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Adam has connected.
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Adam:
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you should probably update the other
port forwarding entries at some point
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Adam:
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and give yourself a static IP
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Brian:
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That I should. And I should delete the
other tunnel
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Adam:
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so this doesn't happen again
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Brian:
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another thing the great Adam can teach
me!
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Adam:
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it feels good to be certified
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Brian:
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I'm a certified Scrum Master and 508
tester...
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Brian:
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I can tell you if blind people can see
things on a computer!
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Adam:
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More like a certified Scrub Lord
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Brian:
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No, I failed that cert.
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Adam:
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please hold while I take a trip to the
bathroom
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Brian:
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So do you remember where we left off?
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Adam:
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I remember cutting of Ephnyr's thumbs
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Adam:
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and kidnapping Emita
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Adam:
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Shouldn't Aaron be here?
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Brian:
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We will be doing a scene where Aaron
is off hunting or sleeping.
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Brian:
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Real-world logistics should prove that
this will be a brief scene.
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Brian:
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You ride through the night in order to
avoid any immediate capture, and Emita is silent while slung over
your horse. She would be as beautiful as ever were she not so
terrified. Your horses finally tire by dawn, and it becomes time
to make camp. Do you assist her off the horse, or ever speak?
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Adam:
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Throughout Emita's capture I remained
silent. As we ride, stop, and make camp, I remain wordless. The
combination of preserving mystery and not knowing what to say
makes for a potent mixture.
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Adam:
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When we finally rest, I do help her
down and sit her against a log. I am neither excessively kind nor
excessively cruel in doing so.
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Brian:
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Aaron soon leaves to gather some
supplies. You suspect he is a bit shaken from the whole fiasco and
doesn't know what to say himself.
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Brian:
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Emita shifts around in her manacles.
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Emita:
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Why are you doing this to me?
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Cerim:
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((I don't respond immediately in the
interest of contemplating a tactful answer. Instead I turn from
her and prepare a fire pit.))
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Emita:
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Can...can I sit closer to the fire?
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Emita:
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I'm cold.
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Cerim:
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((I sigh and grab her by the shoulders
and pull her a bit closer to the fire. I'll keep an eye on her to
make sure she doesn't do something stupid like jump in.))
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Brian:
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She just shifts, avoiding eye contact
with your shrouded face, and puts some tinder near where the fire
will be.
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Brian:
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It's been pretty dry the last few
days, and the fire lights readily. She smiles at the warmth. It's
good to see her smile.
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Emita:
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Did they take Ephnyr?
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Cerim:
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((I shake my head.))
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Emita:
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Did they leave him to die?
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Cerim:
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((I nod my head.))
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Brian:
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She looks down as the young flame. She
looks as though she's about to shed a tear, and yet never does.
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Cerim:
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((I make no move to offer her comfort. I
just stiffly tend to the fire))
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Emita:
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Where are you taking me?
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Adam:
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Had she been paying attention, she
would know.
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Brian:
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Ehh, I wouldn't blame her too much for
being a little distracted.
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Brian:
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She shifts back, leaning on her hands
behind her. She seems lost in thought for a moment.
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Brian:
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She then looks at you, and gives you a
look. The kind of look you would have given anything for from
years ago until about last week.
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Emita:
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You know, I'm not really sure why
you're sharing me...
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Brian:
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she scoots a little closer, dispite
not sharing a log with you.
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Emita:
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What, are you taking me back to some
bandit lord or something?
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Cerim:
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((I freeze for a moment. My immediate
impulse is to pull away from her in disgust as it's obvious that
Emita is just trying to get me to lower my guard. Despite that, I
don't pull away in the interest of seeing what she might do next.))
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Emita:
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Untie me.
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Brian:
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she takes a glance down at her breasts.
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Emita:
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What can I do? You took my knife. You took my knight.
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Adam:
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there are trees about, right?
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Cerim:
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((Slowly, I rise and lean over Emita. I
pull her up from the chain of her manacles to a standing position.))
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Brian:
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She breaths in quickly, the lets it
out to regain her confidence
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Cerim:
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((I lead her to a tree and raise her
arms so I can loop the chain over a branch. Once successfully
nocked, her arms will be suspended above her head while her feet
still bear much of her weight.))
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Adam:
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What is Emita wearing?
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Brian:
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It was a pretty nice gown, and still
is in the front where there isn't any mud. One piece, light blue.
Laces secure the shoulders.
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Cerim:
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((Now that she is standing, I retrieve
the manacles key from my wallet. I unlock on of her hands, but
quickly lock it again after I bring her arms around the front of
her body.Then, I lead her to a tree and raise her arms so I can
loop the chain over a branch. Once successfully nocked, her arms
will be suspended above her head while her feet still bear much of
her weight.))
