Session Start: Sat Oct 04 12:26:22 2003

<ST> Okay. You have heard about an Eshu named Sir Seif

<ST> And he is holding a sword that your oath-circle is interesed in 
because it was High King David's.

<ST> This sword only goes to a high king or to someone whom it wants 
to find a High King.

<ST> The fact that the sword is in Sir Seif's hands but he refuses to 
use it indicates to your Sorceress Sidhe friend among others that 
High King David is still alive.

<ST> It is very important to Eshus that David be found.  This is in 
the kith book.

<ST> So, anyway, you're not an inexperienced Eshu, and you want to 
meet Ayame, the seneschal of the Teahouse in Washington, because...

<ST> (a) she is Liam, and you are somewhat attracted to Liam, though 
you usually don't like Sidhe very much.

<ST> (b) she has Soothsay at a very high level

<ST> (c) you have heard a rumour that she knows something about the 
Cup of Dreams

<ST> (d) it might be fun to go to a teahouse

<ST> (e) you want to investigate the whereabouts of Sir Seif, since 
you have heard that the sword Sir Seif bears will take him or someone 
else to the place where High King David is

<ST> (f) you think a Soothsayer could give you information

<ST> (g) you are ISHU!

<ST> Your sorceress friend has offered to Flicker Flash you to 
Washington, and I want to know if you're prepared to risk it, going 
halfway around the world, nobody else with you.  Entirely a character 
decision.  No rolling.

<Ishu> Yep!

<Ishu> *poof*

<ST> Kay.  You're in Washington.  You may get a great Tale out of 
this one.

<Ishu> Sweeeeet.

<Ishu> *looks around, slightly confused, but hey! He's where he's 
supposed to be*

<Ishu> (... He thinks.)

<ST> You are in a seedy part of town.  Roll perception + kenning 
difficulty 6.

<Ishu> Botch.

<Ishu> *looks lost*

<ST> Great.  You see a very Goth looking girl leaning on the lamp 
post looking at you.

<Ishu> *nods politely* (Does he know where the teahouse is 
supposed to be?)

<ST> (no)

<ST> Girl looks you up and down, smiles invitingly.

<Ishu> "Eeeto.... pardon me, miss... would you happen to know 
which way I should go to get to the Teahouse?"

<Ishu> *looks slightly embarrased. o_O*

<Ishu> *gives his best smile, in that case*

<ST> [girl]  You look like you need a drink, okay.  Why not come with 
me.  We can... talk.

<Ishu> "Um... alright, thank you. ^^;; "

<Ishu> (*looks at his feet* *thinks: Work! Work!*)

<ST> [girl]  I can give you tea. Come with me.

<Ishu> *follows girl* (He is very trusting)

<ST> [she takes Ishu's hand.}

<Ishu> *blinks*

<Ishu> "We... haven't met before, have we?"

<Ishu> (Ishu is lost!)

<ST> [girl]  I know an Eshu when I see one.  But no, you don't know 
me.  My name is Gladheart.  [she looks very cynical at this.]

<Ishu> "Ah. :) Good to meet you then, Ms. Gladheart. My friends call 
me Ishu."

<ST> [girl]  "Are you having me on?"

<Ishu> *blinks and look confused... he obviously doesn't know what 
she's talking about*

<Ishu> "I'm... just looking for a teahouse, actually..."

<ST> [girl] "Never mind.  You like spiders, don't you?"

<Ishu> "Yes! I like their webs in the morning when I'm outside. I 
take it you're Sluagh, then?"

<Ishu> "Do you work at the teahouse?"

<ST> [girl] "I take it you're not from around here.  You should come 
with me to Shiv's place.

<Ishu> "No, not exactly. ^^;; Who's Shiv?"

<ST> [girl] "Ya gotta ask, you're in trouble, sweetie."

<Ishu> *blushes, and looks embrassed* "You're probably right."

<ST> [girl] What you want to know about the teahouse for?"

<Ishu> "Thanks for your help, though."

<Ishu> "I'm supposed to be meeting a friend-of-a-friend, there."

<Ishu> "I really wasn't given good instructions, though. But there's 
probably a reason for that. *looks cheery*"

<ST> [girl]  "Hey, don't rush off.  It so happens Shiv's probably at 
the teahouse right now.  Just take a cab, ask for the Glass House.  
That's what they call it.  The Glass house."

<Ishu> *looks INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL*

<ST> [girl] "Stupid name for it.  No glass in it."

<Ishu> "Thank you so much! I'll do that right away!"

<ST> [girl] What do you know?

<Ishu> "Oh? Weird. :) But maybe there's a story behind it. ;) "

<ST> [girl] "I don't give away info for free, you know."

<Ishu> "Ah, I see."

<Ishu> *pauses and thinks*

<ST> "So tell me something I don't know."

<ST> [girl was talking there.]

<Ishu> "Hrm. Do you know about the Tennyo of Japan?"

<ST> [girl].  Nope.

<Ishu> "Ah! Well, in Japan, the Kith tend to more closely resemble 
the people's own myths and legends, so there are the most incredibly 
beautiful Fae called Tennyo... it means "Heavenly Maidens"."

<ST> [girl] "Sounds like they fly."

<Ishu> "Sort of similar to the Japanese power structure, the Tennyo, 
like the Emperor, are the real political power in the country... even 
though the Sidhe technically rule."

<Ishu> "Yes! They do, actually! Are you sure you haven't heard of 
them? ;) "

<ST> [girl] "Now you're talking."

<ST> [girl] So, in Japan, these Tennyo girls fly and rule over the 
Sidhe?  Any of them Unseelie?"

<Ishu> "It's an all-woman Kith - they can only bear women children. 
And, since like the Selkies, they've been trapped on Earth too many 
times by the greed of men, the Kith has a policy that no man can ever 
ask a Tennyo out."

<Ishu> "Um... I'd have to say yes to that."

<Ishu> "They're very... independant, though. Whether they're Seelie 
or Unseelie. Close knit, you know?"

<ST> [girl] "Cool.  Shiv'll pay good for that info.  Thanks.  There's 
a taxi over there."

<ST> [she points]

<Ishu> *he winks* "Thank you. :) I hope your own journeys go well!"

<ST> [girl] "Oh, they do.  They do."

<Ishu> *waves, then wanders for taxi*

<Ishu> *grins*

<ST> [since you can see it, you can get there.]

<Ishu> (YAY!!!!!!)

<Ishu> *Ishu gives himself a little "V!" for victory sign)

<ST> [taxi driver = TD]:  "Where to, buddy?"

<Ishu> *Breathes a giant sigh of relief as he gets in the taxi*

<Ishu> "The glass house, please! :) "

<ST> "Right."

<ST> [TD]  "Lotta business goin there tonight.  Somebody having a 
party?"

<Ishu> "I guess... Do you know anyone else headed out?"

<ST> [TD]  Buddy a mine took party of four there an when he gets 
there onea them is a stiff."

<Ishu> "A... A stiff?! o_O"

<Ishu> "He... died in the car?"

<Ishu> "Wh... what happened?"

<ST> [TD shrugs.]  Dead sometime.  My buddy just kicked em all out.  
Then he had to go to an all night car wash.  Good thing they know how 
to get out blood stains.  Told me there was a couplea twins sorta 
went there earlier.  All black clothes, one; but had white hair and 
maybe white eyes.  All white clothes other, real dark hair and eyes.  
Ychh."

<Ishu> *looks... kinda traumatized*

<Ishu> "That's... horrible! What happened... to the first group? They 
just got kicked out? At the teahouse, or somewhere else?"

<ST> [TD]  "You look kinda sick.  Them twins, they gets out at the 
teahouse, like usual."

<Ishu> "Regulars... Alright."

<Ishu> "Are they nice, those two?"

<ST> "Them others, they drugged out their deader an my buddy dint 
know what they did after.  Prolly hoofed it fer the teahouse.  But if 
they expect a welcome from them two, no way.  I took em there once.  
Real mean, they is."

<ST> [TD]  "Them twins, sorta twins, I mean."

<Ishu> "... The four are mean or the two are mean?"

<Ishu> "Ah, thanks."

<Ishu> *... starts to drum his fingers on his knees, wondering 
exactly what he's gotten himself into*

<ST> "Dunno bout the four.  Or three, I guess.  Now that one's a 
deader."

<Ishu> "And your friend... didn't think it was weird... to leave them 
with a... a dead guy?"

<ST> [TD] "Acourse it were weird.  Weird stuff always happens at the 
Glass House."

<Ishu> "... Oh."

<Ishu> "Um."

<Ishu> "Thanks for the warning, then. ^^;; "

<Ishu> "How long ago was this that they all arrived?"

<ST> [TD] "Coupla hours ago fer the four.  Six, seven, maybe, fer the 
two."

<ST> [TD] "Only, they weren't two.  They had mebbe five real nasty 
thugs with em, only they went inna other cab.  I don't know the 
cabby."

