"Okay, Dad."

In reply to Kazimir Yurick (msg # 136):

Kazimir rounds the corner, to the small, and stone walled bakery that shares a wall with the kitchen hearth behind the bar. The shop is small, although as tall as the inn. The upper level is presumably sleeping quarters for the baker and his wife, with 5he upper loft probably a space for his sons.

The baker is form8ng dough for tomorrow's bake (or the day after, depending on how much of a rise is wanted) with his daughter, who looks a little anxious. Two cats wend around their feet.

"Ho neighbor! I see you're busy, but would you have time to discuss the possibility of a collaboration on solving the local rat problem? We can talk over some of my wife's elderberry wine!"
15:26, Today: Kazimir Yurick rolled 13 using 3d6.  diplomacy ~ 16.

Black follows along the back and forth exchanges between all the players and is soon believing that he isn't being pranked.  He wracks his poor mind to think of ways of dealing with a swarm of rats, mostly the small variety with a few huge ones sprinkled in.  But this just isnt anything he's come across before or trained for.  This time around he keeps his ideas to himself to mull them over before he offers them to the group.  He doesn't want to be seen as a dummy.

Fisher delves into the idea of flooding the basement with water to drown them and he is almost ready to share his wonderful solution.  It solves everything.  The rats will die and the place wont burn down.  But just before his mouth opens it does occur to him, how would they rid the place of the water.  He is stumped.

Then Aldous states 'What we need is something that kills a bunch of rats all at once', and Porter thinks, Yeah, like fire.

"You can make lights as bright as you want, and it'll only be a temporary fix.  You see rats mostly at night because they can hide better then, so they're out more in the dark -- but hang out behind a mill or brewery or slaughterhouse and you'll see 'em right out in the sunlight, in front of God and everybody."

Aldous blinks a couple times, then makes a sign, touching his forehead, his belly, and each side of his chest.

"Cats are good, but I doubt you'd want a cat around that was big enough and mean enough to go down in that cellar right now -- and if you get a queen, then you'll turn your rat problem into a cat problem in short order.  A couple little dogs might do better than a cat, but you haven't got time to raise good ratters from pups -- and you can't depend on buying an adult, it'll just run home as soon as you turn your back."

Aldous frowns.  "We need magic, no doubt about it, but any magic man or woman will tell you they can solve your problem, whether it's true or not.  That's how they get paid -- for their time, not for their results."

In reply to Kazimir Yurick (msg # 139):

"Neighbor, I wondered when you would make the rounds! The rats are a problem indeed. We get 5hem through the yard, and we keep a barred lid over the latrin now, but thankfully, they do not come in through the walls. The cats keep up with most of them, and help with the mice."

His daughter, who looks to ba about six seems anxious about something...

Sparky finds two pieces of broken brick which he sits down with and starts mumbling and making odd movements.  One of them suddenly becomes extremely (makes your eyes hurt) bright.


[Private to GM:  15:48, Today: Sparky rolled 3 using 3d6.  Continual Light - sunlight. IIRC, it doesn't cost any fatigue either?
15:52, Today: Sparky rolled 3 using 2d6.  How long does it last.]

Thorg gathers up his javelins and stuff, puts his back pack off to the side When we get some light we'll go down and kill as many as we can.

"Whoa, that's a nice, useful trick, Sparky.  Something you could teach me?"  Aldous gives a somewhat dubious smile.

"Anyone get a good look around down there, or were you too busy trying to keep the rats outta yer leggings too?"  His gaze indicates he's addressing Thorg and Porter.

Kazimir notes the girl's mood.
"The rats in my cellar are like carpet, with some as large as small dogs. I've hired some folks to clear them out, so we can regain use, down there. There's so many, that an armed group of 3 men seem at a loss, where to start, without being overwhelmed!"
Setting down the bottle and cups, he pours for two on the baker's counter.
Kazimir plays a ditty on his lute, masking the spell he'd cast, in doing so...
"I've been working on a new song..."
19:53, Today: Kazimir Yurick rolled 9 using 3d6.  mind reading ~ 14.
19:59, Today: Kazimir Yurick rolled 11 using 3d6.  lute ~ 15.
Kazimir read the girl's thoughts to find what would trouble such a young girl...
This message was last edited by the player at 01:00, Tue 05 Nov 2019.

