:35 <joo> Very well. As you retreat back along your path, your legs all feel heavy and it's difficult to move... but the feeling eases as you move further away from the creature. Going west away from your previous path, the ground becomes lower and wetter.
02:36 <Vaylon> Whew.
02:36 <joo> Shortly you come to an expanse of water. There are a number of fallen trees around this pool, and in its midst, some water-lilies are growing. The chirping of insects is loud, here.
02:37 <Vaylon> I doubt we could have killed it, but it would have had some treasure, I bet.
02:37 <Vaylon> I don't have any combat spells.
02:37 <Vaylon> I have a question about Revealing Light -- it says that I need a vessel for the spell. What does that mean, exactly?
02:38 <joo> Sparrow, the smell that has now become familiar to you of dragonfly BO drifts subtly here. You think you could probably find some if you looked.
02:38 <Bruce> Probably the same way Light works.
02:38 <Vaylon> Okay.
02:38 <Bruce> In that you need to Light Up your staff.
02:38 <joo> Vaylon: the vessel is the the chain, in this case.
02:38 <Vaylon> Oh, I see.
02:39 <joo> But otherwise, it might be possible to choose a vessel.
02:39 <joo> (I suppose that would be made more clear.)
02:39 <Theo> Sparrow looks around for a new pet.
02:41 <joo> Sparrow, through some trees, you spot a place where several giant dragonflies are indeed hovering. If you were very careful, you might be able to catch one of them without drawing attention to yourself.
02:42 <joo> (But you'd have to kill it, I think.)
02:43 <joo> (Note: from earlier, you've expended one use of Oil of Tagit, and one of your throwing knives is poisoned with it.)
02:44 <Theo> Yep
02:44 <Theo> Sparrow looks for a dragonfly far from the main group, hoping to throw his poisoned dagger at it.
02:46 <joo> Now that I'm looking at the rules for Oil of Tagit, I notice that "you have to carefully apply it to the target or something they eat or drink," but I suppose it's too late for that, and shall have to be Canon that oil of tagit is a Touch poison.
02:47 <joo> That makes the skill Envenom a bit less useful, but at least it still applies to Goldenroot.
02:50 <Bruce> Sparrow says, "Eat this!" and then stabs the dagger into the dragonfly's mouth.
02:50 <Vaylon> Haha.
02:51 <joo> I will say that this manouevre consists of one instance of defying danger with dexterity, to not be noticed by any other foes while doing this, and, if that's successful, a Backstab.
02:52 <joo> (You can choose to make your damage non-lethal in this case, if you choose.)
02:53 <Theo> !r 2d6+2 (Defy Danger)
02:53 <PageBot> Theo: 7=4+1(+2) (Defy Danger)
02:54 <joo> You're not noticed for now, but you ended up closer than you'd like to the other dragonflies. Go ahead with the Backstab roll.
02:56 <Theo> !r 2d6+2 (Backstab)
02:56 <PageBot> Theo: 12=5+5(+2) (Backstab)
02:57 <Theo> Rawr!
02:58 <Theo> I'll take the damage first with the dagger then decide on the second
03:00 <joo> If you're making a ranged attack, then Cheap Shot doesn't apply; but you can choose two from the list for Backstab.
03:01 <joo> Right... so roll d8+d6 damage, making it stun damage if you like.
03:03 -!- Broose [~brooose@861A21D8.94127801.7CE0BFB4.IP] has joined #DungeonWorld
03:03 -!- mode/#DungeonWorld [+o Broose] by PageBot
03:04 <joo> I believe the poison will still apply even if you deal lethal damage, but of course you'll probably kill it then.
03:04 <Theo> !r d8+d6
03:04 <PageBot> Theo: 4+1
03:04 <Theo> That was pathetic
03:04 -!- Bruce [~brooose@861A21D8.94127801.7CE0BFB4.IP] has quit [Ping timeout: 182 seconds]
03:05 -!- Broose is now known as Bruce
03:05 <joo> What is your second choice, and do you choose to execute this Fly?
03:07 <joo> I suppose the only one that makes sense is giving an advantage against the other dragonflies, should you end up fighting them.
03:07 <Theo> Yes it will suffer a death. I take the +1 forward.
03:12 <joo> Sparrow, as you're stooping to pick up the slain dragonfly, some others take notice of you and start to hover towards you. You'll have to escape from here quickly if you want to avoid them. However, you'll either need to skirt around the pond of water here, which will give them more time to catch up with you, or go across the pond itself.
03:14 <Theo> Why change the habits of a lifetime? I'll go through the pond.
03:15 <Theo> Like so: youtu.be/Oe3St1GgoHQ?t=151
03:16 <joo> What were Waldemar and Hawthorn doing while Sparrow was hunting dragonflies?
03:17 <Bruce> Hahaha. Is Sparrow giving one of these interviews?
03:17 <Theo> Totally~
03:17 <Bruce> Waldemar was probably trying to convince Hawthorn to give him an extra serving of Beans.
03:18 <Vaylon> Haha.
03:18 <Vaylon> You'll just stink up the camp!
03:18 <Vaylon> I mean, even more than usual.
03:19 <Vaylon> Did we Make Camp? If not, then I suppose Hawthorn was just watching Sparrow pensively.
03:19 <joo> Probably not, as it was just the morning.
