under the hill
chapter one: bad trips
*** Now talking in #greyhawk
*** CrazyJack has joined
#greyhawk
*** Gina has joined #greyhawk
*** China
has joined #greyhawk
<CrazyJack> hiya gina..
hiya melissa =)
<China>
howdy
<DM> Good evening!
<CrazyJack> good evening
<Gina> Hello.....so, who
is crazy Jack?
*** Gina is now known as Dania
<DM> I'm going to send
each of you a file to
install
in the pc directory of your mIRC. Gotta
whip up one for Scott real quick.
<CrazyJack> (scott)
<Dania>
CrazyJack.....transported street
person?
<CrazyJack> lol
<DM> You'll find out
more about *him*.
<DM> Give me a few
minutes to slap some
stuff in /char
for Mr. Jack.
<CrazyJack> ok np
<Dania> Should I be
seeing a file or not yet?
<Dania> My mom is here
to watch
kids.....YAY! Tomorrow
is Kindergarten roundup, so I need her to watch the little one
tomorrow.
<DM> Okay, I've e-mailed
each of you a .txt
file...save it to your usual mIRC directory, where your other
characters'
Name.txt files live. The first letter of
the file is capitalized.
*** LynneAFK has joined
#greyhawk
<LynneAFK> Okay, let's
try this...
*** LynneAFK is now known as
Jared
<Dania> Actually, Scott,
you and I have
never been
players together before!
<China>
Okay, I think.
<CrazyJack> That's true,
Gina! Hehe.
<Jared> Hmmm.
*** LynneAFK is now known as
Jared
<CrazyJack> So,
where
are we all?
<DM> When we begin, each
of you is in a
different
location.
<CrazyJack> like..
righteous dude
<DM> We will start with
Scott...but no rush,
if anyone
has questions. My data entry skills are
not up to par, so you're likely to see incomplete stuff in /ccc.
That's okay for now. I'm
not expecting much in the way of combat.
<China>
(I hear a "yet" behind that phrase.)
<DM> This is, under the
hood, a fairy tale. Each of you has a heart's desire, and a bag
of skills to make it come true. I'll be
generous with points, too. In a fairy
tale, main characters are on the Skywalker fast track.
<Dania> No hurry
here.....I'll have to be
AFK for a
few minutes sometime here when I have to go pick up a pizza (3 - 5
mins)
<DM> Does anyone have
any questions?
<DM> You can PM me, if
need be.
<DM> .UNDER THE HILL
<DM> A POST-APOCALYPTIC FAIRY TALE
<DM> Starring, in alphabetical order:
<DM> Gina, as Sister Dania
<DM> Lynne, as Jared the Journeyman
<DM> Melissa, as China
<DM> ...and introducing Scott, as Crazy Jack
Nesbitt
<DM> Chapter One: Bad Trips
<DM> There's a sound of ticking.
<DM> Consciousness doesn't so much creep up
on you as
it grabs you by the throat and gives you a good, hard shake. The pain is there, sure, but it's secondary
to the disorientation. You've been here
before, you know it. You know that
sickly pale green hue. It's the
ceiling. Looking down and around, you
see that you're in bed, and back in the ward again.
Acid does that. Acid and coke are a
bad mix. You were some
kind
of hero last night, no doubt, but you're not going anywhere yet. It hurts to think about
moving. Best to
wait for Janie to come 'round, or one of the other nurses.
Hope it's her shift. Yeah, now you
know where you are. Again.
* CrazyJack lies in bed quietly, thinking
<DM> The ticking comes from a clock on the
wall,
that's lit by the last rays of the sunset.
Or is it a sunrise?
* CrazyJack peers at the clock to try and tell the
time
<DM> It’s a few minutes to eight.
<DM> There are no other beds in this room.
<DM> You remember...
<DM> VA Hospital, San Francisco….July, 1979
<DM> Transient Ward
<DM> .
* CrazyJack thinks, "Oh man....not again."
<CrazyJack> (Am I restrained in any way?)
<DM> You find that you can move your arms,
but that
you don't much want to.
<DM> There's a radio playing, out in the
hall. The tune sounds...familiar.
* CrazyJack looks for the button to summon the
nurse.
<DM> There's a white plastic cord, with a
button on
it.
<DM> In a flash, it comes back to you. 1970.
You were just off the plane from 'Nam, and someone in Gene's
house was
playing the Allman Brothers’ Live at
Fillmore East. It's your favorite
tune, the one that takes you back!
<DM> Something's wrong, though.
That's not Gregg Allman singing. It
sounds like...can't be...Jerry Lewis?
* CrazyJack frowns.
<DM> Jerry Lewis sings…
<DM> "I been gunned down; I been eyed, too,
<DM> I don't know what I let that Queen
summon me to
do.
<DM> She thinks it's funny, the effects of
my scars.
<DM> Now I'm a misunderstood time study.
<DM> I'm sinkin' like a lost, drowned barge…”
<DM> This is...crazy.
The room's not quite the right shape, either.
<DM> Jerry Lewis goes into the chorus, in
his
broadest, silliest manner...
