You have just entered room "AND."
coughingpuppy: Yay!
AndrewRogue: Holy crap.
Adm H Sopko: Yay!
Sarcazmo47 has entered the room.
Dark Japheth has entered the room.
Adm H Sopko: Soo
Dark Japheth: (Hi.)
SirAlexTheFirst: Yo.
AndrewRogue: Yo!
SirAlexTheFirst: So.
AndrewRogue: A chat seems to have appeared in our midst.
Adm H Sopko: WE MUST FIGHT IT!
AndrewRogue: INITS!
Dark Japheth: *sighs*
SirAlexTheFirst: People've asked for it
SirAlexTheFirst: Behold
SirAlexTheFirst: Pick a scene
coughingpuppy: I have been told that Aria wants to speak to Aurelia?
AndrewRogue: Mayhap, mayhap not.
Adm H Sopko: Aria wants to speak with everyone
AndrewRogue: Yeah. That's about right.
AndrewRogue: Aria loves everybody.
Dark Japheth: Wuv.
Dark Japheth: <3
Adm H Sopko: Everyone loves you, Aria!
AndrewRogue: I finally know where that comes from!
Adm H Sopko: It's too bad Hunter's past the point where he could say something like that
AndrewRogue: Heh.
AndrewRogue: Anyway... scene's!
Adm H Sopko: There is...
Adm H Sopko: Neon Genesis Bandongelion, RahZao-Lot, Boku wa no Aria Harassment
Sarcazmo47: I choose the Aztecs, and their Technochocolateland.
AndrewRogue: Aurelia and the telemarketer Gnome too. (has no clever title)
Adm H Sopko: Hmm
Adm H Sopko: Dark White and her Mutated Dwarf
Dark Japheth: ...
SirAlexTheFirst: Hunter's House O' Gnomecakes, NGB, and You Must Construct Additional Pylons.
AndrewRogue: God damn it... *Lurker rushes*
AndrewRogue: So anyway... what scene do we want? I'm all for the HHO'G in hopes of nearing full regrouping, but anything is fine.
SirAlexTheFirst: Decisions?
Adm H Sopko: I say we go with Zao-Lot!<G>
AndrewRogue: YAY!
Dark Japheth: I say we go with Aria!
Dark Japheth: However if everyone *wants* more of that crazy Nagukorian mage lan, then I'm not opposed to it.
Adm H Sopko: Zao-Lot!
Sarcazmo47: Zao-Lot!
AndrewRogue: !toL-oaZ
Dark Japheth: How unique
SirAlexTheFirst: Hokay.
SirAlexTheFirst: So, Zao-lot.
Dark Japheth: After reading much of the literature there, Zao-Lot will wander over to the clerics.
SirAlexTheFirst: Which ones?
Dark Japheth: ...Hmm.
Dark Japheth: Philosophy. Any books on technology, written in such a fashion that a common man might understand some small iota of it.
Dark Japheth: Historical.
Dark Japheth: I'll dabble.
SirAlexTheFirst: The ones singing in a circle, the ones walking around checking on everyone, or the actual staff... hokay.
SirAlexTheFirst: I meant which clerics.
Dark Japheth: Oh.
Dark Japheth: The ones who wander and check on things.
Dark Japheth: I'll stop one. "Maam." Quietly, meekly.
Sarcazmo47: CHIBI ZAO-LOT
Dark Japheth: If that helps. :P
SirAlexTheFirst: "How may I help you, sir?"
Dark Japheth: "Has... has anything happened with the body of the girl I brought in earlier?"
Dark Japheth: "Any progress?"
SirAlexTheFirst: "I'm not sure, sir. Would you like to go check?"
Dark Japheth: "Yes. Where would one go to do such a thing?"
SirAlexTheFirst: "Well, I think they're keeping her in the healing ward. Right this way!" The cleric beckons Zao to follow as he starts skipping through the temple.
Dark Japheth: Zao's eyes go solemn, but still big, as he waddles and follows in chibi form.
AndrewRogue: (Chibi-Neco-viewing?)
SirAlexTheFirst: He takes you back and around into a white and yellow wing of the temple, and leads you to a room wherein eight clerics are praying, casting, reading, and divining around the girl
SirAlexTheFirst: s body, which is on a bed under some sheets now. She looks quite a bit better, though still obviously dead.
Dark Japheth: Right.
AndrewRogue: (Got admire that Church of Luthien. They try damn hard.)
Dark Japheth: I'm going to sit calmly and watch.
Dark Japheth: The roadburn all cleaned out?
SirAlexTheFirst: Mostly.
SirAlexTheFirst: From what you can see.
Dark Japheth: Thats good.
Dark Japheth: Anything interesting happen?
SirAlexTheFirst: Not particularly. Most of the clerics look slightly (or more than slightly) frustrated.
Dark Japheth: Does anyone seem to be looking like they aren't actively busy? Like, they are just frustrated and in their frustration have not tried anything?
SirAlexTheFirst: Nope, except for the guy who brought you here, and he's gone now.
Dark Japheth: Hmm. Damn.
Dark Japheth: I'll cast Detect Thoughts.
Dark Japheth: Because I want to be polite and not disturb them.
SirAlexTheFirst: Fantastic.
SirAlexTheFirst: Who're you going to concentrate on?
Dark Japheth: Anyone who appears to be divining.
Dark Japheth: IF there are no people divining, I will instead divert my Detect Thoughts to someone praying.
SirAlexTheFirst: <Dead, dead, dead. Falling trauma. No evil. Definitely dead, definitly not evil.>
Dark Japheth: ...That was unsurprisingly unhelpful.
AndrewRogue: (Well is established 2 things <_<)
Dark Japheth: I'm going to make a mental note of her face. And then, I'm going to get up, and leave the temple.
SirAlexTheFirst: <Lots of abrasions too, probably from that guy dragging her in. Couldn't he just have teleported her, or at least got someone to help carry?>
Dark Japheth: (....That bastard!)
Dark Japheth: Actually.
Dark Japheth: First. I'm going to politely disturb someone. "Does... does anyone know the girls name?"
