The Witchbrand's page

The Witchbrand watches, smiling as he sees Joachim's disadvantage. He takes careful note of it, patting his snake on the head.

The Witchbrand nods. "To Arneson."

Witchbrand looks around, understanding.
"Ah, so this is sort of like the Mists, then? I think I understand now."

Witchbrand nods. "Alright, I'll have the cider, then."

Sharinda returns to the table and begins dishing out hot bowls of vegetable soup

"I thought you could all use some warm soup"

She looks to Witchbrand

"Have yeh decided what yeh'd like to drink?"

Looks at the others

"Anyone else fancy another drink?"

"I'll just have some water." Witchbrand says nervously.

The Witchbrand wrote:

The Witchbrand nods. "Thank you, Olli. It would appear that there's quite a crowd of...unusual folk here. I'll fit right in."

The small blue creature looks at the newcomer

Yeah there are some -----ing weirdos in this place. It is a -----ing weird place all together!

Traveller ----- sips a thimble of apple brandy

The Witchbrand looks a it confused. "What?"

The square metallic creature turns and looks at Witchbrand.

"Greetings newcomer. This unit's designation is Oil Lube Initializer, but many beings shorten that to O.L.L.I. At the table is Traveller Smurf, points to a tiny blue creature, Malfaerr points to a medusa-like female ,her familiar Hop-Toy points to a small fiendish frog, Lolenthiel points to an elven-looking woman with odd antennae on her head, Brinkt points to a small goblin currently engrossed in the next table's conversation , Joachim points to a dark-complected warrior human, and Karrin is the being who addressed you."

Phew I think that's everyone

The Witchbrand nods. "Thank you, Olli. It would appear that there's quite a crowd of...unusual folk here. I'll fit right in."

"Oh, oh," a cheerful looking tiefling lady says, "sounds like someone else stumbled into the World Serpent Inn. Same thing happened to me a while back. I'm Karrin Kind what sort of creature are you, if you don't mind me asking."

"Me? I...I'm a caliban." He looks slightly embarrassed as he says it. "I'm called...I'm called The Witchbrand. And this" He says, patting the albino snake on its head, "Is Haelyn. What's your name? And what is this place?"

Sharinda follows Witchbrand's gaze

"Oh him? That's little Olli, a Modron. He's orignally from Mechanus, but he calls kip in the Cage these days. Funny little berk, but friendly enough. Go ahead over if you want to introduce yourself."

Looks up at Witchbrand

"Would you like a mushroom ale? We also have a wide selection of Menzoberranzan vintages."

The Witchbrand seems to come to his senses. "Menzoberranzan? What's that?"

Sharinda smiles, having seen that confused look a million times.

Sure! The World Serpent Inn. It's kind of a nexus point of portals my boss Mitchifer runs. He's the avatar of the Midgard Serpent, don'tcha know. This is a waystation for those what get lost between the planes. We gots plenty of food and drink. There's darts, pool, and a fighting pit out back the Bearded Reaver runs. Hmm, if you feel lucky you can try to find your way home by opening the doors in the back hallway, but it's a gamble!

Looks the newcomer over

So what's your poison?

"Poison?" The man asks, distracted. "What poison? Haelyn here has poison..."

He looks at OLLI. "What's that?

I'm not sure if we could move it. Posting here is pretty glacial anyway. We really just talk more than anything.

A small gnome lady in a volumninous peasant skirt swirls up to the newcomer, holding a tray of beverages

"Howdy ducks! Welcome to the World Serpent Inn! What can I do yeh fer?"

"The...what is the World Serpent Inn?" The man asks.

Awesome, thanks.
The strange, almost drow-like man walks into the main room. A large snake follows closely at his heels. He looks very bewildered.
"What is this place?"
EDIT: Hey, is there any way to get this place moved to the PbP IC forum? It's kinda confusing when it's here.

Vivienne looks at all the slaughter and mayhem, shakes her head in disbelief and walks away, trying to find a cure for her curse elsewhere. [/QUOTE*Snap*

"Dammit, that poisoned bear trap was for D'Armon! Sorry about that Miss Marais!"

Grims kills Marius and Dayenn.

Witchbrand screams in frustration at not being able to kill Dayenn.

...

Vivienne Marais wrote:

"Well, in this case, my dear professor, might it be a thoughtful suggestion, that you accompany us to the morgue, and we follow you afterwards to the asylum? I'd like to lean on your expertise, while examing the dead twin."

Flattered but not persuaded, Dayenn answers "There really is much for me to do at the asylum. Let us go our separate ways for now and compare notes this evening."

Dayenn follows the gendarme.

The Witchbrand wrote:

"Expertise, my ass", Witch mutters.

As he passes the Witchbrand he whispers "I paid Darby extra to spit in your drink."