03:20 <joo> However, Hawthorn and Waldemar are probably far away enough to not get involved in this Hoedown, should they choose. They can meet Sparrow on the other side of the pond, if they go around its edge.
03:20 <joo> Sparrow, you can probably achieve something like that, by leaping from lilypad to lilypad, if you're dextrous enough.
03:20 <joo> If you fail, you'll probably get soaked, however.
03:21 <Theo> I am also picturing him running toward the others with his prize, screaming at them to run whilst chased by a hoard.
03:21 <joo> Heh.
03:21 <joo> That sounds accurate.
03:21 <Bruce> WALDEMAR. WALDEMAR! START THE PLANE. START THE PLANE.
03:22 <Theo> Hahaha!
03:25 <Vaylon> Very well -- Hawthorn, possibly following Waldemar, will circle around the pond to meet Sparrow on the opposite end.
03:26 <Theo> Defy danger with dex then, joo?
03:27 <joo> If Sparrow wants to cross the pond without wading or swimming, yes.
03:27 <Theo> !r 2d6+2 (Defy Danger+Dex)
03:27 <PageBot> Theo: 4=1+1(+2) (Defy Danger+Dex)
03:27 <Theo> D:
03:27 <joo> Hohoho.
03:29 <Vaylon> Uh-oh.
03:29 <Theo> joo was itching for me to fail that roll. I can sense it.
03:29 <joo> Sparrow, you fail to keep your balance on the lilypads, and you topple into the water in the middle, where it's deep enough to cover your head. While under the water, an item drifts out of your packs and is lost. What is it?
03:30 <Theo> Can I lose one of his throwing daggers or would it be all of them?
03:30 <joo> Hmm..
03:31 <joo> I'll say that given the severity of the situation, it would have to be all units of one item.
03:31 <Theo> I'll lose the belt knife then.
03:32 <joo> Very well. As you swim (as I assume) towards the other end of the pond, you see a bright green water snake darting at you. What do you do?
03:33 <Theo> First, scream
03:34 <joo> Waldemar and Hawthorn, you hear Sparrow screaming. It seems he's in some peril. What do you do?
03:35 <Vaylon> Hawthorn looks at the lake, then at Waldemar.
03:36 <joo> Sparrow has the chance to act against the snake (due to Shoot First), but he'll need to act quickly to avoid getting bitten.
03:36 <Vaylon> "I have no weapons or magics for battle other than some aid for injuries."
03:37 <Bruce> Waldemar doesn't want to get into another Water Fight. Not after what happened. He whips out a rope from his adventuring gear and throws it into the pond for his homey to grab.
03:38 <joo> Of course, Hawthorn assumed Sparrow was getting eaten by another giant crocodile.
03:38 <joo> Very well. I think that may count as Aid, depending on what Sparrow is going to do.
03:38 <Bruce> Yeah.
03:39 <Theo> Sparrow draws his dagger in an attempt to defend himself, should the snake attack, but swims for the rope.
03:40 <joo> The snake is definitely attacking. If you want to defend yourself with your dagger, you can do that, but I think it excludes immediately grabbing the rope.
03:41 <joo> If you want to grab the rope, Defy Danger with DEX, with aid from Waldemar.
03:41 <Theo> Scrap the dagger then. I'm just going for the rope.
03:42 <Theo> What's roll+bond? +1?
03:42 <joo> Yes, but Waldemar would be making this roll.
03:43 <Bruce> !r 2d6+1 Aid
03:43 <PageBot> Bruce: 7=1+5(+1) Aid
03:43 <Theo> Yeah I just wasn't sure.
03:43 <Bruce> Oh god.
03:43 <Bruce> A giant crocodile is coming.
03:43 <joo> XD
03:43 <Theo> XD
03:44 <joo> Take +1 to your roll, Sparrow.
03:44 <Theo> !r 2d6+3 (Defy Danger+Dex)
03:44 <PageBot> Theo: 8=3+2(+3) (Defy Danger+Dex)
03:44 <Vaylon> Oh, dear.
03:44 <Theo> Oh...
03:44 <Theo> It is a giant crocodile.
03:45 <joo> Funnily, I read this on Wikipedia: "The twelfth century legend was based on a reference in Pliny's Natural History[1] that the ichneumon lay in wait for the crocodile to open its jaws for the trochilus bird to enter and pick its teeth clean.[2]"
03:45 <joo> I have no idea what it means, but it must be relevant.
03:45 <Theo> ;_;
03:45 <joo> Hahaha. No, there's no crocodile in this case.
03:46 <joo> However, Sparrow, the snake does follow you as you're getting out of the water, and it slithers onto the ground... and, Waldemar, it slithers towards you specifically!
03:46 <joo> What do you do?!
03:46 <joo> Out of the water, you can see it's green with orange spots down its length.
03:47 <Bruce> What is the Girth of the snake?
03:48 <joo> The snake is about 3cm in Diameter, and 1m long.
03:49 <Bruce> Waldemar stomps this dumbass snake with his Boot!
03:49 <joo> Roll Hack and Slash, I think.
03:49 <joo> Hack and Stomp.