<Ishu> "Sounds like... a riot. In the bad way. o_O "

<Ishu> *starts rearranging the stuff in his bad so the first aid kit 
is on top*

<Ishu> "So uh... How do you like Washington, sir?"

<ST> [TD]  "Spect you're gonna tip real good fer all this info."

<Ishu> "Of course. ;) "

<Ishu> *starts getting money out of his wallet, too*

<ST> [TD]  "Even if I drop you a little ways away?"

<Ishu> "... How little?"

<Ishu> *sighs*

<Ishu> "No, I don't blame you. That will be fine... but as close as 
you can get, please."

<ST> [TD]  "This far?  See, look through the trees.  There's a white 
sorta pagoda.  That's it."

<Ishu> "That will work. Thanks a bunch. *gives him fare and a quite 
good tip*"

<Ishu> "Um... What number should I call, if I need a cab back? ^^;; "

<Ishu> "(Later?)"

<ST> [TD hands him a card.  You gotta meet me here though."

<Ishu> "No problem. Thanks again. :) "

<Ishu> *get out*

<ST> kay.  Since you can see the pagoda, I expect you won't get lost, 
right?

<Ishu> Seems okay. ;)

<Ishu> (He's just happy he's actually in Washington! ^^;; )

<Ishu> *checks his cell, GPS, bag, Oba, stuffs the laptop in steel 
case in the bag, and does his best to strut bravely forward*

<ST> [kay.  Are you concentrating?]

<Ishu> *checks for anything... immediately out of the ordinary*

<ST> [Roll perception + alertness, difficulty 7.  It's dark.]

<Ishu> [ 2 successes ]

<ST> You smell blood.

<Ishu> *pauses, listens*

<Ishu> (Can I tell where it's coming from?)

<ST> No sound.  Very, very quiet.  Smell is from two directions.  One 
is by stream, other in bushes.

<Ishu> *looks visibly uncomfortable*

<Ishu> "... Hello? Is anyone out there? Do you need help?"

<ST> No reply.

<Ishu> "..."

<Ishu> *goes to investigate*

<ST> Bushes first?

<Ishu> Bushes first. (Stream might be someone washing off blood).

<ST> In bushes you find a body.  The head is nearby.  You surely 
recognize this as a redcap.

<Ishu> " o_O "

<Ishu> (So, this had to be a death by iron?)

<Ishu> (Like, really dead-dead?)

<ST> You are immediately aware that you can do nothing to help this 
guy.  [No, death by cold iron is the ultimate death.  This is body 
death.  It means the redcap will be reborn sometime.

<ST> Now what?

<Ishu> *goes to check the stream, after saying a quick prayer over 
the Redcap*

<Ishu> *Oba VERY in hand*

<ST> Nice.  Stream seems to verify your guess.  Someone has washed 
here.

<Ishu> [Any tracks?]

<ST> There is a sliver of a moon.  You see what seem to you to be wet 
human footprints, bare, heading toward the teahouse.

<Ishu> *Starts heading towards Teahouse*

<Ishu> (Bare footprints? *muses on this*)

<ST> Amber, we're going to run out of time as the game is due to 
begin.  Let's skip to you getting to the teahouse.  What do you do 
there once you find it is empty on the main floor?

<Ishu> Head to the second/

<Ishu> (*Ishu: Wishes he were a ninja*)

<ST> Right.  Roll perception + alertness difficulty 6, five if you 
are concentrating.

<Ishu> [4 Successes]

<ST> Yeah!  You notice, as you go up the stairs, there seems to be a 
little room you missed in the main teahouse.  The door is under the 
stairs.  It is cunningly wrought.  Very few people would see it.

<Ishu> *looks for blood on the handle or on the floor immediately in 
front of it*

<ST> None

<Ishu> "Hrm."

<Ishu> *Quietly tries to open it*

<Ishu> "Miss A? Are you down here?"

<ST> The handle needs some thought.  Roll intelligence  diff 8.

<ST> No answer.

<Ishu> [1 success]

<Ishu> "Lock picks... gotta remember to pick up lock picks..." He 
mutters.

<ST> Kay.  You can turn the handle.

<Ishu> *opens door?*

<Ishu> *cringes*

<ST> Kay, inside the little room are shelves and shelves of different 
kinds of tea.

<ST> But there are also vials of clear, beautiful liquids.

<Ishu> *smiles appreciatively... and looks for a clue*

<Ishu> (or labels?)

<ST> They are not named.  Each has a cork in it, though.

<Ishu> "Glamour-juice?"

<Ishu> *examines one*

<ST> What are you doing to examine it?

<Ishu> Kenning!

<Ishu> [I think? Then if that doesn't work, smelling it. Are they all 
the same colour?]

<ST> Okay.  Roll intelligence + kenning difficulty 9.

<Ishu> [3 successes]

<ST> The bottle you are holding seems to you to contain some kind of 
glamour (i.e. magic.)

<Ishu> "Ooooh." *thinks* Sparklies. ^_^

<ST> The bottle you are holding is a lovely green colour.

<Ishu> "Hmmm..."

<Ishu> *Takes a few bottles*

<ST> That is, the glass is clear, but the contents are green as light 
in a forest.

<Ishu> "Green tea. *smiles again*"

<ST> Do you wrap the vials?

<Ishu> Yep. Have towel and extra sweater in the pack.

<ST> Kay.  You said you were going to smell the bottles.

<ST> Are you?

<Ishu> *Opens one just a bit to make sure it is normal Glamour and 
not Fae stuck in bottles*

<Ishu> (yep.)

<Ishu> (Will try to use it for a cantrip if it "escapes")

<ST> Which?  The green ones or the tawny brown ones or the rosy pink 
ones, etc.?

<Ishu> "Ayame... sounds... pink."

<Ishu> *opens a pink one, just a crack*

<ST> And then you do what?

<Ishu> Waft.

<ST> Kay.  It smells, um, wonderful.  It smells as good as cinammon 
buns freshly baked, but there is no hint of cinammon.  For an odd 
reason your hand wanders to your cross.

<Ishu> "... Ayame."

<ST> What now?

<Ishu> *looks seriously at the vials, wraps them*

<Ishu> "I should go look for anyone else... they could be injured."

<ST> All of them?  There are about fifty, many different colours.

<Ishu> *closes the door carefully behind*

<Ishu> o_O.

<Ishu> "Choices, choices... um... please forgive me Ayame..."

<Ishu> 10. Pink and green.

<Ishu> (Sorry, I thought there were only a few)

<Ishu> (1 blue for luck!)

<ST> Okay.  Now, roll intelligence difficulty 10.  You only need 1 
success.

<Ishu> 1 success.

<ST> Phew.  You think, Jee Whiz, these are all potions!  I wonder if 
I look or smell or taste I'll know what the pink one does.

<Ishu> "Hrm..."

<Ishu> *feels kinda reckless*

<ST> Yeah!  Sorry if I'm leading you here, need to.

<Ishu> "... But people might need my help, and this might turn me 
into a toad."

<Ishu> "..."

<Ishu> "..."

<Ishu> "Ah heck!"

<Ishu> *prays and gulps*

<Ishu> (Smart, but not always that bright. ^^;; )

<ST> Okay.  The cork is in your hand, the vial is empty, and you are 
somewhere else.  

<Ishu> *cringes and opens one eye warily*

<Ishu> "Hello?"

<ST> You are very cold.  You are in an enormous house, or palace.  
There is nothing here but one huge, and I mean huge, empty chair, 
made of wood.  There is a huge, and I mean huge, window that seems to 
contain glass, or ice.  You are near it.

<Ishu> "... And a butane lighter. Gotta pick up a butane lighter."

<Ishu> *listens, then wanders towards the window*

<ST> You hear the vague sound of banging.

<Ishu> (from the window?)

<ST> Outside.

<Ishu> "... Hello?"

<Ishu> *louder*

<ST> The banging stops.

<Ishu> "Ayame-san?"

<ST> You still listening really hard?

<Ishu> (Yah! Giant giant lives here!)

<ST> Kay.  You hear voices.  Roll perception + alertness difficulty 
9.

<Ishu> (1 success)

<ST> you hear "... gonna check ... but it was empty... don't want Big 
Blue..."

<Ishu> *goes closer to the door to listen in more... he's sort of 
worried these may be more Redcaps*

<ST> Are you beside the door on the side it opens or on the hinge 
side.

<Ishu> *thinks better of it and HIDES!*

<ST> Where?

<Ishu> [... behind the chair?]

<ST> It's wooden, it's big, there are probably slats, but okay.

<Ishu> ["Behind" the door, if that is easier - i.e., so the door 
covers him when they walk in]

<Ishu> [ Sorry...! ]

<ST> Showing Ishu's normal intelligence.  Which?  Door or chair?  
Both are good ideas.

<Ishu> [Erm... Door so he can run.]