Witch glares at the 'professor'. "I am going to kill him for that."

"Well, in this case, my dear professor, might it be a thoughtful suggestion, that you accompany us to the morgue, and we follow you afterwards to the asylum? I'd like to lean on your expertise, while examing the dead twin."

"Expertise, my ass", Witch mutters.

"You coming, Grim?"

"the morgue sounds lovely this time of year I shall go with Lady Vivienne and see this twin of hers" he smiles

"Personally, D'Armon, I wouldn't trust you with your own mother. However, I would like you where I can see you. Like a large, nasty spider."

"The asylum. This is going to be a treat for all of us," says Dayenn, genuinely enthusiastic. "I would be interested in seeing any advances made in the care and understanding of mental illnesses. I wonder if anyone there has read my proposal on restorative bathing."

"Of course they've read your works. That's why they're in the asylum."

Nathaniel furrows his brow and looks around darkly for a moment, his gaze finally settling on the professor with a scowl. “Stop it,” he growls. He then looks – finally, properly – at Vivienne, seeming to study her closely for a moment, then to the marshal. “Is the lady’s body still there? At the morgue?” he asks. “That is where we should start. After that, yes, if needs be we can escort a prisoner to the asylum.”

He spins suddenly and looks to the rest of the group, particularly Dayenn. “Well? Do we move? Or are you going to continue to sit here and prattle and engage in jokes and tea?”

Witch looks bemused. "I suppose that seeing the body would be the most efficient. And for your information, I don't like tea. Come on, Haelyn."

Sense Motive DC 12** spoiler omitted **

1d20+5=17, 1d20+6=25

Witch whispers to his companions, "That marshal is not very happy with me now. Apparently, I'm ruining the 'professors' sparkling reputation. And that Dyrby--Derby--whatever his name is seems to be rather angry about something."
He says more loudly, "Twins? This sounds most disturbing. Miss, I know not your name, but have you any idea what this is about?"

"In any event, not all of the suspects are at the asylum. One who wis more dangerous than the others remains in jail behind bars. Perhaps some of your assistants can take charge of transporting him to the asylum?"

"There is a limited amount of time that I will tolerate being called that bumbling fool's 'assistant'." Witch grumbles. He says more loudly, "Nature will protect me from the madness. I'm not afraid to risk it."

Grim will have a swig.

He listens carefully, understanding that the place to start will certainly be a hypnotic inquiry that will no doubt swell Dayenn's ego beyond tolerability.

This compels him to have a second swig.

"Is Darcy boiling that water with a candle?" He asks Dayenn.

"I thought his name was Debby."

Witch says carefully to the marshal, "Of course."

Witch hides again in the back.

"Excuse me! I was checking out Vivienne. What were you looking at? Witchbrand?"

"Don't make me set Haelyn on you."

For everyone Spot Check DC 15** spoiler omitted **

Listen check 1d20+6=8. Darn...

The commander looks at Witch and screams, "Restrain your pet or I'll have you arrested!"

The Witchbrand glares at the commander. "What do you want me to do, get a leash? He won't attack anyone unless I tell him to." He pats Haelyn on the head.

“I wouldn’t do that,” says Nathaniel quietly. “That’s an albino square nosed viper – they’re one of the most venomous variety of snakes of their size. They’re normally fairly docile, but if panicked – such as by armed men trying to grab them – they tend to lash out. They strike fast, and their victims can die in seconds.

“The Witchbrand knows how to handle such snakes – best let him get it out of here.”

"For your information, Haelyn is not a viper, he's an albino rattlesnake. Of unusual size."

The commander looks at Witch and screams, "Restrain your pet or I'll have you arrested!"

The Witchbrand glares at the commander. "What do you want me to do, get a leash? He won't attack anyone unless I tell him to."

Witch sighs and, rather nervously, steps out. All the time hiding behind Armand.

Meanwhile, Witch runs over to heal the maddened cook.
"It'll work out better if they don't come in here and find a dead body", he says, "And anyways, killing isn't my way."
Heal check 1d20+8=20

Shaken into wakefulness by Vivienne, Nathaniel starts as if someone woken from a nightmare. For a moment upon seeing the woman, his hard face softens, and he almost says something, before looking quickly away and reaching for his dropped weapon, assessing the situation and noting the downed chef.

“What happened?” he growls, climbing to his feet. “What foul sorcery?” He looks between the unconscious chef and Dayenn, his face a mask of barely controlled anger – he vaguely recalls the professor stepping forward, mumbling whilst reaching for his beltpouch a moment before he fell. “Why did I fall asleep?”

"You can thank that fool 'professor', for your sudden slumber. I'd like to know...", he says, turning to Naight, "Just why you did that. You tried to get me, too, but nature protected me."

"Take it I insist. Tis the least I can do."

