DMJeem: Okay, now we begin.

TholosB: Hello E!

DMJeem: When we left off, the gang had just saved Farmer Teeb and his daughter Penelope from an owlbear mauling.

DMJeem: A relatively chaotic conversation followed.

DMJeem: Selevar returned his battle-scared horse.

DMJeem: after getting essentially no help from the merchants back at the river.

DMJeem: The party uprighted Teeb's wagon.

DMJeem: and helped him make some repairs.

DMJeem: As darkness falls, Teeb asks the party to escort him and his daughter to Citrus for the night.

DMJeem: There's where we begin.

DMJeem: Would Jevicca be familiar with this area at all?

DMJeem: Yes, fairly. This is south of where you live.

DMJeem: Would the river route accommodate their travels as well, or would we have to depart from guarding the merchants in order to escort the farmer?

DMJeem: roll an Intelligence check.

DMJeem: 6

DMJeem: You're not sure.

RedBeardGuyMike: ask, Jev.

RedBeardGuyMike: the farmer would know

RedBeardGuyMike: Can we escort you by way of the river? If we're nominally supposed to escort the barge, then we ought to pretend we're looking out for them.

DMJeem: Teeb asks, "is this barge one of the ones on the river, over behind yonder trees?"

RedBeardGuyMike: yeah, that's it.

DMJeem: He comments that he hasn't seen many barges lately.

RedBeardGuyMike: we're supposed to be protecting one, but the others seem to think that we're protecting them, too.

DMJeem: Jev says, "that's why we're here, to escort them."

RedBeardGuyMike: which is a big mistake, if you ask me.

DMJeem: "As long as there's no trouble, it works out, but if we have to abandon the group to save the one, they might not like that." jev says.

DMJeem: Teeb says, "I'm not sure I can get the wagon in its state now over to the river."

DMJeem: "but I think the roads come together up ahead," he says.

RedBeardGuyMike: tough on them. it's not our contract.

Selevar: I can walk with Teeb until the road meets the river, if you'd like

RedBeardGuyMike: okay, we'll split up until the roads come together.

DMJeem: Jev offers, "I can stay with Teeb and Penelope."

RedBeardGuyMike: Tholos, do you want to go with teeb too?

RedBeardGuyMike: I'll stay with the barge

DMJeem: "Teeb, do you think we could put a load on your horse?"

DMJeem: Did Selevar's last comment show up long after its order?

Selevar: ?

DMJeem: So, who's with whom? Teeb finds a partial escort to be perfectly acceptable.

TholosB has left the room.

DMJeem: Jev wants to go with Teeb to chat about Citrus.

RedBeardGuyMike: I'll stay with the barge

DMJeem: Tholos should go with Lucius, then, suggests Jev.

DMJeem: And Selevar and Jev stay with Teeb.

RedBeardGuyMike: looks like bill lost connection

DMJeem: Tholos just "signed off" so he must be having computer issues.

TholosB has entered the room.

TholosB: back

DMJeem: So it's Jev and Selevar with Teeb, Lucius and Tholos with the barges?

TholosB: Huh?

Selevar: works for me

RedBeardGuyMike: if the three of you want to go with Teeb, go for it.

RedBeardGuyMike: I'll walk with the barge

RedBeardGuyMike: for a while.

Selevar: I think we should split two and two

DMJeem: "me, too,"

Selevar: I don't particularly mind being either place

Selevar: just tell me where you need me, and I'll go

DMJeem: Teeb is trying to hitch the remaining horse to the wagon.

RedBeardGuyMike: I'll stick with the barge

Selevar: though if I go to the barge, I may punch Parm in his head

RedBeardGuyMike: I want to make them feel uncomfortable

DMJeem: Penelope is loading equipment back into the wagon.

DMJeem: She hands her father a battleaxe.

DMJeem: Jev is inspecting the wagon for damage.

DMJeem: Teeb puts the axe on the seat next to him.

DMJeem: The payload is avocados and hay, it looks like.

DMJeem: Jev can tell it's not in the best shape now, but without skills in wagonneering or something, she can't judge how long it will hold up.

DMJeem: Teeb says, "Are we ready?"

