Pretty in Pink

Chat log started at 16.11.2007 / 20:18:15
KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK! KNO... you open your eyes to find yourself in a small room littered with books. You look around to see your companions, each waking up from a similar cot on the floor - except for Ranja, who appears to have been sleeping on a fairly common looking bed which is also littered with books. Though you could've sworn there was a knocking sound that woke you up, everything is quiet for the moment.
-> Ranja: It's your room, by the way. Hence why you got the bed.
Arphaxad: What was that?
Ranja pulls the sheets over her head and rolls over.
Sonadora yawns and rolls over.
Sonadora grumbles something along the lines of "Not important."
Arphaxad gets up and moves towards the door.
GM: Arphax, you notice as you get up that your robes are gone and have been replaced by plain white clerical vestments.
Arphaxad thinks to himself...these women are so lazy
Sonadora: Don't let them in! They'll just make us do work.
GM: A quick look around, and you see Sonadora's dressed in much the same way.
Sonadora: Today is a day of peace and rest.
Arphaxad: What is going on, why are we dressed like this?
Ranja sits up and rubs at her eyes.
Ranja: Wha...?
Arphaxad: Sona, Ranja - is there something I should know about?
Sonadora opens up one eyes partially to look at her clothes.
Sonadora: Oh. Apparently it wasn't a dream. We did all perish by fire.
Sonadora sighs unhappily.
Arphaxad opens the door.
Ranja drags herself out of bed and skirts the towering piles of books to stand near Arphaxad.
Arphaxad: Is anyone there?
Ranja: Is someone out there?
Ranja peeks around the corner.
The door leads out to the back rooms of the Temple - noone here. Maybe it was at the front door?
Sonadora sits up on the cot and crosses her legs.
Arphaxad: That's odd...
Sonadora: Ranja, you do amazing healing. I don't even feel a twinge!
Ranja smiles at Sonadora.
Sonadora stands and stretches.
-> Arphaxad: (Spot) As she says that, you notice she does have a pinkish tinge to a lot of her skin.
Sonadora pulls on her boots and grabs her staff.
Sonadora: I vote the sorcerer answers the other door.
-> Arphaxad: And a quick look at your own hands shows that your skin's slightly red, too, right in the areas most exposed to fire yesterday.
Arphaxad: I am very confused, what is going on?
Arphaxad: How did we get here?
Ranja smothers a yawn with one fist and jams her feet into her boots.
Arphaxad: Wake up you guys!!!
Ranja blinks, and murmurs "I'm awake."
Sonadora: Judging from the books I am assuming this is Ranja's room and judging from the robes I am assuming that somehow we were all miraculously rescued and taken to the temple for healing.
Ranja perks up at the mention of books.
Ranja: Would you like to borrow one? I've got all sorts of lovely titles...
Arphaxad: Any on magic?
Ranja: Of course! Now if I could just remember where I put them....
Arphaxad: Someone kindly update me.
Sonadora yawns and rests her head on Ranja's hip. "I don't read."
Arphaxad: What happened last night, and did anyone else hear that knocking?
Ranja gazes at the precariously stacked piles and sighs.
Ranja: Knocking? Oh, I suppose it could have come from the front door of the Temple. We should go look!
Arphaxad: I recall burning, then somewhat remember riding a horse, then some loud knocking.
Sonadora: I'll answer it. At least if someone shoots a blast of something dangerous it'll likely go over my head and hit the sorcerer.
Ranja wanders off toward the door.
Arphaxad: Oh, charming...
Sonadora: Or Ranja can.
Arphaxad follows along behind her.
Ranja reaches the door and opens it.
Sonadora: I wonder where the temple put Vida?
Hmm... noone here.
Sonadora searches around.
Ranja peers around, then shrugs and shuts the door again.
Sonadora pokes her head through the door and searches outside too.
Arphaxad: Whoa Ranja, you almsot shut it on Sona's head!
Ranja blinks and looks down.
