Kyle is still gently settling into this version of reality, but that didn't stop him from being up and ready well in time to eat a proper breakfast before departure.

  "Even if this wasn't my hometown, just calling it done with those in the keep still standing would be unprofessional."  Okay we saved these people and beat some of them.  Good luck with those other dozen or so people and creatures who wish you harm.

"So glad you're not the kind to make crazy comments about us being no different from invaders because we're setting out to break into somebody's home, defeat them, and take their stuff," Mittens says with a smile, "If motive behind actions are meaningless and the actions themselves are all that matters then there's no such thing as heroes.  As it stands we've already done a great deal of harm to secure the safety of Brindol.  Harm to villains."

May mounts up and seems confused. "Not sure who you've been hanging out with before adventuring, Mittens. You come from a town of malcontents who curse heroes for breaking into the enemy's lair? If so, you didn't seem terribly surprised by the praises we got."

Raichel says, "Might be Tim and I she's saying that to. Timothius tends to be a non-violent sort and I tend to be a strict sort. So he's said stuff like..."

Timothius picks up, "..'killing is only a last resort. Even in self-defense, you should do everything to avoid killing.' and Raichel will say stuff like..."

Raichel picks up, "..'rules should apply to everyone. No one is above the law. So if breaking and entering a person's home is against the rules, that also applies to entering a villain's home.' ...but all rules have exceptions and pecking order. Obviously, if a building is on fire, it's OK to break into the building in order to save the lives of those caught inside. Or in this case, we are taking the part of the officials and breaking into a place where thieves are keeping the things they stole. It's not stealing if you are retrieving it for the original owner."

May says, "So... you three just like musing about these things?"

Raichel says, "Racism is an interesting thing. It can cause people to say and do stupid things to justify being mean to you. So we've had people try to accuse us of evil or lawbreaking just because they don't like us."

Timothius says, "...after a certain point, Rai, I think they just disliked you for being so law-biding. You made most people look bad."

  "Plenty enough problems to find with others without even considering what species they are."  Well, okay there are obvious exceptions.  It's probably someone difficult to co-exist with any sentient race that reproduces through means that kill other people, no matter how you dress it up as 'but it's natures way how dare you be offended they injected their eggs into your eyesockets you should be glad to be part of the miracle of birth'.

  Where were we?

  "I can appreciate trying to live up to some decent standards.  But I can't honestly say I will ever value the lives of those trying to kill us over the lives of those I work with.  You already know what I'll call you crazy over Mittens, wanting to rush further into an occupied stronghold while the last of your lifeblood is still slowly leaking from your body."  This sort of job requires less self preservation instinct than normal.  But he hopes these kittys can dial it back before it gets them killed even faster than expected.

  Trick will be pulling that off without them simply just dropping all pretense of giving a damn about others.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:34, Sat 16 Nov 2013.

"My parents would try every trick in the book to try and keep me from becoming an adventurer," Mittens says, "'Killing for money is always evil!' 'Your siblings will wind up dead following your example!' 'It is not lady-like to explode things with swords and magic!'  And so on.  It got quite tiresome.  Imagine my disgust when after we left home I heard other people parrot the same nonsense my parents spewed.

"But yeah.  Dittos to what sibs said.  Because we're Shifters we have to be especially careful to mind our P's and Q's or we'll wind up in prison for saving someone's life.  My lack of surprise for our being rewarded for doing good deeds comes more from my crazy ideas that that's what's supposed to happen.  Silly me!"

She twirls her finger at her head with her eyes crossed and tongue hanging out.

"If it makes you feel any better, Kyle, I've picked up a spell that should make killing me a little more difficult.  And you're no more doting than my fluffy bro."
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:00, Sat 16 Nov 2013.

Timothius says, "Mom and Dad are good people and only said those things out of love." he then looks towards Kyle. "Don't be so sure, Kyle. The ones you work with some day may be villains temporarily allying with you while the one trying to kill you may be a loved one under mind control. But I at least get what you're saying. And don't worry... I have priorities too. Just because I care for the lives of my enemies doesn't mean I somehow no longer care for the lives of my allies."

Raichel says, "Danger is the nature of the business. I strongly believe I'm going to taste death before I even reach my 18th birthday. But I don't have a death wish. And I'm hoping by then, Timothius will have learned how to obtain the raise dead ritual I've heard about."