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Jannik has connected.
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Cerim:
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((I return the key to my wallet and
chuck it back toward the fire))
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Brian:
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Aaron, you return from gathering
firewood, but nobody seems to notice you yet.
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Brian:
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Cerim may make a wis+disc check at a
-10
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* Adam rolls: 1d20+4 => 16 + 4 = 20
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Jannik:
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do I see anything going on between the
two?
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Brian:
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Emita's manacles are now in front of
her instead of beind, and Cerim half hung her up on a tree.
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Jannik:
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oookay, won't question that for now
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Brian:
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You observe that Cerim got the fire
going...
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Cerim:
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((I look over and see Aaron. Seeing him
causes me to back away from Emita.))
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Jannik:
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this seems kinda fishy
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Cerim:
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((I go back to... fire tending.))
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Jannik:
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I look after the horses I guess
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Brian:
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after a little while, Emita speaks up.
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Emita:
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Can I...can I come back to the fire?
I'm cold again.
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Jannik:
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Aaron glances over to Cerim
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Adam:
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I'll grab my wallet from the ground
and go back to retrieve Emita. I'll be sure to put her arms around
her back once more.
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Adam:
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What are the red squares?
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Brian:
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I forgot where all my tokens are, okay?
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Brian:
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You come upon Eastmark, finding it
fortunitely unchanged since your last visit.
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Brian:
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I really don't know your plan at this
point, so ball is in your court.
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Jannik:
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I have no idea either
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Adam:
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I think we shouldn't enter the village
until after night has fallen
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Brian:
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brb gotta get laundry
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Brian:
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it's been like a week, you can decide
what time you arrive.
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Adam:
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We need a place to stay. A place where
we can keep a prisoner. I don't recommend the inn.
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Adam:
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If people see Emita in chains, it'll
raise suspicions. We don't want any outside interference
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Adam:
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If need be, we can camp just outside
of town and one of us can keep watch in the inn for Artyom
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Adam:
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take it in turns, I suppose
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Brian:
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alright then, do you guys just keep
showing up at the inn on alternate days, chill for the day, then
leave only to come back in 48 hours, until Artyom shows?
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Jannik:
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sounds about right (?)
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Adam:
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Yeah, sounds good. We can do some
trading and stuff while we're there too
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Brian:
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Cool, then it looks like I will have
time for Aaron's solo after all. Adam, buzz off.
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Adam is disconnected.
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Brian:
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Lucky for you, nobody seems to
remember you from the last time you showed up here. You get a beer
and waste time at the inn without much trouble the first couple
days.
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Brian:
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One day, however, a strange man walks
in.
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Brian:
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Ignoring every rule of decorum known
to elf and man, the figure walks right up to you and sits down.
Without a word, the bar tender offers a drink.
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Hooded man:
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I get it for free. I saved the town's
dogs one time.
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Brian:
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His voice is rough, blunt, and
confident.
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Jannik:
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can I take a quick look at him? like,
how he looks and if he seems dangerous/weird/shady/...
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Jannik:
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stealthily, if possible
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Brian:
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roll emp+wis and roll charm
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Jannik:
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two seperate rolls?
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* Jannik würfelt: 1d20+2 => 12 + 2 = 14
* Jannik würfelt: 1d20+3 => 15 + 3 = 18
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Brian:
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He's definitely hiding his appearace,
but he doesn't act shifty. weird and dangerous perhaps, but not in
the sneaky way you grew up with.
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Brian:
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This man is dressed like he was raised
in the shadows, but acts like he doesn't know what they are.
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Brian:
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do you respond to him, or just mind
your own buisness?
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Jannik:
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as long as he leaves me alone and
doesn't do anything weird, I mind my own business
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Brian:
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He turns directly to you, and speaks
as though he was simply opening a door. Your impression of him
seems to mean nothing.
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Hooded man:
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How do you get what you want?
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Aaron:
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Money, usually.
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Hooded man:
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Little pieces of gold, huh?
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Aaron:
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*nods*
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Hooded man:
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Does it give you what you want?
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Aaron:
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Usually, I just said that.
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Hooded man:
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Did it help you find your brother?
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Aaron:
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*a bit shocked but tries to keep his
calm*
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Jannik:
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wait, "find" my brother? he's dead and
I know it, right? or is he MIA?
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Brian:
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he's MIA, but...I mean...he's MIA in
orcland
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Aaron:
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N-no ... Do you know an- ... *a bit
more quiet* How do you know about that?
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Hooded man:
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I have a lot of time.
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Hooded man:
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You wanted to talk to people in
Gorwood who Gorwood doesn't like. I know them lots.
