Session Start: Fri Jun 23 18:51:56 2000

<pre-chat chat edited out>

<Saif> Start Here

<Saif> Diana, the floor is yours

* Diana will try and call the group together sometime late in their stay at Jurgenville.

<Diana> Once everyone is gathered, she will explain what happened.

<Diana> "Like Ari, I have some rather special news that concerns my religion to relate to the group as a whole."

<Diana> "I was recently blessed with a personal visit from High Priestess Nefrahotep, of the High Council of Isis from the Southern Empire.

<Diana> "She actually had stopped by earlier while we were away in the Underdark, but was nice enough to return after not finding me the first time."

<Diana> "In any event, she announced to me that I had been selected for a very special honor."

<Diana> "I had been Chosen to become a member of the Starweavers, a special branch of the church of Isis."

<Kat> "What does that mean?"

* Sane raises an eyebrow.

<Diana> "This is an incredible honor for me, and while it does entail increased granted abilities from isis, it also entails added responsibility to my church."

<Diana> "Currently, my responsibilities are relatively minor, as I am still new to the church and low in power."

<Diana> "But I will be helping promote the balanced, responsible use of magic here in Jurgenville especially, as well as expanding the shrine to isis that I have to accomadate more devotees.

* Diana casts a sidelong glance at Nikki as she says this, then continues.

<Diana> "I may have additional responsibilities as I grow in power."

<Diana> "But I do have some benifits, which may help the party out as we continue our decent into the Underdark."

*** Nikki has joined #nightbelow

*** db sets mode: +o Nikki

<Amber> back

<Nikki> not sure how long i can stay

<Kat> "And, Nikki won't be able to cast spells any more?"

<Castinar> "Responsible use of magic is something which can not hurt. It seems a good responsility to have, especially if it means increased powers for yourself in your work."

<Saif> Nikki - Diana is explaning what happened to her

<Diana> "Notably, I can now dispel magic as a granted ability, which will help us against any magic users we should encounter. I have an innate ability to detect magic, which should be useful."

<Nikki> * So, Saif, have I completed that spell that destroys all magic footgear within 50 miles yet?

<Diana> "Of course Nikki can cast spells. Isis wishes to encourage the use of magic, not eliminate it!"

<Saif> * I thought we agreed on a range of 20 miles

<Nikki> * No, we decided on 50 miles but only once a week.

* Ari says politely "Congratulations Diana."

<Diana> "Although... if she followed my example and used her spells more responsibly? Still, it is up to her, I will only serve as an example, not a goad."

<Saif> * ah, the time restrictiong, yes

<Kat> "Yes, Diana, congratulations. Do you need a hug or something?"

<Nikki> * Excuse me?

* Diana smiles at Kat.

* Castinar looks from Ari to Diana and says "I am glad -- and proud -- of both of you. You have both become even closer to your respective dieties these past weeks........"

<Diana> "Also, I have one final thing to announce."

* Diana pulls out a beautiful jade necklace.

<Castinar> "It must be wonderful....."

<Amber> "congratulations Diana!" she pauses, "Seems like a lot of folks here are being honored!" Amber smiles.

* Castinar looks appreciatively at the necklace

<Diana> "This is... well Im not sure. But it seems to be a elemental of some kind that has become attracted to me. I have decided to make it my familiar."

* Amber raises an eyebrow.

<Diana> "It can take the form of many kinds of stone, so I tend to 'wear' it as jewelry. Its just more convient that way."

<Castinar> "You're.... familiar? As in -- a magical... pet?"

<Diana> "I just didnt want you to be wondering what I was doing with all this nice jewerly all of a sudden!"

* Diana smiles at that.

* Thengal coughs, "da neclace be a livin" creature? Hmm...."

<Amber> "Darn, I thought you had a new lover!"

<Diana> "A pet is not right. Think Azure and Nikki, a special relationship exits between this elemental and I."

* Sane strides up to Diana. Taking her hand he bows low. <I would kiss your hand...> He looks up and winks at Diana, <but I have no lips.>

* Diana blushes at Amber, then blushes darker at Sane.

<Saif> As you all watch the jade necklace changes to one with emeralds and diamonds

<Castinar> "Yes, I know -- but I don't know how to describe -- what -- it is."

<Castinar> "So, that changes --- ah, never mind -- I see... <G>"

* Castinar grins

<Diana> "Well... if you have questions you may ask... Ive babbled enough."

* Castinar asks "May I try something? I'd like to attempt to *speak* to it."

<Thengal> "Me must also congratulate ye. Da honor placed upon ye be well deserved, Diana"

<Kat> "Besides changing forms, what else can it do?"

<Amber> "oh lovely!" Amber says at the new version.

<Saif> As Sane kisses Diana's hand the large diamond in the middle of the necklace morphs appearance - it now looks like a kenku head

<Castinar> hehe

<Diana> "Thank you Thengel, Kat, Im not sure, Im still learning about it."

<Diana> "Castinar, if you would like to try I have no objections."

* Castinar isn't sure if this will work, but...

* Diana blinks at the necklace, and lifts it to examine it curiously. "Thats unusual..."

<Castinar> speaking in the language of the Earth (elemental) -- "What is your name, great one?"

