[ We find Our Heroes after the big fight. Whose spleen is that? Oh, who cares, you'll get a new one in a bit. ] [ Mr. Anderson is looking smug and satisfied at his extremely dishonorable office ambush, to the point where he's even having a cigarette to relax. He's offered one to each of you, as well. ] [ Meanwhile, he has a young clerical understudy named Biff going around and giving you hits off a cure serious wounds wand and potions of restoration on the house. Seylin and Kenji both feel a great deal weaker after being pummeled, in addition to their wounds. ] [ Session... Start! ] * Tia glares indignantly at Mr. Anderson, glances at the offered cigarette, and pointedly ignores it. "What was that for?!" * Seylin sits in the corner, somewhat huddled in on herself. [ Mr. Anderson takes a drag off his cigareete. "To make us all feel better. We were all very upset after you crashed our safehouse, as I mentioned. Honestly, you might get a discount off of this, even." ] [ Mr. Anderson, apparently, is a monster. ] * Tia crosses her arms over her chest and continues to glare. * Patrick holsters his smokin' guns and walks over to Seylin and starts to console her quietly. [ Mr. Anderson blows Tia a kiss, then turns as something on his desk starts beeping. He picks up what you've learned to be a 'phone' and has a conversation with whoever's on the other end. ] [ Will - who managed to survive the fight without losing too much of his life - comes over and tries to help Seylin, casting a few spells in series. ] * Seylin smiles weakly at him. "Thanks, Will." [ Mr. Anderson gets off the phone. "That was the embassy. Your passports are clear for entering Darkon, now, as well as the City of the Dead. Anyone want a smoke?" He holds up a package of cigarettes, which is a strange habit you've discovered here. ] * Tia makes a face and shakes her head. Ugh. No thank you. I do have a question, though. When does whatever you did to me wear off? [ Will frowns and casts some other spells. Mr. Anderson frowns. "Hey, is the wing-girl alright?" Will blinks and looks at Anderson in disbelief that he'd actually worry about Seylin's wellbeing, but says "No, she's not recovering from your energy drain." ] [ Mr. Anderson looks curious. "Huh. Weird. Oh, is she a Celestial's kid? That'd explain it if she is." ] What do you mean? I am. Explain. Do tell, please. [ Mr. Anderson grins. "Woah. I think you'd be the first here, but you weren't a full Celestial, so I guessed... heh, anyway. The Demiplane of Dread is cut off from the divine energies of the Outer Planes. It supports divine magic, outsiders and metanoia with its own energies - nobody's quite sure where from - but it's apparently not fully compatable with celestial bodies. Usually not a problem until this happens." ] [ He takes a drag. "I dunno if there's a cure, but there's some concoctions I can try, and I can ask around the society some. Someone's bound to know. In the meantime, bedrest is prolly a good move, see if the human side of your physiology can pick up the slack with time." ] How do we fix it, then? Rest? There's no other cure? * Tia looks dissatisfied, but she gives Seylin a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "We'll find a way to fix it, Sey." [ "I did just say you're the first half-celestial we've had on this entire world for all of recorded history, right?" ] * Tia huffs. "Like that's the important part!" [ "Well, yeah. It means nobody's had to figure out a cure before. So why would there be one?" ] * Seylin sighs. "Sadly, that makes sense." He does have a point. * Tia nods reluctantly. "I guess you're right. So what're we gonna do now?" [ "Like I said, I'll look into making something. We've got a lot of bright alchemists here, we can come up with a cure with time, or I'll refund the cost of your passports. Just because I'm such a nice undead cleric of a god of necromancy and secrets." ] I guess... well, I'm not in good enough shape to go to the City of the Dead. So I guess I'm going to have to stay behind. I'm so sorry. * Tia hugs Seylin. We didn't know this could happen, neither did you. * Seylin hugs back. [ "Until then, yeah, bed rest and avoiding the undead *is* the best thing. Here's my card, call me if you get worse, and don't let the door hit your wings on the way out. It's enchanted." ] * Patrick hugs Seylin