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DM: "As Zuko appoaches the door opens automatically disappearing in to the wall in a woosh of air. The heat is immediately oppressive, reminescent of the Isle of Ape, less the bugs."
DM: "This bare room seems somehow fi lled with a disembodied rage?a rage that grows stronger near a ruined bas-relief carving in the western wall. A disturbing shape has been carved out of the wall here, the vague form of a towering humanoid with bat wings and a hulking, gorillalike posture. This oddly shaped hole extends into the rock beyond the wall, forming an irregular passage that winds like a cave as far as the eye can see."
Vivek: "I've got Mage Armor going"
Zeke: I cast my usual suite of spells, namely Divine Ward for Zuko and Midnight (or Vivek if you're more likely to be in melee than Midnight), Benediction for everyone except me, Greater Magic Weapon for Midnight, Magic Vestment for Zuko's armor and my shield, Longstrider and Sign for me, and Mass Conviction for everyone.
Zeke: My face goes red with anger and I glare at you all.
DM: "Vivek realizes that the group is only bringing him along to sacrafice him to some Abyssal demon and the Elf seems to be the leader."
DM: "Why else would she be behind lurking behind him."
Vivek: "I'll tumble back up the hallway"
DM: "One shot from her bow and it could kill Vivek."
DM: "Zuko is clueless, but he senses something is up."
DM: "He's only seen that kind of Rage from Zeke when fighting giants, not usually when looking at him."
DM: "Zuko looks behind and Vivek dashes away.. Midnight looks to be drawing a weapon."
Zuko: zuko draws his weapons and leaps backwards into the corner
Zuko: "guys? it me, zuko"
DM: "All Midnight can hear is some demonic tongue and it sounds like Zuko wants to eat her heart."
Zeke: I'm giong back to see the Arcane about you all.
DM: "Zeke feels if he takes another step, Zuko will attack him."
Zeke: "You'd better just back off Zuko, or whoever you are!"
DM: "Midnight feels the whole party is surrounding her. They must need a virgin to sacrafice."
DM: "Namia see that everyone has gone nuts."
Namia: "zuko whats going on they arent acting like themselves"
DM: "The demoness has disappeared and soon she'll attack from stealth (Midnight and Zeke)"
Midnight: "son of a bitch!" midnight tucks into a roll and barrels towards the planar entrance
Midnight: "drawing her weapon as she comes out of her tumble she glances back before running further into the abyss"
Vivek: "I assume this doesn't open anymore"
DM: "The door doesn't open as Vivek approaches.. the Arcane was in on this trap... curses to him."
DM: "Now with Namia and Vivek now invisible, Midnight and Zuko have cut off Zekes exits."
Zeke: I cast Dimension Door to return to the main room or the guest room.
Zeke: I cast Dimension Door to move to any desired location within 840 feet. The target location can be simply visualized or stated as a direction and distance. I can bring along 3 willing, medium creatures, each carrying items up to its maximum load. A Large creature counts as two Mediums, a Huge counts as two Larges, etc. All creatures must be in contact with one another. If we arrive in a place that is already occupied by a solid body, we take damage and are shunted to a random open space (see spell description). After using this spell, I can?t take any other actions until my next turn.
DM: "Zeke's dimension door is blocked."
Zeke: I snarl in frustration.
Midnight: "Midnight continues into the abyss"
DM: "Zeke realizes Namia is casting a protective spell on him and allows it to happen. The world gets much clearer now and he now knows it the affects of the Abyss."
DM: "The rest of the party slowly regains clarity and realizes the affects of the Abyss ARE disconcerting as the Arcane said they were."
Zuko: "zuko lowers his blades as the other apear to come out of it"
Zeke: "Thanks for the Protection from Evil. Really helped."
Namia: "im just glad we didnt have to kill you all"
DM: "The party ventures forth through the winding passage ways and comes to the exit which emerges out of a hole in the side of a massive gorge."
DM: "Howling winds blow upward and the bottom doesn't seem to have an end. The sky is red and the feel of ash in the wind stings as it passes by."
Zuko: "potion time?"
Midnight: "well... ..hell..."
DM: "Looking up the cliff face, it seems to be at least a mile high. Some on you may have doubts that the fly potion will get you to the top."
DM: "Or where ever you're going. The arcane only mentioned you would be close and there will be a ritual going on."
Vivek: "use both if you have to. down is easy."
Zeke: I can cast Fly myself if necessary. I can also cast Cloudwalkers if the area we're in counts as "outdoors".
Namia: "good thing i can cast fly on my own"
DM: "Midnight spots a large gash in the cliff side across and up from the tunnel. There seems to be a couple of towers on the edge of the cliff side gash."
DM: "The potion should be just enough to get up there with some spare time."
Midnight: points to the towers "there?"
DM: "When the party is ready, they down their potions and arrive in about 2 minutes to the cliff side gash."
Zuko: "Over the teeth, past the gums, look out stomach, here it comes!"
DM: "The winds try to throw the party off course but they manage to stay on course not wasting any time."
DM: "You arrive to the gash and the wind subsides once beyond the overhang."
DM: "You spot a tieflings in robes in the guard towers, not apparently looking your way. Two more are tending a large caldron with blood spilling in to it from a large beating heart."
DM: "The heart is very loud and beats with an ominous evil tone of dread."
DM: "In the center is a pool of blood assuming captured by the bleeding heart. Four monolithic statues hold the heart up high, while another statue captures the blood via an aquaduct."
DM: "Opposite the pool is a makeshift platform with more cultists and some demonic looking creatures. On the plateform are two naked woman who have been prepared for sacrafice."
DM: "You're uncertain where the black shard is."
Zeke: As an immediate action, I cast Protection Devotion. For 1 minute, my 30-foot aura gives me and allies +4 AC. I cast Righteous Wrath of the Faithful. For 11 rounds, allies within a 30-foot burst of me gain: (1) an extra attack when making a full attack (doesn't stack with Haste); (2) +3 morale bonus on melee attack and damage rolls.
DM: "The choatic evil nature of this realm or the heart seems to disrupt Zeke's spells."
Vivek: "I'll use Haste as SLA. 8 rounds"
DM: "Zuko relized Tiefling are resistant to acid."
DM: "The towers are only 5ft off the ground with a stairs at the north and a large open window to the south."
Midnight: "midnight hurries towards the western tower (double move) putting away her bow and drawing heward's blade"
DM: "Master, we have invaders."
Cultist 5: "Master, we have invaders."
Cult Leader: "I know you fool. Take care of it. The ceremony is near complete."
DM: "The cultist swiftly draws his blade while simultaneously casting a quicken spell."
High Priestess: "Don't worry my love, I'll take care of them."
DM: "It's impossible to tell, but the visual affect looks to be Haste."
Zeke: I cast Mass Shield of Faith, giving a +3 deflection bonus to 11 creatures, no two of which can be more than 30 feet apart. Duration: 11 minutes. Range: 50 feet.
Zeke: And right after my turn ends, I again take an immediate action to try one final time on Protection Devotion.
Zeke: As an immediate action, I cast Protection Devotion. For 1 minute, my 30-foot aura gives me and allies +4 AC (sacred bonus). (Each use of this ability after the first costs 3 turn-undead attempts.)
Zuko: "hmm i seem to be in a bad spot"
Midnight: "takes up a defensive stance, and engages the cultist"
Namia: invisibly flies up away from the cultists then back down near zuko
Zuko: "more hot chicks to look at gigity gigity alright"
Cult Leader: "Take care of the fliers."
Zeke: "Even in the depths of this dark place, I try to call on Celestian's power again. I cast Righteous Might to enlarge myself for 11 rounds. I also gain a +8 size bonus to Strength, a +4 size bonus to Constitution. a +4 enhancement bonus to natural armor, and DR 5/evil"
High Priestess: smiles as she see the large dwarf flying over the chasm.
Midnight: "tumbles to the east out of the teifling sandwich"
Zeke: Since I can't quite reach Midnight with a good healing spell, I decide to improve my mobility with a harder-to-dispel Fly spell of my own.
DM: "The cultist staning over Midnight's body both cast a spell and slicing their hands on their blades before flying over to attack Namia."
DM: "Cultist 8 casts a spell defensively but fails."
Zeke: "Our bodies are pretty stubborn, you might soon discover," I counter.
High Priestess: "Kill them all and throw their bodies in to the rift."
Zeke: If possible, I 5-foot fly to the northwest, then use Divine Ward to try to cast Heal at a 50-foot range on Midnight.
Zeke: For Midnight, I use Divine Ward to cast a long-range Heal (touch range), healing 110 HP and immediately ending all of the following: ability damage, blinded, confused, dazed, dazzled, deafened, diseased, exhausted, fatigued, feebleminded, insanity, sickened, nauseated, stunned, and poisoned. If used against an undead creature, Heal instead acts like Harm.
Midnight: "Dear Midnight... please learn to duck, thank you, your head."
Zuko: zuko flies over the cultist and charges from behind
DM: "Zuko in his charge sense a presence above the statue."
Midnight: "charges into flank the enemy with Namia, then attacks."
Zeke: I grin. "Thanks for the heads up!"
Zuko: "that incredibly hot, scantily clad, invisible, evil bitch is some were above the statue"
Cult Leader: "The ceremony is nearly complete... take your positions."
DM: "Two of the cultist raise daggers above the prone naked women at altar."
DM: "The cultist looks in disbelief that he actually missed the giant dwarf."
Zeke: "Nice try buddy. I'm a dwarf of th ewoods!"
Zeke: "Youch! I got zapped." I glare at him with anger.
Zuko: "any one see my nose i cant seem to find it"
DM: "Only Midnight would notice a presence above the statue has moved away and is no longer there. It moved in the direction of the heart and altar."
Cult Leader: "Begins to chant the final phrases of his ritual."
Zeke: I 5-foot fly West and see if I can see Zuko.
Vivek: "That doesn't sound good."
Zeke: I ponder what this ritual they're conducting will do when complete. I've a feeling we might soon find out, unless we stop them.
Midnight: Spits on the cultist's corpse after Zuko sliced it up, sheaths her sword and draws the Bow of Hearts
DM: "Midnight can't be sure, but she thinks the invisible priestess is above the giant heart."
Zuko: zuko lands a flurry of strikes at the cultist's vital areas killing him very dead
Midnight: taking a calculated risk, Midnight fires at the invisible caster over the heart
DM: "Midnight shoots above the heart but it continues on not hitting a target."
Namia: namia flies upward to the point were she has line of site on the nude women and unleashes a barage of magic missiles upon the closest one
DM: "The missiles hit the unconscious woman with an unknown affect other than severely injuring her or perhaps killing her."
