Diablotin 2 session 70

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Session

Session date:

Diablotin date:

Seth and Nash

[Narrator] Seth, you have heard some disturbing rumours of late, and intend to pay a visit to the Warlord (for now) to discuss these matters.

• Seth will slip secretly to her door when she is in, but then knock at her door, so as not to alarm her.

[Cornelia] Come in.

• Seth enters and closes the door quickly behind him.

[Seth] Good afternoon.

• Cornelia looks up calmly when you enter. She is busy arranging papers on her desk.

[Cornelia] Good afternoon, Seth. Come to say goodbye?

[Seth] Well ... no, not exactly.

[Seth] I have come to speak to you, though, yes, on the matter of your imminent retirement.

[Cornelia] Oh?

[Cornelia] And what did you have to say.

[Seth] I have come to inquire as to the nature of our ... relationship now that you will no longer be the Warlord.

[Cornelia] I suppose that depends mainly on you.

[Seth] That's not how I see it. I think it depends on what you are planning to do now.

[Seth] Most of our discussions have had very little to do with your official position, so I don't see how this changes that.

[Cornelia] I will be continuing my work on an individual basis. It may be more difficult, but I see no reason why I can't still do what I think is best for the Empire as a private citizen.

[Seth] Of course. I wanted to know, however, whether our meetings, or your private ... interests, have anything to do with your replacement.

[Cornelia] I can't know that for certain, of course, but I doubt it very much.

[Seth] Oh? Then why now? Why would the Emperor replace you at this juncture?

[Cornelia] Because I am insufficiently willing to take us to war, I suppose.

[Seth] This is about *Psyra*?

• Seth says incredulously

[Cornelia] At least, that is the proximate cause, yes. I advocated for a diplomatic resolution to the problem. Apparently that was not what he wanted to hear.

[Seth] It is always surprising to me, given the importance of some of the things that have happened around me, or to me, over the past year, to see how much trivialities still matter to some people.

[Seth] I would have thought this had something to do with Kavreshar and that damnable necklace, at least.

• Cornelia shrugs.

[Cornelia] On that front, at least, there has been some small progress.

[Seth] Oh? How so?

[Cornelia] Thanks to my efforts, the demon using the name Maryse Rouillard was captured, and has been - is continuing to be - interrogated.

[Seth] Ah, I see. Interrogated by your staff? Or by the Emperor's personal staff?

[Cornelia] By me, primarily. I suppose once I am gone it will continue to be interrogated by others, I know not who.

[Seth] Hmm ... what have you learned from her?

[Cornelia] A number of things about the entity known as Kavreshar. That it is, or at least was, operating under the name 'Phelix Valtieras', that it was responsible for the bridge collapse and the granary fires...

• Seth pauses momentarily, thinking of his mother.

[Seth] Will this thing be slaughtered after the interrogation?

[Cornelia] I see no reason to leave it alive, but the decision will not be in my hands at that point.

[Seth] I suppose not.

[Cornelia] I contemplated disposing of it before I depart, but ... it may have more information to impart.

[Seth] I also have learned some information of interest about Kavreshar.

[Cornelia] Oh?

[Seth] A colleague of mine has been researching the Emperor's own scholarly interests, and has found significant evidence that Marl knew of the binding of Kavreshar long before his own coronation, from his student days in fact.

[Cornelia] Hm.. Interesting, but not entirely surprising, given his research interests.

[Seth] Agreed. And I do not mean to suggest that the Emperor had anything directly to do with Kavreshar's release. That would be madness. But I do wonder whether, once released, the Emperor has been more active than we have known in the matter.

[Cornelia] It's a possibility.

• Cornelia agrees.

[Cornelia] But this isn't the place to discuss it.

[Cornelia] Fortunately, since I won't be here much longer, we'll have opportunities to talk about it in more private surroundings, if you wish to continue our meetings.

[Seth] Yes, of course. I do wish you to know that, given that our mutual interests have principally been personal ones rather than your official duties, I would be most conducive to a continuation of our work ... whatever form it might take.

• Cornelia smiles at that.

[Cornelia] I appreciate it, Seth.

[Seth] You are welcome, Warlord ... Cornelia.

Ilphere, Sanadhil and Guillame

[Narrator] Ilphere, Sanadhil, and Guillame, you have gathered, along with Nycaise, to undertake your second expedition into Imraen's dream.

• Sanadhil assumes we are probably meting at my house?

[Guillame] . o O (gulp)

[Narrator] The plan, as I understand it, is for Ilphere, Guy, and Nycaise to enter San's dream, meet Ruchard there, and go from there to Imraen's realm, correct?

[Sanadhil] (yes)

• Sanadhil welcomes everyone, drssed very comfortably and perhaps looking a little tired

[Ilphere] GOod afternoon...!

[Sanadhil] I hope this sin't too strange... there are so refreshments to hand if any of you will like somwething.... I'll try to fall asleep quickly?

[Ilphere] Thank you... I am ready when you are..!

• Sanadhil nods
• Sanadhil will finish his relaxation tea and go lie down on the couch then, and try to pass from quiet meditation to actual sleep :3

[Narrator] San, you are tired enough that you fall asleep quickly.

[Ilphere] Alright, M. Rionet...!

[Guillame] Yes, I suppose we'd better get going...

[Guillame] Er

[Guillame] If you take my meaning

[Ilphere] Ruchard will meet us within... He will guide us, and be able to help shield us from Imraen's influence...!

• Ilphere holds her hand out.
• Nycaise takes your hand.
• Guillame takes it too
• Ilphere begins to cast Dream walk.

[Narrator] You make your way smoothly into San's dream...

[Narrator] You stand in an unfamiliar room, lined with screens and silks. Its walls are on fire, but you don't feel any heat from the flames. Ahead of you is a chart of the stars. As you watch, the stars slowly move, gradually taking up new positions.

[Narrator] You hear running footsteps, hear laboured breathing, and Sanadhil enters the room, looking alarmed.

