Thursday 19 July 2007

Session 5: Nemeses?

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Chat History with Nemeses? (#grremily/$zemeister;e4bd5b210e2c4b70)

Created on 2007-07-19 21:25:34.

2007-07-19

God: 18:20:56
Lotho, as resident chatty-boots
God: 18:21:03
can you review the events of last week for us all?
Ember: 18:21:53
(I have a mouthful of roast potato mmff)
Emily: 18:22:14
no, i forgot my boots
God: 18:22:23
hmm, doughy pizza!
God: 18:22:31
well, do it without your boots!
God: 18:23:28
prods Lotho
Emily: 18:23:38
you have to make me spell it out don't you? .. I can't remember
God: 18:23:48
you can't remember... nearly dying?
Ember: 18:23:56
we all nearly died methinks
Ember: 18:23:59
it was narsty
God: 18:24:00
anyone else remember?
God: 18:24:01
anyone...
Emily: 18:24:02
oh yeah
God: 18:24:03
anyone...
God: 18:24:05
anyone...?
Ryu: 18:24:05
No
God: 18:24:05
Ferris?
Emily: 18:24:17
so we were waiting for the elf-orc fight
Ember: 18:24:18
We had to help the elves attack an orcies' nest
Emily: 18:24:31
and went to check our alarm in the crumbling tower and got ambushed!
God: 18:24:37
yep
God: 18:24:52
because Lotho had hte idea of attaching a very visible, bright, fat exploding alarm to the secret hidden one
God: 18:25:03
(perhaps witha bit of Dm-y prodding)
God: 18:25:06
so who ambushed you?
Ember: 18:25:12
I summoned lots of many-legged monsters, but to no avail. :@ 
Emily: 18:25:24
um, orcs
Emily: 18:25:27
and a dunlending!
Emily: 18:25:41
is he alive?
God: 18:25:43
(an alternative, somewhat more truthful account has Oryndiel summoning a single bear to no avail (mooning))
Ember: 18:25:47
Aye, that Dunlending took a while to cark it
God: 18:25:56
cark it?
Ember: 18:26:28
Did we destroy the nest completely?
God: 18:26:40
Lotho, the answer to your question is "yes," he is alive
God: 18:26:56
and when you finish the battle, the incursion into the Orcs nest is still going
God: 18:26:59
however
God: 18:27:00
you have a prisoner!
Emily: 18:27:11
is he secure?
Emily: 18:27:22
do we get points n treasures?
God: 18:27:25
he is feeling quite insecure about his future, in fact. But he is secure
God: 18:27:30
you get pionts n treasure
God: 18:27:39
shall I list off the belongings of the squad?
Ember: 18:27:48
errrr, who was the prisoner? a warty orc?
God: 18:27:57
(first I have to scavenge up some more potato)
God: 18:28:02
(someone answer the elf while I'm gone...)
Emily: 18:28:12
dunlending
Ember: 18:28:24
Hail the Gods of Tubers! (bow) 
Emily: 18:28:30
the one that didnt cark it
God: 18:29:09
aye
Ember: 18:29:14
It's all rushing back to me now ... I'm sure I picked up a few split ends during that escapade
God: 18:29:15
in fact the only dunlending who was there
God: 18:29:32
some of you may recall there was much slaughter
God: 18:29:37
and the battle took a long time to resolve
God: 18:29:44
and involved the use of many fireballs
Emily: 18:29:45
fuck, i just left the gas on
Ember: 18:29:52
And Ryu was passed out on the floor for most of it, right?
God: 18:29:55
(speak of the devil...)
God: 18:30:02
yes Oryndiel, as usual
Ember: 18:30:05
Can exploding houses skype BOOM?
Ryu: 18:30:34
I was frozen in place by their shaman.
Emily: 18:30:36
doubt it, most it could cope with would be "lotho has left the chat"
God: 18:30:47
indeed, Ryu was
Emily: 18:30:54
and almost killed, if it wasn't for drake's wall building
God: 18:30:56
and Drake did some swift stone-working to prevent Ryu's demise
God: 18:31:01
so a good job all around
God: 18:31:10
I have sent you a doc I think, during the week
God: 18:31:14
about fighting tactics which may help you
God: 18:31:18
hope it does
God: 18:31:26
I shall now read off treasure and experience points
God: 18:31:30
Xps are: 3000 each
God: 18:31:33
Treasure is:
God: 18:32:03
20 pps
God: 18:32:04
8 darts of fire
God: 18:32:18
+1 shortsword, +1 shortbow, +1 leather armour, ring of protection +1
God: 18:32:50
all of which can be kept or sold
Ryu: 18:32:51
I'd like the armour if possible. I have no protection.
God: 18:32:52
Ryu
God: 18:33:03
you put that armour on, your armour class will plummet
Ember: 18:33:05
I already have a protective ring - oo err!
Ryu: 18:33:12
How does that work?
God: 18:33:13
you have various special powers which only work when you are unarmoured
Ember: 18:33:16
bagsy the short bow?
God: 18:33:33
your current armour class is better than a knight in full plate armour, wearing a shield, with magical enhancements
God: 18:33:46
Oryndiel, do you already have a magic bow?
Ryu: 18:33:47
Same case with weapons?
God: 18:33:53
indeed Ryu
God: 18:34:07
there are a few monk weapons (like the quarterstaff) which you can use as well as your fists, but they don't do more damage
God: 18:34:10
and soon they will do less
Ember: 18:34:12
no. only fiery arroes.
Ember: 18:34:16
arrows
God: 18:34:26
okay Oryndiel, you take hte bow you get a +1 on attack and damage
God: 18:34:30
but it's a shortbow
God: 18:34:34
I think it does less damage
Emily: 18:34:38
i could use a short bow i think
God: 18:34:39
just a mo, I'll check
Emily: 18:34:41
?
Emily: 18:34:50
is it for short beings?
Ember: 18:35:03
well, maybe it's better if lotho snaffles it?
God: 18:35:22
yes it is
God: 18:35:46
Lotho, if you take the bow, it does 1d6 damage
God: 18:35:55
and gives you +1 to hit and damage
Emily: 18:36:03
the ppsm we get to split or what?
Ember: 18:36:07
I'll add the pps to the kitty
Ember: 18:36:19
unless you wanna split em
God: 18:36:20
so you can write it in one of the weapon classes on your character sheet (it uses your "missile" attack bonus)
Emily: 18:36:28
kitty of powerpoints?
Emily: 18:36:35
i'm confused
God: 18:36:37
Platinum Pieces
Emily: 18:36:42
oh
Emily: 18:36:43
heh
God: 18:36:45
(same abbreviation, not as useful)
Emily: 18:36:50
i was wondering how that would work
God: 18:36:57
Anything in that Kitty which you don't want to keep, you can sell
God: 18:37:04
in the treasure I mean
God: 18:37:06
Drake do you have magic armour?
Drake: 18:37:36
yes, vs align
God: 18:37:49
Drake, I am spotting something weird with your character sheet
God: 18:37:50
gimme a mo
God: 18:38:59
nah it's cool
God: 18:39:09
Drake already has +1 studded leather, so no need of that magic armour
Emily: 18:39:23
is there stuff to go in the bow?
God: 18:39:29
so you can probably sell the +1 shortsword, +1 leather armour, and +1 ring of protection (unless someone doesn't have one)
God: 18:39:40
Lotho: maybe you can grab 20 arrows from the Dunlending
Emily: 18:39:52
ryu, ring of protection?
Emily: 18:40:04
what about the fireyarrows or whatevery they were?
God: 18:40:05
lotho, ring of protection?
God: 18:40:10
the trick with the ring is
God: 18:40:17
it gives a +1 "DEFLECTION" bonus to armour class
God: 18:40:40
so in your armour class section, look in the column labelled "DEFLECTION". If there is a bonus written in there already, this ring is useless. If not, you can use it. Lotho, check
Ryu: 18:40:40
I've got 1 ring of protection already. Although another can't hurt.
Emily: 18:40:52
ok, so i should take it then?
God: 18:40:58
Yes Lotho you should
Emily: 18:41:00
i thought i had one, but it's a ring of luck
God: 18:41:07
Ryu: Deflections don't stack
Emily: 18:41:07
takes the ring of protectin then
God: 18:41:50
so you can still sell the armour and shortsword
God: 18:41:58
who wants to do an appraise roll to check its value?
Emily: 18:42:16
no deflection already, so i add 1 for every row?
God: 18:42:31
aye
God: 18:42:36
it'll increase the total automatically
Emily: 18:42:51
yup
God: 18:42:51
who wants to do an appraise check for the value of the armour and sword?
Ryu: 18:43:10
I only have 3 for Appraise.
Emily: 18:43:25
same
God: 18:43:42
(Drake, are you aware that your scimitar is a scimitar of frost, adn does lots of damage?)
Emily: 18:43:51
16
God: 18:43:56
right
Ryu: 18:44:22
Lotho: Does Paul know someone called Nathan Besh? Probably CommSec former employee.
God: 18:44:45
each object (sword, armour) is worth 1800gps
God: 18:45:03
you can add it to the kitty now, even though you haven't actually sold it
God: 18:45:08
(that way we don't faff when we get to town)
Ember: 18:45:19
ok!
God: 18:45:25
Oryndiel: 3600gps
God: 18:45:26
1800x2
God: 18:45:38
you guys are getting rich!
God: 18:45:42
so
God: 18:45:45
next
God: 18:45:55
what do you do with this charming Dunlending chap?
Emily: 18:46:09
well, are we safe here for now?
Emily: 18:46:10
relatively
Ember: 18:47:03
tickle him to death?
God: 18:47:12
yes Lotho, but you can take him on your ship
Ryu: 18:47:20
Wake him up, interrogate and then put him to death if necessary.
God: 18:47:26
perhaps a more Australian approach would be to lock him up for 10 days and deport him?
God: 18:47:42
EVERYBODY, A SMALL HINT
God: 18:47:53
because I don't like the way interrogations go,
God: 18:48:04
where you torture people into giving info
Ember: 18:48:04
btw, running kitty totals... 26,072 gps,  64 silver ps


