"Yes, I think so."

Jednesa stands, stretches, and takes up the ox-cart's tongue prepared to get moving, she's happily muttering "gonna wrestle dragons... gonna wrestle dragons".

McNealy lingers a bit by the shrine.

"Business is hard.  Every little bit helps.  I can get us in to the shrine without any problems.  We should collect the chalice."

Seeing that the rest of the group has pulled away, he shakes his head.  Reaching for the webbing on Cookie, he pulls out a vial, and applies it to the rusty locks.

OOC The last time around I checked the sheet, and wasn't playing him quite right.  Have adjusted to be more accurate...which will likely cause trouble.

[Private to GM: Using alkahest on the locks.  I assume they will fry, and then McNealy will go in and pick up the chalice.]

In reply to McNealy (msg # 508):

"Don't piss off the gods, McNeally. Business can get a lot tougher doing that. Maybe that is why business is tough...you are pissing off the wrong beings. Come on."

She starts to lead the group away...

"I agree with Christine.  Best to leave it alone, unless you have wine and plan to make an offering."

Masugatan smiles at the talk of pissing on the gods, recalling his past behavior in the temple.  Those were the days.

In reply to McNealy (msg # 508):

The locks hiss and sieze up.


This is as been edited.
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:37, Mon 10 Aug 2020.

"Alchemist McNealy!  Are you personally determined to bring down the wrath of, at least, a local spirit on us?"

Alchemist McNealy shrugs at the question.  "I don't believe in religion, for the most part.  It does work for healing spells and other magicks, but I personally have no connection to the Gods.  Science is where I place my faith."

With that, he walks in and picks up the chalice.

OOC  If "unopposed" in this action, he will put it in his pack and leave.

No one here believes it will be that simple....

In reply to McNealy (msg # 514):

Christine will scowl at the alchemists' arrogance.

"We want no part of that. We are not thieves so if there is retribution, you will have to deal with it yourself. I am leaving..."

She continues down the road.

Shaking her head, Elaina turns to follow her sister and Christine.

"Let's go, Jednesa.  We probably don't want to be too close to him."

Jednesa sets off, hauling the ox cart behind her.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:57, Wed 12 Aug 2020.

Masugatan follows behind the ox cart, making sure nothing falls off.

In reply to Masugatan (msg # 518):

The locks, treated with acid as they are, might be knocked off with a few hammer blows (dr 4, hp 3) if you want to pursue that route at this time.

McNealy will use the butt end of his staff to take a couple cracks at it.

[Private to GM: Should be more than adequate.  I know you're subtly discouraging me, but he does have greedy.
13:25, Today: Secret Roll: McNealy rolled 7 using 1d6+4.  All out attack +2 damage.
13:24, Today: Secret Roll: McNealy rolled 11 using 3d6.  McNealy Staff 14.

13:26, Today: Secret Roll: McNealy rolled 9 using 3d6.  All out attack +2 damage  #2.
13:25, Today: Secret Roll: McNealy rolled 10 using 3d6.  McNealy Staff 14  #2.]

Evelina, shaking her head, none the less slows her steps.  "Alchemist McNealy, can't you accept that this is a bad idea?"

McNealy shrugs. "This shrine looks to be in disrepair.  I'm not sure it's even dedicated to any god we could name.  Maybe it's a bad idea, but I see no reason to leave that chalice here for anyone to take.  Sooner or later it's going to walk away with someone.  It might as well be me.  Plus, the traveling alchemist business is pretty hard.  I didn't manage to break even by letting opportunities like this pass me by."

The gnome turns back to the gate, adjusts his dark glasses, and whacks the lock again.

In reply to McNealy (msg # 522):

"Probably you would have better business if you had have let opportunity to rob the gods pass by...leave it be."

"Okay, hold on," Masugatan says as he approaches the alchemist.  "We make decisions as a group, not every thug doing his own thang.  Besides, you ain't a thief, so leave that locks alone."

In reply to Masugatan (msg # 524):

The lock, damaged by the acid, cracks off, leaving one other to secure the porticullis.

In reply to Narrator (msg # 525):

"Apparently, he just does his own thing. Good thing he makes the healing potions...hope he leaves enough for the rest of us..."

She departs as well, following the rest of the group.

McNealy puts his staff on the ground as Masugatan approaches.  He looks a bit confused.  "Just a few minutes ago, you were trying to open this yourself.  Did you change your mind, or was there some reason why you decided to leave well enough alone?"

McNealy steps away from the locks to face his fellow adventurer.

[Private to GM: Made his control roll so for now he's OK to leave.  If there is a worthy explanation.
20:49, Today: Secret Roll: McNealy rolled 7 using 3d6.  McNealy control roll 12.]

In reply to McNealy (msg # 527):

With a wistful look at the silver chalice, you continue onward, none the richer, and none the worse either.

McNealy grumbles quite a bit as he finally joins the rest of the group on their travel.  "I don't see what all the fuss is.  No one has tended to that shrine for years.  Who would care about us taking that chalice?  I just don't understand why you're making such a fuss.  If there aren't any followers maintaining the place, why would the god care about some stupid cup anyway?  They care about hearts, not about money.  It seems to me that the cup would be of way more use to me than it is sitting there being ignored by it's god.  Someone should be using it, instead of it collecting dust on some obscure road side eyesore..."

He'll vent like this on and off for the next couple hours.  The gnome genuinely doesn't get the real concept of religion, as he's firmly entrenched in science.  Faith is a fairly difficult bridge for him.

The iter continues southward without much invident for the better part of the day. As it closes on sunset, you can see the smoke of a chimney in the distance.


[Private to McNealy: you just lost a magic item, but avoided a divine curse]