[Ilphere] Sanadhil...?

[Guillame] Your dream is more... exciting than I'd anticipated...

[Sanadhil] I...who...

[Nycaise] [q] Does he know who we are?

[Ilphere] He seems confused...

• Sanadhil looks confused for a moment before Ilphere addresses him by name and he gives her a very strange look as if trying to make sense of something very disconcerting

[Ilphere] Sanadhil, focus now... It's me, Ilphere...!

[Guillame] Well, he *is* dreaming - it must be disconcerting...

[Narrator] Laughter comes from behind one of the screens, and a slender shadow flits away, just glimpsed out of the corner of your eye.

[Guillame] Wah!

• Ilphere glances in its direction.
• Guillame regains his composure
• Sanadhil looks at you with brif focus, but turns away when the shadow laughs

[Ilphere] This is a dream, remember...? We agreed to meet...?

[Sanadhil] Rashena?

• Ilphere looks concerned...

[Sanadhil] Wait..

[Ilphere] No, *Ilphere...*!

• Sanadhil looks around, taking in the flames, half looking for the fleeing elf woman

[Sanadhil] yes...

[Sanadhil] and...

• Sanadhil loks back at the tapestry

[Sanadhil] Something about the stars..?

[Guillame] Myself, that's Guillame, and Nycaise are here also, M. Orecalo.

[Sanadhil] You shouldn't be here...

[Ilphere] Sanadhil, get ahold of yourself..!

[Guillame] I suppose this is not the dream you would have chosen to show us...

[Sanadhil] dream, yes...

• Ruchard steps from behind a burning tapestry, looking somewhat frazzled.
• Sanadhil still looks alarmed at the fire, and starts coughing

[Ruchard] I apologize for not finding you sooner - this place is ... well-hidden.

• Guillame checks that Ruchard is not himself on fire

[Sanadhil] you're not supposed to be in here...

[Ilphere] Ruchard, thank goodness... M. Orecalo is very... comitted to this dream. He does not seem to recall our agreement.

• Ruchard steps over to Sanadhil.
• Ilphere is going to try to manipulate San's dream to put the fire out...?
• Sanadhil says, coughing more

[Ruchard] (ok, you can make a check)

[Sanadhil] I can't...concentrate

[Ilphere] (30)

[Narrator] You are able to snuff out the flames easily. The room clears of smoke and goes back to 'normal'.

[Ruchard] This is a dream, and your friends are here to help you. See, the fires are out and everything is all right.

[Sanadhil] I know, i...

[Sanadhil] I just don't want you here!

[Ruchard] Let us go, then.

• Ruchard points to the far wall of the room, where there is now suddenly a large open archway that wasn't there before.
• Sanadhil nods and looks at the rest of you, waiting for you to vacate
• Nycaise is ready to go.
• Ilphere moves toward the new door, shooting a worried look at Sanadhil...
• Guillame heads for the archway

[Ruchard] We can't pass unsheltered through the heart of dreams - it would kill us. So I have to make a path.

• Ruchard says as you enter the corridor.
• Sanadhil does not seem to have the ability to hide his distress as well here

[Ruchard] While we travel, I ought to tell you a little bit about what we might find when we get there.

• Sanadhil follows after the others have passed out of the shrineron...

[Sanadhil] (shrine room)

[Ruchard] Imraen's realm is one of the largest and strongest dreams I've ever encountered, and it's well-defended. To enter it without her permission, this way, could be very difficult - especially since she's experienced invaders once already.

[Ruchard] Going in the way you did the first time, by entering her dream directly, she can't guard against that - but you might well be subsumed into your dream-selves again, and that wouldn't do. This way, you should be able to maintain your memories and personalities to a greater degree.

• Ilphere nods, listening...
• Sanadhil falls quiet, listening to Ruchard

[Ruchard] But you will still be inhabiting the forms, the lives, of your other selves, and it's possible that their minds will struggle to gain some influence over yours - so you will have to be on guard for that.

• Ilphere keeps glancing at San though.

[Ruchard] And of course anyone you encounter will assume you *are* them, and may be suspicious if you are acting in a way they perceive as out of character...

[Ruchard] As part of its defense, the dream may react to our intrusion by trying to adapt, to make it make sense in some way that the four of you would be together.

[Sanadhil] :I'll be fine.

[Sanadhil] (to Ilphere)

[Guillame] . o O (Yaaaaay :/)

[Ilphere] : I'm sorry that happened... :(

[Ruchard] It shouldn't affect me, I don't think, because I don't have a counterpart in that world. So I'll do my best to help ... keep things calm.

• Sanadhil nods

[Sanadhil] It should be easy enough for me to find Ilphere, and Mlle L'Averti and tjhe Duke to find each other....

[Sanadhil] after that it may be more difficult

[Guillame] Yes...

• Sanadhil says more calmly

[Ruchard] I mean that I expect, as we enter together, you will already be together in some context in the dream.

[Sanadhil] ahh

[Sanadhil] hmm.

[Ilphere] That should be interesting..!

[Ruchard] That context may be... well, I have no idea, honestly.

• Sanadhil nods

[Ruchard] After that, assuming you are in control of yourselves, we will try to find Imraen.

[Ilphere] Watch out for Loch... I don't know how likely it is that we will encounter him but...

[Ilphere] He killed me before. ]:|

[Sanadhil] indeed..

• Ruchard leads you through a featureless corridor that seems to stretch forever in either direction, but the time you spend walking through it feels as though it passes quickly. At a certain point, Ruchard stops, feeling the wall, then pressing his hands into it. It is malleable, but still he struggles to form it into an opening.

[Sanadhil] what would happen to us this time, if we were killed in her dream?

[Ruchard] I will do my best to extract you before that happens.

• Sanadhil nods

[Guillame] Will Pheria still exist? Isn't she dead?

[Sanadhil] she was revived...