03:51 <Bruce> !r 2d6+1 Hack and Slash
03:51 <PageBot> Bruce: 7=4+2(+1) Hack and Slash
03:51 <Bruce> !r d6 Damage
03:51 <PageBot> Bruce: 3 Damage
03:53 <joo> !r d6-2 -- Damage to Waldemar
03:53 <PageBot> joo: 2=4(-2) -- Damage to Waldemar
03:55 <Vaylon> Hawthorn steps forward and helps Waldemar pull Sparrow from the water. Stepping in close near the snake, he places a hand on Waldemar's shoulder and begins to chant.
03:55 <Vaylon> !r 2d6+3 Cast a Spell: Cure Light Wounds
03:55 <PageBot> Vaylon: 9=2+4(+3) Cast a Spell: Cure Light Wounds
03:55 <joo> Waldemar, your boot comes down firmly on the snake, crushing it; but before it dies, it manages to bite through your pants. The bite itself is probably not what you have to worry about, though.
03:56 <Vaylon> Hawthorn will lose the spell for now, I suppose!
03:56 <Vaylon> !r 1d8 Healing
03:56 <PageBot> Vaylon: 8 Healing
03:56 <Bruce> Damm. You should have saved that 8.
03:56 <Vaylon> Yeah...
03:56 <joo> For the record, I don't think Cure Light Wounds has an affect on venom.
03:56 <joo> *effect
03:56 <Vaylon> No, I don't believe it does, either.
03:56 <joo> It does have an Affect, if you pretend you're curing venom.
03:58 <joo> Waldemar, your wound is closed by Hawthorn's magic, but an unwholesome burning sensation still remains, and it seems to spread up your leg. You feel still able to walk for now.
03:59 <Bruce> "Curses. I fear its bite was venomous." Waldemar mutters.
03:59 <Vaylon> Hawthorn looks worriedly at Waldemar, and he picks up the snake. What does he know about this particular snake?
03:59 <Vaylon> !r 2d6+2 Spout Lore
03:59 <PageBot> Vaylon: 13=6+5(+2) Spout Lore
04:00 <joo> This particular snake? Well, its name is Sharon, and...
04:00 <joo> (joke)
04:05 <joo> Waldemar, this snake is colloquially known as the Swamp Wither. Its poison spreads throughout the body and causes effects similar to old age in humans, and eventual death if untreated.
04:06 <Bruce> wow. im so smart i didnt even have to roll for that
04:06 <Vaylon> Haha.
04:06 <joo> Fuck.
04:06 <joo> Hawthorn, I mean.
04:06 <Vaylon> All right -- and something useful?
04:08 <joo> Yes, I'm getting to that: a regular antitoxin will stop the patient from dying, although the poison's effects will remain for a short time. The true antidote can be made with the blood of a baby no more than a month old and the flower of a water lily; this concoction will reverse the previous effects, and even leave the person taking it feeling a bit more vital than usual.
04:08 <Vaylon>
04:08 <Bruce> the fuck they teach u at the temple
04:09 <Vaylon> It must have been some damn dark tome from which Hawthorn read this!
04:09 <joo> Hahaha.
04:09 <joo> What's wrong with taking a bit of baby blood if it saves a man's life?!
04:10 <Vaylon> Slowly, reluctantly, Hawthorn explains to Waldemar what he knows about the Swamp Wither. Is there a water lily flower nearby?
04:10 <joo> Incidentally, Sparrow knows enough about poisons that he could extract the rest of this snake's venom (1 use) if he wanted.
04:11 <Vaylon> Sparrow hears the explanation, too, so he knows what the poison does.
04:11 <joo> Yes, there are many water lilies in easy reach. Unfortunately, there are no newborn babies growing nearby, though.
04:11 <Vaylon> Rats.
04:11 <Vaylon> It has to be a human baby?
04:11 <Bruce> We'll have to improvise.
04:11 <Vaylon> Or could we use, say, a ... baby chicken or something?
04:11 <Bruce> Waldemar locks Hawthorn in captivity until the stress causes him to reproduce asexually.
04:12 <Vaylon> Haha.
04:12 <joo> No, it can be a baby of another species, but if it's not human, a human taking the antidote will permanently gain some attributes of the race it was taken from.
04:12 <joo> (That is, if they are affected by the poison; the longer they've been poisoned, the greater the effect.)
04:13 <Theo> Sparrow does milk the snake to get the rest of the venom.
04:13 <Vaylon> Interesting.
04:13 <joo> Incidentally, this is how some people willingly gained animal-like traits.
04:13 <Vaylon> Hawthorn clarifies this part for Waldemar.
04:13 <joo> Gain 1 unit of Wither Venom, which is a "touch" poison.
04:15 <Vaylon> "Take one of these flowers," he says to Waldemar, "and we will attempt to make the true antidote, as distasteful as I find the idea." He mutters, "Perhaps there is some way to do it with little harm."
04:16 <Bruce> Waldemar rubs at his forehead. "Damn troublesome snakes!" He frowns at Hawthorn. "I have little desire to grow wings, sir!"
04:18 <Vaylon> Hawthorn nods. "No, but if you did, this would be your opportunity to do so."
04:18 <joo> You're now not far from the site of Dysus's Shrine, and, indeed, you now detect some smoke on the air.
04:19 <Theo> Sparrow looks at Hawthorn, his expression neutral, "I will obtain the second part of the antidote when I get chance." he says quietly before glancing to the sky.