<Saif> When Castinar starts talking to the necklace it changes form again

<Saif> Now it looks like a thumb-thick snake made out of sand

<Saif> It still rests around Diana's neck, but a "head" stretches out towards Castinar and appears to study him curiously

-> *Diana* you feel intense curiosity from the familiar and a sense of almost understanding something new

<Castinar> "I see you possibly recognize this form of communication. Can you also communicate?"

* Thengal moves in closer for a better look. "Sorry, me eye ain't wat it once were."

<Saif> The head looks back and forth between Castinar and Diana

* Amber moves back so Thengal can see better.

<Diana> "Did it say anything Castinar?"

* Diana will caress its head gently.

-> *to* you it looks like a tiny sandling - at least in this form

<Saif> the elemental backs up into Diana's stroking (kind of like what a cat would do), but it continues to study Castinar

<Castinar> "Um -- no. Oh, not telepathically, either. You'd have heard if it "spoke", if not understood."

* Amber looks at the sand snake getting a tad homesick for the beach near her home.

-> *Thengal* to you it looks like a tiny sandling, at least in this form

<Diana> "I have been reluctant just to name it. I hope as my understanding with it grows, it will tell me its own name."

* Ari gets up. "Excuse me please..bath time." Ari heads out.

* Castinar smiles at Ari "How can you tell?"

<Sane> <Hello> sends Sane to the elemental.

<Kat> "When isn't it."

<Saif> brb

<Kat> "Diana, I would guess, Jewel, Morph, or perhaps Kardar." Kat smiles.

<Amber> "How about Terra?"

* Amber smiles

<Saif> back

<Thengal> "Hmm looks kinda like a creature me once heard about. Cain't be too sure tho, Me's never seen one personnally

<Castinar> Kardar?

<Saif> Sane doesn't get anything back from the elemental

<Sane> *Hey Saif, since it appears to be the thing to do, when does Sane get a familiar? <g>

<Saif> * Kardar?

<Saif> *

-> *Sane* when you go out and buy yourself a Find Familiar scroll

<Thengal> It be called a sandling. Hever heard about on changin' inta gems and metal before tho."

<Saif> ### Anything else?

<Saif> ### K, last chance for in-Jurgenville actions

<Sane> *question

<Nikki> taking off

<Sane> Did we get the no scent stuff?

<Kat> "Does everyone agree that the behir armor is good for the guards of the TSR?"

<Nikki> have fun. ill be in traffic :)

<Diana> "What does Kardar mean Kat?

<Nikki> nikki agrees with everything.

<Diana> * good luck Judd :)

<Nikki> bye

*** Nikki has quit IRC (Leaving)

<Saif> Sane - yes, you could get that

<Kat> "It was the name of my great grandfather on my mother's side. Strange person."

<Sane> to Kat--yes

<Sane> *what AC?

<Diana> "Ahh, yes I will consider it."

* Castinar thinks it sounds good -- how many pieces of armor can you get from the hide?

<Sane> *Castinar, did you get the no scent indgrediants? Or was that Matar?

<Matar> twas cast

<Matar> at the underdark store

<Castinar> I got the powder itself -- I still have yet to find the ingredients so I can make it myself

<Saif> The Neworion Trading Post - they have it.

<Kat> "Does Matar know how to make the stuff?"

<Kat> "Can we grow the ingredients or raise them here?"

<Matar> matar has no idea but isnt here to comment

<Sane> *so if we didn't get any we'll gets lots.

<Saif> * the powder you get Matar can't identify - it is already processed

<Saif> 30 applications

* Castinar nods at the voice from the sky <G>

<Saif> each application good for 4 hours unless washed off

* Saif pitches his voice deeper

<Saif> So, ready to set out?

<Saif> What's the plan?

<Sane> *could we offer to pay the vendor to tell us how to make it?

<Diana> *ready

<Kat> *Voice in the sky, please answer Castinar's question, how much armor was produced from the behir skin?

<Sane> Plan: I thought we would make for the City of the Glass Pool.

<Kat> "Ask Matar, he should know how to find out how to make it."

<Saif> * ah... leatherworkers still working on it (we'll say one complete suit per 10' of behir length, which is....

* Castinar doesn't think so -- I've already tried to get the ingredients from my mentor -- even he was not willing to discuss that with me at this time

<Saif> 50' - so 5 human-sized suits

<Sane> Sane raises an eyebrow, while lowering the other. <It is so special?>

<Kat> *is the armor a little better than normal hide?

<Saif> hold on...

<Kat> *Does anyone need armor, like, Castinar, perhaps?

<Saif> talking to jamie....

<Sane> *ah geez...here we go

<Diana> * heh :)

<Saif> ok, back - Jamie forgot she was supposed to take dinner to a family tonight and she's pinging <g>

<Saif> I don't think behir armor is anything special, but let me read something quickly and think about this...

<Thengal> OK, ready to descend then?

<Diana> * dragon hide is like 4 worse than the dragon gets... behir hide could be about the same.

<Diana> * that would put it around ac4, which is good but not awesome.

<Saif> * ah, behir armor is scale armor, not leather

<Kat> *scale?

<Saif> * it is "ornate", but not necessarily better. It would just look real cool

<Saif> * yes, per MM

<Diana> * overlapping metal plates sewn into a leather backing.

<Thengal> Hmm, then I could have fashioned the armor. then?