[Ilphere] Yes, Fedra resurrected her...

• Ruchard holds the opening for you to pass through.

[Ruchard] Hurry now, I can't do this for long.

• Sanadhil hurries through then :o
• Nycaise follows.
• Ilphere steps through.

[Narrator] For a moment you see nothing but swirling light and colours and darkness, and feel an impossible barrage of energy against you, burning and freezing all at once - and then you are through it and safe...you think...

• Guillame follows

[Guillame] Ugh...

• Guillame shakes his head clear

[Narrator] You are in Pheria's dungeon, or one of them. Ny'kaz and Willem, you are chained in separate cages; Sendhel and Pheria, you are quite intimately entangled on a nearby couch/rack.

[Pheria] Oh... awkward.

[Narrator] Each of you can make a Will save in order to gain control of yourself.

[Sanadhil] (straight will?)

[Pheria] (23?)

[Narrator] (yes - DC isn't too bad, though, 20)

[Sanadhil] (32)

• Guillame rolls 1d20+5: (3)+ 5 = 8

[Guillame] (Lawl)

[Narrator] (ouch)

[Pheria] (uh... I use my special power to give him a reroll)

[Narrator] (sure :)

• Guillame rolls 1d20+5: (5)+ 5 = 10

[Narrator] (heh)

[Pheria] (ffff.)

• Nycaise screams in pain.

[Sanadhil] (its okay i have spells ;)

[Sanadhil] !

• Sanadhil tries to disentangle himself from Ilphere, especially when Nycaise screams

[Narrator] Pheria is about as pregnant as Ilphere, for the record.

• Pheria jumps up.

[Sanadhil] get her out of there...

• Ruchard also emerges from somewhere, and hurries to check on you. Although, awkward...
• Pheria works to free her.
• Sanadhil is glad sen favours flowly easy access robes D:
• Nycaise 's fingers all seem to be shattered.

[Sanadhil] Mlle L'Averti?

[Nycaise] My hands...

[Sanadhil] (switching?)

[Narrator] (yes)

• Father Willem watches this turn of events suspiciously

[Father Willem] (Ah, ok)

• Sanadhil looks to Ilphere as he tries to help Nycaise out of whatever contraption/cage she's been put in

[Sanadhil] (or ruchard....)

[Sanadhil] Can you heal her?

[Pheria] I cannot...

[Sanadhil] It was probably to keep you from casting.

• Ruchard shakes his head.
• Pheria looks to Ruchard.

[Sanadhil] Does Pheria keep a ny potions here?

[Pheria] Oh... I believe so, yes...!

• Sanadhil looks to Gui-willem

[Sanadhil] Duke? Are you alright?

• Pheria will look for potions.

[Father Willem] I am... quite fine

[Narrator] (you find some Cure Lights and Cure Moderates that Pheria keeps lying around for ... after-care.)

[Father Willem] . o O (Hem. What *is* going on?)

[Pheria] Here...!

[Sanadhil] (can I get a sm check here to tell the diffwerence? :p)

• Pheria will offer them to Nycaise.
• Nycaise takes them gratefully.

[Narrator] (yes, you can San)

[Sanadhil] (36)

[Father Willem] (vs. Bluff?)

[Narrator] (Guy/Will, you can make a Bluff check if you are trying to conceal what's happening in your head right now)

[Father Willem] (Max is 29)

[Sanadhil] :Duke Rionet? Are you there?

[Narrator] OK then - San, you think that Guy's not in control in there right now.

[Pheria] Is everyone else alright..?

• Sanadhil sees if he can reah the reakl guy telepathically @_@

[Sanadhil] the Duke's will isn't string enough to bypass Willem

[Father Willem] Are you intoxicated, good sir? Or have your excesses finally brought you madness?

[Pheria] Oh dear...!

[Sanadhil] (Strong)

[Sanadhil] hmm

• Ruchard comes over to Willem's cage with the rest of you, once Nycaise seems healed up.
• Sanadhil ignores what he is saying and will cast suggestion

[Sanadhil] (actually I'll use Push the Weak Mind, which lasts longer if it works)

[Sanadhil] (which is a willsave dc 19 for willem)

[Pheria] M. Rionet...? Are you in there..?

• Father Willem rolls 1d20+11: (14)+ 11 = 25

[Sanadhil] Let the duke take charge....

[Father Willem] ... yes, yes, I'm ok now. Thank you.

[Pheria] (sm?)

[Pheria] (rolled a 1 hurf durf)

• Sanadhil frowns

[Narrator] (oh he is totally fine now! :)

[Sanadhil] hardly

[Pheria] Oh good...!

[Pheria] He seems fine to me...

[Sanadhil] (I'm assuming my previous roll stands)

[Narrator] (yes)

[Sanadhil] I'm not at all convinced.

• Sanadhil casts char monster :V

[Sanadhil] (charm)

[Father Willem] (will save?)

[Sanadhil] (yes, check dc 21 I think?)

• Father Willem rolls 1d20+11: (6)+ 11 = 17

[Father Willem] (narp)

[Sanadhil] Father Willem, yes?

[Father Willem] (what's the spell effect?)

[Sanadhil] (you're charmed)

[Sanadhil] 9it is the same as charm pwrson, just affects mopre stuff and has a higher dc to resist)

[Sanadhil] (So.... you like me and feel helpful and friendly ;)

[Alma] ("trusted friend and ally")

[Sanadhil] {to the others] :let me talk to him for a moment

[Father Willem] Of course it is, I can't fool you, heh, can I?

[Sanadhil] No, but you see, we have an edge, father....

[Sanadhil] Do you remember, before the flood? Some of the things raina said?

[Sanadhil] About the other world, where there are no Shadar Kai?

[Father Willem] I try to remember them all, of course.

[Sanadhil] of course

[Sanadhil] but do you remember that?

[Sanadhil] And she told you about the other you, in that world?

[Father Willem] Yes, I do. And another her, unless I mistake myself.