In reply to Sparky (msg # 143):

Make another roll... you m8ght just crit again and make a permanent sun stone. Also, yes, that cost nothing to do.

In reply to Kazimir Yurick (msg # 146):

The little girl glances away...

[Private to Kazimir Yurick:she is afraid of a noise next to her room on the lower level, something that scratches and moans from behind a wall]

20:06, Today: Kazimir Yurick rolled 13 using 3d6.  carousing ~ 17.
Kazimir smiles, and raises his glass to the baker. "Cheers!"
He takes a sip, and speaks again:
"We haven't been able to see the extent of our own cellar. I wonder if ours connect...The family and I heave heard scratching sounds, have you heard or seen anything strange?"
He gives the girl a kind glance for a moment, as he raises his cup to take another sip, and await the baker's reply, or perhaps an interjection from the girl.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:11, Tue 05 Nov 2019.

In reply to Narrator (msg # 147):

Will a 5 do it?
19:08, Today: Sparky rolled 5 using 3d6.  Sun Stone.

Black looks on as he stands idly to the side watching and following along with the back and forth discussion and planning.  Try as he might to come up with some plan to eradicate the premises of rats, his ideas either seem to have holes or he's one step behind the others in the creative planning.

When the brick begins to glow he smiles and exclaims, ”Ooooo.  We need about ten 'a them down there.”

Well here is one... give me a bit and I will try to make another.

"Hey, that's great! Can I pour you a drink?"

Just some of the 'vass stuff ... drinking and casting don't mix well. He picks up the next brick half and again casts  on it.




[Private to GM:  10:51, Today: Sparky rolled 12 using 3d6.  Continual Light - sunlight.  Skill 13
10:52, Today: Sparky rolled 7 using 2d6.  How Long does it last.   7 days I believe.
One of my many GMs adds a point to your skill if you roll a natural 3... was that you?]

Sven laughs, and pours him a cup.

In reply to Sparky (msg # 154):

[Private to Sparky:The 1st stone  is good for two weeks, the second for a week.
 not I, but I do extend bonii. Double crit has pronounced effects]

"The girl complains of scratching, but I don't  here it. She is in the basement,  it is true, not far from the stairs. It is quiet, and clean, all whith whitewash."

"Tell uncle Kaz, what you hear little one. Is there just scratching, or do you sometimes, hear other things? Maybe Auntie Hetty, can find out what it is, and make it go away. Would you like that?"
He says kindly, to the girl-child.

Sparky hands the second brick to to whomever wants it ... I'll need to rest a bit now...



[Private to GM: So the 5 was not considered a Crit then?]

Aldous still has his own lantern in one hand, and his biggest knife in the other, so he'll nod for someone else to take the glowing brick pieces.

"That's a good start on makin' it light enough to really fight down there.

"Almost makes me wish we could get one of those guys from Little Sahud, or a Hindu -- I've seen 'em showing weapons in the market square that'll cover like a broom, take out half a dozen of those little guys with a single swing.  Still enough down there to wear a guy out, though.

"Hey, Sparky, anyone from your class who knew how to, like, charm animals?  Like that old story my mom used to tell about the fellow with the pastry and flute, the Pies Piper?"

Sparky shakes his head ... nah, no one like that. If I get a few coins ahead, I'll go join that adventure guild... they are supposed to be able to teach some stuff...

In reply to Sparky (msg # 160):

A bowman might help...
...and for general info, 3-4 is always a crit, 5 is a crit if your skill is 15 or better, and 6 if 16 or better. If you have a skill in excess of 17, a 17 is a normal dailure, and an 18 still crit fails.