(3) Legend of the Elder Souls (Inactive)

Game Master mdt

If we're all done with the traders, we can move on to visiting compounds. I don't remember precise orders, though, so I'll start with mine, since I can adequately describe it, when you guys are ready!

"Whenever you guys are ready, I can go ahead and show you the volcano, and like I said... it's on the warm side. After that, to the brownstone, then to Lina's keep. Then we can go meet the villagers, if you like... Or we can just go meet the villagers now, if you prefer. If we're gonna meet the villagers, it'd be neat to take them some fresh fruit. I'm sure anything but berries has been pretty rare for them."

I'm fine moving on to compounds and then going back to deal with the trader's responses to the cards later.

"What villagers? The ones outside th' wall? Or are there some this side? Either way, I'm fine with whatever order ya see fit."

"Yeah. We managed to save a few. A woman, her two daughters, and their son and daughter. Probably better to go there later... unless Luna just wants no part of the compounds." He rubs the back of his head, as he looks in Luna's direction.

Luna's house

A bit saddened that Luna wasn't up for some chit-chat, Liisa turned her course 'home', to her tree. But the dead is not truly dead? Brother, I wonder where you are then ... Still with her well filled fruit bowl she wandered home deep in thoughts.

Visiting time!

Liisa is both exited and anxious to see the others dwellings. For Neri's, she has prepared a few castings of Endure Elements. Hopefully, that would be enough! But if his gem truly doesn't like me ... she shuddered. She had seen what effect they could have on their hosts with Lina's outburst, and she wasn't looking forward to see how they could influence their homes. Especially when this one was a volcano !

Luna shrugged. "You know as much about my compound as I do and it has the same risks as yours."

Sorry, was travelling, I'll give a short run down on what you find out, talking with the Merchants about the cards.

Knight - That b@!@& Mina, bloodthirsty warmongering murderer. The merchant hates her, and always removes her card from the deck before she'll play.

Thief - That's Luna, very strongly they respond Luna, as if they had that firmly in their mind. She's a shady, sneaky person who probably shouldn't be trusted too far. Not a bad sort, not into killing people, but watch your coins, and never play cards with her.

War - That's Neri (although if you ask about Ptaleon, they respond as if you used the name Neri). He's a big blowhard, good in a fight, but pretty useless otherwise. Good at bindings, he binds all the really nasty things so they don't get away.

Sorcerer - That's K.. K.. Johnny. Everyone likes him, he's always on the move though, so it's rare to find him. Never met a stranger they say. He's got a real knack for languages...

Nature - That's Sel... Sell.. Seliisa. Kind of unpredictable. Not exactly in a bad way, but you know how the woods are, glorious and dangerous at the same time.

Lina's observations of the cards

Heaven's Voice - A form that's hard to focus on, as if the picture was incomplete. A female form in heavy armor of some kind, with an eagle motif on it. The figure's helmet face plate is tilted up, but the features are blank, other than the mouth, which is open. From the mouth issues winds and lightning and rain.

Holy Knight - Again, hard to focus on, as if the picture was incomplete. Another female form in odd looking armor, a completely different style from the others, very ornamental and vaguely Japanese looking. A pair of broad bladed swords stick up from the woman's back, and she sits astride a unicorn with glowing white eyes. The form is outlined in a white haze, as if it were glowing.

Aesthetic - Again, incomplete picture. A woman in mid dance step, or fighting, the pose would look perfect either way. Metal fans flash in each of her hands. On each arm, there's either a snake, or a snake tattoo, green in color, that coils around each arm. She dances in a half circle of yellow that looks like a rising or settting sun, and there are small stars picked out around the sun. Her robes look similar to Johnny's.

Hunter - A male form, incomplete. A piece of metal armor that's purple is strapped to his chest. He holds a harpoon in one hand, and stands in the ocean waves on the beach. His other hand holds two chains, which lead to a pair of naked women, who cower in the surf.

Unholy Knight - A male form in a set of heavy plate armor, the armor has spikes all over it, with blood dripping off them. He holds a spiked chain with bits of flesh and bones hanging from the spikes, and blood dripping. The background of the card is a whirling mass of black and purple that makes you dizzy if you stare at the card.

Builder - The card is all but drained of color, but a man with a massive hammer at his hip and in heavy armor stands in front of a house that's half built. If one looks close, there is a small dragon under a pile of wood, stealing a chicken leg off a plate of food.

