Therapy Session of Ron Plunderman #15

Doctor Monroe sat quietly reading through a series of journals and papers; it made for disconcerting reading and he held a deep frown.  Ron lay back on the reclining coach resting his worn adventuring boot on the arm rest. The boots were deeply stained with what the doctor could only assume was blood.

Ron was happily eating his way through a large bag of imported pistachios, rudely spitting the hard shells across the room into the bin. So far he hadn’t missed.

Finally the doctor spoke. “I don’t know what to make of this account Ron, some of your actions were very troubling; the only positive thing is that you seem to have made an effort to befriend someone for the first time.”

Ron rolled his eyes and kept eating his ways through his bag of pistachio’s. Silence followed, broken only by Ron’s loud eating and the sound of the shells hitting the Doctor’s waste paper basket.

The doctor watched Ron eating and shook his head in dismay. “You certainly are a stubborn one Ron. I don’t want to insult your intelligence by making more threats. So could we agree to keep this short. You answer my questions truthfully and honestly and you can leave early today.”

Ron merely shrugged as if he didn’t care.

“How did you feel when Nitchie and Dinosaur girl died?”

“I felt bad.” Ron answered.

“So bad that you drank the blood of Nitchie?” asked the doctor.

“Nope. I just felt bad, his blood didn’t have anything to do with it and if you must know I injected his blood into me.”

The doctor nodded. “Yes the blood transcription spell. Did you know that spell is banned under the Iomedae convention?”

“No doctor I didn’t.” answered Ron. “Maybe if that poofter Titus hadn’t abandoned us I might have known. “

“Do you know why it is banned?” asked the doctor.

“Don’t know, probably because Iomedae is a hypocritical bitch permanently on her rags.”

The doctor ignored Ron’s foul abusive statement and continued speaking. “Well the spell is believed to have devilish origins, a gift from Asmodeus .”

Ron shrugged. “So?”

“So it is therefore considered an evil spell.” Answerd the doctor.

Ron exhaled a long impatient sigh. “Whatever doc, so its okay to fireball, dominate or put to sleep your foes so that you can safely slit their throats but you can’t drink or inject a bit of someone’s blood. What a load of shit.”

“The spell rips the magical secrets from the corpses of wizards and clerics.”

“So?” Ron repeated.

“It takes something from someone using foul necromancy.” the doctor replied.

Once more Ron sighed. “No actually it’s a divination spell, just like a detect thoughts spell, which, by the way, can also steal magical secrets from wizards and clerics.”

The doctor paused to think before retorting, “Atleast the detect throughts spell doesn’t require the person to be dead.”

“Okay, “ said Ron, ‘but what about the Speak with Dead spell then, plus its necromancy. Why don’t the hyperventilating Paladins of Imoedae ban that one then? Besides I would’ve thought stealing something from a living person is much worse than looting from a corpse. And on that subject, I’m sure plenty of paladins have gleefully looted the dead bodies of their vanquished foes.”

“But Ron, “ the doctor said, “I’m pretty sure Paladin’s don’t go drinking the blood of their victims.”

Ron snarled and shook his head. “So? ‘Their loss then. Bloody spineless hypocrites, it’s just so much more honorable to bludgeon and smash people to death, take their stuff but Oh No drinking their blood is just too horrific.”

“Alright Ron, “ said the doctor in a calming voice. “You’ve made your point, but you drank the blood of your own comrade; a man that led you through the Mwangi Expanse to the Monkey City. Did you feel no remorse? No respect for what he did? Did you really think it was appropriate?”

Ron gave the doctor a crooked smile and shook his head. “Hey I was the one that wanted to use a raise dead scroll to bring one of them back. I was the one that cut their hands off in case we could get them resurrected.”

The doctor shook his head, ‘But you also looted their bodies, left them to rot … and drank their blood. How would you feel if they did that to you?”

Ron laughed. “I’d say go right ahead. Only too happy to help. Dead people are dead, they don’t care about their blood or what they are wearing. As for looting, Doctor, I thought you had studied us adventurers? We take everything of value, even if it’s bolted to the floor.”

“Hmm , “ the doctor sounded. “Clearly I’m not going to sway your argument, but you need to understand that most people see that kind of things as disrespectful.”

“I’m not most people.” Ron quickly replied.

“Evidently not.” Said the doctor.

There was more silence, broken once more by the sound of pistachio shells hitting the bin. Finally Ron spoke. “Okay I answered honestly can I go now?”