04:20 <joo> "Just give me 9 months."
04:21 <Vaylon> Hawthorn sniffs the air and frowns. "I hope this smoke does not originate at Dysus's shrine."
04:21 <Theo> (I was going to say that, joo!)
04:23 <Bruce> Sparrow has been training his entire life for this.
04:23 <Theo> XD
04:24 <joo> Sparrow, through the trees you can see grey plumes of smoke drifting from the East and North. The shrine itself lies East.
04:26 <joo> Do you continue your journey now?
04:26 <Vaylon> I don't see why not.
04:29 <joo> If you do, you soon come to a familiar-looking rocky piece of land that rises almost out of the trees: this is the piece of land that offers a bridge over the pool of swamp water surrounding the island on which the shrine stands.
04:30 <joo> The island itself is notably different from when you were last there: there is new, green growth all over it that seems to have progressed at an impossible rate. The shrine building can be glimpsed at its peak.
04:30 <joo> Beyond this island, however... a charred landscape of burned forest stretches out.
04:31 <joo> About halfway to the horizon, the signs of a raging forest fire on the eastern side of the shrine island are visible, and at its edge, the fires still burns and sends up a curtain of ashy-grey smoke.
04:32 <Bruce> Hey, it's healthy for a forest to have a little fire once in awhile. We did Dysus a favor.
04:32 <joo> The rocky path of this land bridge continues onto the shrine island. What do you do?
04:33 <Vaylon> "Well... perhaps we should visit Dysus." He glances at Waldemar. "Is there any reason we should not?"
04:37 <Bruce> Waldemar strokes his moustache. "None that I see, though she may ask that I do her favor."
04:41 <Vaylon> Hawthorn nods. "Just as well, then. Let us speak to her and repay our debts where we may."
04:42 <Bruce> Fucking scumbag forest spirits. I can't believe we really owe her after all this.
04:47 <joo> Well, if you proceed into the shrine, then you find it empty at first except for the two carven figures, which are now stationary but still bear the marks of Waldemar's axe and of Sparrow's sword. However, as your cross the threshold, the air shimmers, and the forest goddess Dysus shimmers into view.
04:47 <joo> *you
04:48 <joo> She looks to be in good spirits, and she says with a slight smile, "Ah, you have returned! Have you come with my groom-to-be?"
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04:49 <Bruce> A goddess, now?! Damn, she's gone mad with power.
04:50 <joo> What do you think she is?
04:50 <Bruce> A Spirit.
04:50 <Vaylon> A genius loci.
04:50 <Bruce> That's only a few Power Levels over a Ghost.
04:51 <joo> Yes, she's a local goddess, and she's also been called a forest spirit.
04:51 <joo> Local Goddess Ruins Everything.
04:51 <Vaylon> Hahaha.
04:51 <Bruce> The gods have organized themselves into regional governors, I see.
04:51 <joo> The very pretext of all of this was that there was a "forest goddess."
04:52 <Vaylon> Hawthorn, noting the smile, glances at Waldemar, and he takes off the golden sash, handing it to Waldemar. "I believe you have a story to tell."
04:54 <Bruce> Waldemar has a troll grin on face. "I'm afraid old Owtheus will only have his fellow skeletons to court, from now on. Through trickery, we escaped unchallenged with one of his treasures."
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04:56 <joo> Theo: pastebin.com/BKaSUuWm
04:56 <Theo> Thank you
04:57 <joo> Dysus chuckles. "So I gathered, in fact. Owtheus used the token you left with him to communicate with me for a while after you left. I learned some interest new curses from the time of the Giants, but I soon grew tired of it and severed the connection."
04:57 <joo> *interesting
04:59 <Bruce> Waldemar chortles. "My apologies."
04:59 <joo> She clasps her hands together, and looks over all of you. "You have my thanks, adventurers, for this noble deed you have performed. I am sure that many others would thank you too if they knew the significance."
05:00 <Theo> Sparrow huffs, folding his arms and leaning against a wall.
05:00 <joo> To Waldemar, she says, "I consider your oath to have been fulfilled... but do not forget the promise you made me of a further favour. We will speak of that, later."
05:02 <joo> "Until then, I have a little reward for you all." She gestures to the statues standing near the offertory box, and they stand aside. "You may have the contents of this box. It is worldly treasure that was given to me by worshippers that are all long dead now, so its significance to me is now nothing. I think this is a new age in the forest, a time for new beginnings."
05:02 <Bruce> Waldemar, as he slowly dies of poison: www.usasports360.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Tiger-Woods-drunk-566x526.jpg
05:03 <joo> She glances at the golden chain that Waldemar holds. "You may also keep my 'bride price'. I have no want for such instruments of the arcane."
05:05 <Vaylon> Hawthorn says, "I would gladly speak in your praise when we return to civilization. Perhaps you will yet have new faithful to bring you offerings."
05:05 <Bruce> Didn't one of us put money in that box?
05:05 <joo> Yes. She's fucking scamming you!
05:06 <Vaylon> Hahaha.
05:06 <Vaylon> Well, it's a good thing we did put some money in there. We'd have nothing else.
05:06 <Bruce> Waldemar nods at Dysus, handing the fat chain back to Hawthorn, and takes a look at the contents of Dysus' box.
05:06 <Bruce> It's probably just a bunch of fucking leaves and twigs.
