Eir weaves back, slightly inebriated and wiping her mouth after a rather long trip to the lavatory.
"That was dingy. But I feel waaaay better. Anyone play darts?"
Shactal lifts his bulk from the groaning chair at his table
"I've been known to toss a few. You like Cricket, Yugoloth's Eye, or 301?"
"Cool, and I mean that figuratively. You ever play Kobold? It's a good fast game." She waves her hand at the kobold. "Oh, no, not at him." Eir begins explaining:
"Blah, blah." "Blah, blah."
Shactal listens to the statuesque blonde explain the rules, slurping occasionally on the green drink clutched in his claw
"Sounds good ta me cutter"
Karrin breaths a sigh of relief. She was certain that Darts was some sort of euphemism for something filthy . . . and ice devil's questions weren't helping.
Serpico grabs some darts too.
Serpico's initiative roll 1d4=4.
"Wass cutter mean?" he adds looking at the woman and devil.
"Cutter". Eir pulls her shortsword half way out of the scabbard and eyes the kobold.
"Serpico first"
Diddling for throw, second roll. (1d4=2)
"Shactal? Still you and me."
Shactal pauses and tosses the strange pyramidal-shaped die along the scarred tabletop. Seeing a diddle come up again, he rerolls once more. After another tie, he rolls a third time.
Shactal grunts, a sound acoustically somewhere between a grumpy bear and a tortured ghost.
"Another diddle ....we are on a roll Eir"
5 D4 rolls in case of another diddle
Shactal moves his bulk out of the way and rummages in a large leather sack attached to the broad belt worn about his thorax. He pulls a gleaming ebon case marked with a strange silver rune from the depths of it, opens it, and begins to assemble several large green-colored darts from the disassembled components stored within its red velvet interior.
"Serpico throws first.
Then me.
Then Shactal."
"The guy, ahem, the being with the most points buys the next round of drinks. Hic."
Looking at Eir's condition, Serpico smiles.
And throws near perfectly.
Eir calls the 15th ring, wiping the clammy sweat from her brow but looking steady.
"15 points"
"Shactal?"
Shactal rolls to the throw line, weaving slightly as if the World Serpent Inn was encountering rough seas.
"Right. Well I'll shows ya cutters a bit of how we werked it back in the Bone Melters Legion."
Shactal narrows the membranes over his insectile eyes as he stares woozily down at the dartboard.
"I'll try fer the eighteenth ring"
Shactal pauses and lets the large green dart fly in a slightly wobbly fashion
Shactal pauses, squints and turns to Eir.
" Tha' aint good innt?"
Emboldened, Serpico points at an inner ring, "18!" he confirms.
The dart flies over Serpico's shoulder, Nat 1!
"Sorrees."
Shactal rolls up to the throw line a second time. Running his sensory tentacles over his eyes in a futile attempt to get the room to focus, he prepares to throw the second greenish dart
"Think I'll go fer twelve this time"
The oversized dart, like its' predecessor, wobbles towards the dartboard and buries itself far from its' intended mark
"Ehh .. I need some new Vrock feathers for me fletchings."
Shactal stares down at his now-empty pitcher and belches. The large glass is suddenly coated in a rime of frost.
"Right. I need a freshup. Anyone need a round while I'm off? I'll get tha first if we switch off fer the second."
Turko watches the ongoing contest, as he quaffs the remaining whiskey.
O.L.L.I rises from his table and wanders over to the ongoing dart game. Not finding a lot of interest in the random contest, he wanders towards his friend Ashura Yami and her new companion
" Honored unit Ashura. This unit would like if you could tender his apologies to your construct associate. It was not this unit's intention to disturb her slumber."
O.L.L.I swivels to Ashura's new friend
"Please allow this unit to make his designation known to you. This Unit is designated as an Oil Lubrication Initializer, but his flesh associates prefer the acronym O.L.L.I. May this unit have your designation?"
O.L.L.I rises from his table and wanders over to the ongoing dart game. Not finding a lot of interest in the random contest, he wanders towards his friend Ashura Yami and her new companion
" Honored unit Ashura. This unit would like if you could tender his apologies to your construct associate. It was not this unit's intention to disturb her slumber."
O.L.L.I swivels to Ashura's new friend
"Please allow this unit to make his designation known to you. This Unit is designated as an Oil Lubrication Initializer, but his flesh associates prefer the acronym O.L.L.I. May this unit have your designation?"