“Alright. See you tomorrow then.”

Session 25 Summary

The group marches another day after dispatching the piratical exploration group and meet up with their main party.  It is quickly agreed that they should head straight for the ruins of Saventh-Yhi, which they do.  They come across a split in the trail, and decide to cross both ways taking out some pteranodons and crocs, move on to defeat an anty ghost, recovering a nearly ruined journal (he repeated "It's mine" a couple of times, and went after the +2 hit and damage item), moved into the city where a charau-ka patrol was met, and one was bargained with.  The group decided to head into "monster district" where they found some savage monkey-men, bigger than the charau-ka, and killed a few.

	xp		Dorian	Szraiel	Helga	Ron	AJ
	Start		37489	39789	37589	40039	38039
3	Pteranodons		720	720	720	720	720
4	Crocs		640	640	640	640	640
1	Ghost		640	640	640	640	640
2	Charau-Ka		480	480	480	480	480
1	Dire Ape		160	160	160	160	160
6	Ketches		960	960	960	960	960
	RP - Original Journals		0	0	0	350	0
	End		41089	43389	41189	43989	41639

Therapy Session of Ron Plunderman #14

“So Ron, tell me about Gelik.” Doctor Monroe quietly asked

Ron grunted and scratched his chin, “Gelik is a gnome.”

The doctor nodded. “Come on Ron, you know I know that. Tell me about how you met him …”

“I met him a long time ago on a really stupid island…”

The doctor shook his head, “No Ron. I was going to ask how you meet him in the monkey city.”

“Oh. That’s easy;  a chicken shit pathfinder dumped his body with us then ran away.”

The doctor nodded. “Yes I know he ran because you scared him.”

Ron laughed to himself. “I know, he looked like a man to me, but he must have had a vagina.”

“Be that as it may Ron, tell me what happened when Gelik woke up.” The doctor asked

Ron shrugged. “To be honest I don’t quite remember; all I remember was being highly agitated. I was bored. AJ was harping on about defenses and tar pits it was driving me up the wall. Then there was Dorian having a girlie little giggle about shitting on the stairs. They’re all a bunch of freaks. I really don’t get why none of them are here.”

The doctor took a few moments to slowly read through some of his notes; after a while he seemed to find what he was looking for. “Let me see … Ron abused Gelik before suddenly smashing him with his morning star. It was a totally unprovoked attack.” The doctor looked back up at Ron, “Does that sound about right?”

Ron shrugged if not caring. “If you say so, though I bet it wasn’t unprovoked, the little bastard probably earned it. As I said I don’t clearly remember. I don’t think I was at my best that day.”

The doctor’s ears pricked up, “What do you mean not your best? Do you often have days like that.”

Ron closed his eyes and rubbed his temples. “Yes … I mean I don’t know. Aren’t you listening?  I was agitated. AJ and Dorian were pissing me off. The whole thing was pointless. Everyone was acting weird.”

“Weird? In what way?” the doctor queried

Ron exhaled a long sigh before answering the doctor. “Well I don’t understand what happened with the snakeman”

The doctor looked up confused, “You mean Szariel?”

Ron quickly shook his head. “No not Szariel … well yes … he was part of it but not him. Szariel isn’t really a snakeman anyway. He’s really just a human with some throwback genes.”

“Ron.” The doctor interjected. “You’re really not making much sense. What on earth are you talking about.”

Ron took another breath. “Well things were good. I was … liking the way things were going. We were exploring, looting, killing off stupid creatures that had no right to be living and then suddenly Szariel invites a snakeman to join us. He offered him our treasure … my share of treasure. I couldn’t understand why? He was trouble, I could see it. We should’ve killed him on sight, but we let him join us.”

“Okay … “ the doctor said. “So go on, how did that make you feel? Were you jealous?”

Ron glared at the doctor. “Would you fuck off with your stupid “how do you feel “ questions.  Why would I be jealous of a snakeman. He was trouble. I knew it, but no one would listen to me. Eventually I told it to fuck off and it did. I should’ve killed him as he left. I don’t get why I didn’t do that, I knew it wasn’t over, I knew he would be back.”

“Well Ron, cutting a defenseless person without provocation is basically murder. ..”

“He was a mage, he was hardly defenseless…” Ron retorted.

The doctor shook his head, “nevertheless he was walking away, not doing you any harm, so it would’ve been murder.”