<DM> “...Right now I feel, right now I feel,
<DM> Like I'm bestride a military post,
<DM> Fried like a piece of toast,
<DM> Spied by a flipping ghost,
<DM> With sword I feel like I'm flyin'."
* CrazyJack murmurs "Oh, man. What have they done
to
‘Whipping Post’? That's, like…totally trashed, man.”
<DM> ...And then Duane's off into a solo,
like nothing
strange just happened.
* CrazyJack shakes his head and seems relieved to
hear
Duane's solo
*** Sarge has joined #greyhawk
* Sarge is a tall, lean man who looks no older
than thirty,
though you dimly realize that he must be quite a bit older than that by
now.
His class 'A' uniform now boasts E-7 stripes (you knew him as a staff
sergeant,
E-6) and an impressive array of ribbons.
* CrazyJack squints. "Sarge?"
<DM> You no longer remember what all those
ribbons
mean, but there's no mistaking the Silver Star medal atop them all. He smiles a bit nervously, then his face
crinkles as he recognizes you despite your years of hard living since 'Nam.
<CrazyJack> “Whoa, dude. What are you doin'
here?”
<Sarge> “How you doing, Nesbitt? Remember
me?
It's Sergeant Jackson. From Easy
Company.”
<DM> You've never seen him dressed up like
this. It was always fatigues, right up to
the day
you took a bullet meant for him. Your ticket home.
<CrazyJack> “Yeah man. I remember you. From
the Big E.”
<Sarge> “Took me quite a while to track you
down. I'm not allowed to stay long.”
<CrazyJack> “Whatcha want me for?”
<Sarge> “Just
wanted to make sure you were okay, and to thank you one more time for
that bullet
you took for me.”
<CrazyJack> “What kinda funked-up threads
you got on,
man?”
* Sarge smiles again.
<Sarge> “You never got to see me in my
penguin suit,
did ya?”
<CrazyJack> “I'm, like, retired. Remember?”
<Sarge> “Yeah, me too.
But I get to wear this one last time.
Wanted to look good.”
<CrazyJack> “Yeah, man. You look, like,
totally
righteous. You, like, getting married or something?”
* Sarge shakes his head.
<Sarge> “No, not getting married. Just
wanted to make
sure you were okay, and to thank you one more time for that bullet you
took for
me.”
<CrazyJack> “Oh, yeah, man. Like, don’t
sweat it. I'd ‘a’
done it for anyone.”
* Sarge 's face grows serious.
<Sarge> “I know. So, you been keepin' in
shape? Ready to get up and walk out of
here?”
<CrazyJack> “Ah. Yeah, man. I'm ready to
split. Janie
'round?”
* CrazyJack attempts to get upright.
<DM> You manage to get up on an elbow.
<Sarge> “She's here. You kinda like her?”
* Sarge grins indulgently.
<CrazyJack> “She's, like, okay. She treats
me good
when I'm in here.”
* CrazyJack leans up onto one elbow, with a lot of
effort.
<Sarge> “Easy, Jack. You're gonna need to
get up soon,
and it don't look like you been takin’ care of yourself.”
<CrazyJack> “Maybe I ain’t ready to leave
yet, man. Ya
know…bad trip last night.”
<DM> There are footsteps outside the door,
which is
open a bit.
*** Sarge has left #greyhawk
<CrazyJack> “Hope that's dinner, man. I need
some food
in me.”
*** Janie has joined #greyhawk
* Nurse Janie pokes her head in the door. She is
pretty, thirtyish,
and a bit mousy--she even wears glasses.
<CrazyJack> “Oh, hey, Janie
<Janie> “How are we this evening?”
<CrazyJack> “Hey, like, just righteous…ya
know.”
<CrazyJack> “My sarge, here, is...uh.”
* CrazyJack looks around.
<DM> You don't see Sarge.
<CrazyJack> “Whoa, man. This is a far-out
trip.”
<Janie> “I brought some water. Can you take
it?”
<CrazyJack> “Yeah, water…like…that's what I
need.”
* Janie passes Jack a large pill, and a glass of
ice water.
<Janie> “Can you hold it?”
<CrazyJack> “Good ol' flouridated water.”
* CrazyJack attempts to take the glass and pill.
* Janie smiles as she watches Jack take the pill.
<Janie> “No, this is the good stuff, from
the cooler
at the nurses' station.”
<CrazyJack> “Heh. Yeah. Righteous!”
* CrazyJack takes the pill, and swallows it with
the water.
<Janie> “That's a good boy.
I'll come back in a bit to check on you.”
* Janie pats Jack on the head as she turns to
leave.
<CrazyJack> “Okay, Janie. I ain’t goin'
nowhere.”
* Janie pauses for the briefest of moments, and
smiles sadly
at Jack's words.
* Janie leaves, closing the door.
*** Janie has left #greyhawk
<DM> The clock ticks slowly, ever so slowly.
* CrazyJack looks around for Sarge one more time.
<DM> Jack is all alone again.
<DM> It's now eight-thirty by the clock, and
the light
from the window is fading.
* CrazyJack lies back down and stares at the
ceiling.
