[ We find Our Heroes staring at a pile of loot that they got from the pile of muck the black dragon had in its lair. Having washed it off with something or other, they can now see it all clearly. ] [ Loot is as follows: ] [ 6500 gp in coins. 1753 gp in gems, including one star ruby worth 1100 by itself. ] [ 3 potions of Blur. ] [ 1 highly stylish cape. ] [ 2 rocks covered in faintly glowing runes; one glows red, the other white. ] [ 3 glowing daggers. They must be enchanted. ] (3 shiny pink rocks of absolutely no value!) (Tia would take those gladly, haha!) [ And that's it. You now get to divvy it up and ID it, if you want. Session Start! ] * Seylin wipes as much of the muck off her as she can. "Ta-da! And there you have it!" Not bad! * Tia runs around the pile of loot, and babbles unceasingly over the shinies. * Patrick glances around the stuff and smiles. "Nice, very nice." Shinyshinyshinyshiny! * HKenji smiles. "To the victors go the spoils. I trust nobody has a problem with my taking possession of the bag and the dragon's head?" * Tia picks up one of the gems, admires it in the light, and giggles. No skin off my back. Nah, not at all. I wonder about those daggers and the rocks, though. I don't mind, Kenji! * Istvan looks semi-disinterested with regards to the loot, actually. * Patrick picks one up and inspects it. "Hey, Istvan, you any good at appraising?" * Ariake heads over to the daggers and peers at them, trying to figure out what's going on. You had the biggest part in killing that dragon afterall. I've got my sneaking cloak already, so someone else can have the cape. * HKenji picks up one of the daggers. "If nobody wants these, I should be happy to take them. I find the possibilities of their use... intriguing." And we can divide the coins and most of the gems pretty evenly. * Tia scoops up gems in her hands and lets them drip through her fingers. "Shiny!" * HKenji unsheathes said dagger, letting the glow out. ... they're glowing, Patrick. That means they're magical. Beyond that, I couldn't tell you much, other'n if they're broken or something. * Tia then turns and picks up one of the glowing, rune-covered rocks. Hey, what's this? * Patrick shrugs and smiles back. "Good enough." He tosses one to Ari. * Tia holds one in each large hand. * Ariake grabs it. "Thanks. Let's see here..." Anyways, I'm not terribly interested in this stuff. I might take a dagger just for the light it gives, though. ^_^ * Tia runs up to Seylin. "Hey, Sey! Look at these cool rocks!" * Tia holds up the two rune-covered rocks. * HKenji slips one of the daggers into his sleeve, and then begins looking through the gems for any bits of jade. They're very pretty, Tia! Why don't you let Ariake take a look at them? Okay! * Tia goes up to Ariake and pulls on her sleeve. "Hey, Ari, do you know what these are?" She proffers the glowing rocks. * Ariake is looking at them. "Hmm..." * Patrick flips one of the daggers. "Of course, I am interested in what you could do with that dragon hide." He grins. * Seylin picks up the potions. "Who gets these?" [ Kenji finds no jade. ] What kind of potion are those again? * Patrick pockets it. "I'll test it for whatever it is, if you want." ^_^ The label said "Blur." Not overly useful, I suspect. Gimme a coupla hours after we're done here, and I'll skin it. We'll see then what condition it's in, but like I said before, it looks like enough to make a strong set of leather armor. You might want to have Patrick check though, if you suspect some duplicity. Dragonscale leather, of course. * Tia turns and grins at Kenji. "Sometimes that happens to my handwriting if I'm not careful." Ooh, these are enchantment stones... * Seylin hands a potion to Patrick. * Tia turns back to face Ariake. "Enchantment stones? What's that?" * Ariake grins. "I could use these to enchant weapons, like adding a fire effect." * HKenji shrugs and removes a pair of pouches from his sleeve, quickly filling them with a few of the gems and a fair bit of the loose cash. Oh, show me! I want to see you make a fire effect! * HKenji slips the pouches back into his sleeve, then looks around curiously. ... mmm. Gimme some time at a forge, and those, and I could make you guys