Ron shook his head with firmly set jaws. “I knew he was up to no good, he was planning something. He knew it and I knew it. I should’ve attacked him there and then, but suddenly  everyone else had gone all soft. That’s what happens when you have a half-queer hanging around too long. You catch what he’s got.”

The doctor wrote something down in his book before speaking. “Ok Ron, but what does this have to do with Gelik?”

“Well the snakeman came back, tried to kill us. So I was right… I got mind controlled… “ Ron spat on the floor of the doctor’s office.

“Ron!” The doctor objected. ‘Please don’t do that. That’s a genuine Chelaxian Rug.”

“… sorry Doc, don’t like mind control …  eventually I broke free of it and me and AJ killed the snakeman.”

“That’s fantastic Ron, but getting back to Gelik.”

Ron scowled in annoyance. “yeah yeah. Look if you want me to get all pissed off, you are going about it the right way. My point is we should’ve killed the snakeman. Everyone should’ve known that.”

“Well … “, the doctor began to speak but Ron held up his hand and cast an angry glare towards him.

“THEN, when we were in that stupid snake temple; Chinkie and his friends came along. I tried to lure them into a trap but Dorian screwed it up so they fled. We should’ve hunted them down and killed them too.”

“Well how … “, the doctor started but again he was cut off by Ron.

“So add AJ’s anal fixation with fortifying the temple and Dorian being a poofter, then Gelik shows up. He starts mouthing off … well screw it I think. There’s been enough non-killing. So I smash him down. Every one of those other groups are out to get us, they wouldn’t hesitate to kill us yet suddenly we are all oooh can’t do that, that would be wrong.”

“I’m not a violent man Doc … well wait no. Look I’m not some kind of murder vagrant. I don’t kill people for no reason. I’m not interesting in killing people just because I can, but gees it was getting ridiculous. I didn’t know what was going on.”

Ron stood up, clearly agitated and started to pace the room. “It’s not like they were innocent, they weren’t babies or pregnant women. They were warriors and it was meant to be a fight to the death to get to the Savanth Yah. This was a man’s game.”

“Okay Ron, it’s okay I understand what you are saying. You felt the rules had changed…”

“Yes!” Ron said.

“It made you feel uncomfortable.”

“Yes!” Ron said again.

The doctor paused and watched Ron pace.  “I think you had started to feel like you were fitting in Ron”

Ron momentarily stopped and looked at the doctor in annoyance but he said nothing and continued to pace.

The doctor continued to watch Ron for a while before continuing , “But Gelik didn’t die did he? He was immediately rescued by Dorian.”

Ron nodded.

“After that you apologized to him.”

Ron nodded again without speaking.

“You apologized because you felt bad about what happened.” The doctor theorized.

Ron continued to pace though he had started to clench his teeth.

“Perhaps you felt embarrassed about what you did? Perhaps you felt you had lost face with your friends.”

Ron clenched his fists, his neck veins were starting to show.

“This is what I have been trying to get out of you Ron. Clearly you are not completely without empathy. You felt something, knew you had crossed a line…”

Finally Ron exploded. “I said no more of that pansy love-in stuff. Bloody hell. We were adventurers, not bloody wet nurses.”

With that Ron spat once more on the doctor’s Chelaxian Rug then stormed out of the office.

"Murderhobos Paradise"

As I walk through the city that the peasants maintain

I take a look at my purse and realize its almost drained 
But thats no problem for a MurderHobo you see 
Filling it back up to the brim is mere simplicity

At 4:30 in the morning I'm killin' drows
Jebediah offs the kobolds and Jacob scowls... fool

I've be killin and looting so long that 

Even Gorum thinks that my mind is gone

I'm a man on the land and go into dungeons
Got Chaotic good on my sheet, barabzu beard on my chin

But if I make all my DC's, and you make all thine
We'll wrack up prestige like its 4099

We been spending most our lives
Living murder hobo's paradise
Commited arson once or twice
Living murder hobo's paradise
It's hard work to sacrifice
Peasants in a Hobos paradise
plus twelve to all my dice
rollin murder hobos paradise

A venture captain irked me somethin fierce last week
I cursed him out and gave a lot of cheek
I really don't care, in fact I wish him well
'Cause I'll be laughing my head off when he sees the DC of my spell

But I ain't never slain a newbie even if he deserved it
Hittin Level seven? Now we can fry him a bit

Smash the I-win buttons till the monster goes splat
And my party agrees this loot is pretty phat...fool

If you get arrested there's nothing to fear
We Haven't even take the paid taxes in 400 years.

