Jason was unavailable for this session, so the part of Karnak was played by Bruce.
<DM> Now, where were we, and what do we propose to do now? :)
* Meridius has a plan which appeared in e-mail awhile back.
* BAgame can't find Jason's site. It's been so long that its gone from my brouser's history.
* DM nods. Let's recap, keeping in mind that I had a lot of my concentration busted.
<Meridius> http://members.shaw.ca/ogier/dandd.htm
<BAgame> danke
*** BAgame is now known as Liatus.
<Meridius> We heal up Meepo, put the unconscious dragon back in its cage, and tell Meepo we'll be gone for a day or so. We'll return to collect our reward from Yusdrayl after we return to Roburcollis to file a report with the Constable and Madam Hucrele and take a night to rest up.
<Silana> Oh, and before we start -- SuzyQ's on the afternoon/evening shift today, so I don't have any 7PM time limit if we all want to keep going a bit.
<DM> Righto, Dan. I will just have to see how I'm doing, and likewise with the others. But thanks for the news up front.
<DM> Ercaius is willing to work on healing Meepo, hoping that he won't need to do any particular healing on the way to or from town.
<Meridius> The treasure for session 8 isn't up on Jason's site yet, but I have the list in e-mail and can forward it to folks. I don't know if it's worthwhile or not to do any divying up right now, but I imagine we'll be spending at least some of the treasure on fresh provisions for our return to the dungeon.
<DM> Please forward that to me, yes. And yes, I expect some divvying up will happen.
<Ercaius> Perhaps for the moment you might divide up the coins and items of simple value, sir, and save the more distinctive ones for later consideration. There are, after all, challenges ahead, and such items may take on different significance when placed alongside treasure not yet obtained. [DM]
* 11: Meridius reads what Ercaius just said and a vein pops in his head.
<11: DM> Look, he had a formal education.
<Liatus> So are we already away from the dungeon?
<Meridius> Negative. We paused in the room where we bashed Calcryx over the noggin.
<DM> Ercaius sets to work on Meepo, with many invocations to the gods of the grove to show favor to this, er, well-intentioned young creature.
<Liatus> OK, so, IIRC, we were debating what to do with the unconscious dragon and the near dead Meppo.
* Meridius repeats his plan from earlier: <Meridius> We heal up Meepo, put the unconscious dragon back in its cage, and tell Meepo we'll be gone for a day or so. We'll return to collect our reward from Yusdrayl after we return to Roburcollis to file a report with the Constable and Madam Hucrele and take a night to rest up.
<Liatus> Ah.
<DM> Karnak is having a general sense of being in over his head, and likes the idea of some rest.
<11: Silana> "Buca del Meppo" closes after a short run, after someone discovers the proprietor's misunderstanding of "Italian restaurant"...
<Meridius> It's still mid-morning, so we have time to get back to Roburcollis before dark.
<11: Liatus> Authentic Goblin Quesine.
* So after telepathically making everyone aware of his plan, Meridius says, "Lets go." :) [Meridius]
## DM rolled 1d8+2 = 3 (1).
## DM rolled 1d8+2 = 5 (3).
<11: Silana> Serving only the finest fresh Italians.
<DM> The gods of the grove are obviously not deeply impressed by Ercaius' petition, but, y'know, Meepo is conscious. And immediately rushes over to offer Calcryx choice tidbits from the adjacent pantry room.
<DM> You notice that Meepo is pretty oblivious to Calcryx's general "kill them all" look.
* Silana facepalms, shaking her head.
<Meridius> Isn't Calcryx still unconscious?
<DM> My recollection is that he's just borderline conscious and still fairly trussed up. I'm willing to find I was mistaken, however.
<Meridius> Calcryx was unconscious and not trussed up when we left off last. His minimum time for remaining unconscious was one hour.
<Meridius> Giving us enough time to get him back in his cage.
<DM> Oh, okay, then I'm premature.
<DM> Meepo is arranging morsels for Calcryx to enjoy when he wakes up.
* Meridius is reading the tail end of the last session's log.
<Silana> Either that or he's just coming around.
<Meridius> So if Meepo is aware of the plan, we can get the hell out of here.
<Liatus> But if Calcryx was awake, I'm sure it'd be giving us a kill them all look.
<DM> Meepo waves. "See you when you return! Kill more goblins!"