Sonadora rubs her nose.
Ranja: Oh dear.
Arphaxad: The two of you are terrible at answering questions, do you know that?
There're people passing by outside, the usual busy-ness of the square... but noone at the door and noone else inside the Temple.
Ranja: Hm? What do . . . oh right. Last night.
Sonadora: We should find Sintilya.
Arphaxad: Let's take it one step at a time.
Ranja: Um, it was all rather dark and confusing. But we defeated the enemy, and brought you back and healed you up!
Arphaxad: I see...
Arphaxad: And which of you had the pleasure of changing my attire?
Arphaxad: And where are my robes, for that matter?
Sonadora tugs on Ranja's robe.
Sonadora: Do you know where Vida is?
Ranja: Um, that I don't know. Or that either.
Sonadora frowns.
Sonadora: I really need to find him.
Ranja: Perhaps Sintilya would better answer those questions. We should go find her.
Arphaxad: Very well, lets go then
Ranja wanders off again, in search of Sintilya.
Sonadora follows Ranja.
The three of you look around, but it really does appear as though Geyer and Sintilya are not inside.
Ranja frowns.
Ranja: Perhaps outside?
Arphaxad: Yes, whatever happened with the village? Were they attacked? We must know these things!
Sonadora searches for Vida too.
Vida is also not inside the Temple.
Arphaxad walks out of of the temple in search of a townsperson to get an update from.
Ranja hurries after him.
Sonadora sighs and follows too.
You stop a young woman carrying a bundle of smoked meats under an arm.
The young woman: Yes?
Arphaxad: Hello good lady, can you please tell me about the events of last night
Arphaxad: What happened during the fire?
The young woman: Last night! Why, the bucket brigade put out the fire!
The young woman: And they say... well, that a group of people were fighting enormous beasts where the lightning struck!
Arphaxad: Sounds like hearsay to me.
The young woman: My neighbor, Tommy, he said they... oh...
The young woman eyes open slightly wider.
The young woman leans towards Arphax slightly.
The young woman: Are... YOU... the heroes?
Sonadora: We aren't the heroes. The townspeople are.
Ranja is staring up at the clouds.
Sonadora: Could you tell us where Sintilya is?
Arphaxad: Heroes plan to be victorious, we were just lucky.
Arphaxad: Sometimes I feel our victories are based on the roll of a dice.
The young woman: It is you! The ranger, the mage, the scholar and... shouldn't there be a knight and an enormous hound?
The young woman: Oh!
The young woman: I can't wait to tell Tommy!
The young woman puts an arm up to her mouth and giggles.
Sonadora: Please, mistress, could you help us? Do you know where Sintilya is?
The young woman walks quickly away to the south, giggling, and without answering your question about Sintilya.
Arphaxad: Alright, shall we split up and look for ourselves?
Sonadora pouts a bit.
Ranja mutters something to herself that sounds vaguely like "cumulo-nimbus" and returns her attention to the group.
Ranja blinks.
Arphaxad: Ranja, are you feeling alright?
Ranja: Wasn't there another woman just here?
Ranja nods.
Arphaxad: No no, it wa only your imagination.
Sonadora: Maybe she's in the town square?
Ranja: Just a bit tired, that's all.
Ranja frowns.
Ranja: I must be more tired than I thought...
Arphaxad: Let's go towards the pavillion
Sonadora: Oh the Chamber of the Sun?
Sonadora: Chamber's closer?
Arphaxad: Very well, to the Chamber then.
Ranja: Sounds like a plan!
Arphaxad: Perhaps you should have stayed in bed, you seem a little tired.
Sonadora: I would have, but you were noisy.
You arrive at the Chamber of the Sun after a very brief walk and knock on the door. It doesn't seem like anyone's answering, and a quick rattle shows that the door is locked. You remember Sintilya mentioning that Garrett was out of town.
Arphaxad: Are you satisfied then?