DMJeem: Is Tholos giong with Lucius or with Jev and Selevar?

Selevar: looks like Bill is gone again

DMJeem: Okay, Teeb's wagon begins to roll.

Selevar: Jev and Tholos can go with the wagon, I'll go back to the barge

Selevar: with Lucius

DMJeem: Lucius, are you and Selevar going back through the woods?

RedBeardGuyMike: yes

RedBeardGuyMike: straight to the barge

DMJeem: Within moments, you come out of the light woods and see the barges on the shore ahead. The merchants are kneeling down to ground level, surrounded by their assistants.

DMJeem: Assistants are providing light. The gang seems excited about something.

Selevar: hm

DMJeem: The holler of joy.

RedBeardGuyMike: epidomonous, let's go.

DMJeem: "Snake eyes!" one yells.

DMJeem: Actions?

RedBeardGuyMike: epidomongus, let's go.

Selevar: "Get up everyone, we're moving..."

RedBeardGuyMike: ignore them.

RedBeardGuyMike: only the front barge matters.

DMJeem: The slave turns around and sees you two approaching.

DMJeem: He nudges his master.

DMJeem: "Just a minute, I'm on a roll!"

TholosB has entered the room.

Selevar: <to Lucius>Be nice to Epid and Akirim, they helped earlier

RedBeardGuyMike: I will.

DMJeem: Tholos, you are staying with Teeb.

Selevar: the rest of them can rot

RedBeardGuyMike: very well, we're going.

RedBeardGuyMike: see yo later

TholosB: ok

RedBeardGuyMike: come on, selevar.

DMJeem: Epidomongus moves towards the mule.

RedBeardGuyMike: let's move.

Selevar: walking, walking, walking

DMJeem: Epidomongus is at the mule, awaiting his master in silence. The others are still playing craps and paying no attention whatsoever.

DMJeem: Dusk, by the way.

DMJeem: Humans now have a -1 to Search and Spot.

RedBeardGuyMike: hang on, I'll be right back. come on, selevar.

DMJeem: without light.

RedBeardGuyMike: let's go to the woods, and I'll cast obscuring mist.

DMJeem: More cries of exuberance.

Selevar: Following Lucius

RedBeardGuyMike: I'll do it quietly.

DMJeem: the slave stands still.

DMJeem: Gotcha.

DMJeem: You're in the woods, and casting as quietly as possible.

DMJeem: the "whoop" at the end can still be done under your breath, it seems.

DMJeem: *Poof*

DMJeem: Where are you targeting, Lucius?

RedBeardGuyMike: the barges.

RedBeardGuyMike: toward the front.

DMJeem: got it.

DMJeem: cloud centers on caster, so I assume you're near the first barge?

RedBeardGuyMike: as close as I can be.

DMJeem: Where on you on the map? I'll re-send the map.

RedBeardGuyMike: I guess I'm at the edge of the woods closest to the barges.

RedBeardGuyMike: to the front barge.

RedBeardGuyMike: it can't be helped, but that's all I've got stored today

DMJeem: Did you get the map?

RedBeardGuyMike: no

RedBeardGuyMike: just wing it.

DMJeem: I sent it two minutes ago.

DMJeem: Anybody else get it?

Selevar: yep, I just forwarded to Mike

DMJeem: Selevar, where are you on the map?

Selevar: wherever Lucius is?

Selevar: Where is the front barge?

DMJeem: Epidomongus is around E13

Selevar: we're near that, yes?

DMJeem: Which is near the first raft.

RedBeardGuyMike: h14

RedBeardGuyMike: the tree

RedBeardGuyMike: away from the merchants by a touch

DMJeem: raft is say C13

DMJeem: The fog starts to billow forth from Lucius' body.

DMJeem: And up from the ground.

DMJeem: And out of the trees nearby.

DMJeem: Within seconds, you can see only white.

RedBeardGuyMike: like I'm rather gaseous

RedBeardGuyMike: good

RedBeardGuyMike: okay, we walk over to the edge of the river.

RedBeardGuyMike: by epi.

RedBeardGuyMike: slowly.

RedBeardGuyMike: selevar, you'd better lead. you've got better ears than I

DMJeem: The fog will form a 60' diameter circle in the first round.