* Liatus still wants that chieftain's head.
* Silana murmurs to her companions, "Let's get out of here."
<Liatus> "I agree. I find this place rather unpleasent. Fine wine, good food and a soft warm bed call."
* Meridius gathers up all his bits from where they were stored, arranges them on his person, and is ready to hike back to Roburcollis.
* Silana nods emphatically to Liatus. "And a hot bath."
<DM> Karnak gathers up his odds and ends and proceeds at a sprightly pace not far behind Meridius.
<11: Liatus> Well, I didn't want to say anything....
<11: Meridius> Are there Roman-style baths in Roburcollis?
* Liatus gathers all his gear and follows along
<11: DM> There is one community bathhouse, and bathing facitilities at the inn.
<11: Liatus> Hey, like I said back at the inn, what you Legionaires do together on your own time is your business, but it's not my bag.
<DM> Okay, making your way out of the citadel goes...
## DM rolled 1d10 = 5 (5).
<DM> ...uneventfully.
<DM> You're reminded of some things you haven't examined yet - in the hallway between room 15 and room 4, for instance,t here's a stone door carved with an aquatic dragon design, which you left alone after hearing a faint sloshing sound behind it. And there's the door in room 4 that leads to something southeast that you haven't checked out yet. While you're there, by the way, make some Spot rolls.
## Meridius rolled 1d20 = 18 (18).
<DM> rolling for Karnak:
## DM rolled 1d20+2 = 12 (10).
## Liatus rolled 1d20+3 = 11 (8).
<DM> And for Ercaius:
## DM rolled 1d20+2 = 5 (3).
## Silana rolled 1d20+2 = 13 (11).
<11: Meridius> I'm in the midst of adding session 8's treasure to the prior sessions' treasure to come up with a comprehensive list for divying.
<DM> Hey, Meridius, in the south wall of room 4, you've noticed a secret door at the 6 o'clock point.
* Meridius points out the secret door to the others. "I don't think we're in any condition to check it right now, but lets examine it when we return."
<DM> Ercaius nods. "An unexpected challenge is best faced after the comforts of bed and breakfast."
* Silana nods in agreement. "We'll want to see what's there, but I'd prefer to be fresher for it."
* Meridius notes to Bruce that Liatus is down most of his HP, and Meridius isn't a whole lot better."
<DM> That was my understanding.
## DM rolled 1d20+6 = 12 (6).
<11: Liatus> How am I on spells?
<DM> Karnak puts an ear to the secret door once it's pointed out. "Nothing."
<11: Meridius> I don't know, BA, I just know Liatus was down to zero HP as of the end of the last session.
<DM> Ercaius used a Cure Minor Wounds to get him to 1 hp.
* Silana is healthy, but almost tapped out on magic. 3 L0 spells left, I think.
<11: Liatus> Presuming that I have at least two 1st level spells left, I'd like to caste Cure Light Wounds on Meridius and myself.
<11: DM> You have precisely two, I believe.
<11: DM> Erciaus has 1 frst level and 1 0th.
* 11: Liatus will do so then, as I'd rather not like to get ambushed on the way home and die.
<11: Meridius> Don't cast anything on me. I don't know how many HP I'm down.
* Liatus prays to the Imperial Presence, asking it to heal its loyal and steadfast servant.
<11: DM> It will be a bit moot once you're in town; the village priest can help.
<Liatus> (1d8+2, yes?)
<DM> Correct.
## Liatus rolled 1d8+2 = 5 (3).
<Silana> Once we're outside, I send Gnaea aloft to fly lookout as we make our way back to the village.
<Liatus> So that takes me bck up to 6hps, I think.
## DM rolled 1d20 = 18 (18).
<DM> Gnaea gets a good look, and reports back that she sees no trouble. It's quiet throughout the ashen valley and vicinity. Some rabbits are stirring in brush half a mile away, and that's about it.
<11: Silana> "The rabbits are not what they seem..."
<11: Liatus> Bruce has taken us to Gamma World!
<11: DM> I have NOT. The first drafts aren't IN yet.
* Liatus remains on guard, but does enjoy actually seeing the sun and feeling fresh air again.
* Silana does, as well, stretching and taking several deep breaths of air that's blessedly non-dank.