some pretty nice weapons. Hmm...who has a weapon that would be good for it? * Tia dances from one set of paws to the other. How about Kenji's? He says it's better than everyone else's. * Patrick grins. "Leather, hmm?" He takes a potion and pulls out a few choice alchemy components out of his backpack, running a pair of quick tests on the two potions he has. Hmm. Okay, so we have potions, gems, coins, daggers, enchantment stones, and a cape. Who gets the cape? What is the cape, for that matter? I will not subject the sword of my fathers to gaijin magics, Tia. Daggers aren't really my style, so I ain't puttin' in for them. And I'm not really the potion type... Um. If you don't want the third dagger, Ari, can I have it? Sure! I'd like the stones, but other than that, whatever's left is fine. * Ariake hands it over to Seylin. Thanks! Ariake, what happens if you add the fire stone to a weapon that already flames? No problem. * Ariake thinks. "That would add quite a powerful effect..." * Istvan pauses. "... hell, I trust you guys to leave me my fair share. I'm gonna head outside and get started on skinning that dragon." * Istvan draws his falchion, grins slightly, and walks outside. What are...gaijin magics? * HKenji blinks. Don't worry about it, Tia. * Tia grins at Kenji. "Oh, okay!" * Seylin finishes dividing the gems and coins up into six shares (Kenji already had his). * Seylin holds up the star ruby. "We'll have to sell this so we can divide it up. Who wants to hold onto it until then?" If I might make a suggestion, perhaps you should use the Fire stone to increase the effect of Istvan's already potent weapon. * Will takes his share from Seylin. "Thanks for dividing those up Seylin." No problem! ^_^ * Ariake nods. "I like that idea...I think I'll add lightning to mine, if it'll work." Can I hold the shiny, Sey? * Tia grins. * Patrick shrugs and pockets both potions for further study. He smiles over at Ariake. "Yeah, but do you even have a melee weapon?" * Ariake grins. "That's the thing - no melee." You promise you'll take good care of it, Tia? Actually, Ariake... * Tia nods emphatically. "I'll take very, very, very good care of it! I promise!" * Istvan whistles while he skins. o/~ * Ariake nods. "Yes?" I would suggest giving the Lightning stone to Seylin. * Seylin giggles. "All right! Here you go!" She hands it over. Thanks, Sey! It's so pretty! Ah...Seylin? Would it be useful for you? Yeah. Divine lightning and that whole deal. ^_^ Ooh... * Ariake hands it over, then. ^_^ * Tia takes the gem, looks at it lovingly for a few moments, then slides it gently into her bag. * Seylin takes her share of gems and coins, then blinks at Ariake. "The lightning stone? Sure!" She takes it. "That'd be really cool!" [ Istvan manages to hack all the skin off the dead dragon. Yikes, what a smell. ] So you can enchant it later? * Patrick shrugs and takes his share, stashing it in his backpack. * Ariake nods. "Sure thing." Okay! Thanks! Do you want the dagger back in exchange? Hmm...if you wouldn't mind, it might be useful. * Istvan returns, the skin of the dragon rolled up under his arm. "... damn, that thing stinks. It's gonna be a week before my sword stops smelling." * HKenji stands staring off into the distance. Not a problem! * Seylin hands it back to Ariake. Who's carrying the potions and the cape? [ Kenji sees smoke rising from a camp fire. Two people are camping next to the fire. ] * Ariake stows her shiny new stuff. * Tia runs up to Istvan and shows him her star ruby. "Look at what I got! Isn't it pretty?" I got two of the potions, and I already have a cape too. ^_^ * Istvan sits down, pulls a thick sack out of his pack, puts the skin in, and places it back in his pack. "Nice, Tia. I know people who could make you a nice piece of jewelery from that, if you wanted." * Tia grins. "Could I hang it around my neck? It might make a pretty necklace, don't you think?” Tia, why don't you take that cape? It would look quite stylish on you, especially in your more... conventional form. Could definately get that done. When we get back, I'll give you the name of a few people I know. They'll give you a good price. * Tia blinks and looks at the cloak. "It does look