A new, Old Era adventure

[Bynw]

[20:40]<Piper> Having only recently arrived in the thriving river community of Dovetown, you and Sister Snow have confered extensively with officials from the Church, as well as the local constabulary.
[20:41]<Piper> To clarify, you've learned the following important facts:
[20:42]<Piper> 1). ZZ Eliminator may very well be dead. However, it seems that his home has since become a prominent place of bardic learning, called Nightingale Academy.
[20:43]<Piper> 2). There is a recently widowed woman, fallen into disfavor with the local church, on account of her acts of Usary.
[20:44]* WarLord (~WarLord@48DFF2.199311.0335D9.873D9D) has left #teara-adan
[20:45]<Piper> 3). There are bandits active in the forests around Dovetown. The constanble has asserted a death penalty on any caught practicing banditry in these lands, as a result of three death steeming from various attacks. This also has lead the constable to fear that a Theives Guild might be trying to establish itself in the area...or worse.
[20:46]<Piper> Does that pretty much sum things up?
[20:46]<MTKnife> Pretty much.  Other than the fact that Julia has a fasciniating bum.
[20:47]<Piper> Yes. Tis true, indeed! Sister Snow, the devout Templar Knight, does in fact have a lovely bum.
[20:47]<Piper> Anyway...
[20:47]<MTKnife> That's IMPORTANT!
[20:48]<Piper> You were headed out of town, headed for Nightingale...in hopes that a couple of lone travelers might draw out these dispicable bandits.
[20:49]<Piper> roll 1 d6
[20:50]<Piper> What is the dice rolling command in here, Bynw?
[20:50]<Bynw> roll 4df
[20:50]<BoxCars> Bynw rolls 4df and gets ( )( )(+)( ) Good
[20:50]<Bynw> roll 1d6
[20:50]<BoxCars> Bynw rolls 1D6 and gets (3)
[20:50]<Piper> I just want to roll standard dice, for the moment.
[20:50]<MTKnife> Robert Piper, newly appointed Templar and former rancher of Dawson, Looks out over the road ahead, his leatehr duster blowing slightly in the wind.  He tilts his Stetson, and adjusts his gunbelt...
[20:50]<Piper> roll 1d6
[20:50]<+BoxCars> Piper rolls 1D6 and gets (5)
[20:51]<Piper> Very good. Thank you.
[20:51]<Piper> You have travel on, seeming quite tireless....stopping only to rest, water, and feed your horses.
[20:52]<MTKnife> I'm keeping a watchful eye on the sides of the road, looking for possible places of ambush.
[20:52]<Piper> You make fairly good time, for the roads weaving through Archer's Forest are very well maintained.
[20:54]<Piper> You make a good 32 miles before you simply MUST stop and camp. You are beginning to nod off in the saddle. Were your horses not so well trained, this might have become an issue long before now.
[20:55]<MTKnife> Robbie grumbles a bit at his own weariness, but finds a good place to set up a fire.
[20:55]<Piper> A bit blearly-eyed, you set up a small camp, build a fire, and fall into your bedrolls.
[20:56]<Piper> Being the senior Templar, Sister Snow takes the first watch.
[20:56]<Piper> roll 1d6
[20:56]<+BoxCars> Piper rolls 1D6 and gets (3)
[20:56]<MTKnife> Robbie looks like he'd like to argue, if he wasn't so damned sleepy. >
[20:56]<MTKnife> ****SNOOOOORE****
[20:57]<MTKnife> God, it's like a buzzsaw's running....
[20:57]<Piper> roll 4df
[20:57]<+BoxCars> Piper rolls 4df and gets (+)( )(+)(-) Good
[20:59]<Piper> You sleep without incident for a solid 3 hours, at which point the Sister awakens you. "Time for you to earn your spurs, Apprentice." she chides over heavy eyelids.
[21:00]<MTKnife> Mwah, huh?
[21:00]<MTKnife> Oh....Right....You set some sleep, then.
[21:00]<Piper> "Its /your/ watch, Squire Sleepytoes." he humpfs.
[21:01]<Piper> he = she
[21:01]<MTKnife> Robbie gets up, slipping into his chain shirt.  "Not a problem, Sister.  I'll watch over you."
[21:02]<Piper> "It was has been very quiet....though I'd swear I heard something in the trees, about three hours ago. It may have just been the local wildlife." she explains, slipping out of her breastplate and settling into her blankets.
[21:03]<MTKnife> "Hmmmm.  Most likely, but I'll keep an eye out."  He pulls out his gun, checking the chambers to make sure it's loaded.