<ST> Kay.  The door opens.  Through the hingey part you can see only 
a black cloak and a well-coiffed head of white hair.

<Ishu> *gets a baaaaaad feeling*

<Ishu> *waits*

<ST> No, not yet.

<ST> The black/white thing steps further into the room.  You are 
still behind the door.  You can see that he carries a nasty axe.

<ST> It has blood on it.

<Ishu> (thinks: "Great... ~_~")

<Ishu> (thinks: "Okay, so he probably killed the Redcap... If I'm 
anywhere near the teahouse still...")

<Ishu> [Is he alone?]

<ST> Yes.

<Ishu> [Well, that's a start. ^^;; ]

<ST> He doesn't shut the door behind him.  It is a very large door, 
and he opens it more than halfway.  You're hidden for the moment.

<Ishu> *would breathe a sigh of relief, but that's too risky just 
right now*

<Ishu> (thinks: "BigBlue probably owns the chair... he thought 
BigBlue was gone... okay...")

<ST> Right.  You gonna just wait?  The guy is clearly a Sidhe.  He 
walks with all the arrogance, and he's gorgeous even from the rear, 
despite his shocking hair.

<Ishu> [Yep, waiting. With any luck, he'll walk out and close the 
door, and I can peak out afterwards. The axe is disturbing.]

<ST> The Sidhe calls over his shoulder.  "Nothing.  I'm going 
upstairs."

<Ishu> *swears in his head*

<Ishu> [So, to Ishu, it looks like he's talking to no one, right?]

<ST> No, it looks like he's talking to someone outside.

<Ishu> [Check]

<ST> You looking out at all, Ishu?

<Ishu> [Okay, with the one-eye around the corner of the door thing. 
He's sort of worried there's a group on the other side]

<ST> You can just see a female Sidhe, tiny, gagged and bound and 
bleeding, about twenty feet away from the door on the far left.  
There may be another taller figure beside her.  You think you see a 
red hat.

<Ishu> *steps out and goes to rescue the Sidhe*

<Ishu> [If he can't see him coming because it's dark, all the 
better.]

<Ishu> [Though he's not a ninja. ;_;]

<ST> The bad guy Sidhe is on hte stairs, his back to you.  

<ST> It's  not dark.  The moon is shining brightly.

<Ishu> [Either way, try to leave the building without the first Sidhe 
noticing, and get to the second one.]

<ST> Roll dexterity + stealth or subterfuge, whichever is better, 
difficulty 9.

<Ishu> [1 SUCCESS!!! *happy dance on 3 dice~!]

<ST> Okay, but this is ST speaking, you have to compete with the 
other bad guys who are on the alert.  If they get more than 1 success 
they see you.

<Ishu> [Oh well. ^^;; One's better than none. ^_^]

<ST> As you run, two redcaps stand up licking their lips and grinning 
at you.  A female Sidhe is staring at the corner of the house.  And 
behind you you hear the other Sidhe running down the stairs.

<Ishu> "Ah well."

<Ishu> *goes to thwack the closest one*

***

<ST> As you stand there holding hands, Mahnang says, "Male Sidhe 
going into house."

<Flora> "Well, should we get to the house, then?"

<ST> By the way, Mahnang seems now to know your language.  He didn't 
before.  For those who want to know how, put it down to the Voice 
speaking through him.

* Garland nods. "Yeah, let's go."

* Kenken squeezes the hands holding his. "Well, lay on, Mahnang!"

<ST> Mahnang says a few words in a language you don't know.  Suddenly 
you are all in a different place, though you can still see the house.  
The little cottagy type house that has one window in the back.  You 
didn't notice it before.

* Kenken glances around.

<Flora> "So, should I go first to see if I can get to Ayame?"

<ST> None of you can see Ayame any more.

<Kenken> "Uhm... report back!"

* Garland lifts up to try and look in the window.

<Flora> "So, should I scout around a bit?"

* Garland nods to Flora. "Sure... be safe, and holler if you need 
us."

* Kenken twitches his tail nervously.

<ST> Mahnang is not there.

* Flora Flora advances carefully, trying to make as little noise as 
possible.

<ST> Flora, until you disappear from sight, we'll work in the main 
box.

* Flora heads to the window to get a peek.

* Garland looks around, brow furrowing as he notices Mahnang is no 
longer there.

<ST> Everyone sees Flora standing at the window.  Flora, private box, 
kay?

* Kenken looks where Garland is looking... gives a wry shrug.

<Garland> [Is this the place where our distance weapons -don't- work? 
... or do they?]

<ST> They work here.

* Garland takes out his crossbow and readies it as he looks about, 
just in case.

* Kenken is reminded to unsling his hammer. Mouths 'good point' to 
Garland.

* Garland smiles slightly to KK, then continues keeping an eye open.

<ST> You see Flora head to the left of the house.  A scratchy looking 
bush is at the corner.  


***

<ST> It seems to you like one-way glass, or a mirror, perhaps.

* Flora will go around the cottage, then

<ST> Left or right?

* Flora always goes left

* ST grins.

<ST> There are leafless trees leaning toward the cottage at the left.  
One small scratchy bush at the very corner.  

* Flora approaches the corner cautiously, especially the scratchy 
bush. It doesn't seem right.

<ST> You don't see anything but the bush, but since you're being 
cautious, you might hear a male voice call "Nothing.  I'm going 
upstairs."

* Flora negotiates the side of the cottage

<ST> There is absolutely no cover here if you do this.  Rely on your 
feth fiada, right?

<Flora> yes

<ST> Kay, roll dexterity + stealth and add four dice, difficulty 9.

* Flora thinks about the way she is hardly ever noticed, and moves 
along the bare wall of the cottage

<ST> The cottage seems bigger as you walk along it.  Very big, in 
fact.  You take at least five minutes to get to the corner.

<Flora> [3 successes]

* Flora mutters to herself "Holy, wow, this is weird."

<Flora> [can I see the boys back there still?]

<ST> No.

* Flora gets butterflies in her stomach, but continues

<ST> Roll again.  Same thing.

<Flora> [0 successes!  Oh, oh.]

<Flora> [oh shoot, more 1's than successes]

<ST> Shoot indeed.

<Flora> [!!]

<ST> What do you do, Flora, as you approach the corner of this 
palatial cottage?

* Flora plans to peek around the corner, hoping to avoid detection by 
being sneaky and relying on her weird trait

<Flora> [Is it dark around me, too?  If not, do I notice that it is 
dark back where the boys are?]

<ST> Nope. Moon is shining very brightly.  In fact, it seems full, 
where before it was just a sliver.

* Flora gets more butterflies in her belly, along with a thrill of 
wonder.

<Flora> [What happens to me?]

<ST> Good.  You are at the corner of the house now.  You see a scene 
of horrible terror.  A beautiful Sidhe lady, very tiny, is gagged and 
bound and covered with blood.  Three redcaps are beside her, only two 
ofthem are looking at the front door with wide grins.  Another Sidhe, 
very dark, dressed all in white, is looking at the corner you happen 
to be standing by.

* Flora ducks back behind the corner

<ST> Female Sidhe screams to one redcap, Human there!  Get her!


***


* Kenken turns slowly, ears twitching as he listens carefully.

<ST> Roll perception + alertness, KK, and Garland, diff 5

<Garland> [3 successes]

<Kenken> [5 successes]

<ST> You hear a male voice call, "Nothing!  I'm going upstairs!"

* Kenken 's ears twitch.

* Garland turns towards the sound.

<ST> You think it's inside the cottage.

* Kenken waits for Flora still, though his tail lashes for a moment.

* Garland keeps it in mind, but lets it go for now until he hears 
from Flora.

<ST> The tension builds.  The moon blinks out.

***

<ST> Which is a redcap.  Main box.

<Ishu> yay! :)

<Ishu> 1 success. :)

<ST> What do you want to do and to whom?

<Ishu> Ideally, thwack the lady with the needle if I can reach her. 
Or whoever's going to get in his way first. ^^;;

<ST> You can reach her.  She is so distracted by Flora she doesn't 
even see you.  Free hit.

<Ishu> SWEET! :D

<Ishu> (tag team with the human! *happy Ishu*)

<ST> Roll dex + melee diff 5.

<Ishu> Botch. ;_;

<ST> So you drop your staff.

<Ishu> A loud "DOH!" comes from the field. 

<ST> Female Sidhe turns in your direction.  I roll dex to see if she 
trips on your staff.  She doesn't.

***

* Kenken glances up, alarmed. Crouches.

<ST> You are in the pitch black.  No one can see you.

* Kenken listens carefully.

* Garland blinks in the darkness, and freezes.

<ST> KK roll intelligence + subterfuge or security or stealth or 
survival difficulty 6.

<Kenken> [2 successes]

* Garland furrows his brow, turning slightly in what he remembers as 
being KK's direction...