sorta pretty. Can I really have it?" Sure! ^_^ Why not? * Patrick stashes all his goods away and gets ready to move. He glances around. * Istvan notices the piles of gold'n stuff. "One of those mine?" * Tia grins a little bashfully as she takes the cloak. "Wow, really? You guys are the best friends ever!" * Seylin smiles at Tia. "Aww!" * Will says to Istvan. "Yeah, one of those is yours. Seylin divided those up." We'll have to have somebody figure out what it does later. The daggers, too. * Tia drapes the cloak around her shoulders and grins. She spins around a few times. "How do I look?" * Ariake nods. * Patrick flips the dagger once more. "I'd guess the daggers are shiney." ^_^ I'll look at them later on, when there's time... Quite the sight, Tia. I ain't in this for the money, or to build up a collection of magical stuff. So if you want it, hell, I don't mind. * HKenji stoops and slips the last two potions into his sleeve for safekeeping. * Istvan nods at Will, and gathers up his share. * Ariake nods. "I just want the opportunity to play with any interesting items...aside from that, I'm happy." * Tia grins happily. "Heehee!" * HKenji frowns. So, back to the village? * HKenji raises his voice a little. "Vall, you can come out now." So you guys decide what you wanna do with those enchantment stones? Like I said, if you wanna wait until we get back, I could prolly make weapons to be enchanted. Yeah, I think I'll wait for that, Istvan. Thanks! One of them is for your pick, Istvan. Unless you've some objection. Istvan, your pick already has a fire effect, right? If I add this fire enchantment, it should be very powerful. The other is for Seylin's... whatever that thing is called. * Patrick bounces on his feet. "Halberd." ^_^ Now, where to? [ Vall does not show himself. ] ... halberd. And if you guys don't mind, I'll take it. Will the fire one stack onto the fire enchantment I already have? * Ariake hands it over to Istvan. "It should, yes." Mmm, I think my mother did some research on that. In all likelyhood, it'll make it that much more powerful. * Istvan takes it. "So... how's this thing work?" *scratches back of neck; eyes the stone* * Patrick shrugs. "Got me." ^_^ * Will grins. "Make a socket and plug it in?" Hey, Kenji, I don't think Vall's hiding up here. * HKenji frowns. Where has that fool run off to? * Tia blinks at Patrick, then looks around. "You're right. I haven't seen Vall in a long time." Vall? Yeah, I'm not even sure he left the village. And Sey, if you're gonna use the lightning one, you should prolly use it on your halberd. It's magic already, and good as I am, I can't make magic stuff. Huh, you're right. * Patrick shrugs and smiles. * Seylin nods to Istvan. "Okay." Then she turns back to the others. "You guys don't think he..." He didn't look so happy. Maybe he had a stomachache and decided to stay behind? * Istvan shrugs, and tucks the stone into his pack. * Ariake raises an eyebrow. He really wanted to go into that city from what I recalled... He coulda been stupid and tried to go off on his own. But if that's the case he's probably dead by now. ^_^ Or he's back at the town waiting for ust to guide him there. Huh? City? ... Oh, the city with the bad men! We should head back. Let's hope it's the latter Pat. He wouldn't do that! He wouldn't leave us behind... ... s'not exactly a smiling event, Pa- wait. Forgot who I was talkin' to. He most certainly would. * HKenji frowns mightily. * Istvan tilts his head at Pat. "Anyone ever tell you that the constant smiling thing you do is kinda creepy? * Patrick smirks. "Yes he would. Which is why I mentioned it." * Tia looks at Kenji. "...He would? Why? Aren't we his friends?" * HKenji frowns and begins walking towards the campsite in the distance. * Tia follows Kenji. I'm not sure Vall _has_ friends. * Patrick grins at Istvan. "Yes." He doesn't? I thought I was his friend. Good. 'cause it is. I sure hope Vall doesn't do anything rash. * Patrick follows along. "You don't think I *can't* frown, do you?" * Istvan pats Pat on the shoulder. "You're a decent guy, despite the creepiness, though." Isn't a rash something that happens to your skin? * Seylin looks preoccupied. "I hope he's okay. 