The Nightstar Zoo

[21:21] <DarkDM> Our campers get up bright and early the following day, fully packed and rearing to go. They depart immediately as dawn breaks, intending to eat breakfast along the way. As the leave however, a few of them are stopped by the dean. He gestures at everyone but Gerrod, Myriam, and Vargas. "The rest of you may go." He turns to the three "You...Honeycombers...come with me."
[21:21] * Myriam blinks in surprise, gulps and follows... "What do you want with us, sir?"
[21:22] * Gerrod swallows hard and tries to croak out a reply, but simply follows quietly instead.
[21:22] * Vargas tips his hat to the dean and follows.
[21:22] <DarkDM> "I have been told you have received a strange object, and I have arranged for a session with the Learning Crystal."
[21:22] <DarkDM> He shakes his head.
[21:23] <DarkDM> "Why you would allow Archibald to name your little group I will never know. He always uses food items."
[21:23] * Gerrod glances at the other two and mouths "Honeycombers?"
[21:23] * Myriam raises an eyebrow, and raises her shoulders.
[21:24] <Vargas> "Thank you sir."
[21:24] * Weaver hangs tightly onto Frankie, trailing behind the other campers wondering if her friends are in trouble again...
[21:25] <DarkDM> Notably Ianster is following the party, as the dean doesn't seem to mind.
[21:26] * Gerrod checks the straps on his armor as he follows.
[21:27] <DarkDM> The dean leads the party to a pair of imposing doors that are normally unlocked. He touches them and the swing in, revealing the reason the door is never locked.
[21:27] <DarkDM> Beyond is a maze of twisty passages, all alike.
[21:27] * Gerrod gawks.
[21:27] * Myriam stares. "Oooookaaaayyy."
[21:28] <DarkDM> In fact, the other bit of public knowledge other than that the door is never locked is that the maze constantly shifts.
[21:28] <Gerrod> "That's what the doors hid? A ra, uh, maze?"
[21:28] <DarkDM> In fact, it almost appears one of the walls are moving.
[21:28] * Weaver follows Ian
[21:28] * Gerrod eyes the moving wall.
[21:28] <DarkDM> The dean leads the party unearringly through the maze, although once or twice he suddenly stops and turns completely around, doing down a passage that hadn't been there before.
[21:29] * Myriam ponders if this is the part where the dean shoves us in and they never get to see the light of day again...
[21:29] <DarkDM> Ian whistles. "Sure is a confusing maze, sir."
[21:29] * Myriam doesn't contradict him, and simply follows.
[21:29] * Weaver nods
[21:29] * Gerrod stays hot on the dean's heels as he follows.
[21:29] <DarkDM> The dean frowns, seemingly to himself. "It's slower and...easier than normal."
[21:29] <Vargas> "Thoroughly interesting."
[21:30] <Gerrod> "That's good news, I hope. Uh, sir."
[21:30] * Vargas glances about as he procedes through the maze, following the Dean.
[21:32] <DarkDM> The dean turns the corner and the center of the chamber is revealed. An open space with a vaulted ceiling three stories high, the Crystal itself is rather small, and pinkish, a smooth four sided obelisk upon what appears to be a metal altar.
[21:32] * Gerrod glances at every wall he passes.
[21:33] * Weaver whistles appreciateively
[21:33] <DarkDM> From this position, the walls seem to be almost constantly moving, and it would appear to have sped up.
[21:33] * Myriam blinks, and eyes the crystal. "This... is it?"
[21:33] <DarkDM> "Indeed."
[21:33] <DarkDM> The crystal pulses in tune with the sounds faintly at the sounds.
[21:33] * Gerrod gawks again.
[21:34] <DarkDM> *The crystal pulses faintly in tune with the sounds.
[21:34] <DarkDM> The dean leans over and quietly whispers something apparently complex, to go by the pulsing.
[21:35] * Myriam looks at him, and tries to make out what he's doing...
[21:35] <Gerrod> "It's... smaller than I thought. Shall we head back? Preferably somewhere safe?"
[21:35] <DarkDM> After a while, the crystal speaks, pulsing brightly with its words. "Present the item to me."
[21:35] <Vargas> "Myriam."
[21:35] <Weaver> "Fascinating"
[21:35] <DarkDM> It is a soothing, almost musical male voice.
[21:35] * Gerrod raises his hands to indicate he doesn't have it and steps back.
[21:36] * Myriam blinks, looks at Vargas and Gerrod, and slowly pulls out the wardstone out of her pocket. "..This?"
[21:37] <Vargas> "Yes, now present the stone to the kind errr-stone over there."
[21:38] * Vargas cocks his head, not quite sure how to address the crystal.
[21:38] * Gerrod whispers to Vargas, "Doesn't this concern you much?"
[21:38] * Vargas hisses back, "This is SUPPOSED to be a huge honor."
[21:38] * Vargas takes his hat off while he's at it.
[21:39] * Myriam steps forward, showing the stone to the crystal, holding it up toward it...
[21:39] * Gerrod sighs and maintains a healthy distance from the crystal.
[21:40] <DarkDM> A different voice speaks again, almost a monotone. "Cannot process command." A pulse of light stabs from the crystal to the wardstone. "Code recognize. Sequence is damaged, access denied. Please resequence the key."
[21:41] * Myriam raises an eyebrow...
[21:41] <DarkDM> A second pulse of light stabs at it. "Partial resequence complete. Cannot complete procedure, data missing."
[21:41] * Gerrod discreetly checks the strap on his helmet again.
[21:41] <DarkDM> The dean speaks, sounding slightly strained. "What is going on?"
[21:41] * Myriam looks at teh others, and then the dean. "What's happening?"
[21:42] <DarkDM> "Please rephrase query."
[21:42] * Vargas quietly asks Ian, "Do you know what language it's speaking?"
[21:42] <DarkDM> "Explain the events of the prior five minutes."
[21:42] <DarkDM> "Access denied."
[21:42] <DarkDM> "Damn."
[21:42] <Weaver> "I think it doesn't want to tell us what it knows.."
[21:42] <DarkDM> The dean taps his chin. "Identify that stone." "Access denied."
[21:43] <Gerrod> "Access to what?"
[21:43] <DarkDM> Ian murmurs "I hear it happens a lot when they try to get it to teach us new things..."
[21:43] <DarkDM> "Access denied."
[21:43] <DarkDM> "What sequence can you carry out?" "Access denied."
[21:43] <DarkDM> The dean sighs.
[21:43] <Weaver> "Rerun sequence?"
[21:43] * Vargas blinks, perplexed.
[21:43] * Gerrod whispers to Vargas, "Okay, my abject fear of the crystal is quickly being replaced by confusion."
[21:44] <DarkDM> "You do not know of which you speak."
[21:44] <DarkDM> "Well, at least that is normal." The dean comments to the party.
[21:44] * Myriam blinks in confusion.
[21:44] <DarkDM> "We get that answer a lot." he explains.
[21:44] * Weaver steps a bit closer eyeing the crystal with curiosity
[21:45] <DarkDM> "Watch. What is in the soil that makes crop rotation necessary?" "You are not ready for the answer."
[21:45] <Weaver> "When will we be ready for the answer about crop rotation?"
[21:45] <DarkDM> "I very strongly doubt we have ever heard that different voice before..."
[21:46] * Myriam raises an eyebrow...
[21:46] <Gerrod> "At least it's not telling us we don't have access to whatever it is."
[21:46] <DarkDM> The voice says soothingly "Do not worry. All will become clear in time."
[21:46] * Myriam mutters. "If we wanted that kind of answer, I would have gone to the fortune tellers..."
[21:47] <DarkDM> "I will check our records fo-" The dean blinks at the party. "I do not need to indulge you with a running commentary. Let us go."