* Garland whispers very quietly. "... Kenken?"

<ST> Somewhere in hammer space dice are rolling like mad.

<Otter_Ken> [ST, can I *hear* Garland?]

<ST> Yes, he's breathing, you are an otter, yes.

<ST> You can smell him too.

* Otter_Ken tries to track the sound over to him.

<ST> He's right beside you.

* Otter_Ken puts little paws on Garland's leg, clinging to fur.

* Flora shouts as loud as she can, "All forces in the forest, I have 
flushed the enemy.. full attack, all directions!!!"

* Garland starts... on both counts.

<ST> About twenty feet from the house/palace/cottage but slightly to 
the left of the only door which KK and Garland cannot see and 
probably neither can Flora

<ST> there is a nice little torture scene going on.  Or at least, it 
was, before you interrupted.

<ST> The female Sidhe is holding a dart up in front of her eyes.  It 
is clearly real.  Anyone who can see her (the moonlight is very 
bright here) can see that it is tipped with some kind of noxious 
looking goo.

<ST> There is another female Sidhe on the ground, gagged, wound with 
ropes of a real nature.

<ST> The dart is pointed towards the little tiny sweet Sidhe on the 
ground.

<ST> Otter Ken and Garland cannot see where they are.

<ST> There is no moon for them.

<ST> The female Sidhe has her head turned toward you, Flora.

<ST> Now, does everyone get the picture?

* Flora remembers that potion she has in her possession

<ST> KK and Garland are at the back of the house and the mooon is not 
shining there.  The moon is shining at the front of the house.  This 
is the Dreaming.

<ST> You can hear, though, KK and Garland.  There are whoops and 
shrieks, nasty ones.

<ST> You will see the scene I described if you move toward the front 
of the house, KK and Garland.

* Otter_Ken chitters at Garland.

* Flora thinks it will take too long for the boys to catch up, given 
her experience along the side of the cottage

<ST> Right.  So, OKK and Garland get free moves, the rest of you roll 
initiative.  That's wits plus alertness difficulty 4.

* Garland glances briefly towards the chittering, then starts forward 
towards the other side of the house.

<ST> Tell me your numbers in the private boxes.

***

<Ishu> 6 Successes

<ST> Kay.  You have time to pick up your staff and go for one hit on 
Kal.

<Ishu> Going for it!

<Ishu> (Melee + Dex again?)

<ST> Yepo.

<ST> Diff 6.

<Ishu> 4 Successes

<Ishu> Shouts "BANZAI!"

<ST> Yay!  Now roll for damage.  Strength + 2 difficulty 6.  

<Ishu> 2 successes

<ST> She gets to soak.  Yes, that's the dice pool.  She soaks one.  

<Ishu> "Hi. ^_^"

***

<Flora> [5 successes]

<ST> What do you want to do and to whom?

<Flora> [Here's my plan.. I don't know how long it will take...]

<ST> Speak up.

<Flora> [I will dash around the corner, dodge the redcap sent for me 
the way I dodge blockers in field hockey.  Then...]

<ST> Roll dex + dodge.

<ST> Diff 8

<Flora> [3 successes, 4 if cat-like reflexes count here]

<Flora> [Then I plan to get to Ayame's side, hopefully before the bad 
girl can stcik her with the goo...]

<ST> They do.  You succeed.  Redcap stumbles and falls.

<Flora> [Yayy!]

<ST> The bad girl has a horn in her other hand.

<Flora> [Once at Ayame's side, I hope to nullify the bad girl so she 
can't stick or blow]

<ST> What will you do?

<Flora> [I guess, sweep her feet out from under her with a karate leg 
sweep to the knees]

<ST> She was looking at you.  Roll initiative again.

<ST> That's wits + alertness diff 4.

<Flora> [6 successes]

<ST> Female standing Sidhe seems to be a bit slow.

<ST> Roll dex + brawl, diff 6

<Flora> [5 successes]

<ST> Now roll damage: use your strength +1 diff 7.

<Flora> [1 success, but I also rolled a 1... does that nullify the 
success, I forget?]

<ST> Yes.  You can't botch, but you can fail to cause damage.

<Flora> [ but does she fall?]

<ST> No.  That would be damaging.

<Flora> [oh well]

<Flora> [ so there I stand in the middle of three enemies]

<Flora> [ one slip of a girl suddenly realizing just what she has 
landed herself into]

<ST> Female Sidhe attacks you with the dart.  She is somewhat 
hampered because she seems to be trying to protect the horn. Two 
redcaps attack you also.  Their initiative.  You didn't save any 
dodge dice did you?

<Flora> [nope... went full out to save the lady]

* Flora shouts "Voice in the Woods... you can attack any time now!!"

* Flora doesn't expect Voice to fight, but hopes to distract some of 
the enemy

<ST> Kay.  5 successes. Damage 0 from Kal.

<ST> Redcap grapples you successfully.  Damage 2, roll stamina + 
armour diff 6 to soak.

<Flora> [does that clothing I got from Ayame's place provide any 
armour?]

<ST> No.

<Flora> [HAH!  3 successes on the soak!!!!!!!!]

<ST> Fine.  Now the last redcap tries to bite you.

<ST> You feel his teeth closing  around your arm.

<ST> Does 1 box.  Soak?

<Flora> [2 successes on the soak!]

<ST> You got horseshoes, lady.

<Flora> [Now, if they would just forget I am there...]

[initiative round two...]

<Flora> [4 successes on initiative]

<Flora> [As I am grappled and in the jaws, I will kick the horn out 
of the bad girl's hand.  She seems interested in it.  Maybe she will 
goe for it instead of me.]

<ST> Kay. Go for the kick.

<Flora> [I will save three dice for defense.  I don't expect such 
luck to hold forever!]

<Flora> [2 successes]

<ST> Now do damage on the horn.  Strength + 1 diff 6.

<Flora> [2 successes!!!!!]

<ST> Now I must roll to see if you broke the horn.

<Flora> [...oh...]

<Flora> [...hope it's not THAT horn...]

<ST> It flies from her hand and lies on the ground.  You don't know 
if it is damagaed or not.

***

<ST> Kay, you wonder if you would be wise to turn otter.  If you 
oughter.

<Kenken> Oh, good point. Nobody can see me! I do so.

<ST> Kay.  Clothes disappear into hammer space. So does hammer.

* Kenken has five pointy ends now, mind.

* Otter_Ken dashes towards the house.

<Otter_Ken> 1 succees

<ST> You get a free move here.

<ST> You find it takes longer than you think to get to the noise.

* Otter_Ken keeps running...

* Otter_Ken skids and runs around it.

<Otter_Ken> Well, what do I see when I round the corner?

<ST> What I told everyone but you also see a strange eshu fighting 
the female bad Sidhe.

* Otter_Ken wants to go and latch onto the bad Sidhe for brawl!

<ST> Go for it.  She doesn't see you.

<Otter_Ken> Right, bite is dex +brawl diff 5.

<Otter_Ken> [5 successes]

<ST> Roll for damage.  strength +3 as otter, difficulty 6.

<Otter_Ken> [3 successes]

<ST> She'll try to soak.  It's the bad lady right?

<Otter_Ken> Yep.

<ST> Soaks three.  

[Second initiative]

<Otter_Ken> [2 successes. ]

<ST> You get to bite harder.  Bite is automatic.  Do damage.

<Otter_Ken> [botch]

<ST> From your position hanging from her dart arm you can see the male Sidhe doing some weird leap.

***

<ST> You find it takes longer than you think to get to the noise.  

<Garland> [Do I get there though?]

<ST> Yep.  You're at the corner now.  It's bright moonlight.  You see 
what I described.  

<ST> You also see a complete stranger, an eshu, dropping her staff 
right beside the mean nasty black-haired white-clothed Sidhe.

<ST> Roll initiative though, and whatdo you want to do?

<Garland> [Got 3 initiative.]

<Garland> I'll shoot for the Sidhe's arm, the one holding the dart.

<ST> Fine.  Roll firearms + dex diff 6.

<Garland> [4 successes.]

<ST> Good.  Now roll damage.  Light crossbow?

<Garland> [Yup.]

<ST> Kay, roll 7 dice diff 5

<Garland> [Ah.  4 successes.]

<ST> Damage, now.  Roll 7 dice diff 6.

<Garland> [4 successes, again. :)]

<ST> She'll try to soak damage.  She soaks two.  She takes two boxes 
chim damage.

[second initiative]

<Garland> [Initiative = 2.]

<ST> You can shoot again at your pleasure.

<Garland> [Okay.. then I will! I'll aim for her leg.]

<ST> Right.  Shoot.  I think I did it wrong last time.  Should be dex 
+ ranged weapons diff 5. ISs that what we did before?

<Garland> [We did.... firearms (which is archery on my sheet) + Dex, 
diff. 6]

<ST> So it should have been 5 for a crossbow.

<ST> Sorry.