DM: "Both cultist stab in to their chests and carve out their hearts and put them in the ritual bowl."
DM: "From above the Giant heart you can see the Priestess with a black obsidian shard plunge it deed in to the heart."
DM: "Waves of force eminate from the still beating heart and Namia, Zuko and Vivek are wracked with pain."
DM: "The beating force is persistant and just being around it causes you pain."
DM: "The blood pool below ripples and begins to congeal."
Zeke: "You'll have to do better than that to pierce my thick hide," I taunt.
Cult Leader: "Rise Vejakilar and bestow upon us your blessings..."
Midnight: "I don't like the sound of this veginakillar..."
Zuko: "dont worry im sure he's friendly"
DM: "Thick tendrils of dark red ichor weep from great rents in the heart?s sides and from the slowly writhing veins and arteries dangling from its top, flowing at last into a large pool in the center of the pyramid?s roof. One channel siphons the thick, tarlike ichor into a smaller cauldron being held by a statue. The air smells tangy and sharp, like molten iron mixed with the stink of rotting flowers, and the stone of the ledge seems to vibrate with each beat of the monstrous heart pinioned above."
High Priestess: Laugh meniacally as the shard begins to sink in to the heart giving it power.
Zeke: "Uh oh."
DM: "The pool begins to congeal as something is starting to form, but is far from whole just yet."
Zuko: "see she's havong a good time, its a party"
Zeke: I 5-foot fly west again.
DM: "Vivek would know that Vejakilar was the god of Deception that once ruled this plane of the Abyss."
DM: "The current ruler is Fraz-Urb?luu."
Vivek: "Oh crap, Vejakilar is the old ruler of this plane... we need to get the shard and get out of here."
Zeke: "What can we do to get the shard from out of the heart? Dispel Magic perhaps? Seems like a stretch."
Zeke: "I thought it was buried inside."
Zuko: "how about just grab the damn thing"
Midnight: "Shit! THAT was the shard we're after?!"
DM: "Vivek shoots and breaks one of her images."
Midnight: "Namai, you have mage hand prepped? We can get it out together!"
Zuko: "cover me!"
DM: "The Priestess see the shard wiggle itself out and floats in the air only to be reveal that Zuko was able to pull it out."
DM: "Two more images are destroyed by Midnight."
High Priestess: "The shard, get the shard..."
DM: "The cult leader rises up from the altar..."
Cult Leader: Invoking Vejakilar's name, an unholy word blinds and deafens vivek and zuko.
DM: "The group begins to feel their potions begin to wear off."
Zeke: For Zuko: I cast Heal (touch range), healing 110 HP and immediately ending all of the following: ability damage, blinded, confused, dazed, dazzled, deafened, diseased, exhausted, fatigued, feebleminded, insanity, sickened, nauseated, stunned, and poisoned. If used against an undead creature, Heal instead acts like Harm.
DM: "Zeke reaches in to heal Zuko so that he may see and hear again, but something strange happens. Zeke's divine power seem to have overloaded giving Zuko the full 110 points (the rest in temp hp) and a Divine Power (as per the spell). The shard seems to have made a direct link with Zuko and Zeke's diety."
Zeke: "Well, this is a strange boost we're experiencing."
Vivek: Sensing the fly potion wearing off and him flying blind takes the second potion and blindly moves towards the chasm.
Midnight: "Hopes Zuko can get out of the mob"
Midnight: "Let's get out of here!"
Midnight: "drinks the potion of fly"
Midnight: "flys over the chasim"
DM: "Zuko turns invisible, but the shard does not."
DM: "We we last met you were fighting the cultists to find the shard while a ritual near a giant heart was taking place."
DM: "The ritual was completed with the sacrafice of the 2 naked females and the plunging of the shard in to the heart."
DM: "You discoverd the ritual was to revive the abyss's old demonic leader Vejakilar and you could see a form writhing in the blood before Zuko was able to stealthfully remove the shard from the heart."
DM: "The cult leader demanded the item to be returned and all cultists tried to jump Zuko, but he was able to break free and is heading toward the edge of the wailing gash."
DM: "Almost forgot. Zeke was able to release Zuko and somehow made a connection with his god through the shard granting Zuko extra ability."
DM: "Poor Vivek is currently blind but is just now regaining his hearing."
Cult Leader: The cult leader walks across the air with ease towards Zuko, "You will not escape with that shard. Hand it over or I will destroy you... permanently."
DM: "Namia and Vivek would see a very powerful spell of destruction being cast with only the last syllable being held waiting for Zuko's response."
Vivek: "duck!"
Zuko: "sure here you go..."
DM: "Cultists fly pass the shard in to the wailing winds and bob and weave in the winds waiting for thier master."
Cult Leader: "If your friends moves or act hostilily before you hand over the shard, you will die."
Zuko: zuko hands the shard too... namia
Cult Leader: "That is not what I meant.. too bad for your companion..."
DM: "A dark ripping force lances at Namia to her inevietable doom but a barely noticable flittering feather gets in then and soaks it up... Namia now realized that she can now cast Destruction..."
DM: "The pink in the feather disappears and turns black."
Cult Leader: "In the name of Vejakilar, what was that?"
Zeke: "It seems you've underestimated us again."
DM: "Namia can fell the power in the shard and spells are now at 1 level higher."
Zuko: zuko runs towards the edge of the cliff and jumps off, potion in hand
DM: "Vivek would here dispel magic being cast."
DM: "Namia's ability to fly is now dispelled."
Zeke: I move up to Vivek and cast Remove Blindness/Deafness.
Vivek: "ok, I'll cast invisible on myself, move over to her, buy another standard action, then cast fly on her"
Vivek: "shit, I didn't prepare fly. I can give her my second potion"
Vivek: "I think I would have used Alter Self"
Vivek: "oh"
Vivek: "I whisper for her to hand me the shard then"
Namia: "Don't worry, I have fly... see you at the cave."
Vivek: "that was a way better plan before I didn't have Fly prepared"
Midnight: "Midnight makes a tactical move, joining up with her familiar, then casts obscuring mist engulfing the cultists to the west"
Namia: No longer able to see her target for the destruction spell, she casts fly on herself and goes after Zuko in to the chasm.
DM: "All the cultist fly after her doing a charge."
DM: "Completely obscured by the mist, deep gutteral laughter begins to erupt from the mist."
Cult Leader: "You childish tricks will not stop me child."
Cult Leader: Fly out of mist over the chasm and a purple ray strikes down at Namia and the shard.
DM: "Vivke and Namia are familiar with the Dimensional Anchor spell that now affecting her. It is unknown if the shard was affected."
DM: "Zuko drinks his potion, but seems to be a bit lost in the maelstrum."
Zeke: Against Namia's Dimensional Anchor, asssuming she and/or Vivek told me what happened: I cast Dispel Magic on one spellcaster, creature, object; or 20-foot burst. Dispel check: [d20+10].
DM: "The green glow around Namia disappears."
Vivek: "haste"
Vivek: "oops, wrong one"
Vivek: "That should have been Arcane Dilettante"
Vivek: "yeah"
DM: "As they cultist pull back, Zeke can see one removing his weapon from her motionless body. The shard is now in free fall."
DM: "The cultist start to fly down after the shard but it stops mid fall."
DM: "Namia's body is battered by the winds, but remains aloft."
Cult Leader: "I am victorious. Your companion is dead and we have the shard. Now you all shall pay for your interuption."
DM: "Zeke and Midnight recognize that as righteous might. A power that Zeke currently has on him."
DM: "Here arrow has a hard time reaching the target in these winds, but is able to hit. The blow seems less than effective though."
Cult Leader: "My love, bring the shard to me..."
Cult Leader: Cackles and the amount of power the shard provide him.
Cult Leader: "He reaches his hand out and has a ghostly hand touch him cause harm, but Zeke is able to resist most of the damage."
Zeke: For Namia, I cast Revenance to bring a touched creature temporarily back to life for 11 minutes. He begins with half of full normal HP. He is alive for the duration of the spell and can be healed normally. He gains a +1 morale bonus on attack, damage, saves, and checks against the creature that killed him.
DM: "Just before Zeke casts his spell he can see Namia's gut wound closing shut from a regenerative affect."
Zeke: I cast MASS Cure Light Wounds, healing [1d8+11] HP for up to 11 creatures, no two of which can be more than 30 feet apart. Undead in the area can reduce the damage to half if they make a Will save of [h:AbilityMod=6][h:SpellLevel=5][t:10+AbilityMod+SpellLevel]. Range: 50 feet.
DM: "Vivek sees that the cult leader is completely oblivious to him and now is his chance to snatch the shard."
Zeke: "Easy come, easy go, buddy."
DM: "Vivek misread the cult leader and got a face full of fiery axe for his troubles."
Midnight: "makes a tactical move away from the cultists and fires another shot at their leader"
DM: "The wind takes away the arrows."
Namia: Namia wakes in pain and wind and her skin stings from the ash pelting her and realizes she is still in combat
Zeke: "You go Namia! Give him a taste of his own medicine!"
Namia: "Namia looks to her feather, saving her 2 times this battle... now it's time to end it. Pulling the spell from the feather she redirects it back to it's owner. The waves of black force hits him"
DM: "The black force crawls over his skin slowly and agonizingly turning him to ash and his clothes and belongings are scattered to the wind."
DM: "The shard once again begins to fall."
DM: "The cultists cry out to their master in grief and turn to the party in a blood rage."
DM: "The priest appears in a rage and claws at Namia."
Zeke: I take a 5-foot step NW then cast defensively Mass CLW.
Midnight: "tumbles away from the cultist and fires an arrow at him"
DM: "Zuko find his way through the chasms and catches the shard."

Arcane: "Ah, you made it. Amazing."
Arcane: "Do you have the heart with you?"
Zuko: "thats what i thought"
Zeke: "With a little help from our friend, the Cat ... er, translucent dragon."
Arcane: "Oh, is that where he went... I wondered."
Zeke: "The queen was done in by Midnight's skill with the Heward's thinblade. The elusive Cat was quite helpful as well. The queen has been turned to stone."
Zeke: I fill him in on the other details if he's interested.
Arcane: "He used to be a guardian, but during... well, I'll tell you the story later. I'm sure you're very tired now."
Arcane: "Who has the heart. I will return it and we can get on to the last task, but not before I fill you in on the details and you get some well deserved rest."
Namia: "yes i think the cleric an i's are depleted"
Midnight: "tosses the amulet to the arcane"
Midnight: examines the bow of hearts then looks to Jack "help me find a repeating crossbow and you can have this, deal?"
Jack of Diamonds: "I'll keep an eye out"
Arcane: "Oh, I can make one of those for you, no problem."
Midnight: looks to the arcane "a magic one by any chance?"