<DM> There is a knock at the door.
* CrazyJack raises his head back up.
<CrazyJack> “You, like, back so soon?”
*** DrGoode has joined #greyhawk
<DM> The door opens, and a man in a white
coat steps
in.
<CrazyJack> “Oh...”
<DM> You don't recognize him, but he's
wearing a
stethoscope.
* DrGoode is rather short, with close-cropped
steely-gray
hair and beard. His wire-rimmed glasses ride low on the bridge of his
long
nose, and there is a merry twinkle in his eyes.
<CrazyJack> “A flippin’ doctor. Great.”
<DM> “Good evening, Mr. Nesbitt. How
are you feeling?”
<CrazyJack> “Like, peachy keen, y’know.”
<DrGoode> “I'm Doctor Goode.
I've been looking at your files, and I would
like to talk to you about a new treatment.”
* DrGoode smiles at Jack.
<CrazyJack> “New treatment?”
* CrazyJack laughs.
<CrazyJack> “Like, I ain’t no gonna be no
guinea pig.”
<DrGoode> “Would you like to come with me? If
you can get up, a short walk might do
you…good.”
* DrGoode winks.
<CrazyJack> “Go play with some other poor
bastard. It
ain’t me you're lookin' for, man.”
* DrGoode grins even more broadly.
* CrazyJack begins humming the song from the
Turtles:
"It Ain’t Me, Babe."
<DM> [LOL]
<DM> “Nonsense.
No reason why you can't walk.”
<CrazyJack> “Like, maybe I don’t want
to walk, y’know.”
* DrGoode glances down at a clipboard he carries.
<DM> “Ho, ho, ho!
You've said that before, Mr. Nesbitt. Come. Try to sit up, at
least.”
* CrazyJack tries to sit up.
<DM> Jack manages, just barely, to get into
a sitting
position.
<DM> On the bedside table is Jack’s wallet
and lucky
buckeye.
<DrGoode> “Very good, Mr. Nesbitt! Just
sit easy for a moment, and get your
bearings.”
<DM> [Would you like to describe yourself,
Scott? You
are in your street clothes.]
* CrazyJack stands about 6 feet tall, and has
dirty blond
hair tied into a short ponytail, with a scruffy beard, mustache and
sideburns.
He wears a green t-shirt under old Army fatigues and boots. He is in
his
mid-thirties. He always seems to have a faraway look in his brown eyes.
<DM> [A thousand yards away, to be precise.
;-)]
<CrazyJack> “Like, I ain't bein’ no guinea
pig for ya,
Doc--no way, no how.”
<DrGoode> “Well, I wanted to show you what
it is I'd
like to try. Now, where did I put that dose?”
* DrGoode slips a hand into his (own) pocket, and
produces a
small green tablet.
* CrazyJack looks at the green tablet dubiously.
<DrGoode> “This, Mr. Nesbitt, is called
anhypnol.”
* DrGoode pauses significantly.
<CrazyJack> “That's, like, ah, the ugliest
lookin’
downer I ever saw. What's it do?”
* CrazyJack looks interested.
<DrGoode> “It acts on the neurons in your
brain, blah,
blah, blah.”
* DrGoode smiles broadly.
<CrazyJack> “Like, uh, far out, man.”
<DrGoode> “The upshot, for you, is a big
dose of
reality. No more of those waking dreams,
with properly controlled dosage.”
<CrazyJack> “Oh man. I got all the reality I
flippin’
need, y’know.”
* DrGoode laughs.
<DrGoode> “Ho, ho, ho!
Well, Mr. Nesbitt, think of this as a chance to experience one
reality
at a time.”
* DrGoode 's face grows serious.
<DrGoode> “Really, now, Mr. Nesbitt. I
believe that you will get what you want
from this treatment.”
* DrGoode glances at his watch.
<CrazyJack> “Like, I've been fighting
reality for,
like, the last ten years, y’know. I don’t flippin’ need no pill to
bring it
back.”
* DrGoode nods.
<DrGoode> “According to your records, Mr.
Nesbitt,
reality has been fighting *you*.”
* DrGoode points to his clipboard.
<DrGoode> “In addition to two police
officers.”
<CrazyJack> “Hey--that was police
brutality!” Well,
like, turn your flippin’ records upside down, then.”
* DrGoode laughs.
<DrGoode> “Ho, ho, ho!
That is precisely what I hope to accomplish.”
<CrazyJack> “Like, y’know, the damn fuzz
were all over
me, like white on rice.”
* DrGoode nods, serious again.
<DrGoode> “They are not paid to understand
you, Mr.
Nesbitt. *I* am.”
<CrazyJack> “So, um, this pill really screws
with your
brain?”
* DrGoode smiles wryly.
<DrGoode> “Well, yes, it does.
But in an advantageous way.”
* DrGoode hands the pill to Jack.
<DrGoode> “We'll start with just this small
dose
tonight.”
<CrazyJack> “Heh, heh. Like, hey, this could
be a
righteous trip, y’know.”
<DrGoode> “Yes, John Edward Nesbitt. It
will.”