[21:03]<Piper> "Be vigilant, Apprentice." she advises, almost slipping into slumber before the words have fully left her ruby lips.
[21:05]<MTKnife> Robbie smiles.  "Sweet dreams, Templar..." he murmurs, watching over the Sister with more than a bit of fondness.
[21:05]<Piper> roll 4 df
[21:05]<Piper> roll 4df
[21:05]<+BoxCars> Piper rolls 4df and gets (-)(-)( )(+) Mediocre
[21:05]<MTKnife> roll 4df
[21:05]<+BoxCars> MTKnife rolls 4df and gets ( )(+)(+)(-) Good
[21:05]<Piper> Roll me your Perception.
[21:05]<MTKnife> Okay.
[21:05]<Piper> Good man.
[21:06]<MTKnife> That would be Great, when using my Perception.
[21:07]<Piper> About an hour into your watch, you hear the crunch of underbrush echo out of the forest's murky darkness.
[21:08]<MTKnife> That brings Robbie's gun out and up, his head snapping to the direction of the sound.
[21:09]<Piper> As you gun clears leather, you hear a protracted grrrrrrooooowwwwwll.......high-pitched...odd...like that of a small dog.
[21:10]<MTKnife> He gets up in a ready position, scanning the trees for the source of the noise.
[21:11]<Piper> Perception, please.
[21:11]<Piper> roll 3df
[21:11]<+BoxCars> Piper rolls 3df and gets ( )(-)(-)
[21:11]<MTKnife> roll 5df
[21:11]<+BoxCars> MTKnife rolls 5df and gets ( )(+)( )( )(+)
[21:11]<Piper> Very nice.
[21:11]<MTKnife> Supurb
[21:12]<Piper> You catch a glimpse of movement...see the outline of shoulder. Average to somewhat smaller in height. Very lithe and slight of frame.
[21:13]<Piper> You hear the exertions of its breath as it runs...like a soft grunting sound.
[21:14]<MTKnife> Robbie nudges Julia's shoulder with his foot, watching the forest....
[21:15]<Piper> roll 6df
[21:15]<+BoxCars> Piper rolls 6df and gets ( )( )( )(-)( )(-)
[21:15]<Piper> Julia does not stir, held captive by the throes of Morpheus.
[21:17]<Piper> ...
[21:17]<MTKnife> Robbie frowns, and points the gun outward towards the growling.  "Y'all come out where I can see ya..."
[21:17]<Piper> Almost as if in answer to your cry, the brush around you explodes in a frenzy of action.
[21:18]<Piper> roll 1d6
[21:18]<+BoxCars> Piper rolls 1D6 and gets (4)
[21:18]<Piper> Four diminutive figures come rampaging toward you, brandishing small spear....howling in their shrill, animal-like caterwal.
[21:20]<MTKnife> Robbie calmly aims and fires, steel iin his eyes.
[21:20]<Piper> They look a bit reptilian...with more than a strong cannine influence. Feral in manner, thier pointy, yellow teeth gnash in the gloom...thier movements swift and vageuely child-like in fluidity.
[21:21]<Piper> INitiative.
[21:21]<Piper> roll 5 df
[21:21]<Piper> roll 5df
[21:21]<+BoxCars> Piper rolls 5df and gets (-)(+)(-)(-)( )
[21:21]<MTKnife> roll 8df
[21:21]<+BoxCars> MTKnife rolls 8df and gets (-)( )(+)(+)( )(-)( )( )
[21:21]<MTKnife> Supurb+2
[21:21]<Piper> I have a Fair result.
[21:22]<Piper> Phoo. Be my guest, oh, Holy Gunslinger.
[21:22]<MTKnife> Right.  *BANG*
[21:22]<Piper> Very eloquent, that.
[21:22]<MTKnife> roll 8df
[21:22]<+BoxCars> MTKnife rolls 8df and gets ( )(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(+)
[21:22]<MTKnife> Wow 0.0
[21:22]<Piper> Hmmm...
[21:23]<MTKnife> Still A Good result...
[21:23]<Piper> The recoil of your gun must loosen your travel-weary bowels, causing you to shit yerself.
[21:23]<MTKnife> But that's about as bad as Robbie can get.
[21:23]<Piper> Nice to know.
[21:24]<MTKnife> Actually a Great Result, keeping the high 4 is only -1
[21:25]<Piper> The oncoming marauder sees you targeting him just ashot as he  heartbeat too late. Desparate, he twists his small torso away from the blast, hoping to roll with it. His spear is held at the ready.