[21:47] <DarkDM> He points at the entrance, which remains open dispite the shifting walls, and then proceeds down it.
[21:47] * Vargas follows, putting his hat back on.
[21:47] * Gerrod glances at everyone and gives the crystal a poke.
[21:47] <Myriam> "Gerrod! Don't touch that!"
[21:48] * Gerrod stands straight and glares at Myriam.
[21:48] <DarkDM> Gerrod is blasted away by a burst of light.
[21:48] * Myriam whinces.
[21:48] <DarkDM> Other than being slightly stunned, he is unharmed, though perilously close to the moving walls.
[21:48] <Myriam> "Warned you."
[21:48] * Vargas winces visibly.
[21:48] <Gerrod> "Whu... ow..."
[21:48] <DarkDM> The dean continues to walk, either unaware (not likely) or uncaring (most likely).
[21:48] <Gerrod> "Okay, back to abject fear."
[21:48] * Vargas continues.
[21:49] * TheMouse2 has joined #darkic
[21:49] * Gerrod climbs back to his feet and wobbles after the dean.
[21:49] * Myriam eyes the stone, and pockets it before following.
[21:49] <Myriam> "One thing's for sure: I wouldn't wana get lost in here..."
[21:49] * Vargas mutters, "I should have asked the crystal how the hell Gerrod made it to the same status as us in this academy."
[21:49] * TheMouse2 is now known as Weaver2
[21:49] * Weaver2 says idly to the crystal before she follows the group, "I hope we can speak again sometime Crystal, love to hear what you can tel us..."
[21:50] <DarkDM> The dean leads the party back on an apparently completely random path, seemingly turning on a whim.
[21:50] <DarkDM> The shifts in the walls are noticable slower than when the party entered, a very curious thing.
[21:50] * Weaver has quit IRC (Ping Timeout)
[21:51] <DarkDM> Eventually the dean leads the way out of the maze, and shoos the party away. "Say nothing of what transpired, and keep that 'key' safe."
[21:51] * Myriam eyes the walls. "Is it going easy on us or?"
[21:51] * Weaver2 is now known as Weaver
[21:51] * Myriam blinks, and nods.
[21:51] <Vargas> "Consider it done."
[21:51] <Gerrod> "Maybe it feels bad for striking me with lightning."
[21:51] <Gerrod> "Of course, sir."
[21:52] * Gerrod salutes weakly.
[21:52] <DarkDM> "When encountering an unknown object of unknown danger...do not poke it."
[21:52] * Myriam makes a motion of zippign her lips.
[21:52] <DarkDM> The dean strides off straight through a wall.
[21:52] <Myriam> "Words of wisdom, they say."
[21:52] <Gerrod> "Oh, a lesson I'll take to heart, if nowhere else."
[21:52] <DarkDM> Ian is verily giddy with happiness. "That was amazing!"
[21:53] <Myriam> "Write it on your palm. Mgith help."
[21:53] <Gerrod> "That was painful."
[21:53] * Gerrod glares at Myriam again.
[21:53] <Vargas> "At least he can't blame it on badgers."
[21:53] <DarkDM> "Did any of you manage to memorize the path? I couldn't keep track after the first dozen turns.
[21:53] <DarkDM> "
[21:53] <DarkDM> "Come on, we better catch up with the others!"
[21:54] <DarkDM> Ian strides off.
[21:54] * Vargas suddenly realizes that and dashes off after ian.
[21:54] * Gerrod rubs his hand and follows Vargas.
[21:54] * Myriam giggles a moment, and runs after the others. "Yeah. Last we know Kri and J might be goign through the food."
[21:55] * Myriam looks at Gerrod. "You still have the food the proffesor gave us, right?"
[21:55] * Weaver follows the others
[21:56] <DarkDM> Ian is merely striding quickly, so as to not loose his cool.
[21:56] * Weaver smiles when Ian's not looking
[21:56] * Gerrod nods.
[21:56] <DarkDM> The net bag is a noticable buldge in a canvas sack tied to Gerrod's pack.
[21:56] <Gerrod> "It's not like they're going to fly off on their own."
[21:57] <Myriam> "With Archibald's creations... you never know."
[21:57] <DarkDM> "Goinging camping?" Archibald calls out as he passes by. "No scent on the glaze for animals to find!" He cackles as he pushes a floating tray of what appears to be an apple the size of his head along.
[21:57] * Weaver waves to Archibald as they pass
[21:57] * Myriam eyes the apple and whispers to Vargas. "I was saying?"
[21:58] <Gerrod> "He's a good cook, I'll give him that, but a strange one too."
[21:58] <Vargas> "That's a big apple...."
[21:58] <DarkDM> Moving quickly, the group of people catch up to the others fairly quickly...the tracks of 6 people through still-soft ground is easy to follow once through the gates.
[21:58] <Vargas> "You remember the bounty on those green things right?"
[21:59] <Myriam> "Five hundred gold each, I think."
[21:59] <Vargas> "500 gold a corpse, Archibald says they are the next big thing in culinary arts!"
[21:59] <Gerrod> "Right, strange one."
[22:00] * Weaver hums to herself wondering how far away this darn camp site is..
[22:00] <Myriam> "I don't mind if it's the next best thing in cooking or personal guard dog. With that kind of bounty..."
[22:00] <Vargas> "'course killin' one is the tricky part, what with the various pointy bits and all."
[22:01] <DarkDM> At a leasurly pace, the group of friends proceed due west. As dusk approches, Krisonna looks for a camping spot, and leads the party to a clearing. The same clearing our heroes were at before, in fact...
[22:01] <DarkDM> "Hey, someone's been here before!" Kris points at the remains of a campfire and spit setup.
[22:01] <Gerrod> "That would have been us."
[22:01] <DarkDM> "Oooohhh..."
[22:02] * Gerrod pokes the remains of the campfire with his boot.
[22:02] <DarkDM> She slaps Gerrod on the shoulder affectionately.
[22:02] * Myriam eyes the place. "Eyup. That's our spot alright."
[22:02] <Vargas> "That's where the freaky fuzzy lizard that walks on two feet attacked us."
[22:02] <DarkDM> Your other classmates begin assembling their tents.
[22:02] * Weaver finds a place to sit down
[22:02] * Gerrod grins and begins setting up the campfire.
[22:02] * Weaver lets Frankie have some fun in the bushs while she helps Ian with his tent..
[22:02] * Myriam hands her tent to Vargas. "You can set it up for me, please?"
[22:03] <Vargas> "Technically speaking I can set it up."
[22:04] <DarkDM> It's bright green with garishly pink flowers on it that some people (mostly female) call 'cute', as Maraga and Kris are now doing.
[22:04] * Myriam gives the puppy eyes. "Would you?"
[22:04] * Vargas flips a coin.
[22:04] <Vargas> "Coin likes you."
[22:04] * Vargas gets to it.
[22:04] <Gerrod> "Don't do it, Vargas. Those are the devil's eyes looking at you."
[22:05] <Gerrod> "Tch."
[22:05] * Myriam gives Vargas a quick peck on the cheek. "Thank you!"
[22:07] * Myriam gives Gerrod a pat on the back. "Be carefull what you call devil, Gerrod."
[22:07] <DarkDM> Including Myriam's, there are 5 tents. "Hey, we're short a tent!" Jam exclaims.
[22:08] * Weaver blinks "Howd that happen"
[22:08] * Gerrod smirks at Myriam.
[22:08] <DarkDM> Jan rubs his chin thoughtfully. "I believe we assumed someone would be on watch."
[22:08] <Vargas> "Badger ate it."
[22:08] <Weaver> "Frankie certainly did not!"
[22:09] * Gerrod sits up a little straighter and looks around.