<CrazyJack> “With all these positive waves,
like, how
can it go wrong?”
* CrazyJack smiles and takes the pill.
* DrGoode grins broadly, revealing more than
thirty-two
teeth.
<DrGoode> “Enjoy the waves, Mr. Nesbitt.”
<DM> The room is changing shape again.
* DrGoode reaches for the light switch, and the
scene grows
brighter.
<CrazyJack> “Oh, man....this is one flipping
far-out
trip.”
<DM> The light fixture above holds five
light bulbs in
an old art-deco fixture. The bulbs point down toward you like five
burning
fingers.
* CrazyJack stares at the lights.
* DrGoode reaches for you, and his fingers are
long...and
sharp.
<Jared> (yikes!!!)
<CrazyJack> “Like...wow.”
* DrGoode reaches for the light switch again, and
all is
dark.
<CrazyJack> “Ain’t taking no more green
pills, man.”
<DrGoode> “Come along now, John Edward
Nesbitt. I'd like you to meet somebody. Ho, ho, ho!”
*** DrGoode has left #greyhawk
<DM> [Melissa, are you ready?
<China>
[yep]
<DM> The evening is dark, with no moon yet
risen. There's a hot breeze still blowing
from the
west, over Sanctuary. Among the rocks, China
is discussing a matter of urgent import.
*** KnightSgt has joined #greyhawk
<DM> [Melissa, would you like to describe
yourself?
You are unarmed, but that is about to change.]
* China
is 4'6" and very small framed; she looks rather like a child with pale
skin, raven black hair. Her coal black
eyes lend her a doll-like appearance. She’s dressed in forest greens
and browns.
* KnightSgt wears the white robe and hood of the
Knights of
Purity. He carries a large shield with their starry cross emblazoned on
it. He
sits astride a coal-black riding horse about ten feet from the girl. China
knows him only as Sergeant. The hood has eyeholes, but nothing can be
seen of
his face, as is usual on their night rides.
<KnightSgt> “Any questions, kid? You
know your target. She's
out without the dogs tonight, and all
alone.”
* China
nods her understanding.
* KnightSgt tosses a small bundle on the ground
beside China,
and brings the horse about contemptuously.
* China
turns silently and strides away from the man, a sense of purpose to her
feather
footfalls.
* China
retreives the bundle.
* KnightSgt calls out softly.
<KnightSgt> “Death to muties.”
* KnightSgt urges the horse into a trot. The sound
echoes
off the bare stones, but the oppressive heat is already muting it.
*** KnightSgt has left #greyhawk
* China
she moves to a shadowed ally and opens the bundle to examine the
contents
<DM> The bundle is an old rag covering four
throwing
knives, and holds three gold coins--China's usual payment.
* China
raises her eyebrow. Prepayment is unusual; they must not expect her to
survive.
<DM> The horse's hoofbeats fade into the
distance. The rider is heading toward the
town of Cratersville.
* China
tucks the knives and coins carefully away, and heads into the hills
toward her
target.
<DM> China
knows the way toward the path that connects Sanctuary to the nearby
village and
town.
* China
smiles. It’s quite a bonus that they should send her somewhere she has
lately desired
to go.
<DM> Even the stifling heat cannot make the
darkness
unwelcome. The night is China's
element. Her movements are sure-footed
and silent. Within ten minutes, she sights her quarry--a robed and
hooded
female figure walking quickly in the direction of Sanctuary.
*** SisterUrsula has joined #greyhawk
<DM> The crunch of gravel on the path
underfoot is
regular, almost as if the nun were marching. She must be tall.
* China
becomes the woman's shadow, poised to strike, mindful of the area
nearby, a
heat building within her that is anticipation of the kill.
<DM> The nun wears the grey robes common to
the
Sisters of Ste. Mary Ann.
<DM> More gravel crunches ahead of the nun. Something
with more than two feet!
<DM> One of Sanctuary's large guard dogs
bounds out to
meet the Sister.
* SisterUrsula stops and speaks softly.
<SisterUrsula> “Good girl.”
<DM> The Knight's information was not quite
complete,
it seems.
* China
hesitates, wondering. She wasn't paid for more than one kill, and
killing
animals other than for food seems a waste.
* SisterUrsula bends over, rubbing the dog's head
and
whispering something too low to hear.
<DM> Some sixth sense grabs China's
attention.
*** LilAttercop has joined #greyhawk
* China
moves deeper into shadow to her right, something catching her attention
to the
left.
<DM> An enormous spider climbs over a rock. It
seems to be stalking the nun.
<DM> It's an attercop, but a young
one--perhaps only
thirty pounds.
<Dania> (Ewwww....giant spiders.....ick!)
<China>
(And that would be what exactly?)
* SisterUrsula continues to pet the dog,
apparently unaware
of the new danger behind her.
<CrazyJack> (30-lb. spider?
And it's a SMALL one?)
<Jared> (Eee!)
<DM> [Mwahahahaha!]
<Dania> (Radioactive mutant spiders.....oh
no!)
<DM> [So eat your radiation every day, kids,
and grow
up big and strong.]