20 platinum ps

Kitty Loot

amber: 900gps

moss agate: 9 gps

God: 18:48:05
then kill them
God: 18:48:10
I have this policy
God: 18:48:20
if you consistently torture people to death (rather than just torture and let go)
God: 18:48:24
at first you will get the info you want
God: 18:48:28
but in time I will start lying to you
Emily: 18:48:37
aw, thats no fair
God: 18:48:43
because your victims will suspect that nothing is going to work in their favour
Emily: 18:48:47
they don't know we've done that in the past
Emily: 18:48:51
why do they get to talk to god?
God: 18:49:00
well, we have a close relationship
God: 18:49:16
but my justification is that they can see what's gonn happen in your increasingly cold and reptilian gaze
God: 18:49:25
imagine if you will being questioned by Phillip Ruddock
God: 18:49:35
the amnesty international badge doesn't convince anyone that htey're gonna get bail
Emily: 18:49:37
haha
Emily: 18:49:38
mmk
God: 18:49:40
so
God: 18:49:42
you need to be slightly creative
God: 18:49:48
offering bribes along with the torture
Emily: 18:49:48
(BRB, sock time, cold feet)
God: 18:49:52
promising freedom, etc.
God: 18:50:00
toe socks?
God: 18:50:02
anyway
God: 18:50:03
that's a general hint
Ember: 18:50:05
Oh no, not the Ruddock monster with the many grey chins!
Drake: 18:50:05
how about offering to hand them over to the authorities if we get the info we need, giving us the oppurtunity to revisit them... if we feel the need
God: 18:50:14
well Drake
God: 18:50:17
interesting scheme
God: 18:50:31
you are probably going to shortly visit the Dark Chieftain, head of the Dunlendings
Ember: 18:50:40
*eep!*
God: 18:50:42
handing over a traitor to him could be a threat in and of itself
God: 18:50:43
BUT
Ember: 18:50:48
clutches testicles
God: 18:50:57
if you don't let him go after he 'fesses up....
God: 18:51:05
it goes on your God Scorecard
God: 18:51:08
(as discussed above)
God: 18:51:18
so think carefully ... you might want to hand him to the Dark Chieftain ...
Drake: 18:51:21
we can pass him to the elven quarters...
God: 18:51:24
aye...
God: 18:51:29
so
God: 18:51:31
kids
God: 18:51:35
discuss amongst yourselves
God: 18:51:37
what will you do?
Ember: 18:51:41
I agree with elven passover
God: 18:51:44
how will you approach the interrogation?
God: 18:51:48
what do you want to know?
Emily: 18:52:15
you would ory
Emily: 18:52:34
.. are we likely to get anything out of interrogating him now rather than later?
Emily: 18:52:41
(ie after the elf-orc fight)
God: 18:52:44
no
God: 18:52:53
but you don't have any part in that fight except the circling overhead
God: 18:53:07
and I can tell you now no-one else is going to exit that tunnel who you can't just mow down from orbit, for 0 xps
Emily: 18:53:12
oh ok, so we go back to the ship and qn him at our leisure?
God: 18:53:14
so we might as well do the interrogation now
God: 18:53:16
yep
Emily: 18:53:22
he's working for orcs, theres likely to be no good in him
God: 18:53:27
aye
God: 18:53:29
but he has entrails
God: 18:53:34
which you can, for example, threaten to take out of him
Emily: 18:53:44
good for sprinkling over the countryside
God: 18:53:46
aye
God: 18:53:47
so
Ember: 18:53:48
we can dangle him from the ship by his ankle
God: 18:53:54
a kind of airborne keel-hauling
God: 18:53:57
that should do the trick...
God: 18:54:04
so I suppose you need to tell me how you get him talking?
God: 18:54:07
beatings?
God: 18:54:10
periodic detention?
Drake: 18:54:14
threaten with a large eagle...
God: 18:54:15
inducements?
God: 18:54:21
Drake's plan sounds sound
God: 18:54:26
anyone have a better suggestion?
Ryu: 18:54:30
no
Ember: 18:54:42
something with spiders would be cool
God: 18:54:52
you can summon a giant spider...
Emily: 18:55:01
um
Emily: 18:55:08
so given' god's warning, are we going to let him go?
Drake: 18:56:26
depends on him - dropping him on top of a mountain may not technically be murder, but this is a harsh god
Ember: 18:56:36
we have to threaten 'im and convince him he'll die, take 'im to the brink, then let him off.
Ember: 18:56:45
Airship danglement serves well here.
God: 18:56:53
as does Eagle danglement
Emily: 18:56:55
he's not gonna tell us anything if he's convinced we're gonna kill him anyway
God: 18:56:57
I like the airship danglement myself
Drake: 18:56:58
any truth spells here btw?
God: 18:57:01
yep
God: 18:57:03
Lotho has one
Emily: 18:57:05
he needs hope for that
God: 18:57:09
so
God: 18:57:11
dangle him
God: 18:57:14
tell him you'll let him go
God: 18:57:18
and cast Zone of Truth on hime
God: 18:57:21
should do the job
Ryu: 18:57:24
Let's do that. Time's wearing on.
God: 18:57:27
then (here's the key bit)
Emily: 18:57:29
drake: only think he truth doesn't make him talk, it only makes him tell the truth when he does
God: 18:57:42
you have to not kill him once he's talked
God: 18:57:57
well, you can, but in time this will turn you into a kind of poncy cloaked version of Phillip Ruddock
God: 18:58:04
so
God: 18:58:07
you dangle him?
Emily: 18:58:07
heh
Emily: 18:58:12
whatever
Ember: 18:58:14
danglies ahoy
God: 18:58:16
okay
Emily: 18:58:19
if we're ready..
God: 18:58:21
it takes 2 danglings
Emily: 18:58:27
casts truth spell thingie
God: 18:58:30
Lotho, want to roll for your Zone of Truth
God: 18:58:31
?
God: 18:58:35
spellcraft, as usual
Emily: 18:58:41
um, 2d10?
Ember: 18:58:58
(God just did a huge burp)
Ember: 18:59:04
(puke) 
Emily: 18:59:06
what do i add to it again?
God: 18:59:07
did not!
God: 18:59:11
spellcraft
Emily: 18:59:13
haha
God: 18:59:23
and yeah, 2d10
Emily: 18:59:27
19
God: 18:59:31
okay
God: 18:59:54
so, after 2 danglings you haul him up and he falls onto the deck, puking and begging to tell you everything
God: 18:59:56
so
God: 19:00:00
what are your questions?
Emily: 19:00:00
notes this guy is powerful and truth may not have worked
Emily: 19:00:20
"what were you doing fighting with orcs?"
God: 19:00:46
I am paid by their Shaman to help them
God: 19:00:48
I'm a spy
Emily: 19:00:55
(btw, we get renewed health and power right?)
God: 19:01:01
(yeah)
Ryu: 19:01:06
"What were you sent to spy on?"
Emily: 19:01:10
"what do you help them do"?
God: 19:01:22
I was resting in the nest.
God: 19:01:33
When the elves came, my Shaman, his guards and I decided to flee
God: 19:01:42
we saw your ship and I came down to the tower to send a message
God: 19:02:05
(second question answer: "Normally I spy on the outlying Dunlending villages. I track for them. I sow dissent and confusion where I can")
Ember: 19:02:43
"What cunning plans do the Shaman have?"
Emily: 19:02:49
what message and to whom?
God: 19:02:56
Question 1: I don't know
God: 19:03:02
things go on in the mountains, and I help them in my part
God: 19:03:05
I don't know their plans.
God: 19:03:13
Question 2: I sent a message to the goblin message network
Emily: 19:03:27
goblins too, eep.
Ryu: 19:03:27
Are all the orcs lead by a single leader?
Emily: 19:03:29
what was the msg?
God: 19:03:30
I told them that this nest is lost, and they should not send reinforcements, because the elves have a skyship
Ember: 19:03:33
By G-Chat?
Emily: 19:03:42
did you send the msg?
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:03:48
I have a thing the goblins call a "torch". It's over there...
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:04:23
(He points you to a thing that looks like a telescope. You press a gem on the side and a thin, bright beam of light emerges from teh far end, which is slightly wider than the base)
Emily: 19:04:30
hrm, can you tell us how it works?
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:04:48
Press the gem for the light. I use a code to send messages. It takes some time to learn
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:05:00
It is named after a goblin called Morscha
Emily: 19:05:04
is it written anywhere?
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:05:08
not here
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:05:25
they have a Morscha codebook somehwere near though
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:05:30
probably in the nearest nest
Emily: 19:05:30
(k, what else we wanna know about? how many orcs there are?)
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:05:47
(someone asked about an overall Orc leader)
Ryu: 19:05:54
I did
Ryu: 19:06:00
what about it then?
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:06:14
I don't hear anything of an overlord
Drake: 19:06:17
(will he write the codes he knows if we pay him?)
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:06:26
but the Orcs have recently become more organised and wealthy
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:06:34
and now htey work with the goblins instead of fighting them
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:06:39
i think they may have some scheme
Ryu: 19:06:42
(we'll promise to release him if he does)
Ember: 19:06:47
(could I break the codes with my cunning linguist skills?)
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:06:51
(Drake, you have to ask that question after... if he hears you he may change his interrogation style!)
Ember: 19:07:03
"What do ye know of the Dark Chieftain?"


Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:07:08
(Oryndiel: only if you watched the messages being sent, and had a good spell or a lot of time)
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:07:13
The Dark Chieftain?
Emily: 19:07:23
DUnlending leader?
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:07:25
The Orcs aim to undermine his kingdom
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:07:31
He is not their enemy as such
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:07:49
but they raid his villages to take slaves and loot, and they seem to have a plan to capture the lands near the mountains
Emily: 19:07:56
who is their enemy?
Ryu: 19:08:01
Why?
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:08:03
Everyone is the Orcs' enemy
Emily: 19:08:11
except the goblins, and the dunlendings?
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:08:14
bu thtey do not have a particular chosen enemy
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:08:25
the Dunlendings are hte Orcs enemy - they attack the Dark Chieftain's villages
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:08:35
(remember Lotho: Dark Chieftain = chief of Dunlendings)
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:08:45
Ryu: he answers your question now, the "why"
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:08:52
I don't know why they take Dunlending slaves
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:09:07
But there are many undead, and I think they make undead from the slaves htey take...
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:09:11
... amongst other things...
Emily: 19:09:21
.. what other things?
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:09:22
the slaves are transported through the mountains by the goblins
Ryu: 19:09:29
(No, I mean why do they want the lands near the mountains? Or is that already answered?)
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:09:32
well, halfling...
Ember: 19:09:33
remade?
Ember: 19:09:49
Slaves remade into mutanty warriors, with mechanical bits?
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:09:49
they use slaves for mining, eating, breeding, whatever... they are Orcs!
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:09:58
(Oryndiel: magic will do that job in some cases)
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:10:13
Ryu: they do not seem to have any territorial goals.
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:10:28
I think they want to take the land so that it provides a wilderness buffer for them between the Dunlendings and themselves
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:10:47
But I do not know what all of this newfound organisation and wealth is really driven by
Ryu: 19:10:55
(are they building a kingdom??)
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:11:07
Maybe, maybe not a kingdom but a confederacy of tribes
Ryu: 19:11:25
(and this kingdom's the same area as the elven one? - thinking to myself)
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:11:38
I know that many Orc tribes are working together now, and working with the Goblins. And it seems that the shamans who hire me are no longer servannts of their own Orc chiefs, but answer to some other power
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:12:11
(EVERYONE: the Orcs live in the Misty Mountains, which form the eastern border of both Dunland and Eregion. So they are a threat to Elves and Dunlendings)
Emily: 19:12:18
assuming we let you go, where will you go?
Ryu: 19:12:30
Where were you all escaping to?
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:12:32
I will return to the Orcs, to resume my employment. They pay me well.
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:12:37
We were fleeing to the next Orc nest
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:12:45
It is in the mountains further East of here.
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:12:49
and south
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:13:01
It is larger and stronger, and has connections to the Goblin kingdom and the UnderDark
Emily: 19:13:03
and what do you use your good earnings on? undead dunlending slaves and filthy rotten orc food?
Emily: 19:13:29
(Can we find it from that description?)
Emily: 19:13:42
(if not, can we get him to draw us a map?)
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:13:42
Halfling, I am saving my earnings for my future. Also, the Shamans tell me that once they have drained the Eastern edge of Dunland of Dunlendings, I can make my own home there and they will give me a couple of slavewomen.
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:13:53
(You can get him to draw you a map)
Ryu: 19:13:54
Is there a main centre of power or base?
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:14:00
Ryu: I do not know
Emily: 19:14:12
hands him pen (or similar) and paper
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:14:25
there are extensive tunnels under the mountains, adn messengers come and go above and below ground. Many Orcs work together now, and messages and baggage trains move back and forth
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:14:31
perhaps somewhere behind all this is a power.
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:14:33
I do not ask.
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:14:58
If it is a creature of the Underdark... a Drow or a Mind Flayer or a Beholder, I do not wish to know. Imagine if 'twere a Balrog...
Emily: 19:15:02
notes his relationship to orcs sounds like ours to the fascist elves
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:15:16
looks confused
Ember: 19:15:17
nods
Emily: 19:15:29
what confuses you?
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:15:32
starts drawing a map to the next nest
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:15:43
fascist elves? I do not understand
Emily: 19:15:49
(how long doe sthis truth spell work?)
Emily: 19:15:56
that was an aside!
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:15:59
(doesn't matter: he's started, he ain't gonna stop)
Emily: 19:16:25
(cool, so we can get him to draw a map of all the nests in the entire area?)
Emily: 19:16:27
:P
Ember: 19:16:40
(and hairdressers?)
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:16:51
(there are two others, but the one he was fleeing to was the biggest and the only one connected to the goblin tunnels)
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:17:06
He warns you: the next nest is strong. It is in a Hill Giant home, and is guarded by Ogres
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:17:23
below ground are monsters, but its tunnels abut onto the Goblin passages
Emily: 19:17:28
(ogres are bad?)
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:17:29
If you go to far, you may end in the Underdark
Ryu: 19:17:31
{Hill giant?}
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:17:45
(Lotho: last time you fought an ogre it didn't go well)
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:18:01
The Hill Giant no longer lives there, as far as I know
Emily: 19:18:06
(must have got brain damage, cause i don't recall)
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:18:10
But maybe he will come back.
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:18:22
Sometimes too, they bring Trolls to and from the building
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:18:24
as guards
Emily: 19:18:32
(man it's odd seeing people you recognise on TV!)
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:18:35
and there is a lycanthrope, and a Doppelganger, who regularly work from there
Ryu: 19:18:38
(Building?)
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:18:49
(Hill Giant home is a building. A big one)
Ryu: 19:19:06
(What work? General mayhem causing?)
Emily: 19:19:08
all these names mean little to me
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:19:16
okay
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:19:23
EVERYONE: ORDER OF GOBLINOID VICIOUSNESS
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:19:25
follows:
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:19:27
kobold
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:19:29
goblin
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:19:29
orc
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:19:32
hobgoblin
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:19:34
ogre
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:19:35
troll
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:19:36
ogre mage
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:19:41
hill giant
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:19:43
fire giant
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:19:45
etc...
Emily: 19:19:50
mmk, ta
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:19:54
non-GOBLINOID thingies
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:20:04
lycanthrope: wererat, werewolf, etc. (take your pick)
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:20:13
Doppelganger: humanoid that can take ANY FORM at will
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:20:18
(good spy)
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:20:31
Doppelgangers don't fight well but they're bastards if you don't keep an eye on one another
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:20:33
werewolves are nasty
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:21:04
Any other qeustions?
Ryu: 19:21:12
No
Ember: 19:21:18
nay
Emily: 19:21:23
drake?
Emily: 19:21:43
1 more "will you tell the orcs about our conversation?"
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:21:50
no
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:21:53
they would kill me out of hand
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:21:59
I will not even tell them I was captured
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:22:01
I am a spy
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:22:05
I am allowed to flee a battle
Emily: 19:22:07
sounds reasonably
Emily: 19:22:10
s/y/e
Drake: 19:22:10
(double spy?  we are wealthy-ish nowasays...)
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:22:11
but getting captured is not acceptable
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:22:25
ooh Drake...
Emily: 19:22:27
could do
Ember: 19:22:30
Yes, rather unfashionable, I would think.
Ryu: 19:22:30
(yes, but how do we contact him?)
Emily: 19:22:34
what could he do for us?
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:22:46
he could administer a proobe...
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:22:49
to the goblin tunnels...
Emily: 19:22:54
haha
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:22:55
and tell you what is really going on...
Emily: 19:23:05
and how would he communicate with us?
Ember: 19:23:06
Ooo, like a bug?


Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:23:17
he visits Dunlending towns regularly to sow dissent and confusion
Emily: 19:23:29
lets do it!
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:23:36
how much will you offer him?
Ember: 19:23:37
Woof!
Emily: 19:23:39
we give him some now and some when he brings us some news?
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:23:48
ah, commission based treachery
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:23:49
I like it!
Emily: 19:23:53
how much does he get from orcs?
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:24:00
100gps a month
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:24:11
plus a slavewoman to use as he sees fit, in the nearby nest
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:24:16
(not always the same one)
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:24:21
(they move around a lot)
Ryu: 19:24:26
I don't agree with slavewoman.
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:24:27
(the last one became Troll food)
Emily: 19:24:30
so we give him 20 now, and another 20 in (how long, 2 days, a week?)
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:24:32
you don't have slavewoman
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:24:39
20?
Ember: 19:24:46
aye
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:24:48
he gets 100 a month from teh Orcs...
Emily: 19:24:49
gps
Ryu: 19:24:49
I still don't agree with slavewoman.
Emily: 19:25:13
how long will it take him to get back to us with something?
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:25:22
well...
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:25:28
it is a sensitive task...
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:25:37
he would have to ask quesitons very carefully
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:25:41
perhaps 2 weeks...
Emily: 19:25:53
okay then, 70 now, 70 later?
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:26:03
does everyone agree to that offer?
Ryu: 19:26:07
Yes.
Ember: 19:26:24
hai
Emily: 19:26:30
it's gotta be generous enuf that he wants more
Drake: 19:26:33
minimum 120 a month?
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:26:38
everyone?
Ember: 19:26:40
deducting 70 from kitty noo
Emily: 19:26:48
has he agreed to it?
Emily: 19:26:49
:P
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:27:01
depends on what you think of Drake's suggested minimum...
Emily: 19:27:59
cool with me
Ember: 19:28:09
ok, we can afford it.
Ryu: 19:28:20
I already said yes.
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:28:25
righty ho
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:28:37
you make the offer to Kerlig and his eyes light up
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:28:41
Certainly!
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:28:42
He says
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:28:48
it's a delicate task, but i can do it.
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:29:26
(He tells you of a small town near the Greyflood which he visits regularly for supplies, where no-one suspects him and he can easily be met)
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:30:02
the town is called "Herdel"
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:30:06
(someone note that!)
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:30:09
So
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:30:14
do you let him go?
Ember: 19:30:30
i'll note it
Emily: 19:30:30
yeah, where? near where we found him?
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:30:36
probably best, Lotho
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:30:46
so he can escape as if he were escaping hte nest, not you...
Emily: 19:30:53
does he know someone there he can leave a msg with?
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:30:58
yes
Emily: 19:31:05
name?
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:31:07
a wheelwright called Jagger
Emily: 19:31:24
noted ember?
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:31:24
so
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:31:26
is he gone?
Ember: 19:31:38
aye
Emily: 19:31:41
yup
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:31:48
and damn happy about it too!
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:31:56
you get 2000xps each for that fine interrogation
Kerlig, Dunlending Traitor: 19:32:06
because you have learnt things and been cleverer than expected
God: 19:32:16
(btw Ember, his name is Kerlig)
Ember: 19:32:21
got it
God: 19:32:48
Okay, so you move on to 1) the nest or 2) the Dark Chieftain?
Ember: 19:33:07
which is closest?
God: 19:33:11
the nest
Emily: 19:33:14
ummm
God: 19:33:20
but the Dark Chieftain is kind of waiting for you...
Ryu: 19:33:21
what happened to the guy who wanted to meet us and sent a note by harpy?
Emily: 19:33:22
how about this circling for the elves thing?
God: 19:33:31
Ryu: that is Steward Bellack
Emily: 19:33:34
hey, you didn't say that was the dark cheiftain before!
God: 19:33:37
He is someone's Steward
God: 19:33:44
I wonder whose...
Emily: 19:34:00
i say dark chieftain
Ryu: 19:34:06
Gondorian?
Emily: 19:34:11
what we gonna do at the nest except get into a fight
Ember: 19:34:15
the plot thickens and gets kinda claggy...
Emily: 19:34:16
4 against, how many?
God: 19:34:24
well Lotho, you can do it
Ryu: 19:34:28
don't forget monsters
God: 19:34:33
but you might want to restock somewhere first...
Ember: 19:34:37
The dark chieftain sounds more deadly.
Ember: 19:34:40
Magics n all that
God: 19:34:45
indeed Oryndiel
God: 19:34:58
you guys need to consider that if you go visit this Chieftain and he's a grump with you
God: 19:35:01
you will all be dead
Ember: 19:35:11
he was a grump last time we saw 
Ember: 19:35:15
him
God: 19:35:19
(but since none of you realised it was the Dark Chieftain...)
Emily: 19:35:20
would he really approach us as he did if he was?
Ember: 19:35:34
but hindsight tells me he was a grump
God: 19:35:40
he certainly was!
Ryu: 19:35:42
Remind me when he approached us.
Ember: 19:36:00
when my testicles were flayed in mid-air
Ember: 19:36:10
he reflected my fireball
Ryu: 19:36:13
Oh that time.
Ember: 19:36:21
into my own fleshy counterparts.
Emily: 19:36:21
it was just your own fire, what'd you expect him to do?
Emily: 19:36:27
and he stood there as we got away
Emily: 19:36:33
didn't try to bring us down
Ryu: 19:36:34
I thought this was some other incident.
God: 19:36:39
Lotho: that would mean he couldn't fly...
Ember: 19:36:42
But he gave me a meaningful look.
God: 19:36:44
and didn't have a trebuchet...
Ember: 19:36:50
and it weren't friendly.
God: 19:36:54
Oryndiel, he is the first man to unite the Dunlendings in 1000 years
God: 19:37:00
he probably gives a lot of meaningful looks
Ember: 19:37:26
Well, I remember God emphasised the smouldering ire of the meaningful look, like it had extra meaning.
God: 19:37:35
well, you don't have to go meet him...
God: 19:37:41
I'm sure he doesn't mind being stood up...
God: 19:37:47
Chieftains don't,usually, as a rule, I think...
Emily: 19:37:48
well, we trusted the freaking elves on your say so oryndiel
Ember: 19:38:05
Hrmph!
Ember: 19:38:13
tosses hair about and pouts.
Ryu: 19:38:15
Let's go meet him. God's hinting.
Emily: 19:38:21
i vote for chieftain, oryndiel votes for orc nest, ryu, drake?
Ember: 19:38:30
Aye, it's one of his big, holy hints.
Ember: 19:38:33
We're all gonna die.
Ryu: 19:38:39
Chieftain.
God: 19:38:54
Drake....?
Drake: 19:39:01
chieftain - he should honour flags of truce more than orcs
God: 19:39:05
right
God: 19:39:06
so
Ember: 19:39:12
if we must ...
God: 19:39:17
I shall just remind you of your instructions (in the letter you received via exploding harpy)
Emily: 19:39:18
:P ory
God: 19:39:34
When you are done dispensing with our mutual enemies, you may find it in your best interests to head South along the mountain ranges, and then West when you cast your shadow between the twin peaks of Argothrig (the blessed one, called Ialende in your elven compatriots’ language)
God: 19:39:50
... It'll take a few days in this weather, but you should get there quickly
God: 19:40:47
so
God: 19:40:50
you follow his instructions
God: 19:41:10
flying through harsh weather along the edge of the taller peaks of the mountains until you come to the divided peak that is Argothrig
God: 19:41:19
from there you head West, with the sun rising behind you.
God: 19:41:44
Description of your journey follows...
God: 19:41:44
Your ship drifts lazily down from the mountains on a cool wind, the silver chasing of its hull and fittings glowing in the light of the morning sun, which is rising behind you between the twin peaks by which you have set your Westward course. Below you, the valleys and peaks of the Misty Mountains lie deeply forested and bathed in shadow, with occasional glittering streams running between them. As the day passes the mountains shrink to foothills, and you are able to drift lower over them. Occasional ruined watchtowers, deserted and crumbling villages, and overgrown roads speak of a time when Dunland was wealthier and safer. The roads and villages cling to the wider valleys where the streams gather, and by midday you are flying over a wide swathe of forested land, with the last high peak of the misty mountains rising above you to port, and the streams merging to a tributary of the Greyflood on your starboard side. After lunch the mountain drops behind you, and the plains of Dunland spread out before you, stretching as far as you can see to North and South. Ahead of you the forest breaks into sparsely-wooded scrubland, and you can see a large and ancient hillfort standing between the final trails of forest like a rock in a foaming sea. The hillfort is topped by a new and solid looking watchtower; beyond it, the scrubland flattens out and, somewhat to your North, just before the river, lies a small camp. It is to this that you direct your ship.
God: 19:42:38
(the letter from Steward Bellack mentioned "a Royal Tent")
Ember: 19:43:05
Beautiful view!
Ember: 19:43:09
Where do we park?
God: 19:43:19
near the trees by the camp...
God: 19:43:25
anything you want to do before you land?
God: 19:43:33
any, ah, preparatory discussion to be had?
Ryu: 19:43:49
We suit up with armour and protection just in case.
Drake: 19:43:57
eagle aloft to scout for unusual movement
Ryu: 19:43:59
Grab all the potions and scrolls we need
Ember: 19:44:04
aye, and shall we do a check of some sort?
God: 19:44:06
list 'em
God: 19:44:13
preparatory spells I mean
God: 19:44:20
some sort of search check, if you like?
God: 19:44:23
2d10+search
Ryu: 19:44:30
cast mage armour for me
Emily: 19:44:41
hang on, are we expecting a fight
Emily: 19:44:42
?
Emily: 19:44:48
are we confronting, grovelling or otherwise?
Ember: 19:44:57
Donning the mage armour, just in case.
God: 19:45:01
that's the sort of preparatory questions I like to hear
God: 19:45:05
what is the tone of this meeting to be?
Drake: 19:45:23
humbly self-confident?
Emily: 19:45:29
well, given he asked us to come... we try and find out why before we say too much
Ryu: 19:45:30
So if we roll in like we're expecting war....
Emily: 19:45:43
he must know we're working for elves
Ember: 19:45:45
14 for check
God: 19:45:55
Oryndiel, you see a nice view
God: 19:45:59
anyone else want to look harder?
Emily: 19:46:14
search 22
God: 19:46:25
Lotho, the letter implied that they know about your working arrangements
Ryu: 19:46:28
27
God: 19:46:29
and, you see nothing interesting
Ember: 19:46:32
(can DC see my mage armour?)
Ember: 19:46:56
(can we prepared for the worst, but look casual?)
God: 19:46:58
Ryu, there is a definite large, splendid tent in that camp, obviously of some importance. There are quite a few soldiers too, and some traffic between the hill fort and the camp
God: 19:47:06
Oryndiel, it's up to you if he can see your armour
God: 19:47:16
so yeah, most of you can be prepared for the worst
God: 19:47:36
It is normal in this time and place to turn up to meetings with kings armoured and armed.
God: 19:47:52
Your weapons will be taken off you or not dependingon whether hte king's advisor is Philip Ruddock or Tony Blair
Ryu: 19:47:56
Spot check: sarcasm
Ember: 19:48:04
Well, I'll throw on my daycoat and sun-hat too.
Ryu: 19:48:12
I rolled 18.
Emily: 19:48:13
haha
God: 19:48:15
does your daycoat have 3 stars on it, perchance?
Emily: 19:48:27
ryu fooled god
God: 19:48:30
Ryu: if you need to roll...
Ember: 19:48:40
Peacock feathers, actually.
God: 19:48:51
so what is the final judgement on the mood of the meeting?
Ember: 19:49:07
jaunty but reserved?
Ryu: 19:49:36
Do we run up a truce flag or something?
God: 19:49:48
No need Ryu, everyone who has seen your ship once will remember it
God: 19:50:00
probably because of the flaming silver deaths' head engraved on the side
God: 19:50:22
(remember, it's a githyanki vessel - they like silver engraved flames, teeth and extremely skinny breastless wenches with swords)
God: 19:50:47
(they're like the speed-junky bikey gangs of the Astral Plane)
God: 19:51:00
(and you stole their ship...)
Ryu: 19:51:06
And it says to people, "We come in peace" ?
Ember: 19:51:17
Maybe a nice bouquet is in order?
God: 19:51:23
well, that depends on wehther you wear a good leather jacket or not...
God: 19:51:30
Oryndiel, are you suggesting a present?
Ember: 19:52:04
Just a bit of ponce to tone down the Hells Angel image ...
God: 19:52:20
maybe you have some art objects or something you looted somewhere...?
God: 19:52:34
If you like I can assume you scrounge up a small present...
Ember: 19:52:43
ok
God: 19:52:50
you have lots of gems after all, etc.
God: 19:52:55
choose a value and knock it of the kitty...
Ember: 19:53:18
we have moss agate, wrth 9gps
God: 19:53:32
hmm....
Ember: 19:53:34
or amber, 900 gps
God: 19:53:39
that's more like it!
Ember: 19:53:43
knocked off
God: 19:53:47
that'll buy you a suit of full-plate armour!
God: 19:53:51
well worth it for an intro present
God: 19:53:53
so
God: 19:54:04
description of your landing and subseqeunt capture and torture follows...
God: 19:54:09