"Hi ya," Karrin says Cheerfully, "I'm Karrin Kind. Pleased ta meet ya! Um, what are you . . . I hope you don't mind me asking . . ."
"Hi ya," Karrin says Cheerfully, "I'm Karrin Kind. Pleased ta meet ya! Um, what are you . . . I hope you don't mind me asking . . ."
O.L.L.I places his amber drink down at the table and shakes Karrin's hand gravely. He the pulls a seat out and sits down.
"This unit's racial designation is Modron. This unit's race is native to the Outer Plane known as Mechanus. Mechanus is a very ordered place, where knowlege is gathered, processed and analyzed so as to maximize the rule of Law. Occasionally Modrons are called upon by our superiors to take part in a tour of the multiverse to gather current information for processing. Recently there was a march that did not fall in the expected timeframe. This unit was part of the abberant tour, now commonly known as the Rogue March. After returning to Mechanus after several years of planar travel, this unit had accrued several serious flaws in his programming. Flaws in programming are not tolerated in Mechanus, so this unit was redesignated a Rogue Modron. Thanks to a close portal this unit was able to flee from the Pentadrone that was sent to escort him to the disassembly cog. Eventually this unit made his way to Sigil to attempt to reprogram himself as an autonomous being."
Serpico tries again.
"19!" he calls to the growing crowd.
The dart arrows into the target like the heavens themselves wished the kobold to win.
"Hi ya," Karrin says Cheerfully, "I'm Karrin Kind. Pleased ta meet ya! Um, what are you . . . I hope you don't mind me asking . . ."O.L.L.I places his amber drink down at the table and shakes Karrin's hand gravely. He the pulls a seat out and sits down.
"This unit's racial designation is Modron. This unit's race is native to the Outer Plane known as Mechanus. Mechanus is a very ordered place, where knowlege is gathered, processed and analyzed so as to maximize the rule of Law. Occasionally Modrons are called upon by our superiors to take part in a tour of the multiverse to gather current information for processing. Recently there was a march that did not fall in the expected timeframe. This unit was part of the abberant tour, now commonly known as the Rogue March. After returning to Mechanus after several years of planar travel, this unit had accrued several serious flaws in his programming. Flaws in programming are not tolerated in Mechanus, so this unit was redesignated a Rogue Modron. Thanks to a close portal this unit was able to flee from the Pentadrone that was sent to escort him to the disassembly cog. Eventually this unit made his way to Sigil to attempt to reprogram himself as an autonomous being."
"Hmmm, sounds a bit like Rao, he's my god from Oerth, anyways he's got a lot of rules and laws. Rao only allows his priests to wear a certain color. People have to eat certain things on certain days, people have to pray a certain way, and if we ever make a mistake we have to ask for forgiveness. Thankfully Rao's also the god of forgiveness, so I think he likes me cuz I always have lots to ask for forgiveness for! Anyways, I'm really imperfect, lots of flaws see" she says pointing to her silver capped horns, "but that also makes me a really good follower of Rao because if Rao had only perfect followers then he wouldn't have anything to forgive!"
Karrin stops and blinks.
"I forget the point I was trying to make. Anyways," she says scratching her head, "seems to me that if we all followed programing then there'd be no laws right? Does that make any sense?
"Meh," she says with a dismissive wave of her hand, "I guess not."
Serpico tries again.
"19!" he calls to the growing crowd.
The dart arrows into the target like the heavens themselves wished the kobold to win.
Karrin looks up and Serpico and then down to his unattended drink.
"Yay Serpico!" She cries as she clamps hold of the 'fresh', unattended mug of grog.
"I forget the point I was trying to make. Anyways," she says scratching her head, "seems to me that if we all followed programing then there'd be no laws right? Does that make any sense?
O.L.L.I listens gravely to the bubbly tiefling
"Indeed unit Karrin, if every member of the multiverse was bound by programming then we would have no need for laws, then the laws would be us."
O.L.L.I gives an approximation of a sigh
"Unfortunately even in a perfect logical system, flaws can develop."
O.L.L.I points to himself
"Although many beings of this unit's acquaintance tell him that he is extremly orderly and lawful, his abberant programming makes him as chaotic as mating Slaadi to his native race. This unit can never rejoin the Source of All."
O.L.L.I sighs again as an oily fluid stats to well in his large round eyes.