But we ain't really Heroes, even if we put on airs
We're just moralthically impaired

There's no laws no, rights, no justicar
Not a single shred mercy
Like Dralneen in the bedroom
Its barbaric as can be

We been spending most our lives
Livin Murder hobo's paradise
Commited arson once or twice
Livin murder hobo's paradise
Nothing but sin and vice
Living murder hobo's paradise
We all fight we don't play nice
Livin murder hobo's paradise

Killin all the townsfolk, Its why they call him Cutter
Rais a level monday, Soon I'll raise another

Think you're really righteous? Think you're pure in heart?
Well I know I've got more hit points so I'll give you a head start

I'm the pious guy the little pallies wanna be like
Slayin foes day and night scorin' points for the afterlife
So don't be vain and don't be whiny
Or else, my brother, I might have to get medieval on your heinie

We been spending most our lives
Living murder hobo's paradise...

Session 24 Summary

The intrepid adventurers decide to wait in Tazion for the other factions to arrive, and to ambush them all in a completely non-murderous way.  AJ sets about fortifications while everyone else does nothing.

One group arrives, and are chased away by Ron.  A few days later, and Gelick Aberwhinge arrives, unconscious, with a mounted man.  Gelick is left to the party after the mounted man is run off by Ron.  Gelick agrees to join the party when given an offer he couldn't refuse by Ron.

Everyone gets bored, so the plan changes and the party leave the ziggurat.  On the way out of town Szraiel spots a monkey man watching the group and negotiates with him - the goods taken from the bodies of the pathfinders killed by the monkey men in exchange for the party leaving the ruined town, never coming back and incedentally not burning the whole place down.

Towards the end of he groups first day of backtracking in the hopes of finding their caravan, the group come across another faction.  This one does sport a surprising number of peg legs, eye patches, parrots and cutlasses, and a brawl ensues and once more the effectiveness of rangers is displayed for all to see.  Sadly, the party's NPCs are both killed in the fight, but the group makes out like bandits with the loot from their vanquished piratical foes.

Everyone is now 7th level, and the loot is:

13	Light Horses
2	Light Horses (Combat Trained)
19	Potion of Cure Light
8	Half Plate
8	Heavy Crossbow
40	Bolts
8	Halberd
8	Heavy Flail
9	Sap
1	Full plate
1	Masterwork Guisarme
1	Javelin
2	Nets
2	Masterwork Chain Shirt
4	Masterwork Buckler
2	Masterwork Battleaxe
2	Dagger
2	+1 Composite Longbow (+3 Str)
80	Arrows
20	Cold iron Arrows
20	Alchemical Silver Arrows
2	Antitoxin
2	Masterwork Studded Leather
2	Masterwork Shortbow
2	Short swords
2	Eyes of the eagle
2	Magnifying glasses
2	Masterwork Thieves' Tools
2	Sunrods
2	Oil of magic weapon
2	Thunderstones
2	+1 studded leather
2	Javelins of lightning
2	kukris
2	Masterwork composite longbow (+3 str)
2	Masterwork Spears

xp		Dorian	Szraiel	Helga	Ron	AJ
Start		34769	37069	34869	37319	35319
8 Guards		640	640	640	640	640
1 Officer		160	160	160	160	160
2 Monster Hunters		640	640	640	640	640
2 Tomb Raiders		640	640	640	640	640
2 Raiders		640	640	640	640	640
End		37489	39789	37589	40039	38039

Session 23 Summary

Ron sends Issilar packing, and the group thoroughly check out the ruined city, finding no trace of the remaining 3 gems.

Szraiel disarms the elemental trap, and then, fortunately, the group is attacked at night by Issilar, who had the gems all along, and merely wanted to gain the fourth before betraying the party.

The gems are used, and the location of the lost city of Saventh-Yhi.

xp		Dorian	Szraiel	Helga	Ron	AJ
Start		32389	34089	32489	34339	32939
Journals			600		600
Trap		460	460	460	460	460
Issilar		960	960	960	960	960
Discover Saventh-Yhi		960	960	960	960	960
		34769	37069	34869	37319	35319

Session 22 Summary

The group investigate another ruin, this one populated by cleric monkeys.

They also discover some tunnels, former aqueducts that run under the ruined city, still guarded by a potent magical trap.