RedBeardGuyMike: good

RedBeardGuyMike: that'll end the game real fast

DMJeem: Where exactly is Selevar?

RedBeardGuyMike: hopefully by me

DMJeem: You said the same square as Lucius?

Selevar: yes

Selevar: 'k, I'll lead us back to Epid

DMJeem: Okay, so you two are moving. Gimme new coordinates.

Selevar: (that's where you wanted to go, right?)

RedBeardGuyMike: yeah. wherever epid is.

RedBeardGuyMike: he's not on the map

Selevar: e13

DMJeem: E13, new map hasn't been sent yet.

DMJeem: Selevar, you find the slave and his mule, still standing there despite the heavy fog.

DMJeem: Lucius, you're impressed with how thick this fog has come up. Apparently the natural fog has strengthened the spell.

RedBeardGuyMike: good.

RedBeardGuyMike: I was hoping so.

DMJeem: Lucius, moments later you're with Selevar, right?

RedBeardGuyMike: yes

RedBeardGuyMike: I'll say it a bit louder now.

DMJeem: Say what?

RedBeardGuyMike: "let's go, Epidonomongus"

RedBeardGuyMike: I wink at Epi.

RedBeardGuyMike: since parm can't see a damn thing.

DMJeem: He pats the animal and then walks over to the raft and pushes it with the pole.

DMJeem: You can barely see him. Just a black shadow against the pale background.

DMJeem: The animal walks without a guide and he poles along.

DMJeem: "What the?" someone deep within the fog bank yells.

Selevar: if the mule needs a guide, I'll walk with it

DMJeem: The mule lets you take a reign.

DMJeem: "Where did the fog come from?" someone with a heavy Egyptian accent asks.

DMJeem: "It's voodoo!"

DMJeem: "Where are those fucking soldiers of yours!"

RedBeardGuyMike: heh

DMJeem: "By the gods, the fog got Epidomongus and the raft!"

DMJeem: you hear running.

DMJeem: "Epidomongus, buddy, you in there?"

DMJeem: "Those soldiers of yours abandoned us, Parm!"

DMJeem: "You're a lousy cheat!"

DMJeem: "Epidomongus? Epidomongus?"

DMJeem: "Parm, don't you go into the fog too!"

DMJeem: "Epidomongus?"

DMJeem: Lucius, this spell seems to have seeded the whole countryside. The fog keeps forming and forming.

RedBeardGuyMike: Let's keep moving, Epidomongus.

RedBeardGuyMike: If parmenion wants to play his dice, he can play his dice.

DMJeem: You see Epidomongus' silhouette continue to pole through the water.

DMJeem: You see a fat silhouette behind you.

DMJeem: "Epidomongus, you up there?"

DMJeem: "Master, we must move. The fog has bad juju."

DMJeem: "You ARE there!"

RedBeardGuyMike: ::louder:: we're going and we're not waiting for you to figure out that the fog isn't natural and that we have to move on.

DMJeem: "But where?"

Selevar: move yourself, or get left behind!

RedBeardGuyMike: If you want to wait around with the fog, that's up to you.

DMJeem: "Is that the cleric with you?"

DMJeem: "And who is that? The elf too?"

RedBeardGuyMike: I am here, and I'm moving away from the fog.

Selevar: good bye

RedBeardGuyMike: that's your choice if you want to stay

DMJeem: "Yes master. They tried to tell you you are in danger. We must continue."

DMJeem: "I'll catch up!"

DMJeem: Parm comes into view next to the mule.

RedBeardGuyMike: ::whispers in elvish to Selevar:: This is better than I expected.

DMJeem: "Where are the others?" he asks Selevar.

Selevar: they've gone up ahead to see how far the fog extends

DMJeem: "What's better than you expected?"

DMJeem: asks Parm.

DMJeem: in Elvish.

RedBeardGuyMike: that we're making good time away from the fog.

DMJeem: I thought you said this is evil fog.

DMJeem: Oh, let me get on the raft and Epidomongus can guide the mule.