I'll let the players describe their compounds, as they have some control over it's appearance

Neri leads the way past compounds and towards the volcano. Tar and actual molten stone rest in various pools around the volcano, harsh rocky points ripping upwards along the outer edges in obsidian colors, along with various other metamorphic rocks, the whole of which seems to be ran through with veins of metal, here and there.

Outside, metal, worked into bars, left in raw ore form, various gemstones, also worked and unworked. Several pillars of stone or metal are being honed into shapes and vague statues, obscure and abstract. Around ten people move about, around half of which children, as the group moves towards the slope. The slope looks harsh and uninviting, but Neri takes it with ease, given the fact that he's already essentially taking his time with the others in moving. About two thirds of the way up, the heat starts to grow stronger, and he waits for the others to get a taste of endure elements from Liisa, before summoning his own armor, an articulated breastplate made out of red dragonhide appears, as does a sword, resting on his hip, glowing a dull red. It would be hot to the touch but not enough to burn. Nine rings clink against the blade as it appears.

"I hate the armor thing, but I can't just... you know, endure it. Maybe it'll accomodate me, or I'll grow more accustomed to it later." he says, before finishing the trek. They enter through an opening in the side of the mountain which is no more inviting than the outside had been, and come across a bridge that crosses a chasm, the only thing beneathe them, occassional stone and lava, which bubbles and heaves on occassion. Even with Liisa's spell, the heat is only just this side of bearable. In the center of the room is a raised platform that, once they get closer, is actually a large bowl, filled with molten stone and metal, there's a notch along the edge that looks like his broadsword would fit into. Off to the left is a stairstep of stone that works its way down towards the lava, actually dipping through some of the stuff as it pours down the side of the wall. Off to the right is another pillar of magma pouring over another walkway.

"This is what I call a scrying table. Now that I know Id a bit better... I think it's more like a sand table from back home... but much more thorough. I didn't think that it was for tactics, because... it would just be Id looking at it and no one else. I've tried hardening the stuff in order to make a map for us, but it hasn't worked so far." he shrugs, and then motions with his hands, drawing them apart and up.

The lava dances and bubbles up, streaming into pillars and then pouring out into indistinct shapes. "I can see a little way outside of the barrier, but not perfectly. Everything gets hazy fast." Mountains form as he continues to pull, the cave that they'd entered from becoming visible, along with another cave that Neri forces into focus quickly; the raptor cave. Then comes Hell Village, then Neri's compound and the lake. The water seems to mess with the form, becoming an indistinct fuzz... and none of the compounds but Neri's seems visible. He waves his hand a little, and then spreads his fingers, and it zooms in, he waves his hand a little more, and it zooms in on a quadruped creature a little larger than a deer should be, given the size of the trees. It, too, is indistinct. "It's great with stone, great with metal, but when it comes to anything else, it gets fuzzy. It can give a pretty accurate picture, but it definitely isn't perfect."

Then he raises his hands a little higher... and the upper portions of the lava become indistinct, collapsing downwards... and tunnels begin to form. "And this is how we found out about our neighbors, the raptors."

Lina's castle is essentially a small keep built around a central courtyard containing stables and a training area. The courtyard is filled with armored fighters mindlessly engaged in weapon drills, who salute as she passes. Most of the men have a hungry look in their eyes, like they've just been released early from a high-security prison... but they're clean-cut, and she's stripped most of the spikes off of their armor. Occasionally, she glances over her shoulder, as though she's expecting one of them to

In the stables, she keeps three horses and one dire elk, each warped and spined, with sharp teeth and feeding troughs filled with furry bits of wolf meat. They seem tamed to her presence, like hunting dogs, though they bark and growl at any outsiders until Lina gestures that they're okay.

The ground floor of the keep has been converted mostly into anvils, forges, and storerooms full of low-quality weapons. With no good source of metal, the smiths mostly carve wood, or beat swords and bars down into molten ore to be reforged for practice.

The upper floors are mostly dormitories and unused spaces. Lina does not mention which room is her own, if any. She does show the others her magical workshop, adorned with the highest quality tools that her smiths have produced, with several shelves full of gems and raptorfolk potions. She hands Johnny a small headband completely encrusted with unadorned gems. "This'll teach you about magic, since you're the "Sorcerer" and all. And give you a bit more intelligence, too, which can never hurt." She's also working on a hatband of persuasion, as well as various trinkets for Liisa which will be done in a few days.