05:07 <Vaylon> Hawthorn bows to Waldemar and to Dysus, and he re-wears the chain reverently.
05:07 <Vaylon> What's in the boooooox?
05:09 <Vaylon> Hawthorn joins Waldemar to peer into the box with him.
05:10 <joo> The top of the box is slotted, and its frame is fitted tightly around the top, but it can be removed with some strain. Inside is a large pile of coins of all types. Many of them bear strange designs that you don't recognise, and those you do seem to be from several centuries ago. The four coins that Sparrow dropped in stand out among them, on the top.
05:11 <joo> If these were all coins of the contemporary type, based on the metals they're made of, they would be worth about 900 coins. However, Sparrow, you think that if you spoke to the right people, you could sell about 1/3 of them to collectors and other enthusiasts for a higher price.
05:12 <Bruce> Ohh, my.
05:12 <Vaylon> Hawthorn picks up one of the more ancient-looking coins and examines it with interest. "I only wish for enough to provide for food and drink and perhaps a set of writing implements. When we return to Haisford, I desire to send word back to my temple of the events that have transpired here. They will be happy to receive the knowledge."
05:14 <Vaylon> He glances from Waldemar to Sparrow. "The two of you may divide it as you see fit. You have certainly earned it."
05:14 <Vaylon> He smiles at Sparrow. "And you may finally get your weapons!"
05:15 <joo> Hawthorn, the coin you pick up is gold, cut in the shape of a septagon, and has a blocky, angular script on it around an imprint of a head wearing a helmet.
05:15 <joo> The reverse side has just writing on it in the same script, but larger - maybe the value of the coin.
05:16 <Vaylon> Interesting! Hawthorn studies the script to see what he can discern.
05:16 <Vaylon> !r 2d6+2 Spout Lore
05:16 <PageBot> Vaylon: 11=5+4(+2) Spout Lore
05:17 <Vaylon> O
05:17 <Vaylon> Whoops.
05:17 <Vaylon> I'm curious about what Waldemar will spend his money on.
05:18 <Bruce> When we reach somewhere Civilized, he will probably buy a dirty sWord and some plate armor.
05:19 <Bruce> He has to keep up with the latest in Noble Fashion, after all.
05:19 <Bruce> Also, probably some kind of Horn.
05:21 <Vaylon> Like a battle horn?
05:21 <Vaylon> Or ... hunting horn, I suppose.
05:22 <joo> Hawthorn, you recognise the writing as being an older form of Acrolitic Script, which is used in the languages of several lands to the North of where your temple is in Eastbrook. That region used to be the site of a human civilisation called the Juventian Empire, and the figure on the coin is likely to be General Juventius, from what you've heard about him.
05:23 <Bruce> Yes, something like that.
05:23 <joo> Acrolitic Script evolved to become more rounded and flourishing as the lands there became more peaceful and less disciplined, but it retains the essential shapes, and you can therefore guess also that the value of the coin is 20 of some smaller unit.
05:26 <joo> Will you Disgorge the entire contents of this box? I am sure you can rip open your shirts, or something, to carry it in if you all divide it up.
05:26 <Vaylon> Hawthorn excitedly explains the Juventian coin to Waldemar. "There is wealth in these coins beyond gold or silver: a myriad of stories perhaps never to be told. How did such a valuable coin come to be in Dysus' possession? Perhaps some great general or nobleman once venerated her."
05:27 <joo> Incidentally, Waldemar, you know something about General Juventius, or "The General," as he was a famed hero.
05:27 <Bruce> Hahahaha.
05:28 <joo> So you may ask one question about him.
05:28 <Bruce> What is his Claim to Faim?
05:31 <joo> Before the Juventian Empire was formed, the region it encompasses was composed of a multitude of feuding states. Juventius united them not by force, as some would have done, but through careful diplomacy whenever possible, and so was able to gain enough support to defeat a minority of his remaining enemies in battle.
05:31 <joo> Of course, he was also a gifted General, and that's what most people remember him for, because of the famous battles he personally fought in at the end of his campaign.
05:33 <joo> The Juventian empire was a golden age of knowledge and art, though it maintained standing armies right up until internal disputes again lead to its dissolution into smaller states.
05:34 <Bruce> Standing armies? What a strange idea. I don't expect it to ever make a comeback.
05:34 <joo> There have even been suggestions that Juventius was descended from one of the half-giants sired by Otheus, although there is no known evidence of this.
05:34 <joo> *Owtheus
05:35 <joo> Now, Waldemar, what tale, song, or legend did you learn this (some or all of it) in?
05:36 <Bruce> Waldemar mentions all of this. "Curious indeed how such a coin ended up here." He says, as he begins filling his fat Pockets.
05:36 <Bruce> Waldemar knows all of this from the play, "Juventius", written by one of his rivals, but he'll never admit that he actually went and saw it performed.
05:37 <joo> Who is this Rival?
05:37 <joo> Regarding the weight of coins...
05:37 <Vaylon> The cleric listens in wonder at Waldemar's tale. "I shall keep this coin, then, as a memory of this journey," says Hawthorn, his gaze returning to the script carved into the golden coin.
05:39 <joo> In the Aevun campaign, the rule was that every 100 coins more than 100 weighed 1 load, rounding down, but since there's an opportunity to revise that, it doesn't seem to me like 100 coins really is that much.