RedBeardGuyMike: I expected to have to drag you away from your dice, but it seems that once you discovered why we wanted you to move, you did

DMJeem: So it is evil fog?

DMJeem: Yes, master.

RedBeardGuyMike: next time, parmenion, listen to us. it might just save your life.

DMJeem: Parm says nothing about this. he gets on the raft and Epidomongus joins Selevar at the mule.

Selevar: I'll hand the tether back to him

DMJeem: meanwhile, back at Teeb...

DMJeem: The horse and wagon are rolling. One wheel is a little cockeyed.

DMJeem: Penelope is riding in back on the haystacks.

DMJeem: "That's a strange fog," she comments.

DMJeem: Jev is walking up front, along side where Teeb is sitting.

TholosB: Fog?

DMJeem: She points through the trees. "There. Seems to have a solid edge."

TholosB: Tholos will walk behind the wagon.

DMJeem: "Can you see it?"

DMJeem: she points towards the river.

TholosB: Tholos looks towards the river.

DMJeem: Yes, a mushroom cap of fog is rising out of the woods. Like she said, the edge is well defined.

DMJeem: But it seems to be breakup up now.

DMJeem: "What would do that?" she asks.

TholosB: "I don't know. Some strange river effect maybe."

DMJeem: She smiles.

DMJeem: Again you see it, Tholos. Just the briefest hint of a flirtation.

DMJeem: She's wikkid beautiful for a peasant.

TholosB: I better watch myself.

DMJeem: kinda like Betty the scullery maid.

DMJeem: same kind of beauty, not that they're twins.

TholosB: Mmmm, Betty!

DMJeem: folksy beauty, not a courtesan.

TholosB: Tholos will drop back behind the wagon a little further.

DMJeem: She rides in silence as the fog cloud recedes in the distance.

DMJeem: Tholos will soon need light.

DMJeem: Jev comments about the fog, "I hope everything's okay at the river. I don't hear anything unusual."

TholosB: "How far out from Citrus are we?" he calls out.

DMJeem: Teeb says, "should be there by black sky."

DMJeem: Teeb then asks, "So who are you escorting on the river?"

DMJeem: Jev replies,"Well, we were hired by a friend of ours in Corsica to protect a merchant and his shipment."

DMJeem: "But that merchant seems to think that we're his personal warriors, for him to control and hire out to others as he pleases"

DMJeem: "Without our consent, and without any profit for us."

DMJeem: Teeb says, "Well, that's just not right."

DMJeem: "Exactly," Jev says, "That's why our cleric friend was so upset with him."

DMJeem: "Plus, he's not exactly a nice guy, we've come to find out."

DMJeem: Teeb just nods.

DMJeem: He reaches over and digs out a lantern.

DMJeem: Jev offers her flint and steel.

DMJeem: "Dang it! Oil spilled." Teeb cries.

DMJeem: He reaches around and grabs some straw to wipe off the oil, still driving with one hand.

DMJeem: After a few minutes, he gets it clean and, while still steering with one hand, manipulates the flint and steel and lights the lantern.

DMJeem: Apparently, he's done this before.

DMJeem: "Impressive," Jev says.

DMJeem: "it is?"

DMJeem: "To do that one-handed? I can barely drive a wagon with two hands, much less so something else at the same time.'

DMJeem: "Well, it's pulling a little to the left now that I only have one horse."

DMJeem: "i wonder what got into the old owl-bear anyway?" he says.

DMJeem: "You said he's usually easier to please? Less of a threat or something?"

DMJeem: "usually backs down after getting food," Teeb confirms. "More like a normal bear."

DMJeem: "Today, Brabble was in full form."

DMJeem: "Too bad for you," Jev says.

DMJeem: "Shame we had to kill her," Teeb says.

DMJeem: "A shame?" Jev asks.

DMJeem: "gives the place personality," teeb says.

DMJeem: "So, Brabble wasn't the 'curse' that's been scaring the merchants away from the river up this way?" Jev asks.

DMJeem: "Unless the curse has been around for ten years? no." Teeb says.

DMJeem: "So when did the so-called curse become news?" jev asks.

DMJeem: Teeb strokes his chin. "got real bad about three months ago."