As your ship swoops in to land near the camp, you see it consists of three small tents and, separated from them by grove of large trees, a large pavilion. You land East of it, near the river, and as you make ready to leave your ship you see riding towards you 3 men. Two of them are obviously Dunlending champions, riding on the light ponies characteristic of Dunlending cavalry. They are armoured in steel breastplates, with the deep red robes of Dunlending elite soldiers slung over one shoulder. Each carries a lance tipped with the penant of the Dark Chieftain, a black sun on a field of gold. Riding between them is an old, crabby looking man dressed in the loose pantaloons and silk shirt of a Dunlending noble. They trot towards your ship and come to a respectful stop some distance away, lances lowered in the traditional Dunlending welcome – though from your angle it looks quite threatening.
God: 19:55:20
The old man dismounts and stands before his horse, waiting for you to come to him
Ember: 19:55:31
we disembark?
Ryu: 19:55:43
Would be polite.
Ryu: 19:55:51
One of us can go.
God: 19:55:55
ONE OF YOU?
Ember: 19:56:02
The charismatic, short one can speak.
Emily: 19:56:34
um, hi
God: 19:56:37
okay
Emily: 19:56:39
i believe we're expected
God: 19:56:46
so you all wander forward to greet him, and Lotho introduces himself, shortly
Ryu: 19:56:52
Well said.
God: 19:57:18
"Greetings, I am Bellack, steward to his Lordship the Dark Chieftain, who currently guides the Dunlendings"
God: 19:57:40
"Welcome to our Royal camp. The Dark Chieftain is expecting you, and eager to make your acquaintance"
Emily: 19:57:46
ah, greetings, I gather we have you to thank for the spot of fun with the harpies?
God: 19:58:00
He gestures to his two guards, and they dismount and turn their horses. You start walking to the royal tent.
God: 19:58:05
"Ah that," He chuckles
God: 19:58:15
"Yes, I hope you can see the humour of it."
Emily: 19:58:18
sense motive 22
God: 19:58:21
"Silly hags had no idea"
God: 19:58:26
(Lotho: no chance)
Emily: 19:58:34
poh
Emily: 19:58:36
pooh
Ryu: 19:58:51
makes polite but not very amused laughter
God: 19:59:03
As you walk across the greensward towards the Royal Tent, Bellack makes polite conversation
God: 19:59:09
He asks you about your journey, etc.
God: 19:59:16
He also asks how you went with the Orcs
God: 19:59:18
what do you tell him?
Emily: 19:59:54
ah, not to bad, although there may be some of your own working for them
Emily: 20:00:03
can't be sure
Steward Bellack: 20:00:13
heh
Steward Bellack: 20:00:30
I have no doubt
Steward Bellack: 20:00:40
the borders are a fractious area, lonely and desolate and hard to control
Steward Bellack: 20:00:52
I'm sure some of our less savoury tribesmen make their bed with whoever they can
Steward Bellack: 20:01:02
No matter, it will be resolved when the strength of the Chieftain comes to them
Steward Bellack: 20:01:03
...
Steward Bellack: 20:01:22
"Tell me, did you see anything interesting in the Mountains?"
Ryu: 20:01:24
Where did the Chieftain come from?
Steward Bellack: 20:01:41
"Ah, Ryu " (I assume you've been introduced)
Emily: 20:01:47
mountains all seem like mountains to me, what kind of thing is interesting?
Steward Bellack: 20:02:17
"That is quite a story. In essence he is a simple warrior, who rose through the ranks of soldiers in the War of the Ring and decided to unite the Dunlendings against their enemies, the worst of which is their own squabbling."
Steward Bellack: 20:02:37
"Lotho, interesting things would surely leap out at you. I am glad to hear nothing interesting is happening near here!"
Steward Bellack: 20:03:27
(He then goes on to make small talk, asking you about your ship and the journey. He admires your ship. As you approach the tent, he tells you that, since the Chieftain is a simple warrior turned statesman, he does not stand on ceremony. It is sufficient to call him "chieftain", unless he directs you to address him otherwise.)
Steward Bellack: 20:03:34
There now follows a description of hte Royal Tent:
Steward Bellack: 20:03:37
The steward leads you into the pavilion. This tent consists of a huge swath of canvas stretched over 8 wide poles, with the sides drawn back like curtains to welcome the winds from the plains. The floor is laid down with canvas and fine rugs, so that you are obliged to remove your boots when you enter. The beams of the tent are hung with many small bells which ring constantly in the wind, and also with small mirrored discs that tumble in the wind and scatter motes of sunlight over the interior of the tent. From the central beams of the huge tent hang 3 censers, releasing a sweet incense that gathers under the tent roof before seeping outside in the wind. The centre of the tent is dominated by a ring of simple leather seats about a camp table, on which are laid food and drinks, and a few scrolls bound and stacked in a glass-lidded box. To one side of these chairs stands the unmistakable figure of the Dark Chieftain, in conversation with two slight Dunlendings dressed in grubby leather armour. He marks a striking contrast to his scouts, standing head and shoulders over them and casting an overpowering presence in the tent. He wears simple but fine clothes in the same style of pantaloons and silk shirt as does his Steward, though he has drawn up his sleeves to reveal musclebound, heavily scarred forearms. Aside from a few simple wood-and-bone charms about his neck, and many silver bangles on one arm, he is unadorned. His manner when dealing with his scouts is polite, patient and stern. They finish their conversation as you enter, bow respectfully to him, and slip out of the rear of the tent into the shadows of the trees. As they do so, he turns to face you, bringing to bear upon you a plain and unremarkable countenance of about middle age.
Steward Bellack: 20:05:03
"Greetings, guests", he says, with a small bow by way of introduction. He gestures casually at the chairs and says "Please, be seated. Refreshments are prepared."
Ember: 20:05:19
(ooo, this place sounds rather like the chill-out tent at the beach party we went to last weekend ...)
Steward Bellack: 20:05:28
(wow what a coincidence...)
Steward Bellack: 20:05:37
(there is no music though, except the wind-bells)
Steward Bellack: 20:06:08
As you all seat yourselves, along with bellack, the Dark Chieftain (from now on I shall call him DC) pours tea for you from a pot, and offers you all a plate of sweets.
Steward Bellack: 20:06:26
The sweets are made of what look like alternate layers of nuts and thin pastry, all soaked in honey
Steward Bellack: 20:06:54
While he pours and serves, DC makes small talk, asking you again about your ship, your journey, etc.
Steward Bellack: 20:06:59
Once this is done, he sits at one of the chairs
Steward Bellack: 20:07:16
Some things you pick up very quickly from his conversation:
Steward Bellack: 20:07:28
he is plain-spoken and comfortable with strangers
Steward Bellack: 20:07:40
he and Steward Bellack are obviously old friends, and maintain very little formality wiht each other
Steward Bellack: 20:07:56
he is a good conversationalist: he watches interactions carefully and listens to what you say
Steward Bellack: 20:08:23
He begins the conversation by asking you how you fared against the harpies Bellack sent you?
Ember: 20:09:04
We regale him with tales of might squishment and toasting.
Ember: 20:09:12
mighty
The Dark Chieftain: 20:09:14
"Good good," he says
The Dark Chieftain: 20:09:53
"I didn't doubt your prowess, after our little encounter on the battlefield." He bows slightly to Oryndiel. "My apologies, by the way. I see now why my shamen insist on casting protective magics upon me."
Ember: 20:10:28
Erm, yes, well...
The Dark Chieftain: 20:10:31
he chuckles
The Dark Chieftain: 20:10:35
He then goes on to ask you
The Dark Chieftain: 20:10:43
"Are you surprised to be meeting me in a tent?"
The Dark Chieftain: 20:10:49
(A strange question!)
Ember: 20:11:06
I expected something a tad gloomier.
The Dark Chieftain: 20:11:26
(Lotho, are you going ot intervene before Oryndiel gets you all in trouble with his complete inability to communicate?)
Drake: 20:11:36
no, the might of nature is suitable here
Ryu: 20:11:45
I expected torture and most likely death.
The Dark Chieftain: 20:11:52
He laughs...
The Dark Chieftain: 20:12:29
"This tent is called a Jurga. It is a memory of the 'time before', when we lived in Rohan. Before the Rohirrim came and drove us from those lands."
The Dark Chieftain: 20:12:37
(DO YOU ALL REMEMBER WHO THE ROHIRRIM ARE?)
Emily: 20:12:41
(sorry, phone)
Ember: 20:12:45
aye, mighty horsemen
Ember: 20:12:54
with blonde hair and blonder beards
Drake: 20:13:00
gallopers
Emily: 20:13:09
no
The Dark Chieftain: 20:13:12
"Ah, elf, they were not so mighty then. They stole from us our horses, and drove us from our lands, by stealth."
Emily: 20:13:30
(do they still exist?)
The Dark Chieftain: 20:13:37
(LOTHO: they are the horsemen in episodes 2 and 3 of the lotr movie. The Dunlendings attacked their villages at the start of the movie, one fled on horse)
The Dark Chieftain: 20:14:11
(That king, and that silly australian girl, and Grima Wyrmtongue, were all involved in that story. They ended up in Helm's Deep, and the Orcs attacked)
Ryu: 20:14:13
(Ride ride for ruin and the worlds ending etc)
The Dark Chieftain: 20:14:29
He says:
The Dark Chieftain: 20:15:03
"We were nomads then, and lived by our horses. But they drove us here, and stole our horses. we had to learn to live as farmers, and horses became a luxury of the rich."
The Dark Chieftain: 20:15:22
His face clouds over a little at this discussion. "For 1000 years we have tried to regain our lost lands, and have sold our own souls in the process."
The Dark Chieftain: 20:16:00
"It was for this reason that we allied with Saruman in the War of the Ring, and tried to destroy the Rohirrim. It is for this reason that after the war our tribes were subjected to Gondorian tyrrany, as defeated enemies always are."
The Dark Chieftain: 20:16:33
(He looks at you all, as if expecting some kind of response to this tale of woe and misery)
Drake: 20:17:07
always, the strong push the weak...
Ryu: 20:17:26
Your tale is not unknown to me. My people have also made mistakes we regret.
The Dark Chieftain: 20:17:37
"Indeed, half-elf. But we are not so weak now..."
The Dark Chieftain: 20:18:18
"I have united half of the tribes of this land, and though they remain fractious they do my bidding. I have reformed our cavalry so that it resembles the force we once were. Did I but wish it, I could sweep in and conquer tharbad tomorrow."
The Dark Chieftain: 20:18:37
(EVERYONE: Tharbad is west of here, the first human city outside of Dunland and Eregion, on the border of both)
The Dark Chieftain: 20:18:57
"However, I have decided that I wish to put aside these ancient jealousies, and focus on building a nation here in Dunland"
The Dark Chieftain: 20:19:19
(BTW everyone, butt in anytime, this doesn't have to be a lecture)
The Dark Chieftain: 20:19:39
"I wish to gain for the Dunlendigns the wealth and security which becoming a proper nation can grant us."
The Dark Chieftain: 20:20:01
"I shall unite my tribesmen under a banner that is strong in war and honest in peace."
Drake: 20:20:02
yes, a balance is being asserted.  We hope the lands are favourable to you.
The Dark Chieftain: 20:20:28
"Ah, Druid, were it only teh lands whose favour I needed I would be able to sleep much more soundly."
Ember: 20:20:45
Whose favour do you seek?
The Dark Chieftain: 20:20:58
"I need the favour of elves and humans, and I wonder often to myself... where can I find honest people who can stand as my advocates in my dealings with both these peoples?"
Ember: 20:21:34
Diplomats?
Drake: 20:21:54
We listen, but our mouths are our own.
The Dark Chieftain: 20:22:01
"I seek such people, but I understand... it is difficult to deal honestly on behalf of leaders one does not know, and cannot trust."
The Dark Chieftain: 20:22:38
"You must surely, for example, know and trust the motives of these elves of Eregion for whom you work so honestly and assiduously..."
Drake: 20:22:38
Give us truths, then, to spread for the balance
Ryu: 20:22:41
You know of our dealings with Eregion.
The Dark Chieftain: 20:22:49
he leaves this comment hanging...
The Dark Chieftain: 20:23:12
"Yes, monk, I am aware of them. To work so hard and well for these elves, you must surely respect and honour their goals..."
Emily: 20:23:47
not necessarily
Ryu: 20:24:11
I deal with them as far as it does not violate my teachings
The Dark Chieftain: 20:24:18
"Ah, Lotho, i am surprised!" He claps his hands and leans back expansively, as if he really is surprised that a halfling might not know these things...
The Dark Chieftain: 20:24:34
"Perhaps you seek to understand them better, young Priest?" He asks, again addressing Lotho.
Ryu: 20:24:54
?
Emily: 20:25:04
perhaps, perhaps I accept that I may never know their true motive
The Dark Chieftain: 20:25:07
(Ryu, you're a monk: Lotho is a priest)
Ryu: 20:25:08
(Lotho's a priest?)
Ember: 20:25:24
(said the bishop to the netball team)
Emily: 20:25:34
you sound like you know something of these elves we seem to have alligned ourselves with
The Dark Chieftain: 20:25:43
"Well, young halfling, perhaps I do, and perhaps I can assist you."
The Dark Chieftain: 20:25:47
Description follows...
The Dark Chieftain: 20:25:58
The Dark Chieftain draws out from beneath the table a large, leather bound book with 3 silver stars embossed on its cover. “Ah,” he says, “This book is indeed a rare treasure, though I should say that the knowledge it contains is worthless indeed.” He hands it to Lotho, saying “I cannot read elvish, but Bellack tells me the title translates as ‘Hobbits and Gnomes: Notes on the higher animals and their uses.’ I am told it concerns itself with a theory of the soul, and the chief object of its research is to determine whether Halflings and gnomes should be enslaves as useful animals, or exterminated as dangerous animals. It is by a famous StarServant philosopher named Suviara” He turns to Bellack, “Can you proffer a review, old friend?”