<Garland> [That's okay... :) Should I roll that for this shot?]

<ST> Yes.

<Garland> [*shakes her fist at the 1's* Two successes.]

<ST> Only need one, though.  Now roll damage.  I'm starting to 
remember this now.

<ST> Roll 3+ number of successes diff 6.

<Garland> [2 successes.]

<ST> She'll try to soak.  Only gets 1.  


***


<ST> Over at the door, the male Sidhe crumples, a very surprised look 
on his face.  Anyone looking can just see it.  He disappears then, 
and so does the female Sidhe.  The redcaps are left looking 
bewildered and angry. 

<Ishu> "Hun."

<Ishu> "Well, that works! :) "

<Otter_Ken> [er, what's happening to the person stuck to the female 
sidhe?]

<ST> Poor, dear KK.

<ST> You are hanging from midair, with your teeth containing nothing.  You fall.

<Flora> [One Redcap is grabbing me, another is chewing me.  Don't 
know where the third is.]

<Ishu> "Leftovers."

* Ishu gives a toothy grin

* Otter_Ken thumps to the ground where the female Sidhe was. Rolls 
around to try to find his feet.

<Ishu> "Oyo?"

* Ishu looks down in the dark (?)

* Otter_Ken scratches himself and looks around for Garland and Flora!

* Ishu tries poking the rolling... thing... with his staff

<ST> Not dark.

* Garland blinks and looks around, wondering what the hey is going 
on.

<Garland> [I think I'm standing not too far off, with crossbow 
raised.]

<Flora> "Uh.. hello guys?  About these two things latched onto 
me...."

<ST> You are, Garland, and if KK would please do his box thing.

* Garland turns to shoot at the Redcap gnawing on Flora!

<ST> This is a tricky shot.  I will increase the difficulty unless 
you want an equal chance to hit Flora.

<Garland> [.... increasing the difficulty is fine.]

<ST> So roll to hit.

<Garland> [What's the diff?]

<ST> 8.

<ST> Only need one success.

<Garland> [Got 4.]

* Otter_Ken turns to skitter towards the redcap. Show YOU bite...

<Ishu> * Starts doing an Eshu run towards the 'Cap. ^_^

<ST> Kay.  Flora is fine.  Now roll damage.  3 + successes diff 6.

<Garland> [Damage... 5!]

<ST> The redcap sees an otter teeth bared, coming straight at him.  
Sees a really fast Ishu running for him.  Drops his teeth (so to 
speak) and runs for his life.

* Ishu woots!

<ST> Kay, Garland, the one redcap still hanging onto Flora tries to 
soak.  Soaks only 1.  He drops his teeth and falls to the ground, 
groaning and moaning and wailing fit to be tied.

<ST> What do Ishu and KK do?

* Ishu pulls his rope out of his pack.

<Flora> "look out guys, there's someone else running at us, really 
fast, pulling out a rope!"

<Ishu> "Um... ^^;; ... It would help, right?"

<Flora> "someone tall, and oddly fashion conscious!"

<ST> You are saying this to them?

* Ishu pauses and (!!! XD ) offers Flora the rope.

<Ishu> "It's... to tie him up with, see...?"

<Ishu> "Um."

<Flora> "Oh.  You aren't one of them?"

<ST> Is Ishu speaking what he said to them?

* Otter_Ken expects he can't chase down the escaping redcap on land, 
so comes back to the party. Rises awkwardly on hind legs and does a 
pantomime.

* Garland starts for the fallen redcap, then turns an eye towards 
Ishu. He arches an eyebrow. "Who are you?"

<Ishu> "Eheheheh. ^^;; "

* Otter_Ken points to Ishu. Makes wacking motions. Points at spot 
where female Sidhe vanished.

<Ishu> "I'm Ishu. :) An Eshu! :) "

<Ishu> "... And your pooka is very smart. ;) "

<Flora> [I will have issue with that name! ;o)]

* Otter_Ken grooms his whiskers cheerily.

<Ishu> [ You can eschew that later ]

<Ishu> "... But... who are you guys?"

<ST> A groan on the ground.  Female tiny weeny Sidhe looks sad.

<Ishu> "Ack!"

* Ishu hands over the rope to Flora (hopefully), gets his first aid 
kit out instead.

* Flora gets out that potion we got earlier

* Garland makes for the sidhe on the ground [still tied up right?] 
instead.

* Ishu blinks

<Ishu> "What's that?"

<Flora> [ST, where is the horn?]

<ST> On the ground about five feet away where Flora kicked it.

<ST> Make that fifteen feet.  She kicks mean.

<Flora> "Friend, it's a potion we got a while ago.  I think it is 
supposed to help people heal.  Do you think she needs ...magical... 
help?"

<Ishu> [ Erm... what's that, medicine + int ? ]

* Otter_Ken sneaks around the side of the house.

<ST> Let's go with that, Ishu.

<ST> Roll, diff 4.

<Ishu> [ 2 successes ]

<ST> Kay, you think she needs to be unbound first, healed later.

<Ishu> "Free her first, heal later."

<Ishu> "Here - if someone gets her loose,  I'll tie up this guy."

* Otter_Ken walks back, humanoid.

* Flora says "Okay." then goes to get that horn.

*** Otter_Ken is now known as Kenken

<Ishu> "You guys wouldn't know if that's an Ayame, by any chance?"

* Ishu tries to tie up the redcap

<ST> He rolls a bit, but halfheartedly.

* Garland goes to work untying the sidhe.

* Ishu sticks his tongue out at the redcap and keeps tying.

<ST> Okay, Garland, you get her free.  Gag first or last?

<Garland> [... first.]

<Ishu> "Oh. :) That's good, then. ^_^"

* Kenken comes over to the tied-up Sidhe.

<Ishu> "And you are....?"

<ST> The formerly gagged Sidhe says, "The horn!"

* Flora goes right to the horn, picks it up, and says, "This one?"

<ST> Good.

* Kenken skitters over.

<ST> Ayame raises her head proudly, but you can see tears in her 
eyes.  "Please may I see it?  Oh, hello, little pooka.  I'm glad to 
see you again."

* Flora walks back to the lady and shows her the horn

* Garland continues untying her now, so that she's free of the ropes 
completely.

<ST> Meanwhile, I assume Garland continues untying her as he said he 
would.  She has one hand free now.

* Ishu continues to stand a bit back from the group.

* Kenken hugs Ayame, though trying to be careful of injuries...

<ST> Ayame takes the horn from Flora, smiling at her a little 
puzzledly.  "You're wearing my clothes?"

<ST> She hugs Ken-Ken back.

<Flora> "Uh.. yes, I soiled mine in an altercation back at your 
place, and had to find new ones."

<Flora> " I hope you don't mind."

<Ishu> "Bare-feet?"

* Kenken kisses both of Ayame's cheeks.

<ST> "They look very nice on you, my dear."

* Ishu looks at Flora's feet

* Garland raises again, looking around just in case anyone else is 
showing up.

* Flora holds out the sword to her, "I also have this of yours. I 
guess you want it back in this place."

<Ishu> "Hrm. Nope. Never mind. ^^;; "

<ST> (You were right.  She was the footprints.  New shoes were 
necessary.)

<ST> "I must just look at the horn first, child."

* Kenken sits back now.

* Flora waits for the lady to finish looking at the horn

<ST> She examines it carefully. "It seems all right.  But oh, if it 
had broken!"  Suddenly she covers her face with her free hand.  She 
can do this; big hands.

<ST> Her shoulders heave.

<Flora> "Sorry.  I didn't know how important it was to you when I 
kicked it out of that bad girl's hand."

<Ishu> "Seneschal Ayame-san... maybe it would be better if we got you 
back to a safer location? Especially if this horn's so important..."

<ST> "You made a good choice, though you couldn't have known it.  It 
is the future of all of us."

<Flora> "Holy Wow!"  This?"

<ST> Ayame turns to Ishu.  "I do not know you, young Eshu.  What is 
your name?"

* Kenken looks around between everyone.

<Garland> "... Ishu's... right." *glances at the Eshu briefly, then 
to Ayame* "We should clear out of here before they come back with 
reinforcements."

<Ishu> "Ishu, ma'am. Celeste the Tennyo sent me."

<ST> "Ah.  From Japan."  She smiles joyously through her tears.

<Ishu> "I'm with the Satyr. Let's talk later. ^^;; "

* Ishu looks surprised, then smiles happily back.

<ST> "Yes, we must go.  But no spells.  Not here."

<Ishu> "I have... uuuum...."

* Ishu pulls out the vials from his bag and shows them to Ayame.

<Flora> "No problem form me, with spells I mean!"

<Garland> "Where would be best?" *looks to Ayame*

<Kenken> "Maybe it's best that the Seneschal lead?"

* Ishu *nods*

<ST> Ayame is looking wide-eyed at the vials Ishu is showing her.  
"Goodness.  Where did you get these?"