Atop the walls, she indicates where bodies used to hang, impaled on the battlements, before she removed them. Now, a few light catapults and ballistas sit on the walls, idly trained at the forest around the clearing.

* * *

When she gets the chance, Lina also asks Liisa to talk to her crystal, and see if the stabled animals, see can be permanently calmed. As an afterthought, "Also, if your crystal's talking, ask it whether all animals are its provenance, or if someone else, like Minestria, would take horses and elk as a domain without angering it."

Hmm... the Heaven's Voice seems a bit more... 'Tim the Enchanter'-y than I was hoping. Hunter's got the best-looking equipment, but the slaves seem troubling, especially since in every mythology I can think of the sea stays neutral. Maybe he's a pirate, or maybe they're prisoners, and this is simply a strange caricature of justice. Aesthetic seems too impractical Best not ask Minestria too much, though.

And Lina, at some point, hands Johnny the Hunter, Holy Knight, and Heaven's Voice cards. If he tells her, she'll add the info he's collected to her perp sheets for Minestria, Ptaleon, "Thief," "S—" and "K—". "Can you ask your merchants about these three new cards tomorrow, since they seem like they might be helpful? If you can, ask how much each card would care feel justice or vengeance, torture or mercy."

Hunter - Not welcome at the fire. Very much about vengeance and death, no sense of mercy, but not a torturer either, just a killer.

Holy Knight - Stern, but detests evil. Not given to torture at all, but mercy is harder to come by. You can't be merciful to evil.

Heaven's Voice - Stormy and volatile. Not exactly out to hurt anyone, but like any storm, damage is part of it's wake. Then again, new growth comes from knocking down a big tree so smaller ones can grow. Not really into justice, vengance, torture or mercy...

The woman looks at Johnny curiously at the second set of cards. "If you're looking for specific attributes on the cards, Vengeance would be on Knight, Unholy Knight, and Hunter. Torture would be Slayer, Knight and Unholy Knight. Justice would be Holy Knight, Aesthetic, and Musician. Mercy would be Builder, Death, and Sorcerer."

I think I was a little unclear about which cards I was asking the traders about. But I suppose it doesn't really matter.

Volcano
Johnny wipes sweat out of his eyes. "Y'know, with a bitta work, you could probably make a steam room. Turn this place inta a spa or sommat." He pauses. "Can ya get a tan from standin' close ta lava?"

He watches in interest as Neri manipulates his scrying table. It's almost interesting enough to forget the heat. "Y've mentioned these 'raptors' a few times. Are they actual raptors, like from Jurassic Park?" He screatches and gives a rather comical impression of the fast predators, almost losing balance as he attempts to claw the air with one of his big toes. "Although I think someone said they were more like birds? Sounds a bit rediculous to me."

Keep
Johnny tenses upon seeing the other men in the area. The keep seemed about as inhospitable as the volcano. Perhaps moreso. After all, volcanoes didn't generally try to kill you. Men on the other hand.... There were too many of them for him to charm quickly, so he tries to look for a ringleader of sorts. Although if things go bad quick, he might have to make do with just whomever's closest to him.

On the bright side, the sword on his back was clearly of superior quality to those the men were practicing with. But though he had an odd feeling that he could probably hold his own with it, Johnny felt like he'd rather leave that belief to theory. Although knowing his luck, that'd change soon.

Pushing aside his worries, Johnny straightens his posture and strides confidently towards Lina, attempting to look as large, competent, and 'you don't want to mess with me' as he can. It's quite a striking change from his normally laid back demeanor. When he reaches their current host, he speaks softly to her as he nods slightly towards the men. "You sure ya want ta be trainin' them ta use a sword?"

When Lina offers it, Johnny takes the headband with a raised eyebrow and puts it on. He feels his mind focus slightly but feels no further affects. I can ponder the whole 'teaching magic' part when I'm in safer lands. "Errr...thanks I guess?"

Johnny points at the seige weapons on the now thankfully clean walls, "Is there actually anythin' in the forest intelligent enough ta try to attack us? Or is that in case those on the other side of the wall break through?"

Johnny also freely shares any info he gets about the cards

"Oh. Like this?" He asks and moves the lava back down into the bowl, and points to the right... the lava separating from covering over an opening in the side of the volcano, a steaming bath tub and stone bed visible, along with a stone chest at the foot of it. "It's kind of sparse... but I'm not sure about bringing anything fluffy in." he shrugs.