<Saif> Yes, Thengal could have done it - could still do it

<Thengal> "sure"

<Kat> *So, it is better than normal hide.

<Saif> matching shields - whole 9 yards

<Saif> * yes

<Kat> *Is it better than normal scale?

<Saif> well, AC 6 by itself, so not quite as good as chain

<Saif> What the hey, we'll say it is the equivalent of chain

<Saif> and Thengal can make matching shields as well.

<Sane> *Saif, correct me if I'm wrong, but this armor would make the keep guards look pretty distinctive.

<Saif> Yes, quite

<Kat> "Great job, Thengal."

<Saif> * Thengal would probably only be able to do the preliminary work on the armor in the few weeks he has

<Amber> *like oh shoot me whites? :)

<Saif> I'm sure there are rules for how long making armor takes somewhere. Thengal - homework assignment - find those rules for me and e-mail them. We'll figure out how far you got on the project.

<Saif> * They would look like burnished stainless steel with a blue cast to them. Quite impressive.

<Thengal> Sure, how long have we been here?

<Sane> *beauty

<Castinar> hehe -- complete fighters handbook, dragon magazine, and maybe arms and equipment guide

<Sane> *arms and equipment, yes

<Saif> You've been in town for 5 weeks - I guess you would have all the time to work on this and train the journeyman blacksmith/armorer how to do it as well.

<Thengal> Yup. It's also in C&T if I remember right.

<Sane> So, on to the City of the Glass Pool, or at least the suburbs.

<Saif> Wow - Fighter's Handbook has Scale Mail taking 8 weeks per suit

<Sane> *oh man

<Thengal> I've had a few other projects I was working on as well, we'll say I devoted about 3 weeks to the behir armor though

<Kat> "Sane, have you checked out the powers of the people that live at the Glass Pool?"

<Sane> *how long does plate mail take?

<Saif> * that could probably be reduced by Thengal's expertise

<Diana> * to hear my armorer talk, about a year :P

<Diana> * course, he hasnt just been working on mine natch.

<Saif> Plate mail is 14 weeks

<Kat> "We've done the research before. Do you remember?"

<Sane> *are you talking about Nikki's joy ride?

<Kat> "I thought they are immuned to illusions. Is that true, Castinar?"

<Kat> "Yes"

<Kat> "Snake-faces and Kuo-toans might be immuned."

<Sane> *Saif, Sane has researched both of these races in the great library. Are either of these races immune?

<Saif> * With Thengal and his journeyman working together they could reduce the time to 4 weeks per set

<Saif> * I forget who it was who did the in-depth research on the kuo-toa and flayers. I know somebody did. I _think_ it was Sane.

<Sane> *it'll still take years to outfit the whole troop, given how little time we spend at home

<Thengal> Ok

<Sane> *yes, it was Sane

<Saif> Then you know all the general stuff and battle stuff from the MM. I do believe the kuo-tao immunity to illusion is mentioned there. Checking....

<Sane> *MM in the car.

<Kat> *Can we get some armorers in Jurgenville to help make the armor?

<Castinar> drat --- book disappeared!

<Thengal> *I'll work with them on the first set, then they can complete the others, while we are in the Underdark.

<Sane> *I'd check myself

<Castinar> If I remember correctly, they are immune to 1-2 level (maybe 3 level) illusions

<Thengal> Kat, I've got a jouneyman and a few apprentices already.

<Sane> *that's the punk stuff, who cares? <g>

<Sane> *Sane hardly even casts Illusions of 1st and 2nd level anymore.

<Kat> "Well, Thengal, it would only be to get the armor completed before spring."

<Saif> * Found it. From the MM "Illusions are useless against them"

<Kat> "What does it mean to be immune to illusions? Is that just the image spells or every illusion spell like invisibility?"

<Sane> *All kuo-toans can kiss by feathery butt. Damn.

<Kat> "Fine with me. It will take some time to get the job done."

* Sane takes out his Wand of Fire and pats it in his other hand.

<Thengal> *FYI, from MM "Illusions are useless against Kuo-toans"

<Sane> *Saif, does invisibility count?

<Saif> * No, just true illusions, not all spells from the school of illusion

<Saif> * Of course, they can also sense vibrations 10' yards away <weg>

<Saif> So what's the plan for the return to the UD?

<Thengal> "Kat, Me's shown dem how ta make one set o' armor, me has fait' dey ken do da rest by da time we return."

<Kat> "Great, Thengal. I didn't know how skilled they are."

<Sane> Head toward the city, without objections.

<Amber> *brb gotta check email.

<Thengal> "Dis journeyman, a half dwarf has da makin' o' a true master. HE ken do da task

<Kat> "Great. No worries, then."

<Castinar> Is there nothing else between the dragon cavern and the city?

* Castinar is checking map

<Amber> *back, no news is good news.

<Saif> No, you can make a straight shot there now, passing through the grell area and the slime temple

<Kat> "Diana, is the circle you created to the Ari's and Castinar's cave moveable?"

*** Galen has joined #Nightbelow

<Diana> "No. I will have to make a new one when we go past it."

<Galen> gate?

<Kat> "Will the one here have to be recreated, too?"

<Saif> I'm trying to remember if there is a receiving circle down there anywhere right now. I guess the last one you used for that direction was to bring Val and co. down. That would still be there.