SirAlexTheFirst: "Arianna of Gelendar," one of the healers replies offhandly. "There was nobody else around, no papers or objects where you found her?"
Dark Japheth: "I found nothing but this body."
Dark Japheth: "Is there nothing I can do to help? Perhaps find her family and tell them?"
SirAlexTheFirst: "Actually...." she stares at the wall for a moment. "I think she was with some other people, a team from Gabriel or something here. You might want to find one of them. Her bodyguard's name was.... Sopoka?"
SirAlexTheFirst: "Something like that. Look on the news reports for the past few days."
Dark Japheth: "...I will, sir." He smiles. "I'm sorry she is dead, but I am glad to have helped." Zao leaves, which is probably a huge relief to these poor clerics.
Dark Japheth: And now I'll go check the news reports.
SirAlexTheFirst: And you'll find the same old stories, plus one.
AndrewRogue: (News +1, its a tabloid?)
Dark Japheth: (News +1 of Celebrity Bane)
SirAlexTheFirst: "Investigator Found Dead! Arianna, the eccentric lover to Luthien's Brother Bandon, was found outside of the dome early this morning, apparently having fallen from the top of the city."
SirAlexTheFirst: "The clerics were here on an investigative mission related to Verity, the recently captured evil mastermind."
SirAlexTheFirst: "The pair's bodyguards and entourage were unable to be reached for comment. If you have any information on the whereabouts of Hunter Sopko or the case, please report it immediately."
Dark Japheth: Sopko.
Dark Japheth: As I've been in town long enough, might I have heard of the name, and where I can go to find one who shares that surname? Like a sopko building?
SirAlexTheFirst: You've probably heard of Delegate Sopko, in the Yarovan
Dark Japheth: Yarovan. I'll go there.
SirAlexTheFirst: Hokay.
SirAlexTheFirst: Using the teleporters?
Dark Japheth: Yep.
SirAlexTheFirst: Only takes you a few minutes then.
Dark Japheth: Wonderful!
Dark Japheth: I walk in the front door. Then I assume meek and inocuous. There a desk at the front counter?
SirAlexTheFirst: The Yarovan building! It's a nice solid skyscraper, big logo, desk at the front counter sure. Nobody there though.
Dark Japheth: That makes me sad.
SirAlexTheFirst: The sign on the desk reads "On Duty: Lea"
Dark Japheth: "Someone should probably get fired for this."
AndrewRogue: (XD)
Dark Japheth: I look around. Any bell to ring? Or do I need to make a noise and draw attention to myself using Major Image
Dark Japheth: I'm thinking Godzilla at this point
SirAlexTheFirst: Nope, no bell. If you wait a minute though, there'
SirAlexTheFirst: ll be a man coming in behind you. "Sir, are you looking for someone?"
Dark Japheth: I turn around. "Yes. I need to speak with Sopko."
Dark Japheth: He looks down.
Dark Japheth: Then up. "Delegate Sopko."
SirAlexTheFirst: "Mister Sopko's taken the day off," the blue-uniformed guard informs you. "Apparently so has Miss Lea. Not sure how they can do that, but I'm all that's on duty down here today..."
Dark Japheth: "It is rather urgent."
Dark Japheth: Zao looks very innocent but also very serious.
SirAlexTheFirst: The guard shrugs. "Leave a message on the terminal or something, then. I guess there was some real big trouble last night."
Dark Japheth: "I believe that. This is regarding that trouble. I promise I won't be more than a minute."
Dark Japheth: He looks SO trustworthy!
Dark Japheth: >.>
SirAlexTheFirst: *sigh* "I'm telling ya, man, they're not here."
Dark Japheth: Detect thoughts.
Dark Japheth: Zao of course then smiles, and says "Are you sure you can't tell me where they are?" Hoping naturally that he'll at least think about it and tell him that way.
SirAlexTheFirst has left the room.
AndrewRogue: (That plan got owned.)
Dark Japheth: ...I am sad panda.
SirAlexTheFirst has entered the room.
Dark Japheth: welcome back.
SirAlexTheFirst: Yay computer crashes
SirAlexTheFirst: Anyways.
Dark Japheth: SirAlexTheFirst: *sigh* "I'm telling ya, man, they're not here."Dark Japheth: Detect thoughts.
Dark Japheth: Dark Japheth: Zao of course then smiles, and says "Are you sure you can't tell me where they are?" Hoping naturally that he'll at least think about it and tell him that way.
Dark Japheth: (Zao needs suggestion.)
SirAlexTheFirst: "I have no idea. Think they may be out of the country or something, even."
Dark Japheth: Whats he thinking?
SirAlexTheFirst: <Dammit, I KNEW this was gonna happen, some guy comes in with business and won't take no for an answer. What the hell does Will think he's doing?>
SirAlexTheFirst: <No executive, no go-to, no backup.... I hope the VPs rip him a new one for this. Not getting any praise on my peer review, that's for sure.>
Dark Japheth: "I need to tell them about Aria. I found her body"
Dark Japheth: He looks almost downcast.
SirAlexTheFirst: "I'm afraid not, sir. Ah... I don't think I know anyone by that name. Body? Someone's dead?"
Dark Japheth: "Yes. I was told to see Hunter Sopko. He is the Delegate, yes?"
Dark Japheth: "The clerics told me to come to tell Hunter, since he was apparantly her bodyguard."
SirAlexTheFirst: The man's hand goes to the small implement at his waist, then returns. "Hunter? Oh... you've got the wrong place, sir. Will Sopko is the guy in charge here. Hunter's his son."
Dark Japheth: "Oh. Where can I find Hunter?"
Dark Japheth: (and I'm still listening to his thoughts.)
SirAlexTheFirst: "Kid's got nothing to do with the company any more," he goes on, "I really can't say."
SirAlexTheFirst: <Poor kid. Got his mom killed, now what, tried to be a guard and got his assignment whacked?>
Dark Japheth: "I see."
Dark Japheth: "If you see Hunter, will you tell him that Zao-Lot needs to talk to him? I'll be back at the church of Luthien."