"And yeah. Like those... but they have actual feathers. Not just hides." Neri acknowledged.

Later, at the Keep.

"Nothing has come near our compounds that wasn't one of us, a ghost, or one of LIna's animals. The villagers specifically refuse to. I'm... honestly not sure if anything bad would happen if they did." he shrugs.

If they walked past her compound or questioned about it Luna would lead them to what looks like a small apartment complex, it takes a while to focus on it as if the building doesn't want to be seen itself; She doesn't enter her compound like the other tours but stands outside talking.

"Some of the rooms are fake, some are locked, some are trapped; I wouldn't recommend trying to figure out which is which. A few people seem to 'live' here but I don't speak to them."

"But... do they provide anything? Do they have anything interesting to talk about?" Neri tilted his head. "I mean, I get the feeling if I go in, I'll come out with less than I went in with... so... can they leave?"

"I don't speak to them and no they cannot leave the compound, they vanish when they do so and then return later."

"I think... something may be learned by slowly and carefully mapping your building, room by room, and seeing what is beyond the traps. But maybe that is for another time."

Volcano

Ach, mountain-hiking ... The trudge up the side of the volcano bought back some memories from Liisas youth when her family had taken a vacation to the scandic mountains in the summer. It had been nice - beautiful nature as far as the eye could see and all the family together. Liisa smiled to herself as she climbed on. Sadly, the hike also reminded her that she was a bit out of shape. Not a nearly as pleasant thought!

As they neared the summit, Liisa paused to cast her protective spell on the small company. Wiping away some sweat from her eyes, she was pleased to notice that their surroundings immediately seemed to cool a bit, even if they were still hot! But as they journeyed inside the temperature started to steadily climb up again. Phew! Worse then summertime ...

"You know, I could probably get some birch branches - then we just need a pool of cool water to have a proper sauna time!" Liisa chuckles at Johnny's comment.

When they are shown the liquid lava display, she can't help but give an impressed whistle.

"Neat! Maybe the others used similar protection spells as we do now? It might have the added benefit of keeping the meetings short ..."

Neri's 'Id' hasn't done anything to express his annoyance at me yet ... Good sign?

Looks a lot better than the mountains around here. I want a color other than green... :(

"Or, they may have used the material my sword's made out of. It absorbs heat and channels it away. I can't seem to actually pull it, but I'm sure we can figure out a way to make it with the right materials. A chain shirt for each person would probably help immensely against the heat."

Wonder what Liisa's buddy thinks of being put into a fire resistant metal :p

"Of note, though... I can continue to pull from the volcano, as long as I don't take it out of the place. So... objects of limited value and such can be made and moved out. Plus, other people's ghosts can visit other compounds, so far as I can see. So, if I could pull embersteel, you guys could just wear it here, and be fine. I could also spruce the place up that way, add more cubbies and hidy holes and the like. I'm not sure what happens if I try to use something I pull as a spell component though."

The picture is from a national park/protected area so it might be slightly cheating :P But what is wrong with green?^^

Volcano

"So ... If you were to make those you can't get them outside? Huhm..."

Probably not a metal fan :P

Keep

Being inside a 'real' fort was sort of awe inspiring and all, but the mood was ruined by all the unease she felt. The keep seemed dark and foreboding, like a demon waiting to break free of its chains and pounce. At first, she thought it might be the inhabitants. With their soulless but hungry stares they gave Liisa the creeps. Then it was the animals. They where *wrong* and she knew it. She felt it in her core. But, worst of all, was Lina. She didn't seem at ease inside the castle - which made Liisa's hair stand up. If *she* doesn't like it here ...

***

"I'm not sure... My 'gem' seems to want to 'help' them be calm again. So there is that. But it - or she? - seems to already think you have 'elks and horses'... I wonder if perhaps they have a hard time distinguishing between physical objects and ideas? Like ... If one of us where to simply use say a crossbow, perhaps that would mark the crossbow as that persons 'domain'?"

Apartment

"It's ... dizzy! Strange. Sorta looks like some sort of ominous gangster hideout straight from a movie starring Johnny!"

Volcano
Johnny puts on a mock serious expression. "Y'know, if we do turn this place inta proper spa, doubtless hundreds of people from th'other side of the wall'd come here! Who wouldn't want ta come to a spa in purgatory?" He winks. "We could even have a petting zoo with Lina's killer deer!"