<Garland> "If she can, that is... if not, I offer my services in 
order to carry her..."

<Ishu> "Um... a closet? ^^;; I went through the teahouse... I 
figured these probably belonged to you... I'm sorry if I shouldn't 
have moved them..."

<ST> "Well.  Perhaps.  Ah.  I see."  Ayame shrugs, then winces.  
"Could I have a green one, please?"

<Ishu> "Of course."

* Ishu hands her a green vial

<Flora> [ST, are the potions we got earlier green, by any chance?]

<ST> Ayame takes it.  She uncorks it.  She shows the bottom of the 
cork to the party.  There is a mark on it, in Japanese.  "Look well, 
please.  It is the sign for -- ah, but perhaps you know, young Ishu."

<ST> [Flora: yes.]

* Garland takes a gander at the cork.

<Ishu> [ What do I know? ]

<ST> [The Japanese symbol for healing.]

<Ishu> "Oh. ^_^. Yes. Healing. :) "

<Flora> "So should we get out of here?  ANd should we take our 
prisoner with us?"

<ST> "You should all learn this symbol.  Green is not always a 
guarantee.  The corks will tell you."

* Flora checks the symbol on the cork of the vial she has

<Ishu> "... What were the pink ones? They brought me here."

<ST> Ayame drinks the potion.  She stands up, a little unsteadily.  
She looks for Ken-Ken.  "Will you hold my arm, little pooka?"

* Garland looks at the mark a moment longer, then straightens. He 
casts a glance towards the Redcap. "I 'spose we should..."

<ST> "You are right.  Let us go."

* Kenken bows and takes it. "As my lady wishes so I tend to obey."

<ST> "We will seek a safer place.  There is nothing of interest here 
now."

* Ishu exchanges a glance with Garland.

<Ishu> "How do you want to do this? o_O"

<ST> She says to KK, "We go back to the silver path."

<ST> "I do not know what you mean, Ishu."

<Garland> "I guess we can... split him.  I'll take the arms." *walks 
over towards the tied redcap*

<Ishu> "Got the feet."

<Ishu> [ It's okay. We're discussing carrying the redcap ]

<Kenken> [Er, no spells... I take it we know the way back to the path 
without having to use Find the Silver Path?]

* Garland is not impressed with having to carry a smelly redcap while 
KK gets to aid the damsel.

<Flora> "Oh, good, Ken Ken.  We can go otter-bogganing again!"

* Ishu symapthizes with Garland ;)

<ST> "I suppose we do have to take him," Ayame says.

* Garland reaches under the Redcap's arms and looks to Ishu. "Ready 
then?"

<Ishu> "Heave ho. ;) "

* Garland lifts!

* Ishu lifts!

<ST> "I believe the Silver Path is this way."

<Ishu> "I love it when they say that. ^^;; "

<ST> The redcap is very heavy.

* Kenken escorts her that way.

<Flora> "You guys need help with the prisoner?"

<ST> No need to roll, but Flora can help.

<Ishu> "Hm? Uuuuumm..."

* Ishu looks at Garland, then looks at Flora.

<Garland> "I.." *glances at Ishu, then to Flora.* "Sure, if you want 
something to do and all..."

<Ishu> "Yeah!"

<Ishu> "Besides. ^_^. I wanted to ask - are you Human??"

<Ishu> "(I'm having bad luck telling the difference today. ^^;;)"

<Flora> "Well, he looks heavy, that's all."

<Ishu> "He is. And ugly. ;P "

<Flora> "Of course I'm human!  Oh.... in this place I suppose that's 
a reasonable question."

<Ishu> "Heh heh... yeah! That's great though!! :D "

<ST> Ayame directs them out of hte glade.

* Ishu looks very happy there's a human here!

* Garland leads the carrying party after Ayame.

<ST> Ayame says to Ken-Ken, "Where are your other friends?"

<Kenken> "That is something I'm absolutely sure of."

<ST> "Dear me."

<ST> "How did you come to be alone?"

<ST> "Or did you immediately join these others?"

<ST> "Never mind, I forgot, asking a pooka anything is hard on them.  
You are still very sweet, though."

* Kenken smiles confusedly. "Ah - perhaps a reprhasing of the 
question may hinder more than help."

<ST> Ayame takes the party back to the Silver Path.  Mahnang is 
there, to one side.  Ayame bows.  Mahnang bows.

<ST> Ayame turns to Ken-Ken.  "There is a mystery in you.  But we can 
discuss it later.  This is Mahnang, one of my friends."

<ST> Mahnang says something in a different language.  Then he blinks.  
He says to you all, in words you understand, "You were successful, 
then?"

<Flora> "Well, yes, I guess so.  LAdy Ayame is safe, and we have this 
horn that she thinks is important."

<Garland> "I sure hope so," nodding to Mahnang.

<ST> "I care nothing for a horn.  Only for our Lady.  Do you need 
more from we Fuath?"

* Kenken glances around at the party. "Ah - have you seen a Sluagh, a 
Knocker, a Troll..."

<Kenken> [/me tries to desperately remember the last party's makeup. 
o.o]

<ST> Mahnang shakes his head.  "Not since you were here first, Pooka.  
But you left a different way."

<Kenken> "Of my own free will, too."

<ST> "Though at the same time, nearly.  We were almost fooled.  But 
our Elder knew."

<ST> "Can you give us Safe Haven for a time, Mahnang?" Ayame asks.

<ST> Mahnang nods.  He says, "Our Elder wants to speak to you.  Will 
you come?"

<ST> He is asking the whole party.

* Ishu nods

<Flora> "Sure!  I will come."

* Kenken nods as well.

* Garland glances around a little, then nods. "Sure."

<ST> Ayame smiles.  "We are in agreement then."

<ST> Okay, so you will follow the fuath to a place of Safe Haven.  

* Flora starts to sing to a familiar tune: "We're off to see the 
Elder..."

* Ishu whistles along.

<ST> You are deep in the Forest of Lies.  Everything is strange.  One 
minute there is absolute darkness, the next there is a sliver of a 
moon, then there are three full moons, and so on, in random order.

<ST> All you can do is hold onto the person in front, with Ayame 
holding Mahnang and Kenken.

* Kenken looks around, still escorting Ayame. "I wonder if this is 
where I found the brooch..."

<ST> "What brooch, little one?" says Ayame.

* Kenken fishes it out to show her. "And do you know anything about 
the prophecy Flora spouted, Lady?"

<ST> "I'm sorry?  Spout?"

<ST> You had to let go of her hand to get the brooch, KK.  She 
reaches to hold you by your shirt.

<ST> "We do not want to get separated.  Not here.  Only the Fuaths 
know this way."

<Kenken> "S...sorry."

<ST> "That is all right, little one.  And this brooch.  Hmmm.  
Forgive me if I do not take it.  I would like to see it later, 
however.  More closely.  But you should keep it.  I believe it is 
very valuable."

<Kenken> "O...kay."

<ST> "Flora?" calls Ayame.

<Flora> "Yes?"

<ST> "You are prophetic?"

<Flora> "Well, sometimes I go into these trances, and I keep saying 
things over and over, and sometimes they turn out to be true or 
meaningful."

* Ishu looks surprised at Flora

<Flora> " so , I guess I am."

<ST> "Ah.  That is very interesting.  Did you ever look at this 
pretty treasure of KenKen's?"

<Flora> "yes, I looked at it, and in fact I got one of those sessions 
then."

<ST> [Auame]"I don't expect you recall what you said or saw, do you?  
Were any of the rest of you there at the time?"

* Garland nods, then speaks. "I was."

<Flora> I said:

* Kenken shakes his head. ^^

<ST> "What did she say, Garland?"

<Flora> "White, Green, Black, Red.  Terrors of the Beaked One's Head.  
They stir in their darkness.  They knwo what they want.  oooooh!  
Sorrow comes."

<Garland> "... I think that was it."

<ST> "Thank you."  Ayame seems very grim.  She says to Ken-Ken.  "Put 
it away, little one.  We will talk more later."

<Flora> "there's another one I had in your tea house."

<ST> There is a period of intense cold.  Icicles hang from the trees. 
"What did you say then?"

* Kenken puts it away and takes her hand again...

<ST> [thank you.  I like to know what everyone does when they change 
their actions.]

<Flora> "who bears the Blood, but has never taken it, only one such 
as this, Tuathan, can know what Life lies in the Leaf."

<Garland> "Does that mean anything to you, Lady Ayame?"

<ST> The icicles reach nearly to the ground.  Mahnang reaches out his 
free hand and touches one of them.  It melts at once.  There is a 
path behind the icicle.  He sets his left foot on it first.  Then he 
turns to you and indicates his foot.

<ST> "It might, Garland.  I will ponder it. Your own philosophy might 
contribute something, if you ponder it also."

<Ishu> "Do you mean... left first?" (He asks Mahnang)

* Kenken points to his left foot?