DMJeem: "You said something got Farmer Almundo. Was that part of 'the curse', you think?" Jev asks.

DMJeem: "Just one of the weird things that's happened lately."

DMJeem: "do you think it's one cause, or many things that just seem to be happening together, so it seems like one cause?" Jev ponders.

DMJeem: "I ain't no detective, but Dallax is."

DMJeem: "Guess it's good to have a detective as constable." Jev says.

DMJeem: "You're from around these parts," he says.

DMJeem: "West of town, wine country," Jev says.

DMJeem: He nods.

DMJeem: "My elven grandfather settled here after the Barbarian wars," about 800 years ago."

DMJeem: "My human mother died about a year ago. She was almost 66, which I guess for humans is pretty old." Jev says.

DMJeem: "My wife died of an illin' some years ago."

DMJeem: "What brings you to the sword? Wine is pretty good money."

DMJeem: "I've got three brothers and a sister in the wine business, so I wasn't 'required' to stick around," Jev says.

DMJeem: "My mom always said I'd move on to something else. I stayed at home until after she died, but then I moved on, like she said."

DMJeem: "I still see my sister pretty often, at least until this curse."

DMJeem: "So what do your brothers do?" he asks.

DMJeem: "they run the farm, make the wine, bottle the wine," Jev says.

DMJeem: "And your father sells it?" he asks.

DMJeem: "My sister is his apprentice, so to speak. He's the salesman for the, uh, more traditional wine connoisseurs. My sister takes care of the trendier, even 'sleazier' clientele in the cities."

DMJeem: "How about you?" Jev asks him.

DMJeem: He points out that there's a fog ahead, up at the T in the road.

DMJeem: "What about me?" he asks.

DMJeem: "do you grow these avocadoes on your farm?" she asks.

DMJeem: "Oh, yeah, yeah," he says.

DMJeem: "Sell them in town. Mostly barter."

DMJeem: "unfortunately, most are gonna have to go for a new horse, it looks like."

DMJeem: he says.

DMJeem: "We make them into a paste we call 'guacamole'. It keeps longer that way, and we can get it to the city."

DMJeem: "But lately, there haven't been any runs to the city, so I guess I'll have to sell them all in Citrus."

DMJeem: You're approaching that T in the road.

DMJeem: "the fog must have followed the river, which is just past this T up here,"

DMJeem: Teeb says.

DMJeem: Tholos, you see it too.

TholosB: k

DMJeem: Within a minute, the road intersects with a crossroad.

DMJeem: Beyond, you can see a river with trees on each shoal.

DMJeem: "This here is the road your merchant friends would be on." He stops the wagon.

DMJeem: To the left, we go into Citrus a mile or so ahead.

DMJeem: "I can't see any barges, though."

DMJeem: Everyone make a Spot check. Both parties.

Selevar: 1

Selevar: sorry, 2

RedBeardGuyMike: 14

DMJeem: And also a Listen check.

Selevar: sheesh.... 3

RedBeardGuyMike: 12+3=15

DMJeem: Jev: 17

Selevar: I need new dice

DMJeem: That was for Spot.

DMJeem: Listen: 4

DMJeem: tholos?

TholosB: 23 spot

TholosB: listen 13

DMJeem: Okay, duly noted.

RedBeardGuyMike: selevar, I think they're up ahead.

RedBeardGuyMike: go on ahead and confer with them.

RedBeardGuyMike: I was hearing squeaks.

TholosB: Jev. I see light on the road to the right. It could be the barges.

RedBeardGuyMike: like wheels

Selevar: 'k, I'll walk ahead

DMJeem: The fog still hangs over the river. Way ahead, you see a tiny flame, like a torch or lantern.

DMJeem: Tholos, you see a black figure coming out of the fog.

DMJeem: to the right.

Selevar: walking, walking, walking

DMJeem: It's a wagon, for sure.

TholosB: "Who's there?" I call out

Selevar: I'll hurry my step. "Selevar"

DMJeem: Within moments, the raft and wagon unite.

Selevar: 'k, I was kind of hoping to talk to them first....

TholosB: "Glad to see you guys again."

DMJeem: Teeb goes, "I though you said there were a bunch of barges."