[21:26]<Piper> roll 4df
[21:26]<+BoxCars> Piper rolls 4df and gets ( )(+)( )(+) Great
[21:26]<Piper> He ties you.
[21:27]<Piper> As your gun discharges, the you watch as the bullet grazes the surface of its makeshift padding...not even scratching the beast.
[21:28]<MTKnife> Robbie mutters and un-Templarlike curse under his breath....
[21:28]<Piper> "Yarrg! Katte nuudu!" it snarls, thrusts his small spear at your soft belly.
[21:29]<MTKnife> Roll a Dodge?
[21:29]<Piper> Yes.
[21:30]<Piper> roll 5df
[21:30]<+BoxCars> Piper rolls 5df and gets (-)( )(+)(-)(+)
[21:30]<Piper> Poor result.
[21:30]<MTKnife> roll 6df
[21:30]<+BoxCars> MTKnife rolls 6df and gets ( )( )( )( )(-)(-)
[21:31]<MTKnife> Stays at Great.
[21:31]<Piper> OOC: Feel free to pose your evasion.
[21:32]<MTKnife> Robbie sees the spear coming, and steps slightly to the side, deflecting the spear with his hip as he tries to get another bead on the little monster.
[21:34]<Piper> As the next round begins, you will suffer the penalties consumate with multiple opponents.
[21:35]<MTKnife> MArvelous.
[21:36]<MTKnife> What is that penalty, BTW?
[21:38]<Piper> -2
[21:38]<Piper> Its -1 for everyo combatant after the first.
[21:39]<MTKnife> Okay, does that apply to init?
[21:40]<Piper> No
[21:40]<MTKnife> roll 8d6
[21:40]<+BoxCars> MTKnife rolls 8D6 and gets (20)
[21:40]<MTKnife> roll 8df
[21:40]<+BoxCars> MTKnife rolls 8df and gets (-)(-)( )(+)( )(-)(+)(-)
[21:40]<Piper> roll 4df
[21:40]<+BoxCars> Piper rolls 4df and gets (-)(+)( )( ) Fair
[21:40]<MTKnife> Supurb+2
[21:40]<Piper> Fair here.
[21:40]<Piper> You go first.
[21:40]<MTKnife> +3. actually.
[21:40]<MTKnife> Okay....
[21:41]<MTKnife> roll 6df
[21:41]<+BoxCars> MTKnife rolls 6df and gets ( )(-)( )(+)(+)( )
[21:41]<MTKnife> Supurb+1
[21:42]<Piper> roll 6 df
[21:42]<Piper> roll 6df
[21:42]<+BoxCars> Piper rolls 6df and gets ( )(-)( )(-)( )( )
[21:43]<Piper> Poor Defense.
[21:43]<Piper> OOC: Describe yoru attack.
[21:45]<MTKnife> Robbie whirls around, aiming for center of mass on the creature, and pulling the trigger with a blast of finality.
[21:46]<Piper> Lucky once, but failing entirely on the second foray, the creature is caught flat-foot before the barrel of yoru revolver. His eyes widen in dull realization, just before the muzzle flash.
[21:46]<Piper> damage, please.
[21:47]<MTKnife> 4df
[21:47]<Piper> There is nothing to subtract form your damage.
[21:47]<MTKnife> roll 4df
[21:47]<+BoxCars> MTKnife rolls 4df and gets ( )(-)(+)(+) Good
[21:47]<Piper> Remember, his failed defense ups you by +2
[21:48]<MTKnife> My DF is 6, my gun's DF is 3, and I got +1
[21:48]<MTKnife> 10 altogether.
[21:49]<MTKnife> 12 with the bonus
[21:50]<Piper> With the sound of mighty Arran thunder, a hole the size of a human fist appears in the creature's chest. The force of the concussion drives him back onto the ground, as if he'd been hit by a speeding horse.
[21:50]<MTKnife> That awaken the sleeping beauty?
[21:51]<Piper> OH yes. In fact, your first gunshot was sufficient to do that. She is presently jumping from her bedroll and grabbing for her katana. Her presense in combat will not, however, affect your penalties this round.
[21:52]<MTKnife> GOtcha.
[21:52]<Piper> However, the death of your opponent lowers you to only -2 this round.
[21:52]<Piper> Er....-1, I mean.
[21:53]<MTKnife> Okay.  Want me to roll a Dodge?
[21:53]<Piper> NO...-3. There are four of them.
[21:53]<MTKnife> Ick!