<ST> She is thinking so hard she steps forward blindly.

<Flora> " I think he wants us to step where he does."

* Garland falls quiet, thinking on Ayame's words.

<Ishu> "Okay."

<ST> Maynang pushes Ayame backward.  A whole wall of daggers falls, 
and his arm is pierced a dozen times.

* Garland is shocked out of his thought.

<Ishu> "Maynang-san!"

<Flora> "Holw WOW!"

* Kenken squeaks. Catches at Ayame. "Are you okay?!"

<Garland> "What was that?!"

<Ishu> "... We'd better be careful where we walk. ... Is your arm 
alright (Maynang)?"

<ST> "It is my fault.  He showed us, left foot first, and I didn't 
pay attention."  Please, Ishu, may I have a look at those potions of 
mi-- yours?"

<Ishu> "They're yours, Seneschal - of course."

* Ishu passes her the set contained now in his first aid kit

<ST> While Flora holds her shirt?

<ST> So the order is Mahnang, Ayame, Ken-Ken, Garland, redcap, Flora 
and Ishu?

<ST> Then the medicine set gets passed up to Ayame.  She takes a 
green bottle, uncorks it, shows the bottom to KK.  The symbol here is 
not the same as the one before.

<Kenken> "What's that mean?"

<ST> "Not this one, child.  This one would make you very wise.  For a 
time."

<ST> "You would tell truth with it inside you.  It would make you no 
pooka any more."

<Flora> "There's a frightening thought!"

* Ishu o_O's

* Kenken recoils.

<ST> Ayame recorks the vial and reaches for another.  This she 
uncorks.  She shows it to Ken-Ken.  "Will it heal Mahnang?"

* Kenken peers...

<ST> {yes}

<Kenken> "Nope!"

<ST> Ayame smiles.  "Never mind.  You know, that is the main thing."

<ST> She pours a little of the potion on the bleeding wounds in 
Mahnang's arm.  The daggers melt as if they had been of ice.  She 
passes him the vial.  He drinks, gratefully.  The wounds disappear as 
if they have never been.

<ST> Then Ayame apologizes to Mahnang.  He bows, points to his left 
foot again, and turns.  

<Ishu> "Let's try that again..."

* Ishu concentrates more on his footing!

<Flora> "Ishu, you seem to have a thing about feet."

* Kenken follows, carefully.

<Ishu> "Ehheheheh... ^^;; Not really. It's just, I saw some 
footprints earlier. Since you changed clothes, I thought they may 
have been yours - by the river? (But be careful to put your left foot 
down first!)"

<Flora> [carefully stepping as instructed] " so why were you sent to 
see LAdy Ayame, Ishu?"

<ST> As you all pass through, the redcap carried between you, the 
daggers fall down again, piercing the redcap to the heart.  He groans 
and dies.

<Flora> "AACCH!"

* Ishu o_______O'S!

<Ishu> "#@$$%&!"

<Ishu> "Oh no..... o_O"

* Kenken peers back.

<Ishu> [ Dead beyond all hope? ]

<Flora> "I guess he had to step appropriately, too, huh?"

<ST> His BODY is dead.  Therefore, he can only hope for rebirth.

<Ishu> "I can't... believe... I forgot something... so basic!"

* Ishu looks furious with himself

* Garland looks angry with himself as well. "No... it was my fault 
too. Damnit!"

* Ishu sighs

<Ishu> "Mahnang... Ayame-san... is there somewhere we could bury him? 
Or should we keep carrying him? I just... don't want any more daggers 
to fall. o_O"

<Ishu> "*mutters* Ah geez..."

* Garland looks back to Ayame as well, frowning.

* Ishu starts muttering a quiet prayer

<ST> "Leave him," says a voice in your heads.  "The fir bholg will 
eat him."The journey proceeds.  You are now in a glen between 

<Ishu> o_O

* Kenken tries to keep in step.

<ST> two hills.  There is a feeling of well, not spring, but kind of 
a warming trend.  Ahead you see a cave.

<Flora> "Uh.. I hate to be crass... but did this fellow possess 
anything we could use?"

* Garland follows, having let go of the Redcap with a frustrated 
sigh.

<Ishu> "We can't just leave him to be EATEN! That's horrible!"

<Flora> "he was gonna eat me!"

* Kenken twitches an ear. "Why is it horrible?"

<Ishu> "Because he should be buried. ~_~"

<Ishu> "He's still Fae."

<ST> Everyone who is concerned about the redcap or what he might 
carry roll willpower difficulty 9.

<ST> Do in this box.

* Garland isn't that concerned.

<Ishu> 2 successes.

<Kenken> [/me isn't.]

<Flora> [damn those 1s.  No successes]

<Kenken> "Do you think the Fir Bholg doesn't need to eat?"

<Ishu> "Predators catch their own prey. I bury my own kind."

<Ishu> "Not chop them up and serve them as meals. :P "

<ST> Ayame nods.  "Well put, KenKen.  You, Ishu, are not a Fir Bholg.  
We will leave him as he is."

<Ishu> "That's /so/ wrong."

<ST> "Only now you must hold hands, Flora, Garland and Ishu.

<Flora> " grab a hold of both Garland and Ishu."

* Ishu mutters under his breath, clearly not happy.

<Kenken> "Eat or be eaten, Ishu. Give his body back."

<Ishu> "To who?"

* Garland grabs hands.

<Kenken> "Never been eaten by a Redcap, have you?"

<Ishu> "Still alive. They're Fae."

<Flora> "Nearly, a while ago."

<ST> Mahnang is nodding his head in a way that indicates the cave.  
Suddenly it is dawn.  The rosy light paints a beautiful scene.  All 
around the cave mouth are pictographs of fuaths and other impossible 
creatures.  Somehow it is astonishingly beautiful.

<Flora> "Holy....wowwwwww!"

* Kenken laughs a little. "Non-pooka are weiiird. If it's good enough 
for animals, why not for fae? Cycle of life, etc etc."

* Garland turns from the argument to look at at mouth of the cave, 
admiring. "Damn..."

<Ishu> "I guess I just have high standards. ~_^."

<ST> The pictographs are incredibly seductive.  You all really want 
to run your hands over them.  Anyone with any artistic ability 
(including performance) will want to just let go hands and go touch 
these pictographs.   Such people roll WP diff 8.  You need more than 
one success.

* Kenken gets a flicker of anger in his eyes but smiles. "Of course! 
You must be *civilized*."

<Ishu> 2 successes.

<Ishu> "Yep."

<Flora> [3 successes]

<Garland> [2 successes.]

<ST> KK?

<Kenken> [2 successes]

<ST> Ayame has 5.  You all pass the test.

<ST> Mahnang looks at you.  His tusks widen as he stretches his mouth 
in what might be a smile.

<ST> "We will go in now, Mahnang." Ayame says.

* Garland looks curiously to Mahnang at his smile.

* Kenken raises furry eyebrows at Mahnang.

<ST> Mahnang nods at you both.  It's as if he's kind of pleased with 
you for worrying about  him.

<ST> Mahnang leads the way into the cave, still holding Ayame's hand.

* Ishu follows, lugging dead-weight on his back... or trying to. ^^;;

* Flora follows

<ST> You didn't say you were picking him up.  How could you, and hold 
onto someone's hand?  If you did, you are dead.

* Kenken follows, hand in Ayame's and Garland's.

* Garland shrugs a bit, then pauses and follows.

<ST> Ishu?

<Ishu> (Dead then, left standing there with a body.)

* Flora has hold of Ishu

<Ishu> (The Eshu will wander to where he has to bury a body... 
wherever in the Dreaming /that/ is.)

* Flora did not let go of him

<Ishu> (You really should. ^^;; )

<Ishu> "Eto.. Flora, it's better that you go with them."

<Flora> "Ishu, you silly thing.  Morals are for teaching you how to 
live.  Not how to throw your life away."

<Ishu> "I can find somewhere to bury him. It's the Eshu's gift."

<Ishu> "Or at least, usually. ^^;; "

<Ishu> "Don't worry about it."

<Ishu> "But I came here looking for Liam."

<ST> Could I have a review of who is holding who's hand?

<Ishu> "And, if he's not buried, I can't find that."

<Flora> "this guy cannot be buried without danger of one or more of 
us dying.  Surely that outweighs  the 'right thing to do'."

<Ishu> "Surely there's SOMEWHERE he could be buried?"

<Garland> [KK and Flora's, for me.]

<Ishu> [ The redcap, for sure. ]

<ST> Okay, so Flora is linked, and so is Ishu.

<Ishu> "It can't be that impossible to find..." *frowns*

<ST> Ishu, roll Lore Kithain + Intelligence difficulty 7

<Garland> "What makes you think he'd rather be under a buncha dirt 
instead of in something's stomach? I can tell you he doesn't care! 
He's -dead-!"

<ST> [Good, Garland.]