Arcane: "I said you can have most any mundane item, with in reason."
Zuko: "midnight what your current bow?"
Arcane: "I am proficient at enchanting and with the heart, I'll have the power to give it a good bonus."
Midnight: unshoulders her bow shows it to zuko "nothing special"
Arcane: "Who has the heart?"
Arcane: Arcane puts his hand out.
Arcane: He thanks Midnight for it. He escuses himself and returns a few moments later.
Zuko: "nevermind it pulls a little hard for me"
Namia: "let me see that... i could use it as a backup for my arcanabus, wont get much use but untill you can sell it some where"
DM: "When we last left our heroes, they just came back from defeating the Queen of Hearts, a clone construct of Tasha. Midnight with an opportune swipe of her blade took her arm off in mid spell where she turned herself to stone. The Cat revealed himself to be an Ancient Force Dragon who once was a guardian of the Arcane."
DM: "Now that you have mostly safely returned, you acquired a new ally who once worked for the Arcane, but ended up being trapped in Underland."
Vivek: "Who's the Arcane?"
Arcane: "Good to see you return Vivek. I take it your mission has finally been completed."
Zeke: "The Arcane is this fellow here. A kind of guardian. He has tasked us with helping him save our worlds."
Vivek: "It's been so long, I've forgotten there was something to be done."
Arcane: "Ah, you have been gone so long and under the Queen influence for so long, that appear to be a bit confused and perhaps lost some of your memory."
Midnight: "A few more hours in that place I'd have welcomed a loss of memory"
Arcane: "You and your companions went to Underland to retrieve the Queen's Heart, which has now been returned to me nearly completing my plan to save the spheres."
Zeke: "I think some of his companions may have been turned into potted plants."
Arcane: "The realm is ruled by the most powerful person there and bends to their whim."
Vivek: "Then I suppose I return triumphant."
Arcane: "From what you tell me, perhaps the Queen and the Cat as you say share in that responsibility.. very curious."
Arcane: "Indeed, you are triumphant and with only one more task before the final battle we are nearly done."
Midnight: "ominous..."
Arcane: "But now is time for you all to rest and recover. With this new power I may be able to conjure up some minor magical items. There was talk of a repeating crossbow?"
Midnight: "Ah, yes. I was looking for one of those."
Zuko: "If you can enchant items now can you provide us with magical enhancements to our armor?"
Namia: "and shields?"
Arcane: "Yes I can. Give the items you wish to enhance and I'll see what materials I have to enchant them."
Midnight: "Midnight, likewise, hands over her chainshirt"
Zuko: "zuko removes his chain shirt and hands it to the arcane"
Zeke: I offer him my darkwood shield. "This is a low priority because I can enhance it myself by expending a daily spell."
Midnight: "masterwork mithril"
Namia: "namia does the same for her mithral shirt and buckler"
Zeke: "I might have a spare mithral chain shirt."
Midnight: "heh, just carrying around extra mythic metal. such a dwarf"
Zeke: I dig through my portal hole. "Yes, here it is if anyone wants it. A mithral chain shirt. I'm currently wearing darkleaf full plate."
Zuko: "if you cant enchant that could you create a mithral breastplate?"
Arcane: "Mithral is quite rare. I could transform a mithral chain shirt in to a breast plate though."
Midnight: "so long as we're asking favors of our patron here, I've been out of potions since the jungle."
Arcane: "Well, list 3 things you would like and I'll see what I can do and if I'll need anything from one to accomplish the task."
Arcane: "So, I can use Zeke mithral shirt and transform it in to a breast plate with a limited wish."
Midnight: shrugs compliantly "Heavy Repeating Crossbow, dealer's choice on anything special with it. Enchant my chainshirt with Twilight, and a stock of healing potions."
Arcane: "I can't really create healing potions, but I can provide you with some crystal vials and you can use the pool to collect some of the water. It's only effective for a day with in the vial though and curative properties are gradual."
Zuko: "Enhanced Mithral Breastplate of Easy Travel, Lesser Crystals of Energy Assault, Gloves of Dex."
Midnight: "hope there's a store where ever we're going next."
Arcane: "I can fabricate a heavy repeating crossbow and then enchant it with 2 enhancements."
Namia: "Enchanted Twilight Mithral Breastplate, Enchanted Mithral Buckler, Lesser Crystals of Energy Assault"
Vivek: "I can live with what I have."
Arcane: "So, I can create another magical item... did you want an energy assault crystal?"
Arcane: "I will also provide each of you with 2 potions of fly for your next mission. One to take you to your target and one to return."
Midnight: "this sounds like we're getting pretty far out there on this one..."
Arcane: "You'll be traveling through a 2-way portal to one of the planes of the Abyss."
Zeke: "If it helps, I can also cast Fly."
Vivek: "I've got Alter Self prepared."
Namia: "as can i"
Vivek: "Do we need to worry about any planar effects?"
Arcane: "Time is both on our side and against us. Right now we are stuck in a place where there is no time, but at the same time there is only so much time left before we are destroyed. It is a difficult concept, but is the main reason why I can't spend all my time creating items for your mission."
Zeke: "That's understandable. My requests, if it's possible to make any of these, are (1) A Periapt Wisdom +2 or +3"#59 (2) enhancement of my darkwood shield from +0 to +3"#59 (3) A Cloak of Resistance +3. Also, a mundane platinum ring for Namia and one for Vivek for use with Shield Other.
Arcane: "Getting this last black shard will be able to break this ship free by altering reality and we will be able to continue persuit of ... well, I'll tell you more after."
Zeke: "This is a ship? Wow I didn't realize."
Arcane: "Yes, do you not recall looking out the view port of the main bridge?"
Zuko: "this is a ship?"
Zeke: "Possibly... it's all a bit of a fog."
Zuko: "now that you mention it, vaguely"
Zeke: "Ah yes. I hadn't realized that was a viewport on a ship. Or I didn't remember."
Arcane: "We had a great battle and we were nearly destroyed. Only some parts of the ship were able to be slavaged, but once back in to real time, the ship will disintegrate and we'll need another ship to travel by."
Zuko: "ours was damaged as well"
Arcane: "I've done all that I can to salvage the mission. All others have perished or escaped and I am assumed to have already died. That will be our greatest advantage in success."
Arcane: "Yes, I was able to send a construct back through the gate to your world and have it prepared for travel."
Zuko: "sweet"
Zuko: "but our ship will be no mach for anything that could damage this one"
Arcane: "I will only have time and power to accomplish three tasks for your group before it will be time for you to leave."
Zeke: " Well, Midnight certainly wants her bow. Zuko wants his decked-out armor. Does all that count as just two items?"
Arcane: "I have divined the shard will be used in a ritual to summon a great beast to fight the lord of the Abyss and when I'm able to sync up my gate to that event then you must go then."
Zuko: "i can forgo armor for a weapon crystal but armor would be my second choice"
Arcane: "I can fabricate without enchanting the crossbow and it will not count towards your 3 items."
Midnight: "I'll agree to that"
Arcane: "The arcane takes the existing cracked stone from Namia and holds it in his hand and chants. A bright light transforms it in to a major augment crystal of force."
Namia: "wow! thats great thank you!"
Arcane: "The arcane takes the mithral chain and does the same and does the same melting and transforming it in to a breast plate of twilight +2."
Arcane: "The Arcane takes the full plate and melts it down in to a small metal stone that gleams with great power making it a periapt of wisdom +4."
Zeke: "Very impressive. Thank you."
Arcane: "The Arcane casts a spell that creates from thin air a heavy repeating crossbow (no ammo)."
Arcane: "I'll see if I can find some ammunition alone with getting those rings for you."
Arcane: "The Arcane looks very tired after the casting and the ships light dim slightly, but return to normal slowly."
Arcane: "You can get a good nights rest and then you can go in to the Abyss tomorrow."
Zuko: "sounds like fun"
DM: "The next 'day' you awake to the smell of breakfast. The Arcane has brought you a hearty meat and potato breakfast along with some cooked greens, milk, juice and beer."
Zuko: "beer for breakfast xelos would have liked this"
Arcane: "You have an hour to prepare before the nexus coincides with the gate to travel to. You will only have 1 hour to go there and get the shard and then the nexus will close that gate. If you fail, I will have to go in to hibernation again and you will have to find your own way out of the Abyss."
Zuko: "that doesnt leave us much time"
Arcane: "The gate is very precise and you will arrive very close to your target. It's being used in a ritual, so your job is to take it away. If it is used, it may not be powerful enough to help us."
Arcane: "This is a one time only opportunity and if you fail this, I fear the worse for my fate."
Zeke: "We'll do our best. Thanks for the great breakfast all the magic items."
Zeke: "Midnight, is your new crossbow magical? If not I can enchant it each day."
Arcane: "You have proven yourslelve heroic and dedicated and I'm trusting my life and the fate of the spheres in your success. If for some reason you fail but are able to get back to your home world, find your old ship and try to continue on with my legacy."
Zeke: I nod solemnly at that.
Zeke: "Midnight, is your new crossbow magical? If not I can enchant it each day."
Midnight: "It is not."
Zeke: "Okay I can make it +2 for 11 hours. If we survive long enough to rise to level 12, it might then become +3 each day."
Midnight: "That should help"
Arcane: "The arcane waves his hand and the mist barring the way to the north is now open to a door."
Arcane: "The Abyss is quite disconcerting and a bad place to die. Good luck."
Zuko: "gee thanks"
Midnight: "..Insightful..."
Arcane: "The door is that way.... points to the north"

DM: "After resting and recovering at the Hatter's house, the house brings the party to the palace. It turns in to a giant worm and burrows its way here. Hatter and Crok escort you pass the guards outside who turn to face you as you pass. There's seems to be something odd about them, but you can't quite place it."
Crok: "Your majesty, I present the outsiders."
Zeke: "That was one strange house. I knew there was something odd about it -- almost like it was alive -- when we first saw it. What a trip!"
Midnight: "The only odd things around here, are the normal things.."
Crok: Bows and excuses himself by backing out of court hall only to reappear in the balconies above.
Queen of Hearts: "I see you bring me my favorite present, but it still seems to be attached to something."
Hatter: Hatter bows, "But on temporarily your majesty." He appears to lift his had but his entire head comes off with the hat as he bows.
Midnight: "In certain situations.. that would disturb me..."
Queen of Hearts: "Guards! Take Hatter away. She seems furious, but you're not sure why."
DM: "A pair of guards enter and takes Hatter by each arm. As they pass, you now know what is strange about them. They nearly disappear when looking at them from the side as they are only 2 dimensional."
Cat: Appearing from in between a couple of Pillars out of site of the Queen of Heart you see the Cat.