RedBeardGuyMike: let's keep moving. this fog doesn't feel right.

DMJeem: "Fog goes all along the river, it looks like," says Teeb. "I've seen this before."

RedBeardGuyMike: I guess they got scared.

RedBeardGuyMike: it came on real fast, and we told them to move, and they didn't.

DMJeem: "Hi, I'm Parmenion!" He steps off the raft and reaches for Teeb's hand.

DMJeem: Teeb shakes the merchant's hand. "Teeb."

TholosB: "Hmm. I see at least one made it through. With all his money too I'm sure."

RedBeardGuyMike: no doubt.

DMJeem: Jev asks Selevar what happened to the others.

Selevar: dunno, probably still playing dice

DMJeem: Teeb turns his wagon and faces it to the left direction.

DMJeem: "Town is this away a mile or so."

Selevar: this foul fog arose, and we decided we needed to get moving

RedBeardGuyMike: yes, let's go.

RedBeardGuyMike: we'll catch up on things later, once we're in citrus.

DMJeem: She says to Selevar, "I guess if they wanted 'protection' they would have come along."

Selevar: well, Parm needed convincing

TholosB: "Teeb says the towns about another mile. See you there."

DMJeem: She says to Teeb, "Do you think your wagon will make it?"

DMJeem: "I have my doubts," he answers.

DMJeem: Teeb starts rolling.

DMJeem: As the sky turns black, you can see in the distance the yellow light of fires.

DMJeem: Glowing behind trees ahead.

DMJeem: "Citrus," Teeb says.

DMJeem: Spot check, Tholos and Jevicca.

DMJeem: Jev: 16

TholosB: 13

DMJeem: Jev pulls out her sword and calls out, "did you see that?"

Selevar: see what?

DMJeem: "Something in the woods

DMJeem: Selevar and Lucius are about 100' behind the wagon.

TholosB: Pulls out his warhammer and a javelin

DMJeem: Make a listen check to see if you heard Jev.

Selevar: 14

DMJeem: No. how about Lucius?

DMJeem: Lucius? listen check

DMJeem: Looooo-shuuuuuus

RedBeardGuyMike: got paged

RedBeardGuyMike: sorry

RedBeardGuyMike: 17+3=20

RedBeardGuyMike: ::@#$@#$ idiots who page me for things they should already know::

DMJeem: Lucius, you hear Jevicca says "did you see that" and "something in the woods"

RedBeardGuyMike: on your guard.

DMJeem: Jev looks at Teeb for his reaction.

RedBeardGuyMike: there's something up there.

TholosB: "Which way, Jev?"

RedBeardGuyMike: selevar, be ready.

DMJeem: teeb has not reacted.

Selevar: 'k

DMJeem: Up ahead and to the left,

Selevar: I'll draw my sword

DMJeem: then at once,

DMJeem: up onto the road bounds a four-legged animal.

DMJeem: It catches the light.

DMJeem: It appears to be a pack animal, with a humanoid figure next to it.

DMJeem: they come up right next to Teeb, who has not reacted yet.

DMJeem: Teeb is flatfooted.

DMJeem: For those who heard this -- Lucius, Tholos and Jevicca -- roll initiative.

TholosB: 6

RedBeardGuyMike: 12

DMJeem: 14

DMJeem: They: 7

DMJeem: Recall that Lucius and Selevar are near the raft, 100' behind the wagon.

DMJeem: The humanoid creature and four-legged creature bound up onto the road, 10' from the wagon on its left, the same side as Jevicca.

DMJeem: jev has first action.

DMJeem: 14 to Spot. I want to get a better look at whatever it is

DMJeem: Grimy, dirtball of a human. Pack animal laden with furs and packs. Man has a whip in his hand.

DMJeem: Has a grizzly beard down to his chest. Ratty clothes.

DMJeem: "Who goes there?"

DMJeem: "Get outta my way, roadhog!" yells the dirtball.

DMJeem: "Dis-'ere's MY road!"

DMJeem: "Who are you?" Jev demands.

DMJeem: He comes back, "Shut's your cake-hole, missy. Outta my way."

DMJeem: He tries to push you off the road with his mule or horse or whatever it is.