<Diana> "recreated, no. I will need to make a new one when we go past the one we have in the cavern."

<Diana> "But the others will remain, to a point."

<Galen> Have we travelled down the path labelled diregund? (gnome map?) I think we have, but can't recall it's been a while <G>

<Saif> BTW, I need to update the gnome map. it only showed a small trip down towards the lizards. In fact it goes down almost even with the slime temple

<Kat> "I thought you said it was a one-to-one type of thing."

<Saif> Castinar - no on going down that direction

<Saif> You haven't been past the slime temple

<Diana> "I can have multiple destination circles."

*** Castinar has quit IRC (Ping timeout)

<Galen> *Okay -- that may be something we need to verify safe before passing

*** Galen is now known as Castinar

<Kat> "oh."

<Saif> * BTW, looking at the map you'll only save a day or two Portaling down to the dragon's lair vs just marching down

<Castinar> Oh!

<Castinar> Okay -- thought the slime temple -- never mind

<Sane> *a day or two here, a day or two there...

* Castinar thinks we need to rething going to glass pool <G>

<Kat> "Don't we have to go back to Ari's cave to check on the fog?"

<Castinar> Well -- if we start where we left off, we have a ways to go before we hit the CotGP

<Thengal> Castinar? Wat be yer reasons here? D'ye know somet'in we should know about dis glass pool?

* Castinar looks confused

* Castinar nods

<Kat> "Believe? We know."

<Thengal> "Den we should go. If me boy still be alive an taken prisoner, dey woulda taken 'im dere

<Castinar> "But, we have a number of miles of tunnels to travel through before we reach that point. And, there are known dangers already marked on the map. I had thought I heard you say we were going straight to the city, yet I don't see how we can with the dangers between us and it."

* Castinar nods

<Castinar> "Okay -- just clarifying"

* Castinar smiles faintly

<Saif> So you Portal down or walk down?

* Sane flies around in the cool winter air one last time before setting out.

* Amber says goodbye to the staff and admonishes them to take care and pray for our safe return.

<Saif> brb

<Saif> back

<Saif> So, Portal or walk down?

<Sane> portal

<Saif> K

<Thengal> Don't really matter to me

<Ari> walk

* Sane slaps Ari.

<Saif> Diana casts her Town Portal spell (under the direction of the party leader, over Ari's objections)

<Ari> we need a new leader

<Ari> this one is mean

<Amber> the faster we go the less supplies used.

<Ari> the more time Ari spends in the underdark the better she likes it supplies be damned

<Saif> This portal is one day away from the dragon caves. Do you go back and visit them, or press on?

<Castinar> *And the faster we go, the less time we have to practice our tactics in the "real" environtment

<Ari> visit the fog

<Sane> yes, visit

* Ari glares at Sane

* Diana would visit the fog as well.

<Castinar> *just getting you all "quiet" again for travel in the UD takes a week

* Castinar grins

<Saif> K, you go back to the dragon's cave

* Ari kicks Castinar

<Amber> *me wants to visit, she jplans on getting something there.

<Saif> It is much like you have left it, although you do notice the beetles have already moved into the behir lair

<Saif> not a large lair of beetles - at least you don't see any signs of a lair. Just a few beetles wandering around (before the behir would have eaten them)

<Ari> *drat...never did find time for that hold insect spell

<Amber> *are teh dragons footprints all gone? If not she will take a bit of dirt from a couple of them?

<Thengal> *Feasting on th Behir carcass I presume

<Amber> *put into her jars.

<Sane> *you'll have to the call the UD Exterminator

<Saif> www.the-bug-reaper.com

<Ari> Ari wanders into the fog and asks how it is doing. At some point she asks if it can keep the beetles out of the caves

<Diana> * Slug and Snail DEATH.

<Diana> * its a product whose name says it all.

<Saif> The fog is very happy to see Ari and complains about being lonely

<Sane> Do the beetles wander down to the room with the pool?

<Amber> "hey, don't walk in the footprints of the dragon!" Amber pleads.

<Saif> Amber - most of the floor down here is stone, but you could probably find a few footprints in the outer cave

<Kat> "Have it take beetles as pets."

* Castinar watches Ari and the Fog intently

<Amber> Good, storing samples in jars she bought.

<Saif> You don't see any beetles near the pool while you are there, but Castinar points out a few piles of beetle dung indicating that they have been this far

<Amber> And marking them.

<Saif> The fog admits to playing with the beetles

<Thengal> "d'ye want me ta check out a pool afore we continue on?"

<Kat> "Can the fog travel around?"

<Saif> * BTW, remember the fog is only in the inner room, not in the pool room. That is now clear (Nikki dispelled the fog in here)

<Saif> The pool is still milky white and filled with rotting stuff.

<Thengal> Yuch

<Kat> *I thought we cleaned the pool

<Sane> to Thengal <It would be a good test of the helm.>

<Saif> The fog seems to be comfined to the inner room

<Thengal> Or to me cloak

<Saif> * did you clean it?

<Amber> *Did Amber get enough dirt for 2 jars?

<Castinar> Problem? I don't consider a few beetles a problem. They are part of what I will be creating here -- a haven for nature and Meilikki

<Kat> *yes

<Saif> * Ah, yes, I think you did while waiting for Cast, Ari, and Nikki

<Saif> So the water by now has cleared out then, making the room even brighter and the sparkling/dancing light even more pronounced.