05:40 <joo> Er... rounding up, I mean.
05:40 <Vaylon> I based the weights on those suggested by the treasure table, but the treasure table is inconsistent since the table clearly has more valuable coins weighing less.
05:41 <Vaylon> The equipment page states, "100 coins in standard denominations is 1 weight. The same value in gems or fine art may be lighter or heavier." I suppose that includes exotic coins.
05:41 <joo> Oh.
05:42 <joo> Well, I suppose if you're just carring around Dirty Common Coins, 100 "coins" worth might be more than 100 physical coins, so that's fair enough.
05:42 <Vaylon> For example, one of the entries on the treasure table is: "A chest of coins and other small valuables. 1 weight but worth 3d6×100 coins."
05:43 <Vaylon> For what it's worth, I don't suggest establishing the gold coin system like I had.
05:44 <joo> I probably will avoid mentioning specific types of coin where possible, but I won't deny their existence.
05:45 <joo> I don't think it's likely that anyone is going to obtain enough low-denomination coins for it to be a problem, so I'll say for now that every 200 coins is 1 weight, rounding down. Therefore, 199 coins is 0 weight, 200 coins is 1 weight, 399 coins is 1 weight and 400 coins is 2 weight.
05:46 <joo> If Hawthorn is going to take only that single coin, then Sparrow and Waldemar would both each get 450 coins, weighing 2 each.
05:46 <joo> -both
05:46 <Vaylon> Okay.
05:46 <Bruce> The rival is Francis Metz, a more established playwright who has no Respect for Waldemar or his Family.
05:47 <joo> Does Francis Metz live in Blackstone?
05:47 <Bruce> Yes, but he also went to Wizard School in Middleheim. He's one of those Renaissance Assholes.
05:48 <joo> Hahaha.
05:48 <Vaylon> Hah.
05:48 <joo> At least he must have a respect for the Truth, if Waldemar trusts his account of Juvenitus Caesar.
05:50 <joo> I'll also assume that you take the coins at random, so about 150 of each share is in saleable rare coins.
05:50 <joo> If you pay attention, you can keep those aside for later use, if you like.
05:51 <Bruce> Waldemar thinks his next project will establish him as the sickest new playwright in town, though: a two-part play of Owtheus' life, and then his fall at the hands of a band of Heroes.
05:51 <joo> Heh.
05:51 <Vaylon> Hawthorn goes back to Dysus, and he says, "What is the nature of the smoke in the horizon? Is it a forest fire, or is it something more sinister?"
05:51 <joo> Hahahah. Hawthorn's going to pretend he doesn't know.
05:52 <Vaylon> Oh...
05:52 <Vaylon> Is it really the fire I started?
05:52 <joo> Well, you don't know, I suppose.
05:52 <Bruce> This is the circle of life, m8. Don't worry about it.
05:52 <joo> But it seems likely, given that you did start a fire......
05:53 <Vaylon> To be fair, there was a really big and evil bear after us.
05:53 <Bruce> Those trees seemed resourceful enough to put out a fucking fire. It's not our fault they fucked up.
05:54 <joo> Dysus says, "It seems to be a fire that started off the East shortly after you left," she says. "My forest has suffered fires before, so I am not overly concerned." If she knows about the fire you started, she doesn't show any sign of it. "In fact, it might even be for the best, because many of the old trees, who had turned against my will, were destroyed in it, making way for new life."
05:55 <joo> She floats to the door of the shrine and gestures out: "even now, new growth bursts forth from among the remains of the old."
05:55 <joo> If you focus, you can indeed see that some shoots are rising up from the ashes.
05:56 <joo> Dysus adds, "I hope it does not harm the humans living near the edge of the forest to the East; but that is out of my hands." She shrugs.
05:56 <Bruce> Holy Shit.
05:56 <Vaylon> So what you're saying is that you'd like us to keep setting the place on fire.
05:56 * Bruce learns a lesson from joo's campaign, and starts several wildfires in his hometown.
05:57 <joo> I heard that's popular where you live.
05:58 <joo> Sparrow and Hawthorn, as you're unloading the coins from the box, a curious object unlike the others rolls out from the middle of the pile: a silvery ring that glints with a curious blue when it catches the light, which rolls around on its side in a circle before stopping some way from the box.
06:00 <Vaylon> Hawthorn thinks about this for a while. "My order teaches that the Firebringer stole the secret of fire from the old gods who protected it jealous, and he gave it to the first mortal races. Fire is a tool. We are sent out into the world to be friendly with all good living things, and to discover and keep knowledge and to bring warmth, light, and cheer."
06:00 <Vaylon> *jealously
06:02 <Vaylon> Hey, it's Owtheus. upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3a/Mitsukuni_defying_the_skeleton_spectre_invoked_by_princess_Takiyasha.jpg
06:03 <joo> Hahahah.
06:07 <joo> Dysus listens carefully, then she comments: "That is a good sentiment, and a good way to live. Regardless of what mortals know its secrets, fire is a part of nature and will happen eventually with or without their help. It can do good things or bad, or both, but I accept and love it as I do all other natural things."
06:11 <Vaylon> Definitely getting the impression we shouold set the shrine on fire.
06:11 <joo> Hahaha.