SirAlexTheFirst: <Geez, what a family. I gotta get assigned out of here.> "I'd suggest looking for the reason the lady was around here, then, and getting in touch with them."
Dark Japheth: "Gabriels church, you say? I will do that. Can you deliver my message?"
SirAlexTheFirst: "Will do, though I don't think he'll be around here. He got... um, dismissed, actually."
Dark Japheth: "That is terrible news. Give him my condolences, both for the death of his charge and his loss of job."
Dark Japheth: Zao-Lot- "Thank you for speaking with me." he nods, and walks out.
SirAlexTheFirst: "You're welcome mister." <What part of 'he's fired and not welcome in this building, so I won't see him' doesn't that guy understand? Geez.>
Dark Japheth: Before he leaves, after he hears that, Zao turns around.
Dark Japheth: "Ugly thoughts turn one ugly. You did not tell me that, so I did not know. Please do not lie in the future."
Dark Japheth: ANd Zao leaves finally.
Dark Japheth: And now I'm off to the Church of Gabriel.
Dark Japheth: However, I've had my time in the sun. Am I hogging the spotlight?
SirAlexTheFirst: Don't think so....
AndrewRogue: Not really. No more than anyone else.
AndrewRogue: So in otehr words, keep entertaining me darnit.
AndrewRogue: *other
Dark Japheth: Ok!
Dark Japheth: I'll teleport to the church of Gabriel.
SirAlexTheFirst: Schwing!
Adm H Sopko: ...
AndrewRogue: ...
SirAlexTheFirst: There's a prayer service going on, as the sign outside the church reads.
SirAlexTheFirst: ...what?
Dark Japheth: I'ma go inside and pray.
Dark Japheth: (Schwing is often a SHUT UP PF term.)
SirAlexTheFirst: (..........)
Adm H Sopko: (Ever see Wayne's World? Yeah...)
SirAlexTheFirst: The prayer service is not the quiet type you're accustomed to, not at all. It's rather more like... well, you've never seen anything like it. The leader seems to be almost inciting his followers to violence.
SirAlexTheFirst: He bellows from the pulpit, "WE'RE GONNA WIN!" and the congregation shouts back "YEAH!"
Dark Japheth: Oooooh. These funny westerners, contacting the spirits with violence rather than meditation. If anyones got detect thoughts up, Zao cannot stop laughing in his mind.
Dark Japheth: periodically catching his mental breath to say "retards"
Adm H Sopko: (Not the most subtle of organizations...)
SirAlexTheFirst: "WE'RE GONNA FIGHT FOR GOOD!"
SirAlexTheFirst: "YEAH!"
SirAlexTheFirst: "WE'RE GONNA FIGHT FOR JUSTICE!"
SirAlexTheFirst: "YEAH!"
Dark Japheth: (What happened to the happy go lucky pacifist clerics of Gabriel. I am sad. Oh well! I like these better. More hardcore)
SirAlexTheFirst: "WE'RE GONNA BE ALL THAT WE CAN BE AND RUN THE COMPETITION INTO THE DUST!"
SirAlexTheFirst: "YEEEAAAAAAAHHHH!"
Dark Japheth: (...they are going to play football.)
SirAlexTheFirst: "WHO IS YOUR SAVIOR?"
SirAlexTheFirst: "GABRIEL!"
SirAlexTheFirst: "WHO ROCKS THE HOUSE?"
SirAlexTheFirst: "GABRIEL!"
SirAlexTheFirst: (feel free to go do something....)
Dark Japheth: You know... I don't know what to do
Dark Japheth: I'm just... enjoying this. For about five minutes.
Dark Japheth: Then I will go bug someone in the "know"
SirAlexTheFirst: "WHAT DOES BEING A FOLLOWER OF GABRIEL STAND FOR?"
SirAlexTheFirst: "AWESOMENESS!"
Dark Japheth: Meaning whoever looks like they know whats up. The shadier the better.
Dark Japheth: Or in this church
Dark Japheth: the louder, but not the ringleader.
SirAlexTheFirst: The shadiest people around here are a couple of young elves standing in the back; they're wearing distinctive black clothing, spikes and chains and lots of makeup, but they're shouting every bit as hard as therest of the crowd.
Dark Japheth: You know, I'm not bugging them.
Dark Japheth: They scare Zao-Lot.
SirAlexTheFirst: Okay.
Dark Japheth: So I go to another person.
Dark Japheth: "Do you know where..."
Dark Japheth: He stops, and yells.
Dark Japheth: "DO YOU KNOW WHERE I CAN FIND HUNTER SOPKO? I NEED TO TELL HIM THAT THE PERSON HE WAS GUARDING, ARIANNA OF GELENDAR, DIED."
SirAlexTheFirst: Are you yelling this in a pause?
Dark Japheth: ...For humors sake, sure.
Dark Japheth: :P
SirAlexTheFirst: The preacher stops cold for a moment, and stares at Zao-lot.
Dark Japheth: I realize how stupid I was and look up at him, all embarassed like.
SirAlexTheFirst: He replies calmly, "His room is on the third floor."
Dark Japheth: I meekly utter. "Oops. Thank you."
Dark Japheth: And then I wander to said third floor!
SirAlexTheFirst: "BUSINESS! WHOOOO!"
SirAlexTheFirst: "WHOOOOOOOO!"
SirAlexTheFirst: The voices fade as you enter the lift tube and float upwards.
Dark Japheth: Zaolot is a very embarassed chibi. He runs up, his legs an oval, until he hits the futurama lift tube.
SirAlexTheFirst: In the third floor, you quickly find the room with "Hunter Sopko" engraved on the door.
Dark Japheth: Awesome!
Dark Japheth: I knock!
SirAlexTheFirst: No answer!
Dark Japheth: That sucks!
Dark Japheth: I knock louder!
Dark Japheth: Still no answer?
SirAlexTheFirst: No answer!
Dark Japheth: I am sad.
Sarcazmo47 has left the room.
Dark Japheth: Zao-Lot is puzzled.
Dark Japheth: He will meditate on this for a little bit.
Dark Japheth: But he immediately comes up with an answer!