[22:09] <Gerrod> "Badgers?"
[22:09] <Vargas> "Do you honestly believe a badger can eat a tent?"
[22:09] <DarkDM> "There are, however, 6 gentlemen and 5 ladies."
[22:09] <Myriam> "Someone will have to keep watch?"
[22:09] <DarkDM> "Unless a female is on watch, there will be one mixed tent."
[22:09] * Myriam blinks, and looks around... "True..."
[22:09] <DarkDM> Ian sidles up next to Arabeth. "No problem." He winks.
[22:10] * Weaver feigns looking for Frankie to mask any disappointment
[22:10] * Vargas looks up at the sky.
[22:10] <DarkDM> She rolls her eyes and wanders off to regard a chipmunk.
[22:10] <DarkDM> Frankie is lounging by a log.
[22:10] <DarkDM> Looking up at a chipmunk.
[22:10] * Myriam shakes her head with a smirk.
[22:11] * Vargas nods to the sky, "It's going to be a clear and nice night."
[22:11] <Vargas> "I'll sleep under the stars."
[22:11] * Gerrod starts setting up to cook.
[22:12] <DarkDM> Davfire offers "That only works if you don't have watch."
[22:12] <Vargas> "I'll take the graveyard watch."
[22:12] * Myriam ponders...
[22:12] <DarkDM> Maraga snorts. "Come on, wussies, scared of the ants? I'll sleep outside too!"
[22:12] * Myriam giggles
[22:13] * Weaver adjusts her glasses "It is camping I suppose.."
[22:13] <Vargas> "Well gerrod is mortally afraid of badgers."
[22:13] <Myriam> "When ants are over 300 pounds, YES, I'd be scared of them."
[22:13] <DarkDM> "Well, certain types of modified ants have been known to strip deer to their bon-" Jan is interrupted by Arabeth shoving a small cake in this mouth. "Hush!"
[22:13] * Gerrod rubs the back of his neck.
[22:13] <DarkDM> Arabeth has unwrapped a bundle, revealing dozens of small cupcakes, which she offers out.
[22:13] <Gerrod> "Only the evil ones."
[22:13] <Vargas> "Last trip out here he found a small family and wigged."
[22:13] <Vargas> "Ran like the dickens."
[22:13] <Weaver> "Thanks Arabeth"
[22:13] <Gerrod> "I'll keep first watch, but I'm claiming a tent."
[22:14] * Myriam eyes the cupcakes. "Oooooohh. Made them yourself?"
[22:14] <Weaver> "I wont mind taking a shift outside, I like the fresh air.."
[22:14] * Myriam giggles. "It's true."
[22:14] <DarkDM> Kris calls out from the top of a tree, apparently having climbed unnoticed. "I'll sleep up here! If I climb higher, I can see the academy."
[22:14] <Myriam> "They were so cuuuute!"
[22:14] * Gerrod grumbles at the tale.
[22:15] * Myriam eyes Kris, and wonders how the tree is holdign up...
[22:15] <DarkDM> "Be careful, don't fall down now..." Ian wanders over to the tree, looking at Kris.
[22:15] <DarkDM> "You know, if you climb higher I can see right up your s-*boink*ow!" He dodges the next acorn.
[22:15] * Myriam giggles
[22:16] <Myriam> "Might be MUCH safer if you came back over here Ian!"
[22:16] * Vargas glances up the tree.
[22:16] * Gerrod prepares dinner.
[22:17] * Vargas muses to himself, "And Myriam calls the roof crazy..."
[22:17] <DarkDM> Ian wanders next to Myriam, as Jam sqauts next to Gerrod and watches. "Hey, that the food Archibald gave ya?"
[22:17] * Myriam looks at Vargas. "Think we shoudl take tomorow morning to track that beast's footsteps?"
[22:17] <Vargas> "How ya up to some trackin' tomorrow Kris?"
[22:17] * Myriam nods. "Yeah."
[22:17] <Gerrod> "Yeah, don't need much prep work, but warm food's better than cold."
[22:18] <Gerrod> "We're gonna run out fast though."
[22:18] <DarkDM> "Hmm. more fires."
[22:18] * Gerrod glances at everyone.
[22:18] <Vargas> "Wha?"
[22:18] <DarkDM> "Well, we do have crappy traveling rations. For later." Maraga grins.
[22:18] <Vargas> "Fires where?"
[22:18] <DarkDM> "Let's go get some more wood and get a second cooking fire going!"
[22:18] <DarkDM> She drags Jam off.
[22:18] <Vargas> "Oh that, heh."
[22:19] <Gerrod> "Hey, I can cook. Vargas can go hunting for boars again."
[22:19] <DarkDM> "I believe he means there should be more fires. Because...well, it's Big J." Jan offers.
[22:19] <Myriam> "True... Oh so true."
[22:20] <DarkDM> "Weeee!" Kris jumps off the top of the tree, and surprisingly, starts floating towards the ground.
[22:20] <DarkDM> "It works!" She calls out at Arabeth.
[22:20] * Myriam eyes Kris. "Woah... Someone got their hands on a new toy!"
[22:21] <DarkDM> Wearing sensible clothing as per her training, she has no skirt to look up, though she sticks her tongue out at Ian.
[22:21] <DarkDM> "It's my birthday present, actually." Arabeth says, smiling shyly.
[22:22] * Gerrod sighs and concentrates on the cooking.
[22:22] <DarkDM> The plan is to camp for three nights...which was what was intended originally, but was cut short by a giant, half-crazed wounded starving thunderlizard.
[22:23] * Myriam smiles and looks at Arabeth. "Oh really? And you didn't tell me about it?"
[22:23] <Myriam> "Well, it's a good thing you gave it to her to test drive.
[22:23] <Myriam> "
[22:23] <DarkDM> "Oh! I'm sorry, I must have forgotten in all the excitement yesterday!"
[22:24] <DarkDM> "I didn't mean to leave you out...Kris was asking what I was doing with Jan though, and didn't want to give the wrong impression..." She blushes.
[22:24] <DarkDM> "If you'll recall, she dragged me out after lunch to help evaluate her items." Jan offers, looking at Gerrod.
[22:25] <DarkDM> "What curious substance...you can see it changing color, becoming transparent..."
[22:25] * Myriam smirks. "AAAaaaaaaahh. So that's what was going on, huh?"
[22:25] <Gerrod> "Oh, huh, so it wasn't 'evaluate' nudge wink nudge?"
[22:25] <Myriam> "Nothing else happening?"
[22:25] <DarkDM> Jan seems oblivious as Arabeth looks sidelong at Jan while Ian snickers. "Eh?" Jan glances up from the food.
[22:26] <Gerrod> "Eh, did I say something? Must've been your imagination."
[22:26] <DarkDM> Ian whispers something to Davfire, causing him to burst out laughing before stopping with an embarrased expression.
[22:27] <DarkDM> Jan looks somewhat puzzled, then shakes his head and sighs. "You're all very silly today..."
[22:27] * Weaver nods
[22:27] <DarkDM> "As I was sayi-" He's interrupted by Maraga bursting in from the underbrush with a "TADA!"
[22:27] <Weaver> "You know Frankie's pretty good at tracking things maybe he can find one of those lizards"
[22:27] <DarkDM> Big J and her begin setting up a second cooking fire.
[22:27] * Myriam giggles lightly and looks back at Arabeth. "Ok, you're forgiven." She points at her. "But don't keep me in the dark like that, okay?" She gives off a warm smile.
[22:27] * Gerrod eyes the badger.
[22:28] <DarkDM> Jan seems to have totally lost his train of thought.
[22:28] <DarkDM> Arabeth smiles, and nods.
[22:28] * Myriam nods, and hugs Arabeth quickly. "Happy Birthday!"