• Sanadhil nods

[Father Willem] Others of many

[Sanadhil] Can you feel him in your mind, right now? the other you?

[Father Willem] Hem

[Father Willem] I wonder sometimes if I can... but don't worry, I'll stay strong.

[Father Willem] I have work to do, hem.

[Sanadhil] no, I mea n... now, can you feel him?

• Sanadhil nods

[Sanadhil] We need his help, to give you a chance to do that work without the interference of the queen

[Sanadhil] Can you let him help us? just for a little while

[Sanadhil] if yo can just.... let go, when we're though, the humans here will have a much better chance, and you won't be in here anymore

• Sanadhil gestures to the cage

[Father Willem] Without the queen? Sounds like treason to me...

• Sanadhil smiles

[Father Willem] I'm sure I can help with whatever you need.

[Sanadhil] I'm not Sendhel.

[Sanadhil] She's not my queen. We want to help your worl, but we need Guillame to do it.

[Father Willem] What can he do, that I can't?

[Sanadhil] break her hold over this world

[Sanadhil] you can't kill her - it sher dream

[Sanadhil] trust me

[Father Willem] And he can? How?

[Sanadhil] its somethig that can only be done in our world

[Sanadhil] I can't tell you exactly, because this is her drea, and she might know

[Sanadhil] we don't have very much time

[Father Willem] This all sounds a bit fanciful - dreams and other worlds - if you weren't such an upstanding fellow I'd think you to be playing tricks on me.

[Sanadhil] Please, let us talk to him

[Sanadhil] I understant

[Narrator] (Guy, you can make another save, given San's attempts at reasoning)

• Father Willem rolls 1d20+5: (7)+ 5 = 12

[Sanadhil] (ARGH)

[Father Willem] No, I think if you mean to free me, I'd prefer to keep my own mind when you do. I'm not sure I trust this... "Duke" to act in my best interest.

[Ruchard] I'm not certain what more we can do... either we release him, or we leave him here and proceed without him.

• Sanadhil looks to ilphere

[Sanadhil] You're the one in greatest danger from him....

[Father Willem] Tell me, what are you, hem, in there?

[Pheria] I am...?

[Sanadhil] how do you mean?

• Sanadhil asks Willem

[Sanadhil] what race?

[Father Willem] You've come from another world, to take over this body... what are you? And her, and him and her?

[Father Willem] If there are none of her type where you're from

• Father Willem nods at Nycaise

[Sanadhil] Human.

• Sanadhil lies boldly
• Father Willem rolls 1d20+19: (17)+ 19 = 36

[Father Willem] (Oh wait, I trust you, nm)

[Sanadhil] (44 anyway ;)

[Pheria] I think we ha better bring him with us... I think it is unwise for us to be separated.

[Sanadhil] alright

[Sanadhil] we are human, I promine, and we are working for the best interest of this world

[Father Willem] Then I'll give my word that I won't harm them, so long as those interests hold true

[Sanadhil] Thank you.

• Sanadhil will let him out then, masking his extreme wariness D:
• Father Willem bows to those assembled

[Sanadhil] we shoudl get moving I can disguise these two as slaves with magic?

[Sanadhil] (punctuation - it is a good thing. that shoudl have been two sentences.)

[Narrator] Dream-travellers, you are going to let Willem out, then?

[Pheria] (yarp)

[Sanadhil] (yes D:)

[Ruchard] Once you have him freed, I'll attempt to take us to the queen.

[Sanadhil] just stick with us, then, please Father

[Father Willem] If you say so

• Sanadhil nods and looks to Ruchard
• Father Willem looks for his equipment, if he doesn't already know if it's here/where it's kept

[Narrator] (Pheria could have put it anywhere, really...)

[Father Willem] (Or failing that, any usable weapons)

[Father Willem] (search?)

[Narrator] You can make a search check, sure. So can anyone else who is looking.

• Father Willem rolls 1d20+6: (20)+ 6 = 26

[Narrator] You can certainly find things that would make useable weapons in here - pokers, knives, etc. Not Willem's sword, though.

• Sanadhil doesn;'t really want to know what all Pheria has in here :3
• Sanadhil keeps an eye on Willem, though

[Father Willem] (Anything rapier-like? Or bow-like, or dagger-like?)

[Ruchard] Should I try to locate her, then?

[Narrator] Dagger-like, yes.

[Father Willem] (That'll do :) )

[Sanadhil] yes, please

[Pheria] Yes... !

• Ruchard closes his eyes, concentrating. Sweat beads on his brow as if this is a huge struggle.
• Pheria watches...
• Sanadhil casts heroism on him so he can have a boost :3

[Narrator] The room around you warps and shifts, and you find yourselves in the pale, echoing stone chambers of the palace. Imraen sits at the far end of the room from where you stand.

• Ruchard slumps to the ground once you've made the transition.

[Pheria] Oh...~

• Pheria moves to support him...!

[Imraen] Oh... again?

• Imraen looks mildly annoyed.

[Ruchard] [w] I'm all right... just ... drained.

[Sanadhil] We apologize for the intrusion, your highnes, but we needed to speak with you

• Sanadhil bows and will be at his most diplomatic
• Imraen looks suspicious.
• Father Willem gapes a little, and creeps toward the exit

[Sanadhil] :Please Father, just wait with us....

[Imraen] What is it this time?

• Father Willem straightens up

[Father Willem] Hem

[Sanadhil] We have questions for you, as scholar, about the world you came from

[Sanadhil] and about your world here....

[Sanadhil] (scholars)

[Sanadhil] That was why we came, the first time.

• Imraen waves a bored, dismissive hand.

[Sanadhil] There are ghosts in tSarasagel that want us to wake you.

[Imraen] Scholars? Is that the best you can come up with?

• Sanadhil shrugs
• Imraen frowns momentarily at the name 'Sarasagel' as if it sounds vaguely familiar.