Shactal weaves his way to the bar and spots O.L.L.I talking to a red-headed tiefling and looking depressed
"Oi! Olli! This is a bar, not a soddin' funeral parlor. Gerrof your boxy arse and come and play some darts, ya great nancy."
Shactal orders, grabs his beverages and heads back to the game
"I forget the point I was trying to make. Anyways," she says scratching her head, "seems to me that if we all followed programing then there'd be no laws right? Does that make any sense?O.L.L.I listens gravely to the bubbly tiefling
"Indeed unit Karrin, if every member of the multiverse was bound by programming then we would have no need for laws, then the laws would be us."
O.L.L.I gives an approximation of a sigh
"Unfortunately even in a perfect logical system, flaws can develop."
O.L.L.I points to himself
"Although many beings of this unit's acquaintance tell him that he is extremly orderly and lawful, his abberant programming makes him as chaotic as mating Slaadi to his native race. This unit can never rejoin the Source of All."
O.L.L.I sighs again as an oily fluid stats to well in his large round eyes.
"Wait," Karrin says scratching her head, "are you saying that your programing is wrong? I don't know what programing is but I don't see how things that are supposed to be perfect could develop flaws. Father said that we had to constantly work at being good, I don't know why this is," she says glancing over at the Kobold before taking another sip out of his mug, "but I don't understand why people think that god could make someone imperfect by mistake . . ."
She slides Serpico's Mug back to it's original spot.
"I don't know. I don't understand any of it. Father always says things happens for a reason," Karrin shrugs. "Maybe Rao made me a the way I am cuz he's got some plan . . ." she squints, as if trying to grasp at something deep and profound, but whatever it was it quickly escapes her, and Karrin shrugs and turns back to the unattended mug of grog. "Boy that Kobold can really pack it away! He's almost finished off two mugs of grog sense we started talking. I'm still working on my first!"
Wait," Karrin says scratching her head, "are you saying that your programing is wrong? I don't know what programing is but I don't see how things that are supposed to be perfect could develop flaws. Father said that we had to constantly work at being good, I don't know why this is," she says glancing over at the Kobold before taking another sip out of his mug, "but I don't understand why people think that god could make someone imperfect by mistake . . ."
She slides Serpico's Mug back to it's original spot.
"I don't know. I don't understand any of it. Father always says things happens for a reason," Karrin shrugs. "Maybe Rao made me a the way I am cuz he's got some plan . . ." she squints, as if trying to grasp at something deep and profound, but whatever it was it quickly escapes her, and Karrin shrugs and turns back to the unattended mug of grog. "Boy that Kobold can really pack it away! He's almost finished off two mugs of grog sense we started talking. I'm still working on my first!"
O.L.L.I dabs his eyes with an ink-stained rag and blows his nose with a whirling bleep sound
"What this unit has discovered is that Chaos by its random nature is easier to generate and sustain than Law. Things of Law can easily become chaotic, but things of Chaos rarely become Lawful. This unit would like to become one with his race again, but Modron Doctrinal Code 435-6675-0115x clearly states that any Modron unit with flaws in its programming should be disassembled before the chaotic programming can spread to other units."
O.L.L.I shrugs his spindly arms
"This unit can only now uphold Law in the fashion of an autonomous being."
O.L.L.I dabs his eyes with an ink-stained rag and blows his nose with a whirling bleep sound"What this unit has discovered is that Chaos by its random nature is easier to generate and sustain than Law. Things of Law can easily become chaotic, but things of Chaos rarely become Lawful. This unit would like to become one with his race again, but Modron Doctrinal Code 435-6675-0115x clearly states that any Modron unit with flaws in its programming should be disassembled before the chaotic programming can spread to other units."
O.L.L.I shrugs his spindly arms
"I can only now uphold Law in the fashion of an autonomous being."
"You miss your home. Me too. I want to go home too . . . but I don't know were to look and I'm scared of becoming more lost. Seems to me all you need to find some lawful programing and replace it with the chaotic stuff. Maybe we could steal you some or something" Karrin says with a shrug, "I'm sure we could figure something out. I work for some mercenary types and I think we could totally find someone who knows how to get their hands on this programing. As to the other part, becoming an anonymous being . . . that doesn't sound impossible. Maybe I could help you? You might not believe it, but I'm totally smart and stuff, I can totally figer stuff out, and if that fails I'm real good at smashn' things! Serpico is a wizard, and Eir over there is a priest or something, maybe they could help as well."