<Ercaius> By all the gods of earth and sky, this is marvelous! It has been a year since I last felt the sun on my face, and often I feared I never would. [DM]
<Ercaius> After so much peril, I will not add to your experience the horror that is a dancing gnome. But my heart is grateful nonetheless, sirs and lady. [DM]
<11: Liatus> OK, I admit to be tempted to forcing Ercaius to dance at swordpoint.
* Silana laughs. "Thank you for that, and you're welcome. I'd hope that someone would do the same for me if I was in a situation like that."
<DM> Ercaius bows. "Surely, lady, were I to hear of your captivity, I would be glad to rush to your aid."
* Liatus pokes about in his rucksack. "Meridius, did you happen to see that skin of good wine I appropriated from the inn's stores?"
<Meridius> "No."
<Liatus> "I think one of those kobolds stole my wine."
<DM> Ercaius chuckles. "Like as not, pure water and fine grapes would poison them."
* 11: Gnaea hiccups. [Silana]
<DM> Karnak makes a few tentative tumbles along the edges of the Old Road.
## DM rolled 1d20+6 = 21 (15).
<Karnak> I think maybe the unreliable lighting throws me off. I bet I'd attack just fine if we ran into enemies up here. [DM]
-> *DM* Is going up the side of that cliff face and climbing that rope the only way back out to the road or are there other means of getting back and forth from town to the dungeon?
*DM* That's the one way.
<DM> I'm assuming here that you take 20 on the climb up out of the chasm, since it's not urgent.
<Meridius> Aye.
* Liatus whispers to Meridius. "I wouldn't take that bet if the Emporer himself commanded me to."
<DM> From there, it's a total of about six hours along the Old Road and the connecting road leading to Roburcollis.
<Meridius> So we'll hit Roburcollis in early evening.
<DM> Yeah.
<DM> Well, late afternoon, since it's just a day or so before midsummer and you're in a relatiely high latitude.
<Meridius> Okay.
<Meridius> And we don't encounter anything untoward on the way?
<DM> Nope.
<DM> You soon leave the ashen valley behind, and then move out of the forest and into pasturelands. You see some farmers in the distance an hour so outside of town. Then you're in to the town itself, unless you're doing anything along the way.
<Meridius> Upon entering town I make directly for Garon's inn.
<Liatus> As do I.
<DM> One of the constables you haven't met before spots you coming in to town and dashes off. In a moment, Constable Felosial strides up to meet you at the inn's entrance. "Welcome! What news?"
<DM> She gives Ercaius a skeptical look as he makes one of his bows.
<Meridius> "Karakas is dead. We've not yet found the Hucreles, though we believe they are imprisoned by the creature who's been plaguing this area with thorns."
* Meridius gestures toward Ercaius, "We rescued this one from the dungeon."
<DM> Felosial looks upset. "Dammit. Karakas was a good kid, and darned useful in the autumn hunts. But come on in and tell me more." She opens the door for you.
<Meridius> "We've returned to rest and reprovision ourselves before returning to continue the search."
<Felosial> I imagine so. A few days underground can't have been all that comfortable. [DM]
<DM> As you come in, Garon looks up from cleaning the main counter. "Welcome, travelers!'
<Meridius> "Hey, Garon. My companions and I will need a private room for our repast this evening."
<DM> Garon nods. "As you say. I'll have the back room ready in..." he pauses to look at one of the waitresses "...thirty minutes. In the meantime, please, be comfortable."
* Liatus sits down to rest his feet and back.
<DM> Felosial says, "I imagine Constable Roda will be fetching Madame Hucrele."
<DM> Ercaius carefully takes a beer mug from Garon, sits down near the fire, and sips it very slowly. He makes little contented sounds after each sip.
* Silana hangs up her cloak and nods to Felosial. "I wish we had better news to tell her." She then goes to join her companions, a seat by the fire and something to drink sounding very good at the moment.
<Garon> Some wine for the lady? We had a shipment from the heartland just a day after you left, and it's very good. [DM]
* Silana smiles a bit at Garon. "That would be very welcome right now. Thank you."
<Liatus> "I would very much like some wine, Garon, thank you."
<Meridius> "Please start a tab for us this evening, Garon. We'll settle it before heading out tomorrow morning."
<DM> He pulls out an elaborately carved wooden bottle holder, uncorks the bottle, and hands her a simple but elegantly proportioned goblet.