Arphaxad: To the Pavillion
Sonadora: I miss Vida.
Sonadora sighs unhappily.
Ranja is staring up at the clouds again as she walks.
Arphaxad notices he is on a relatively short fuse, attributing it to his confused morning.
As you traverse the Market, you note a wagon in a corner of the square, partially blocked off by empty tents and canvas. It's being avoided by the adults in the area and gazed at with a mixture of awe and humor by the kids - who are usually pulled away by their parents before they can get too close.
As you step underneath the shade of the pavillion, you see Markham raise a glass in your direction from behind the bar. A quick glance around shows you the traditional halfling winter decorations are already up - light blue and white streamers and banners hang from the rafters with hints of dark green scattered throughout. There is a small crowd of people in the pavillion, but most of the town is in the middle of its workday. As he picks through a bowl of ... fresh?... fruit, Markham's cherubic face displays a wide grin and he beckons you towards him.
Arphaxad approaches a table of townsfolk upon reaching the Pavillion.
Sonadora heads over to Markham.
Sonadora: Have you seen Sintilya, Markham?
Markham Grintz: (To Sonadora) Sure have Sonadora! She gave me a message to pass on that she was going to find out if Daisy had something that could help your wolf.
Sonadora frets.
Sonadora: Do you know if Vida is alright? Where's Daisy?
Markham Grintz: (To Sonadora) Vida was okay, but Sintilya was hoping Daisy could help heal'm up a bit faster. She's down to the south, over the river and to the southeast.
Sonadora: Thank you.
Sonadora bows.
Sonadora heads back to the others.
Arphaxad: Hello there, how are you fine folk today?
A grizzled farmer: Oh, not bad.
A grizzled farmer: A bit of excitement last night, which I'm sure you know about.
Arphaxad: Yes, we have heard.
A grizzled farmer raises his glass in a brief salute.
A grizzled farmer: (To Arphax) So, would you be the wizard among the four? Or the cleric?
Arphaxad: The four?
A grizzled farmer: (To Arphax) Sure! The mage, the warrior, the cleric, and the druid!
Arphaxad: Indeed, we are a fantastic four.
Arphaxad: But yes, I would be the wizard.
Arphaxad: And over at the bar would be the cleric and the druid.
Arphaxad: However, we seem to be missing one, have you seen our knight or a rather large dog?
Arphaxad: We'd prefer the dog, but we'll take the knight as well.
A grizzled farmer: (To Arphax) Huh! Well, I think both'f 'em were in here earlier talking to Markham. Sintilya was with them, too.
A grizzled farmer: (To Arphax) Heh! You'n the knight don't get along so well?
A grizzled farmer: (To Arphax) Just like in the bard's tales, huh! I guess there's some truth in 'em tales after all.
Sonadora: Excuse me friends. Sintiyla is out visiting Daisy. I'm not sure where Geyer is.
Ranja: Maybe he went with her?
Arphaxad: Forgive my briefness, but we are rather in a hurry friend, we must be on our way, thank you for the conversation
Arphaxad turns towards Sonadora
A grizzled farmer: No problem! Glad to've helped the lot'f you. Cheers!
Arphaxad: Where can we find Daisy?
Sonadora: South, over the river, then southeast?
Arphaxad: Perhaps we should get a quick bite to eat while we are here?
Arphaxad: Either of you ladies hungry?
Sonadora shrugs.
Ranja: Not very, thank you.
Sonadora: I'ma halfling. We can always eat.
Arphaxad walks to the bar and asks for a loaf of bread to be wrapped in a cloth and some honey to go with it
Sonadora: Shall we go?
Ranja nods.
Arphaxad: Yes, lets go, I want to know where my robes are!
Markham Grintz begins to pull out some meats and fruits to give you along with the honeyed bread.
Markham Grintz: Y'know, I wasn't gonna ask...
Markham Grintz: But the two of you look a bit like you've gone and gotten a sunburn. And new robes?