'Cause if he went off on his own... that's a really *stupid* thing to do." * Ariake nods. "It is." Thanks. ^_^ * Patrick glances back at Seylin and slows until he's at pace with her. He whispers to her. * Tia looks slightly alarmed. "You mean Vall has a skin problem? That's terrible. I think I might have gotten a rash from the slime in the cave back there. My arm itches a little." She scratches absently. * Seylin whispers back. "Rash" can also mean "unwise," Tia. * Patrick whispers back to Seylin and pats her on the shoulder. ... I think we think Vall snuck off to try and sneak into the drow city himself, Tia. Er Tia, I meant reckless when I said rash. Oh. Is Vall unwise? ... which would be a goddamn stupid idea. If he ran into the drow city by himself, yes. * Tia nods. "But he wouldn't -really- do that, would he? He said he'd take Tia with him!" I told him I was good at hitting bad men. * Seylin whispers back to Patrick, then turns her attention to the others. * Tia looks a little worried. * Patrick nods at Seylin and turns his attention back to the rest of the group. s'a family, thing, so... I understand the motivation. *frowns* But it'd still be a suicide run, and he'd have to know it. * HKenji scowls angrily and keeps marching steadily towards the campfire. Vall wasn't terribly wise, despite his scores on Adventuring 103. ^_^ * Will sighs. "We'll find out what happened to Vall as soon as we get back to town." * Ariake nods... * Tia continues to follow Kenji closely. * Seylin twitches a wing nervously. But who knows what's going on in that head of his. ^_^; S'an old dwarven saying... "The greatest enemy is the one within." He can't seriously have thought to sneak in, he hasn't the skills. Nor could he have hoped to enter through subterfuge. [ You can now tell a bit about the occupants of the campsite; one of them is very large and mostly blue. The other looks like an elf of average height. Something's wrong with his leg and he's not moving. Maybe he's asleep? ] * Will squints to see better. "Any idea who that blue one is?" * Seylin blinks a couple of times. "No..." * Tia waves to the people at the campsite. "Hi, there!" * Patrick shrugs and smiles as if it were nothing. "No clue." * Ariake blinks. "Unusual..." [ The large blue one stands and waves back. Maybe they want to speak with you. ] * HKenji picks up the pace. * Tia follows suit and trots along. * Ariake shrugs, and follows. * Seylin hurries a bit. * Will follows Ariake. * Patrick walks, but keeps an eye out for anything suspicious. * Istvan walks along, towards the head of the group. [ As you grow nearer, you can see that the large person is apparently a woman of human features. More unusual is her height; she's close to eight feet tall. She wears plate armor made from, apparently, the hide of a blue dragon, a helm made of the same creature's skull, and a cloak made of it's wings. She carries a long, curved sword over her back, and is all in all a confusing picture. ] [ The person sitting on a log next to her is Vall, who seems oddly pale. Also, part of his thigh is missing. Also, he still hasn't moved any. ] * HKenji stops a fair distance away. * HKenji calls out loudly, "Vall?" * Tia waves and smiles until she sees Vall. "...Vall?!" Vall? Vall! ... yep. He tried it. * Patrick smirks, stopping once he sees Vall Vall! [ Vall does not move. ] Oh no... At least he's alive...I hope. Well, if he is, this'll get him moving. * Ariake curses under her breath. * Istvan rubs his forehead. "Goddamn fool." * Tia quickens her gait until she nears the large woman. But... I guess not. [ "Greetings," says the woman. "I'm afraid your ...friend, is dead." She gives Vall a slight nudge and he pitches over backwards. ] * Will walks up to Val and checks him out. He really... * HKenji pales. How? [ Vall sure is dead. He has five deep stab wounds on the back of his body; two on his head, one on his neck, one on each shoulder. ] What happened? * Tia blinks. "Hi, uh..." She looks down sadly at Vall. "Wh-what happened to him?" Tia sniffles. Got stabbed, by the looks of it. Repeatedly. * Patrick glances around, smiling. He's keeping a decent distance from Vall and the woman. "What I'm wondering is why he's out