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In the end, Brinda chooses to travel on with Jexen, in part because his plans involve seeking out the darkness in order to fight it; Brinda is happy to fight it, but she also believes she can learn from it. But more importantly, she feels a companionship with the clockwork that her brutal life has never allowed her.

Over time, she would reveal her true nature to Jexen, once she felt that he would, if not understand, at least accept her strange origins. At some point, the persona of Brinda would be ripped away from Toy, and it would have to find another person to be. But now, for the first time, Toy was beginning to feel that there was something to it that was more than just pretending to be somebody - with its growing power came a growing self-awareness. Toy began to realise that all the personas it had worn had left something behind, had contributed to its personality. Toy realised that it was a caring and sensitive creature, one who abhorred cruelty to the weak and defenceless, but also desired the power to both protect itself and those it cared about from evil.

The ending to Toy's story was never clear. That it would continue to accumulate arcane power was a given, but how would it use that power? To protect and serve the weak and innocent, or for its own gain and betterment - or both?

Brinda moves forward swiftly to Vanessa, inspecting the tentacles attached to her face. Confidently, she raises her hands to begin working them from the girl's flesh, trying to figure out how they're attached and how best to remove them while causing as little damage to the girl as possible..

Int: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15

Whew! Okay, I'm diving into this Agility check too then.

Ag: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 1 = 19

Hey bookrat, I hear you on the level of engagement with the game, and put my hand up as one of the repeat offenders. For me, I have only just realised a week ago how much I've been avoiding all my pbps in general since I started really not enjoying a Pathfinder game I am in some months ago (player conflicts etc). I've since told the GM that I'd like to leave, and am in the process of withdrawing in a way that maintains some narrative sense and gives them time to find a replacement (I'm the cleric :/ ).

So apologies for the lack of consistent posting. You've run a great game, and I'm keen to continue at least to the end of the module if everyone seems keen. If not, I'll definitely consider moving across to one of your other ones if I find, as I hope to, that quitting this problem game increases my pbp motivation (i.e. I'd love to keep playing Brinda, but I don't want to bring across poor posting rates to one of your other games). I should know whether I get my mojo back in a week or so.

Apologies again.

Brinda rushes over to Jexen, her expression concerned. "Jexen! Are you all right? She does her best to examine his wounds and diagnose his state of well-being.

Int(Medicine) check: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18

Brinda fires another shadow dart at the creature, hoping to damage it more solidly than last time. She bares her teeth, eyes narrowed, as she spits out the arcane words and hurls the dart with all her might.

Int vs Ag: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Unfortunately, in her passion and fury she misjudges the trajectory, and the shadow missile flies past the fungus man and into the cave wall.

Edit: Fast init, was hoping to help take it down before it could get another blow in :/

I'm happy to fight too :)

Seeing Crashing Waves clash with the fungoid, Brinda holds her hand out, fingers spread, and spits out two powerful words. Darts of pure shadow shoot from her fingers at the creature.

Int vs Ag: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18
Dmg: 2d6 ⇒ (5, 1) = 6

Also, it take 3 banes to Perception rolls for an hour...

What are the chances we can get past Mr Fun Guy? They don't seem to leave the area, right? So long as we get past him we should be right...

"Perhaps we should try the other path," Brinda suggests. "I have no problem destroying a creature made of fungus, but if the children are in here somewhere they could be more likely to be down the tunnel that isn't guarded by a plant monster. But then again, who would know?" She looks around to hear the others' thoughts.

Brinda shouts out arcane words, and uses her hand to direct the strange spore like creature from a distance.

Slow init, using Bewitch to attempt to move the creature back by its speed, then following Sköllji.

Intellect vs Intellect: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20

My previous post must have been five minutes too late - but same result :)

Brinda casts her eye about the cavern, looking for anything suspicious or interesting.

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13

All good bookrat :) And as one of the players in the very first game I ever ran used to say, "Always go left!"

"Let's go this way. I have... a feeling," Brinda says motioning to the left tunnel.

Brinda seems fascinated by the ground. She peers at it intently.

Anything I can do to find out anything more about this strange material we're standing on? Sounds interesting!