Markham Grintz: What exactly happened last night?
Arphaxad smiles big and points to the two ladies, then winks as he puts the food in his bag.
Sonadora: Fire.
Sonadora gets a haunted look in her eyes and shudders.
Markham Grintz: That much I'd already heard, small-fry. Are any of the stories true?
Arphaxad: What stories would those be?
Markham Grintz: I actually heard one guy swear he'd seen a blue dragon in that clearing with you.
Markham Grintz: Said it was "t'most feroshus fing I'd efer seen!"
Markham Grintz coughs discretely.
Arphaxad: well, I recall no dragon, but we will keep our eyes open.
Markham Grintz: That was last night, of course.
Sonadora shrugs.
Arphaxad: Thank you for the food
Sonadora: You would know more than myself.
Sonadora waves to Markham.
Markham Grintz: Aw, a little bit of a story?
Markham Grintz: Something to keep me customers interested?
Arphaxad: Very well
Arphaxad: As we went through the dark forest, there were continuous flashes of lightning and red glow from a fresh fire.
Markham Grintz nods with keen interest.
Arphaxad: As we came into the clearing around a burning tree, these terrible beasts made of pure lightning lept at us with ferocious anger!
Arphaxad: They came straight from the bowels of hell and tried to burn us all alive!!!!
Arphaxad: But as fate would have it, we, through the help of you noble townspeople were able to defeat them and put out their evil flames
It suddenly dawns on you that the majority of the pavillion's patrons have become quiet as you talked to Markham. They all appear to be watching you, and you can make out some whispers.
Arphaxad: I will tell you, without you folks, we would have been done for.
Arphaxad: Listen [1d20+1 = 2]
Sonadora: Listen [1d20+5 = 24]
Ranja: Listen [1d20+3 = 12]
-> Sonadora: (Listen) You can hear them talking about your adventures and discussing the possibilities of buying you drinks and food. Most of them are in awe at Arphaxad's tale, and all of the whispers are positive.
Sonadora smiles at the people in the inn and blushes.
Sonadora: (to the people) Oh please, that's not necessary. You are the heroes. All of you.
The patrons whisper amongst themselves some more, some in awe of being called heroes. Others chuckling into their drinks.
Markham Grintz chuckles.
Markham Grintz: Looks like you're getting sorta famous around here, huh.
Markham Grintz: Well, for that story I'll pass on a bit of information, too.
Arphaxad: Ah, yes?
Markham Grintz: One of the halflings I had cover me for a bit this morning said someone was in looking for you four.
Arphaxad: Someone from town?
Markham Grintz: He was a new guy, the halfling, so he didn't know who it was.
Markham Grintz: And by the time I got here, whoever it was was gone. Michael Ruhlin was still here, but he was in a bit of a hurry to get something done, so I couldn't ask him what he knew.
Arphaxad: Hmm, where could we find this new employee of yours, or when will he be back in?
Markham Grintz: He was the night shift, so he's sleeping right now.
Arphaxad: Where was Michael Ruhlin off to?
Markham Grintz: He was headed back home - said he had to get some chores done.
Markham Grintz: 's what he's always doing. So dutiful. No time for fun and mischief.
Markham Grintz: Not like his kids!
Markham Grintz gets a distant look in his eyes.
Markham Grintz: Oh...
Markham Grintz: How is Aaron, anyhow?
Markham Grintz: I haven't seen him since that... y'know.
Arphaxad: He is doing better, last we heard
Sonadora: I believe Sintiyla said she'd discovered the poison, but he was still bedridden.
Arphaxad: We thank you for the information, but we should be off to find Sintiyla, and maybe drop by and say hello to Michael.
Arphaxad: Thank you for the meal as well, it was finely made
Arphaxad: Lets go then
Arphaxad waves at Markham and heads towards the bridge.
Sonadora follows, still blushing a bit.
Sonadora: Those people said the nicest things. They think we're all heroes and they want to buy us food and drinks.