Bellack merely grunts, and says “I’m sure that even the fanciest of skyships has a privy, Chieftain. It is no doubt good to have reading material such as this easily to hand at such times.”


“Well, no matter,” the Dark Chieftain finishes. “I am sure that it is of more than passing interest to one of the –“ he coughs “- higher animals. Perhaps you will find it informative, young Halfling… Consider it a token of good faith from the Dark Chieftain of the Dunlendings…”
Emily: 20:25:58
perhaps you can speak better of their aims than they can themselves
Emily: 20:26:51
is afronted
The Dark Chieftain: 20:27:16
chuckles grimly
Emily: 20:27:26
good faith? you're insulting me sir
The Dark Chieftain: 20:27:55
"'Tis not my writings, young Priest, but those of the Elves you follow."
The Dark Chieftain: 20:28:24
(Lotho: this is a book by a starservant philosopher. DC's intent is merely to assist you in understanding what these elves think of you)
Emily: 20:28:28
and your intent in bringing it to my attentiion, if not to insult me what is in that?
Ember: 20:28:35
Where did you come by this disgusting tome?
Emily: 20:29:02
(i note you had that speil pre-prepared, god!)
The Dark Chieftain: 20:29:06
"Oryndiel, one of my servants discovered it in a bazaar in Tharbad. It is no secret, though few people these days read elves."
The Dark Chieftain: 20:29:09
(heh)
Emily: 20:29:38
so what was your purpose in asking us here?
The Dark Chieftain: 20:29:41
"Lotho, I harbour no ill-will. I merely aim to show you that we Dunlendings deal honestly with you."
Emily: 20:30:13
and how do you aim to do that?
Ember: 20:30:22
The Chieftain is hinting at a darker purpose to our Employer.
Ryu: 20:30:30
(he just did)
The Dark Chieftain: 20:30:39
"Well, Lotho... I assume you are being paid well by the elves for your service... however, I cannot help but suspect that, if the starservants think in this way, they will never allow you to gain that true reward which all adventurers seek... land"
Emily: 20:30:44
(did not!)
The Dark Chieftain: 20:30:46
"For example"
Emily: 20:30:46
is still offended
Ryu: 20:30:51
shows visible signs of discomfort
Emily: 20:31:06
listens
The Dark Chieftain: 20:31:22
"If these elves you work for consider you an animal, they are hardly going to allow you to sully their pure land when it is settled, are they?"
Ryu: 20:31:23
Shit. I just lost internet connection
The Dark Chieftain: 20:31:35
(Bellack intrudes on this comment with a brief grunt of "at our expense")
Ember: 20:31:53
(Ryu has just dropped off the radar, according to my legend thingy)
The Dark Chieftain: 20:32:02
"We, on the other hand ... the Dunlendings, that is ... we have no notions of racial purity for this land of ours"
The Dark Chieftain: 20:32:10
"non-dunlendings can take land here."
Emily: 20:32:19
and how do you consider hobbits then, chieftain?
The Dark Chieftain: 20:32:35
"the same way I consider all non-goblinoids, Lotho."
The Dark Chieftain: 20:32:46
"As allies, friends, enemies or traitors depending on their actions."
Emily: 20:32:55
easily influenced by old books?
Emily: 20:33:17
mm
Ryu: 20:33:25
Which would mean you wish to exterminate these orcs infesting Dunlending.
The Dark Chieftain: 20:33:26
"Oh, I doubt that. I have no illusions as to your allegiance first and foremost to your own interests, young Hobbit."
Emily: 20:33:28
nods
The Dark Chieftain: 20:33:32
nods
Drake: 20:33:50
/nods
The Dark Chieftain: 20:34:01
"It also occurs to me that, in time, once these Orcs have been slaughtered, and their lands pacified, I will have to deal with the elves of Eregion."
The Dark Chieftain: 20:34:03
frowns
The Dark Chieftain: 20:34:12
"But I do not see why they need to be my enemies."
The Dark Chieftain: 20:34:36
"I have no designs on their lands North of the river... I only value the integrity of that which the Dunlendings already hold."
Emily: 20:35:12
why do you forse disagreement with them then?
The Dark Chieftain: 20:35:23
"So I think we have a shared enemy, in the Orcs of the Mountains. A disparate and quarrelsome bunch, as wont to fight each other as us, but a danger nonetheless."
The Dark Chieftain: 20:35:49
"Lotho, I do not. Our only disagreements are on this side of the river, such as when their agents interfere on the battlefield and steal from me something I seek..."
Emily: 20:35:54
and do you know of the increasing order amongst their ranks?
The Dark Chieftain: 20:36:02
(LOTHO: remember that that intervention occurred on Dunland, not Eregion)
Emily: 20:36:10
(oops)
The Dark Chieftain: 20:36:14
"What is this about increasing order?" (He looks generally surprised)
Emily: 20:36:16
lets that one slip by
The Dark Chieftain: 20:36:20
(genuinely surprised)
The Dark Chieftain: 20:36:28
lets nothing slip by
Emily: 20:36:28
(the raking something, not the orcs)
Emily: 20:36:34
taking
The Dark Chieftain: 20:36:34
(oh right)
Emily: 20:36:39
:P
The Dark Chieftain: 20:36:53
"You said..."
The Dark Chieftain: 20:36:59
"Increased order?"
Ryu: 20:37:03
Ryu decides to go for it:
Emily: 20:37:08
yes
Ryu: 20:37:17
We have heard that the orcs have become organised
The Dark Chieftain: 20:37:22
"Ah, so they are a larger threat than I thought."
The Dark Chieftain: 20:37:27
"So you see we have a shared enemy."
Emily: 20:37:29
all the town-burning around the hills
Emily: 20:37:32
mountains
The Dark Chieftain: 20:37:56
"And it seems to me that those agents of the elves who travel over the Mountains to my east, seeking to destroy our mutual enemies, should have my support."
Ember: 20:37:57
an intricate messenger system
Ember: 20:38:10
and a well-organized postal service
Emily: 20:38:27
well, we thank you for it, i'm sure
The Dark Chieftain: 20:38:33
"A postal service! next they will have an Empire! These things follow one another like day and night!"
Ryu: 20:38:35
have you noticed anything in their actions? What would be their main thrust of concern?
The Dark Chieftain: 20:39:04
"Ryu, I wish them not to take any of hte farming lands around the inner towns near here. It would affect our ability to feed ourselves this winter."
Emily: 20:39:25
you noticed something we took from the orcs when we last met (glances at oryndiel), what know you of it?
Ryu: 20:39:30
(Are these the lands near the mountains?)
The Dark Chieftain: 20:39:37
"Further," he addds, "were those folk flying over and attacking orcs in those mountains to stumble upon news of use to the Dunlendings, well..."
The Dark Chieftain: 20:39:44
"... I would pay for it."
The Dark Chieftain: 20:39:51
(Ryu, yes, around about where you are standing now)
Ryu: 20:39:55
(ka-ching)
Emily: 20:40:10
haha
Ember: 20:40:19
gently caresses the crotch-area of his bulging tights.
Emily: 20:40:31
what kind of news would be of use ?
Emily: 20:40:40
you seem quite well prepared and defended here
The Dark Chieftain: 20:40:44
"And who knows, in the future, when the Orcs have been settled and settlements need to be made with teh elves and the humans, perhaps a group of veteran soldiers who can speak honestly on behalf of hte peace of our varied kingdoms would be appreciated, and in time suitably rewarded."
Ryu: 20:40:50
(Thanks Orrie. You just made me laugh for the first time tonight)
Ember: 20:41:26
(The first time? I've been chuckling away like a billy goat this end, son).
Emily: 20:41:37
(awww, it's humourous/less rp)
The Dark Chieftain: 20:41:41
"Lotho, I'm sure there is much going on in this newfound organisation of which I need to know. What is with these undead armies, for instance? Who is behind this? Were you to find out such things, I might willingly contribute troops to a mission to destroy them."
Ryu: 20:41:54
(I just had a really shit day, that's all)
Emily: 20:42:26
well, it so happens those are things we seek to know ourselves
Ember: 20:42:35
(sends a squishy but purely platonic  skype hug to blue Ryu (h) )
The Dark Chieftain: 20:42:38
"Then we can be of mutual assistance to one another..."
Ryu: 20:42:46
(ok, my companions, shall we work with him?)
Ryu: 20:42:52
(thanks)
Ember: 20:43:04
(seems like that's what the fates have in store)
Emily: 20:43:11
sense motive?
Ryu: 20:43:17
yes
Emily: 20:43:18
(or will you laugh at me again?)
Ember: 20:43:24
aye
Drake: 20:43:29
yes
The Dark Chieftain: 20:43:30
(Oryndiel, you can offer to work with him like this and then sell him out to the elves, with or without the support of your fellow players)
The Dark Chieftain: 20:43:38
aye, 2d10 + sense motive
Emily: 20:43:38
doesn't like being laughed at by god, it seems somewhat... unfair
Ember: 20:43:48
17
The Dark Chieftain: 20:43:51
waves his huge mace at god
Emily: 20:43:55
20
The Dark Chieftain: 20:44:16
's mace has a huge spikey end
The Dark Chieftain: 20:44:27
you two think he seems an honest and worthy chap
The Dark Chieftain: 20:44:33
not entirely sure though...
The Dark Chieftain: 20:44:37
politics and all that...
Emily: 20:44:38
oh good :)
Emily: 20:44:42
hrumph
Ryu: 20:44:50
he's a politician after all.
Emily: 20:45:11
so, if we are helping each other... what do you know of the orcs and their comings and goings these days?
Ember: 20:45:15
just don't lend him your SIM card...
Emily: 20:45:21
:P
The Dark Chieftain: 20:45:27
(FOLKS: he is not just any politician, but hte first man to unite the Dunlendings in 1000 years. Until now they were warring tribes. He has bribed, stomped, assassinated, killed, intimidated, married or coerced a lot of people into doing everything he wants...)
Ryu: 20:45:29
booom
Emily: 20:45:32
(I'm not indian, so it's okay)
The Dark Chieftain: 20:45:41
(So he may seem honest, but you should bear in mind he has a lot of concerns...)
Ember: 20:45:56
(must tread carefully)
The Dark Chieftain: 20:46:01
(and also bear in mind that Phillip Ruddock is probably watching this conversation right now! This could be support for terrorism in the next election!)
Ember: 20:46:05
(and if all goes to shite ... FLEE!)
The Dark Chieftain: 20:46:18
(especially that redirected fireball... )
Emily: 20:46:26
(so, can we get any knowledge from him?)
The Dark Chieftain: 20:46:33
So do you give the Dark Chieftain a general sesne of agreeing to his nebulous scheme?
Emily: 20:46:35
or do we know everythin ghe does?
Emily: 20:46:46
certainly does
The Dark Chieftain: 20:46:48
YOu seem to know more about the Orcs than he does
Ryu: 20:46:55
We dont know what he'll tell us about the incense burner
Emily: 20:47:00
hrm
The Dark Chieftain: 20:47:01
Are you going to tell him everything you know?
Emily: 20:47:07
so what are your current plans for dealing with the orcs?
Emily: 20:47:17
doesn't know everything we know :P
Ember: 20:47:24
(Lotho asked that question before about the burner, but he said nowt)
Ryu: 20:47:26
(We don't know very much, so might as well. )
The Dark Chieftain: 20:47:33
"I wait to see what they will do, and eventually I suppose if they don't turn on each other as they always have, I will march out to destroy them"
Ember: 20:47:33
(we know nowt)
The Dark Chieftain: 20:47:45
(now is a better time to ask)
Ryu: 20:47:47
(so he was just in the battle by coincidence?)
The Dark Chieftain: 20:47:54
ryu: ask him?
Emily: 20:47:58
and how will you do that?
Ryu: 20:48:03
Yes
The Dark Chieftain: 20:48:18
"Lotho: with my soldiers. So any knowledge I have to help would be of great aid to me."
Ryu: 20:48:37
(something is still bothering me but I don't know what yet)
The Dark Chieftain: 20:48:51
"Ryu: I knew nothing about that burner. I was there to investigate rumours of an undead army, and show that walking corpses are not to be feared. Had I known of a censer, I would have come with 10 times the host i brought, and tried to storm your ship"
Emily: 20:48:56
well, we are aware, although lacking details, of a growing stabelising force amongst the orcs
The Dark Chieftain: 20:49:12
"yes, and I would like you to tell me more, Halfling"
Emily: 20:49:24
notes chieftains frankness
Emily: 20:49:28
can you fake frank?
The Dark Chieftain: 20:49:35
can fake anything
Ryu: 20:49:46
fake frank fake frank fake frank
Emily: 20:50:01