* China
sinks deeper into the shadows and watches the spider closely, waiting
to see
what happens. Nice if her quarry is killed naturally. Of course she
will have
to take the head away from it, but she can be patient.
<DM> The spider is poised to leap. It
might be able to jump the ten or so feet
intervening.
<LilAttercop> 1d20
* DMhelper throws the bones for LilAttercop (1d20)
and gets
15.
<DM> The spider leaps, tumbling, through the
air. It lands with a thud right behind the
nun,
who stiffens.
* SisterUrsula cries out in surprise.
<DMhelper> LilAttercop's init: Amazing
(1d20(2)+d0(0)
= 2 MOGA = 10+/9/4/2)
<DMhelper> SisterUrsula's init: Good
(1d20(5)+d0(0) =
5 MOGA = 14+/13/6/3)
<DM> The dog goes apenuts, barking and
lunging at the
spider.
* SisterUrsula yells again, this time in pain.
* LilAttercop hangs off her leg, nearly causing
the nun to
stumble.
<DM> The dog snaps at the spider, growling
and
barking. Much barkage.
<Dania> (I'm sure there is!)
<DM> 1d20
* DMhelper throws the bones for DM (1d20) and gets
15.
<DM> There is another thump as something
metallic hits
the ground next to the nun. She utters
an oath not taught in the Sanctuary's school.
* LilAttercop 's legs are a blur, as it scrambles
to get
away from the dog.
<DMhelper> China's
init: Ordinary
(1d20(10)+d0(0) = 10 MOGA = 17+/16/8/4)
<DMhelper> LilAttercop's init: Critical
(1d20(20)+d0(0) = 20 MOGA = 10+/9/4/2)
<DMhelper> SisterUrsula's init: Good
(1d20(5)+d0(0) =
5 MOGA = 14+/13/6/3)
<DMhelper> SisterUrsula's Dexterity check:
Failure
(1d20(14)+d4(1) = 15 OGA = 12/6/3) Feat: 1
<DM> The nun scrabbles about in the gravel,
trying to
recover the dropped object.
<DM> [China
may act now, if she likes.]
* China
remains watching.
<LilAttercop> 1d20
* SisterUrsula screams and falls.
<DM> The dog lunges again.
<DM> 1d20
* DMhelper throws the bones for DM (1d20) and gets
7.
<DM> The dog snaps and shakes its head
rapidly,
causing the spider to release the nun's leg.
Good doggie! It’s growling loudly.
<DM> [inits]
<DMhelper> SisterUrsula's init: Ordinary
(1d20(8)+d0(0) = 8 MOGA = 14+/13/6/3)
<DMhelper> China's
init: Marginal
(1d20(17)+d0(0) = 17 MOGA = 17+/16/8/4)
<DMhelper> LilAttercop's init: Marginal
(1d20(10)+d0(0) = 10 MOGA = 10+/9/4/2)
<DMhelper> SisterUrsula's Dexterity check:
Good
Success (1d20(3)+d4(2) = 5 OGA = 12/6/3) Feat: 1
<Dania> (and our friend the DMHelper never
changes.....marginal all the way!)
<DM> 1d20
<DM> The nun scrabbles about, and comes up
with a gun. She pulls the trigger, and
nothing
happens. Oaths ensue.
<Dania> (Darn, I hate it when that happens!)
<DMhelper> LilAttercop's Dexterity check:
Ordinary
Success (1d20(4)+d4(3) = 7 OGA = 12/6/3) Feat: 1
<LilAttercop> 1d20-1
<DM> The dog yelps as the spider bites it.
<DM> [inits]
<DMhelper> China's
init: Good
(1d20(6)+d0(0) =
6 MOGA = 17+/16/8/4)
<DMhelper> SisterUrsula's init: Marginal
(1d20(17)+d0(0) = 17 MOGA = 14+/13/6/3)
<DMhelper> LilAttercop's init: Amazing
(1d20(2)+d0(0)
= 2 MOGA = 10+/9/4/2)
<LilAttercop> 1d20
<DM> The dog howls its rage, and tears at
the spider.
<DM> 1d20+1
* DMhelper throws the bones for DM (1d20+1) and
gets 8.
<DM> The spider's legs flail.
<DMhelper> SisterUrsula's Intelligence
check: Failure
(1d20(15)+d4(3) = 18 OGA = 13/6/3)
Feat: 1
<DMhelper> SisterUrsula's Dexterity check:
Failure
(1d20(19)+d4(3) = 22 OGA = 12/6/3) Feat: 1
* SisterUrsula is screaming at the dog and the
spider,
fumbling with her pistol.
<DM> [inits]
<DMhelper> China's
init: Marginal
(1d20(19)+d0(0) = 19 MOGA = 17+/16/8/4)
<DMhelper> SisterUrsula's init: Marginal
(1d20(15)+d0(0) = 15 MOGA = 14+/13/6/3)
<DMhelper> LilAttercop's init: Marginal
(1d20(14)+d0(0) = 14 MOGA = 10+/9/4/2)
<LilAttercop> 1d20+2
<DM> It's hard, even for China,
to see exactly what happens
next.