here." [ "He seemed to believe he could bluff his way into a city of Drow. He seemed, furthermore, to be incorrect in this estimate." ] [ "He is out here because I brought him here, for you. I wanted to meet you for myself, you see, after Vall told me you were in the area." ] * Will mutters a quick prayer for Vall's departed soul. You talked to him? * HKenji gets very, VERY angry. * Ariake nods. "Who might you be?" * Seylin blinks, tears welling in her eyes. "Of all the stupid... Vall, you dummy! You weren't supposed to do that!" * Ariake is oddly calm at this point. * Istvan just looks vaguely disgusted. "What a waste." [ "I am Sherincal, a priestess. You are Ariake, yes?" ] * Ariake nods. "Yes, I am." * Patrick is still smiling all right. He chuckles. "How very kind of you." [ "I do hope I pronounced that right. And this is all of the band this unfortunate elf traveled with until recently." ] No. We've a half dozen more resting in the town, recovering from injuries. * Seylin closes her eyes and bows her head. * Patrick pats Seylin on the shoulder and whispers to her. * Istvan blinks at Kenji, but doesn't say anything. [ The woman smiles knowingly. "Do you? And how long before they come looking for you, should you be away for an extended time?" ] * HKenji shrugs. "Perhaps a day." * Seylin nods to him and whispers back. * HKenji very carefully masters his anger. Behind him, a ghostly shape flickers in the air, just barely beginning to become visible at the edges. * Patrick grins to Seylin evily and whispers. * Istvan doesn't like the way this conversation is going, and slowly begins to loosen his war pick from its holster. [ "How sad. That will be much too long to do you any good." ] * Seylin nods determinedly. * HKenji begins walking forward slowly. * Istvan grunts, and just draws his war pick. Screw subtlety. * Tia glances up, alarmed at the woman's words. * Ariake takes some steps back and begins concentrating. Perhaps. And perhaps we shall need no rescue. Why...why do you say that? * Tia's hands grip her axe more firmly. * Seylin looks over and watches Kenji and Istvan. She reaches for her halberd. Give us Vall's body and leave peacefully. I've no quarrel with you. Yet. [ "I recommend that you turn back and discontinue your journey. It would be... much safer, that way." ] * Patrick snaps and his bow of badass appears in his hand. He turns around and guards the party's flank. * Will slowly walks to the back of the party, facing the priestess the entire time. * HKenji continues advancing, and behind him, the ghostly form begins filling in more, becoming a beautiful and apparently very angry woman with a sheathed daisho at her side. When one of us is killed, our inclination is hardly to ignore it. We will do what we will do. Safety is no concern of ours. [ "And I have no quarrel with you, yet. Simply swear to me - you, Kenji will take an oath seriously, if none of the others will. Swear to me to turn back to your little home and never come this way again." ] ... it isn't? * Patrick whistles ‘Another One Bites The Dust." You would have me leave without vengeance for a dead comrade? [ "I'm afriad so. If you refuse, I'm afraid this must come to blows." ] * Ariake nods. "Who was it that killed Vall?" * Tia holds her axe tightly. "I don't understand..." There is no reason for us to turn back yet. [ "Five Drow scouts killed him. I asked them to, but they would have anyway. In fact, I likely saved him from being sacrificed to Llolth; you should thank me, really." ] * Istvan mutters. "Well, there *are* reasons... not that we're gonna listen to those reasons..." * Tia blinks, horrified. "You...had him killed? I will take no such oath, woman. * Ariake nods. "Then we shall thank you by being mercifully quick, if possible." * Patrick smirks and speaks softly. "Don't do anything stupid..." I got a question. Who the heck are you? Give us your name, so that you may be remembered. [ "If you cannot make such an oath, then I'm afriad we must fight. For I cannot allow you to continue on without making such an oath." ] Are we fighting, Kenji? * Tia 's tail twitches nervously. I believe we are, Tia. Your name, woman? * Tia nods. "Okay..." She raises her axe to