[21:53]<MTKnife> Good thing I'm wearing chain...
[21:53]<Piper> There were four...now three...so you are at -2.
[21:53]<Piper> Sorry. Got my math confused.
[21:53]<MTKnife> Down to Fair.
[21:53]<MTKnife> roll 4df
[21:53]<+BoxCars> MTKnife rolls 4df and gets (+)(+)(-)( ) Good
[21:54]<MTKnife> ANd back up to Good!
[21:54]<Piper> roll 5df
[21:54]<+BoxCars> Piper rolls 5df and gets (-)(-)(-)(-)(+)
[21:54]<Piper> roll 5df
[21:54]<+BoxCars> Piper rolls 5df and gets ( )( )(-)(-)(+)
[21:54]<Piper> roll 5df
[21:54]<+BoxCars> Piper rolls 5df and gets ( )(-)( )(-)(-)
[21:54]<MTKnife> WOOT!
[21:54]<MTKnife> You guys suck!
[21:55]<Piper> -4....-2....-3....
[21:55]<MTKnife> Robbie spins to the side, easily avoiding the clumsy attemps to spear him...
[21:56]<Piper> Abyssmal -1....Terrible...Abyssmal
[21:56]<MTKnife> Definitely a no-hitter.
[21:56]<MTKnife> BRB, Punch 'n Pie break.
[21:58]<MTKnife> OKay....Next round?
[21:58]<Piper> Three little savages move in a constant blur around you, thier actions seeming more like the desparate efforts of awkward children compared with the keen skills of your Templar training.
[21:59]<Piper> Init. Sister Snow will join you now. Its 3 against 2 now. The present penalty for you is -1.
[22:00]<MTKnife> roll 8df
[22:00]<+BoxCars> MTKnife rolls 8df and gets (+)(+)(+)( )(+)( )( )(-)
[22:00]<Piper> roll 6df
[22:00]<+BoxCars> Piper rolls 6df and gets (+)(-)(+)( )( )( )
[22:00]<MTKnife> Oh, yeah, gotta love starting out Init at Supurb+1.
[22:00]<Piper> Epic intitiative for Sister Snow.
[22:00]<Piper> roll 4 df
[22:00]<Piper> roll 4df
[22:00]<+BoxCars> Piper rolls 4df and gets (+)(+)(+)( ) Superb
[22:01]<Piper> Superb for the Bad Guys.
[22:01]<MTKnife> Superb+4 for Robbie
[22:02]<Piper> You and Sister Snow have Epic init.
[22:02]<Piper> OKay. NM. Hard to keep up.
[22:02]<Piper> You beat them.
[22:02]<MTKnife> *noddle*
[22:02]<Piper> Feel free.
[22:03]<MTKnife> Okay, Robbie aims for the crotch of one of 'em...
[22:03]<MTKnife> roll 8df
[22:03]<+BoxCars> MTKnife rolls 8df and gets (-)(+)( )(-)(+)(+)( )(-)
[22:03]<MTKnife> Superb+4
[22:03]<Piper> The three savages regroup hastily....two try attacking Sister Snow...as she is the least armored.
[22:04]<Piper> The last of the beasts lowers his head and -charges- you with his spear, all out attacking at +2.
[22:04]<MTKnife> Okay.  Is he the one I'm blasting?
[22:04]<Piper> The two beasts on Sister Snow are trying an inexpert flanking strategy.
[22:05]<Piper> Don't ask...TELL. Its your character.
[22:05]<Piper> Your first combatant is dead.
[22:06]<Piper> I assume your sighting in on a new opponent...unless you wish to keep attacking the dead guy.
[22:06]<MTKnife> Robbie's gun goes off again, as he smoothly moves to the next target.  Aiming just a little lower than body mass this time, as their attention to attacking Julia irks his innate gallantry.
[22:07]<Piper> Verynice.
[22:07]<Piper> roll 6df
[22:07]<+BoxCars> Piper rolls 6df and gets (+)(+)(-)(+)( )( )
[22:08]<Piper> roll 1df
[22:08]<+BoxCars> Piper rolls 1df and gets (+)
[22:08]<Piper> Terrible defense.
[22:09]<Piper> Correction. Terrible Defesne.
[22:09]<Piper> Grrr....
[22:09]<MTKnife> I think one of the little guys is losing his chance to have children.
[22:09]<Piper> Corerction. Poor Defense.
[22:09]<Piper> Damage. Nothing to soak.