<Sane> At Castinar's words Sane looks to Ari for her opinion.

* Ari shrugs. "Whatever he wants. I have a bug repellent spell if I want to stay for awhile. And I'm asking the fog to keep them out whereever she can."

<Saif> Now that the water is clean the dancing light/shadow effect is so startling it almost takes your breath away with its beauty.

* Kat will turn to Castinar and say, "Are you crazy? What do you mean the beetles will be part of some haven."

<Kat> "Have you seen how many there are?"

<Thengal> "between me cloak, da stone, and da helm t'ree o' us could check it out"

<Saif> * BTW that large beetle colony you explored a bit was a day and a half back down the tunnel.

<Kat> "So, we upset things when we killed the behir and got rid of the dragon."

<Castinar> First of all, what I, no, we, plan on creating here is not a place to "sleep". It is a place for worship and meditation -- a place we can come when the rest of you must spend time in the city

* Ari rolls her eyes. "Would you leave him be? You don't have to live here if you don't want to."

<Ari> "And see..he plans on a shrine, not a bedroom."

<Thengal> OK, I'll step into the pool then.

<Castinar> And Kat, no. I am <not> crazy -- as much as you would like to think that I am.

<Saif> Thengal steps into the pool. As soon as the cloak gets wet it starts to adhere to his body. It is a... discomforting sensation

* Ari rolls her eyes again and heads back to talk to the fog.

* Thengal a little nervous here, but i'll give the cloak a chance to work it's magic

<Kat> "I don't need to think about you being crazy. You think that it's safe for us to come back here. Do you think the beetles won't mind?"

<Saif> As thengal keeps moving in more and more of the cloak sticks to him, also expanding somewhat

<Castinar> You know, one of us could go down there too -- with the aid of the stone

<Saif> * who has the helm? Matar?

<Saif> * Sane has the stone

<Sane> *I have the stone?

<Saif> * Ari could bob around on top <g>

<Matar> i do

<Sane> *oh, that stone

<Thengal> I believe Matar has the helm

<Saif> * ioun stone

* Sane will go down using the stone.

<Saif> Sane - unlike Thengal - gets all wet

<Saif> So Thengal - you go all the way in?

<Thengal> Sire

* Matar pulls the helmet out of his pack and dons it to test it out.

<Thengal> Sure i mean

<Saif> Thengal takes a deep breath and dives under the water

<Matar> ewww wet kenku

<Saif> From the surface you see the cloak suddenly flare out and then he begins to "fly" away

<Castinar> Its running away with him!!!!!!!!!!

* Castinar grins

<Saif> For Thengal it is quite an interesting sensation - more like flying than swimming. It even feels somewhat natural.

<Kat> "Sane looks like one of those other birds in the water."

<Saif> He finds himself breathing the water without even thinking about it

<Thengal> Hmm, always wondered why Sane put so much stock into flying

<Matar> bleh thats the worst popcorn i ever made

<Saif> But he can walk around on the bottom all he wants

<Saif> Matar can walk around too and swim some, but nowhere near as gracefully as Thengal

<Kat> *A graceful dwarf. hehehe

* Amber looks into water to watch for a moment then turns away to be on guard.

<Saif> Ari - do you do anything specific with the fog? Diana - you mentioned wanting to talk to it as well

<Thengal> Spend first five minutes or so getting used to swimming

* Sane just kind of tries it out a bit. Looks around. Heads back up after a few minutes.

<Saif> * it takes a magic item, but yes, a graceful dwarf

<Thengal> Then, I'll look around

<Ari> ask if she's chosen a name, what's been going on and if anyone/anything has come down here

<Saif> BTW - Sane also has vision problems under the water (just normal for anybody underwater)

<Saif> Where as matar can see clearly

<Saif> As can Thengal

<Sane> *that's what I figured--vision

<Saif> Ari - it doesn't know what a good name would be and asks you to give it a name

<Ari> *figures

<Kat> *pinkie

<Saif> Other than that the only thing the fog has seen is a couple of beetles and something that sounds like a skinny dwarf

<Ari> *I don't think so Paul

<Sane> *foggy

<Thengal> *Mmmm, real strawberry ice cream

* Diana wants to see how the fog has been dealing with its enviroment, that kind of thing.

<Ari> * a skinny dwarf? explain that one more

<Saif> * Strawberry Ice Cream? That's a good name for an intelligent bank of pink fog <g>

<Ari> *I was thinking Mist. What do you think Seth?

<Diana> * works for me :)

<Castinar> LoL

<Castinar> Myst?

<Saif> The fog tells Ari it looked kind of like Thengal but without all the clothes and skinny - even skinnier than her or anybody else in the party.

<Sane> *shoot, Cast beat me

<Thengal> I like Myst better

<Castinar> *Perhaps you should explain our intention for this cavern too?

<Ari> *ok..will explain Ari and Cast want to make the caverns a home

<Sane> *if it turns evil, you can call it Pyst.

<Saif> lol

<Castinar> hehe

<Ari> *forgot..if you guys are going to tease her I'll think of something else

<Thengal> If nothing interesting in the pool, I'll come out after 10 minutes or so

<Ari> forget it even..damn I need ice cream

<Saif> Thengal - nothing interesting in the pool. You find that it is fed and drained by small cracks down low. They are about 1' or so across.