[Pheria] It is the truth...!

[Sanadhil] We're not trying to deceive you.

[Sanadhil] But there are a number of things we need to know

[Imraen] No, there is only one thing you need to know. I am the ruler here.

[Sanadhil] About the Arch, and what happened when Saraknyel fell.

[Sanadhil] Here, yes.

[Sanadhil] but there is still a world beyond

[Imraen] There is nothing beyond! only death and emptiness.

[Sanadhil] Its not true

[Sanadhil] We found the well, in Sarasagel

[Sanadhil] We know how it was sabotaged

[Sanadhil] We know how it can be fixed

[Imraen] Liar.

• Imraen says coldly.

[Sanadhil] do you really think so?

[Imraen] Even if it was true, what does it matter to me?

[Sanadhil] is this all you ever want?

• Sanadhil gestures around at the little room

[Imraen] This is absolute power. What more could I want?

[Sanadhil] A challenge.

• Imraen laughs.

• Ruchard struggles to his feet.

[Pheria] Freedom...?

[Imraen] He talks too much.

• Imraen points to San and he is ... gone, somewhere.

[Pheria] ...!

• Father Willem frowns
• Ruchard sighs.

[Pheria] What did you do with him..?

[Imraen] Made him be quiet.

• Imraen says as if it's obvious.
• Father Willem looks for cover, somewhere he can skulk off
• Pheria looks to Ruchard.

[Father Willem] . o O (Suicidal idiots)

[Imraen] Why would you offer me freedom?

[Imraen] It's got to be a trap.

[Pheria] Your freedom is this world's freedom as well.

[Imraen] This world is mine! Without me, it ceases.

[Pheria] That is not so...!

[Ruchard] That's not strictly true.

• Ruchard agrees.

[Pheria] It has grown strong...

[Father Willem] . o O (Wait... freedom? Into the pure world?)

[Imraen] But... what would become of it?

• Imraen sounds worried.
• Father Willem rejoins the group

[Ruchard] It would follow its own course. Whatever that might be.

[Father Willem] (I don't suppose I can make another saving throw yet?)

[Narrator] (you can have one more save for San disappearing ;)

• Father Willem rolls 1d20+5: (3)+ 5 = 8

[Father Willem] (oh well)

[Narrator] (heh)

[Imraen] ... I don't believe you.

[Pheria] We have the Chalice of Dawn...

• Imraen looks sharply at Ilphere, and you can see alarm on her face at that.

[Ruchard] There are many different worlds, Imraen. If you aren't ready to go to theirs, then let me show you some of the others.

[Imraen] ...

[Father Willem] [q] Yes, take her off to some hell-world, hem

[Imraen] This is a trick. I'll tear this place apart before I let you take me from it.

• Pheria sighs...
• Ruchard waves a hand and two large pillars come crashing down between you and her.

[Ruchard] (ww)

• Imraen waves a hand and two large pillars come crashing down between you and her.
• Ruchard sighs and walks forward through the debris.
• Pheria follows, but stays back a bit...
• Father Willem attacks Nycaise with his knife

[Pheria] !!

[Pheria] GUILLAME!

[Pheria] NO!

• Nycaise shrieks and struggles.

[Pheria] ]_[

• Imraen looks over at them, distracted for a moment long enough for Ruchard to get close to her.

[Pheria] (Can I manipulate her dream to have, I don't know, some stone come up from the floor and trap WIllem?)

• Ruchard tackles her.

[Ruchard] Ilphere, take them out of here! You can do it!

[Pheria] (or that)

• Father Willem pushes Nycaise at Ilphere and runs left

[Pheria] Get back here...!

• Pheria casts Evard's Black tentacles. ]:(
• Imraen screams, the sound seeming to shatter walls around you.

[Narrator] The palace is collapsing...

[Pheria] (argh I have to get to him to cast DW...)

[Narrator] You can manage to reach him, since he's trapped in tentacles atm.

[Pheria] (I do so )

• Father Willem struggles in vain

[Narrator] And Nycaise isn't going anywhere... she's bleeding on the ground.

• Pheria drags Nycaise over to the edge of the spell, grabs Willem and casts. ]:(

[Pheria] [m] I can't believe you stabbed her..!

[Narrator] You feel yourselves being sucked out of the collapsing room, back to San's dream-chamber with the star-chart and the silk hangings. San lies unconscious on the floor there. You are yourselves again, but Nycaise is still injured.

• Pheria will attempt to Dream her wounds closed...

[Narrator] You can make a check.

[Pheria] (30)

[Narrator] OK, her wounds close, but she remains unconscious.

[Pheria] Well that went... poorly.

• Pheria will check on Sanadhil next.

[Narrator] San is unconscious but seems otherwise unharmed.

[Father Willem] Ugh... I'm so sorry...

[Ilphere] (what would I roll to know whether it's ok to DW out with them unconscious? :x)

• Guillame slumps and rubs at his head

[Narrator] (You think as long as you're touching them it should be ok)

[Ilphere] (It's San's dream though... should I just leave him?)

[Narrator] (You think if you take him out through DW, the dream will end and he'll wake up - otherwise, you'll have to wake him up normally.)

[Ilphere] I'm going to take us all out...

[Guillame] Ok...

• Ilphere will cast it on everyone.

[Narrator] You are sucked back a second time, into San's room at his house, where he is just waking up and looking very groggy.

[Narrator] (and we'll leave it there, since we have no San atm ;)

[Narrator] (unless Ilphere and Guy want to talk on their own - maybe San is not in the mood for conversation atm)

[Guillame] I'm cool to wait for a scene with Heather

Alma and Ysabeau

[Narrator] Alma and Ysabeau, what are your plans vis a vis Thea and whatever she's doing in the Kizer residence?

[Alma] So our plan is the Plane Shift to the Ethereal Plane, then I will teleport back to the spot I studied and we'll enter on that plane. Once we've cased the place we'll likely shift back and try Detect Thoughts and other things on Thea.

