"In Halfling! Sing along everyone!"
"Karu oli, karu, KARU! Kõik must ja pruun ning kaetud juuksed!" Untrained but happy to be not thinking of gloomy subjects, Kalimac sings out the happy song.
Alaric gamely makes a go of it, mangling music and language alike.
Perform: 1d20+3
Liothonae shakes her head, a small sigh. "Ah stell dunna und'rstahnd whot that song es aboute." She says softly to no one in particular, words likely drowned out by the rambunctious noise.
Liothonae shakes her head, a small sigh. "Ah stell dunna und'rstahnd whot that song es aboute." She says softly to no one in particular, words likely drowned out by the rambunctious noise.
Myri, who apparently must be pretty close to Lio to have heard her, says, "I have no clue. Think I've only heard the first few lines in Taldane...and I have absolutely no idea what we're trying to sing now. Something about a bear with hair...& I guess I don't really care....as long as we sing with flair...with flair! Okay, sorry, no I don't know what it's about. Maybe one of the others will explain it sometime. I think we're just having fun. .. .. Drink?" Myri offers her a cup.
Alaric gamely makes a go of it, mangling music and language alike.
Myri joins in, despite the fact that she doesn't know halfling.
Kalimac starts the second verse, only to double over in laughter. "I...I can't! Oh my. 'The evil bridge covered with hair!'" He struggles to catch his breath. "OK.... maybe not... Halfling. Oh, my spleen!"
Kalimac holds his side while laughing.
Rhost circles to the side. The smart move is to outwait whatever magic Melinda has done to herself.
Instead, he rushes toward her from the side...
Melinda's AoO:
Melinda's Damage to Rhost:
...drawing a vicious elbow to his spleen....
...and directing his bunched fist into a kidney punch....
Rhost's attack:
Damage to Melinda:
...which glances off Melinda's magical armor without doing any damage.
Rhost grunts, this time in surprise. "Hardened kidneys?"
to hit:
damage:
Up and down, up loop and down. If Rhost's comrades were not embroiled in combat, it might seem as though he was writing a word with fire. The Earth Breaker goes high, goes around, and comes down into the clavicle of another Ulfen raider.
From afar, it looks like a graceless fire poi as Rhost swings his flaming Earth Breaker into the torso of the next Ulfen raider (one with a higher Initiative, if possible).
Sparring, Round 4
Melinda was apparently expecting the quick grab for her leg, as her follow-through
Melinda's AoO:
catches Rhost a nasty crack on the other side of his head
Melinda's Damage:
but this does not stop Rhost from striking a blow solidly across Melinda's ribs
Rhost's attack:
but to no appreciable impact (apart from the noise).
"Well chosen," Rhost admits.
current hp: 11, uses of Rage = 3 of 6
Sparring, Round 5
Rhost comes straight at Melinda's face with a left hook, leaving himself open for a quick jab, which she takes,
Melinda AoO:
connecting solidly,
Melinda Damage:
as Rhost's blow
Rhost Attack:
strikes her square on the cheekbone, but fails to result in damage.
to hit:
damage:
current hp: 11, uses of Rage = 3 of 6
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Kalimac thinks a bit, then says, "If what you're looking for is a bit more mobility on the field, maybe we should look into getting you your own mount? I can get a pony combat trained for you, so you can get the mobility and the extra accuracy."
Hrithik visibly winces at the word "pony". "It was more a matter of being fused to you, already so fast around the field. The accuracy comes from being this size. Everything is suddenly twice as large, so it is much easier to hit things. The mobility would be nice, but if dual-riding is not possible, I would still appreciate it if you and Attatoq would be willing to train me to ride a war-trained wolf at some point, so I can be ready for another wolf in time, whenever I am on this scale."
Kalimac, knowing full well how long it took him to learn to ride Attatoq--even with the benefit of raising him from a pup--looks skeptical at the odds of this succeeding. But Halflings are nothing if not optimistic.
"Well, I'm game to try. But it's really up to Attatoq. I can't make him accept a rider he doesn't want to. I think he'd take a shrunken Lio, but I'm not even sure about that. She's pack, but I don't know if that extends to letting her ride."
"We can but try."
Myri, who apparently must be pretty close to Lio to have heard her, says, "I have no clue. Think I've only heard the first few lines in Taldane...and I have absolutely no idea what we're trying to sing now. Something about a bear with hair...& I guess I don't really care....as long as we sing with flair...with flair! Okay, sorry, no I don't know what it's about. Maybe one of the others will explain it sometime. I think we're just having fun. .. .. Drink?" Myri offers her a cup.
Uhm... thankye." She takes the offered drink, only hesitating a split second.