<Saif> Enough to let fish through, but nothing real big

<Thengal> Ok, I'll give my report to Sane.

<Saif> K

<Ari> Ari will ask what the skinny dwarf did and where exactly if came from (direction??) and where it went

<Saif> Anything else in this area?

<Saif> The dwarf came from the opposite direction (where you were grabbed)

<Saif> It studied the fog for a while before walking through it

* Kat will check around for anything else that might be moving into the area.

<Saif> The fog tried to talk to it but it didn't respond

<Saif> It hurried through, as if afraid of the fog

<Ari> it was the only one?

<Saif> Yes, it was alone

<Ari> *what no Val?

<Saif> Kat - you find signs of other smaller creatures, but nothing of any size

<Saif> No, Val apparently hasn't returned here - at least that you can tell or that the fog knows

<Ari> How long ago was this skinny dwarf here?

<Saif> There is also a small colony of bats near the ceiling in the behir lair

<Sane> to Thengal. <Thank-you. Well done. So, what was it like?>

<Kat> *Any of the bats like Hunter?

<Saif> the fog doesn't have a good sense of time. You try to pin it down but end up throwing up your hands. it just doesn't get the concept.

<Saif> * no, normal bats

<Sane> *good places to hang too

<Ari> *old dwarf? young? give a better desciption and have her keep a lookout out for it or others like it

<Kat> *They are making plans to get one of the beetles

<Thengal> It be a unusual sensation. Much like when ye try to explain wat it be like ta fly.

<Kat> *Then, they will eat like kings

<Saif> the fog doesn't know the difference between young and old. When you talk about wrinkly skin it says it kind of had wrinkly skin.

*** Nikki has joined #nightbelow

*** db sets mode: +o Nikki

<Nikki> an hour + 10. not bad

<Thengal> Ahh, me'll hafta try it again some time

<Sane> *radar detector?

<Nikki> nope

<Nikki> it's 35 minutes with no traffic

<Saif> * didn't you have a dinner or something tonight, Judd?

<Nikki> i bailed on the company party. when poppy gets home we're having dinner n a movie

<Nikki> in the meantime you get to enjoy my charming self after a long drive :)

<Ari> male or female? (did I ask that one already?)

<Saif> It had a beard, but the fog is a little... ah... foggy about the male-female concept as well

<Thengal> With a dwarf? Who can tell

<Ari> ok

<Amber> *weapons?

<Ari> what else has it been doing with itself?

<Ari> can it strecth itself to get into the cave with the water? can it move from this cave at all?

<Castinar> Wait -- it came from the direction in which we were taken? That means it can use the portal as well?

<Saif> No, it can't make it anywhere outside of the cavren. When it tries to it disapates (at normal mist rate), and that hurts it

<Saif> It seems to go into a semi-hibernative state when nobody is around or nothing interesting is happening. (i.e., doesn't really notice the passage of time)

<Nikki> * kill it now before it's too late! :-)

<Saif> Cast - yes, or came in some other way - BTW, only Ari knows this right now

* Castinar nods

<Ari> Ari will try and experiment...she walks out of the cavern and 'thinks' at it the way she does with K'harn. Wants to see if she can communicate with it when not in sight

<Saif> Ari - you can talk to it out to about 100' or so

<Ari> thats not too shabby

<Saif> You get the impression that is the fog, not you at all

*** Thengal has quit IRC (Ping timeout)

<Saif> Also remember there is a long tunnel connecting the two caverns, so it can't communicate into the other cavern

<Saif> Anything else here?

<Ari> I just wanted to know how far we could go before the communications dropped

<Ari> not that I can think of for Ari

<Saif> Ari - you want to tell it about your and Cast's plans like Cast suggested?

<Saif> OK, so back out?

<Ari> I already said I did so yes

<Saif> K, it seems excited at the prospect. It doesn't like being alone for long periods of time.

<Saif> The party heads back out.

<Saif> Do anything in the beetle cavern, or just head straight through?

<Kat> "Nikki, do you have any new spells to test out on the beetles. They might be a problem in the future."

<Sane> to the beetles, after glancing at Castinar <Live long and prosper.>

<Nikki> tonight's nutritional lesson: dont lick the cup cake crumbs off a table that was cleaned with bleach.

* Castinar glares at Kat

<Saif> lol

<Saif> OK, the party heads through the beetle cavern without incident

<Saif> It takes a couple of days but you then make it to the T area (1 on the map)

<Nikki> "Wel,, I have <.not rolled yet.> and <.also not rolled yet.> and <.might be interesting too.>"

<Nikki> :)

<Saif> Go see the gnomes or turn down and head towards the CofGP?

* Saif looks to see if anybody is awake out there

<Kat> "We could leave a note to the gnomes. They might want to hunt the beetles."

* Castinar looks at Sane expectantly

<Nikki> if you dont know what bleach tastes like, do your best throughout your life to never learn.

<Diana> *shudder*

<Amber> ?me leaves desision on where to go next to leader.

<Diana> * kid in my kindergarten drank bleech, and threw up a lung and most of the rest of his internal organs. i still remember. its not pleasent.

<Sane> *to Oz?

<Saif> So gnomes or no?

<Saif> If no, do you stop and visit with the gnome outpost in the old grell lair or press on?