<DMhelper> SisterUrsula's Intelligence
check: Failure
(1d20(17)+d4(4) = 21 OGA = 13/6/3) Feat: 1
<DMhelper> SisterUrsula's Dexterity check:
Ordinary
Success (1d20(9)+d4(2) = 11 OGA = 12/6/3) Feat: 1
<SisterUrsula> 1d20+1
<DM> There is a sound like a sudden
exhalation of
breath, and the spider instantly goes limp.
<DM> The next sound is the nun's crying, and
whines
from the dog.
<DM> There is a soft glow as the nun crawls
over to
the dog.
* China
moves through the shadows carefully, for a better view of the scene
<DMhelper> SisterUrsula's CureLightWounds
check:
Failure (1d20(19)+d20(10) = 29 OGA = 14/7/3) No Holy Symbol: 4 Modifier
Entered: 1
<DMhelper> SisterUrsula's CureLightWounds
check:
Ordinary Success (1d20(4)+d20(5) = 9 OGA = 14/7/3) No Holy Symbol: 4
Modifier Entered:
1
<Jared> (uh oh, where's her holy symbol?)
<DM> [I dunno...maybe in the same place that
+d20 came
from]
<DM> The dog falls silent.
* LilAttercop gives a final twitch, and then its
legs curl
up together.
*** LilAttercop has left #greyhawk
* China
is astounded that the nun would heal the animal before herself
<DM> The nun sobs, and strokes the dog's
head.
<SisterUrsula> “Come on, Zee.
Come on, girl.”
<DMhelper> SisterUrsula's CureMinorWounds
check:
Ordinary Success (1d20(14)-2d20(-3) = 11 OGA = 14/7/3) No Holy Symbol: 4
Modifier Entered:
-10
<DM> There is another soft flash of light,
and the nun
grunts.
* SisterUrsula cradles the dogs head.
<DM> The nun's sobs are softer now, and she
picks up
the gun.
* DM checks the action on the pistol, and twists
off the
silencer, dropping the latter on the ground.
<DM> The nun pockets the pistol.
* SisterUrsula drops the hood that covered her
face.
<DMhelper> SisterUrsula's Strength check:
Ordinary
Success (1d20(5)+d8(3) = 8 OGA = 8/4/2)
Feat: 1 Mod Entered: +2
* SisterUrsula gets to her feet, holding the large
dog.
* SisterUrsula turns toward the west, and toward
Sanctuary.
<SisterUrsula> Come on, Zee.
Let's go home.
* SisterUrsula , limping, crunches up the path.
* China
shadows the woman toward Sanctuary, no longer intent on the kill, but
on
understanding. She will have to think of a way to know this woman.
<DM> (Sorry, folks.
I didn't realize that it'd gotten so late.)
<Dania> (That's OK....this was a great
start!)
<China>
(Oh, wow -- how time flies.)
<Dania> (I'll be looking forward to next
session!)
<China>
(Me, too.)
<Dania> (Very, very good!)
<DM> (Thank you, everybody. I'd intended to
do one
more scene to bring you all together.)
<Dania> (Well, I can stay for a little while
more. My
kids are in bed and husband is out of town.)
<China>
(Me, too, if everyone else can.)
<CrazyJack> (I can stay :-))
<Jared> (I'm here. :-))
<Jared> (But it's okay if you can't get to
Jared this
week.)
<DM> For Jared, then...
<DM> The floor is clean, as always. The
Sisters still keep it that way, and
thinking back on oldtime, it looks maybe like they keep it cleaner than
ever. Sister Anne is making something
good out of the summer potatoes you brought, something without the
taste of dust.
She doesn't treat you friendly anymore, not since you were 'prenticed,
but Anne
resents men-folk more than do most of the Sisters.
You don't dare put your feet up, but you can
rest easy for tonight. Try to cool.
<DM> [It's nightfall.
Dania may enter.]
*** SisterAnne has joined #greyhawk
<DM> The room is hot, but not so hot as
outdoors. The Sanctuary guest house will
be a
comfortable stop on your way.
* Jared watches Anne preparing the food.
* Dania comes into the kitchen, grabbing an apple
and a
chunk of bread on her way past.
<Dania> “Sister Anne.”
* SisterAnne nods curtly to Dania.
<SisterAnne> “Sister.”
<Jared> “Good evening, Sister Dania.”
<Dania> “Jared, is that you?”
<DM> [yes, nuns may hug old friends]
* Jared inclines his head.
<Jared> "The same. I trust this evening
finds you
well, Sister?"
<Dania> Oh, no need for the Sister, we were
bathed
together as small children!
* Dania hugs Jared!
* Jared seems a little surprised, but hugs her
back, anyway.
* Jared looks meaningfully at Anne and then back
at Dania.
<DM> Some of the dogs outside are barking a
little. Fussing.
<DM> [Would you like to describe yourselves?]
<Dania> Dania is about 5 foot five and
has wavy blonde hair and blue eyes. She's
a very pretty girl, with an air of calm about her.