06:11 <Vaylon> *should
06:13 <joo> Sparrow, Waldemar, what are you doing?
06:15 <Bruce> Waldemar is stuffing his Pockets.
06:18 <Vaylon> Hawthorn nods in response to Dysus's words, and he eventually goes back over to Hawthorn and Sparrow. Spotting something glinting on the floor, he stoops down and picks up the ring, peering at it curiously. Are there any markings or script on it?
06:19 <joo> Yes: the ring is inscribed with tiny prancing figures around its outer edge, which are dressed in the motley of court jesters.
06:19 <Bruce> Hawthorn goes back over to Hawthorn and Sparrow.
06:19 <joo> As you hold it, a thought comes unbidden into your head: "Take off your clothes and put me on your finger!"
06:19 <Vaylon> Yikes.
06:19 <Vaylon> *Waldemar
06:21 <joo> Do you obey? (Y/N)
06:21 <Vaylon> No!
06:21 <joo> 2 bad.
06:21 <Vaylon> Hawthorn looks suspiciously at the ring, and he sets it back down, if he can, and begins to mutter some arcane words, waving his hands over the ring.
06:21 <joo> Heh. The ring offers no resistance to you putting it down.
06:22 <Vaylon> !r 2d6+3 Cast a Spell: Detect Magic
06:22 <PageBot> Vaylon: 10=4+3(+3) Cast a Spell: Detect Magic
06:22 <joo> Just making sure that wasn't a telepathic message from Dysus, eh?
06:22 <Vaylon> One can never be too sure!
06:22 <joo> Which sense do you attune?
06:23 <Vaylon> Hawthorn will be able to sense magic through touch.
06:23 <joo> Okay; what things do you touch?
06:24 <Vaylon> I was imagining that hings sort of radiated heat or something, maybe.
06:24 <Vaylon> *things
06:24 <joo> Yes, they probably do; but you'd still need to be close enough to distinguish them as the source of the eat.
06:24 <joo> *heat
06:24 <joo> So, in fact, if your hand is close to the ring, it does give off a heat.
06:25 <Vaylon> But he touches the silver ring, at any rate, and the coin he got, and I suppose anything else that Waldemar and Sparrow want him to touch, if you know what I mean.
06:25 <joo> Heh.
06:25 <joo> The ring is hot to the touch, and when you touch it, the voice returns: "I'll show you something good if you put me on!"
06:26 <joo> The coin shows no signs of being magic, from your touch.
06:26 <joo> However, the golden chain you're wearing is quite hot indeed.
06:26 <joo> You can feel it through your clothing.
06:27 <Vaylon> No surprise there!
06:29 <Vaylon> Hawthorn says, "Waldemar, there is a peculiar ring I found on the floor just now. Perhaps it came from the pile of offerings. I heard a voice when I touched it. The ring is most certainly magical. See what you can make of it."
06:29 <Vaylon> He relates the sayings that the ring told him.
06:29 <joo> Dysus raises her eyebrows in the background. "I do get some strange offerings."
06:33 <Bruce> Waldemar picks up the ring to see if it talks to him.
06:36 <joo> A thought comes into your mind, too, Waldemar: "Get naked and put me on! I bet you'll look beautiful!"
06:39 <Bruce> Waldemar frowns. "What a strange ring."
06:39 <Bruce> Waldemar is a rebel, so he puts on the ring without taking his clothes off.
06:41 <joo> When Waldemar puts on the ring, he and the clothes and possessions he's wearing disappear from sight to everyone, including himself.
06:43 <joo> An amused thought comes into your mind, Waldemar, "Ahh, you didn't do as I said, you naughty boy! Well, I suppose the naked part was a bit of an embellishment. But look! Imagine all the things you could do, and nobody would know!"
06:44 <Vaylon> Hawthorn blinks in surprise.
06:44 <Vaylon> "Waldemar! Where did you go?" he cries.
06:44 <Bruce> Waldemar softly chortles. "I am right here."
06:46 <Vaylon> The cleric strokes his beard thoughtfully. "I see! So the magic of the ring made you disappear, then."
06:46 <Vaylon> I bet Waldemar knows stories about heroes who had such magic rings.
06:46 <Bruce> Waldemar takes off the ring. Does he re-appear?
06:47 <joo> Yes, I believe there was one called Bilbo Baggins....
06:47 <joo> Yes, when Waldemar removes the ring, he and his clothes and possessions all reappear.
06:48 <Vaylon> Haha.
06:49 <joo> The ring doesn't bring to mind any particular legends that Waldemar knows. Perhaps nobody noticed the heroes who wore thing ring, for some reason.
06:49 <joo> *this
06:52 <Bruce> "Quite the find," Waldemar says, probably wishing Dysus looked through her donation box more often so they could use this earlier.
06:53 <Vaylon> Heh.
06:53 <Vaylon> Hawthorn nods. "Though I would suggest perhaps to be wary of the voice I heard in the ring. Who knows what it wants?"
06:54 <Vaylon> I can't think of anything more to do at Dysus's shrine.
06:54 <joo> "I want to see you naked," a thought in your mind suggests, Waldemar.
06:57 <Bruce> Waldemar can only barely distinguish these thoughts from his normal ones, so he ignores that.
06:57 <Vaylon> Haha.