Cat: "What do you think of our Queen little ones?"
Zeke: "So... the elusive cat has graced us with his presence," I mumble.
Queen of Hearts: The Queen smiles fondly as Hatter is dragged out
Zeke: "The queen seems rather imperious and irritiable," I whisper.
Queen of Hearts: "Well, let us get to business then. Why have you invaded my lands?"
Queen of Hearts: "Knave! come down here and greet our visitors."
DM: "The bald man dressed in black stands up from the balcony and jumps down with ease."
Zeke: "I'm afraid, your majesty, that you have something we seek. Our realm is in danger without it."
DM: "After a long pause, the Knave speaks."
Midnight: "she won't care, we'll just have to take it"
Knave of Spades: "They have much magic and very powerful magic at that. I believe they are relics."
Queen of Hearts: "Really. Do you bring me gifts for something I have, or do you have other plans?"
Midnight: "guessing.. other"
Queen of Hearts: "Speak, or I'll have your heads."
Midnight: glances at her companions "she wants head.."
Zeke: "Well, we do have some nice berries and a path-finding rat."
Zuko: "i doubt she wants a rat"
Zeke: "But it's such a cute and helpful rat!"
Knave of Spades: "My Queen, they appear to be very powerful, perhaps..."
Midnight: nudges zuko "go ahead, give her head"
Queen of Hearts: "Silence Knave. We'll just see how powerful. Guards, Off with their heads."
Knave of Spades: "I shall protect you my queen. As he takes up a defensive stance."
Zeke: As an immediate action, I cast Protection Devotion. For 1 minute, my 30-foot aura gives me and allies +4 AC (sacred bonus). (Each use of this ability after the first costs 3 turn-undead attempts.)
Zeke: I cast Mass Shield of Faith, giving a +3 deflection bonus to 10 creatures, no two of which can be more than 30 feet apart. Duration: 10 minutes. Range: 50 feet.
Midnight: "Someone"
Midnight: "Someone's bulking up.."
DM: "The room has a spacious 25ft high ceiling where 2 balconies 15ft up hold various spectators. The Queen sits in her throne watching. The trees at her side sparkle from an unknow effect."
Midnight: "maneuvers towards the north wall. In the last ten feet she leaps up, kicking off the wall, then pillar and climbs onto the balcony"
DM: "Two of the guards get frosty but the others including the Knave appear unaffected."
Zeke: "Cat, you going to just sit there, are are you going to star hissing, roaring, and fighting? Pick a side, ya pesky feline!" I say mirthfullly.
Zeke: "Oof. Midnight, this is getting rather personal!"
DM: "The Guards batter Midnight about until she falls prone at Zeke's feet."
DM: "As the area sparkles, none of the magic settles on the guards and they remain unaffected."
Zeke: I cast Righteous Wrath of the Faithful. For 10 rounds, allies within a 30-foot burst of me gain: (1) an extra attack when making a full attack (doesn't stack with Haste); (2) +3 morale bonus on melee attack and damage rolls.
DM: "Many in the crowd above laugh at the fallen Midnight."
Zeke: I whisper to Midnight, "Maybe it's best if you stand back to the east or somewhere and do some archery or spells."
DM: "Namia would notice that the dias may be under the effect of a globe of invulnerability."
Namia: "she has a globe of invulnerability up!"
Midnight: kip up to behind Zeke "Lets try something different"
DM: "Zuko's blade passes right through the Queen. She looks annoyed at the Knave for letting an intruder through."
Midnight: "I'm going to burn some cards..."
DM: "Zuko can tell that she is an illusion."
Zeke: I whisper to Midnight, "Do you have any spells that can grab her heart pendant from a distance? That's what we're here for. It might also disable her if it's the source of her power."
Midnight: "Doubt anything would get through the globe.."
Zuko 2: "its not her! its an illusion!"
Zuko 2: "its not her! its an illusion!"
Zuko: "its not her! its an illusion!"
Zeke: I whisper to the cat, "Where's the real queen?"
Queen of Hearts: The Queen laughs at the party's futility, "Come Knave, they bore me. We'll leave the clean up for the guards."
Queen of Hearts: She touches Knave and he disappears. She then stands up and disappears as well.
Cat: "The Queens bigest fault is her overconfidence. Defeat the guards and you may get help."
Zeke: "The cat deigns to speak to us at last!" I wink at the cat.
DM: "The 2 dimension guard seems to avoid the webs as it steps forward."
DM: "The guard seems to loose his weapon in the web and will spend an action next turn to recover it."
Zeke: I cast Shield Other to give the target a +1 deflection bonus and a +1 resistance bonus on saves. Also, half of the hit point damage received by the target is redirected to me. Range: 50 feet. Duration: 10 hours.
Midnight: "Namai, can you burn the web?"
Zuko: stands (swift, boots)
DM: "Zuko strikes the guard face on and it does very little damage."
DM: "The color spray washes over the guards to no effect."
Midnight: "Namia, got any fire spells on you?"
Namia: "no"
Zeke: "Hm, perhaps they're constructs."
Namia: "not even a match"
Midnight: "someone burn the web!"
Zeke: I batter aside his ability with my shield.
DM: "The guard with his 2 dimensional blade slices through Midnight nearly taking her head off, but she fall to the ground dying."
Zeke: I see my companion get hit and sense the injury may be mortal. "No!" I cry. I speak a single magic word to try to intervene. I cast Close Wounds, healing 9 HP. (If cast immediately after the subject takes damage, it effectively prevents the damage.) Range: 50 feet.
Zeke: I cast Righteous Might to enlarge myself for 10 rounds. I also gain a +8 size bonus to Strength, a +4 size bonus to Constitution. a +4 enhancement bonus to natural armor, and DR 5/evil
Zeke: I also use my domain Freedom ability to enter the web (or be in the web) without being impeded.
DM: "Zeke grows and knocks over one of the plants."
DM: "Zuko notices that only the acid and sonic damage gets through. The rest bounces off it's tough exterior."
DM: "Zuko thinks to himself, are these golems?"
Zuko: "they are constructs!"
Zeke: My thicker hide deflects their blows.
DM: "The Guard does not slice off Zeke's big head."
Zeke: I cast Prayer (40-foot burst from me) to give a +1 luck bonus on attack rolls, weapon damage, saves, and skill checks. Our foes take -1 on such rolls. Duration: 10 rounds.
DM: "Zeke can tell that the guards are immune to that effect."
DM: "Zukos blades continue to bounce of the guards armor."
Midnight: "regaining consciousness, Midnight rolls out of the card's range and kips up"
Zeke: "They seem quite susceptible to fire. Zuko, maybe you can light the entire web on fire? Or maybe it doesn't work that way. Maybe you have to burn one section at a time."
Zeke: For Zuko: I cast Cure Critical Wounds to heal [4d8+10] HP.
Jack of Diamonds: "Hit their hearts and get me out of here!"
DM: By aiming at their "hearts" (-4) you do additional damage (1.5) and bypass DR.
DM: "The 2 dimensional state causes a miss chance if they are not facing you directly"
Jack of Diamonds: "You're the first to even wound them since I've been here."
Zeke: "These guards are tenacious, I'll give them that."
Zuko: "i havent moved zeke"
Zeke: "We'll wear these bastards down. Keep the faith."
Zuko: aims for the heat
Midnight: "jumps up the wall and climbs onto the balcony"
Zuko: "BOOM!"
Zuko: "hey 9 yo mama was a 2 of clubs!"
Zuko: "and your daddy was the joker"
Zeke: I pray to Celestian again. "I know we're asking a lot of you lately, ole buddy. You're really coming through for us." I cast Elation to give allies a +2 morale bonus to Strength and Dexterity (and +5 speed) for 10 rounds. Area: 80-foot spread.
DM: "The Jack of Diamonds force arrows cut through the guard like soft butter."
Midnight: "suddenly appears on the balcony after firing a carefully aimed shot at 8's heart"
Midnight: "trumped that bitch!"
Zuko: "hey 7 YO mama was an old maid!"
Zeke: I draw my morningstar and swing at Nine's heart (-4 but with flanking).
Zuko: "face me!"
Zuko: "look at me when im trying to kill you!"
Zeke: I launch a full attack to the east against Four's heart (-4). I also take a 5-foot-step west to maybe make an opening for Zuko.
Midnight: "this deck is about dealt out.."
DM: "Crok in the stands casts a spell and the webs disappear. Those in the gallery begin and loud uproarious round of clapping and cheering."
Midnight: "simple-minded lookey-loo's"
Jack of Diamonds: "There's a door behind the throne. It'll take you to the Queen. Take me with you. Please."
Jack of Diamonds: "More than anything."
Midnight: hops off the balcony, slowing her fall along the wall, landing next to Zeke she regards the giant dwarf "any chance you could patch me up big guy?"
Zuko: "you were a great help in this battle you are welcome to join us"
Zeke: "You wish to leave her employ?"
DM: "After 1 minute, the Queen returns"
Queen of Hearts: "Well my pets, is the job done yet... What?.. That's impossible"
Zuko: "any of you got any healing for me?"
Zuko: "otherwise ill burn some charges off my belt here"
Queen of Hearts: "You all will pay for this... And she stands again and vanishes."
Namia: checks for traps
DM: "Namia would find the secret door."
Midnight: "well.. kitty... can you help us lick our wounds?""
Cat: "I had a great time watching you... most entertaining."
Midnight: "entertaining enough to lend a favor?"
Crok: "Tea anyone? Well, it's actually just water."
Zuko: "i think a spot of 'tea is just what we need"
Midnight: "Refreshment? why not."
Crok: Pours everyone a cup
Zuko: drinks
Zeke: "I'm not sure I want to drink anything from Hatter or Croc after we found out your tea party was poisoned."
DM: "Those who drink start to feel gradually better."
Zeke: "Oh that's right, you did heal us with the well water didn't you?"
Zuko: "ill either cure us or kill us either way we're in no shape to face the queen like this"
Midnight: waits until zuko has shown signs of poison "heh" drinks
Zeke: Having drunk the water before, I decide to trust him again.
Midnight: "actually I'm good without vigor"
Midnight: "any last bits of feline wisdom?"
Midnight: "let me help"
DM: "Midnight would notice an arcane lock."
Midnight: "heh, magically locked"
Zeke: "Right before we go through the door, I have some scrolls of Bless and Protection from Evil I could use."
Zeke: "I'm pretty low on spells. It's probably best that Namia cast Haste on us when the time comes. I'll sve mine for healing or other things."
Namia: "i wont be much help either but i can cast haste"
DM: "Namia knows breaking it down or casting a knock or dispel can open it"
Zeke: "That will help a lot. I only have 1 level 5, 1 level 4, and 1 level 3 spell left."