[22:28] <DarkDM> Frankie appears engaged in a game of 'roll the acorn' with a random chipmunk.
[22:29] <DarkDM> Arabeth has a chipmunk on her lap as she feeds a cupcake to them.
[22:29] * Weaver smirks watching the chipmunk and Frankie
[22:29] <Weaver> "Adorable little things aren't they"
[22:30] * Myriam looks around. "Lots of chipmunks around..."
[22:30] <DarkDM> Jan looks at Arabeth feeding the chipmunk, and takes a seat next to her, looking at it closely.
[22:30] * Gerrod peers at the badger with deep suspicion.
[22:30] <DarkDM> It regards Jan and almost seems to wave as it eats.
[22:30] * Myriam eyes Gerrod, and smirks...
[22:30] * Gerrod finishes cooking and breaks out the serving knife and fork.
[22:30] <DarkDM> Frankie's playmate suddenly jumps on him, and then runs away with the acorn, leading Frankie on a merry chase around the log.
[22:30] <Vargas> "Sweet!"
[22:30] * Weaver laughs
[22:31] * Myriam giggles.
[22:31] <DarkDM> "You know...I believe these are modified chipmunks." Jan tilts his head, regarding Arabeth's lap.
[22:31] * Gerrod grumbles. "Oh, they'll learn the truth as well one day."
[22:31] * Myriam raises an eyebrow. "You think?"
[22:32] <DarkDM> Jan takes a finger and pets the chipmunk, who doesn't complain. "I'm fairly certain in fact..."
[22:32] * Weaver crouchs down watching the chipmunk idly casting speaks with animals, then chitters at it to strike up a conversation.
[22:32] <DarkDM> "Hi!"
[22:32] <Weaver> "Hey there!"
[22:32] <Weaver> "Your an energetic fella aren't ya? You see any big scary lizards around here?"
[22:32] <DarkDM> Chipmunks seem to pop up out of the woodwork now that someone's talked to them.
[22:32] <DarkDM> "Hi!" "Hi!" "Hi!" "Hi!" "Hi!" "Hi!"
[22:32] <DarkDM> "Whoa!" Kris barely avoids sitting on one.
[22:33] * Weaver waves to all of them and greets them
[22:33] * Gerrod raises an eyebrow and looks around the camp.
[22:33] <Gerrod> "That's a whole lotta critters."
[22:33] * Myriam raises an eyebrow at Weaver and shakes her head. "Now she's speakign with rodents. I'll never understand her."
[22:33] <DarkDM> The camp is verily a swarm with the little guys. At least a dozen are scurrying around.
[22:33] * Vargas blinks.
[22:33] <DarkDM> "Lizards?" "Lizards?" "Liz*repeated*
[22:33] <Weaver> "Whoa.. you guys aren't normal chipmunks are you?"
[22:34] * Vargas asides to Gerrod, "Ok this is creepy."
[22:34] * Myriam looks at the rodents. "Woah..."
[22:34] <DarkDM> "Nope!" "Nope!" Nope!"*repeated*
[22:34] <Weaver> "Why are you different?"
[22:34] * Gerrod raises the other eyebrow at the invasion of chipmunks.
[22:34] <DarkDM> Ian looks a bit disgruntled with the chipmunks on his shoulder, but calmly eats his meal.
[22:34] <DarkDM> The initial speaker looks almost thoughtful. "Dunno!"
[22:34] * Myriam whispers to Gerrod. "Think they're associated with... THE badgers?"
[22:34] <DarkDM> He scurries off to chase his friends.
[22:34] <Gerrod> "At least I wasn't making roasted walnuts."
[22:35] * Weaver smiles and continues to chatter with them "well can you guys do me a favor
[22:35] * Gerrod calmly eats his meal as he watches the swarm mill throughout the camp.
[22:36] <Weaver> "Can you pounce...." *motions at Gerrod* "It'll be really fun... trust me"
[22:36] * Gerrod raises an eyebrow at Myriam.
[22:36] <DarkDM> The others eat as well, helping set up two extra birds, for a total of three tonight.
[22:36] <Gerrod> "That's paranoid talk, they don't look anything alike."
[22:36] <DarkDM> The chipmunks scurry about, chittering quietly to themselves.
[22:36] * Myriam shakes her head. "You're the paranoid one, Gerrod..."
[22:37] * Vargas eats standing.
[22:37] * Weaver sighs, "Well nice chatting with you guys feel free to hang around we enjoy the company"
[22:37] <Gerrod> "Beh, you'll learn, one day."
[22:37] * Myriam takes her share of the meal, carefully watching her footsteps, not to step on the little guys.
[22:38] * Weaver looks up to the others, "They say they aren't regular chipmunks"
[22:38] <Weaver> "And they dont know why"
[22:38] * Weaver pets Frankie
[22:38] <Vargas> "They compare themselves to other chipmunks regularly?"
[22:38] * Gerrod quickly finishes off his plate before helping with the rest of the birds.
[22:38] <Weaver> "They seem to know they are different..."
[22:39] <DarkDM> Quiet suddenly, the chipmunks swarm all over Gerrod.
[22:39] * Weaver giggles
[22:39] * Gerrod holds rock still as they swarm.
[22:39] * Weaver claps
[22:39] <DarkDM> Shrill cries of "Weee!" can be heard by those who understand.
[22:39] <DarkDM> A moment later, the break away and play among the tents.
[22:39] * Myriam giggles.
[22:39] <Weaver> "Remind me to leave out somethign good for them... got any more cupcakes they can have?"
[22:40] * Gerrod slowly turns to stare at the chipmunks.
[22:40] <Gerrod> "What was THAT?"
[22:40] * Vargas continues eating.
[22:40] <Weaver> "Oh.... these chipmunks speak badger... I told them you were fun"
[22:40] <DarkDM> Arabeth regards the fairly empty packing. "There's three left, it looks like."
[22:40] <Weaver> "alright if they have them?"
[22:40] <Vargas> "rrrrriiiiiigggghhhht"
[22:40] <Vargas> "I'm going to just lable this all severely weird."
[22:41] <DarkDM> "Sure!" Arabeth pats the one on her lap, who didn't leave with the others.
[22:41] * Myriam looks at Vargas. "Agreed..."
[22:41] <Gerrod> "Cooked three tonight, we can save three for tomorrow."
[22:41] <DarkDM> "You have an admirer." Jan grins at her, having given her some food so she didn't have to dislodge the little guy.
[22:41] * Weaver breaks apart the cupcakes offering them to the various chipmunks with a warm smile, patting them on the back or head
[22:42] <DarkDM> The one on Arabeth's lap joins the others in getting free cake.
[22:42] <DarkDM> "Now she has an admirer." Arabeth giggles.
[22:42] * Weaver gets up and wanders back over to sit with Frankie so he wont get jealous
[22:43] <DarkDM> "You know, if you changed you style you could have a lotta guy admirers too." Kris comments as she goes for seconds.
[22:43] * Vargas glances at Weaver.
[22:43] * Weaver blushs a bit, "I somehow doubt that"
[22:43] * Gerrod keeps the fire alive after finishing cooking.
[22:43] * Myriam looks at weaver, and shakes her head...
[22:43] <DarkDM> Ian looks at Weaver critally.
[22:44] * Weaver gets herself dished up a meal, and shares it with Frankie.
[22:44] * Vargas steps over to Weaver, bends over, and whispers into her ear, "I bet the bards will dig it."
[22:44] <DarkDM> "Hmm...let me see..."
[22:44] * Vargas stands up and wanders away, grinning evilly.
[22:44] <DarkDM> He walks up to Weaver and holds her gently by the temples, then regards her from various angles.
[22:45] * Weaver eyes widen not sure what to do.