too. * Seylin hugs Patrick back, then eyes Mr. Anderson. "On the one hand, it's your fault that I'm in this state. On the other hand, as odd as it sounds, thanks for your assistance." He's just out for money. [ Mr. Anderson grins his winningest smile, which isn't very. "Always glad to help rich people." ] Well, I was pretty sure that it wasn't out of the goodness of your heart. So. Back to our place? * Kenji says softly, "yes" * Kenji turns and walks out. * Tia steps out after Kenji. * Patrick nods. "Let's get going." He walks out swiftly. * Seylin heads out. [ We next find Our Heros at Kenji's place, since it's closer (and posher - let's be honest here). We join them on the elevator ride up from the Canyon Heroes Party Wagon to Kenji's penthouse apartment. ] [ Go! ] * Tia glances around in wonder, but her excitement to visit Kenji's place seems to have been dampened by the previous events of the day. * Seylin sits in a comfy chair and tries to look as upbeat as she possibly can. It's not quite working. Are you gonna be okay, Seylin? Don't die, please? * Seylin smiles at Tia. "I'm not going to die. I just need time to rest and get better. I'll be fine eventually." * Tia still looks worried. "Okay. Want a box of juice? I still got some in my bag." * Patrick smiles at Seylin. "Good to hear you say that." Juice would be great. Thank you. * Tia rummages around in her pack and takes out a juice box for Seylin. Feel better, Sey. We'll definitely come back and get you when we find the way home. Thanks, Tia. I'm sorry to have to leave you guys like this. It's okay, Sey. Not your fault. That horrible Mr. Anderson did this to you. [ Yeah, that Mr. Anderson guy was a jerk. ] * Kenji finds himself some alcohol. About six bottles worth. * Tia watches Kenji curiously. * Kenji pours himself a tumbler of this pretty amber alcohol, and starts drinking. So, you guys want to figure out where you're going next? [ Kenji comes up with a variety pack; scotch, bourbon, sake, two kinds of flavored vodkas, and rum. ] * Kenji drains the first tumbler, refills it, and keeps going. * Tia nods. "I'm guessing we're gonna use those passports we got and go to Darkon, right?" That's what we set out to get. After losing like that, though, I'm not so sure anymore if we can beat this Red Skull guy, especially since we didn't do so well last time. Well, you're going on an information-gathering mission first, right? * Seylin looks over at Kenji and frowns slightly. * Kenji drains the second tumbler, refills it, and keeps going. We're not planning to head over there to kill undead, we're going to find out information. * Tia blinks at Kenji. "You must be really thirsty, Kenji." [ Tia is so cute and innocent. ...but someoe should really explain this to her. ] * Tia reaches for the bottle, sniffs at it, and makes a face. "Whoa." * Patrick whispers to Tia. "He's just drowning the recent events in alcohol." * Tia blinks. "Oh." Isn't that stuff bad for you? Yeah. Kenji, don't hurt yourself...please? * Kenji doesn't reply, he just drains the tumbler again, refills, and keeps going. Kenji, it wasn't your fault. * Kenji stops drinking for a moment, just long enough to say "Just let me drink in peace." * Seylin sighs. "Fine." * Tia chews her lip fretfully and looks at her feet. So we're gonna go to Darkon and the City of the Dead to find information. And maybe we can get home without messing with the Red Skull guy again? yes When do we leave? Dunno. You pick. * Kenji drains the tumbler, tries to refill it, and has to switch to a new bottle. After Kenji gets drunk and is sober again. No. Let her pick. * Tia glances from face to face, and she sighs and sits. "Um...what about tomorrow?" Fine. WE go tomorrow. * Kenji downs another tumbler. Okay. Will you be okay, Kenji? If I'm not, you get to lead. Will can't do it. Pat's staying here. ...So who's coming? You. Me. Will. * Patrick nods. Okay. Take good care of Sey, Pat. We'll come back for you guys. Good luck. If you need anything, contact us. * Patrick nods. "Don't worry about us, just get the information and come back non-zombofied." * Tia nods. "We will." She checks to make sure she has everyone's numbers in her cell phone. * Kenji doesn't even bother with the tumbler anymore, he just drinks from the bottles, like a good little ronin. [ Kenji passes out. Session End! ]