Midnight: regards Namia "I can't do much with this I think... you?"
Namia: namia knocks on the door making sure her large ruby ring makes contact with the lock
Zuko: "steps through the doorway?"
DM: "Zuko goes through door and sees stairs down."
Zeke: I follow close behind Zuko.
Zuko: waits at the door for the others
Zuko: opens the door
DM: "The party goes through the secret door and descend the stairs to a pair of double doors."
Zeke: I have some Protection Devotions left. So I do one now.
Midnight: "looks on anyone care to open it?"
Zeke: As an immediate action, I cast Protection Devotion. For 1 minute, my 30-foot aura gives me and allies +4 AC (sacred bonus). (Each use of this ability after the first costs 3 turn-undead attempts.)
Zeke: I try to open the door.
Queen of Hearts: "Welcome outsiders."
Zuko: "howdy"
Zeke: "Hello. I think you know why we've come."
DM: "The doors open to a trophy room. Lining the walls are various statues of creatures and people in a mixture of heroic and terrified poses."
DM: "The room is domed where at the top is multicolored glass windows that is likely to only be an illusion."
DM: "Without another work, Midnight has her arrows fly at the guards."
DM: "The party would see the Queen cast Hideous Laughter."
Queen of Hearts: "I'll give you until the count of 10 to come in to the room, or I will slay one of you immediately."
Zuko: "dont worry lady i intend too"
DM: "She looks very calm and not the least bit worried. She also seems to be serious about her threat."
Zeke: "I suspect some kind of trap," I mutter to my companions.
DM: "Jack and Zeke sense an invisible creature pass near them."
Zuko: "duh"
Zeke: I pass on what I felt to the others, by whispering.
Jack of Diamonds: "suggests the Knave as the invisible party"
Zeke: "Ah that makes sense. I forgot he was guarding the queen," I whisper.
Zeke: "Can you tell us anything about the Knave's capabilities?"
Queen of Hearts: "There is something you all don't understand. You exist because I allow it and our impertenance amuses me, to a point."
Zeke: "Like, can the Knave sneak attack?"
Queen of Hearts: "I see Jack is being a naughty boy and told you the secret of how to defeat my guards."
Zeke: "Jack is delightfully naughty. But he also has a bone to pick with you. As do we."
Zeke: Calling on Celestian's aid, I cast Elation to give allies a +2 morale bonus to Strength and Dexterity (and +5 speed) for 10 rounds. Area: 80-foot spread.
Queen of Hearts: "You have very interesting moves. I may keep you on as one of my other Knaves."
Zuko: "hmm any 'benefits' to that?"
Midnight: "Hustles forward, then dives into a roll and tumbles into the chamber"
Queen of Hearts: "I'm curious who the better archer is... Jack or the Elven female?"
Zuko: "my money is on jack, sorry darling"
Jack of Diamonds: "We could use you for target competition."
DM: "Jack wound find his protect from evil now removed."
Queen of Hearts: "Oh Jack, your queen command you to come to my side."
Zuko: "i take it back the elf is the better archer"
Queen of Hearts: "Stay here Jack and protect me from your new friends."
Zuko: "i wouldnt say we're 'friends'"
Queen of Hearts: "Very good. You all listen very well. Now amuse me."
DM: "Namia and Midnight sense the invisible creature move pass them again and to the north of the room."
DM: "Once everyone is inside the room the double doors disappear and wall appears in its place."
Zeke: I step back 5 feet. I cast Righteous Might to enlarge myself for 10 rounds. I also gain a +8 size bonus to Strength, a +4 size bonus to Constitution. a +4 enhancement bonus to natural armor, and DR 5/evil.
Queen of Hearts: "Jack, kill the archers bat. She won't be needed it if she is to server me."
Jack of Diamonds: "Yes, Your Grace."
Zuko: "i still want to know if serving the queen means we get to service the queen"
Zeke: I also act defensively and draw my weapon.
Queen of Hearts: "Only if I think it will please me. Are you offering yourself to me now?"
Zuko: "oh i can please you, but not yet just good to know i have something to look forward to when we loose"
Queen of Hearts: "What is it that you hope to win. Obviously you're here on a fools run. Is it that Arcane fellow?"
Zuko: "yeah thats the guy"
DM: "Jacks flurry of shots miss the bat."
Queen of Hearts: "Now Jack. You're not trying to miss the bat are you?"
Jack of Diamonds: "No, Your Grace. It's small and I don't have a clean shot."
Queen of Hearts: "Well, the Dwarf has quite a collection of protection magics. I doubt my guards could touch him. Knave, take him down."
Queen of Hearts: "This should be fun to watch."
Zeke: I 5-foot step forward and try to smack the guard in the heart.
DM: "Zeke would notice something very familiar about the inner circle because when touching it or crossing it, his lower magics begin to fade."
Zeke: "She's probably in another minor globe of invulnerability."
Zuko: "i figured as much"
Zeke: "Or maybe antimagic."
Zuko: "she would have an antimagic field around herself"
DM: "Midnight sensed an invisible presence to the south of room."
Zuko: "unless..."
Queen of Hearts: "Five of Hearts, forget about the dwarf and attack the others. Jack, the elf is over there."
DM: "An illusionary image mimicking Midnight appears in her square."
Zeke: "Knave, now's your chance to joint he willing side. Join us."
DM: "Zeke would notice some furious rage on his face and there isn't much recognition to his words."
Queen of Hearts: "So, did this 'Arcane' of yours tell you to kill me?"
Zeke: How do you know about the Arcane?
Queen of Hearts: "Jack here told me about him a long time ago. I'm also familiar with his experiments and expertise with constructs. With his help I created my guards."
Zeke: I try to determine if the Knave is bent on our destruction. If he is or I can't tell, I attack on my turn.
DM: "All Zeke can see is the blood fury in his eyes. He seems barely able to tell friend from foe."
Cat: "Hello my queen, you're..."
Queen of Hearts: "Hah, finally. I knew you couldn't resist cat. Now you have fallen in to my trap."
DM: "The runes on the outer circle light up with firey magic."
Queen of Hearts: "You are now trapped in this room and will be now subject to my will."
Zuko: "kinky"
Zeke: "I think you underestimate the cat, Queen. Do you even know what he is?"
Cat: "Don't be ridiculous, I can still... looking a bit worried, he doesn't fade away as he would normal do"
Zuko: "do we?"
Zeke: "I set my weapon down. I try to cast defensively. Concentration check [d20+16] vs. DC [15+1]. I cast Foundation of Stone on up to 10 creatures (no two of which can be more than 30' apart). In any round we don't move, we get +2 AC (and +4 on Strength checks made to resist being bull rushed or tripped). Duration: 10 rounds. Range: 50 feet."
DM: "The Image of the queen on the throne fades and the real queen steps out of an illusion of one of the statues."
DM: "Nearly the whole party is caught on the inside of the flames and can not leave or affect anything outside of them."
Zuko: "damn i was afraid it was something like that"
Midnight: "drops her bow, dives into a tumble drawing Heward's thinblade and strikes at the queen"
DM: "The Queen looks to happy to be paying attention to you."
DM: "The blade strikes her hardened skin several times and she looks unscathed."
Queen of Hearts: "You see child. It is useless to try to attack me. I am invulnerable and eternal and I control this world to my very whim. Here I.. am.. a.. GOD."
Queen of Hearts: "Now that I have what I want thanks to you all, I will send you back to where you came with a message to your arcane."
Queen of Hearts: "Trespass no more in my lands less I come to yours and sink his ship in to the black."
Queen of Hearts: Queue maniacle laughter
Cat: The cat begins to snicker.
Zeke: "We need to borrow your heart pendant," I shout.
Zeke: "The fate of our world may depend on it."
Cat: "You assume my good queen that you rule this world because the rule of the world is he who is most powerful rules."
Cat: "But that he is not you, it is I."
Queen of Hearts: "I will not listen to your feeble attempts to trick me cat. You are mine now to do what I will with. You are trapped."
Cat: "It is true. I am trapped for now. But any blood sacrafice across the line will release us all."
DM: "Everyone looks to the Knave still in a rage."
DM: "He seems to be stuck in between the outside and in."
Queen of Hearts: "No, you can't, you couldn't."
DM: "Midnight looks to the heart shapped pendant around the queens neck secured by a golden chain."
DM: "Namia tried the grab the Queen but finds that she is VERY strong."
Zeke: Looking a little battered myself, I say, "Nice work, Zuko."
Midnight: "strikes at the gold chain holding the heart pendant around the queen's neck"
Zeke: I heal myself so that I don't wind up dead when my 'Righteous Might wears off.
DM: "The can turns translucent and begins to grow and grow and grow..."
DM: "The cat grows in to a translucent dragon of force and bites the knave nearly killing him."
Zeke: "Whoa, cat. I was right about you!"
DM: "The dragon towers over everyone and fills the entire warded circle."
Queen of Hearts: The Queen looks on in awe of the creature, "I had no idea... how delicious."
DM: "Hewards blade draws upon the bond created with Midnight and guides her hand at that queen slicing off her arm in mid cast."
Midnight: "ha!" awes at the gore "holy.. shit..."
Queen of Hearts: "Ahh *The queen screams at the loss of her arm. The arm drops to the ground in a loud metal thump as if made of iron. And her polymorph any object goes awry."
DM: "The look of horror crosses her face as her body is slowly transformed in to stone until she remains as her other prizes in the room."
DM: "As Vivek fires a volly of deadly arrows at the Knave his body fall limp spill his blood across the magic firey circle dousing the flames out."
DM: "Jack feels the shackles of his mind fall with the destruction of the queen."
Zeke: I try to pat Cat on the snout. "Thanks for the help."
Midnight: "looks to the heart pendant again, hoping it too was not turned to stone"
Zuko: "and i was worried"
Cat: "The Queen is a.. well was a clever one."
Zeke: "Is she gone for good now? What happens to her realm? Will you rule it, cat?"
Cat: "Don't worry about her. You can take her amulet of power and go and I'll take care of the clean up."
Cat: "This room is the only place you will be able to return home."
Midnight: "yanks the amulet off the queen's stone neck"
Cat: "When you're ready, I'll send you on your way."
Zeke: "Alright. Maybe we'll come back someday to visit you."
Zuko: "well grab that necklace and lets go"
Midnight: considers the amulet now in her hand, clutching it tightly "yes... lets get out of this nightmare"
Cat: "Hmm, I prefer not. I like my peace."
Zeke: "Very well. Rule well and long."
Namia: "pries the rest of her stuff from the body"
Midnight: glances at Namai "first to strip her completely gets to deface the statue?"