that's all we know atm, that and something about an orc-goblin allegiance
The Dark Chieftain: 20:50:05
frank fakes frankly fucking on his fife
Ryu: 20:50:28
nice.
Emily: 20:50:34
how do you fuck on a fife? they're awfully small arn't they? likely to get embedded
The Dark Chieftain: 20:50:36
"There may be something hidden behind this. Were you to learn more, I would be eager to assist you in destabilising or destroying the source of this allegiance."
The Dark Chieftain: 20:50:43
(attach a string)
Ryu: 20:50:59
"In return for what?"
Emily: 20:51:09
good to hear we have some support
Ember: 20:51:11
(was just thinking that)
Ryu: 20:51:14
(request explanation of string)
Emily: 20:51:17
(ryu, he wan'ts rid of them too!!!)
Ember: 20:51:34
string string string string striing!
Ryu: 20:51:34
(Lotho: can it be that simple?)
Emily: 20:51:42
i wasn't counting on the poncy elves to help out much
The Dark Chieftain: 20:51:43
"Ryu, the nature of any rewards would depend on the nature of the assistance granted."
Drake: 20:51:47
(refuses to hear about the string)
The Dark Chieftain: 20:51:58
(string: attach to fife: lose fife: employ string to avoid hospital trips)
Drake: 20:52:19
(fails his refusal)
Ember: 20:52:21
(I thought it meant there were strings attached to his deal with Yours Darkly)
The Dark Chieftain: 20:52:41
(No, sorry, shall we put asisde the side-smut for 5 minutes so we can negotiate this part frankly?)
Emily: 20:52:48
sure
Ember: 20:52:56
frankenfurt away
Emily: 20:52:59
maybe we need a <smut> tag
Ryu: 20:53:32
(Guys, I'm going to mention the big nest. good to have some human shield about. Unless you think it's a bad idea. We don't have any other place to go to, do we?)
Emily: 20:53:45
ummmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Emily: 20:54:04
no
Ryu: 20:54:21
(refuelling and resupplying as well. Which I assume will happen here)
Ryu: 20:54:42
(No to which? We won't tell him or?)
Ember: 20:54:51
(it could be a good test of DC's character if we go a-slaying with im)
Drake: 20:54:59
(i'd be happy to add to our havens with this camp)
The Dark Chieftain: 20:55:07
"Ryu, the nearest large town is south of yonder large mountain (the one you passed on the way in). YOu are welcome to resupply there"
The Dark Chieftain: 20:55:11
(This camp moves)
The Dark Chieftain: 20:55:20
(but the hillfort and yonder town are yours to use)
Ryu: 20:55:28
(Some camp moves.)
Emily: 20:55:32
(go for it ryu)
Ember: 20:55:40
(go the ryu)
Ryu: 20:55:40
Okey doke.
Ryu: 20:55:48
We do have another information.
Emily: 20:55:51
although, i'm not up for attacking the nest
The Dark Chieftain: 20:55:57
"Yes...?"
The Dark Chieftain: 20:55:58
(Lotho!)
Ember: 20:56:02
(we'll av back up)
Emily: 20:56:04
!
The Dark Chieftain: 20:56:16
(you're 8th level now, you can attack anythign!)
Ryu: 20:56:17
(No take-backs?)
Emily: 20:56:23
no take backs
The Dark Chieftain: 20:56:26
"Yes...?" He is waiting.
Emily: 20:56:28
he's waiting
Ryu: 20:56:40
There is a large nest, which is on the goblin network
The Dark Chieftain: 20:57:03
"And...?"
Emily: 20:57:04
... or so we've been told
Ryu: 20:57:06
(jump in anything guys)
The Dark Chieftain: 20:57:19
looks very interested
Emily: 20:57:30
*shrugs* we were thinking of checking it out
The Dark Chieftain: 20:57:37
"Is it large?"
Ryu: 20:57:37
It is well-guarded.
The Dark Chieftain: 20:57:45
"Perhaps you need men-at-arms?"
Emily: 20:57:49
we're told it is large, yes.
The Dark Chieftain: 20:57:54
(aka meat for the grinder)
Emily: 20:57:58
I think we need further information about it first
The Dark Chieftain: 20:58:15
"were you planning on raiding it?"
Emily: 20:58:17
no one likes wasted meat
Emily: 20:58:29
not before we investigate it
Emily: 20:58:39
but after, possibly, yes.
Ryu: 20:58:40
Raiding is.... clumsy. We are thinking of "investigating."
The Dark Chieftain: 20:58:41
"You would investigate it from shipboard?"
Ember: 20:58:44
some Top Secret winkling is required.
The Dark Chieftain: 20:58:56
"Ah, a reconnaissance in force? A forceful winkling?"
Ember: 20:59:10
Let it be known as Operation Winkle.
Ryu: 20:59:41
And it shall be so.
Emily: 20:59:43
indeed
Emily: 20:59:48
so
Emily: 21:00:02
we have only just learnt about this apparent orc nest and have not yet considered our plans
The Dark Chieftain: 21:00:03
"Perhaps I can grant you what you need. I can assign you, perhaps, 8 men at arms. return them to me intact if you choose not to raid this nest. Should you raid it, you may retain any survivors as your retainers."
Ryu: 21:00:03
(a ship's too attractive don't you think?)
The Dark Chieftain: 21:00:17
"everyone who eventually obtains land must have a retainer, no?"
Ember: 21:00:30
Sounds grand.
Ryu: 21:00:54
I think i just came.
The Dark Chieftain: 21:01:03
?
Drake: 21:01:03
(yes, his men in our company...)
Emily: 21:01:13
notes the slip from "don't trust those elves" to "look, I can promise you land too"
Ryu: 21:01:35
(well... we need human shields)
The Dark Chieftain: 21:01:38
"Done. Further, I have these bone tablets, which serve as tokens of safe passage in this part of my lands. Guard them wisely."
Emily: 21:01:38
looks askance at ryu
Ryu: 21:01:53
(plus if they're spies, we can get them killed "in action")
The Dark Chieftain: 21:01:56
claps his hands
The Dark Chieftain: 21:02:01
Two servants come in
The Dark Chieftain: 21:02:11
One is carrying a large cage swathed in dark cloth
The Dark Chieftain: 21:02:16
the other a piece of paper and pen.
The Dark Chieftain: 21:02:26
The paper and pen are handed to Bellack, who starts writing
Ryu: 21:02:31
looks askew at Lotho
Emily: 21:02:45
what can we expect from your lands if we don't (guard them wisely)?
The Dark Chieftain: 21:02:46
The cage is put on the table, and the Dark Chieftain pulls off the cover to reveal...
The Dark Chieftain: 21:03:08
... 3 bats, hanging silently from the top of the cage
Ember: 21:03:21
(wha...?)
The Dark Chieftain: 21:03:25
"These are messenger bats," he tells you. "They fly, obviously, only at night. They return to the hillfort."
Emily: 21:03:36
and in caves?
The Dark Chieftain: 21:03:42
"You may send me messages through these. Not terribly fast, but effective."
The Dark Chieftain: 21:03:48
"They will fly out of caves without losing their way."
Emily: 21:03:57
ah
Emily: 21:04:04
can we send msgs to each other, or only you?
The Dark Chieftain: 21:04:10
He takes the letter Bellack has written. "Take htis to the hillfort, where it will be read and used to give you 8 men at arms."
The Dark Chieftain: 21:04:43
"Should htey die, such is not unexpected. Send me word. return them to me if you do not need them. Should they survive, it is a boon, and you may keep them as retainers. Such is stated in the letter."
The Dark Chieftain: 21:04:58
(Bellack mentions that the bats only fly to the hillfort).
Drake: 21:05:00
(sorry all - MUST run or face strife... bye all)
Ryu: 21:05:12
bye
Ember: 21:05:22
ta-ta
The Dark Chieftain: 21:05:24
(You can go to the same town as Kerlig mentioned to get messages in return)
The Dark Chieftain: 21:05:26
Bye Drake
Ryu: 21:05:45
yhocutr iwbiifse
The Dark Chieftain: 21:06:00
anyway...
Ryu: 21:06:00
oops
The Dark Chieftain: 21:06:03
we are nearly at the end
The Dark Chieftain: 21:06:05
so
The Dark Chieftain: 21:06:09
you take the proferred stuff?
Ryu: 21:06:12
sorry - don't know what happen there
Ember: 21:06:27
come here, cute little batties...
Ryu: 21:06:27
Yes.
The Dark Chieftain: 21:06:32
Okay
Emily: 21:06:52
yup
The Dark Chieftain: 21:06:54
well, we can handle all that next session eh - restocking at said nearby town, getting men at arms, discusisng what that means, and then much much slaughter.
The Dark Chieftain: 21:07:00
In the meantime, you leave the Dark Chieftain
The Dark Chieftain: 21:07:08
quite unceremoniously.
The Dark Chieftain: 21:07:12
He thanks you graciously.
The Dark Chieftain: 21:07:14
You fly away.
Ryu: 21:07:25
hahahhahaha
The Dark Chieftain: 21:07:27
You all earn 3000 xps
Ember: 21:07:34
wow-wee!
The Dark Chieftain: 21:07:34
For negotiating a very good deal.
Emily: 21:07:36
ooo, new level!
Emily: 21:07:45
we did?
Ryu: 21:07:48
me too
The Dark Chieftain: 21:07:49
You did.
Emily: 21:07:58
are men at arms good?
The Dark Chieftain: 21:08:08
crap
The Dark Chieftain: 21:08:11
maybe 2nd level fighters
The Dark Chieftain: 21:08:13
BUT
The Dark Chieftain: 21:08:18
you can choose to use them as retainers
The Dark Chieftain: 21:08:23
in which case they get experience from the battles you fight
The Dark Chieftain: 21:08:26
gain levels... get useful
Ryu: 21:08:30
too bad if the doppelganger assumes the shape of one of our men.
The Dark Chieftain: 21:08:32
(if they live)
Emily: 21:08:36
ahhhh
The Dark Chieftain: 21:08:41
the downside of this is that more soldiers=less experience for you
Emily: 21:08:41
crap what?
The Dark Chieftain: 21:08:43
so there's a trade off
The Dark Chieftain: 21:08:55
men at arms are crap, Lotho
Emily: 21:08:57
not if they die! mwahaha
The Dark Chieftain: 21:08:58
cannon fodder
Ember: 21:09:12
aye, grist for the mill, blood for the grindstone
Emily: 21:09:13
so what ws the good deal?
The Dark Chieftain: 21:09:20
so you can choose to use them either way - as proper retainers, gaining power and being useful, or as Oryndiel says
Emily: 21:09:26
not being captured and tortured?
The Dark Chieftain: 21:09:49
the good deal: he basically promised you land, he offered to pay you for info, he implied jobs as diplomats in the future, he offered you soldiers, and he generally liked you
The Dark Chieftain: 21:10:17
(the soldiers were particularly unexpected, but even the direct offers of land and pay were not necessarily on the cards)
Emily: 21:10:26
so, points n skills n stuff?
The Dark Chieftain: 21:10:29
And yes, Ryu, that is one of the many downsides of having troops
The Dark Chieftain: 21:10:36
Lotho, shall we do that by email?
Emily: 21:10:37
or one of us
Emily: 21:10:42
ok!
The Dark Chieftain: 21:10:51
You have the players handbook now, why don't you see if you can work out what to do yourself?
Emily: 21:10:53
i can go eat yet more snackfood!
The Dark Chieftain: 21:10:57
yay!
Emily: 21:11:04
we do?
Ember: 21:11:08
is it freezing cold in Sidonee?
Ryu: 21:11:10
sense creature possible?
The Dark Chieftain: 21:11:15
I sent it to you on a cd, Lotho
The Dark Chieftain: 21:11:21
sighs
Ryu: 21:11:22
anyway
Emily: 21:11:27
oh yeah, i see it
Emily: 21:11:38
it's right at the end of the title
Emily: 21:11:43
pretty cold, yah
Ryu: 21:11:44
that was fun. You've put a lot of work in the descriptions today.
The Dark Chieftain: 21:11:48
don't fuss if you can't do it, I'll send you an email shortly with details
Emily: 21:11:53
cold enough i've been wimping out on swimming
The Dark Chieftain: 21:11:58
ooh
Ember: 21:12:05
we will be visiting in late Feb early March for a holiday!!!!!!!!
The Dark Chieftain: 21:12:06
I saw today it was 10 degrees...
Emily: 21:12:13
ooo, both of you?
The Dark Chieftain: 21:12:18
yep
Emily: 21:12:42
wonders if stuart is feeling okay.... thought you wern't gonna visit!?
Ember: 21:12:43
:)  ryu has to take me to that korean tofu place he was blogging about 
Emily: 21:12:51
didn't see that
Emily: 21:12:54
doesn't read blogs
The Dark Chieftain: 21:12:56
Lotho ... more money than I thought
Emily: 21:13:03
i did go to a goth club though
Emily: 21:13:05
ah, fair enough
The Dark Chieftain: 21:13:08
WHAT?!
Emily: 21:13:23
:P
Ember: 21:13:31
ooo which club?
The Dark Chieftain: 21:13:33
(this kosen job means I have enough cahs to get a new pc this summer, and pay for a trip to Oz in winter)
Ember: 21:13:37
have ya seen Mattski Moos?
Emily: 21:13:55
um, i dunno, some new one. only went cause matt (godden) told mebout it
Emily: 21:13:58
mattski was there
Emily: 21:14:07
playing poncy boring music
The Dark Chieftain: 21:14:08
was he off his tits?
The Dark Chieftain: 21:14:19
Ryu?
The Dark Chieftain: 21:14:21
sense creature?
Emily: 21:14:26
dont think so, i was drinking a few vodkas though
Ember: 21:14:28
David Rosenzweig has rendezvoused with mattski recently.
Ember: 21:14:34
any goss from the Moo?