"Alright, if you must." Witch examines the contents of the bag.

"The money is unnecessary. I'm happy to have been of help, but really I did nothing but direct Haelyn. If you want, than I'm sure the others would like a reward."

The Witchbrand wrote:

The caliban approaches the man. "What is your name?"

The man, his gratitude readily apparent on his face, grasps Witch's hand, ignoring the color of his skin, and shakes it, "Thank you very much. Know that you have just saved Julian d'Sand, recently of Richemulot."

"Pleased to meet you. I am known by many as the Witchbrand."

The chef does not slow upon being bitten by the snake. Then, a look of comprehension appears on his face and he clutches his chest. The bloody cleavers fall from the trembling hands of the chef.

To those who are awake Spot DC 10** spoiler omitted **

Spot 1d20+4=13

The caliban approaches the man. "What is your name?"

Haelyn to the rescue!

How big is this snake?

Medium.

Seeing two of the professor's companions suddenly drop to the floor Armand turns to the lady behind him.

"Mademoiselle, I think it's best you leave at once, this is no place for a lady!"
Giving her a gentle push towards the door Armand quickly crosses the floor to the discarded body of the Witchbrand and kneels down. Sensing a weak pulse, Armand reaches into his shirt and pulls out his holy symbol while saying a short prayer. Immediately the gash across the Witchbrand's chest closes and is replaced by a layer of pinkish new skin.

Cure Light Wounds: 1d8+2=6

Witch opens his eyes, and feels his near-vanished wound. "Thank you. I see that I'm not the only healer here." He sees the mad cook still walking steadily toward the man, and says, "That's it. I've really gotten sick of this guy. Haelyn? Get him. I'm sorry to kill him but Haelyn isn't trained to take foes alive."

Take 8 points of damage, Witch; that places you at minus one.

Joy.

Dayenn steps quietly forward while preparing to use his 'amazing control over the human mind' to cause the combatants to sleep.

He's casting sleep on the combatants.

If I'm within range...Will save 1d20+8=24

Spot and Sense Motive checks
"Stop him!" Witch yells. He steps between the cook and the man.

"Ahh, Professor, I finally get a chance to shake your hand."

"I was getting a bit worried that I would miss the opportunity to see you in person while I'm here, but it seems my stubbornness to stick around bore fruit."
Taking the offered seat, Armand turns to the enthralling woman seated across from him.
"No, no mademoiselle, I don't think we've met before... erm, the professor must be mistaken."

The Witchbrand watches, bemused, then turns to Grimnebulin and raises an eyebrow.

"Monsieurs... erm, Mademoiselle," the last word seems slightly nervous as it leaves the mouth of the newcomer, yet he bows slightly to each and every one of you.

"Yes, I'm here to see the Professor... I gather that he's not here right now, is that correct?"

"The 'professor' is right over there", Witch says pointing to Naight.

"Some themes are not really appropriate to use in jokes. Cannibalism might be okay, though only barely, cannibalism with babies is not, definetely." "

And yes, you are right, I am not good with jokes. Fate taught me too much harsh lessons to appreciate a good joke and laugh about it...

"Just don't let the professor hear you saying that, or he'll whip out that stupid notebook of his and start 'studying' you. It really grates on one's nerves."

"Hello, fellow. I suppose you want to see the 'professor'? He's pretty popular, it seems. Can't imagine why."
As the caliban speaks, he looks around with a curious feeling of déjà vu. "Perhaps...he murmurs to himself, "I have been away from civilization far too long."

"Look the dwarf person or whatever he is is coming this way. Another customer of yours, professor? If D'Armon is anything to go by, this one is going to be pretty...odd."

For Dayenn, Grim, Marius, Nathan, Witch, Vivienne

** spoiler omitted **

"Who's that, do you suppose?" Witch says. "A dwarf?"

"Yeah, well Dayenn the type to go without sleep for extended periods of time with mostly no ill effects, though your point is definitely taken.." looks around for a second and then puts his hand up to his mouth and whispers to Vivenne "I'll club him upside the head with the pummel of my dagger if you'll help drag him back to his house...he'll get him some sleep one way or another " smiles evilly

"Shut up, D'Armon." Witch turns to Vivienne. "The Professor might be a bit 'off', or at least that's the opinion I've gotten after seeing him write one too many notes in his journal about me...but compared to that man, Professor Naight is a friendly grandmother."

"thats not a threat is it? cause I am sure the Doc here" motions to Dayenn "would disagree with you entirely. sides if you have a problem with my opinion we can just take this outside...though I imagine the lovely lady here wouldn't want breakfast ruined by you starting a fight..."

"Neither would I. However, Haelyn," he pats his snake's head affectionately, "hasn't had breakfast yet. You'd best hope it stays that way."