[22:10]<MTKnife> roll 4df
[22:10]<+BoxCars> MTKnife rolls 4df and gets (-)(+)( )(-) Mediocre
[22:11]<MTKnife> 9 DF, 3 Pistol DF, -1 roll.
[22:11]<MTKnife> 11 total
[22:13]<Piper> Again...another hole appears in the small creature. This particular hole appears between its spindley legs, bascially obliterating its hips and thighs. In a blood splat, the little menance drops to the forest floor, as a marionette whose strings are suddenly cut.
[22:14]<Piper> Gorey....
[22:15]<MTKnife> Yeah, well...he was going after my Templar cutie.
[22:15]<MTKnife> Which should be pointed out, BTW.  He targeted one of her opponents, not his.
[22:15]<MTKnife> That innate gallantry, y'know.
[22:16]<Piper> That single, painful yelp is so shrill and empathically inspired that you literally feel a sensation liek ice water rushing over your own reproductive centers.
[22:17]<Piper> Sister Snow rises into a tornadic spin, ascending like a dust devil from the ground, that gleaming katana whirling around her body, threatening all comers with its deadly arc.
[22:18]<MTKnife> WHich is another sensation to one's reproductive centers....
[22:18]<Piper> roll 7df
[22:18]<+BoxCars> Piper rolls 7df and gets (-)( )( )(+)( )( )(-)
[22:18]<Piper> Superb
[22:19]<Piper> roll 4df
[22:19]<+BoxCars> Piper rolls 4df and gets (+)(+)(+)(+) Epic
[22:19]<Piper> WOW! O_O
[22:20]<MTKnife> Studly little critter!
[22:21]<Piper> Their strategy is well coordinated and time, producing and Epic defense on behalf of the two creatures. They keep low, moving in below the sister's slashing blade to take full advantage of the reach afforded by thier weapons.
[22:23]<Piper> That will give them both a +1 on thier attacck.
[22:23]<Piper>  roll 5df
[22:23]<+BoxCars> Piper rolls 5df and gets ( )( )(-)(+)(+)
[22:23]<Piper> roll 5df
[22:23]<+BoxCars> Piper rolls 5df and gets ( )(-)( )(-)(-)
[22:23]<Piper> Great...and Poor...for thier attacks.
[22:24]<Piper> roll 6df
[22:24]<+BoxCars> Piper rolls 6df and gets ( )( )(-)(+)(-)(+)
[22:24]<Piper> Epic Defense by the sister.
[22:25]<Piper> Actually...I need to re-roll. I didn't account for he minus.
[22:25]<Piper> roll 5df
[22:25]<+BoxCars> Piper rolls 5df and gets ( )(+)(-)(+)(+)
[22:25]<MTKnife> Better roll!
[22:25]<Piper> Legendary defense.
[22:26]<Piper> The sister rising to a standing position, using her momentum to carrying her into a backward flip, caring in a sideways arc, over the stabbing spears of the offending beasts.
[22:28]<Piper> The fluency of motion, sheer timing, and thoughtless consumance of the actions is a true spectacle ot behold.
[22:28]<Piper> actions = action
[22:29]<Piper> In fact....upon seeing this...the two remaining aggressors break and run. They see this now as a futile battle they cannot win. You are too strong,
[22:29]<Piper> New init.
[22:30]<MTKnife> 8df
[22:31]<MTKnife> roll 8df
[22:31]<+BoxCars> MTKnife rolls 8df and gets ( )( )(+)(+)(-)(-)( )( )
[22:31]<Piper> roll 4df
[22:31]<+BoxCars> Piper rolls 4df and gets (-)(-)( )( ) Poor
[22:31]<Piper> roll 6df
[22:31]<+BoxCars> Piper rolls 6df and gets ( )(+)(+)(+)(-)(-)
[22:31]<Piper> YOu may attack, or well can simply assume that you collectively END THEM!!!
[22:32]<MTKnife> Yeah, we finish them off.  Can't have them attacking other unsuspecting travelers!
[22:33]<Piper> Two rounds later you are liberally spattered with the lifeblood of the retreating kobold. 
[22:36]<MTKnife> Robbie takes the little bodies, puytting them into the fire.
[22:36]<Piper> Sister Snow regards the fallen with a derisive and grim satisfaction. "You did rather well, Piper." she concedes, using a tatter of cloth to clean the visera from the elegant turn of her curved blace.
[22:37]<Piper> The smell of burning kobold is more than just a little foul.
[22:37]<MTKnife> Robbie grins.  "You didn't do too bad yerself..."