Dark Japheth: He's a sorceror! He can divine where they are! He remembers then that he doesn't know how to scry for people. He is heartfallen, until... he goes downstairs again to find a cleric.
SirAlexTheFirst: Which floor?
Dark Japheth: First!
Dark Japheth: Where the screaming people were.
SirAlexTheFirst: And still are.
Dark Japheth: I'm going to go there and go to the elves.
Dark Japheth: The punk elves.
SirAlexTheFirst: "ARE YOU PUMPED UP FOR GOOD?"
SirAlexTheFirst: "WE'RE PUMPED FOR GOOD!"
SirAlexTheFirst: And what are you doing?
Dark Japheth: "...sirs? Can you divine for me the location of hunter as he is not in his room?"
Dark Japheth: If I get no response I will yell it loudly and time it to be during a break. Again.
SirAlexTheFirst: The congregation yells back at you, as a whole. "HUNTER SOPKO IS IN PERENOLDE!"
SirAlexTheFirst: "IS HE AT THE YAROVAN COMPANY HEADQUARTERS?"
SirAlexTheFirst: "HE IS AT THE HEADQUARTERS!"
Dark Japheth: "Peren... Damnit!"
Dark Japheth: Zao-Lot goes outside, sulks a bit, and then looks for a teleporter to Perenolde.
SirAlexTheFirst: "WHOOO!"
SirAlexTheFirst: "WHOOOO!"
SirAlexTheFirst: Okay.
SirAlexTheFirst: Going to the teleport?
Dark Japheth: Yes.
SirAlexTheFirst: Rightyo. Takes you a couple hours to cut through the lines, and then..... there you are, in wonderful Perenolde.
Dark Japheth: Awesome!
Adm H Sopko: Visit the glass factory!
Dark Japheth: First things first.
Dark Japheth: I'm going to start asking Random Guy on the Street if they know where Yarovan headquarters are.
SirAlexTheFirst: Schwing! You're instantly pointed to the large tower near the city center.
Dark Japheth: I go there!
SirAlexTheFirst: Hokay.
Dark Japheth: I go to the desk.
SirAlexTheFirst: It's going on eveningish now.
Dark Japheth: If nobody is there, I'm gunna be an angry Zao-Lot.
SirAlexTheFirst: There's a row of clerks and a head secretary out there. "Good evening, sir. Welcome to Yarovan."
Dark Japheth: "Again." Zao-Lot sighs.
Dark Japheth: "Do you know where I can find Hunter Sopko? I was told he came here."
SirAlexTheFirst: "Hunter left the building a few hours ago. You may call on him at the Sopko residence, in North Perenolde."
Dark Japheth: "...How far is that from here?"
Dark Japheth: Zao looks very tired, and very frustrated.
SirAlexTheFirst: "Only a half mile or so, sir."
Dark Japheth: He smiles. "You have no idea how thankful you make me today." I leave, and go to the sopko residence.
SirAlexTheFirst: And there you'll find the gates closed, probably, as it's pretty dark now.
Dark Japheth: You know. I don't even care. How tall is the fence?
Adm H Sopko: Are you SURE you want to do that?
SirAlexTheFirst: Prolly about ten feet or so?
Dark Japheth: Gorth doesn't want Zao to do it.
Dark Japheth: Zao does.
Dark Japheth: Ok. Can I hop the fence?
Adm H Sopko: There ARE warning signs
Dark Japheth: What do they say?
Adm H Sopko: Such as, "Trespassers will be mauled"
Adm H Sopko: (The benefits of having a large cat<G>)
Dark Japheth: For fun, wisdom check, DC 5 to see if Zao got it.
*OnlineHost*: Dark Japheth rolled 1 20-sided die: 18
Dark Japheth: He does.
Dark Japheth: "Hmm. Mauled."
Dark Japheth: I cast obscuring mist.
Dark Japheth: And then I hop the fence
Dark Japheth: (...damnit. Damn you, Zao. Damn your childlike curiosity and damn the fact that you need to talk to hunter!)
Adm H Sopko: Well... I think Shadow, Ava and Jolt have a little fun
Dark Japheth: I am a SAD PANDA.
SirAlexTheFirst: *puts //roll -dice 1 -sides 20 on copy/paste
*OnlineHost*: SirAlexTheFirst rolled 3 20-sided dice: 2 8 12
AndrewRogue: XD
Dark Japheth: I will, obscured by mist, but my scent is likely not obscured. Man, this is going to suck.
SirAlexTheFirst: Give me a Move Silently check and a Climb check.
Dark Japheth: Climb is strength. Move Silently is dex. Ok.
Dark Japheth: Move silently.
*OnlineHost*: Dark Japheth rolled 1 20-sided die: 9
Dark Japheth: ...11.
Dark Japheth: Climb.
*OnlineHost*: Dark Japheth rolled 1 20-sided die: 2
Dark Japheth: 2!
Adm H Sopko: (They are trained to warn you off... just try not to make sudden movements or threatening actions)
Dark Japheth: I can't even climb the fence.
Dark Japheth: :P
Adm H Sopko: Heh
SirAlexTheFirst: A pair of low, but loud, growls comes from beyond the fence, in the mist. Also, you can't pull yourself up on it.
Dark Japheth: You know. Thats enough for old Zao-Lot.
Dark Japheth: Heh
Dark Japheth: Range of Major Image is 760 feet.
Dark Japheth: I will have a major image created. No image, actually, just sound. The sound is someone knocking on a door, and yelling "THIS IS ZAO-LOT." (not finished, one moment)
Dark Japheth: "I NEED TO SPEAK WITH HUNTER STOP I HAVE FOUND THE PERSON HE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE GUARDING'S BODY STOP"
SirAlexTheFirst: Cut to house.
Adm H Sopko: Is he using a freaking telegraph?
AndrewRogue: *dies laughing*
SirAlexTheFirst: How do those inside react to this? Everyone hears it, I think.
AndrewRogue: What time is it abouts?
coughingpuppy: Aurelia, who is finally trying to at least not be awkward in a strange house, is in the library reading. She looks up once, then ignores it. Hunter can handle it.