[22:45] <DarkDM> He murmurs to himself. "Hmm..."
[22:45] <DarkDM> He takes a step back and looks her up and down. "Not bad at all. What do you think?" He asks Myriam.
[22:46] <DarkDM> "We should get her to see Ms. Shaw. She'll make her look stunning."
[22:46] * Myriam smirks and gives a side look at Ian. "Personally, if me and the girls had a night to do a proper makeover, she'd look marvelous..."
[22:47] * Weaver looks down trying to concentrate on her meal feeling very embarrassed.
[22:47] <Myriam> "Ms. Shaw would be the best there though..."
[22:48] <Vargas> "Course it'd be amusing to see her, Darkeyes style."
[22:48] <DarkDM> Ian pats Weaver on the shoulder, then wanders off. "We'll have to see!"
[22:48] * Vargas laughs.
[22:48] * Gerrod tugs on his helmet, gauntlet, and buckler again before resuming the tending of the campfire.
[22:48] <Vargas> "Not that darkeyes would ever do that sort of thing."
[22:48] * Gerrod looks at Weaver, then at Vargas.
[22:48] <DarkDM> There's a faint pause from the others to assemble a mental image, and a near simultaneous outbreak of giggles.
[22:48] * Myriam smiles and sits down next to Weaver. "That wasn't so bad, was it?"
[22:48] <DarkDM> The chipmunks regard them like they're crazy people.
[22:49] <DarkDM> They then resume dancing atop the tents.
[22:49] <DarkDM> It appears to be polka.
[22:49] * Myriam giggles lightly with the others, but tries to retain her laugh.
[22:49] * Weaver shakes her head softly at Myriam
[22:50] <Vargas> "If I got graveyard watch I'm going out now."
[22:50] * Vargas unrolls his bedroll and gets in.
[22:50] <DarkDM> "I don't think any of us want to dress like /that/." Arabeth smiles. "Not that any of you could really carry it o-ow!" Jan rubs his side where Arabeth elbowed him.
[22:50] <DarkDM> "I meant the whole style! Not the, urm, er..."
[22:51] * Myriam hmmmms a bit. "So when should I ask miss Shaw for a session with you, huh? We coudl give you a GREAT makeover!"
[22:51] * Myriam eyes Jan...
[22:51] * Myriam shakes her head...
[22:51] <DarkDM> "Oh, the 'urm, er' is important you know!" Ian drapes an arm around Myriam and Maraga, and manages to make a dirty look at both simultaneously.
[22:51] * Weaver gives Myriam a nervous look, "Uhh I think I hear Frankie calling me.."
[22:51] * Weaver zooms off into a tent.
[22:51] <DarkDM> Maraga shoves him off into the underbrush.
[22:51] <DarkDM> "Mind your 'um's and 'er's!"
[22:52] * Myriam sighs, and shakes her head...
[22:52] <DarkDM> Frankie appears to be missing, having followed a chipmunk somewhere.
[22:52] * Gerrod glances around.
[22:52] * Gerrod grins at Vargas.
[22:52] <DarkDM> Ian brushes himself off and eyebrows at Weaver's retreat. "Geez, an unintended casulty of a poorly aimed facial expression, hm?"
[22:53] <Gerrod> "Hey, think we should tell?"
[22:53] <Myriam> "She always does this every time I propose it."
[22:53] * Weaver comes out of the tent with a worried expression looking around for Frankie.
[22:53] <Myriam> "I can't even get a brush close to her hair without her running off after her pet."
[22:54] <DarkDM> A chipmunk scurries atop Weavers' head and chitters at her.
[22:54] <Weaver> "Whats up lil fella?"
[22:55] <DarkDM> The duration has unfortunetely has expired.
[22:56] <DarkDM> The chipmunk dances atop Weaver's head.
[22:56] <DarkDM> The group breaks up into various groups as the sun finally completes setting, and then they retires to various locations to sleep.
[22:57] * Weaver looks around for Frankie...
[22:57] * Gerrod stretches and shrugs a blanket around himself as he prepares for the first watch.
[22:57] * Myriam stretches and goes into her tent. "Good night everyone."
[22:57] <DarkDM> Frankie's tail can be seen sticking out from within a hollow log.
[22:57] <DarkDM> He appears to be snacking on some ants.
[22:57] * Weaver shakes her head and smiles up at the chipmunk "Guess its time for bed.."
[22:58] <DarkDM> The chipmunk does a backflip.
[22:58] * Weaver goes to setup her bedroll feeling alot more at ease now.
[22:58] <DarkDM> A chipmunk chitters loudly and suddenly the dozen freeze, all looking north.
[22:58] <DarkDM> Conversation stops as everyone looks at the chipmunks, then north.
[22:58] * Gerrod raises his head a bit.
[22:58] <DarkDM> After a moment, there's another chitter, and the chipmunks resume their play.
[22:58] * Gerrod draws his axe and lays it across his laps.
[22:59] * Myriam mumbles about noisy chipmunks and tries to sleep...
[22:59] <DarkDM> "Strange..." Jan continues to look north as Dav nods.
[22:59] <Gerrod> "That wasn't very comforting."
[22:59] * Weaver pets the chipmunk on her head
[23:00] <DarkDM> From the humming coming from high up on a tree, if would appear that Maraga, at least, will stay awake for a while.
[23:00] * Weaver curls up in her bedroll with a chipmunk still on her head
[23:00] <DarkDM> Night passes...the chipmunk that was on Arabeth's lap is now on Weaver, while the playing chipmunks dwindle down to three or four (hard to tell, really)
[23:01] <DarkDM> Gerrod witnesses Frankie wander off, followed by a train of chipmunks before his watch ends.
[23:02] <Gerrod> "I knew it, your badger's a cult leader, Weaver."
[23:02] * Gerrod rolls over and continues to mumble in his sleep.
[23:04] * Vargas paces about the camp on his watch keeping an ear and eye out for trouble.
[23:05] * Myriam sleeps peacefully, dreaming of sugar, spice and everything nice...
[23:05] <DarkDM> There is a noise from the north, a faint sense of movement, slightly different from the background.
[23:06] <DarkDM> Vargas sees nothing, however, and the chipmunks continue to play, unalarmed.
[23:06] <DarkDM> After a moment, he realizes the left over food is now missing.
[23:06] * Vargas calls out, "Back for seconds then?"
[23:07] <Vargas> "I guess I should thank you for not mauling us the other night."
[23:07] <DarkDM> The chipmunks chitter to themselves, glance at Vargas, and look north. They dash up Maraga's tree, most likely to sleep.
[23:07] * Gerrod sits up and groggily stares at Vargas.
[23:07] * Weaver has uneasy dreams about Ian and strange hair styles..
[23:07] <Gerrod> "Have you no sanctity for sleep?"
[23:08] <Vargas> "Nightstalker came buy agian."
[23:08] * Gerrod shuts the flaps on the tent and rolls back to sleep.
[23:08] * Vargas makes a slight head motion to the food.
[23:08] <DarkDM> Kris, leaning against a tree, looks up sleepily at Vargas momentairly, then goes back to sleep.
[23:08] <Vargas> "Least that's my guess considering how sneakily it came up."
[23:08] <DarkDM> "Shhh..." she says.
[23:08] * Myriam mumbles, grabs her pillow and puts it over her head.
[23:08] <DarkDM> It looks like nobody cares. A chipmunk wanders up and pat's Vargas' shoe sympathetically, then runs off.
[23:09] * Vargas throws a bit of rations at the chipmunk that ran off.
[23:09] <DarkDM> The night passes without further incident.
[23:10] <DarkDM> Dawn breaks, and the sound of a camp cheerfully rousing themselves fills the clearing.