May says, "Now now... if I've proven ONE thing, it's that I will die before you do. So just make sure I'm still breathing and I'll keep punching Mr Death in the face for all of you, OK?"

  The artificier artifact trivias "The minimum manufacturing cost of a Holy Avenger is six hundred twenty five thousand and one hundred seventy five gold.  This is does not include examples such as the Justice's Edge, meant for Bahamut's favored which is decorated with extra rubies and platinum.  Some storybook heroes get handed priceless artifacts so they can technically claim how pious they are.  The rest of us have to hope to get paid enough to pay for food and maybe save up enough for some nice boots, when not breaking open graves and cupboards hoping to find something useful."

  Case in point, exactly what the hairy siblings have been wisely doing without Kyle's prompting.  Also, Kyle feels strongly about actually getting paid for their work in case it wasn't obvious yet.  "Besides, a reputation for making sure you are paid for your work will keep away the people who want you to deal with every little problem.  Either something big for a similar reward, or people with a big enough problem that they will ask anyways.  Working for free isn't as bad as having a reputation for it."

  He shrugs in response to Tim.  "Despite as much as I've just gone on about it, there are plenty of things not worth taking money for.  I get a bit tired of not being a selfless beggar being equated to greed though.  But then most of those complaints I've gotten have been from merchants looking like I just killed their daughter for asking to be reimbursed for used crossbow bolts."
This message was last edited by the player at 06:36, Sat 16 Nov 2013.

"Thanks May!  But don't forget that monsters can't kill you if we ki... defeat them first!"

Mittens gasps at the staggering cost of the Avenger.  And the staggering stinginess of Kyle's former employers.

"Good grief!  Well.  W...  Will keep that in mind.  But please don't think less of us if we leave the financial stuff to you, Kyle.  That...  Ugh.  Is it any wonder people turn to banditry?"

Timothius looks at Mittens as she starts using the word kill, but then seems satisfied when she corrects herself and goes back to looking forward.

Raichel says, "I've heard finances are the number one reason for divorce and for war. People are greedy."

Timothius says, "So shall we figure out how we divide the spoils from here out so our team doesn't start a civil war?"

May says, "When it's a weapon you all don't use, I'll take it. If you don't want it, I'll take it. If it's heavy armor, I'll take it. Outside that? I'm guessing any money we find will be divided 5 ways among all of us?"

  "Considering I'll be hanging a bit back compared to most of you, I can't fault anything that would help you survive up close better going to those that need to be.  I don't think I've ever heard of my favored weapon showing up at loot in the first place to begin with."  Unexpected Irony with Kyle.  The artificer is sort of shrug when it comes to personally desired magic items.

"So far it seems we've been pretty sane with the distribution of wealth, yeah," Mits says.

This canyon winds between two ridges. Suddenly, chittering,
armored buglike creatures emerge from the ground just
north of you and quickly move in your direction.

There is time enough to dismount so the horses won't be in danger, so Mittens does so.

Timothius dismounts as well. "Please tell me you all are only here to chat?"

May and Raichel hop off their horses. May says, "Hi, bugs! Can I tell you about my latest weapons?" she goes to take point.

  Kyle sighs, and things had gone so well on their trips up until now.  Still, he is at least thankful this sort of problem did not turn up while escorting the townsfolk.  "I expect they will be getting a very close look at your weapons May."

  Kyle lines up a shot on the closest (even though he could manage any of them, whooo Weapon Of Long Range) Bug, the shot flying true if only for small harm.  Still, as the bolt burries itself in the bug body his allies around him feel the familiar arcane buzz of Magic Weapon Buff.

---

Standard: Magic Weapon vs Adult 2.  Hits. 8 DMG.

Effect: Buff.  +1 To-Hit, +3 DMg Rolls to every ally until End Of My NExt Turn.

Adult 2 HP: 67-8= 59
This message was last edited by the player at 06:53, Fri 29 Nov 2013.

"Bonzai!!!" Mittens screams, rushing forward like a bat out of hell!

Burning hands completes the picture!  The kruthik shriek in pain and anger!

---

Spent ACTION POINT!  0 remaining.
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:06, Fri 29 Nov 2013.

May charges at one of the kruthik and bashes it solid with her Carrikal! "Check out THIS weapon!"

Raichel trots up a bit with Timothius. As he continues on ahead, Raichel pauses and throws lightning from her hand at the kruthik. It looks almost downed.