Arphaxad: Well, we need to find our last hero, who seems to have disappeared.
Ranja: I hope he's alright!
Arphaxad: I hope so too, seeing as how we are up against elementals and who knows what else
Arphaxad: Ok, so can anyone tell me how we ended up in pink?
Arphaxad: Did we get into Geyers wardrobe?
As you're crossing the bridge, you notice a familiar face coming towards you.
Arphaxad: Oh...speak of the devil, look who it is.
Arphaxad: Hello Geyer, and where have you been
Sonadora: Have you seen Vida? Is he alright?
Geyer: Aye, Sintilya an I've been off ta seeDaisy and get yer pup fixed right.
Arphaxad: Well, how is the mutt?
Sonadora: So he's fine? Where is he? Is he missing me? I have to get to him!
Sonadora grabbed Geyers arms and tugs.
Arphaxad: Wait just a minute.
Geyer: Daisy seemed ta know what ta do, and she took Sintilya to show her the recipe of herbs she uses in case it happens again.
Arphaxad: Geyer, there is something Markham mentioned.
Arphaxad: It may be nothing at all, but there is someone in town looking for the four of us, but noone but Michael was there to see who it was.
Geyer: They said the wolf would be right as the spring rain in a bit.
Arphaxad: Perhaps we should drop by his place and see who is searching for us.
Sonadora sighs with relief and lets Geyer go.
Sonadora: I guess I'll have to settle for that right now.
Arphaxad: Don't worry Sona, we will see your dog as soon as we can.
Geyer: We're supposed ta meet them on the bridge by tha river eventually, but we have a bit o' time ta swing by Michael's I suppose.
Arphaxad: Lets go then, who knows where Michael lives?
Sonadora I need to buy a new outfit.
Sonadora really noticed the dressing robe she wearing for the first time.
Sonadora: It's a little ways down the rivier.
-> Geyer: You notice that both Arphax and Sonadora are wearing white robes - their old clothing was burnt too badly to be used.
Sonadora points north.
Arphaxad: Alright then
As you travel north and through the Market, you again note the somewhat dilapidated wagon. It remains perpetually surrounded by a small crowd of amused kids and their somewhat wary parents.
Sonadora: What is in that wagon?
Sonadora leaves the group and walks over, halfling curiousity overtaking better judgement.
The wagon itself appears to be held together by a mixture of glue, poor carpentry, and a liberal dose of wishful thinking. The shelves along the side are littered with all manner of trinkets, doodads, thingamabobs and whatchamacallits. If one man's trash is another man's treasure, the owner of this cart might just be filthy rich. A wooden sign proclaims, "Gnorm's Gniceties and Gnick Gnacks: Welcome!"
Geyer follows behind the halfling looking somewhat bemused at her enthusiasm.
Ranja makes wordless sounds of horror at the blatent disregard of proper spelling.
Arphaxad walks over to the cart to see if there is a diamond in this rough cart.
Sonadora glances over the cart, wondering why everyone is avoiding it.
Geyer attempts to use the "phonics" Ranja taught him and is at a loss over the sign.
Sonadora: What is it?"
A kid: Have you ever seen anything like it?
Geyer: I've no idea, lass.
A farmer: I wonder who owns it?
Arphaxad: I can honestly say no, I have seen nothing like it.
Arphaxad calls out -
Arphaxad: Hello!
Arphaxad: Anyone here?
A kid: I'm gonna go see what's inside!
Another kid: No I am!
Sonadora beams at the kids and follows along.
Along the front of the cart a trio of kids argue amongst themselves. Finally, one of them reaches up to touch something on the cart when - SPROING! A spring-loaded trapdoor on the front of the cart pops open and a gnome rolls out from the opening, landing in a pile a few feet away!
The kids shriek and run away, hoping they don't get in trouble!
A gnome dusts himself off.
A gnome: A-ha! I've, ah, caught you! Red handed. All of you.