<Sane> Go say hello to the gnomes

<Castinar> Have we given the gnomes an update at all recently? DO they know the dragon is taken care of?

<Matar> nope

<Saif> No, the last they saw of you you were heading to deal with the lizards

<Matar> well not by us anyway

<Sane> We go to the gnomes.

<Saif> OK, the party heads down to visit the gnomes

<Amber> I'd say to to outpost and report...oh, never mind.

<Saif> As usual you are asked to stop while Carmeneren is brought to you

<Saif> She comes along with her honor guard.

<Saif> She seems alittle surprised to see you.

*** Saif is now known as Carmenere

* Sane bows to Carmeneren.

<Carmenere> "Did you not go to fight the great lizards?"

* Castinar moves over to where Kat is standing

*** Carmenere is now known as Carmen

<Sane> *Sane turns visible too. <g>

*** Dan has joined #nightbelow

<Carmen> "Sane, it is always a pleasure to welcome you into our lands."

*** Thengal has joined #nightbelow

<Carmen> Hey Dan - funny, Xaveus is about to be mentioned for the first time.

<Carmen> Thengal - done in dragon caves, now talking with the gnomes

<Kat> Hi Dan

* Carmen raises an eyebrow

<Thengal> OK thanks, had trouble connecting back to ICQ

<Dan> greetings all

<Amber> *greetings!

<Thengal> Hey Dan

<Sane> *Saif are we in a place where we would normally speak at length or do we sit down or go somewhere, etc?

<Diana> hiih

<Sane> hi Dan

* Kat moves away from Castinar.

<Dan> hello

<Carmen> * yes, in a small side cavern with rugs spread around

* Castinar shrugs

<Carmen> * you wait for a day and she comes to meet with you at your usual meeting place just outside their lands

* Ari sits next to Kat ready to clap a hand over her mouth. She leans over and whispers to her friend "Not one word, do you hear me?"

<Kat> "What is with you people."

* Sane tells Carmeneren all about the dragon and behir

* Carmen waits for Sane to give his news

* Kat moves away. She head out of the gnome area.

* Ari follows.

<Carmen> As the gnomes listen to Sane's account even Carmeneren looks impressed. Several of the younger ones get excited (well, for deep gnomes)

* Carmen watches Kat and Ari leave curiously.

<Carmen> She then looks around

* Sane enhances the story with pictures.

* Amber sits down next to Thengal and watches the gnomes.

<Carmen> "The dwarf that speaks with rocks. He was killed? Everyone else is here."

<Carmen> The gnomes are suitably impressed by the visual story telling, especially the dragon

<Nikki> "We killed and ate him as is our way."

* Carmen nods as if understanding

<Carmen> then looks curiously

<Carmen> "He... left? You cast him out of your clan?"

<Nikki> "Just the bones."

<Carmen> several of the younger gnomes look at Nikki with wide eyes, their hands wandering to their weapons, but Carmeneren ignores her

* Carmen nods again

<Thengal> "No m'lady, da young dwarf had a differnt calling den we do is all" He left o' 'is on accord

<Carmen> "a pitty. He was most... interesting."

* Nikki licks her lips.

<Diana> * Nikki has the diplomant kit? wierd.

<Carmen> the young gnomes take a step back

<Sane> *to Diana--indeed

<Nikki> * Oh my god? Diplomat? I thought I wrote down "jester" on my final sheet!

<Thengal> ROFL

* Amber offers Nikki a drink from her waterskin thinking she is thirsty.

<Carmen> "The blue one has a strange sense of humor, even for a surface dweller."

<Nikki> * sorry. im just in a mood tonight. just ignore me.

<Castinar> LoL

<Carmen> "So... what was beyond the dragon?" Carmeneren asks, glancing over at Castinar

<Nikki> * sort of like when you've been up for 30+ hours and start thinking everything is really funny.

* Ari catches up to Kat. "Hey, want to chat a bit? We can talk in elvish. Help you practice."

<Sane> to Carmen <She is unusual, even for us. But so am I.>

* Kat response in elvish, "What is the deal with you and Castinar. Carmen was insulting to us last time. Yet, you both blame me."

<Ari> "Well you were pretty rude Katrina. Sometimes you just have to swollow words when you are insulted."

<Carmen> "And what do you plan on doing now?"

<Nikki> * I think we're buff enough to take out the gnomes now.

<Kat> "Well, Castinar could have told me that months ago. Why did he tell me now. That is so stupid."

<Castinar> "The dragon... it's cavern complex ended. We're going to build a shrine there, Ariessus and I. But, in the meantime, we move on toward the City

* Carmen nods

<Carmen> "So you are going to the city? Be careful of the diregund on the way there. They are masters of ambush."

* Carmen turns her head to Sane and cocks it to the side

<Sane> *do we know that already?

<Castinar> "Just what are diregund? I don't believe I've heard of them, at least not by that name."

<Carmen> "Combine a dwarf... no offense" (looks at Thengal) "with a slug and make it go crazy , then you'll have a diregund."

* Castinar shudders

<Ari> "True, he could have said something Kat. More than likely he just didn't think about it. I will admit, I haven't done any better by you. I am sorry." Ari hugs Kat.

<Thengal> "me's not heard o' dis creature" Half dwarf half slug? sounds like a Duergar creation to me."