Jack of Diamonds: "takes her crown and tosses it to the cat"
Namia: "thats a nice dress"
Zuko: "and a hot looking nude statue"
Midnight: "starts scribbling lude cartoons on the queen's statue with chalk"
Cat: "I have no desire to rule, but I had no desire to be caged either."
Midnight: defends the giant penis on the queen's cheek "I can't stand spoiled brats"

DM: "When we last met the Party joined the tea party only to realize that the Hatter and his invisible Croc friend are plotting to attack them. Namia tried to reason with Croc but he said it is all part of the game and gave her some useful advice if she defeats him."
Hatter: With a sudden cue from behind him, the Hatter jumps in to action leaping the table
Hatter: "I'm afraid your little obimination is not welcomed to this party, he says has he throws his hat at Deaking and Seph."
DM: "The hat flies at the pair and expands engulfing them and lands on the ground shrinking back to its usually size. The number 10 and 6 can be seen on playing cards in the hat band of hat."
Zeke: "Celestian, please give us your aid!" As an immediate action, I cast Protection Devotion. For 1 minute, my 30-foot aura gives me and allies +4 AC (sacred bonus). (Each use of this ability after the first costs 3 turn-undead attempts.)
Namia: "the croc is at the end of the table"
Zeke: And I move over to the west to slap the mouse with my hand and give him a little positive energy. "Help us little one. These mean people want to hurt us."
Zeke: I cast Panacea (touch range), healing [1d8+9] HP and ending any of the following conditions: blinded, confused, dazed, dazzled, deafened, diseased, exhausted, fatigued, frightened, nauseated, panicked, paralyzed, shaken, sickened, stunned, magical sleep, feeblemind, and any of poison's additional effects.
DM: "Namia sees croc cast a spell and then moves near the fountain."
DM: "The mouse wake from it's peaceful slumber as it stretches out from a restful sleep. It opens its beady red fiery eyes and a low growl starts to grow louder and louder as the mouse grows."
Zeke: "You were asleep. I w-was trying to er, help."
Hatter: "Oh, now you've done it..."
Hatter: Hatter runs....
Zeke: To the mouse, I say, "The Hatter, over ther! I think he poisoned you with his tea!"
Zeke: "Well, he was over there, just a second ago."
DM: "Mouse's bleary eyes focus in on Zeke and he toothy maul smiles... Zeke's not sure what to make of smile."
DM: "Namia was able to glitterdust Croc and Hatter over near the fountain."
Midnight: "shoulders her bow, and draws Heward's blade. (MS check coming) creaping up on the mouse, she appears as she strikes the rodent"
DM: "Zeke now realizes the Hatter may be right. Mouse just may rip his arms off and beat him with them."
Zeke: I cast Righteous Might to enlarge myself for 9 rounds. I also gain a +8 size bonus to Strength, a +4 size bonus to Constitution. a +4 enhancement bonus to natural armor, and DR 5/evil
Midnight: "shoulders her bow and draws Heward's blade. (MS check coming) Creeping up on the mouse, she appears as she strike the rodent."
Midnight: "that's a big mouse.."
Crok: "Hello, girl still there... very clever and lucky of you to blind me."
Namia: "Luck had nothin to do with it"
DM: "Croc casts Hold Person and it would have worked if only she was a person."
Crok: "Oh hell, you're an Outsider."
DM: "Hat reappears on his head."
Hatter: Puts his hat in to fountain then back on top of his head.
Namia: "he's too good for you alone better get over here and help us w/ this mouse first!"
Midnight: "strikes at the mouse quickly, then tumbles away"
Flappy Jack: flies into Midnight's backpack, searching for her last tanglefoot bag
Zeke: I bat aside mouse's clumsy blows. "I can see you really don't want to hurt me. Let's just be friends?"
Hatter: pour water from hat on to croc curing him of his blindness
DM: "Both Hatter and Croc stop glittering."
Crok: Hides behind a tree
Hatter: "Finnishes turn by taking some more water."
Namia: "zuko let me enchant your blade!"
DM: "The party starts to realize their blows are doing less damage than expected."
Zeke: Reluctantly I attack the mouse who I thought would be our ally. I bash at it with my hasted, enlarged morningstar.
DM: "Mouse hasn't turned his gaze from Zeke as of yet. Occassionally he licks the froth from his lips."
DM: "The casters think it could be easier to deal with mouse if he wasn't enraged."
Flappy Jack: "gets hold of the tanglefoot bag and flutters out of Midnight's backpack (seems about total a full round action there)"
DM: "Namia can no longer see invisible."
Hatter: Turns invisible
Zeke: I'm relieved that I'm so far untouched by mouse's teeth and claws.
Zeke: I know that sooner or later I'm going to get shredded through.
DM: "Zuko's blade hit Mouse with dull thuds."
Zeke: I attack the enranged mouse again.
Flappy Jack: "flies to be 10 feet over the mouse, and drops the tanglebag"
Midnight: "tumbles into flanking and attacks"
DM: "Mouse notices Zuko."
Zeke: "No, mouse!" I shout. "It's me you want!"
DM: "Midnight would notice Mouse's red eye gaze looking past her."
Zeke: Still beating on the poor misunderstood, formerly cute mouse.
Midnight: "slashes at the mouse again, then tumbles to the south"
DM: "Appearing just behind is the Hatter gently placing his hat on her."
Zeke: "You scoundrel!"
DM: "Placing the hat on Midnight head it immediately turns in to a jesters cap and she begins to dance like she's never danced before."
DM: "Everyone at the table finds this tremendously funny and Zuko and Namia fall to the ground in a fit of laughter."
DM: "The Hatter the success of his antic laughs and laughs..."
Flappy Jack: "swoops down towards midnight and knocks the hat off her!*"
DM: "The bat flies in to the hat and tries to knock the hat off, but it resists."
Zeke: Now that mouse is entanged, he finds me an even tougher target.
DM: "Zeke thinks the effect is similar to Otto's irresistable dance which only lasts a few seconds in all."
Zeke: "Nice try. I'm going to sic this mouse on you somehow! Begone!"
Zeke: I cast Dispel Magic on one spellcaster, creature, object; or 20-foot burst. Dispel check: [d20+9].
Hatter: "Mouse, he's always cranky when he wakes up."
Zeke: "Ah he is is he?"
Zeke: I try to Dispel whatever's bothering Midngiht, namely the hat's effect.
DM: "Zeke attempts to dispel the hat's effect, but fails."
DM: "Zeke battles Mouse and Hatter while the other dance."
Zeke: "Mouse, I agree. It's time for a hug."
Zeke: "But maybe only after we win Hatter's hat from him."
DM: "Mouse attempts to grab Zeke but he manages to wriggle out."
Hatter: "You're a tough one to hit... Lets know you down a bit."
Zeke: "I like being large. Don't even think about shrinking me!"
Zeke: I cast Foundation of Stone on up to 9 creatures (no two of which can be more than 30' apart). In any round we don't move, we get +2 AC (and +4 on Strength checks made to resist being bull rushed or tripped). Duration: 9 rounds. Range: 45 feet.
Flappy Jack: "continues to grapple with the hat"
Midnight: "dances like a gay irishman"
Zeke: "Mouse, please! Public displays of affection. We can wait and do this in private!"
DM: "Mouse's eyes seem to be getting less red."
Hatter: "You're no fun. I think I'll go kill one of your friends."
Zeke: "Kill? Where's the fun in that? Dancing! Now that's fun."
Hatter: "Wasn't that fun..."
Midnight: glares at the hatter "suppose we really dance now."
Zuko: stands (boots swift action no aoo)
Zeke: Seeing Mouse on the ropes, I try to push our last round of Haste to the max.
DM: "Mouse's eye glaze over as the rage leaves it and he falls back to sleep on the table."
Zeke: "He's going to wake up with one helluva headache. If he ever wakes up again."
DM: After felling Midnight and her bat friends, "The game is still on."
Zeke: "For Flappy: I cast Close Wounds, healing [1d4+5] HP. (If cast immediately after the subject takes damage, it effectively prevents the damage.) Range: 45 feet."
Namia: namia casts haste again
Hatter: "Whoa there.. pick on someone your own size."
Zeke: Having exhausted nearly all my spells, I weakly call upon my remaining favor with Celestian, casting Cure Light wounds and holding the charge until I can go over and touch Midnight. "Maybe it's best if you stay down," I whisper to her, if she even regains consciousness.
Midnight: "stops bleeding, remains unconscious"
Namia: stands up
Zeke: I attack the Mad Hatter!
Hatter: "Wow, you hit hard... I should probably kill you now."
Hatter: "I'll save you for last my little friend."
Zeke: 5-foot step back, take out scroll of Bull's Str, and cast it on self.
Midnight: "remains unconscious"
Crok: Angrily marches out from behind the fountain muttering to himself, "I can't believe.. used all.. fine.. fine.. I give up."
Zeke: "What is it with you two, Crok and Hatter? What's this game you're playing with us? Why not just help us defeat the Queen?"
DM: "Pretty illusions missy..."
Hatter: "Pretty illusions missy." As he punches right through them.
Zeke: "We all want to see the Queen defeated. It might be time to work together."
DM: "Hatter seems a bit off balanced as he's leaning far to forward exposing his neck to Namia."
Zeke: I take out a scroll of Bless and cast it. "Hang in there Namia."
Midnight: "zzz"
Crok: "Hatter, leave the girl alone and go fight the dwarf.. winner take all."
Crok: "We're going to wait here, aren't we lass."
Hatter: "Oh very well..."
DM: "He steps to the table and drinks a cup of tea."
Hatter: "Come on Dwarf, give it your best shot."
Hatter: "Games almost over, one way or the other."
Namia: namia reluctantly agrees for now
Zeke: "Come and get me," I taunt, knowing that I have the advantage if he comes to me, due to his iterative attacks and my foundation of stone.
Zeke: I also take out a scroll of Pro Evil and cast it on myself.
Hatter: "Damn, I never miss..."
Zeke: Acting defensively, I cast Foudnation of Stone to refresh it, my last spell of any kind except level 0.
Hatter: "Hey Croc, doesn't this remind you of the gnome ring toss..."
DM: "The hat lands on Zeke's head and then tightly wraps around his head blinding him.. It begins to squeeze harder."
Hatter: "This is my favorite part.. watch this Croc."
Hatter: "Oh, hahaha.. I love that..."
Zeke: "Come on Hattter. Get over here and fight like a man. Or whatever you are. No more silly hat tricks."
Hatter: Hatter just stands there and laughs.
Zeke: 5-foot step and full-round.
Hatter: "No. Stop. You're killing me."
Hatter: He's bent over from laughter
DM: "After wonking him on the head he stops laughing."
Zeke: "Nice try. Keep at it, you might eventually get me on my butt."