[22:38]<Piper> Bah... You definitely got all the action on that little frackus.
[22:38]<MTKnife> "Only cuz it happened on ma watch, darlin'"
[22:39]<Piper> Sorry for being so slow on the draw. I may have over-exerted myself in our travels today.
[22:39]<Piper> I'd rather expected to stay in Dovetown forthe night. But its no matter.
[22:41]<MTKnife> Well, get 'smore rest.  We'll leave in a few hours.
[22:42]<Piper> OKay.
[22:42]<Piper> She settles back into her bedroll, looking rather grateful. She snoozes deeply until dawn.
[22:44]<Piper> Upon rising, you have a hastey breakfast of trail porridge and bisciuts before setting off again for Nightinggale Academy.
[22:44]<Piper> roll 1d6
[22:44]<+BoxCars> Piper rolls 1D6 and gets (2)
[22:46]<Piper> You travel along for a span of eight miles before stopping for lunch. The forest is dense in this area, with a thick canopy that allows only a dim illumination to stream through the infrequent breaks. It is for this reason, that you chose a particularly nice, well-lit clearing to make your midday camp.
[22:47]<Piper> You've likely shot yourself a couple of rabbits or squirrels prior to stopping, and are now simming a luscious little pot of stew and forest tubers for your tasty repast.
[22:49]<Piper> With a few pinches of flour and some of the abundant forest herbs and mushrooms, gathered by Sister Snow, you are soon enjoying a very savory stew with a rich, gravy-like base.
[22:49]<Piper> Mmmm.
[22:50]<MTKnife> Robbie gobbles up his portion, and makes a long rolling belch in contentment.
[22:51]<Piper> Sister Snow eyes you with a lofted brow, her one eye carrying a mildly reproving glare.
[22:51]<MTKnife> "Whut?" O.O
[22:51]<Piper> "You really are a just a cattle wrangler at heart, aren't you?" she states simply.
[22:52]<Piper>  "You really are just a cattle wrangler at heart, aren't you?" she states simply.
[22:52]<MTKnife> Born and bred.
[22:52]* Piper shakes her head a bit. "I was born and raised in the church."
[22:53]<MTKnife> Y'ever feel like you missed out on things?
[22:54]<Piper> "It is the reason I am here, and not kneeling in some nunnery right now."
[22:55]<MTKnife> Robbie nods. "You're more than just church-born, darlin'.  You got fire in you."
[22:56]<Piper> "When I came of age, I was given to realize that there was alot more to the world that what I'd been given to see up to that point.
[22:56]<Piper> I knew then I needed to go out... Walk the world.
[22:58]<Piper> There just seemed to be so many truth yet to discover. And rather than sit about, praying for deliverance...I sought to become the deliverer.
[22:58]<Piper> That life suits my mother....but I've learned so much.
[22:59]<Piper> There are things in this world that need fighting for.
[22:59]<MTKnife> Robbie nods. "Guess we do a good job fightin' 'em. "
[23:00]<MTKnife> He gets up, slapping his knees.  "Well, you ready to move out?"
[23:00]<Piper> I know that my place is on the line...ready to serve God's purpose....ready to go where his will takes me.
[23:01]<Piper> She finishes stowing your gear and mounts her horse. "Yes. Lets be off. If the sherrif's map is true...we should reach Nightinggale with the next three days."
[23:01]<Piper> roll 1d6
[23:01]<+BoxCars> Piper rolls 1D6 and gets (6)
[23:03]<Piper> Its a great day for traveling, you think. Its just after midday...you've had a wonderful meal...and the day's heat is greatly retarded by the forest's canopy. You make an excellent 32 more miles before you stop to make camp again. That's making good time by anyone's standards.
[23:04]<Piper> roll 1d6
[23:04]<+BoxCars> Piper rolls 1D6 and gets (3)
[23:04]<Piper> The horses need a good long rest, brother. I suggest we bed down here for at least a day.
[23:05]<MTKnife> Robbie seems to be in a great mood, been whistlin' trail songs 'n generally feelin' fine.
[23:05]<MTKnife> "That's a fact, sister.  Looks like a good place to bed down."
[23:05]<Piper> According to the sheriff's map, there are some mounds and caves to our North. That would be an excellent place to hold up.
[23:06]* TheDeryni (~TD@Husband.Author.Wiseass) has joined #teara-adan
[23:06]<Piper> And to be true, I do with a chance to wash myself.
[23:06]<Piper> And to be true, I could do with a chance to wash myself.
[23:06]<MTKnife> "Assumin' there ain't no critters in 'em..."