Concentration check:
Alaric then falls back, making a beeline for Melinda.
So:
Acrobatics:
Concentration for rune-ing into combat?:
Anyone who steps on Blast Rune:
Spiders swarm remain and keep attacking for 2 rounds after Lio stops concentrating on them.
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Standard Action: Fire Orb at Raider 10 ft to Hrithik's east.
Move Action: After throwing, step 5 feet west and stow potion of greater invisibilty in alchemist's kit again.
.......U...JFAWWWUU.............
...........US.LWWMUJ............
.........WW....H..U.............
.........WW....UYU..WW..........
.........WW.....U...WW..........
......C............TWW..........
Attack: vs. Touch AC of target (includes Bless and Point Blank and -4 throwing into melee)
Damage to Primary Target: (including +1 for Point Blank)
Damage to 3 Ulfen: 7 damage each (including +1 for Point Blank)
Saves for Half Damage (vs DC 16):
Upper Center U:
Upper Right J:
Lower Left U:
Description: In darkness and fog, a tiny orb flickers into visibility just southwest of Melinda, streaking east and glowing fiercely. It strikes the Ulfen raider just southeast of Melinda and blossoms into a blast of searing white fire, immolating the raider and erupting over the position of Melinda and three other nearby Ulfen. The flames ultimately stop and roil mere inches from where Melinda stands, but relentlessly wash over and sear the other three raiders.
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Kalimac, knowing full well how long it took him to learn to ride Attatoq--even with the benefit of raising him from a pup--looks skeptical at the odds of this succeeding. But Halflings are nothing if not optimistic.
"Well, I'm game to try. But it's really up to Attatoq. I can't make him accept a rider he doesn't want to. I think he'd take a shrunken Lio, but I'm not even sure about that. She's pack, but I don't know if that extends to letting her ride."
"We can but try."
Hrithik bows slightly to Attatoq, trying to remember the differences of peer postures and submission postures between canines and Chelish. He approaches the wolf with an offering of a little food in reserve, but allows himself to be scented and examined thoroughly before offering it. He models behaviors to rank as Peer or greater, but does so more by force of will than any real knowledge or insight.
Charisma check:
After a time of being examined, and seeking Kalimac's permission first, Hrithik will share his friendship offering with Attatoq: a piece of cured meat, well-seasoned, with a built in surprise. The surprise being that once Attatoq takes the food from Hrithik's hand, the magic keeping the food shrunk to scale immediately ceases. The tiny treat rapidly expands, becoming twice as large in each dimension, and eight times as massive: more of a minor meal.
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Reta says nothing. She appears to be watching you more than she is observing the process.
Spivey asks the occasional cheerful question. It is difficult to gauge how she is reacting to the lengthy answers.
Hrithik tries to be a decent host, neither too short to thoroughly answer real questions, nor too long to bore an unenthralled observer like Reta. Some way near the end of the proceedings, Hrithik "magically" leaves a wrapped yellow pickle behind near to Spivey. Its appearance, though done with modest skill, should fool no one. Hrithik says, "My day of dye-work keeps being delayed, but when it arrives, that pickle there will be worth something of note. I would like you to have one."
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"You already have a role in the Caravan, Hrithik. We have been discussing the possibility of giving you additional duties, as you requested. There are some potential ones that are being looked at, most likely starting when we leave Karlsgard."
Hrithik smiles thankfully. "I am sorry if I sounded ungrateful for what I already have. It is just that my reading of the tome I gained in the Brinewall Vault has led me to a few ... insights. Insights that might be worthwhile to the Caravan as we attempt to Crown the World."
Hrithik hauls out Cheliax, and flips to the page with the illustration containing a faint watermark of some kind of alchemical engine. Pointing it out to Sandru, he says, "This book is filled with secrets within secrets, but I am relatively sure that is the overall schematic for an alchemical engine meant to power a vehicle. The details about how to do so are beyond me at the moment, but I believe they are also hidden in the text, meaning this may be something that can be reasonably made in time, and put to use."
Hrithik looks at Sandru earnestly. "My understanding is that one of the major sources of food consumption for us is the hunger of our horses, and that one of the major limitations on the Caravan's capacity is the number of people trained to guide those horses. If an alchemical engine is truly possible, we may be able to put together a Horseless Carriage, one I could fuel with alcohol or something else reactive, one I could drive myself, from within the Carriage. That would reduce our food needs by several horses worth, reduce our driver bind when Crowning the World, and give a self-heating transport for several of us in the icy wastes."
Hrithik shrugs, "I wanted to mention it, at least, having noticed it."