The dart arrows into the target like the heavens themselves wished the kobold to win.
"Never play Kobold with a kobold. I call a 20. The kobold's eye."
"Gah! missed. Well, Shactal, you better sink one or you're gonna be buying."
Shactal bustles back to the dart game, fresh pitcher of fulminating liquid in tow. Picking his last green dart from the table, he peers down at his elusive goal.
"Right. Gonna hafta givver the ol' 14 ring then."
The fresh batch of high-octane alcohol steadies Shactal's focus, and his last dart flies true.
"Finally a bit o' luck fer ol' Shactal"
You miss your home. Me too. I want to go home too . . . but I don't know were to look and I'm scared of becoming more lost. Seems to me all you need to find some lawful programing and replace it with the chaotic stuff. Maybe we could steal you some or something" Karrin says with a shrug, "I'm sure we could figure something out. I work for some mercenary types and I think we could totally find someone who knows how to get their hands on this programing. As to the other part, becoming an anonymous being . . . that doesn't sound impossible. Maybe I could help you? You might not believe it, but I'm totally smart and stuff, I can totally figer stuff out, and if that fails I'm real good at smashn' things! Serpico is a wizard, and Eir over there is a priest or something, maybe they could help as well."
O.L.L.I takes a small sip from his glass.
"Indeed your designation is a true one Karrin Kind. Much as this unit misses Mechanus, that phase of his existence is forever gone. The Hierarchy is never wrong, and they never reverse a descision once propagated. This unit has come to appreciate the value of autonomy, and he is happy to do his part for the cause of Law in an individual manner."
O.L.L.I smiles
"But this unit thanks you for your kind concern for his plight."
Serpico aims for the centre too.
"16 or better!" adds the confident kobold.
He grins at Karrin.
He grins at Karrin.
"In your dreams, Scales. I call a 16."
O.L.L.I takes a small sip from his glass.
"Indeed your designation is a true one Karrin Kind. Much as this unit misses Mechanus, that phase of his existence is forever gone. The Hierarchy is never wrong, and they never reverse a descision once propagated. This unit has come to appreciate the value of autonomy, and he is happy to do his part for the cause of Law in an individual manner."
O.L.L.I smiles
"But this unit thanks you for your kind concern for his plight."
"S'ok Olli," Karrin says with a big toothy smile, "Father always said I had a big heart . . ." she quickly frowns and looks down in to Serpico's empty mug, "But I guess I'm not to good with the other stuff, following the rules and that sort of thing, Father was always yelling at me 'don't lie'" she says doing an impersonation of someone (probably this father she speaks of), "'eat your vegetables, say your prayers, do your chores, and stop mocking me!'" Karrin lets out a tiny sigh, "it's funny how much you miss even the annoying things when they're gone."
Shactal takes a healthy swig off his new drink, hoping that more alcohol will improve his aim.
"Right. I feel lucky cutters. I call Kobold's Eye!"
Shactal wobbles a bit and launches his dart with a jerking motion.
The dart flies slightly south of the bullseye, embedding itself in the 11 ring
" Soddin' good fer nuthin' darts, cost me 500 gold Diaboli .... <grumble...grumble> "
Shactal heads to his seat, muttering and slurping his drink in noisy gulps.
"S'ok Olli," Karrin says with a big toothy smile, "Father always said I had a big heart . . ." she quickly frowns and looks down in to Serpico's empty mug, "But I guess I'm not to good with the other stuff, following the rules and that sort of thing, Father was always yelling at me 'don't lie'" she says doing an impersonation of someone (probably this father she speaks of), "'eat your vegetables, say your prayers, do your chores, and stop mocking me!'" Karrin lets out a tiny sigh, "it's funny how much you miss even the annoying things when they're gone."
O.L.L.I smiles at Karrin.
"This unit understands how it can be when a phase of life is ended. Perhaps you cannot appreciate it now, but your parental unit has attempted to plant within you the seeds to become a Lawful person. Perhaps they will germinate in time."
O.L.L.I notices Karrin's empty glass
"Allow this unit to refresh your preferred liquid."
O.L.L.I signals to Michifer
"Another unit of liquid alcohol for the female unit here publican."
Serpico gets hold of the last dart and as he throws it shouts, "14!"