[23:06]<Piper> "I trust that we can handle most anything we encounter out here, Brother Piper.
[23:07]<Piper> Roll Perception.
[23:07]<MTKnife> Robbie grins.  "Jest thinkin' ahead, darlin'."
[23:07]<Piper> roll 5df
[23:07]<+BoxCars> Piper rolls 5df and gets (+)(-)(-)(-)(+)
[23:07]<MTKnife> roll 5df
[23:07]<+BoxCars> MTKnife rolls 5df and gets (+)(+)( )(+)(-)
[23:08]<Piper> With the hour, Robby, you have scouted out the likeliest campsite and found a hollwed-out mound at the back of a towering black sequoia.
[23:09]<MTKnife> "Julia!  Over here..."
[23:09]<Piper> Its sheltered from the elements and mostly undercover.
[23:09]<MTKnife> "This'll do us right fine, Ah think..."
[23:09]<Piper> *she rides over to the area where you are*
[23:10]<Piper> Julia smiles and csts her sparkling eyes about. "Its perfect!" she chimes. "We couldn't ask for a better sojourn."
[23:11]<Piper> This works out quite nicely, as there is a shallow creek just over those hills and to the east.
[23:11]<MTKnife> Robbie grins, and affects a more citified accent.  "Then I shall prepare your bed, ma'am...."
[23:12]<Piper> Its a bit of a walk...but I could stand to be off my saddle sores for a bit.
[23:12]<Piper> Sister Snow goes off in search of game for your supper.
[23:12]<Piper> roll 4df
[23:12]<+BoxCars> Piper rolls 4df and gets ( )( )(+)(+) Great
[23:12]<MTKnife> Robbie in the meantime, sets up a nice trail camp.
[23:13]<Piper> She comes back a time later, have bathed herself in the creek, and is carrying a couple of small prairie hens.
[23:14]<Piper> Sister Snow sits by the fire and begins plucking the birds. "Its really true what they say about you Arrans..."
[23:15]<MTKnife> Robbie is cleaning his gun on a leather skin... "True about what?"
[23:16]<Piper> "The Krugers...your ingenuity... I purchased one a Kruger Bow while I was in Dovetown. It seemed foolish to do so."
[23:17]<Piper> "One doesn't visit such a prestigious place without getting a souvenir, and such a thing is very practical."
[23:17]<Piper> The range is amazing.
[23:18]<Piper> Also... I can see why he prized the forests of Dovetown for thier lumber.
[23:18]<Piper> This place is fantastical.
[23:19]<Piper> And speaking of fantastical things...
[23:19]<Piper> I'd liek to ask your opinion of somthing, Robby.
[23:20]<MTKnife> "Oh?  You have it. "
[23:20]<Piper> Its about that girl we rescued, from Sherman Oaks.
[23:22]<MTKnife> "Chasitiy?  What about her?"
[23:22]<Piper> They were expecting her at Firestone Manor, right?
[23:23]<MTKnife> YEah, they were...
[23:23]<Piper> And the Lord there....
[23:23]<Piper> He was a psionic....
[23:24]<Piper> I'm sure of it...
[23:24]<Piper> Which suggests to me that Chastity is perhaps a bit more special than she seems.
[23:25]<MTKnife> Psionic? That sum speical kinda magic?
[23:26]<Piper> And judging from how readily the locals were willing to offer her up as a human sacrifice....I wonder if she might possibly be....Deryni. :/
[23:26]<Piper> Psionics, my young apprentice...are powers of the mind.
[23:27]<Piper> They are something altogether onto themselves. Apart from magic...and apart from Garymarye.
[23:27]<MTKnife> Hmmmmm. Mind powers?  I aint learned about those yet...
[23:27]<Piper> They are force of great mystique. Not much is known about them.
[23:28]<Piper> Occasionally, you will find someone with a wild talent...but Deryni, especially, possessed these power in a much more refine and disciplined fashion.
[23:29]<Piper> Its written that Sain Marshawll was, himself, Deryni.
[23:29]<MTKnife> Hmmmmm. How's mind powers all that different from Greymare?
[23:30]<Piper> I couldn't begin to informatively answer that question, apprentice.
[23:30]<Piper> Suffice it to say that there is magic...and then there is psionics.
[23:31]<MTKnife> Robbie grins.  "Well, Chas is a special little lady.  Wouldn't surprise me t'all that she's got the gift..."
[23:31]<Piper> One power is externally gathered..the other is interanally gathered.