* Jared is about 6'2" with a lean, wiry build. His
pale
blond hair is very straight and tied back at his nape with a black
leather
cord. Jared has moss-green eyes, and his skin is lightly tanned. He is
wearing
a leather vest over a white shirt and leather breeches and boots. A
sword is
strapped to his back.
<Dania> “That's odd. The dogs have usually
settled by
now. Sister Anne, do we have some scraps for them?”
* SisterAnne doesn’t look up from the stove.
<SisterAnne> “Soup's 'most done.”
<Dania> “Since Ursula is away, I can take
them their dinner.
Then I'll serve the guests--and try not to spill on anyone this time.”
* Dania grins at Jared.
<Jared> “I'll help you, then.”
<Dania> “I'm not the best server of the
Sisters!”
<Jared> “I am sure you do fine, Dania. It
was only
that one time, wasn't it?”
<DM> A dog barks loudly, once, just outside
the guest
house. Woof!
* Dania grabs the pail of dog scraps and heads out
to the
kennel area.
* Jared goes over to the door and looks out.
<Jared> “What has the dogs so upset?”
* Jared frowns.
<DM> [WIL-perception-listen checks from
Jared and
Dania, please]
<Dania> “I don't know, but they are more
exitable when
Ursula isn't here.”
<DMhelper> Jared's Perception (Listen)
check: Ordinary
Success (1d20(3)+d4(4) = 7 OGA = 8/4/2) Broad Skill: 1
<Dania> “They're probably hungry or they've
seen an
animal...who knows, with dogs? Sometimes they bark at shadows. But
then, don't
we all, at times?”
* Jared follows Dania to the kennels.
* Dania looks around to see if she can spot some
source of
the disturbance.
<DM> Up on the wall, one of the Warden
Sisters waves
casually down at Dania.
* Dania waves up.
<Dania> “I think Sister Anne is making apple
tarts
tonight! I'll swipe some later, and bring them to you!”
* Dania moves to the kennel and opens the gate.
<Jared> “Good. I'll be glad to take some
with me on my
journey. There's no telling when I'll be back by here.”
<DM> Five dogs surround Dania, eager for
their mush.
<Dania> “And Sister Anne's cooking is much
better than
her attitude. “
* Dania feeds the dogs, petting them and speaking
softly as
Ursula does.
<Dania> “Where are you going, Jared?”
* Jared looks around to see if anyone is close by.
<DM> No one is near, other than the dogs.
* Dania finishes feeding the dogs and moves out of
the
kennel.
* Dania sits on a bench in the shadows at the side
of the
building.
<Dania> “Now, tell.”
* Dania smiles.
* Jared lowers his voice.
<Jared> "Master Erik disappeared three days
ago.
I have promised Mistress Elaine and Laurana that I will find him."
<Dania> “Disappeared?”
<DM> A couple of the dogs are barking again.
* Jared looks over his shoulder and lowers his
voice even
more.
* Dania looks over at the dogs, then back at Jared.
<Jared> “He had been working on a special
sword...for
a customer he would never allow me or the two 'prentices to see.”
<Dania> “That is
odd.”
<Jared> “I snuck a look at the sword,
'course, and it
was the damnedest thing I ever saw. The basket hilt was a strange
greenish
metal, fashioned like swirling leaves, and the hilt was bronze and in
the shape
of an acorn.”
<Dania> “Sounds lovely--but how did Master
Erik
disappear?”
<Jared> “He only worked on it during the
full moon,
and he used some supplies that he kept locked up.”
<Dania> “Full moon?”
<Jared> “He sent us off on an errand three
days ago,
and it was during this time that the customer came again. After that,
Master
Erik was nowhere to be found.”
<Dania> “Oh, my.”
<Jared> “Laurana stayed behind because she
wasn't
feeling well, and she said the man was wearing pale green and silver
robes. She
didn't think anything about it until Mistress Elaine and I discovered
the
master missing.”
<Dania> “Where are you going to start? Do
you have any
idea where he might have gone, or been taken?”
* Jared frowns.
* Dania thinks on green and silver robes.
<Jared> “Elaine said the man was so pale as
to be an
albino.”
<Jared> Paler hair even than mine.
<Dania> “That is
pale. And the sword was gone?”
* Jared nods. "Yes. And the supplies, too."
<Jared> “I looked through all of Master
Erik's
records, and any references to his work on this sword are missing. I'd
swear he
deliberately wrote nothing down.”
* Dania hesitates for a moment, then takes a deep
breath.
<Dania> “Did Master Erik leave anything
behind? Any
item he might have dropped?”
* Jared nods, and reaches for something in the
pouch at his
waist.
* Dania watches.
* Jared pulls out an acorn.
<Jared> “This is what the hilt looked like.”
<Dania> “May I…?”
* Jared hands it to Dania.
<Jared> “It's not normal. Look at that weird
shimmer
on it.”
* Dania holds it, closing her eyes and willing
herself to
see.
<Jared> “And the texture...it's just odd. I
wish I
could see it magnified.”
<Dania> “Odd.”
<Dania> 1d20 +1
<Dania> “It is very strange.”
<Dania> (does it feel natural, or metallic,
or
different?)
* Jared lowers his voice.