<DM> Garon nods. "As you say, sir. I imagine there must be untold wealth in those depths for brave adventurers like yourselves."
<11: Meridius> If no one has any objections I'm going to convert the javelins and daggers retrieved from the dungeon into cash, assuming that Meridius went to pester a purveyor of weapons sometime this afternoon.
<11: DM> If it's okay with Dan and BA, I have no problem with it.
<Meridius> "Enough to keep us in beer and fish for the next night, at least." :)
<DM> Garon smiles. "Very good, sir."
* Silana holds the goblet carefully as Garon pours. "At least one of us," she says, stroking her familiar's head with a fingertip, "doesn't care much for treasure, but would very much enjoy some bacon."
<DM> The door opens again, and in comes Madame Hucrele, looking rather distracted. "What news of my children?"
<Meridius> "Precious little, I'm afraid, Madame. Their escort, Karakas, is dead. We believe your children are being held by the one responsible for the problems with thorns."
<DM> She doesn't show a lot of emotion; she's very very still for a moment. "You are sure that it's Karakas dead and not my children? You have no proof yet that they live or not?"
<Meridius> "Liatus, show her the ring."
<DM> Ercaius clears his throat. "If I may..."
* Meridius nods to Ercaius.
* Liatus produces the ring. "I fear we found this on what we believe to be the boy Karakas's corpse, Madame."
<DM> Ercaius describes his encounter with the Hucreles and the paladin Pelorius, and their speaking of Karakas' death, and of their removal to the "Outcast" and his domain. She listens very intently, then takes the ring from Liatus.
<Hucrele> This is indeed Karakas'. The family crest is well known here, and all know that he received the signet when his father died, six years ago. They have no heir now. [DM]
<DM> She shakes her head. "But if this gnome saw them still alive, perhaps they live still! You must return, so that you can know!"
<Meridius> "We will go back to the Citadel tomorrow morning and seek out your children. We've only come back here to rest and reprovision ourselves."
<DM> She nods vigorously. "Good, good." Then she steps back a pace. "But all of you are injured! Come. As a gesture of thanks, I will pay for whatever healing you may need. Our priest is skilled in these matters."
* Liatus downs the last of his wine and gets up to follow.
<11: Meridius> I don't know how many HP Meridius is out as I've lost my notes of that. He wasn't down by too much, I think.
<DM> She motions down with her hand. "I will have Dem Nacal com here."
<DM> Come here, even.
<Hucrele> Tell me. What did you encounter in that awful place? [DM]
* Meridius pauses to let others elaborate on the contents of the dungeon.
<DM> Karnak prepares to jump in and tell about his glorious exploits, if he's not stopped. :)
* Liatus makes no move to stop him.
<DM> Karnak gives a surprisingly faithful account of the group's exploits, just turning a bunch of his screwups into feints and strategems.
* Silana fills in details from her point of view, trying to be as optimistic as she can while remaining truthful.
<DM> Hucrele nods carefully. Everyone in the inn is listening to the story pretty intently.
<DM> Hucrele says quietly to the constable, while the exposition goes on, "You see? We should have called for the aid of the legion long ago, to clean out the whole foul place. It is good that heroes still come to call, but we must have an end of this."
<11: Meridius> Bruce, can you give me a quick note about how much Garon's tab will come to in SP? I'll knock the amount off of our collective treasure take.
<11: DM> Sure, just a sec.
<Meridius> "Madame, if I may, it is my intention to petition the Imperial Corps of Engineers to see that the dungeon is collapsed and otherwise rendered uninhabitable once our quest is done."
<11: DM> 15 sp all told for the luxury treatment.
* 11: Liatus wonders how hard it would be to raise a mob to go into the dungeon with us and start killing things.
<11: Meridius> That'd be hard on our XP, BA. :)
<DM> Hucrele smiles for the first time this afternoon. "Bless you, centurion."
* Meridius nods to Madame Hucrele.
<11: Liatus> Hell with the XPs. I want carnage!
<11: Liatus> :)
<11: DM> BA gets to the heart of the matter, as always.
<DM> Garon leans over to announce, "Dinner is ready. If you'll step this way?"
<Meridius> "Excellent."
* Meridius gets up and goes to the room he requested for our private dinner.
* Liatus follows.