DMJeem: He tries to get closer to Teeb.

DMJeem: "do you know this guy?" she asks Teeb, as she brandishes her sword in front of the guy.

DMJeem: Teeb's still flat-footed and doesn't answer.

DMJeem: Lucius is next.

RedBeardGuyMike: methinks I'm going to use calm emotions on him.

DMJeem: You hear a commotion up ahead.

RedBeardGuyMike: I'm going to use calm emotions on the humanoid figure up ahead.

DMJeem: DM is reading...

RedBeardGuyMike: will save negates

RedBeardGuyMike: was planning on using it on the merchants, but this'll do

DMJeem: okay, go for it

DMJeem: You feel the power of Zeus within you. Let's hear some spellcasting!

RedBeardGuyMike: peace......calm.....

DMJeem: Jev, make a saving throw (will).

RedBeardGuyMike: brb, another page.

DMJeem: 7

DMJeem: Jev, although you weren't especially uncalm, now you feel a wave of peace and soothing.

DMJeem: The screaming guy stops in mid-rant and shrugs off whatever he was about to say.

DMJeem: On his action, instead of ramming you with his animal, he just stays put and doesn't rant.

DMJeem: Jev picks a flower and tucks it behind the man's ear.

DMJeem: Tholos, your action.

TholosB: I'll move up next to Jev.

DMJeem: Okay, you see the man clearly.

DMJeem: Oh, that's Rabulus. He's a huntsman and asshole.

TholosB: I know him?

DMJeem: Unfortunately.

DMJeem: Hates people.

DMJeem: He has a coyote named "Ugly" He likes to push people around.

TholosB: "What is your business here Rabulus? And mind your manners for once."

DMJeem: "Tholos, dat you?"

TholosB: "Ya, its me."

DMJeem: He gestures, still calmly, "After you", clearing the road for Teeb to pass.

TholosB: "What are you doing going out on the road this time of night?"

DMJeem: "Game to market, of course."

DMJeem: "Ferrule pigs, beaver mostly. Interested in a roast pig for dinner?"

TholosB: "We'll pass tonight."

DMJeem: By now, Selevar is un-surprised.

DMJeem: Teeb keeps on riding.

DMJeem: Rabulus stays at the side of the road as Lucius and Selevar approach.

TholosB: "Whereabouts have you been?"

DMJeem: Does Tholos stay behind to talk?

TholosB: yes

DMJeem: What about Jev?

DMJeem: "Grasslands north of Allorex Mesa, foothills of the Escalade."

DMJeem: Jev will keep on walking with Teeb. She'll start humming.

TholosB: "You seem to have done well."

TholosB: "Seen anything odd up that way?"

DMJeem: "Lotsa pigs over there, just for the takin'." He turns behind him. "C'mere, Ugly." His coyote comes out of the woods.

DMJeem: "Odd?"

TholosB: "I've heard stories about curses and monsters here abouts."

DMJeem: "Does an army of goblins strike you as odd?"

DMJeem: "'bout ran for my life from goblins. I think that counts as odd."

DMJeem: Oh yes, you all heard that!

TholosB: "Sure would. When did that happen?"

DMJeem: "Thar huntin' the hell out of the woods near Dino. Came in, oh I dunno, two months ago."

DMJeem: "Say, you got any whiskey?"

TholosB: "Nope."

DMJeem: Lucius and Selevar, you have caught up.

TholosB: "Best I have is wine."

RedBeardGuyMike: goblins? did I hear something about goblins?

DMJeem: "What's it to you?!"

RedBeardGuyMike: we've been sent by the Duke to find out what's going on.

DMJeem: "Who the hell'er you?"

TholosB: "Lucius, this is Rabulus. A huntsman I'm familiar with."

DMJeem: "So, yer a city slicker trying to make the woods yer business? Trying to tax me too, I'll bet!"

Selevar: (I'll continue with the barge)

RedBeardGuyMike: Actually, I really don't care about taxes.

DMJeem: "Makes two of us!"

RedBeardGuyMike: I guess you'd say that I'd be more concerned about your religious obligations.

DMJeem: "Then why are you askin about the duke's business? All that city slicker does it tax tax tax."