Sparring, Round 6
Rhost steps up to Melinda again, twisting his body so that the anticipated knee
Melinda's AoO:
just misses to the side. Then he draws back his big barbarian hand
Rhost's Attack:
...and Melinda nimbly steps out of the way.
Rhost laughs. "Mighty warriors!"
Myri turns to Shae after they've been scouting for a while and are preparing game or are ready for a break. She offers her a water skin, then takes out a couple of small pouches. "Rhost helped me make these. I thought you might like to give one to Lio, too. I know it's not an apple, but...it should last a while."
"I...think she'll like it." Myri barely touches Shae's hand with only the tips of her fingers as she hands the bag over. "I...I hope you do, too."
Myri approaches Lio after dinner on the third night out of Kopparberget. "Lio, I...couldn't help but notice you seem to be um...bothered by something. I won't press, but...if you want to talk. I'll be here. 'kay? ... ...I'm sure Shae would say the same, if you ask her."
In the women's wagon, Liothonae is adjusting her leather armor, securing some of the buckles along her narrow waist. She looks like she's getting ready for an evening of scouting. This makes sense as elven perception is very useful for hunting in the dark.
After a moment of digesting what Myri has said, Lio shrugs. She doesn't say anything, but rather secures her dagger to her boot, and then picks up her quiver and bow.
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"So. They wired you all up t' make people bein' mad at you light up little bits o' your brain. Hard t' fix, but you can't walk around like that."
"You could maybe try to keep it confined only to a set safe space and time with rules, and turn it into a harmless game about trust and fantasy, but I can tell you right now that ain't somethin' you can explore with Liothonae. And there's also perhaps the long slow process of hooking up the wires to other things, too."
"There are, just so you know, powerful clerical magics that might help you as well, but I ain't got access to them and their effects vary."
Hrithik gives a weak laugh. "So, all I need is a miracle?"
Hrithik looks gratefully to Koya. "Thank you. You are right. I can't go on this way. But if I can't work this wiring out with Liothonae ... and I agree with you that I really can't work on this wiring with Liothonae ... I don't know who I can work on this with."
Hrithik's gaze grows questioning. "Who would be interested in helping me work through furious anger and emotional pain being associated with deep love and erotic pleasure? I ... don't even know where to start."
Shalelu exhales with pleasure at your touch. She slips one hand under your shift, stroking your back and drawing you even closer. With her other, she gently brings one of your hands to her mouth. She kisses the fingertips, then gently places her lips around the tip of your index finger, caressing it briefly with her tongue.
Lio exhales softly, a very small sound of pleasure escaping her lips, nearly inaudible. She bites her lower lip briefly, totally out of her element, wanting to do so many things all at once, not really knowing how to do any of them, or where to start. Her free hand explores your warm skin, caressing very carefully up and then down your side, over tight abdominals, tenderly circling around the belly button, and then moving up again, higher this time, cupping a firm breast very carefully, tips of fingers eventually, after a long drawn out exploration, finding the pink areola there and with barely any pressure, circle around. All the while she watches your eyes, never looking away from your face and the wonderful things you are doing with your tongue to the delicate nerve endings in the tips of her finger. The fact that she is still wearing clothing, totally forgotten.
"i should not have used your property without asking. as i cannot return it to the untarnished state i found it in, i shall replace it once i can locate one of equivalent fine quality.
the note seems to show hesitation, as the quality of the letters changes ever so slightly.
i do not understand what happened, why you were so argumentative, why you became so excited, why first you chased me and then you ran away leaking. i never learned how to react to normal emotions, doing so is something i am working on. i cannot read you, like you seem to be able to read me. there are many things i would like to say to you, but i do not know how to say them. i think, perhaps it comes down to this; i fell in love with you. our situation meant that i never got to know you and i did not have the chance to like you. right now, i must admit that i do not like you very much at all. but maybe, if you wish to try, we could see if that could change.
Once the note is unfolded all the way, there is a very tiny pod of seeds. Examination reveals them to be dried gardenia seeds.
Shalelu nods. "I think your intentions were understood. But you made the decision for the entire group, and it was one there were strong feelings about. I think your protective instincts sometimes lead you to underestimate your friends and their decisions."
Lio nods, showing she heard what Shalelu was saying. She stays quiet for a while, deep in thought.
"I ... understand about elven senses. But it is not something I could have discussed in front of Hrithik, he would not have thought it fair. I would ask that, what you overhear, you keep to yourself and take no emotional umbrage at it, or it will be bad for the group and bad for you. If you cannot ... there are techniques that can be taught, to avoid overhearing, if it becomes too much of a burden."
Reluctantly, because Lio isn't the kind of person to ask for assistance, "If I need help with blocking out what I hear, I will let you know."