the ready. [ "My name is, as I said, Sherincal. Prepare yourselves, although you will gain no benefit from it. I'm afraid I must... make a point." ] * Patrick grins and draws his bow with an alchemist's arrow. Sorry, Blue Dragon Head Lady. You killed Vall. * Tia looks somewhat apologetic, but she nevertheless takes an offensive stance. * Ariake prepares to cast. * HKenji drops his hand to his katana, and the ghostly image moves forward just a bit, overlapping him in the same stance. * Seylin takes to the air. [ The woman speaks, loud, clear, and in a voice entirely not her own. The things she says are digsuting and unmentionable, and leave you all feeling weak, confused, and immobile. ] [ Seylin falls from the air and lands awkwardly in a heap. ] ... the hell? Oww! * Tia 's arms fall to her sides, and she stares confusedly at the priestess. "What--?" * Ariake curses. * Will strains to move his legs. "What the?" * Seylin tries to get up. It's probably not working. * Patrick eyes the woman and falls to his knees, keeping an arrow knocked at the woman. * Tia crumples to the ground. * HKenji gasps as he's weakened, dazed, and paralyzed. [ You all fall silent, and Tia falls still. Sherincal, meanwhile, pulls out her sword, and goes around carving you all up very casually. Eventually, luckily, your wounds cause you to pass out. ] [ Time passes; you're not sure how much, but eventually you awaken. There are several Desmodu around you, doing their best to heal you all with spell and bandage. ] [ Everyone is awake and in stable condition. Everyone but Tia, that is. The 'sun' is on the horizon, turning the sky red. ] ... fucking hell. * Ariake winces. "What..." And then remembers. "!" [ So, y'know, you can talk now and stuff. ] * Will groans. "What? Where am I?" * Ariake sits up sharply, and then rejoins the penguins for an entertaining few minutes. >_< * Seylin groans and lifts her head. "Patrick?" * HKenji wakes up and pulls himself out of bed slowly and painfully, but not making a single sound of pain. ... miner. Never happens as a miner. Had to be a damn adventurer... * HKenji looks around frantically for his daisho. * Patrick gets up, holding his head. He's smiling still... "Yeah?" [ "Be careful, please," Says the young Desmodu from the town. "You're very wounded. The elder says you shouldn't move much yet." ] * Seylin smiles. "You're okay..." * Ariake just found that out. ;_; ... not arguing with that. Everyone in mostly one piece? * Patrick glances over. "Of course!.. You're okay too, right? You took a nasty fall there." [ You are all in the field where you fell. You are all still equiped, except those of you who had to have armor removed for your wounds to be treated. ] I think I'm okay. Istvan? That is you, right? Hurt like hell, but alive. * HKenji looks around. "Head count. Sound off, people." I'm fine I guess. Alive and kicking. Gaah...probably feel better in a minute. I'm here. * Patrick kicks the ground with his leg, which actually wasn't injured. "Literally." He grins. [ "We found you all alive, but only barely. We've been healing you for a while. Uhm, two of you are dead, tho. And one's a little eaten." ] Two? Two? * HKenji shakes his head a bit, and counts on his fingers. "Tia?" Oh, hell. ... Two? Tia? ... shit. [ "The elf and the large person." ] No! * Seylin starts sobbing. ... Will! Anything you can do about it? Oh, Tia, no... not you... * Istvan punches the ground, wincing because his arm is pretty cut up. * Will shakes his head sadly and looks away. Oh, no... [ A large, slightly greying Desmodu says something to the young one, who then says "We have a scroll. We can bring one of them back, as good as new. But only one. Sorry!" He looks kind of sad to see you all in this shape. ] * Patrick smiles, but not as much as usual. "Maybe, eh..." ... Tia. She didn't deserve this. Definetly. And also if her parents found out... Let Vall rest. Never seemed to like this damn world anyway. * Istvan mutters. "Can't blame him for that..." She... didn't even have a chance to... defend herself. * Ariake nods. "Agreed..." * HKenji turns away. And Vall... maybe he's happy, wherever he is. With his family, maybe. * Ariake sighs. "Yeah." * HKenji