[23:31]<MTKnife> Oh!  So it's like mana, but from yerself rather than from the land...
[23:31]<Piper> Mmm.. I was just thinking that, perhaps...we might ought to keep our eye on her.
[23:32]<Piper> For her on well-being.
[23:32]<Piper> For her own well-being.
[23:32]<MTKnife> "Hell, I was already plannin' on that...she's been thru too much."
[23:34]<Piper> I completely agree with you, and a girl with that kind of potential could manipulated in some very undesireable ways unless she's very on her guard.
[23:34]<MTKnife> Robbie nods, frowning.  "You think the Firestone folk'd do that?"
[23:35]<Piper> Hmm... I couldn't say.
[23:35]<MTKnife> "Hey!  Ain't there s'posed to be a shring 'r sumpthing to Marshawll 'round these parts?"
[23:35]<Piper> All I know is that the livery on the Lord's cloak looked very familiar to me.
[23:36]<Piper> Hmm?
[23:36]<Piper> Are you talking about stories of Quiet Castle?
[23:37]<MTKnife> "Yeah!  I'll bet that there's somethin' that could help out Chas there...mebbe help protect her."
[23:37]<Piper> Hmmm....
[23:38]<MTKnife> "Very least, we should pay out respects, if'n were in the area."
[23:38]<Piper> I've not the slightest idea where one would even begin to look for such a place, but perhaps the bards at Nightinggale might have some lore.
[23:38]<MTKnife> out=our
[23:38]<Piper> Quiet Castle is just a story...
[23:38]<MTKnife> Robbie nods.  "Welp, one more thing ta ask the bards 'bout. "
[23:39]<Piper> I don't even know if its remotely close to Abronn.
[23:39]<MTKnife> "Might be more'n a story, tho."
[23:40]<Piper> Sister Snow chuckles. "Well...we're moving into the realms of ancient legend. I mean, if you believe the tales of Quiet Castle, you might as well believe the tales of Fantasy Island."
[23:40]<MTKnife> RObbie laughs.  "Fantasy Island? Sounds like a right fine place. "
[23:42]<Piper> Near the end of his life, they say that Marshawll had found secrets to unlock deep powers of the subconscious. They say her could literally create life...and in some cases...make dreams into reality.
[23:42]<MTKnife> "Huh! Fantasies come true?"
[23:43]<Piper> And well...the proof can be found in the miracle of Marshawll's Kiss.
[23:43]<MTKnife> "His Kiss?"
[23:46]<Piper> When Lady Iceres wrought unthinkable devastation across the world, supposedly in the grip of some terrible madness, it is written that Lord Marshawll looked down from above and, oer the course of a day, literally undid the worst of it. It was as though, in some respects...the destruction never happened.
[23:47]<Piper> Was was made pure. The dead awoke. They blind were made to seen. Things like that. For them that believe, they were delivered.
[23:47]<Piper> Was = Water
[23:48]<MTKnife> Wow. Armageddon in reverse...
[23:48]<Piper> For them that believed...they were delivered from the Nightmare.
[23:49]<Piper> Many non-believers in the miracle simply say thatthe damage simply wasn't as bad as initially thought.
[23:49]<MTKnife> Hmmmmmmm.
[23:50]<MTKnife> ANd you think Chas might have a touch of this kind of power?
[23:50]<Piper> Either way...there is a great church there, now, at what was one the heart of the devastation.
[23:51]<Piper> And here is something else, Robby...
[23:52]<MTKnife> Robbie looks over at Julia, a bit troubled.
[23:53]<Piper> Did you know that, after The Kiss, a breed of highly intelligent horses, with luminious black bodies and silvery manes appeared in that region of Terra Adan?
[23:53]<Piper> They are greatly prized by the Inquisitors of Marshawll.
[23:54]<MTKnife> Robbie blinks.  "Like Shepard Joss's horse?"
[23:54]<Piper> Percisely!
[23:54]<MTKnife> "I ain't never seen it's equal, and that's a fact."
[23:56]<Piper> They are some of the most highly sought creatures for Paladinic mount.
[23:56]<Piper> Anyway... Get some rest, Apprentice.
[23:56]<Piper> We'll rest tomorrow...make prayers and offerings...thens et out the next morning.
[23:57]<MTKnife> "A'right..."
[23:58]<MTKnife> Next morning, Robbie takes the time to get himself all bathed 'n such.
[23:58]<Piper> Sister Snow spends the morning in prayer and meditation.
[23:59]<Piper> She spends the afternnon and midday practicing with her new bow.