Apartments
Johnny gives a hearty laugh at Liisa's comment. "I'm no movie star, doll. And from my experience gangsters' rely on reputation to keep people out rather than this magical shimmery illusion thing. In fact, a lot of them like you to know where they spend their time; shows off how little they care."

He scratches his chin. "Lina could be right though, 'bout mapping the place. Or at least talking to the people. If it's as seedy as it looks, no doubt there's lots of good gossip to be heard."

Volcano

I'll keep that in mind ... Thanks - *uhm* - what do I call you? 'My gem' only holds up so far. Liisa 'thought' back, hoping to coax at-least something from her mental companion.

"I think my squirrels would be preferable ..."

Apartments

"If you don't think gangster hideouts are shrouded in magic, then you haven't seen enough animated series." Liisa giggles in response. "But maybe I should deter to your expertise on the subject ... Anyone wanna give 'talking' a shot?"

Volcano

"I'd say even Id would prefer the lizards. Probably not ideal for a petting zoo, though."

Apartments

"They made cartoons about the mafia? I wouldn't mind talking... but they wouldn't even give me a straight answer as to which door Luna was in." he shrugs. "So, I'm guessing the only way to get them to talk is invoking honor among thieves, and possibly a spell or two."

"So... head to the village, then?" Neri asked.

Assuming yes, I think that one is mdt's to describe. :)

Luna shrugged."If you'd like, worse case they kill us again."

With one last skeptic look at Luna's 'base', Liisa turned to Neri and nodded.

"Yeah ... Lets do that instead."

"It's something to consider... And feel free to look into it. I just think that the place and people won't react as positively to us as it would to Luna. And I figure it may well try to kill us in more subtle ways than 'falling into a pit of lava.' Or 'being baked.' I just get the feeling Barrius isn't any more friendly than any other gem when it comes to his stuff." Neri replied.

The village looks much better than it did when it was first found.

Buildings are now up, those that haven't been rebuilt have been cleared of debris and the loose stones piled into a convenient pile outside the village to form a 4 foot wall to keep out the less determined predators. Atop it has been put timbers like old rail fencing, using split logs.

The center of the village is an old well that burbles and bubbles with water that pours over the old stones and forms a pool around it, and then flows out through a stone lined ditch to the creek a thousand feet away.

There are now four fully restored buildings. An old building that was probably once an inn, now restored to provide a common building that all can use. A storage building for food and smoking meat. A smaller house that Krona and Kong have moved into and set up house.

Jacob is living in the main building, along with Mahb, although the two are in separate rooms (given their preferences and the difference in age).

Arna and Trobit are living in the fourth house, also a small one, but big enough for the two of them.

See pictures in village link for what the villagers look like

Don't forget the house fixed up for Luna here. It should also have her alchemy lab and such. :)

For a village named 'Hell', it was oddly picturesque. Might just be that Liisa wasn't used to the medieval style and the utter lack of all the little modern things she was used to take for granted. With a happy grin she looks around. It looks just like a postcard or a painting from ages ago! ... Well, we *are* probably at around that tech level right now so it isn't really that strange I guess ...

"So, which one should we visit if we are to learn a bit more about our gems? Or perhaps we should do the complete meet n greet tour just to be done with it!"

"We could always try not-introducin' ourselves to see if they let slip with our names. But that might be considered rude, so if relations are already somewhat hostile-- they do apparently think we're demons after all-- that might make things worse."

Johnny then notices the wall to keep the wildlife out. "Hey, I know animals tend ta be all warped on this side of the glowy wall, but how are they on the other side? Are they normal?"

Sorry, yes, I meant 4 houses other than Luna's.

"Or... we could treat them like human beings, since that's what they are." Neri stuck out his tongue as he headed for the converted inn.

Johnny, ever the mature one, likewise sticks his tongue out at Neri. "Who says this isn't how I normally treat people? It's all about figurin' out how to act to get people ta tell you want you want." He follows his companion. "But if you mean maybe we should just be straight with 'em...well, last time I did that some invisible voice told me not to for their own well-being."

Lina grumbles in Jonny’s general direction. We’ve got a universal translator spell letting us all clearly communicate our thoughts. I made him a headband of intelligence. And the man still speaks like some sort of uneducated American cowboy. I wonder if he’s doing it on purpose, just to “sound tough".