Zeke: "Is that the best you can do?!"
Hatter: "Oh Croc, listen the Dwarf be all uppidity.. sounds like the Queen if you ask me."
DM: "BONG"
Hatter: "Hatter bows to Zeke, My off to you sir, you proved to be a worthy opponent."
Zeke: I return the bow hesitantly. "As did you. And your guest mouse."
Hatter: "You thrashed him quite well. We'll revive him and you may revive your friends and spend the eve here and go to court the morrow."
Zeke: "That is most gracious of you. We appreciate your aid against the Queen. Her reign must come to an end."
Hatter: "Oh, I will not oppose the Queen. You simply have won an audience with her."
Zeke: "Any chance we could borrow your hat for a while?"
Hatter: "No, but I will present you to her grace which will be good enough."
Zeke: "Alright. Thanks for your hospitality. Forgive us if we don't try the tea though!"
Zeke: With that, I attend to my companions and use the Wand of Lesser Vigor on each (11 HP over the next 11 rounds).
Hatter: "Croc, fetch them some propper refreshments and I will re-set the table."
Crok: "Croc gathers some water from fountain and drinks it."
DM: "He returns with a tea pot of water."
Namia: namia brings some water to zuko, then the others
Crok: "Here, drink this and you and your friends will recover faster."
Zeke: "Oh ok thanks." I hold off on the Lesser Vigor, trying the water first.
DM: "Hater being to drink some tea and feel better."
Midnight: "cards was never my fortee... I always preferred dice..."
Hatter: "This way to the Queen."
DM: "This pillared entry hall is spotlessly clean. The fl oor is a checkerboard pattern of white and rose-colored tiles, and marble columns rise up to support the ceiling some 25 feet above. To the north and the south stand closed double doors, both sets emblazoned with red hearts. To the west, two flights of carpeted stairs lead to an upper floor."
DM: "Between them a short flight of stairs leads down to another pair of double doors, also emblazoned with red hearts, which stand ajar. From somewhere beyond them comes the sound of a shrill voice that seems to be arguing with unheard others."
DM: "This grand chamber is, without a doubt, a royal court. At the opposite end of the room, a red marble dais supports a pair of redupholstered thrones, one of which is occupied by an imperiously beautiful woman. Dressed in fl owing red robes and a towering gold-and-silk crown, she holds a fl ower-headed rod in her gloved hands."
DM: "At the near end of the hall, four red-andwhite marble pillars decorated with gold rise to the ceiling some 30 feet above, and a red silk carpet runs the length of the chamber, up to the foot of the dais along the far wall."
Hatter: "My Queen, I present to you the outsiders."
Queen of Hearts: "Yes, I'm not blind... Now off with you before I have your head."
Hatter: Hatter graciously bows away and exits to the audience balconies above.
DM: "The room is flanked by seats and courtiers 15 feet above the main floor."
Queen of Hearts: "So, outsiders what are you here for?"
Midnight: "looks about, somewhat lost"
Midnight: "quizzically takes in her surroundings"
Midnight: "whisers to zuko /w what are we here for?"
DM: "The trees to either side of the thrones are sparkly and have glass bulb ornaments."
DM: "The party would also notice a heart shaped pendant around the queens neck."
Queen of Hearts: "Well, I'll tell you why you are here. You are here to steal that which is mine."
Zeke: "You won't be needing it when we're done with you," I mumble under my breath.
Midnight: at a loss, Midnight blurts something out "we came to give your highness a present!"
DM: "Appearing from nowhere, the Cat smiles at the party."
Queen of Hearts: "Don't deny it. You are here to take away my Knave of Spades."
Queen of Hearts: "Come down here Knave. Are these your hunters?"
Midnight: "what's a knave of spades?"
Zuko: "knave of spades? forgive me your highness" zuko bows low "but i do not know of what you speak"
Knave of Spades: "That would be me" he says as he stands up slowly, looking to the queen in fear.
Cat: "I thought the Cat got his tongue, but I'm clearly no where near him."
Knave of Spades: "Your grace, you must please understand the difficulty of pointing out those whom you ran so fast from. Give me a few seconds to inspect this group".
Queen of Hearts: "Very well, you may approach them."
Knave of Spades: "Approaches the group whiles stroking his moustache."
Knave of Spades: "No, I am afraid this is not the group your grace".
Midnight: "the group?"
Queen of Hearts: "So, if they are not here to take you away, then where do you come from and what brings you to my court."
Knave of Spades: "Answer her grace outsiders."
Midnight: "we came to bring a presant..."
Zuko: "we come from a place called the rock of bral we seek a way to return there"
Queen of Hearts: "Well, I can see it's not my favorite present. What is this gift you offer. If it is good, I may not chop off your heads."
Knave of Spades: /me whispers to the Midnight as quitely as he can "Take me with you"
Midnight: "produces her mandolin"
Cat: "Ooh, now isn't that provokative."
Midnight: "our gift is a night of entertainment!"
Queen of Hearts: "The Queen rolls her eyes and sighs. Do you take me for a fool."
Midnight: "crap"
Zuko: "for give my friend for she is the fool a court jester if you like"
Hatter: "But she's a fine dancer, *Hatter yells from the stands.""
Queen of Hearts: "Guards! Off with his head."
Midnight: "you don't know the half of that hatter!"
Hatter: "Oh bugger, here we go again."
Knave of Spades: "Good my queen, once they dont realize that their weakness is the hearts they will be defensless"
DM: "Two guards stomp up the stairs and drag Hatter off out of sight."
Knave of Spades: "/me hops back away from the group quickly"
Hatter: "Fair thee well my friends, for the morrow I see you again."
Cat: "Worry not for the Hatter, for he loses his head every other week."
Midnight: "ain't his head I care about"
Zeke: "I see now why the Hatter dislikes the queen."
Zuko: "im not worried about him"
Queen of Hearts: "Gives the elf and stern look. I am the only one allowed to YELL in my court."
Zuko: "cant say i like him all that much myself"
Midnight: "she's got no king.. she sounds like she needs a good spading"
Knave of Spades: Stares at the queen blankly and then has a realization "Oh, you meant the hatter, yes he deserves whatever comes his way".

Namia: "watch out"
Namia: "there's something nearby"
Midnight: "I don't like this"
DM: "The party wonders through the black woods when a sudden feeling of dread comes over a couple of them. They sense death is nearby."
Midnight: "Somethings there... but where..."
DM: "Midnight's fear begins to rise as if the woods are closing in on her."
DM: "Zeke puts up his usually protection magics."
DM: "Zeke too is feeling encroachment of death."
Zeke: "Something wicked this way comes?"
Midnight: "holsters her bow"
DM: "A chill runs up Namia's back and she goes screaming as she fades in to the black and disappears from sight."
Midnight: "Over here!"
DM: "Emerging from the dark wood an wraith passes it's shadowy blade through Midnight sapping her lifeforce nearly snuffing it out."
Deakin: "thanks, feeling much better"
Zeke: Acting Defensively, I cast Righteous Might then move to distract and engage the creature.
Midnight: "tumbles away"
Zeke: I also draw my morningstar while moving.
Seph: shoots a magic missile
Zeke: I step forward and hope that I can hit an incorporal creature. I think to myself I'm going to have to research the spells that allow hitting these things (Ghost Touch maybe).
Zuko: zuko slipps into the shadows with his foe and unleashes a flurry of attacks that severely weaken the wraith
Midnight: "draws her bow"
Zuko: "zeke have you gotten taller?"
Zeke: "I've put on a few pounds," I answer coyly.
DM: "Deakin would know wraiths are incorporeal but are affect normally with force effects."
DM: "Upon it's death a black stone is left in it's place."
Midnight: "that... ..hurt"
Zeke: "Midnight are you okay? I saw that it drained you." I go over and see that her health needs restoring like Deakin's.
Zuko: holds out his sword and addresses it directly as if speaking to a person "sword, i could use a weapon that affects incorporial undead in case another of these things appears!"
Midnight: "...I don't ...feel so good.."
Zuko: "after that he scoops up the stone "come on lets try to find a way out of here, i dont like those things"
DM: "As the party looks for an exit from dark woods and not finding any Midnight and Zeke see a strong box at the base of a clump of trees."
Midnight: "investigates the box for traps"
DM: "Namia does not find any traps, but does see that it is locked."
Namia: "shall i?"
DM: "There is a strong aura of dread in this area."
Midnight: "go ahead"
Zuko: zuko pulls a large ruby ring off his finger and hands it to namia "here love wear this its always brought me luck when dealing with these type of things"
DM: "The chest unlocks."
Namia: namia opens it
DM: "On a plain white folded piece of card stock paper the following can be read: To light the way back at your behest return deaths athane to this here chest Pick a place in the garden you wish to portal There you'll be very happy you are mortal"
Midnight: "put the stones in the chest, then.. wish our way somewhere I guess.."
Zuko: "sounds like we need to place the stones we picked up in the chest" zuko says dropping the 1 he picked up into it
Zuko: "were should we focus on?"
Midnight: "the queen?"
Midnight: "just find her. get this showdown overwith"
Zuko: "can it take us to someplace we dont know?"
Zuko: "if so how about to the hatter?"
Midnight: "why? lets just face the enemy."
DM: "Zuko drop stone in box, but nothing currently happens."
DM: "A sense of dread starts to get stronger."
Zeke: "It seems we have to ask it to take us somewhere in the garden."
Zuko: "i think we should focus on someplace we know like the fountain or the giants home or even next to one of the statues"
Zuko: "and hurry"
Midnight: "say something definate, like now."
Midnight: "Pegasus statue."
Zuko: "drop the other stone in"
Midnight: "what other stone?""
Midnight: "who's got the others?"
Midnight: "put the stupid thing in there"
Zeke: I comply.
Zuko: "Pegasus statue!"
Namia: "Pegasus statue!"
Midnight: "Pegasus statue"
Zeke: I repeat what the others say in case it helps.
DM: "After Zuko says Pegasus statue, there is a swirling light nearby."
Zuko: runs into the light
Namia: follows
Midnight: "runs to the light"
Zuko: "go towards the light!"
Zeke: "Hm,. I wonder if the cat is here."
Zuko: "ah i am glad to be back in this place"
Zuko: "didnt think that would happen"
Zuko: "this is his usual tree"
Zuko: "hello? cat, are you here?"
Zeke: The Cat said: "I think you have all you need in hand to find the hatter..."
Zuko: "hmm guess not. this is usually when he annoys us with not quite helpful advice after an encounter like that"
Zeke: So apparently we have the item already. The compass, the true-path rat, or something else.
DM: "The party arrives safe and sound at the pegasus statue, but apparently fully unclothed."
DM: "Their times arrive on the ground at their feet the following round."