* Silana finishes the last of her wine, and returns the goblet to the bar on the way into the back room.
<DM> Karnak and Ercaius do not lag. :)
<DM> Garon's put on quite a good spread, with a tablecloth some of you may recognize as having a design from one of the southwestern provinces way down the coast. The food is yummy - good quality, well seasoned, well prepared.
<Meridius> Assuming no one but Ercaius and the PCs are around, this is when I'll get down to brass tacks on dividing the loot.
<DM> Just the bunch of you, once Garon and the two waitresses clear out. Madame Hucrele starts to enter, but pauses. "We'll speak again in the evening."
* Liatus asks the Imperial Presense to bless this repast, then digs in.
<DM> Ercaius eats roughly like there's no tomorrow. Karnak simplye ats like a man relieved he doesn't have to eat elf pudding.
* Silana looks suitably impressed by the meal that's been prepared for us, and a bit surprised by the cloth. "I feel like I should be dressed better for this."
* Over dinner Meridius starts talking money. "It is my intention to divide the gold and silver up five ways, including Ercaius. Ercaius will, however, not be eligible to receive any other spoils of our adventuring thus far. Is this acceptable?" [Meridius]
<DM> Ercaius says, "Sir, I regard that as more than generous. Do you wish to collect no ransom from my rescue? What may a gnome not regard as a fair price for his life and liberty?"
<11: Bob> Equal shares of treasure?! Screw that! I waste the gnome with my crossbow! [Liatus]
<11: DM> Go to hell, go directly to hell, do not pass go, do not collect $200. :)
<Meridius> "I cannot speak for the others sitting here, but for my own part I ask no price for your life. I have performed as my duty requires. That is sufficient."
<Liatus> "Your aid to our cause following your release is more than enough payment."
<DM> Ercaius beams. "This is most generous, sir. I accept your gift. In return, I shall pay for such of your - our - gear as becomes damaged in this mission. Thus may I salve my conscience." He thinks for a moment. "And I shall endow prayers at the shrine of the Imperial Presence."
<Meridius> "Do you wish to continue with us, Ercaius? If so, I offer you a place in our party. If not, I would wish you a good journey home."
<DM> Ercaius shakes his head. "I have had enough of the realms beneath the roots for now. I shall await you here, and provide such aid as you may reuire upon your return."
<Meridius> "That would be welcome."
* Silana nods, smiling at bit at the gnome. "And I can't say I blame you."
<DM> Ercaius smiles back. "The charms of rock and earth do erode with time."
<DM> He reaches up a finger to see if he can stroke Gnaea's feathers a little.
<Meridius> When dinner concludes I speak to Karnak. "I have a task for you that requires some discretion. Go out into the town and seek out one expert in the appraisal of gems and one expert in the examination of magical items. Bring them here."
<DM> Karnak nods. "I'll be very discreet."
* Gnaea quite happily accepts the attention. She'd be even happier with a bit of that salmon, but... [Silana]
* Liatus offers Gnaea some of the salmon.
<DM> Ercaius follows her gaze and offers her some bits of salmon. His palm is callused enough that her pecks don't bother him.
* Gnaea is also quite used to being fed by hand, and is careful not to bite the hands that feed her. :) [Silana]
<DM> :)
<Meridius> While Karnak is out on my errand I'll go up to my room, get out of my armor and arrange my gear. Once that's done I'll go back to the dining room and gather together all the treasure taken from the dungeon so far and prepare it for dividing.
<DM> Once everyone is through with the main course, Garon has a pie to offer, baked with local berries unfamiliar but quite sweet.
* Liatus enjoys the pie, and then goes upstairs to also remove his armor.
<DM> Karnak steps out, remarking cheerily to Felosial (who's out in the main room), "Off for a little exploring."
* Silana offers Gnaea one of the berried on a fingertip. The bird snaps it up happily.
<11: Silana> Er, berries.
* Silana speaks up before Karnak leaves, saying, "While you are about your business, there's something you can look for for me, if you're willing."
<DM> Karnak pauses. "Yes?"
<Silana> "I'd like to learn another useful spell, if I can find it. If any of the local practitioners can provide a scroll of Prestidigitation, I'd be interested in spending some of my share of our treasure on it."
<DM> Karnak nods. "Prestidigitation. Got it."