---

Move/Standard: Charge v Young1. Hit(27)!
 dmg: 13 (6+4+3)

Raichel Move: North 6
Raichel Standard: Lightning Strike v young 1. Hit(14)!
 dmg: 12 (2+7+3)

Timothius double-move north.

Kruthik Young 1 HP: 27 - 13 - 12 = 2

The first kruthik skuttles to the right of the group and fires a pair of poison spines!  One gets deflected off Mits' magical force field, but the other hits Raichel!

 Considering May is the one at the moment all alone against multiple bugs, Kyle moves up next to Raichel (way to still put her between you and dangerous animals Kyle) and casts Thundering Armor on the armored kobold.  His actions are rewarded with the less protective aspects of that spell nearly flattening the young bug by May.

---

Move: Duh.
Standard: Thundering Armor (On May) Vs Young 2. Hits.  18 DMG!.

Buffs:  +1 AC to May until End Of My Next Turn.

Young 2 HP: 21-13= 8

An adult bypasses May and fires a pair of spines at Mits and Kyle but the heroes deflect the attacks.  The young one next to may takes a step south and tears into May's flank!

"Trying to surround us, are you?" Mits says, stepping closer to Raichel, "Nonono!"

She blasts them back with beguiling strands!
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:24, Fri 29 Nov 2013.

May thrusts her weapon at the nearby adult kruthik. While it's distracted defending itself and not getting hit, May then slams her spiked shield into the other kruthik, sliding it and finishing it.

Raichel throws another lightning bolt, hitting the adult! It bounces and zaps the other adult.

Timothius throws white fire at the adult, but the adult dodges like Neo. Just barely.

---

May Standard: Funneling Flurry v Adult 1 and Young 2. Miss(11), Hit(21)!
 dmg: 6
May Move: Shift inbetween the adults

Raichel standard: Lightning Strike v Adult 1. Hit(16)!
 dmg: 15 (and bounce to adult 2)

Timothius standard: Sacred Flame v Adult 1. Miss(14)

Raichel HP: 22 - 5 = 17
Young 2 HP: 4 - 6 = KO
Adult 1 HP: 46 - 15 = 31
Adult 2 HP: 46 - 4 = 42

  Kyle has a moment of what he calls 'suicidal tendencies'.  What does he consider suicidal tendencies?  Walking right up to a giant bug to make sure he can shoot it in the face properly for May's swifter Saftey, even though it means the Bug stabs him with it's buggy claws.

  Still, sizzling acid bolt now lodged upside the Young's head, and a quick application of his own meager compared to Tim's healing arts to May.

  In hindsight, he could have just punched the bug with his freaking Talid covered hand and not gotten clawed for his troubles.  But that was a really nice shot and even his magically enhanced fist wouldn't have done as much harm on a perfect swing.

---

Move: Stupid pants.
AoO trigger: Adult 2 hits Kyle for 6 DMG.
Aura: 1 DMG ow.
Minor: Healing infusion to May.  Surge+1 HP healed.
Standard: Scouring weapon Crossbow vs Adult 2. hits.  14 DMG.

Adult 2 HP:  40-14= 26.

Kyle HP: 33-2-6= 25
This message was last edited by the player at 07:55, Fri 29 Nov 2013.

The adult kruthik north of May takes advantage of her being flanked and slashes her!

May flanks with Kyle and grins, smacking the adult with her carrikal. "Nice little reckless act there, Kyle!" she commends!

Raichel throws another lightning bolt, nearly finishing the adult kruthik. "We almost got 'em."

Timothius concentrates, glows, and all May's wounds mysteriously start closing.

---

May standard: Shield Feint v Adult 2. Miss(13) AP Hit(15)!
 dmg: 11

Raichel standard: Lightning Strike v Adult 2. Hit(23)!
 dmg: 9 (and bounce to adult 1)

Timothius standard: Healer's Mercy.
 D6 result: 5. +3 +9 = 17

May HP: 17 + 17 = 34 - 2 = 32
Adult 1 HP: 29 - 4 = 25
Adult 2 HP: 26 - 11 - 9 = 6
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:11, Fri 29 Nov 2013.

"No more flanking for you, Kruthik!" Mits says, using beguiling strands on it to shove it out of flanking.

"I'm guessing you're fast enough to flank it again if you want to, Kyle."

The unmarked kruthik side-stepps and slashes May, but the attack doesn't seem to harm her at all!