<Jared> “I think…I think THEY took him.”
<Dania> “They?”
* Jared looks all around again, just to be sure.
* Dania starts for a moment.
* Dania hands the acorn back to Jared.
<Dania> “Heat. I saw heat, for just a
moment.”
<Jared> “Hmm. Y'know, when he worked on that
sword, he
ran the fires really hot. I know, because the ‘prentices had to bring
in extra
fuel for the fire.”
<Dania> “They...the Kind Ones?”
<Jared> "Kind? I fear that they may not be so.”
<DM> The dogs are barking again. The
Sister on the wall trots over toward the
gate.
<Dania> “They've never harmed me. I've
watched Them dance
by moonlight many a night.”
* Dania gets up and moves toward the gate.
<Dania> “The dogs.”
* Jared follows.
<Dania> “Something is happening.”
* Jared picks up the pace.
<Dania> “So, how do you plan to find him, if
he's gone
to the Fey? I've never found the entrance to their land--not that I've
looked
all that much.”
<DM> The solid metal gate slides off to your
left, and
a woman enters, carrying a dog.
* Dania looks over.
<Dania> “Ursula? Oh, my!”
* SisterUrsula approaches, out of breath. She is a
forty-something woman with grey hair. Her nose is almost nonexistent,
an
obvious mutation that she usually hides behind a hood.
<Dania> “What happened? Jared, take the dog
from her.”
* Jared steps over and takes the dog.
* China
moves to the center of the path and runs to catch up with Sister Ursula. She appears to have run all the way from the
village
* Dania waits for Jared to take the dog and
supports Sister
Ursula herself.
<SisterUrsula> “A spider got her. She'll
be okay, I think.”
<Dania> “Spider. Ugh.”
* Jared gives Dania a we'll-talk-later look.
<Dania> “Yes.”
<DM> The dog is named Zenia.
<Dania> “I think you need to go to the
infirmary.”
* Jared whispers to the dog, and kisses her on the
head.
<DM> Zenia is breathing, and is calm as
Jared handles
her.
<Dania> “How is Zenia? I know you've checked
out her
injuries.”
<DM> The other dogs come swarming around,
whining a
little.
* Dania checks Sister Ursula's injuries.
<DM> Sister Ursula is not obviously injured,
other
than on her right leg, on which she limps.
<Dania> “And probably ignored your own.”
<SisterUrsula> “I'm still walking. It was
just a
little spider. There can't be much poison.”
<Dania> “It bit you and Zenia, then?”
* SisterUrsula nods, and sways a bit.
<Dania> “I see that. Lets get you to the
infirmary,
and I'll bring down a poultice to draw out the poison. I give you my
word that I
will personally see to Zenia.”
<DM> A young girl enters the gate behind
Ursula.
<Dania> “And who is your young friend?”
* SisterUrsula looks around, startled to see that
someone
followed her.
* Jared looks at the girl.
<Dania> “Did she come back with you?”
* SisterUrsula shakes her head.
<SisterUrsula> Not with me.
I don’t think.”
* Dania addresses the young girl.
<Dania> “Are you a prospective postulant?”
* China
pants heavily, as though she has run a long way, and promptly faints.
<DM> A Sister on the wall shouts: "Check
her!"
<DM> There is the sound of a rifle bolt
being drawn
back.
* Jared goes over to the girl's side.
* Dania allows another sister to take Ursula to
the
infirmary, and moves to the girl as well.
<Dania> “Is she injured?”
* Jared touches her neck to check for a pulse.
<DM> Jared finds a strong pulse.
<Dania> “She's young. A child still, I would
think.”
* Dania quickly pats her down for weapons.
<DM> Dania finds no weapons.
<DM> The young girl stirs, and her eyelids
flutter.
<China>
"Spiders."
* Dania smiles. “You are safe, my dear, in
Sanctuary.”
<DM> Every dog in the place sets up a long
howl, and
there is the sound of wind.
<DM> We'll end it here.
<Dania> Sounds good.
<China>
excellent session
<Dania> Great start
John!
<CrazyJack> cool story
:-)
<DM> And pick up next
time with Crazy jack's
arrival.
<China>
thanks john
<Dania> Excellent
Session, cool story!
<Dania> Night now!
<DM> Thank you,
everybody!
*** Dania has quit IRC
<China>
very cool
<Jared> Neat stuff,
y'all!
<CrazyJack> I'm curious
how Jack "arrives."
<John> He took the green
pill.
<CrazyJack> hehe
<Jared> hehehehe
<Jared> seriously!
*** DM is now known as John
*** SisterUrsula has left
#greyhawk
*** SisterAnne has left
#greyhawk
<CrazyJack> cya tomorrow
:-)
<Jared> seeya!
*** Jared has quit IRC
<China>
nighters all
<John> See y'all
tomorrow night!
<CrazyJack> ya... like..
cool man ;-)
*** CrazyJack has quit IRC
*** China
has quit IRC
<John> I like Jack
already.
Very positive waves.
*** John has quit IRC
*** Disconnected
Session Close: Wed Apr 05
23:39:47 2006