<DM> Then he's out the door and on his way.
* Liatus returns from removing his armor and sponging himself down.
* Silana finishes her dessert, then sits back from the table. "That meal was the equal of any I've had in much larger cities, and better than quite a few."
* Liatus smiles. "You've never had the pleasure of attending an Imperial Banquet."
* Meridius sits and starts arranging five piles of money.
* Liatus helps himself to more wine and smoked salmon.
* Silana shakes her head. "I'm afraid not, no. And by my being here, my father's not likely to be attending any as soon as he might have liked, either." She does smile a bit ruefully at that last.
<Liatus> "What is it your father does, exactly?"
<11: DM> I'll be going out for pizza now that the PCs are in after-dinner conversation. :)
-> *DM* Would it be reasonable for me to assume that we are no longer in possession of Karakas' ring?
*DM* Yes. Madame Hucrele took it to give to his family.
<Silana> "He owns a transport and warehousing concern in Sallacus, conducting and arranging for much of the trade that passes through the region. I don't wish to seem immodest, but thanks to my father's business, our family has done quite well."
* Meridius finishes dividing the money five ways. "Each of us gets 122 silver pieces and 23 gold pieces." Then I shove piles of coins toward people as appropriate.
<Meridius> "The funds to pay for our room and board this evening have already been removed from each share."
<DM> Ercaius stretches up to take his. "Thank you again, sir, and do not forget that this money is at your disposal for your future needs."
* Liatus divides the gold and silver into seperate pouches.
* Meridius thumps the morningstar taken off the bugbear onto the table and shoves it toward Liatus.
* Silana collects her share, placing the coins likewise into separate pouches by kind. Continuing her explanation to Liatus, she says, "My father has ambitions of increasing his station. His plan was to forge an alliance between our family and that of one of the city's noblemen."
* Liatus raises an eyebrow at the morning star. "I fear I have little experience with such weapons."
<Meridius> "You have enough, and the weapon has the virtue of aiding its wielder in combat. You'll have more need of it than I."
* Liatus inspects the weapon.
* 11: Meridius notes that since a morningstar is a simple melee weapon, a cleric can wield it without any special proficiency nonsense, per Bruce.
<11: DM> Right. And it's a +1 weapon for being well-made.
<11: Meridius> Yeah, it's a magic +1 morningstar that glows faintly, if I'm recalling the description from the last session correctly.
<Liatus> "This may prove acceptable, even if it lacks the dignity and symbolism of my prefered weapon."
<DM> :)
<Meridius> "Dignity is less useful than the ability to deal damage in some instances." :)
* Silana grins, laughing a little as she says, "And you can certainly make better use of it than I can."
<11: Liatus> I really need to look into 2 handed fighting when i go up another level.
* Meridius sets upon the table in front of him some gems, 2 vials containing potions thought to be magical, a glass whistle, and a Candle of Ever Burning Flame.
* Meridius starts to tinker with installing the Candle into our pole-mounted lantern while waiting for Karnak's return.
<DM> There's a knock at the door.
<Meridius> "Enter."
-> *Liatus* BTW, you're still in possession of that silver flask full of goblin liquor that we'd appraised at a value of 50GP. I'm not factoring that into the treasure I'm working on, just figuring that Liatus has claimed it and that's that.
*Liatus* right
<DM> In comes a middle-aged woman with local looks. "I'm Dem Nacal, the priest of this town's pantheon. Madame Hucrele tells me that you have injuries sustained in the service of our needs, and I would treat them if I could."
<Meridius> "I am only lightly injured. Please see to Liatus first, as I recall he sustained the most critical injuries."
<11: Meridius> Are we just going to handwave this and assume everyone gets back to full HP?
<DM> She nods. "Sir, I see that you are dedicated to the Imperial Presence. I hope that the prayers of one who serves all the gods may be acceptable."
<11: DM> I want to try a roll or two just to see how it goes, though the upshot of it is that everyone will get fixed up.
<11: Meridius> Okay.
<Liatus> "They shuold be"
<DM> She smiles. "Very well, then." She proceeds to call on a dozen of the most popular gods to heal this stalwart son of the empire.
## DM rolled 2d8+6 = 15 (6 3).
<DM> They seem inclined to go along with it.