[Alma] I used Imbue with Spell Ability on Ysabeau, as well as Shield Other and Status

[Alma] It's not likely anything bad will happen but... :P

[Alma] I was thinking Alma might want to try Augury for Weal/Woe on this but maybe we should skip that?

• Ysabeau is anxious because she feels she has a lot to lose if she gets caught and identified.
• Alma has suggested that you just flee if we're caught :)
• Ysabeau has used her Hat of Disguise trick to make herself look like a different pregnant lady. :P

[Narrator] All right - what time of day are you doing all of this?

[Ysabeau] (When Thea is working, I suspect)

[Alma] Probably in the afternoon when Thea is tired and more likely to be brooding in her head.

[Alma] (Unless the Divination suggested night. I took it ot just mean day.)

[Narrator] (afternoon is fine)

• Alma meets with Ysabeau and when we are ready, will pull out a tuning fork made of the requisite material for the ethereal plane.
• Ysabeau stays close to Alma - we would have discussed spell ranges etc in advance so neither of us strays too far from the other's spell effects
• Alma plane shifts randomly 296 miles away.
• Ysabeau wears one of her old dresses which barely fits anymore.

[Alma] (Hee)

• Alma will then teleport to the ethereal plane location near the Duke's.

[Alma] (Successfully.)

[Narrator] You proceed to the Ethereal plane, then make your way to the intersection nearest Leonien's house.

[Alma] Well, here we go :)

[Ysabeau] So far so good.

• Ysabeau looks around, trying to get her bearings in the Ethereal.
• Alma walks with Ysabeau to the Kizer grounds.
• Ysabeau experiments with passing through a wall or two on the way, so she won't be startled by passing into Leonien's walls.

[Narrator] You pass through the gates without difficulty, and make your way onto the grounds of the estate.

• Alma leads us to the area near the servants entrance so that we can scout out that area for a place to spy on Thea.
• Ysabeau wonders if you'd feel different if you passed through a wall with a magical protection on it.

[Narrator] (outside the house or inside?)

[Alma] (Outside first, then I'll lead us through the wall near the door)

[Ysabeau] (We need to find a closet or something eventually.)

• Alma and Ysabeau begin to stake out the servants area.
• Ysabeau will put her new Search and Spot skills to the test to notice anything unsual.

[Narrator] You are in the pantry of the kitchens, which is currently unoccupied except for stored food.

[Alma] This seems like a good place for us to come back to.

[Ysabeau] Only if it's not near meal-preparation time.

[Alma] Well you can make us invisible again.

[Alma] Hopefully we won't have to explore into the Duke's more private chambers...

• Ysabeau smiles.

[Alma] (We'll take account of what staff are doing and how many there are.)

[Ysabeau] I know pretty much what he looks like, anyway. He's got a little more flab here but otherwise I bet he's got the same birthmark.

[Narrator] As you converse, the door swings open and a woman in an apron walks in. She gathers up an apronful of carrots from a storage bin, and departs again.

[Alma] .oO( I ... what. )

[Alma] Goodness!

• Alma holds her holy symbol.

[Alma] I am so completely not cut out for this sort of thing.

[Ysabeau] I know. Neither am I.

[Ysabeau] That's why we're ethereal.

[Alma] .oO( I bet Sanadhil could do this ]:| )

[Alma] Let's take stock of the staff and we'll teleport back here.

[Ysabeau] Fine.

• Alma Plane Shifts us back to the Material plane...

[Alma] (292 miles from Diablotin!)

• Alma will then get Ysabeau to cast Invisibility Sphere and Greater Teleport back to the closet

[Ysabeau] This will only last 14 minutes.

• Alma nods.
• Ysabeau says before casting.

[Alma] You can cast it again?

[Alma] If we need to, at least.

• Ysabeau nods.

[Ysabeau] Three more times as long as we don't need to speak with animals, lie to anyone, or put a load of people to sleep.

• Alma teleports us unerringly back to the pantry.

[Alma] Alright, I'll try first...

• Alma casts Detect Thoughts.
• Ysabeau feels more than a little ridiculous.

[Narrator] (what's the save dc on that?)

[Alma] (18)

• Alma aims for about where Thea was working, to try to find her.

[Narrator] OK, you can detect 8 minds out in the kitchen area.

• Alma concentrates to try to find Thea.

[Narrator] Most of them are just thinking things about cooking, about how they're tired, about how their feet hurt, etc. One is thinking about her boyfriend(?) in daydreamy fashion. One is thinking about revenge.

• Alma is looking for that one.

[Alma] Got her, I think...

[Narrator] That one's surface thoughts are along the lines of "Wait until she's not watching. In a little bit. Then I'll do it."

[Alma] .oO (Livianne?)

• Alma wishes there was a way to prompt her to thinking about it in more detail...

[Narrator] That target moves out of the range of your spell, Alma.

[Alma] Oh, dear, does that mean she's going to do it now?

[Ysabeau] Hmm?

[Alma] What even IS it?

[Ysabeau] What did you hear her think?

[Alma] She was thinking that she'd do it in a little bit, when "She" isn't watching.

• Ysabeau sighs.

[Ysabeau] Could be anything. I guess we'll have to follow her.

[Alma] Let's follow her.

• Alma casts Ethereal Jaunt, and we are back in the Ethereal plane, but right where we were.

[Alma] Quickly...

• Ysabeau hurries after Alma, since she doesn't really know what Thea looks like.
• Alma will step through the pantry door in the direction she think the mind left.

[Narrator] The conversations between the servants dim as you pass into the Ethereal Plane.

• Alma grumbles in frustration as she realises her arsenal of detection spells are useless here.
• Ysabeau looks for someone matching Thea's description, but there could be more than one servant with her hair colour, height, etc.

[Narrator] The door across on the other side of the kitchen is just closing - perhaps she went that way.

• Alma will head that way!

