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I understand, Arlen. This is a rough time for all our brains.
Ray Brautigan was born to the owners of a horse farm in central Kentucky, but he was never comfortable with the easy, opulent life of the gentree class. As a teenager he ran way, headed west. As the frontier, rough and tumble days died, he saw the tail end of a lifestyle he'd never fullly get back to. The war came, and he enlisted to go fight overseas. While in the trenches, he saw more pain and suffering than any human should. He doesn't like to talk about it. When he returned, the country life was far too quiet for his addled psyche, so he found himself in Los Angeles. Good with a gun and deceptively intelligent and observant, he was taken in by an older private detective and shown the ropes. At first he was the old man's fist and legs, but eventually his knack for the mental work was clear. The old man eventually retired and Ray took over the practice. Mostly divorce work, the job kept his brain busy enough that his anxieties and memories were more or less drowned out. But this one, a missing person case ...he'd had a few and they ranged from mundane to shady, but nothing was ever like this case. The trail had brought him to a place between places, where things stopped making sense. Not entirely sure if he was hallucinating it all, he's trying to figure the place out enough to find the girl.
The f#%* is he talking about? Sor draws his bow.
"Mr. Poke, which one is Brom again?"
"On the mark as always, Mr. Poke." Dr. Tes makes his way to the door. "Brom! You're needed! Oh, Lizardfolk!"
I'm here. New York's quarantine has been a wild ride for public school teachers as we build a plane while flying it, but I'm still here.
"Oh, my. Oh, my. This is extremely powerful, and costly as well. This is straight from Dispater or a top aide. First the good news. You can now see anything invisible. Permanently. And you can break even mighty enchantments with ease. However ...you must keep it within 5 feet at all times. And your prayers ...will become rather less pleasant."
Well, his will save for being scared succeeded then, at least! I'm at my local bar now and my friend tending has played at my table before and he's here for my distress.
Kalim gasps as he is brought back from the Void. "F@%$ this altogether!"
Kalim sighs momentously. Using his uncanny ability to ALTER REALITY in order to cast Glitterdust at the dang snout.
"Old Osiron was bougie as hell. This was a home?"
Anton stretches lazily as he wakes up the next day with zero regrets. Calisthenics, kata-practice, grooming. Time for a fresh day. Maybe the home town wasn't so bad.
Sor's eyes get wider and wider as the big man breaks down in front of everyone. *He really IS out of his mind ...poor babbling maniac ...
"Yes, right. Well. We have weapons and armor for any who want it. I live out here. You'll all be fine. Don't mind the monologing large human. He does that."
Sor goes to check on Faerlith. When he's sure she's ok, he shows her the buckler and two dusts he found earlier.
"Who'd choose to live here? A genius, a madman, or a mad genius! Interesting no matter what! I'd love to interview him!"
"Sun Falcons! The Falcons so mighty they live in the Sun!"
I'd say my character is living just a bit below average, maybe 8 gp a week? He does his thing whether he's paid or not.
"Someone heal Arlen! Count your loot later!"
He then slips to Faerlith and shows her where to place the explosive.
Don't stare. Don't stare. Don't stare. DON'T TOUCH IT! DON'T TOUCH IT! DON'T TOUCH IT!" Tes is more successful at the latter than the former.
"Row, gentlemen, row! Grumpy humans need assistance!"
Anton rides up to the young girl Stella. "Hey, Stella. Those shoes weren't made for this kind of walking. Can I help?"
"Absolutely! Your adventure of a life started with a bang and you're still strong and whole'" Anton says to Stella.
They're local gangs. Murder brings too much heat, even if they're all evil. Anton is prejudiced, though.
No. He's paranoid now and thinks our loudest trying to lead is reckless. He's keeping stuff compartmentalized now.
"Must be those piss poor rations you get 'soldiering.'" He doesn't mask bitterness. "Doubt you need much protection these days. Good. You saw right through Lord Goldick.*
As he walks, Anton realizes, Wait, she knew my name! How did ...I would certainly remember her! Unless ...wait ...what was her name? Etna?! When did that little tomboy ...
Anton hands her the money with a slight grin. "Wit is wasted on some." He then gets back to the mark--er, client.
"So we're just ignoring common dibs laws? Mr. Poke, does the law have an opinion?"
Now let's see if he picks up on what she didn't say. Or if he's got more cents than sense.
"First off, to my own companions, remember I specifically have dibs. Krab and Mullit we offer you the amazing treat of rations, food you don't even have to hunt! Civilization has its downsides, but this isn't one of them. I also have some very special mushrooms we could perhaps enjoy together. Brother humanoids, trade-friends, do you have any advice for those such ourselves without your gifts get through this area?"
Dr. Tes circles around to flank with Mr. Poke and thwacks at the goblin with Raoul. "♫♪Come ON in, see our smilllllle
The Doctor knows danger when he sees it, and this was getting out of hand. His eyes dart around and he sniffs the air, looking for signs of fire spreading. These people were sluggish...sleepy perhaps but maybe part of the curse? No way to be sure fast enough. "ALL RIGHT, YOU IGNORANT SWINE! THIS PLACE IS BURING, BEING DEVOURED BY PLANTS, AND THE PLACE OF MULTIPLE MURDERS! GET THE F!*% OUT BEFORE YOUR FLABBY FLESH FEED THE FLORA!"
"YES! YES! GUARDS! WE NEED A HEALER! SOMEONE HAS BEEN POISONED BEFORE WE ARRIVED!"
"Can someone get this maniac to stop shouting?!" Sor hisses as he approaches the door.
If one of these mongrels lays a hand upon my attourney I swear I will bring him low, somehow!
Were they humans, the loud, large, suicidal maniac would call that "courage." Best to be wary of that one, no matter his skill at murder.
"Never mind others who speak of your racial handicaps, human! You've got this!"
"Ah, undead! Likely a straggler from the Balltle Between Evil and Everyone Else! Do put them down quickly, I hear a bear nearby and bears are F*@%ING TERRIFYING!" Tes takes out his dagger and readies an attack if one of the wretches come near.
Poke Poke is my attourney.
"Fascinating stuff, this Orctown! Theology some mix of Torag and some Great Menace apocalyptic! Allied with one of the large human hives that approach city-hood! Strange drink and amazing fungi! This humble pamphleteer must investigate this peace further!"
Sorry, all, I was under the weather for a couple days there (read: deeply hung over). Dinner and a movie night with my goddaughters but I'll get a post up by tomorrow.
Do all humans prattle on this endlessly?
"Oooh, pretty kitty! Time for a playdate!" Teodor begins summoning a Celestial Wolf ...FROM BEYOND!
Ooooooh! Come on guys, keep it up! I LOVE FREE DRINKS!!!!
"Be glad I destroy you before the Void reduces Orcus to dust. You deserve better than to see your god whimper and beg." Stop flirting in battle, Kalim! The dwarves will notice!
Teodor hopes this creature is another fascist, and casts a protective spell on the party and their new ally.
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