<Ishu> 3 successes.

<ST> Ishu, you know something.  Your box, please.

* Ishu suddenly looks like he feels very stupid.

<Ishu> "Oh."

* Ishu puts down the Redcap

* Ishu refuses to explain, takes their hand, and walks.

<Flora> "Right, then."

* Garland ... arches eyebrow, but lets it go.

<ST> You all enter the cave, with Mwhateveryouspellitnang in the 
lead.

<ST> The cave is warm.  There is a smell like goats that have stood 
in the rain or snow for years.  There is also a really horrid smell.  
Really horrid.  Your worst nightmare kind of smell.  "Dinner is 
cooking," says Ayame, very sternly.

<Flora> "Hmmm... smells like my aunt Matilda's haggis."

* Garland wrinkles his nose. "What -is- that?"

* Kenken 's nose scrinches.

<ST> "That, dear Satyr, is your dinner for tonight."

* Ishu smiles

<Ishu> "Smells great!"

<ST> [that was Ayame speaking very charmingly.]

<Garland> "... there's no way."

<ST> "Oh, yes, I think there is," says Ayame, smiling.

* Garland goes back to wincing at the smell.

* Ishu winks

* Kenken scrubs at his nose with the hand holding Ayame's.

<Ishu> "Food on the road. You'd be amazed what you end up with. ;) "

<Flora> "Redcap for a nightcap?"

<Ishu> "Not yet... ^^;; Hopefully never. It's kind of like 
cannabalism."

<Ishu> "I'm not into that."

* Garland looks to Ishy dryly. "You don't say."

<Kenken> "What is it?"

<Ishu> (Whispers to Garland, extremely quietly/broken: "rations in 
bag. hold on.")

<ST> A lovely fuath comes forward shyly.  Her dress is blood red and 
you suspect the colour is accurate.  He has frizzy hair, very long, 
and wears a necklace of claws.  Her own claws are long and black.  
Her eyes are turquoise and huge.  She has hoofs.

<Flora> "You know, in many cultures, eating your enemey is a sign of 
respect for him."

<Ishu> "I'm American. ^^;;"

<Flora> "Hello.  My name is Flora.  What's yours?"

<ST> "Welllllcommmm," she manages, around her long tusks.

* Garland nods a bit to Ishu. "... good."

* Garland looks forward to the Fuath. He nods. "Hello."

<ST> "My name isssssh Cookeeeeeeeee.  You are jussssht in time for 
ffffffffoooooooood."

<Flora> "Great.  I am a bit peckish, after this day's events."

* Ishu "Thank you for your hospitality. :) "

<Flora> "Thank you for taking us in."

* Kenken flicks a tongue over sharp teeth, still looking curious.

* Garland nods again. "Thank you."

<ST> Cookie]: "Shhhhhhhheeeeeee   Elllllllldddddddrrrrrrrth comethhh 
afffterrrr.  Shhhhhhit."

* Ishu blinks

* Garland pauses, brow furrowing, and leans back into Flora a bit. 
"You catch that?"

* Flora grins at the entendres in the invitation. "Thanks, sit here?"

<ST> Cookie indicates some mats of woven branches on the floor.

* Flora sits on one.

<Garland> "Ah..." He smiles slightly, then walks forward and takes  
seat as well.

<ST> Cookie seems to be waiting.

* Ishu sits as well, happy to be able to take off his backpack for a 
bit.

* Kenken takes a seat.

<ST> Now Cookie makes a very strange sound.  
HHHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEHEEEEEEEEEEEEEHEEEEEEEEEEEEEE.

<ST> Ayame is smiling.  You will notice she is not sitting on a mat.  
Or shitting on one.

* Garland sits up straight and blinks at Cookie.

* Kenken sticks his tongue out slightly.

* Ishu relaxes

<Flora> "Hmmm.... are we expected to 'make room' for supper?"

<ST> [Ayame] : "Thank you all for your good humour.  The mats are for 
excretion, of course.  She did tell you."

* Ishu sighs

<Garland> "A... ha."

<Ishu> "On par for the day. Um. Hn. Wish I had an extra pair of 
pants, as well as an extra sweater... ~_^"

* Kenken eyerolls.

<ST> Suddenly, soft furs are brought forward, and someone comes with 
a bucket of water.  Carefully it is poured on Ayame's mat.  Do you 
want to get up so they can clean your mats too?

* Kenken rises.

* Garland gets up.

<Flora> "OK.  That was informative.  Sure, have a go at my seat, 
too."

* Ishu stands and picks his bag up too

<ST> Another pail is brought, and the water is thrown with great 
force on the seat of Flora's pants.

* Ishu tries not to laugh!

* Garland does laugh.

* Flora blushes, but grins at the situation too.

<Ishu> "That's okay, we're probably next." *he winks at Garland*

<Kenken> "Mmmm. I'm ready!"

* Kenken poses.

<Garland> "Y'know, it'll be very easy to catch cold in those," 
nodding to Flora.

<ST> Ayame laughs.  "The mats are cleaned after every use," she says.  
But you might prefer to sit in the furs.

* Ishu goes for the furs!

<Flora> "garland, I would prefer to catch a cold than something 
else!"  

* Garland chooses furs as well.

<Ishu> "Oyo?"

<ST> [Flora was wearing something very tight before.  It is now 
extraordinarily form-fitting.]

* Flora also gets a fur, and makes sure it covers her as well as it 
can.

* Ishu goes into his bag and gets out his extra sweater, then offers 
it to Flora.

<Flora> "thanks."

<Ishu> "No problem."

* Garland lifts his eyebrows. "What? ... although. Maybe you're 
right." Tilts his head to watch Flora as she takes her seat, until 
the furs cover her up.

<ST> "Did I hear you say, Ishu, that you were looking for House 
Liam?" Ayame asks.

<Ishu> "Um."

* Kenken shakes himself off and grooms his ears before taking a 
*proper* seat.

* Ishu he blushes, clearly embarrased.

<Garland> "Spoilsport," mutters a little to Ishu.

<Ishu> "Uh... it's okay. There's a lot... going on. I'm just where 
I'm supposed to be, I think."

<ST> Ayame sits in the fur provided for her.  She is looking 
inquiringly at Ishu?

<Ishu> "Sorry, man." *he whispers then winks at Garland*

* Ishu blushes again

* Garland sits.

<Ishu> "I'm really not sure what's going on. Could anyone tell me... 
who you all are? I don't even know your names yet... except for 
Ayame-san."

<Garland> "Oh, right.  Garland." Lifts hand a bit to Ishu.

* Kenken curls up. "Kenken."

<Flora> "I'm Flora."

<ST> Food is brought.  It is the most revolting substance you have 
ever seen.  It is served in a skull, not human, not kithain.  Each of 
you gets one, plus a piece of mould that looks a tiny bit in your 
wildest dreams like bread.  The stink is dreadful.

<Ishu> *waves* "Thanks."

* Ishu looks to Ayame for guidance

<ST> Cookie nods and smiles and watches.

<Flora> "Well, great authors need to experience the world!"

<Garland> "Mmm.  Thanks."

<Ishu> "Well said."

<Ishu> "..."

* Flora takes a nibble

* Ishu goes for it

* Garland watches for their reactions.

* Kenken sniffs at it.

* Ishu :P's at Garland!

<Ishu> (Then laughs!)

<ST> Flora, Ishu, your boxes, please.

[It tastes delicious! They gain two extra boxes under 'chimerical 
damage']

* Ishu looks like he's really enjoying the meal

<Flora> "Mmmmm.  Yummy!"

<Ishu> "Delicious!"

* Kenken licks at the item.

<Ishu> "First-class!"

* Garland winces again... and glances towards KK.

<Flora> "Go ahead guys, try some!"

<ST> KK, your box please.

<Garland> "You better not be putting me on..." Quietly, then goes 
ahead and tries a little himself.

<Ishu> "heh."

* Kenken eats happily!

<ST> Garland, like the others you just received two extra blank boxes 
for chimerical damage.  They will be used up first in a damaging 
situation and you won't get them back.  However, in addition, the 
food tastes fantastic and is very nourishing.

<Garland> "Huh." Goes ahead and continues eating.

* Flora , for a wee slip of a girl, seems able to pack a lot of food 
away.

* Ishu raises an eyebrow

<Ishu> "Cheers. ^_^"

<ST> Okay, now, Ayame is eating too.  You guys can chat a bit while 
you eat, but I'm going to call the game basically over here.  The 
entry of the Elders, and most particular THE Elder, will be the start 
of the next game.  And since you are in a safe place, with certain 
possibilities open to you, I will award you the experience points for 
the last five games now.

<ST> Everyone but Eshu gets 20 points.  Eshu gets 4 points but if he 
can create a great tale out of it, sending it (delivering it) to us 
before next time, he will get five.  This is one of the birthrights 
of an eshu.

[Game Off]