06:57 <joo> Hahah
07:01 <joo> If you're done collecting your coins, Dysus has something to say to you, Waldemar:
07:03 <joo> "As for the favour I desire from you in exchange for my hand in marriage:" she smiles, "I said that my domain is all of this forest, but strictly that can only be said for the Southern half of the forest. At some point while my mind was lost, the flowing water of the river cut off the Northern forest from my influence."
07:04 <joo> "And now the resistance is too hard to penetrate it. The roots of trees used to run under the river to connect my domain, but that is no longer the case it seems, and no trees want to grow that way now."
07:07 <joo> "I wish to reclaim the Northern forest for my own. That is what I wish for you to achieve for me. I don't know how it might be done - I've heard about mortals working the earth to change its shape, to circumvent rivers and other things." She shrugs. "I don't know of these things, so that is why I'm asking you."
07:09 <Vaylon> That's quite the request.
07:09 <Bruce> Yes, but then we can finally get married.
07:09 <joo> That's what happens when you agree to an unconditional favour.
07:11 <joo> She adds, "There is a tree loyal to me who used to be able to walk over the land. If it could be planted in the middle of the river somehow, he could act as my bridge between these two halves... but not in the river as it is now."
07:13 <Bruce> Waldemar strikes a deal with the King of Beavers to have a dam built.
07:13 <joo> "I realise that this might take a bit of time to do, but I hope you can achieve it on your life, or at least set it in motion." She smiles softly. "I will not ask you to bind yourself by oath this time, as this is just a favour that I ask."
07:15 <joo> And she says with a wink, "And you've seen that favours to me are duly rewarded, of course. I'd be glad to offer you a boon within my power, once this is done."
07:16 <Bruce> ohh, my.
07:18 <Bruce> Waldemar bows his head forward. "It is only a matter of time before I am a fabulously wealthy playwright and adventurer. When I have the resources, I will dedicate them to this end, my lady."
07:19 <Vaylon> Heh.
07:19 <joo> She nods graciously in return. "My thanks."
07:20 <Vaylon> Hawthorn strokes his beard in thought, but he says nothing.
07:21 <joo> Do Sparrow or Waldemar have any more business to do in the shrine?
07:22 <Bruce> Nope. Waldemar wants to get the Feck out of here for a Shopping Spree.
07:23 <joo> Waldemar, you become conscious that the pain throbbing from your leg has spread further up your body. You feel unusually tired.
07:23 <Bruce> Oh, Christ, I forgot about that.
07:23 <joo> Do you think you that you can walk this one off? If so, you're welcome to try to match your Constitution against it.
07:24 <Bruce> Waldemar puts the team on his back and plays through the pain.
07:25 <Bruce> !r 2d6+2 Defy Danger with Constitution
07:25 <PageBot> Bruce: 10=6+2(+2) Defy Danger with Constitution
07:25 <Vaylon> Whew.
07:25 <joo> Very well. You weather the effects of the venom and don't suffer any extreme effects... for now.
07:25 <Bruce> www.youtube.com/watch?v=1P0yfq2wDvU
07:27 <joo> Hahaha.
07:28 <joo> Theo, are you present?
07:31 <joo> Well, this is a good time to end the session, anyway.
07:31 <joo> If there's any more business at the shrine, it can be dealt with in the next session.
07:31 <joo> !r missed-rolls
07:31 <PageBot> joo: Error: No dice rolls or choices specified. See !help roll 2 for correct usage.
07:31 <joo> Damn, again.
07:32 <joo> !missed-rolls
07:32 <PageBot> Missed rolls (estimated): Bruce: 0 of 4, Vaylon: 0 of 6, Theo: 2 of 5. Full list: <http://pastebin.com/r6i0R5N0>.
07:32 <joo> Did you learn something new and important about the world? (I think so.)
07:32 <Vaylon> Yep!
07:33 <joo> Did you loot a memorable treasure? Quite certainly.
07:33 <joo> Did you overcome a notable enemy or monster?
07:33 <Vaylon> We ran away from one.
07:33 <joo> It seems like you Chickened out of that one.
07:34 <Vaylon> I don't regret running away from a cockatrice.
07:34 <joo> Who satisfied their alignment move?
07:35 <Vaylon> Not I. Hawthorn rushed to heal Waldemar, but the danger had already passed by that point, I believe.
07:35 <joo> Yes, I suppose so.
07:36 <Bruce> I don't think I did.
07:36 <joo> Seemingly not.
07:36 <joo> I'll also say that Sparrow didn't manage to avoid detection or infiltrate any locations, unless Theo later has an argument that he did.
07:37 <joo> Finally, are there any bonds that anyone wishes to form or resolve?
07:37 <Bruce> Not 4 me.
07:38 <joo> How's that ballad about the adventures of Hawthorn going?
07:39 <Vaylon> Yes, how is it going?
07:39 * Bruce has left.
07:39 <Vaylon> Haha.
07:40 <Vaylon> I don't have any bonds, but I reserve the right to write one between now and the next session.
07:40 <joo> As you like.
07:41 <joo> Tentatively, then: Waldemar gains 2 XP and so has 10/10 XP and can reach level 4 when he next rests; Sparrow gains 4 XP and so has 10/11 XP; and Hawthorn gains 2 XP and so has 3/11 XP.