<Liatus> woo
<DM> Healing the others goes that way, too. She's got just enough Cure Major Wound spells to around for the big cases, and Cure Light Wounds to fill in the gaps.
## DM rolled 2d8+6 = 16 (4 6).
## DM rolled 2d8+6 = 12 (5 1).
<DM> A little of that goes a long way. :)
<Meridius> Aye. :)
## DM rolled 1d8+6 = 9 (3).
<Silana> "Thank you for helping us. I hope we're able to serve this town sufficiently to repay this kindness."
<DM> And that sort of thing helps fill in.
<DM> Dem smiles. "You have settled at least one mystery, and I understand you will settle others. That is worth a great deal to us here."
<DM> She turns to go. "When you have completed your quest, we will hold a service of thanksgiving."
<DM> As she goes out, Karnak enters, all smiles. "I got our appraiser and your spell source, Silana, all in one person!" With him is Madame Hucrele.
* Meridius thinks to himself, "So much for discretion."
<DM> Hucrele greets everyone. "Your friend tells me that you have gems to be appraised, and that one of you wishes spell lore. In this town, I'm the closest thing to an expert on either subject."
<Meridius> "We also have need of someone to identify some magical items we acquired while in the dungeon. Can you assist with that as well?"
<DM> Hucrele shakes her head. "I can't, and nobody in town now, as nearly as I know, can. I can provide you with a letter of introduction to a cousin of mine in the town at the river junction. He's quite skilled, and will give you an excellent price if I ask him to."
<DM> She fishes a small book out of her coat, and sets it before Silana. "Here you go, dear. You'll find several manipulation spells here, I believe. My uncle collected these, once upon a time."
* Meridius secures the two potions and the glass whistle, leaving the gems out for inspection.
* Meridius places the gems before Madame Hucrele; three of middling size and one small gem.
<DM> OOC, I'll have to look those up in the module later and get you their values. I'll do that in e-mail, if that's okay.
<Meridius> That's cool.
* Silana looks down at the book, then back up at the woman, gratefully. "Thank you."
* 11: Silana pokes at the lag.
<11: DM> Since that's part of your boost for the new level, I believe that the learning is pretty much automatic.
<11: Silana> Seems to be by my reading, yes. Just needed a source.
<11: DM> And now you have one!
<DM> Madame Hucrele notes some features of the gems. "I'll have to consult a guide back in my store, but I can have an appraisal for you in the morning."
<11: Meridius> I'll be sending around an e-mail in a moment containing the current breakdown of treasure.
* Meridius says to Madame Hucrele, "Very good. Thank you."
<Hucrele> Is there anything else at this time? [DM]
* Silana shakes her head. "I'll be sure to be done with this," she says, touching the cover of the book, "before we're ready to leave. Thank you again for letting me use it."
<DM> Hucrele says, "It's not nothing, but it seems veyr much in my own interest for you to be as effective at your craft as you can be."
<Liatus> "We thank you for your assistance, Madame, and will endevore to be as effective as possible."
<DM> Hucrele nods at that. "Good. That's what I hope for."
<DM> Karnak peers over Silana's shoulder. "So those are 'mystic runes'."
* Silana shows Karnak the pages she's looking at. "I guess you could call them that, yes. It's a system of writing used for expressing the way a particular spell works. I don't know as much about it as a wizard might -- My grasp is more based on intuition than on studying how it all works -- But I can still follow this, and learn how to do new things from it."
<DM> Karnak nods solemnly. "It's like a manual of the katas, except for the mind."
* Silana smiles, nodding. "Very much like that, yes."
<Karnak> Neat. [DM]
<DM> Now, do we have any other business before a good night's rest?
<Liatus> I don't think so.
* Silana rises from her seat. "I've got studying to do before I go to sleep, so if you'll all excuse me?"
## DM rolled 1d10 = 7 (7).
## DM rolled 1d10 = 1 (1).
<DM> Okay, if any of you have stuff you'd like to play out, you may. Otherwise we can skip ahead to the next morning and getting a good breakfast from Garon, and the spellcasters settling on their spells for the day.
<Meridius> Nothing more from me other than reprovisioning the party, which can also be done in the morning.
<DM> Right.
<Silana> I was just going to have that hot bath, work on learning the spell, and go to sleep.