[Ysabeau] . o O (I wish we could have just mugged her and taken her for questioning. Sometimes Dom's way of doing things is best.)

• Ysabeau hurries after Alma.

[Narrator] You pass swiftly through the kitchen and through the wall/door into a corridor on the other side. Thea is walking away from you, towards a narrow staircase, carrying a tray of food.

[Ysabeau] Poisoned food?

• Ysabeau suggests.

[Alma] Maybe...

• Alma dismisses the Ethereal jaunt as it was about to end anyway, and makes sure we're still invisible.
• Alma follows after...

[Alma] [q] Oh you go first, I have to stick near you to be quiet.

[Ysabeau] Maybe that's what she needed to do when someone else wasn't watching. Poison the food. So whoever she's taking it to could be in danger.

[Narrator] She heads up the stairs.

[Alma] Well we'll stop her.

• Alma will cast Detect Poison when we catch up.

[Narrator] (remember, if you get within 5 ft of her, she can hear you)

[Alma] (Yup.)

[Ysabeau] We should make her eat it.

[Ysabeau] After we see who she's going to.

[Alma] I think Hold Person?

• Alma whispers despite the spell

[Ysabeau] Now?

[Narrator] The food is poisoned, Alma.

[Alma] No, once we see where she's going...

• Ysabeau nods,

[Alma] Oh the food IS poisoned!

• Ysabeau smiles grimly.

[Alma] I wish I could neutralize it from here.

[Alma] That would be precious.

• Ysabeau grins.

[Alma] We'll both try to hold her at the same time.

[Ysabeau] Fine,

• Ysabeau agrees.

[Narrator] You follow Thea up the stairs, where she hands off the tray to a more prestigious-looking servant, and turns to go back down.

[Ysabeau] Okay, we follow that new one now.

[Alma] Oh no...

[Alma] Do you want to follow her? I'll follow the poison?

[Narrator] The stairs are narrow- if she passes you, she'll surely know you're there...

[Alma] Oh this is just... you get her, I'll get the poison!

• Ysabeau isn't sure that's the best way but what else can she do?
• Alma Dimension Doors up behind the servant with the poison, and follows quietly.

[Ysabeau] (you will not be invisible anymore, or silent)

[Narrator] (doesn't that put you out of the invisibility sphere?)

[Alma] (I know.)

[Narrator] OK - Alma, make a Hide and a Move Silently check.

[Alma] (I don't suppose the walls are stone, Julie?)

[Narrator] The interior walls are wooden.

[Alma] (They would be. Those walls. :|)

[Narrator] Floors are flagstone, if that helps.

[Alma] (If I /can/ I will cast Ethereal Jaunt again if it looks like the servant is going to spot me.)

• Alma slips her shoes off -_-

[Narrator] (just make your rolls ;)

[Alma] (Oh sorry, I did them in Roll and forgot to paste. Hide 19 and MS 10)

[Narrator] The servant carrying the tray pauses for a moment, but continues on.

• Alma continues on after without her shoes.

[Narrator] He passes along a corridor and knocks on a door. From within, a man's voice tells him to come in, so he does so.

[Alma] (Do I recognise it? And can I see in?)

[Alma] .oO( Oh this really must be the end of the journey. Alma you're going to just have to step out and announce yourself. )

[Narrator] You can see in - it's an office or study.

• Alma scurries in through the doorway.

[Narrator] The voice was probably Leonien's - it sounded like an elderly man, anyway, and you don't know of any others in this household who get their food brought to them on silver trays.

[Narrator] The servant sets the tray down on a side-table and waits a moment for any other instructions. Leonien dismisses him.

[Narrator] Alma - the tray is on the side-table, the servant is dismissed, and Leonien is sitting at his desk, going over some papers.

[Alma] ]_]

[Alma] .oO( I could get out of this unseen? )

[Alma] (Oh the servant ahaha)

• Alma clears her throat politely.

[Alma] Excuse me, Your Grace.

• Leonien looks up, startled, and the servant jumps about a foot in the air.

[Leonien] What are you doing here?

[Alma] I apologise for this unexpected visit, but I would advise you not eat your meal. It has been poisoned.

[Leonien] ...

[Alma] With your leave I would like to go catch the poisoner.

[Leonien] ...Very well. But afterwards, I expect you to return and tell me what on earth is going on, Countess.

[Alma] Of course, Your Grace -_-

• Alma takes off back down the stairs in her bare feet...

Ysabeau and Thea

[Narrator] Ysabeau, Thea is coming back down the narrow staircase towards you. What will you do?

• Ysabeau is invisible and silent, waiting for Thea to come into range of the Zone of Silence, at which point, I will cast Hold Person on her.

[Narrator] ok, what's the save DC?

[Ysabeau] (DC 18)

[Ysabeau] (16 initiative)

• Thea hears you sing right beside her, and jumps back, startled, then quickly tries to run down the stairs. You can try to chase her and/or physically stop her, but since she won init she has a bit of a head start.

[Ysabeau] (sec, looking up spells - can I drop ZoS any time?)

[Alma] (Yes.)

• Ysabeau will drop her silence and immediately Dimension Door in front of Thea to block her egress.

[Ysabeau] (Waiting for Thea's action...)

[Ysabeau] (Unless I can tackle her :P)

[Narrator] (checking something, sec)

• Thea is surprised, and grasps for something in the pocket of her apron. "Kavreshar," she murmurs. An instant later, she is gone.

[Narrator] A few moments later, Alma arrives, out of breath and shoeless.

• Ysabeau runs back up the stairs to find Alma.

[Alma] Where is she? Did she get away?

[Ysabeau] She got away.

[Narrator] You meet on the stairs, then.

[Alma] Oh that's awful.

[Alma] I'll try to scry her.

[Ysabeau] She reached into her pocket, said "Kavreshar" and disappeared.

[Alma] Oh... oh no.

[Alma] Don't take that cloak off.