After another very long moment of deep thinking. "I am sorry for disappointing you."
In the women's wagon, Liothonae is adjusting her leather armor, securing some of the buckles along her narrow waist. She looks like she's getting ready for an evening of scouting. This makes sense as elven perception is very useful for hunting in the dark.
After a moment of digesting what Myri has said, Lio shrugs. She doesn't say anything, but rather secures her dagger to her boot, and then picks up her quiver and bow.
Myri likewise says nothing. She sits in her bunk space, leans against the wall, and continues to watch Lio as she gets ready to leave.
Sparring, Round 7
"Glad it skipped me," Rhost says, throwing an elbow, which
Melinda's AoO:
Melinda intercepts with a sharp strike to the funny bone.
Melinda's damage:
and which
Rhost's Attack:
completely defuses Rhost's attack.
Attack:
Damage:
She winces slighty as her blow lands true, a bit of guilt at her cheating growing in her eyes. "There are a number of people I would not want to fight for real, you are one."
[b]"Myriana ... would you ... like to discuss your feelings about the amount of time that I am spending with Liothonae?"[b]
You get the feeling that it was difficult for her to ask the awkwardly phrased question.
Sparring, Round 8
"Nor I you," Rhost says.
He makes no attack, but instead rubs his jaw, and asks, "Are we finished? Or must one fall?"
In an impulsive move she steps forward and hugs the half-elf. "Sorry I cheated." Looks up at him, "Back to Alaric? So he can undo the pain we did to each other?"
Myri likewise says nothing. She sits in her bunk space, leans against the wall, and continues to watch Lio as she gets ready to leave.
"Whot?" Lio, somewhat defensively, asks.
"Thank you, sister," Shalelu says. There is a slight pause.
"Myriana ... would you ... like to discuss your feelings about the amount of time that I am spending with Liothonae?"
You get the feeling that it was difficult for her to ask the awkwardly phrased question.
Myriana looks down at Shalelu's feet, shoulders drooped. She draws a deep breath. "No. I...I want you to be happy. I want both of you..to be happy." She looks up, forces her shoulders up and back, her eyes misty, "Besides, I think Silmemir needs my time now, right?" Her smile is mostly genuine and only slightly lopsided. "...& I would feel really, really, really bad if you guys..um, separated? because of me. No, I want the two of you to spend as much time together as you want. I know it's time for me to grow up. I'm trying, really, I am. You have my blessing...but...I would really like a hug right now."
Shalelu continues to suck gently on your fingertips until your hand finds her breast and her breathing turns into ragged gasps. Her eyes widen, her gaze never breaking contact with yours. Her hands settle on your hips.
Fingers moist from your tongue run down the side of your neck, over your collar bone, and gently travel around your other breast. The cool wet trail glistens softly in moonlight. Liothonae's gentle caresses become hesitant, her eyes asking for permission to go on, when your hands move to Lio's hips, and stay there.
"Whot?" Lio, somewhat defensively, asks.
Myri raises her eyebrows, grins and shakes her head, "Nothing. I...no, not exactly nothing. Your behavior...has um, changed...and um,...changed in the past...well, short time. I don't want to make you mad. I'm just concerned. I do care about you, you know. Whether you want me to or not." Her eyes say she is not willing to back down from that particular statement.
Myri raises her eyebrows, grins and shakes her head, "Nothing. I...no, not exactly nothing. Your behavior...has um, changed...and um,...changed in the past...well, short time. I don't want to make you mad. I'm just concerned. I do care about you, you know. Whether you want me to or not." Her eyes say she is not willing to back down from that particular statement.
Lio speaks, eventually, words quiet, and with a tinge of sadness. "Aye wos mearle r'mained of mah place en 'e world en r'latshun to 'e otter people en et. Ah shudda ne'er ken thot ah kould be one of ye. So ye see, et's nothen fer ye ta koncern yerself weth."
Lio speaks, eventually, words quiet, and with a tinge of sadness. "Aye wos mearle r'mained of mah place en 'e world en r'latshun to 'e otter people en et. Ah shudda ne'er ken thot ah kould be one of ye. So ye see, et's nothen fer ye ta koncern yerself weth."
Myri continues to keep her gaze leveled at Lio's eyes, her tone friendly, but serious. "Lio. How many times do I have to tell you. I care about you. The fact that you apparently don't think of yourself as "one of us" does concern me. I want you to feel like you belong. I want you to...be happy. I may not be able to understand why you feel you cannot "be one of us", but I can certainly feel concerned that my friend does not feel welcome. For a little time it seemed like you were becoming more...accepting." Myri glances around to make sure no one else is in the wagon before adding, "Can I ask what happened to change that?