Brinda moves towards the huddling man, still limping from her fall. "You're Padraig? Where are the children?" she asks bluntly, her tone firm, on the brink of angry.

Just to clarify, Uncle Padraig is down in the cave, yeah?

Does shadowsight work here, or only darksight?

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

Brinda limps over to the dwarf, and gives a small chuckle at his words. "Yes, father. Come on, we need to find whoever's screaming." She reaches out a hand to help Sköllji back to his feet, her eyes already scanning the immediate environment.

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

Brinda gets gingerly to her feet, limping noticeably. She sees Crashing Waves attend to Jexen, then calls to Sköllji. "Are... are you alright?"

Brinda's eyes widen at the sound. "The uncle?" she asks, before beginning to rush down the trail towards the lake shore.

Ah what? That's no good, sorry to hear it. Sounds like no one's injured?

Brinda moves forward, though still well out of the ogre's range, and hurls another missile of pure shadow at the creature.

Shadow dart: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18
Dmg: 2d6 ⇒ (6, 6) = 12

As Jexen and Durnik spring into action, Brinda summons a javelin of pure shadow, hurling it at the ogre! Casting shadow dart.

Intellect vs Agility: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11
Damage: 2d6 ⇒ (4, 1) = 5

The ogre has three banes on Perception checks for the next hour, or until it dies at our hands, whichever comes first :)

Brinda sighs and gives an unconvincing nod. "I think it's a beautiful creature," she says in a small voice as she brings her tome out of her satchel in preparation for battle.

"Do we need to bother with it? Why not just avoid it?" Brinda says in a low voice. "It has its dinner, it shouldn't want to bother with us."

"Agreed," Brinda nods, smiling at the clockwork warrior.

That's weird - somehow this post ended up before Jexen's... Copied and deleted the original!

As the party travels, Brinda speaks to Sköllji, though all can hear. "If indeed this Padraig has taken the children to the cave in the hopes of curing them, it will be a more pleasant resolution than we might have expected. Who knows, perhaps this cave does hold some mystical healing powers." Brinda's tone is not as hopeful as her words, however.

Hi folks, sorry for the lack of posting on my part, it's been a hectic time for me with lots of travel and work over the silly season. Over the next couple of days things will be largely returning to normal, so I'll be back on board from now on.

"Could be, Sköllji. Where do you want to go exactly?"

I'm guessing you're probably sick of splitting the party, bookrat? :)

Brinda sighs and shakes her head. "I'm sorry," she says to the servant. "I don't react well when... children are in danger. Please forgive me. What's your name?" she asks the servant.

"That's twice now that questions regarding succession have been ignored. Will you please answer the question?" Brinda says as calmly as she can to the servant. "Who becomes the heir if the lord's children don't return?"

"Those two questions were in my mind as well, Sköllji," Brinda says. "While he doesn't seem to have an interest in why the children may have been taken, the reasons behind their disappearance is likely to help us find them." She waits to hear what the staff member has to say in response to her dwarf companion.

Sorry bookrat, guilty as charged.

Brinda curtsies before addressing Lord Garnach. "Milord, thank you for inviting us, as your generosity with our apparel. My name is Brinda. I have a few questions for you before we get settled in. First, were only your children - sons? - struck with the pox? If so, that suggests that they were targeted somehow. Second, how old are they? And lastly, do have, or have you had, any enemies in your life? Anyone who would wish to cause you pain, or anyone that stands to profit from your heirs disappearing?"

What does Lord Garnach look like? Is he young, middle-aged, old? Does he look stern and stiff, or kind, or under strain? Does he look like a warrior, or a softer kind of lord?

Bookrat, I'm a little confused... where exactly are we? I assumed that when Librus said he didn't know what he'd done if he'd stayed in Sixton that we'd left there already and had arrived in Crossings, hence the question about the carriage. Can you establish where we are right now?

Oh, also, Brinda got herself some soft black leather armour that she will only wear if anticipating trouble (I'll note when she puts it on), and she'll replace her current dagger with a fine one, its pommel made of silver worked into the shape of a raven's head (no mechanical difference, but worth a gc instead of 5 cp). That okay GM?

"So," Brinda says to everyone and no one as she looks about the station. "Where are we to find this carriage to Thorpe and Lord Garnach?"