[23:10] * Weaver yawns and rubs her eyes, putting her glasses back on
[23:10] * Gerrod yawns and begins his morning routine of strapping on his armor.
[23:10] * Vargas is up with the sun, doing some practice drills in the grass.
[23:11] * Weaver goes to sit on a log and do her studies for the day
[23:11] <Vargas> "HYAAA!"
[23:11] <DarkDM> Davfire carefully fires a few eggs. "I brought a dozen." He comments, when Arabeth asks.
[23:11] <DarkDM> The chipmunks from last night as mostly absent. There are two sleeping on the napping Frankie, and one within Weaver's clevage.
[23:12] * Myriam stretches lazylly and sets up her morning routine and meditation before coming out of the tent. "Morning everyone."
[23:12] <Weaver> "morning"
[23:12] * Vargas discretely nudges Ian and points out one chipmunk's sleeping spot.
[23:12] <Gerrod> "Yes, yes it is."
[23:12] <DarkDM> Arabeth has changed into a casual summer dress, looking pretty in white. She smiles shyly. "I can't wear this normally because of my hair..."
[23:13] * Gerrod stifles another yawn and stretches.
[23:13] <DarkDM> Ian eyes Weaver and grins, then returns to his morning grooming ritual.
[23:13] * Gerrod hides his morning hair with his helmet.
[23:13] <Weaver> "You look really nice in that Arabeth"
[23:13] <DarkDM> Jan compliments her before returning to his studies.
[23:13] <DarkDM> "Thank you. My auntie got me this." She smiles at Weaver.
[23:13] <Vargas> "I can try to rustle up some grub today."
[23:14] * Myriam smiles at Arabeth. "Looks very nice on you. You don't show it often enough."
[23:14] <Gerrod> "I'll tend to the fire then."
[23:14] <Weaver> "Do you want me to help?"
[23:14] * Gerrod goes to work on the campfire.
[23:15] * Myriam goes fetch her lute and sits on a log. She strums a few notes before starting a mellow song for a good morning.
[23:15] <DarkDM> Arabeth blushes, and glances at Jan, who has now been joined by Dav in reading. Almost everyone has changed to dress more or less casually.
[23:15] <DarkDM> Jam is one exception, checking over his gear like Gerrod.
[23:16] * Weaver isn't wearing her hide armor today, just her brown cloths and soft boots
[23:16] * Vargas is dressed in his utilitarian traveller's outfit, which is brown with leather boots and of course the hat.
[23:16] * Vargas is wearing his leather armor over it though.
[23:16] <DarkDM> Arabeth joins the other casters, reading from a slim book.
[23:17] * Myriam pulls her red hat down a bit over her eyes, focussing on her instrument and changes her tune slightly, addign a bit more energy. "There we go..."
[23:18] * Weaver watchs Frankie and the chipmunks a moment, "I wish I could be lazy like that sometimes"
[23:18] <DarkDM> The chipmunks were up all night entertaining their guests.
[23:18] <DarkDM> They must have been absent previously because of the unwelcome visitor.
[23:19] <DarkDM> Ian is quietly taking care of his flute.
[23:20] <DarkDM> Everyone has a fried egg. Chipmunks can be seen scurrying about the tree tops.
[23:20] * Weaver eats her egg and muses to herself.
[23:20] <DarkDM> "Really full up there!" Maraga says cheerfully, talking to Jamven.
[23:21] * Myriam takes a small break from her music for breakfeast. She looks at Kri with a smirk. "Ready for some tracking today?"
[23:22] * Gerrod finishes his egg and brushes off his hands.
[23:22] * Weaver goes to scavange around for berries and nuts
[23:22] <Gerrod> "Tracking? You're going to try and look for where the lizard came from?"
[23:22] * Vargas eats his eggs idly.
[23:22] <DarkDM> Kris has disappeared sometime between dashing into her tent to change and grabbing an egg. "It's like a little miniCity." Kris comments, coming out of the underbrush to the south. "I found a watersource!" She drops a few waterskins in a tent.
[23:23] <Myriam> "Well, we were hoping to see where that stone we got was coming from."
[23:23] <Myriam> "And there's not much to work on, now is there?"
[23:24] * Gerrod sighs and shrugs.
[23:24] <Gerrod> "I know I'm going to regret this, but eh, sure."
[23:24] <DarkDM> "Sounds neat!"
[23:24] <DarkDM> Kris grins.
[23:25] * Myriam smiles. "Great."
[23:25] * Vargas goes to fill his skin before leaving.
[23:25] <DarkDM> Arabeth appears to have Jan off to the side, having a quiet discussion. Every so often they laugh.
[23:25] <DarkDM> Dav and Ian are gossiping with Maraga and Big J.
[23:26] <DarkDM> While Dav is normally very quiet, being Ian's roommate, Ian goes out of his way to draw him into conversations. He's just that kinda guy...
[23:26] <DarkDM> They're currently talking about Big J's perfect teeth.
[23:27] <Vargas> "Do you normally adorn your cleavage as such?"
[23:28] <DarkDM> Kris emerges from her tent, having strapped on a weapon. Well, two.
[23:28] * Vargas glances at a stowaway in Weaver's cleavage.
[23:28] * Myriam smirks. "Ready for the job?"
[23:28] * Gerrod checks his axe and dagger before grabbing a crossbow from his pack.
[23:28] * Weaver smirks and blushs "well he's kinda warm, and I woke up with him there... dont have the heart to rouse him"
[23:28] <DarkDM> Ian touches Dav's hair, apparently giving fashion advice. Maraga is seen nodding in agreement. Dav appears quite embarrassed at how the conversation has turned.
[23:29] <DarkDM> Kris stretches, and then looks around. "Where do I start?"
[23:29] * Vargas stares blankly at weaver a moment before resorting to a facepalm.
[23:29] * Vargas points to where the beasty came in.
[23:29] <Vargas> "It charged in from that directly, seems like a fair enough bet."
[23:29] * Myriam looks where she 'thinks' the beast was laid down, and points. "There."
[23:29] <DarkDM> Kris looks around there, carefully.
[23:30] <Gerrod> "Sooner we get this done, sooner I get to make lunch and we get to eat."
[23:30] <DarkDM> She wanders off into the forest. "Hmm...yeah, lotta damaged foilage..."
[23:30] * Myriam goes grab her stuff before Kri decides to sprint off or something.
[23:30] * Vargas is brimming with weapons.
[23:30] * Myriam follows her. "Something that big, no surprises."
[23:30] <DarkDM> Her voice becomes fainter as she actually starts following it.
[23:30] * Gerrod trudges behind the tracker.
[23:30] <DarkDM> "Slightly off here...the thing must have been injured..."
[23:31] * Vargas follows Kris, keeping an eye out for food.
[23:31] <Myriam> "It was. Burns, wounds, lots of bad stuff."
[23:31] <DarkDM> "Shame about the rain. It's wierd though, I'm pretty sure there's two animals here. One with clawed feet, one with padded paws. Could be the same animal, but that's now how claws retract...and claws don't look like /that/"
[23:31] <DarkDM> Vargas finds a bananana!
[23:31] * Myriam raises an eyebrow...
[23:32] <Myriam> "We did see somekind of wolf later on..."
[23:32] <Myriam> "It decided to snack on our leftovers instead of us."
[23:32] <Gerrod> "Seemed to enjoy my roast boar."
[23:33] * Weaver settles Frankie in her backpack and follows the group
[23:33] <DarkDM> "It looks like those tracks went back and forth along here..."
[23:33] <Myriam> "A battle?"
[23:33] <DarkDM> "If I was Jarrod, I'd know what was actually going on..."
[23:33] <Myriam> "Hrrmmm.. Do we need to?"