SirAlexTheFirst: Oh, 11ish
AndrewRogue: Aria is probably up and wandering about now. So eh... provided it seems like no one else is doing it, she will.
Adm H Sopko: Hunter stays in his room
Dark Japheth: (The image is not done with its message. In retrospect it should also say "PLEASE MAKE WHATEVER WANTS TO EAT ME NOT EAT ME SO I CAN TALK STOP END MESSAGE.)
SirAlexTheFirst: "GROWL!"
AndrewRogue: *Aria will open the door quietly so as not to bother people* "Uhm... excuse me..." *and will look surprised to see no one there*
Dark Japheth: If I dismiss the mist
Dark Japheth: Can I see the girl at the door?
SirAlexTheFirst: Aria sees mist.
SirAlexTheFirst: Do you dismiss it?
Dark Japheth: I do.
AndrewRogue: Aria glows. You can probably see her :p
SirAlexTheFirst: Then yes, you can.
Dark Japheth: Wonderful.
Dark Japheth: Outside the gate is a very haggard and sad looking man who isn't even looking at the gates of death with cats of pain behind it.
Dark Japheth: He's dressed in red leather, has an eye tattoo on his forehead, and is somewhat short.
Dark Japheth: Not chibi at the moment, just sad. He squints at you... and then yells. "CAN YOU LET ME IN? I NEED TO TALK TO HUNTER!"
Dark Japheth: I assume I cannot tell that this is the girl who's body I drug more than a mile in Whittyre.
Dark Japheth: From the distance, anyway.
SirAlexTheFirst: Give me a Wisdom check.
AndrewRogue: *Aria will walk across the lawn, a little surprised to find that he's outside the gate* "Uhm... maybe."
SirAlexTheFirst: And Aria, Charisma check.
*OnlineHost*: Dark Japheth rolled 1 20-sided die: 15
*OnlineHost*: AndrewRogue rolled 1 20-sided die: 17
Dark Japheth: Wis total = 15!
AndrewRogue: Cha total = 19
SirAlexTheFirst: Does Aria want to be recognized?
AndrewRogue: ...she's not actively hiding her identity, no.
SirAlexTheFirst: Then he recognizes her.
Dark Japheth: Zao's eyes get HUGE
Dark Japheth: "...I... can... can I talk to you Arianna of Gelendar somewhere these cats will not bother me with their insistent cries of 'I want to eat that nagukorian man.'?" He asks not trying to be funny.
SirAlexTheFirst: The cats growl in response.
AndrewRogue: "Uhm... I think I can get you in okay." *she looks moderately embarassed* "Shadow, Eva... will you not bite him if I let him in?"
SirAlexTheFirst: (*is tempted to respond to that with an Eva quote, but doesn't know any*)
AndrewRogue: *Ava
SirAlexTheFirst: The cats stop growling.
Dark Japheth: Zao starts breathing again.
AndrewRogue: *she breathes a sigh of relief and tries to open the gate*
Dark Japheth: (Shinji Ikari : I mustn't run away. I mustn't run away. I mustn't run away. I mustn't run away. I mustn't run away.)
AndrewRogue: "I... ah... this must be pretty awkward."
Dark Japheth: "Yes. Yes it is."
Dark Japheth: Zao-lot stands with Arianna of Gelendar in between him and the large cats. If he can't do that, he does his best to look meek and unassuming.
Dark Japheth: And then follows her.
AndrewRogue: "I... don't think they should bite you. Want to come in? You look exhausted. I'm... I'm sure Hunter wouldn't mind."
Dark Japheth: "...I would very much like that, Arianna of Gelendar."
AndrewRogue: *she smiles weakly* "Aria is fine."
AndrewRogue: *and she leads him inside and to a presumably main/living room/talking place type area*
Dark Japheth: "It appears that way." He says.
AndrewRogue: *she nods a bit weakly* "I... ah... meant you could just call me Aria. Everyone does."
Dark Japheth: He sits down, and then takes a deep breath. He isn't a man for dallying, though. "Oh. Aria. Ok. Not Arianna of Gelendar."
Dark Japheth: "I found your body."
AndrewRogue: *she looks slightly uncomfortable* "You did?"
Dark Japheth: He sighs, and nods. "Yes. I was walking and I heard a loud noise."
Dark Japheth: "Like... a thud."
Dark Japheth: "No. Not thud. More like WHUMP."
Dark Japheth: "Nobody was going to see what it was. I went, and I saw your body. Then I carried it to a church of Luthien to get you raised."
Dark Japheth: "I am sorry about the roadburn."
AndrewRogue: "The what?"
Dark Japheth: He realizes you don't know what he's talking about. "Nothing. Nevermind."
Dark Japheth: "I tried to help them but I can't, I'm not a very good cleric. In fact I'm downright bad. But I decided to help by telling Hunter that the person he was being a bodyguard to was dead."
Dark Japheth: "And where he could find the body."
AndrewRogue: "You ended up coming all the way here to tell him that?"
Dark Japheth: He sighs. And now you know why he looks haggard and tired. "Yes."
AndrewRogue: "That was... really kind of you."
Dark Japheth: "Thank you. I am glad you are alive. And you are not covered with bleeding red marks."
Dark Japheth: He nods sagely.
Dark Japheth: "How is it that you are alive?"
AndrewRogue: *she laughs, weakly* "Thank you for... your concern."
Dark Japheth: "And yet your body has no soul back there?"
AndrewRogue: *she sighs* "That... is a really awful story that I don't think you'd want to know about."
Dark Japheth: "Thats true. I don't want to know."
Dark Japheth: "...Normally, ma'am, I would not ask... but..." Zao looks out at the cats who are invariably staring at him and licking their lips. "Do you mind if I stay here for the night?"
AndrewRogue: "Its not really my place to say but... uhm... come with me for a moment."
AndrewRogue: *and presuming he follows, she leads him up to Will's room where she knocks quietly*
Dark Japheth: He does follow.
SirAlexTheFirst: Will opens the door again. "Yes?"