Currently writing the letter. I'll have it done by the time the characters have met this lord and decided to bed down for the night.

Back in Sixton...

Brinda didn't know what to make of the lavish treatment bestowed upon them. In her experience, this sort of thing meant they were lambs to be fattened... before the inevitable slaughter. Despite the undeniable pleasure of being washed and clothed in finery, it left Brinda cold, and struck a note of warning in her heart.

Getting off the train...

As the party steps off the train, Brinda gives the new clockwork a small curtsy in her new clothes, mostly deep blue, black, and white The sash around her middle emphasised her tiny waist, a result of living rough and eating little for some time now, but the long, loose skirts made her look both taller and less waif-like. "A pleasure to meet you, Master Librus," As Sköllji nervously references her, she sighs. "Sköllji, I'm not a delicate flower about to wilt in the face of a little humour, and we've all faced worse things together than your jokes. I don't expect an old rogue like you to mind your tongue, so stop worrying about whatever sensibilities you imagine I have and do your damnedest." She then pokes her tongue out at the dwarf, screwing her nose up like a child as she does.

"And... I think I'd like to write to Cynerik. And TAS, of course." Thinking of Cynerik, a wave of melancholy swept over Brinda's heart. He'd been the kindest man she'd ever met, and she missed the feeling of safety and surety he'd exuded, despite his own internal turmoil. "I'll write them something tonight."

Sorry, just saw your spoiler for me, Sköllji!

Brinda nods at Jexen's words. "Yes, we have brought justice to the Bonesmith," she says calmly. "Hopefully now the spirits of those whose lives he ruined can now rest a little easier." Her eyes stare off into the distance for a moment, then they refocus, and she looks down to the book in her hands. "We should rest before we decide on our next move. My heart yearns for a city again, but I will accede to the wishes of the group." With that, she looks for an attendant who can point her, victorious military personnel that she is, in the direction of a spare cabin.

Also, as a result of the great not-writing-down-of-items-and-equipment saga of November, Brinda is once again dressed in rags. She will be looking for something a little more respectable to change into, whenever possible.

Level up all done, except new language and grimoire spells. Anyone have suggestions for languages? Brinda has been travelling with Sköllji for a while, so dwarven might be an option. I'd be after something that makes sense.

Oops, wrong link!

So bookrat, re: levelling up, I'm a bit torn between the warlock and the wizard at the moment. The idea of stealing magic is pretty cool, but so is the wizard's grimoire. Any advice or suggestions from you (or anyone else)?

Brinda straightens from the crouch she entered as the bone knife wasdestroyed, and eyes Sköllji's axe. "Curious," she murmurs, moving closer. She draws an unfamiliar tome from the folds of her loose clothes, its black leather slightly cracked and bound in bone white. Murmuring soft arcane syllables, her eyes give a brief blue glow as she looks intently at the weapon.

Casting sense magic. Only tells me of "any ongoing magical effects in the area and from what points they originate".

Alright, paper submitted, I'm back! Just getting caught up on all my games now, looks like we're making level 3 choices, so I'll read up on the 30-odd posts I'm behind, level up, and be back amongst it :)

Thanks for not dumping me from the game!

Hey folks, sorry for the extended absence, just dropping by to say that while I'm currently in an academic hell of my own making, the damn thing is due Monday, so boom or bust I'll be fully back on board then. Apologies again.

Just a heads up folks, inside the last two weeks till my thesis is due, so stuff's a bit crazy on my end till that's all done. I'll do my best to keep up, but feel free to bot me at any point!

Brinda rushes out right behind Jexen, ready to face their quarry and deal out the justice he deserves!

B4inda follows behind Jexen, ready to cast at the first sight of their quarry.

Brinda takes the orc's arm as she is escorted forward, eyes moving back and forth as she searches for the Bonesmith.

Perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

Brinda quickly gestures and speaks arcane words as softly as she can, hoping to charm the orc with her magic.

Intellect attack vs Will: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21

Brinda accepts Durnik's help gratefully and climbs up into the train, looking about the steerage car carefully, trying to spot humanoid legs among the mass of horse limbs.

Perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6