"So... before everyone goes to the village... now that Johnny's picked up that 'metalsinging' I've been using to make magic items, there's something I want to try with his caravan. Would everyone be able to stand by and restrain me with spells or something if I snap and get violent?"

My plan is to slowly phase that out of Johnny's speech as the headband gradually changes his brain. Although admittedly, I'm also a little hazy on the exact time frame in which everything is happening, so I'm assuming this is all the same day. Although Johnny suddenly knowing crafting kind of messes with that...

Johnny raises one eyebrow at the odd request. He seems a bit wary of the idea. "I guess I could.... Just make sure ta stand far enough away that we'll have time ta cast something before the murderfyin' happens."

"True. And last time I did that.." he motions back in the general vicinity of the compounds.

He looked over to Lina. "Um. No? You're like... three times my size. No offense."

Also, yeah. Lina's time tables are jumping around a lot :p For what it's worth, Kong's accent also didn't make much sense. You're actually not speaking 'english' anymore, but 'common' or something to that effect. Neri's never asked for a name.

I figure speech patterns are intentional affectations, with Kong "trying" to sound "foreign."

Sorry about jumping around! I just want to get "personal quest" stuff out of the way without slowing down other people's stuff while we're in town, if it's problematic let me know.

So, at some point over the course of that day or the next, Lina's previous words probably happen, and then...

"Thanks, Johnny. And Neri—I'll leave my armor and weapons by you, so the others can cast spells on me if necessary before I have time to summon them back."

And, standing at the entrance to Johnny's compound, Lina takes off her armor, and in a few seconds strips down to her underwear and begins walking towards the woman she spoke to before. As she does so, she grabs one of the markers she had borrowed earlier and begins drawing cartoon genitalia on her bare arms.

"Hey, peasant lady!" she shouts, "I changed my mind... I want you to tell me, in detail, everything you think about Minestria!"

"It's like watching a train wreck... I know she's about to die... but I can't look away... and I know there's nothing I can do..."

'Is there -anything- I can do, Ptaleon? I know you're the binder. This would be a good time to not watch her lose half her stomach to your impaler cousin... Heck, maybe we can bring your builder friend to the forefront by binding Minestria? Why didn't I think of this sooner...'

"I told you you are not welcome here, Mina! You blood thirsty psychopath! At least hot head over there can control his bloodlust! You're a complete and utter waste of space and I wish you were as dead as by children were..." And then the woman goes pale, and she flickers at the edges... there's a long drawn out cry of pain that fades away as she does.

The wagon flickers and the children and the husband, also pale, flicker and fade away as well.

Darn! I would've gotten a will bonus from Johnny's people if they were nearby. Time to up the ante.

"Sorry about your ghosts, Johnny! Maybe you two better restrain me," Lina shouts back, and runs towards the others, her hands raised.

If they get close enough to her, she can activate her tactical feat to get +3 to will saves.

Will save: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27 +2 if it counts as charm, compulsion, or emotion.

It does indeed count as compulsion. Do you want to post this out back and forth, or do you want to do a bunch of rolls all in a row and ahve me use them, or do you want me to run it all?

Bunch of rolls is fine, but I'll roll them in a spoiler so I can't see.

You need will checks as well, that's just will bonus plus 1d20

'Well... she isn't dead -yet-.' Neri acknowledged, still watching grimly.

"Come on Lina, fix this! You can beat that wench!"

Liisa shouts in encouragement and continues to bolster Lina with a little bit of magic!

I assume you don't mind if I call Lina's gem a wench?

Casting Guidance for a +1 on saves!

Ah, okay. Think I understand.

Johnny places himself between the traders and Lina, although he almost trips over his own feet when she starts taking off her clothes. What the...? Has she gone nuts? What on Earth is she doin'? He seems only slightly less surprised when the traders suddenly vanish.

He starts seemingly yelling in mid-air. "Well how the hell was I supposed ta know that? You just said not ta confuse 'em! Try bein' more specific in the future!"

Now that the people he had been trying to guard were no longer there he seems a bit at a loss for what to do. He runs up to Liisa and Neri and uncertainly asks, "Do ya think I should try puttin' her ta sleep? In the literal, not euphemistic sense, that is."

If it looks like she's taking any hostile actions against us, Johnny will cast Sleep. Although with a DC of 15, she'll probably pass.