AndrewRogue: "Uhm... Will? This is Mister..." *she leaves the space open, realizing she never got a name*
AndrewRogue: (BRB Bathroom)
Dark Japheth: "Isawa Zao-lot, son of Isawa Kiriyama." He nods.
SirAlexTheFirst: "Hello, sir. I am William Sopko. Nice to meet you."
SirAlexTheFirst: Will shakes your hand very politely. He looks in terrible shape, and perhaps like he's been crying recently, but he stands polite and neutral now.
AndrewRogue: "He... uhm... found my body back in Whittyre and came to inform Hunter."
Dark Japheth: He shakes your hand back.
Dark Japheth: "Yes. You are William?"
Dark Japheth: "I have heard of Delegate Sopko and Hunter Sopko."
Dark Japheth: He looks confused.
SirAlexTheFirst: "I am the delegate of the Yarovan Trading Company to Whittyre, yes." Will nods.
Dark Japheth: "Oh. I am sorry." He looks embarassed.
SirAlexTheFirst: "Hunter Sopko is my son. He is elsewhere in the house right now."
Dark Japheth: "I see." Zao nods.
AndrewRogue: "He's had a long day and was wondering if he could... could stay here tonight. I didn't think you'd mind, but still, I thought I should ask."
SirAlexTheFirst: "Certainly. Feel free to make yourself at home. There are several guest rooms, simply pick one for yourself. Ask myself, Hunter, or a servant if you need anything."
Dark Japheth: "...I thank you for your hospitality, Delegate William Sopko."
Dark Japheth: He nods. "I will find your son."
Dark Japheth: And after the obligatory 'nice to see you' BS that these politicians throw around, Zao will have Aria guide him to hunter.
AndrewRogue: "Uhm... Mister Isawa? You might want to wait 'till morning to try and see Hunter."
Dark Japheth: "Oh. I realize it is late."
Dark Japheth: "I am sorry."
AndrewRogue: "Its not that really but... he probably won't even see you. He's had a... a bad day."
Dark Japheth: Zao sighs. "I see. Where would you like me to sleep, Ariann.... Aria?"
AndrewRogue: "Anywhere is fine." *she has brought him over to the guest wing area, with slow, measured steps* "Any of the empty rooms should be fine Mister Isawa."
Dark Japheth: "Please. Call be Zao-Lot." He smiles. "Or just Zao."
AndrewRogue: "Zao then." *she bows, an insanely awkward motion* "And thank you again for what you did. I'm sure Hunter will thank you in the morning too."
SirAlexTheFirst: (Or chuck you out of the house)
SirAlexTheFirst: (One or the other)
AndrewRogue: (<_<)
Dark Japheth: Zao smiles, and thanks her. Then he immediately passes out and goes to sleep wherever he may fall.
AndrewRogue: *looking about tiredly, Aria will probably decide that she has had a very long day and maybe, just maybe, she'll feel better after sleeping. She goes forth to her room.*
coughingpuppy: After staying up and reading for a while longer Aurelia eventually heads up to one of the vacant rooms too.
*OnlineHost*: SirAlexTheFirst rolled 1 20-sided die: 16
AndrewRogue: Ah, random die of death?
coughingpuppy: ((Or Pepito's search check...))
SirAlexTheFirst: Aurelia hears a somehow familiar voice shout as she ascends the stairs. "It's you!"
coughingpuppy: She looks around over her shoulder at the person who shouted, not recognizing the voice. "Yes?"
SirAlexTheFirst: "Your Plow Plus One! It's ready! It's a tractor!"
SirAlexTheFirst: Pepito in all his midgety glory runs over and hugs Aurelia's leg.
coughingpuppy: It takes a lot of restraint to not reach down and swat him off immediately; as it is, she just tries to shake her leg out of his grasp. "I'm not interested. I also don't want to know how you found me."
SirAlexTheFirst: "But you signed the form!"
coughingpuppy: "...No. No, I did not."
SirAlexTheFirst: ".... no?"
coughingpuppy: "No." She sighs. "I'm very tired and I'm not really in the mood to have you bothering me about it, either."
SirAlexTheFirst: "But it's a tractor! Awww..." Pepito detaches himself from your leg and looks up happily. "I'll bring it here tomorrow. You'll look at it and know you made the right choice!"
AndrewRogue: (...I love Pepito.)
coughingpuppy: Looking at Pepito, Aurelia is sure that the right choice would have been to Stop Heart the smarmy little bastard as soon as she saw him, but alas. "Yes. Fine. Go ahead." Arguing with him doesn't go anywhere.
SirAlexTheFirst: "All right!"
SirAlexTheFirst: And he runs away to parts unknown.
coughingpuppy: Aurelia sighs, shakes her head, and heads up to one of the vacant rooms.
AndrewRogue: (So lo, everyone went up to their rooms?)
SirAlexTheFirst: Yeeep.
coughingpuppy: ((Yep.))
AndrewRogue: (Would this be appropriate time for Pre-Rendered sequence followed by more blahblah-ing or go away-ing in the middle of the night?)
AndrewRogue: (<_<)
SirAlexTheFirst: Yep.
SirAlexTheFirst: The pre-rendered sequence now loads; I assume most of you have read it>
SirAlexTheFirst: ?
coughingpuppy: What do you mean?
AndrewRogue: (Gorth didn't see the revised version, and I'm mean and never gave it to Staci <_<)
AndrewRogue: (Want AND fiction Staci? <_<)
coughingpuppy: ((Sure!))
SirAlexTheFirst: Ahh. Send it to everyone then!
AndrewRogue: Now I feel like I'm advertising -_-
AndrewRogue: I have now forced my writing on everyone. Some people twice <_<
Dark Japheth: Eh. Worth it.
Dark Japheth: Its good.
coughingpuppy: Yes, I agree muchly.
AndrewRogue: Well thank ya'll for the supportive words.
coughingpuppy: I should do one of those sometime.
AndrewRogue: They're quite useful I find.
coughingpuppy: Probably especially if you have a very reserved character.
AndrewRogue: Yep.
coughingpuppy: Not that I do or anything.
SirAlexTheFirst: No. Not at all.