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Aaron:
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Do you know anything about ... the
whereabouts of my brother?
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Hooded man:
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Yes, I can take you to him.
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Aaron:
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T-take me to him?! ...
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Aaron:
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What do you want?
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Hooded man:
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You have a girl. She has a big elf.
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Aaron:
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... and? You want the girl? Or the elf?
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Hooded man:
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I want justice.
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Hooded man:
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But I want you to bring her with you
to Gorwood.
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Hooded man:
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Far away from elves.
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Jannik:
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am I not also an elf? ^^'
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Aaron:
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Why?
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Brian:
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yeah, you're totes an elf
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Hooded man:
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I want to see the big elf. I want to
talk to him.
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Jannik:
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wait, what exactly was Cerim's (and
my) plan for Artyom? we wanted to stop him from going berserk /
building a cult around him, but what exactly did we want to do
once he came here?
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Brian:
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Cerim was very intent on poisoning
him, Eryson was alright with stopping him by whatever means
nessicary.
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Aaron:
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That ... could probably be arranged,
though I can't promise anything ... What do you want to talk to
him about, if I may ask?
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Hooded man:
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You wouldn't understand.
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Aaron:
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Okay ...
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Hooded man:
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I made you a deal. Now you think.
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Jannik:
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I can't really take the deal, because
I can't promise that Artyom will be in a condition to talk
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Jannik:
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and he probably won't let me see my
brother first
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Aaron:
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Let me ask you one question first: Why
do you think I'm here?
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Hooded man:
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You want something, and you don't know
a smart way to get it.
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Hooded man:
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You wait for the big elf too, true?
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Aaron:
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Correct.
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Hooded man:
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Why?
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Aaron:
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So you don't know ... Well, sometimes
it's better that way ...
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Aaron:
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If I promise you that I'll let you
talk to him, will you show me my brother?
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Hooded man:
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I will take you to him personally.
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Aaron:
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Okay, then we have a deal.
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Aaron:
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*reaches out with his hand*
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Hooded man:
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Good. I will be back in a three-day.
Then I will lead you.
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Brian:
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he stands and leaves, barely noticing
your outstreched hand
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Jannik:
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well that was something
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Jannik:
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btw did he have any weapons on his
person that I could make out?
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Adam has connected.
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Brian:
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So what do you do now, Aaron?
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Jannik:
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I guess I'll wait here until it's
Cerim's turn and when we swap, I'll tell him that we need to keep
Artyom alive a little longer
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Brian:
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wait, you guys swap at the inn? That
leaves Emita alone for noteworthy periods of time...
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Jannik:
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ehhh, no I don't think so
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Jannik:
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I guess I would wack back and then
Cerim goes tot he inn
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Brian:
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cool, so you wack your way back to
Cerim at the camp
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Brian:
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do you...say anything to him?
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Jannik:
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I motion over to him to get a bit away
from Emita and follow me
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Jannik:
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(but not too far obviously)
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Aaron:
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So, Cerim, there is a tiny change of
plans. When Artyom comes, we'll have to keep him alive a little
while longer. Maybe use a poison whose effect kicks in later or
whatever. Just wanted to let you know that.
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Cerim Potter:
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That is a very significant change of
plans. Explain yourself.
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Jannik:
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did I ever tell Cerim about my
"personal drive"?
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Brian:
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You two managed to reveal very little
this whole game
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Aaron:
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Putting a stop to Artyom is not the
only reason I'm here. And something just came up that requires us
to keep Artyom alive a little longer, as I said. You'll have to
trust me on this one. Or don't ...
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Cerim Potter:
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And what reason could it possibly be?
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Aaron:
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Something that I don't want to talk
about and that doesn't concern you other than what I just said,
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Cerim Potter:
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I see. And what poison do you suggest
using instead?
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Jannik:
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what poison do we have right now?
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Cerim Potter: (( Black Lotus extract ))
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Jannik:
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and like, instantly fatal?
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Jannik:
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why did I even worry
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Aaron:
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I think what we have now suffices.
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Cerim Potter:
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How very fortunate.
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Cerim Potter:
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So then we continue as planned,
correct?
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Aaron:
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Yes.
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Cerim Potter:
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Very well.
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Cerim Potter:
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Have you seen any sign of his approach?
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Aaron:
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I don't think so.
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Cerim Potter:
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You haven't drawn any suspicion to
yourself, have you?
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Aaron:
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If I did, I wouldn't know.
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Cerim Potter:
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Beware of the prisoner. She'll do
whatever she can to win her freedom. She's dangerous.
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Cerim Potter:
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I suppose I'll be off, if you don't
need me.
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Aaron:
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*nods*
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Cerim Potter: (( I'll grab a horse and skedaddle
))