• Ysabeau nods, looking worried.
• Alma casts Greater Scrying on Thea

[Alma] (oh shit I can't.)

[Alma] Oh ... I can't even scry her.

[Alma] This is ...

[Alma] I...

[Ysabeau] Bad.

[Alma] You go, I need to explain things to the Duke.

• Ysabeau nods, Dimension Doors out of the house as far as she can go.

[Alma] Could you tell Danyel to tell the Reverend Father Theron that we think Phelix is Kavreshar?

[Alma] And ... Nash. Cornelia Nash.

[Ysabeau] Tell her about Kavreshar?

[Alma] Yes, she's the Warlord.

[Alma] And the Chief Sorceror.

[Alma] Tell him too.

[Alma] Wait, no... I can scry.

[Alma] You go... I'll scry.

• Alma turns to go get her shoes, while scrying.

[Alma] .oO( Did I bring the ribbon? )

• Ysabeau pauses before casting her spell

[Ysabeau] So do you want me to tell those people or not?

[Alma] Yes, them. I'll scry and tell the Duke.

• Ysabeau asks because your instructions are confusing.
• Alma rifles around in her things and pulls out Thea's ribbon and casts GS

[Alma] .oO( I should have had her sing... )

• Ysabeau blinks out and will get herself as fast as she can to those people, then, starting with the closest, who is probably Danyel.

[Narrator] Alma, you are hurrying back to talk to Leonien, but your scrying is unsuccessful, except for a brief impression of darkness.

[Narrator] (and we will stop there, doing your convo with Leonien as a solo I guess, since I am eating in a few minutes)

[Narrator] Ysa, you can deliver your messages to Danyel without difficulty.

Alma and Leonien

• Leonien is waiting for you in his study.
• Alma has slipped back into her shoes on the walk back.
• Alma knocks politely at the doorframe -_-

[Leonien] Come in.

• Alma enters. "Thank you, Your Grace."
• Leonien nods, and gestures for you to take a seat. The tray is still sitting on the side table, apparently untouched.
• Alma begins to take a seat... "Would you like me to take care of that?"

[Leonien] I would prefer to keep it for evidentiary purposes.

• Alma nods.
• Alma sits.

[Leonien] So, explain to me what happened just now.

[Alma] Yes...

• Alma wonders where exactly to begin.

[Alma] A woman by the name of Thea Vermillion disappeared, at least publicly, and I was asked to scry her, to see if she was alright. I was successful, but determined that she was serving at a household in the Grand under false pretenses.

• Leonien listens, hands folded.

[Alma] In part because of what I saw while I scried, I came to suspect that she was working with a demon. Possibly even the wyrm which destroyed the Hall of Worthies.

[Alma] I was concerned both for the household which she appeared to be plotting against, and for what might the demon's motives be in having her work here, so I arranged to investigate.

[Alma] I learned it was your residence at that point.

[Leonien] I see...

[Alma] I conducted some Divinations to determine what would be the best course of action to determine her goals, and it seemed signs pointed to ... this, rather than following her outside the household.

[Alma] And today, in particular, was the day.

• Alma looks down at the tray.

[Leonien] The day that...?

[Alma] Today was the day that I should watch her...

[Leonien] I see.

• Leonien says again.

[Leonien] May I ask why you didn't approach me, but instead took it upon yourself to creep through my hallways?

[Alma] Yes... a very reasonable concern. I do apologise for invading the privacy of your home, Your Grace. I weighed the possibility of learning about something important to the wyrm against the possibility that you might simply fire her or have her arrested before we could learn anything...

[Leonien] And did you learn anything?

[Alma] Well... apparently Kavreshar wanted to see you poisoned...

[Alma] And it is, indeed, Kavreshar.

[Leonien] Hm.

[Alma] Before she vanished, she reached for something, and activated it with its name.

[Alma] I attempted to scry her but I just saw a few moments of blackness and then it ended.

• Alma looks quite frustrated at that.

[Leonien] I will have my people look into this further, certainly. I appreciate your concern for my well-being.

[Alma] You're welcome of course. If I can be of assistance in any way... to make up for this -_-

[Leonien] I will bear that in mind. You obviously have considerable knowledge about this matter, and relevant skills.

[Alma] I'm not sure why Kavreshar choses to work so indirectly... but if he truly wants to harm you, I would be concerned that your situation here at present is insufficient.

[Leonien] You believe I need to take additional security precautions.

[Alma] I do. It is responsible for the Bridge of the Vanities(, and possibly the granary fires as well.) ( in case Guy didn't mention that )

• Leonien nods.

[Alma] Do you have any other questions, Your Grace?

[Leonien] I will take all available measures to protect myself. I assume I have your permission to share this information with my own security staff, and the city guards if necessary?

[Alma] Of course, I will be informing the Warlord, Chief Sorceror and the Church that Phelix Valtieras is confirmed as Kavreshar, and you were the target of its plotting.

• Leonien nods.

[Leonien] If they have additional questions, may I have them contact you, then?

[Alma] Yes, certainly.

[Alma] (SM 30, just wondering if he seems credulous)

• Leonien seems .... accustomed to having attempts made on his life.

[Alma] Well then...

[Leonien] I don't believe I have any further questions for you at this moment, Countess. Thank you for your aid in this matter.

[Alma] Certainly, Your Grace.

[Alma] I shall see myself out.

[Alma] -_-

[Leonien] I would be happy to have you over for tea on a more ... relaxed occasion.

• Alma smiles. "I'd be honoured, Your Grace. I trust a less awkward conversation would be a pleasure :)"
• Leonien smiles thinly.

[Leonien] Indeed. Good afternoon, Countess.

• Alma stands and bows politely to excuse herself
• Alma walks out the door of the study, and saves herself the embarassment of trying to find the exit by casting Word of Recall to arrive back at her entryway -_-
• Alma lets out a groan of... well all sorts of emotions, and leans back on the door and bangs the back of her head against it a few times.