O.L.L.I smiles at Karrin."This unit understands how it can be when a phase of life is ended. Perhaps you cannot appreciate it now, but your parental unit has attempted to plant within you the seeds to become a Lawful person. Perhaps they will germinate in time."
O.L.L.I notices Karrin's empty glass
"Allow this unit to refresh your preferred liquid."
O.L.L.I signals to Michifer
"Another unit of liquid alcohol for the female unit here publican."
"Thanks Olli," She says sliding Serpico's now empty mug back, "I got to get caught up with the kobold, he's downed two mugs already!" She glances over at the dart game, "I think he may have overdone it a bit though."
Karrin grabs her untouched mug (the one she ordered along with Serpico's mug), and quickly empties it's contents. "Aagh, that's good grog. Although good and grog don't really go together very well. What do you do Olli? Me I'm a Duskblade, good at magic and melee, but as a mercenary I know I need back up. Maybe we could work together and stuff."
"Ok lads, I was just playin'. 14th ring."
"That's 29 points. And 51 for Serpico. Last throw, Shac. I believe you need to call and hit a 15 or you're buyin'."
"Your chances are good, Shacss."
Serpico is amazed that his darts have stayed stuck in the board.
Shactal runs his sensory tentacles over his mandibles in a nervous manner
"Right. 15 it is then. "
Shactal rolls up to the throw line, takes a deep breath, exhales a fog of icy mist, and tosses his last dart.
The last greenish dart flies from Shactal's claw. From the moment it is in the air, it is apparent that it is not going anywhere near the dartboard. The dart flies high, burying itself in a ratty-looking mounted Velociraptor head near the inn's rafters. Shactal stares groggily at this unintended result, then turns to his companions.
"Right. Well, a deal's a deal, and I never welsh on a promise. What're ya cutters thirsty fer?"
"Thanks Olli," She says sliding Serpico's now empty mug back, "I got to get caught up with the kobold, he's downed two mugs already!" She glances over at the dart game, "I think he may have overdone it a bit though."
Karrin grabs her untouched mug (the one she ordered along with Serpico's mug), and quickly empties it's contents. "Aagh, that's good grog. Although good and grog don't really go together very well. What do you do Olli? Me I'm a Duskblade, good at magic and melee, but as a mercenary I know I need back up. Maybe we could work together and stuff."
O.L.L.I sips his oily drink meditatively
" Perhaps Karrin. This unit is always looking for units of strong martial aspect to accompany. Since achieving autonomy, this unit has concentrated on becoming a cleric so as to perform a valuable healing and protection service to any group that he allies with. This unit was unfortunately not given any strength or dexterity upgrades so he must perforce make himself useful as a secondary support unit."
O.L.L.I gestures sheepishly to his arms which resemble a collection of thin brass pipes and cables of copper with a pink flash of flesh mixed in
"Not cutter. Darter! or spellser! I drink with Ears and you? pleees to give me small spiritss."
Serpico is more than a little proud of his efforts.
"Whew! An ale for this pinkskin!"
Eir wobbles over and pats Shactal on the back VERY carefully.
"Close one, Eir, close one..."
"Yay Serpico!" Karrin calls out, before turning back to her companion, "Don't worry about arms," she says flexing her arms, "check these bad girls out!"
Truthfully, Karrin doesn't have any big muscles to speak of, she is very strong though, that much is obvious, but Karrin seems oblivious to the fact that she isn't as ripped as she thinks she is.
"Welcome to the gun show! Oh! I even got upgrades myself," she says pointing to her tattoos, "these help me look bada$s."
"Wait," she says suddenly turning back to her new Modron friend, "you said priest right? What god?"
Shactal retreives his darts, disassembles them carefully, replacing the components in the rune-marked ebon case and stashing the box back in his pouch.
"'Kay I'm back to the bar. Be right back wi' yer drinks"
Shactal finishes his latest drink in one slobbery gulp and proceeds back to the bar.
"Wait," she says suddenly turning back to her new Modron friend, "you said priest right? What god?"
"This unit does not worship an individual planar being of power, those units known by many as "deities". Instead this unit meditates on the meaning of Law and its' function in the multiverse, and the power of Law grants this unit divine energy."
O.L.L.I shifts a bit to look up at Karrin.
"It is hard for many to believe, but divine power can be obtained from concepts rather than individuals. The process is more difficult, and requires discipline. After all, many beings like Modrons worship the concept of Law, so why wouldn't Law accumulate divine essence?"