shudders a little at all this talk of coming back from the dead. * Istvan looks over at the Desmodu. "Resurrect the large one, please." [ The young Desmodu translates, and Tia is brought back to life. ] * Patrick hops to his legs which aren't cut up. His arms are pretty beat up, though. He sits down next to Seylin and hugs her. "Hey, hey... We're still here, and Tia should be back soon..." * Seylin hugs Patrick back, gently resting her head on his shoulder. * Will stands up slowly. * Tia 's tail twitches, and the toes on a couple of her paws curl and uncurl slightly. ... Tia? You with us? * Tia opens her eyes slowly when she hears Istvan's voice. "Istvan?" [ Tia breathes! That's a good sign. ] * Ariake nods. "We're here, Tia." ...What happened? Did I fall asleep? * Seylin lifts her head. "Tia? You're awake!" How are you feelin Tia? I'm ...a little stiff. Join the club. We're all a bit sore right now. * Tia winces as she struggles to her feet. * HKenji keeps his back turned to Tia. * Patrick smiles and looks over at Tia. "Very lucky." ^_^ That priestess lady cast a really nasty spell. We're all pretty messed up. You should be okay, though. * Istvan crawls his way over to Kenji, and whispers. "Dunno much about your people, but I can see you ain't big on raisin' the dead. Fine. I respect that. But say a word to let Tia know she was dead, and I'll fucking break you." ...You guys look really cut up. What happened? Baaaaaaaaaaad shit. ^_^ Yes. Extremely bad. * HKenji turns his head and stares cooly at Istvan. * Seylin shudders. "It was really bad." * Tia sniffs a little. "Did that really happen? With the big blue dragon head lady?" * Istvan stares back levelly at Kenji. "I respect your beliefs. Really. But she's an innocent. She doesn't deserve to have that ruined for her." Is Vall...? That priestess was a really evil lady Tia, and that's all you have to know. * Tia nods and wipes at her eyes. * Ariake nods. "I'm sorry, Tia." * HKenji says nothing to Istvan. * Istvan continues staring at Kenji for a few moments, then lays back down. *whisper* "You'll do the right thing." * Patrick lets go of Seylin and sits down next to her. He smiles to the rest of the group. * HKenji turns towards the tunnel leading to the drow and draws the shorter of his two blades. He raises it in one hand, and slits the palm of his opposite hand, letting blood drip on the ground. * Tia whimpers and gives everyone hugs. She is about to hug Kenji when she stops abruptly, realizing that he hasn't turned to face her. I will return for vengeance, woman. * Ariake hugs Tia, carefully. * Seylin hugs Tia back. * HKenji flicks the blood from his blade and resheathes it. * Patrick whispers to Seylin. * Istvan patpats Tia as she hugs. "s'okay, kiddo." * Seylin doesn't answer. * Will returns Tia's hug. ...Kenji? * Tia glances curiously at him. "Why did you cut your hand?" * Patrick looks curiously at Seylin, but doesn't go further. * HKenji still doesn't turn to look at Tia. "We should rest for a day or so, then head back to the school." * Patrick smirks. "Yeah. This quest is over." * Ariake nods. ...Are you mad at me, Kenji? I didn't mean to fall asleep, really! I know I always do dumb things... I don't mean to... There's nothing more for us here. We should bring Vall's body along with us. For a proper burial, if anything. Maybe his clan would like to try some revenge... * Ariake nods. "Definitely." * Tia turns and looks at Seylin. "Is Kenji mad at me?" * Seylin shakes her head slowly. "Kenji's just... upset about a few things, Tia. Best leave him alone for now." * Patrick looks up at Tia. "Yeah. He just needs some time to think about it." ^_^ * Tia nods, but she still looks worried. "Okay." She turns back to Kenji briefly. "Sorry, Kenji." * Istvan doesn't say anything. He just stares at Kenji's back for a minute, then goes back to being in lotsa pain. * Tia goes back to rejoin everyone else. She looks uncharacteristically pensive. * Patrick is still smiling, dammit. * Seylin puts her head on Patrick's shoulder and closes her eyes. * Ariake sighs. I guess we're going home then. * Patrick smiles even more at this (which is very possible), and puts his arm around her shoulder. [ Session End. ]