The Dark Chieftain: 21:14:39
you mean for the Doppelganger?
Emily: 21:14:40
matt said.
Ryu: 21:14:46
Sorry, I only just read this
Emily: 21:14:53
nah, haven't spoken or heard from him since i arranged meeting with him n Dean
Ryu: 21:14:54
My internet connection is lagging
Emily: 21:15:00
don't expect he will contact me either
Ryu: 21:15:01
Apparently they had a smashing time
The Dark Chieftain: 21:15:06
me neither...
Emily: 21:15:12
moo
Ryu: 21:15:29
They went to see some crap community theatre next to the pub as they were given free tickets
Ryu: 21:15:47
A hip-hop act on Really Deep Issues.
Ember: 21:15:49
i heard the tamstar hamster will be in the us for 2 years.
Ember: 21:15:55
but i know nowt.
The Dark Chieftain: 21:16:05
weird, mine lagged too Ryu
The Dark Chieftain: 21:16:18
how strange
Emily: 21:16:32
yeah, i read that lj thing, and saw tammy's lj account closed shortly after
The Dark Chieftain: 21:16:40
was the community theatre like legs akimbo?
Emily: 21:16:42
don't spose you to are in touch with her?
The Dark Chieftain: 21:16:46
heh
The Dark Chieftain: 21:16:48
no chance Em
Ember: 21:16:51
nah.
The Dark Chieftain: 21:16:57
she only emails me to correct my japanese
Emily: 21:17:00
haha
Emily: 21:17:07
i feel kinda sorry for her
Emily: 21:17:11
:/
The Dark Chieftain: 21:17:12
?
Ryu: 21:17:15
DC: Well, I'm not ignoring people's conversations - just... not right up to the moment.
Emily: 21:17:27
oo, ryu: have you seen the new theatre thing on in sept?
The Dark Chieftain: 21:17:33
theatre talk...
Ryu: 21:17:35
DC: Yes, it was like legs akimbo
The Dark Chieftain: 21:17:37
yawns, bashes a peasant
The Dark Chieftain: 21:17:44
heh
Ryu: 21:17:46
Lotho: no? What is it/
Ember: 21:17:48
hey ryu - the editors are coming to sidonee, I heard
Ember: 21:17:56
you shd see 'em, they rock.
Ryu: 21:18:01
Orrie: Are they???
The Dark Chieftain: 21:18:04
(but we don't care, we will see motorhead AND the suicidals)
Ryu: 21:18:07
I have been really out of touch
Ember: 21:18:11
aye, aislinn is seeing them
Emily: 21:18:13
lemme find, something about building your own person (interactive/media/theatre thing
The Dark Chieftain: 21:18:14
not like you Ryu...
Ryu: 21:18:15
Work is getting me down lately
Ryu: 21:18:30
Lotho: that sounds fantastic
The Dark Chieftain: 21:18:32
yes I heard Aislinn is seeing all of them *at once*
Ryu: 21:18:37
Ryu: what isn't?
Ryu: 21:18:45
DC: I mean, what isn't like me?
The Dark Chieftain: 21:18:55
thinks, ponders, cogitates
Ember: 21:18:58
Watch the Mighty Boosh again, it'll cheer you up.
The Dark Chieftain: 21:18:58
a turtle?
The Dark Chieftain: 21:19:03
aye
Ember: 21:19:04
 I adore Vince Noir.
The Dark Chieftain: 21:19:09
oriental prince in a world of soup!
Ryu: 21:19:16
I don't have access to Mighty Boosh
Ryu: 21:19:22
Except on youTube
Emily: 21:19:28
ah hah! www.buildyourownbeing.com
The Dark Chieftain: 21:19:31
cheekbone: so cool its dated in 3 hours, and its delivered by ninjas!
The Dark Chieftain: 21:19:39
Ryu!
Ember: 21:19:42
"Use this Goth Super Hair Spray - it's made from Robert Smith's tears"
The Dark Chieftain: 21:19:43
bitTorrent, my man!
Ryu: 21:19:45
Please don't talk about food. I have no food in the house, and I haven't had dinner, and I haven't money to order out.
Emily: 21:19:46
i also saw Bracode
The Dark Chieftain: 21:19:55
bracode are old aren't they?
Ember: 21:19:56
wassthat?
Emily: 21:19:57
meep ryu
Ryu: 21:20:02
Ah yes, Bittorrent
The Dark Chieftain: 21:20:06
Ryu, Lotho is around the corner
Ryu: 21:20:06
Thanks Lotho!
Emily: 21:20:08
do you want me to order you some pizza?
The Dark Chieftain: 21:20:08
drop in on her and eat
Emily: 21:20:11
or something
Emily: 21:20:19
around the corner?
The Dark Chieftain: 21:20:26
I would send you sashimi, but you know... they don't make it out of flying fish
Emily: 21:20:29
arn't you in rozelle still?
Ember: 21:20:35
hee hee
The Dark Chieftain: 21:20:43
it's all around the corner from here...
Emily: 21:20:57
oh, yeah, i guess
Ryu: 21:21:02
Lotho: hehe, it's ok thanks for the offer though
The Dark Chieftain: 21:21:04
be careful Lotho, you order that pizza...
The Dark Chieftain: 21:21:07
i can see it now...
Ryu: 21:21:07
I'll just sleep
Emily: 21:21:08
could drop in on flashy too?
The Dark Chieftain: 21:21:16
Ryu in his moment of sadness goes adn blows somethihng up
Ryu: 21:21:19
Gawd. How Dickensian is that? Go to bed hungry.
Ember: 21:21:20
Flashy-boy ... is a grump!
The Dark Chieftain: 21:21:20
you aided and abetted a terrorist
The Dark Chieftain: 21:21:24
they'll deport you somewhere
The Dark Chieftain: 21:21:30
you can't eat Flashy, Lotho
The Dark Chieftain: 21:21:34
he's stringy
Ryu: 21:21:35
I should have the bloody consumption next
The Dark Chieftain: 21:21:38
and objects to being cooked
Ember: 21:21:42
toothpicks required
The Dark Chieftain: 21:21:48
your eggplant is more filling...
Ryu: 21:21:48
Bit Torrent is being sued by the way
Emily: 21:21:56
could too
The Dark Chieftain: 21:22:02
hrmph!
Emily: 21:22:03
(have been watching alf remember :P)
Emily: 21:22:27
has ryu gone?
Ember: 21:22:28
hey grems - stuart danced to psytrance
The Dark Chieftain: 21:22:33
what's up with Mr. Grump?
The Dark Chieftain: 21:22:39
Ryu, I mean, not eeyore.
Ember: 21:22:43
(dance) 
The Dark Chieftain: 21:22:45
why so Dickensian?
Ember: 21:22:47
it was fun!
Emily: 21:23:01
yeah, that's not new is it?
The Dark Chieftain: 21:23:02
ignores Oryndiel, and returns to his chill-out tent
Ryu: 21:23:04
I got lagged again
Ember: 21:23:13
first time in my book!
The Dark Chieftain: 21:23:17
gee, Oz has great broadband doesn't it?
Emily: 21:23:18
very lagged
Ember: 21:23:20
first time I seen it, anyways
The Dark Chieftain: 21:23:38
Oryndiel exaggerates
Ember: 21:23:39
anyway, i should retire for the eve
The Dark Chieftain: 21:23:40
It was the second
The Dark Chieftain: 21:23:47
Emma has to go be a poncy professional pedantic
Ember: 21:23:49
I'm a sleepy-woo.
The Dark Chieftain: 21:23:53
I have to go bludge
Emily: 21:23:55
haha, according to the ads we do!
The Dark Chieftain: 21:23:59
and plan your destruction.
Ember: 21:24:05
One more week of classes then hols - huzzah!
Ryu: 21:24:07
yes, quite.
The Dark Chieftain: 21:24:10
2 more weeks for me...
Emily: 21:24:19
aw, i want hols
Ryu: 21:24:19
have fun you crazy kids.
The Dark Chieftain: 21:24:20
... sigh..
Emily: 21:24:22
pouts
Ember: 21:24:32
Oyasumi Ryu and Grems (*) Fun playing with ye (but in a purely platonic way)
The Dark Chieftain: 21:24:34
offers to give the short halfling an eternal holiday
Emily: 21:24:37
nightnight
The Dark Chieftain: 21:24:40
goodnight all
Emily: 21:24:44
ug
Emily: 21:24:44
night
Ryu: 21:24:45
it was good tonight!
Ryu: 21:24:47
good night
The Dark Chieftain: 21:24:48
thanks for paying attention to the talkiness
Ember: 21:24:57
bysies!
Ryu: 21:25:00
thanks for not yelling at us
The Dark Chieftain: 21:25:01
byieee!
The Dark Chieftain: 21:25:10
my pleasure!
The Dark Chieftain: 21:25:13
bye!
Emily: 21:25:27
well.
Emily: 21:25:33
theres something very odd on sbs