[23:33] <DarkDM> "No, not fights. So probably different timing, or maybe one was stalking the other?"
[23:33] * Gerrod grunts.
[23:34] <Gerrod> "Maybe they were lost."
[23:34] * Gerrod smirks.
[23:34] <Myriam> "Great..."
[23:34] * Vargas hands Myriam a banana.
[23:35] <Myriam> "And your roast led them straigth to us, huh?"
[23:35] * Myriam eyes the banana, then Vargas...
[23:35] <Myriam> "I'm not even gona ask..."
[23:35] <DarkDM> "Hmm...actually, the tracks leading /here/ are fresher than the ones going /there/."
[23:35] <Gerrod> "I'm damn proud of that myself, didn't think creatures of the wild ate cooked meat."
[23:35] * Myriam raises an eyebrow.
[23:35] <Vargas> "They'll eat anything."
[23:35] <DarkDM> "I'm actually following the pawed ones coming towards us, rather than the clawed ones, or the other pawed ones..."
[23:36] <Gerrod> "Well, that puts a bit of a damper on it then."
[23:36] <Myriam> "Other pawed one?"
[23:37] <DarkDM> The chipmunk moves about in Weaver's cleavage, having woken up. It scurries out and disappears into the underbrush. Shortly, it reappears and rides atop Frankie, who's trotting along afterwards.
[23:37] <DarkDM> "It looks like two animals. A clawed, and a pawed."
[23:37] <DarkDM> "Could be the same pawed one..."
[23:37] <Vargas> "Funky."
[23:37] * Weaver smirks and shakes her head
[23:37] * Gerrod eyes the badger.
[23:37] <DarkDM> She points. "The clawed ones coming, and the pawed ones going, were from before the rains."
[23:38] <Vargas> "See, he's not the harbringer of doom."
[23:38] <DarkDM> "The pawed ones coming are fairly fresh."
[23:38] <Vargas> "just the harbringer of furry cute things."
[23:38] * Myriam giggles.
[23:39] <Gerrod> "I keep telling you, I'm not falling for that one again."
[23:39] * Myriam does the puppy eyes. "But they're sooooooo cuuuuuuute!"
[23:40] <DarkDM> The last set of prints are actually so obvious that they're fairly suspisious, though easy to follow. By purely following those Kris makes good time, though she occasionally points out traces of the others in order to show she's paying attention.
[23:40] * Gerrod eyes Myriam.
[23:41] * Weaver shakes her head and keeps an eye out for wild game and berries... or even nuts, even though she knows we have several in our party..
[23:41] * Myriam nods at Kri. "Good, good. We're not lookign for lunch rigth now, but let's follow along..."
[23:41] <Gerrod> "Those eyes are no less devilish today than they were yesterday."
[23:41] <DarkDM> Time passes...
[23:42] * Myriam smiles sweetly at Gerrod. "Whyyyyy... I don't know what you're talking about. What do you ever meeeaaan?""
[23:42] <DarkDM> Kris eyes the sky, then the tracks. "If we don't stop and turn back now, we won't be back before dusk. Looks like the tracks go on for quite a while." She points. "That huge thing we're trying to find the source of, it's broken a lot of underbrush. Combined with whatever's helping us, you guys should be able to do this easily."
[23:42] <Vargas> "Of course those are the same eyes that get you hit upon."
[23:42] <DarkDM> She tilts her head at Weaver and Vargas. "We took the same classes under Jerod, didn't we?"
[23:42] * Myriam sighs. "Right..."
[23:43] * Weaver nods a bit
[23:43] <Weaver> "Im not very good though..."
[23:43] * Weaver blushs hotly
[23:43] <Vargas> "Didn't take the tracking one."
[23:43] * Myriam smirks at Vargas. "I can deal with the hitters. Though there's a few I do like to bait once in a while."
[23:44] <Weaver> "I think we should head back guys.... we dont know what we're following.."
[23:44] <Vargas> "I think we should press on."
[23:44] * Gerrod has quit IRC (Quit: Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabis, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam.)
[23:44] <DarkDM> "Well, you can still follow it." Kris glances down the track. "If I didn't know better, like that creature actually existed, what with the dean showing up and all, I'd think it's a trap."
[23:45] <DarkDM> "I'm heading back though...I came here to relax, not go hunting, hehe."
[23:45] <DarkDM> She gives everyone a hug. "Good luck!"
[23:45] <Vargas> "Have fun."
[23:45] * Myriam looks at Vargas, Gerrod and Weaver. "We know what we're dealing with..."
[23:45] * Myriam smiles and hugs back. "Have fun, okay?"
[23:45] * Weaver holds her hands up innocently, "Like heck I do.."
[23:45] <DarkDM> She cheerfully waves and makes her way back.
[23:45] <Myriam> "If we come back with the catch of the century though, YOU help us carry it, alright?"
[23:45] <DarkDM> Frankie trundles along unaware of the party stopping.
[23:46] <Vargas> "Destiny has her hands on our back and she's pushin'."
[23:46] <Weaver> "frankie get back here"
[23:46] <DarkDM> Frankie appears distracted by the chipmunk atop his head.
[23:46] <Weaver> "Frankie?"
[23:46] <DarkDM> After a while he notices an absense of humans, and looks around, then trundles back towards the party.
[23:46] * Weaver follows after Frankie
[23:46] * Myriam giggles. "We beter go get him then!"
[23:47] * Myriam starts walkign onward.
[23:47] <Weaver> "I guess frankie and the chipmunk want to keep going... so I guess I have to come along.."
[23:47] * Vargas moves into hiding and continues.
[23:47] <DarkDM> Frankie looks up, turns around in circles for a moment, and then continues since Weaver is moving in the same direction.
[23:49] <Myriam> "Soon... Soon..."
[23:50] <DarkDM> Time passes, and the sun sets. It's pretty much a direct beeline west.
[23:50] <DarkDM> The creature was either running madly at something, or away from something.
[23:51] <Myriam> "Whatever it was doing, covering it's tracks was probably the last thign on it's mind."
[23:52] <DarkDM> The party camps when the day is over, using survival skills to good use.
[23:53] <DarkDM> They pitch their tents, set watch, and get to sleep. The night passes peacefully.
[23:54] <Myriam> "Nothing yet..."
[23:54] <Vargas> "Either we'll hit the end of the trail or the wall."
[23:55] <Weaver> "I hope we dont make it to the wall.."
[23:55] <Vargas> "Wall scares you?"
[23:55] * Myriam sighs. "Me too..."
[23:55] <Weaver> "Doesn' it scare you?"
[23:56] * Vargas shrugs.
[23:56] <Vargas> "Justa funky wall."
[23:56] <Myriam> "Well, it would mean we've done al this for nothing..."
[23:56] <Myriam> "And we coem back empty handed."
[23:56] <DarkDM> Dawn breaks, and shortly after breaking camp, an extremely large wolf trots into the camp. Its fur doesn't seem to be colored dark, instead it seems to be made of shadow. Even in the bright sunlight, you must strain to make out its outline. Clamped in rather large jaws is a quarter of a roast chicken or duck, looking mighty small.
[23:56] <DarkDM> He regards the party almost curiously, drops the half-eaten portion of chicken, and then eats it, unconcerned with the puny humans. It appears to be the left overs from the other camp's last dinner. His jaws chew through bone easily.
[23:57] <DarkDM> (Puny chicken!)
[23:57] <Vargas> "Don't suppose you've seen where that big green thing came from eh?"
[23:57] <DarkDM> After a while, it trots past the party, parallel to the trail. It pauses to glance at the party, then vanishes into the underbrush, still moving parallel.
[23:57] <Vargas> "Makes me wish I caught another boar..."
[23:57] * Weaver jaw drops... "What a magnificent creature.."