RedBeardGuyMike: not that I mind if you haven't been around for it.

TholosB: "Actually, he's being oddly nice tonight compared to normal."

RedBeardGuyMike: I had something to do with that.

DMJeem: "What the? Are you saying I'm normally not the nicest man on the plane?"

RedBeardGuyMike: don't look at me.

TholosB: "Ha, why would care if anyone called you nice you old cuss"

DMJeem: "Listen, I won't want no city slicker business. I'm going into town -- and don't you dare follow me!"

RedBeardGuyMike: well, we were going into town. mind if we'd buy you a beer instead?

DMJeem: With that, he seems to no longer want to talk. He goes up to his mule and nudges it along.

TholosB: "Fine, just tell us where you saw these goblins and we'll let you alone."

RedBeardGuyMike: any friend of Tholos is a friend of mine.

DMJeem: "Hate beer!"

RedBeardGuyMike: hard stuff?

RedBeardGuyMike: make your mama cry stuff?

DMJeem: "c'mon Ugly. Seems Tholos has gone city too. Wait, hard stuff?"

DMJeem: He stops.

Selevar: gonna have to go soon...

RedBeardGuyMike: sure, if there's some hard stuff up in the inn, we'll spring for a shot or two

RedBeardGuyMike: me too

DMJeem: "Ain't no hard stuff at the inn. Yer just BSin' me." he continues on.

RedBeardGuyMike: there ain't?

RedBeardGuyMike: no merchants, right?

RedBeardGuyMike: I should have some grain alcohol in my healing kit.

DMJeem: He just keeps walking.

RedBeardGuyMike: that'll do?

DMJeem: He keeps walking.

RedBeardGuyMike: oh well. looks like it's back to just us.

RedBeardGuyMike: I suppose I could create some food and drink in the morning.

TholosB: "Ahh...I bet it was just a story anyway."

RedBeardGuyMike: well tell you what, tholos.

RedBeardGuyMike: if you want me to, I'll see if create food and drink will scare up some whisky

RedBeardGuyMike: but it'll have to wait until morning.

TholosB: "Okay, but lets get into town."

DMJeem: meanwhile, Jev and Selevar are near to each other again.

DMJeem: The calmness has dissipated from Jev.

DMJeem: Funny, I don't remember tying ribbons on my sword. Just kidding.

DMJeem: "Okay, that was weird. Suddenly, that guy wasn't obnoxious anymore, and I felt like a little kid."

Selevar: eh, Lucius was trying to calm down the situation a little

DMJeem: "did you feel anything, Selevar, or was it just him and me?" Jev asks.

TholosB: "Well that complicates things. Now we have a goblin army running around if we can believe Rabulus."

Selevar: I think it was just the two of them

RedBeardGuyMike: oh, that was me.

DMJeem: "Creepy. I'll have to remember that Lucius maybe can't always just pick one target."

RedBeardGuyMike: I'd saved a little something in case the merchants got ugly.

RedBeardGuyMike: but it came in handy now.

RedBeardGuyMike: sorry it isn't very specific, but there wasn't much time it seemed.

RedBeardGuyMike: good thing you knew him, tholos.

TholosB: "Good work. At least I got a little info from him before he turned nasty again."

DMJeem: "Glad it wasn't a fireball spell or something," Jev laughs.

RedBeardGuyMike: no, only sorcerers or wizards can do that

RedBeardGuyMike: or gods, I suppose.

DMJeem: "Can they really?" Jev asks.

RedBeardGuyMike: probably. they _are_ gods, you know.

RedBeardGuyMike: okay, let's stop now.

RedBeardGuyMike: I've got 1/2 hr before I have to work again.

Selevar: agreed, I've gotta get moving

DMJeem: "I meant sorcerers or wizards. I don't even know if they really exist or they're just legend." jev says.

RedBeardGuyMike: they exist. I've an ancestor who was a wizard.

RedBeardGuyMike: of course, he's not spoken about much.

RedBeardGuyMike: because of the, you know, ban on wizardry

DMJeem: Okay. Let's end here for the day.

RedBeardGuyMike: k

Selevar: 'k, catch you all later