Zuko: "hey baby"
Zeke: "Good thing my beard is long," I joke, moving over to grab my clothes.
Zuko: zuko dresses in a not too hurried fashion
Namia: namia does the same knowing thats she's hot stuff and not too shy about showing it
Zuko: "still lets not do that again"
Zuko: "this wandering about is not working we need a more direct solution"
Zuko: "the rat or the compass and the stone must be able to guid us to the hatter"
Zeke: "I seem to remember we don't know how the compass works exactly. So maybe we try the rat to Find the Path."
Zeke: Resting is another possibility, though I still have quite a few spells left, except that my level-2 spells are all gone due to Lesser Restorations.
Namia: "my knowledge of find the path leads me to beleive it will not help us find a person"
Zeke: "Well, we could ask to be taken to the Court."
Namia: "yes that im fairly sure it could do"
Zuko: "but i was under the impression that the hatter is some were in this garden"
Zuko: "not the court"
Zuko: "what if we ask it to take us to the tea party?"
Zeke: "Yeah that's what I was thinking. The cat said: So, if the hatter your plan to meet, make sure it's at tea time in order to greet. What do you find at tea time of some sort, I'll be waiting for you at the court..."
Zuko: "ok lets try asking the rat to show us the way to the tea party"
Zeke: "And hope that the rat doesn't get spotted and eaten by a bird of prey. Though I guess the rat comes back to life later."
Zuko: "well i seem to be pretty good at killing birds"
Midnight: "onward then"
Zeke: "I seem to remember that's one of its features: to come back after being taken by a bird."'
Zeke: "Did we already experiment with the pegasus statue?"
Zuko: "i tried insulting it"
Zuko: "i suppose we could try another approach"
Zeke: Pegasus statue: "Up is down and fall you may. Caught cheating you have and so I say. Soon the black appears from the day. Your punishment come so next time you obey."
Zuko: "like a warning"
Zeke: "Yeah maybe it flies, but maybe flying is considered cheating here in the maze."
Zuko: "thats what i was just thinking a warning against flying"
Zuko: "but im not sure i want to risk cheating"
Zeke: "Yeah. There's no obvious way to use the statue other than one or all of us trying to mount it. And that could be risky."
Namia: "pets the statue gently "aww, i've always wanted a pony. zuko when we get back can i have a pony PA-LEASE? i promise to take good care of it and feed it and everything"
Zeke: "Assuming we can't think of anyway to get more out of the compass, I think having the rat find us 'tea time' or 'tea party' is the best option to proceed."
Zuko: "lets phrase it tea party"
Zeke: Ok, I get out the rat and activate it with the instructions to find us the tea party.
DM: "The figurine turns in to a normal rat and then asked to find the tea party. It sniffs the air and its wiskers twitch and it begins to move."
Zuko: zuko follows closely keeping an eye out at the sky for any birds
Namia: namia follows zuko arcanabus pointed at the sky
Zeke: I keep a javelin ready in case any birds try to attack our rat.
DM: "There is a bird statue nearby."
Zeke: "Maybe a reference to the killer Tum Tum tree."
Zuko: "seems a clue to a puzzle we've already solved"
Zuko: "lets continue"
Zeke: "Okay."
DM: "The bird statue reads: The Fruit be Sweet The Shade a Treat But it's Hunger is Dire So Destroy it with Fire"
DM: "Putting the rat back down, it continues its journey."
DM: "As the rat approaches 2 trees, it stops. Zeke would notice these trees seem unique compared to the other trees so far encountered."
Zeke: I point out the strange trees to the others.
Zuko: "hmm the rat has stopped as well"
DM: "The rat stops in between them and just wiggles its nose."
Namia: inspects the trees closer
Zeke: I help Namia look around.
DM: "Namia would notice the tree are warm to the touch, but no other unusual qualities."
Namia: "the bark is warm"
Zeke: "Could the pair of trees be a gateway or portal of some kind?" I try walking between them in both directions.
DM: "Zeke nearly steps on rat, but is not transported anywhere. The rat looks up at Zeke."
Zuko: picks up the rat and holds it up near one of the limbs
Zeke: "Yeah maybe there's something up in the branches."
Zuko: "here you try"
DM: "The rat wiggles its nose at Zuko."
Zeke: I take the rat and lift it to the trunk and or any branches in reach.
DM: "When touching the rat, Zeke gets a mental command of BONG."
Zeke: I pass that on to the others. "Maybe if we say the word B - O - N - G?" I spell out.
Zeke: "We know that the bonging controls the maze and makes it harder or easier to get places."
Zuko: "or wait here until we here the bong"
Zeke: "Yeah that could work."
Midnight: "waiting for tea time then..."
Zeke: "As Zuko said, maybe we should just have a spot of lunch here until the next set of bongs."
DM: "The part waits around with the rat patiently when there is a maze wide BONG."
Zuko: "try passing through the trees now"
Zeke: I've been holding the rat.to keep it safe, but also watching for any unuusal behavior from it.
DM: "Zuko disappears through trees."
Zeke: "Ah ha." Holding the rat, I follow.
Midnight: "lets go" midnight heads in
Zuko: "look another fountain"
DM: "As you step into the large, cleared area you notice a small sign bearing the initials �M.H.�. The sign points toward a strange building beyond. The walls of the dwelling are low and of mixed composition: brick, wood, plaster, stone. There are windows of all different shapes at odd angles and heights. There are no doors at all. The roof seems thatched, but the thatch is brownish and stands straight up -- almost as if it were hair or fur. While your eye is drawn to such a strangely built house, something even more odd demands your attention."
DM: "Set on the lawn in front of the house is an elegant table no less than 50' long, covered by white cloth. Scores of chairs are placed along both sides. At each place is a service of china-plate, cup and saucer, silverware (knife, fork, and teaspoon). Service dishes are spotted periodically along the table. There are small platters with some sort of cakes or rolls on them. There are small bowls with white bricks in them. Shallow dishes hold pieces of some sort of yellow vegetable or fruit. Diminutive pitchers are nearby also, but you can�t see what they hold from where you stand."
Zuko: "shall we see if we can find the host?"
DM: "At the table you see a man in a hat and man-like creature with a crocodile head drinking tea. The man with hat says, 'Sorry, no room here! Go somewhere else! No room... no ROOM!'"
Midnight: "half a mind just to shoot him..."
Zuko: "you've only got half a mind"
Midnight: "So I should shoot then?"
Zuko: "be nice, we're univited guests"
Zuko: "good sir, you seem to have plenty of extra seats"
Zeke: I say, "Hatter, we seek Tasha (also know as Igwilv or the Queen of Hearts). We need to defeat her. We understand she is your enemy. Can you help us?"
Hatter: "Indeed the Queen is no friend of mine."
Zuko: "can you tell us about her?"
Hatter: "With friends like her who needs enamas."
Crok: Sips from cup
DM: "The continue to make the rounds around the table filling up cups from the tea pot and then drinking..."
DM: "As Midnight goes Rushing towards them they seem alarmed and go on the defensive."
Zuko: "please dont be alarmed we are not your enemy"
Zuko: "the enemy of my enemy is my friend"
Zuko: "and we share a common enemy"
Hatter: Holding his cane towards the elf,"We do not appreciate stangers running unless they are in the race."
Midnight: "great.."
DM: "Croc casts a spell and disappears."
Zuko: "midnight heal!"
Zuko: "a appologize for our compainion she is mearly impatent"
Hatter: "Drinks his tea, What business do you have here? Do you wish to bring the queen her favorite gift?"
Zuko: "would that help us in some way?"
Zeke: "Yes. Perhaps we can be allies."
Hatter: "It would help me in no way, since it is my head that she wants."
Midnight: "..so tell us where she is and we'll go take her head"
Zeke: "If we defeat her, she would no longer trouble you."
Zuko: "i have no intention of bringing her your, or any one elses head"
Zeke: I delay my turn until something that requires a standard action happens.
Hatter: "Dem's not da rules. But perhaps we can discuss this if you have some tea."
DM: "Zuko and Zeke can hear muttering near Hatter."
Zeke: "Tea sounds good to me. Do you mind if we sit down?"
Namia: stays were she is and takes no agressive action
DM: "Zeke can't get a handle on this guy. He does seem a bit off sorts."
Zuko: "look cant we discuss this like civilized creatures?"
Zuko: steps forward
DM: "The party would notice a small sleeping mouse on the table."
Zeke: "Who's this mouse?"
Zuko: "he seems to be missing tea time"
Hatter: "Shhhh, what are you crazy.. never wake the mouse..."
Zuko: "why not?"
Hatter: His hand seems a bit jittery as he downs some more tea from another place setting.
Zuko: "why shouldnt we wake the mouse?"
Hatter: "It'll only rip your arms off and beat you with in an inch of your life, so BE QUITE"
Zuko: "that little thing?"
Zeke: "In that case, a seat toward the east end of the table sounds safer." I'll begin moving there.
DM: "The cute little mouse begins to stir, but simply rolls over."
DM: "Zeke and Zuko here more mutterings near Hatter."
Zuko: "i think if you dont tell us what we want to know maybe we should wake the mouse"
Hatter: "Sorry, all full up.. no room, no room."
Hatter: "Sure, by all means... if you don't like your arms."
Hatter: "So, what brings you here?"
Zuko: "a rat actually"
Zuko: "but as we've told you we want to know more about the queen befor we meet her"
Zeke: And also our desire to defeat the Queen.
Midnight: "more than where so we can kill her though... just where, lets go kill the queen"
Hatter: "Ah, so you come for my head then. Well, I'm busy using it. Sit, have some tea."
Zuko: "thank you" sits down
Zeke: I have a seat next to Zuko, keeping an eye on the vorpal mouse.
Hatter: Continues to pour tea and dring from the next place setting
Hatter: "No, not there.. that's the mouse's setting."
Zuko: "of course how silly of me"
Zeke: "Mr. Hatter, why three different colors of tea?"
Zuko: "tell me what are you serving here?"
Hatter: "Three different colors for three different flavors. Blue is blueberry, Red is redberry and yellow is..,he looks over shoulder and mutters something, yellow is yellow berry."
Midnight: "lemon?"
Zeke: "Please tell us about the white bricks, yellow fruit-things, and the cakes."
Crok: "I'm sorry my dear, but I must follow the rules. If you defeat us, you can use the hatters hat to trap her."
Namia: "get back its a trap!"
Namia: You whisper to DM: *namia thinks "croc can you hear me?" DM whispers: You can tell croc is buffing himself and hatter until they reach you before they attack, but now you both know that you know that. You whisper to DM: do not attack us, we ARE here to help" You whisper to DM: please tell us how might we defeate the queen?