[23:58] * Myriam eyes the wolf. "Hum... Woah?"
[23:58] <DarkDM> The chipmunk, once again discovered in Weaver's cleavage when morning came, scurries off after him momentairly, then gets on stop of Frankie.
[23:58] <Vargas> "It's a nightstalker, created by a renegade, it is the undisputed master of stealth."
[23:58] <Vargas> "Hmmm..."
[23:59] <Vargas> "Weaver, was that a he or she?'
[23:59] <Vargas> "I didn't get a chance uhhh check."
[23:59] <Weaver> "male..."
[23:59] * Myriam rolls her eyes...
Session Time: Thu Mar 31 00:00:00 2005
[00:00] <Myriam> "Does it matter?
[00:00] <Vargas> "Ok then HE is the undisputed master of stealth then."
[00:00] <Weaver> "Something i'd love to have a conversation with sometime.."
[00:00] <Vargas> "Well it's kinda rude to be callin' him an it if he's intellegent."
[00:00] * Myriam shakes her head. "Shall we go on?"
[00:00] * Vargas waggles a finger.
[00:01] * Weaver nods
[00:01] * Weaver gets her things together studying as she walks
[00:01] <DarkDM> The chipmunk chitters at Weaver, and hops up and down on Frankie, who regards the departure of the wolf with mixed emotion.
[00:01] * Weaver frowns and crouchs down casting speak with animals again
[00:01] <Weaver> "Whats the matter my furry friend?"
[00:02] <DarkDM> "Guardian! Friend! Scary!"
[00:02] <Weaver> "You think the wolf is scary?"
[00:03] * Vargas glances at the conversation, not understanding it.
[00:03] <DarkDM> Frankie appears to be scared of the wolf initially, but with his chipmunk friend's lack of concern, has conflicting emotions.
[00:03] <DarkDM> "No! Scary friend help!"
[00:03] <Weaver> "He's a friendly wolf?"
[00:03] <DarkDM> "Guard home!"
[00:03] <Weaver> "What home does he guard?"
[00:04] * Myriam raises an eyebrow at Weaver, then at Vargas. "Am I the only one who finds this weird?"
[00:04] <DarkDM> The chipmunk hops up and down. "We play and frolic and dance and run and *continues for some time*..."
[00:04] <Weaver> "Does he protect the forest?"
[00:04] <Vargas> "Weaver, can you tell the chipmunk to tell the wolf that we are thankful it didn't maul us the other night."
[00:04] <DarkDM> "No! Some!"
[00:05] * Weaver looks confused
[00:05] <Weaver> "Whats your name anyway lil chipmunk"
[00:05] <DarkDM> Frankie carries the chipmunk slightly further away to dig up a few nightcrawlers.
[00:05] * Weaver follows Frankie and the chipmunk
[00:05] <DarkDM> The chipmunk looks rather confused.
[00:05] * Myriam shakes her head and keeps walkign up the trail a bit...
[00:06] <Weaver> "Alright continue on about the guardian, is the big wolf thing a guardian?"
[00:06] <Weaver> "The big dog?"
[00:06] <DarkDM> "Yup!"
[00:06] <DarkDM> Myriam can follow the trail easily.
[00:06] <Weaver> "What is he a guardian of?"
[00:06] <DarkDM> "Home!"
[00:07] <Weaver> "What home?'
[00:07] <Vargas> "Ask the chipmunk where the big green lizard thingy come from."
[00:07] <DarkDM> The chipmunk hops up and down, easily amused by your silly game.
[00:07] <DarkDM> "Home home!"
[00:07] <Weaver> "Your home?"
[00:07] <DarkDM> The chipmunk nods. "Home!"
[00:07] <Weaver> "Is it safe to follow the guardian?"
[00:07] <Weaver> "Will he hurt us?"
[00:08] <DarkDM> The chipmunk runs in circles atop Frankie, a feat of some dexterity. Your spell tells you it means 'I don't know', or uncertainty.
[00:08] <Weaver> "What about the lizard?"
[00:08] <Vargas> "That's sorta an unspecific question."
[00:09] * Myriam shakes her head...
[00:09] * Weaver smirks at Vargas, "Do you want to chatter with the chipmunk?"
[00:09] <DarkDM> "Big thunder lizard dead!"
[00:09] <Vargas> "That possible?"
[00:09] <Weaver> "Do you know anything about the big scary lizard monster that crashed through this way a few days ago?"
[00:09] <DarkDM> "Yay!"
[00:09] <Weaver> "Thunder lizard?"
[00:09] <DarkDM> He dances.
[00:09] <Weaver> "What attacked it?"
[00:10] <DarkDM> "Thingy run. Boom boom boom!"
[00:10] <DarkDM> "You!"
[00:10] <DarkDM> "Yay!"
[00:10] <Weaver> "It ran through here?"
[00:10] <DarkDM> "Yup!"
[00:10] <Vargas> "Jeeeesh you got an attention span to match the rodents."
[00:10] <Weaver> "Do you know where it came from?"
[00:10] <DarkDM> "No!"
[00:10] <Weaver> "Are there more?"
[00:11] * Weaver looks at Vargas slightly annoyed, "The spell is fleeting."
[00:11] <DarkDM> The chipmunk runs in a circle.
[00:11] <Weaver> "He doesn't know.."
[00:11] <Vargas> "Where'd the first one come from? he know that?"
[00:11] <DarkDM> The spell expires, having been wasted with the chipmunk's long winded explination of what they do, with the dancing and prancing and running and jumping...
[00:11] * Myriam turns back. "Are you guys finished talkign with the rodent?"
[00:11] * Weaver face palms.
[00:11] * Vargas shrugs, digs a nut out of his rations and hands it to the chipmunk.
[00:12] <DarkDM> The chipmunk chitters, seemingly bored, and runs at Myriam.
[00:12] <Weaver> "I got a long explaination about the lifestyle of chipmunks
[00:12] <DarkDM> He perches atop her shoulder.
[00:12] <Weaver> "Apparently the chipmunks think we're sorta heros for killing the thunder lizard"
[00:12] <Weaver> "The dog is apparently a guardian of 'home' wherever home is... and that it protects the chipmunks some how.."
[00:13] * Myriam raises an eyebrow...
[00:13] * Myriam points at Weaver. "Maybe you coudl teach me that little trick one of these days?"
[00:13] <Weaver> "The dog isn't our enemy but he doesn't know if its safe to follow it around..."
[00:13] <Vargas> "Be safer with meats."
[00:13] <Weaver> "Sure... its just a bit of manipulation of the right.. nevermind.."
[00:13] <Vargas> "Best way to a dog's heart is through it's stomach."
[00:14] <Weaver> "At any rate I'd love to talk to it"
[00:14] <Weaver> "I say we give this lil guy a name.. he seems to be at home with us now.."
[00:14] * Myriam sighs. "If we meet it again and if it doesn't want us for snacks..."
[00:15] <Myriam> "Or rather found a comfy home in you?"
[00:15] <Vargas> "At least it isn't trying to sleep in your cleavage."
[00:15] * Weaver quirks a brow at Myriam, "He seems taken with you right now"
[00:15] * Weaver pets Frankie
[00:16] * Myriam smirks, and tickles the little critter. "Well, it is sooo cute!"
[00:17] <DarkDM> It does a backflip on her shoulder.
[00:22] * Weaver is now known as Samara
[00:22] <DarkDM> The party continues following the track, which is pretty easy. Every morning it appears the nightwolf doubles over on the tracks, so the tracks are extremely easy to follow. AFter 3 more days of travel, the party reaches the edge of the wood, and stand before the awesome edge of the world, smooth, featureless, white and shiny. The wolf waits by the edge, looking at the party curiously in a "What now?" sort of way.