<11: DM> With this kind of thing, by the way, y'all should let me know as we go what your preferences are. I have no problem playing out linking scenes, but if you want to get ahead to more action with minimal fuss, that's good for me too. Please don't feel like I'm trying to rush you; I just don't want things foundering on the assumption that someone else was going to be taking the next step.
<11: Meridius> I'm all good. Bathing and sleeping and fast-forwarding work just fine. :)
<DM> So Silana has time to master her new spell, and both she and Liatus start off the day topped off. Karnak is rarin' to go, of course.
<Meridius> I'm figuring we'll be kitted out much as we were before, with about three days worth of provisions and our assorted adventuring gear.
<DM> Sounds about right to me.
* Meridius is up at dawn, arranging his gear and making sure none of the other party members are being layabouts. :)
<DM> :)
<DM> Karnak is up and inspecting the grounds for signs of infiltration or snooping. "I've read about this sort of thing."
* Silana is up a little later than her customary eary rising, after staying up to finish learning the spell. :)
* Liatus is sleeping in
* Meridius rousts Liatus. "You won't have time for your morning devotions..."
* Liatus drags himself out of bed and soaks his head in a large bowl of cold water
<11: Meridius> Such are the morning devotions of a Cleric of the Imperial Presence. :)
<11: DM> It's now holy water.
<11: Silana> Riiiiight.
* Liatus then goes about doing his morning routine of bathing, shaving and so forth before getting ready for morning prayers and oaths of fealty to the Empire and the Imperial Presence.
<11: DM> Admittedly, somewhat similar to holy bongwater at this point.
* Silana washes up, does her morning meditations, and comes down to breakfast. "Good morning!"
<DM> Garon greets each of you as you enter. "We have a fine porridge this morning for you. The summer oats are the best, I always think. And, sir--" this to Meridius "--I've prepared the same supplies as last time for your trip."
<Meridius> "Very good, Garon."
<Garon> And, er, will the centurion wish to settle his tab before returning to peril? [DM]
<Meridius> "Of course."
<DM> Garon looks relieved. "Good, then. And the best of fortune to you all."
<Meridius> "Thank you."
<11: Meridius> Bruce, here's letting you know that I've also picked up a quiver of 20 arrows to go with my shortbow.
<11: DM> Righto.
* Liatus enjoys the porridge. "Garon, do you have any meat or fish available this morning?"
<11: Silana> Good point. I should restock on crossbow bolts.
<Garon> Not at this hour, sir. The fishermen won't be in until almost midday, then we'll have a catch. Well, we do have some salted herring and flounder for emergencies. [DM]
<11: DM> Looks to me like we're collectively winding down. If there are no objections, I'm thinking of wrapping up soon so that we can pick up next time with the characters back at the Citadel. (If it's lag on the system level, though, I'm good to go a bit more.)
* Liatus nods, disapointed
<11: Meridius> Assuming we get back to the Citadel without incident, that'd be a fine place to pause.
* 11: Silana nods.
<11: DM> I'm not planning to throw any encounters in your way. If you want to investigate stuff along the way, we might handle that in e-mail.
<11: Meridius> Seems to me just as sensible to cool it for now.
<11: Silana> Sorry if I've been off my game a bit today. A little bleah.
<11: Meridius> Seems to me like you had it together well enough, Dan.
<11: DM> I've got no complaints, Dan. I'm just noticing that _I_ am somewhat tired. :)
<11: Meridius> So we'll pick up next session back at the entrance to the Citadel...
<11: DM> I'm going to give some XP for good roleplaying this session, too. I'm not sure how much yet, but for entertaining me as much as you folks did, there'll be a reward. :)
<11: Meridius> Groovy. :)
<DM> Okay, folks, thanks for playing. You did my mood a _lot_ of good today.
<Meridius> Thanks for running it, Bruce.
*** Meridius is now known as iChris.
*** DM is now known as Bruce.
* Liatus offers Bruce some salmon.
<Bruce> :)
*** Liatus is now known as BA.
* 11: Silana laughs. Gnaea makes quiet hoots of approval.
<Bruce> It was awfully nice to have a session where I didn't ever have to think about attacks of opportunity. :)
<11: Silana> Thank BA for not having Liatus try to sneak in on Silana bathing.
* 11: BA was too busy sleeping
<11: iChris> BA is saving his clerical wiles for Yusdrayl. :)
<carter@q7.com>