* Castinar tenses slightly, then relaxes

* Carmen shakes her head. "No, we know the Duergar. These are the others. The ones that smell so bad."

* Kat feels better at Ari's words and hug. She hugs back. "Thanks."

<Thengal> "Hmmm.... (searches his memory)

<Amber> *did ARi tell us about the skinny dwarf?

<Carmen> * no

<Amber> *dang, she would be away during this conversation <g>

<Kat> "Now, how do you say, clumsy ranger, in elvish."

<Carmen> "Yes. there are several living in the tunnels outside of the City of the Glass Pool. Perhaps some inside as well."

*** Dan has left #nightbelow (Dan)

* Ari smiles. "Not telling you. Now be nice to Castinar."

* Carmen shrugs. "Who know what perverted things they do. I will tell you this - don't let them capture you alive! They enjoy watching others die - especially surface dwellers."

<Amber> "ick" Amber grimaces at the picture that pops into her mind.

* Castinar wonders if they have the same vulnerabilites as slugs --- and maybe the same acidic attack?

<Carmen> "Weapons, spells, traps."

* Carmen shrugs "Depends how close you are to their territory. A dozen. Two, sometimes three."

* Sane raises an eyebrow.

<Kat> "I'm nice to Castinar. He needs someone to draw him out of his shell. He doesn't even notice the way Shadow looks at him. Well, it doesn't appear to notice."

<Thengal> "Sane? Me t'inks me knows what she be referrin' to... Nasty critter. We dwarves call 'em Derro. but we claim no relation to 'em."

* Ari shrugs. "Not your problem. If she wanted him to know she would tell him."

<Castinar> Derro? Ah, I know of them

* Carmen considers Thengal's words. "Yes, I do believe I once heard an ogre trader refer to them by that name."

<Thengal> Me's never encountered one, but dere be many stories told o' our battles against dere ilk

<Nikki> time to go

<Nikki> enjoy

<Nikki> dont get me killed

*** Nikki has quit IRC (Leaving)

<Carmen> enjoy your movie...

<Kat> "Ok. What about you, Ari? Do you still claim that drow are not elves?"

<Thengal> "Let me t'ink a moment."

<Castinar> "Heh... I even speak what passes for a language for that race. A rather disgusting sounding language, I'd say."

<Ari> "Claim? How insulting. Of course I am not an elf. How can you even ask such a thing."

<Kat> "Well, Castinar still calls drow, elves."

<Kat> "I guess that's your problem not mine."

<Kat> "Or, his."

<Ari> "He doesn't do it in my presence."

<Thengal> Dey be as da lady said. very creul an' sadistic critters. Dere be some among dem, a higher caste maybe, what knows some spells. not much more ta pass on really

<Carmen> * Sorry, if I had noticed that Cast spoke Derro I would have had him catch on a lot quicker. Lesson to everybody - if you think something might apply to a situation ask. Thengal figured it out when Ted asked if his Ancient History NWP in dwarven history might help him identify them.

* Kat looks back towards the gnome area, "Why did we come here. Didn't we learn last time that the gnomes don't know anything beyond what is attacking them."

<Thengal> "No dey have dere own language, tho some might speak dwarven."

<Castinar> *didn't connect discription with language -- I was picturing something mroe.... sluglike <G>

<Sane> *me too

<Carmen> * it was a rather vague description - more like a dwarf with wormy skin (pale, stinky)

<Sane> *I was imagining Lord Leto

<Carmen> * culture gap <g>

<Amber> *I thought skinny...like the dwarf Ari was told about. Amber didn't though

* Castinar ticks off on his hand "Derro, Duergar (probably), undercommon (definitely)"

* Castinar thought about that too

<Thengal> *I was imagining a smaller version of Jabba the Hut

* Castinar nods

<Carmen> * there's an interesting monster. I'll have to think on that one <weg>

<Castinar> think I already have some stats for him/it

* Carmen stands and bows to the party. "We will celebrate your victory at a dinner tonight. You are welcome to attend, but I understand you surface types like to hurry along."

<Thengal> "yeh, m'lady, t'anks again fer yer help."

<Carmen> * BTW, did Sane talk about the pink fog when he talked about the dragon/behir battle?

<Castinar> *Dinner might not be a bad thing --- best meal we'll have in a while... <G>

<Sane> *this must be the "Southern UD" <g>

<Thengal> *Don't think so.

<Sane> *yes, Sane talked about the pink fog

<Sane> But Sane also asked that the area be left alone.

* Carmen asks "So, you don't think this pink fog would hurt a scouting party if we explored that area?"

<Ari> *hey! stay out of my caves!

<Ari> *damn gnomes

<Carmen> "Why do you want us to stay out of that area?"

<Thengal> "Mebbe, da gnomes ken make friends wit' yer fog Ari.

* Carmen glances over at Castinar suspeciously, but says nothing

<Castinar> That is an area we plan on building our shrines

<Ari> *Ari isn't there

<Ari> *that was an OOC kepp out

<Ari> *keep even

<Carmen> So you guys leave?

<Thengal> *Oh, sorry, forget I said the last then

<Castinar> Dinner?

* Kat left and waiting for the others.

<Amber> dinner?

<Carmen> If you want to stay you can

<Thengal> Dinner and party sounds good to me