AndrewRogue: Hmm... however the disk appears to be having issues after the Pre-Rendered sequence, for the most likely target appears to have fallen asleep.
AndrewRogue: And no, of course you don't :p
coughingpuppy: She probably gets up pretty early, if you still want a target.
AndrewRogue: Actually, Aria cares not for others sleep tonight anyway :p
SirAlexTheFirst: So.
AndrewRogue: Hmm... that makes me sad. I suppose Aria could speak with Aurelia first and then try Hunter as the night wears on.
coughingpuppy: Whatever you want to do. :-D
AndrewRogue: I think we shall do that. Aria and Aurelia need to talk one day anyway.
coughingpuppy: Yes, I agree.
AndrewRogue: So. BAM. Middle of the night.
AndrewRogue: *knock knock knock*
coughingpuppy: Listen check?
SirAlexTheFirst: Sure, why not.'
*OnlineHost*: coughingpuppy rolled 1 20-sided die: 12
coughingpuppy: 25. Aurelia is a light sleeper and has no trouble hearing it.
SirAlexTheFirst: Give the scene an opportunity to crash and burn on a 1. Not like that ever happens. :P
coughingpuppy: :-P
AndrewRogue: (XD)
coughingpuppy: She rubs at an eye, raising herself on an elbow, and wonders who the hell is knocking on her door this late. She stretches and then heads over to open the door.
AndrewRogue: And she would see a tired, worn, but somewhat satisfied? looking Aria standing there. "Aurelia?"
coughingpuppy: She's a little surprised to see Aria, since she'd expected it to be the damn gnome, and so the nearly hostile expression she'd had fades into a confused one. "...Do you need something?"
AndrewRogue: "Uhm... do you want to talk for a little bit?"
coughingpuppy: Her expression becomes slightly more confused. People usually don't come to her just to talk. "...I suppose." She holds the door open and casts a Light spell on something nearby.
AndrewRogue: Its not super necessary considering the girl glows, but I bet the illumination is better. *she smiles weakly as she steps inside* "Thank you." *and she shall seek a place to sit down*
coughingpuppy: Aurelia seats herself, too, after a minute. "I take it this is about something in particular?"
AndrewRogue: "To be honest... I couldn't really sleep. I just wanted someone to talk with."
AndrewRogue: "You... look different."
AndrewRogue: *it just very suddenly dawns upon her*
coughingpuppy: Since it hasn't really struck Aurelia that her appearance is different now, it takes her a moment to realize what Aria means, but after that she just nods. "Yes. I was killed by something the night before Verity was taken.
coughingpuppy: When Nellix returned me it was in a different body...mostly the same."
AndrewRogue: *she nods, vaguely having recalled the conversation in Yaravon* "What happened?"
coughingpuppy: "There's a rather unpleasant spell that mages and some priests can make use of. It...well, it makes your worst fear appear before you, and for some people it's difficult not to believe it's really there. It happened fast, I'm
coughingpuppy: not sure who it was cast by. But Zane appeared and Verity fought him. And won, I would assume."
AndrewRogue: "And then Nellix brought you back?"
coughingpuppy: "Yes."
AndrewRogue: "Aurelia... where did you go after you died?"
coughingpuppy: "A beach." She hesitates for a moment before adding, "It surprised me. I've been dead before and I went...well, it wasn't a beach, I can tell you that much."
AndrewRogue: "You've died before? Back in your world?"
coughingpuppy: She nods. "Very suddenly then, too, actually. Verity had me brought back then."
AndrewRogue: "And... what was it like there?"
AndrewRogue: *she seems a little hesitant to ask*
coughingpuppy: "It..." Aurelia seems like she really doesn't want to talk about it. "Completely barren and cold, for the most part. And very dark. And all I can really remember is being in a lot of pain."
AndrewRogue: *she looks apologetic* "I'm sorry. I... I didn't mean to pry. I just wanted to know."
coughingpuppy: "Well, now you know."
AndrewRogue: "And then... Verity brought you back?"
coughingpuppy: "Yes." Aurelia very tactfully decides not to mention how that was accomplished.
AndrewRogue: "Do you and Verity love each other?"
coughingpuppy: Aurelia smirks at that. "Well, we are married, you realize."
coughingpuppy: "A more direct answer, though...I love him, yes. And most of the time I'm sure that's reciprocated, even though he's never expressed himself verbally. But at that time it was strictly between partners."
coughingpuppy: ((Ack. "We were strictly partners" is a better way to put that.))
AndrewRogue: *she looks suitably abashed* "Ah...! I'm sorry. I didn't mean..." *she bites at one of her knuckles* "How did it happen? Ah, I mean, your love."
AndrewRogue: (BRB)
coughingpuppy: ((Okay.))
coughingpuppy: Aurelia watches her for a moment before answering, as though wondering what she's getting at or what it is she wants to know about. "I'm not sure you want to ask me that question."
AndrewRogue: "What?"
coughingpuppy: "Some aspects of the answer might bother you."
AndrewRogue: *she looks at her for a moment* "I'm not sure there's a lot that can bother me right now. You don't have to answer if I'm prying though..."
coughingpuppy: Aurelia shrugs. "Very well, then. After a disagreement we had he gave me a choice between going back to my home or remaining there and carrying out my goals. If I did remain there he wanted me to become his lover. If I
coughingpuppy: left, he swore he would kill me if he saw me again. So the choice I made is obvious. I realized I was being manipulated and I feared being manipulated further, so even when I had some affection for him I kept it from him.
coughingpuppy: After we arrived here and he died, I realized that he was important to me and that perhaps it had been a mistake not to say anything. But I still didn't anyway even after he returned. After the meeting with Nellix,
coughingpuppy: he said he wanted to leave. I still had no idea what he wanted and I think I was too worried about what the truth might have been to ask." She shrugs. "You know what happened after that, but I was still surprised."
AndrewRogue: *she sits there quietly for a long while* "Why did you do everything you did? Come here to Amaryllis to retrieve Excalibur?"
coughingpuppy: "Verity came because he was ordered to do so. I saw him as a capable leader who would help me accomplish what I wanted to accomplish, and so I came with him."
AndrewRogue: *she looks at her curiously* "What did you want to do?"
coughingpuppy: "Kill gods. All of them. Not a small goal."
AndrewRogue: "You wanted to kill the gods? But... why?"
coughingpuppy: Aurelia hesitates for a long time, then sighs. "I was favored by the god I followed since I was very young. For most priests, being given power by a deity requires years of study. I was able to do what they could do before
Dark Japheth: (Guys, it was fun being with you. I'll see you guys later- I can't stay up much later than I am tonight. Alex, thank you.)
Dark Japheth has left the room.
coughingpuppy: I had even reached maturity. I joined his order when I was nearly an adult, which I consider now to be much too young to have been given that choice. It became what I was. It was all others saw me as.
coughingpuppy: I'm still not entirely sure what happened...but six years ago I began to lose those abilities very rapidly. When a time came when it mattered, and I needed them the most, I didn't have them at all. A close friend of mine
coughingpuppy: died because of that failure. Whether it was my fault I don't know...but a god I had given my life to had still deserted me when I needed him more than I ever have before or since. Gods care very little for those that follow them.
coughingpuppy: You're a tool to be used, and past that..." She trials off.
AndrewRogue: "But... do you still believe that?"
coughingpuppy: "I haven't seen anything so far to correct that, but seeing others has reinforced it. Verity's god deserted him when he was dragged into Hell. I killed hundreds, maybe thousands, of priests in my homeworld. Their
coughingpuppy: gods did nothing."
AndrewRogue: *quietly* "What would drive you to kill them all?"
coughingpuppy: "It was a way to weaken the gods and their influence. Not to mention that what I learned to do - steal their magic - is something they would have found abhorrent. And I had disdain for them because they followed blindly,
coughingpuppy: as I once had."
AndrewRogue: "Do you..." *she starts, but trails off as she looks away for a moment* "Were you afraid you would go back to Hell when you died?"
coughingpuppy: "Yes. But I had been fairly certain that that was where I was going."
AndrewRogue: "Because of what you did?"
coughingpuppy: "Yes."
AndrewRogue: "Then.... why did you continue t odo it?"
AndrewRogue: *to do
coughingpuppy: "Because I felt that what I was doing was much more important than what would eventually happen to me."
AndrewRogue: *another long silence* I'm sorry... I must be bothering you." *she laughs weakly* "It sounds like I'm interrogating you."
coughingpuppy: Aurelia shrugs. "You said you needed to talk. We're talking. I can answer questions as long as you feel that you need to ask them."
AndrewRogue: *she smiles* "You ask something. I'm starting to ramble anyway."
coughingpuppy: Aurelia actually laughs at that. "Yes, I know how question and answer sessions go between group members. I try not to ask much about people I travel with, but I would imagine that you disagree with many of the
coughingpuppy: things I've said so far."
AndrewRogue: "I... don't know. I just want to understand things better."
coughingpuppy: "Understand...what? And why? Others' perceptions of the world can only help you draw your own conclusions."
AndrewRogue: "I suppose that's what I'm trying to do. Understand..." *she sighs* "Better understand myself. What I feel."
coughingpuppy: "You're confused about something?"
coughingpuppy: Aurelia's expression suggests that she knows perfectly well what Aria is confused about, but is too polite to say so.
AndrewRogue: "Do you have an answer?"
coughingpuppy: She grins. "To a question you haven't asked?"
AndrewRogue: "You seem to know what it is already."
coughingpuppy: "I have a guess that it's about Hunter, and past that I'm not sure what the issue is. He seems as fond of you as you are of him."
AndrewRogue: "Its... Leatanna."
coughingpuppy: "He's confused?" Aurelia pauses. "Well, based on my vast experience - that being one serious relationship other than the current one - I would suggest that you are absolutely sure of what you want. And, though
coughingpuppy: I realize that this is much easier to say than to do, if he doesn't return your affections don't take it too badly. If he appreciates who you are, it works out for both of you. If he doesn't, someone who does will come by."
AndrewRogue: *she smiles, almost literally, brightly* "Of course. Thank yiu."
coughingpuppy: Aurelia just nods.
AndrewRogue: *you
AndrewRogue: "I should probably let you rest though." *her smile weakens a bit* "It was rude of me to come bother you like this."
coughingpuppy: "Hardly. As long as it isn't a nightly occurance feel free to do so again."
AndrewRogue: *she nods* "Again, thank you." *and exuent*
coughingpuppy: Aurelia goes back to bed.
coughingpuppy: ((I wonder if Alex and Soppy are still awake.))
AndrewRogue: (Soppy has been asleep. Its Alex I'm curious about :p)
SirAlexTheFirst: I'm here.
coughingpuppy: HE'S ALIVE!
coughingpuppy: What'd you think, Alex?
AndrewRogue: (BRB)
AndrewRogue: *BRB
coughingpuppy: Okay.
SirAlexTheFirst: Mmm....
SirAlexTheFirst: What did I think?
SirAlexTheFirst: Is it over?
coughingpuppy: Yep.
SirAlexTheFirst: Aw.
SirAlexTheFirst: Fun stuff.
coughingpuppy: Yes, I agree.
SirAlexTheFirst: You chopped out quite a bit.
coughingpuppy: Well, Aurelia's backstory has been in my head for a while, but this is the first time most of it has actually gotten out.
coughingpuppy: In character, at least.
SirAlexTheFirst: But that's quite in character
coughingpuppy: Yes, that's true.
coughingpuppy: Andrew should feel flattered. Aria's the only person who's seen this aspect of her personality, other than Verity.
AndrewRogue: Heh.
AndrewRogue: I am quite flattered.
coughingpuppy: I had fun. Hopefully you did too.
AndrewRogue: I always have fun ^_~
AndrewRogue: Glad to know you did too.
coughingpuppy: Rawr. Well, I must also be off to bed. Or at least take a morning nap or something.
AndrewRogue: Heh.
AndrewRogue: Night/Morning then.
coughingpuppy: Do you have this logged? Kirk wanted to read it if they ended up talking.