Finally, the group head to the south where they find a well, a decapus and an ambush of monkey-men.

xp		Dorian	Szraiel	Helga	Ron	AJ
Start		28869	30569	28969	30819	29419
Trap		320	320	320	320	320
Cleric Monkey		480	480	480	480	480
Monkey Men		960	960	960	960	960
Elemental		640	640	640	640	640
Decapus		160	160	160	160	160
Monkey Men		960	960	960	960	960
Total		32389	34089	32489	34339	32939

Therapy Session of Ron Plunderman #13

“So Ron last time we spoke about empathy, about understanding how others feel. I’d like to continue where we finished.”

Ron looked at the doctor with mild disbelief. “Heh? I thought you admitted you got that all wrong?”

The doctor shook his head. “No Ron …”

Ron quickly interjected. “Yes you did. You said I was right, that women liked being abused.”

“Ron!” The doctor sharply cut in, “I said no such thing.”

“But, “ Ron insisted. “ You admitted, said I was right. That women …”

The doctor held up his hand. “Ron please. I merely conceded that the example I used about what happened to the women held captive by the succubus wasn’t right for you.”

“But … “ Ron started protest however the doctor held up his hand.

“Ron, lets not go over all that again. Look I wanted to talk to you about the natives you rescued from the monkey people. The ones that were going to sacrificed.”

“Heh? Why?” Ron asked.

“You were quite abusive to them.”

Ron looked confused. “What do you mean? We saved them. How is that being abusive?”

“Well …” The doctor began. “My understanding is that you insulted and tormented them.”

“What the hell?” exclaimed Ron, starting show signs of agitation. “Where do you get this crap from? I didn’t torture them, what a load of bull.”

The doctor held his hand up again as if willing Ron to calm down. “Ron  I never said anything about torture. You were rude to them, insensitive. You showed no sympathy or sorrow for what they had been through.”

Ron rolled his eyes and shrugged his shoulders. “Doc, I really got no idea what you are talking about. Whereever you got your information from its wrong. We rescued them, then sent them on their way. What else was I to do? Pick some flowers for them. Seriousily, we rescued them, if they wanted their cocks sucked or something they only needed to ask Dorian.”

“Ron!” exclaimed the doctor again. “I really am getting tired of that language.”

“Well I’m getting really tired of your language.” Ron retorted.

The doctor held up his hands once more. “Look Ron, do you really not know what I’m talking about? Do you remember what you said to one of the survivors?”

Ron shook his head in dismay. “What the hell are you going on about Doc? And why would I bother remembering anything I said to people like that.”

“Ok Ron. You questioned them about their friend. The one that got burnt alive.”

“So?”

“You kept asking what it was like, whether their friend screamed? Pressed for graphic details.”

“So?”

The doctor gave Ron a serious look. “So how do you think that made them feel?”

“I don’t know. It was just a question. Look can you stop beating around the bush and just tell me what it is I said that was abusive?”

“Ron. That was it. You kept asking about the death of their friend. That was a little abusive. Most definitely unsympathetic and insensitive.”

Ron just stared at the doctor with a look of utter disbelief.

“Ron this is what I was talking about. Empathy. Understanding how someone might feel.”

Ron continued to stare at the doctor with a vacant look. It was clear he completely did not understand what the doctor was trying to tell him.

“Ron do you really not understand? When someone loses someone close to them  … in such circumstances, asking for details like did they scream? Or how long did they last? Did their skin melt off? Well its just not done Ron. Its not right. You shouldn’t do that.”

“It was just a few questions.  I was curious.”

The doctor shook his head. “This is my point Ron. A normal person doesn’t behave that way.  This is why you struggle to make connections with people.”

“I’m not gay.” Said Ron.

The doctor shook his head. “Don’t start that Ron. This has nothing to do with sex. Infact, can we please not talk about sex anymore. You only understand the physical nature of sex, their other things beyond the physical.”

“I know that doc. I’ve fought the incorporeal.”

“Ron, cut it out. You are doing this deliberately”

“Doing what” complained Ron. “Seriousily I think you are on drugs. And where do you get this stuff from.”

“Look Ron” said the doctor. “Can you imagine someone close to you? Someone you loved? Your Mother? Wife? Anyone? Can you imagine them dying in a horrible way.”

“I don’t need to imagine anything. I know heaps of horrible ways to die. Like eating someone alive, ripping someone limb to limb…”

“Ron. Please. We don’t need to know those details. You have to think of someone close to you.”

“What like you are now, what less than a few feet.”

“Ron, your slipping into old habits …”

“Where did you get this information from anyway? What I said to those niggers,” queried Ron

“RON! For now on that word is banned. No tell me someone you loved. One of your wives? You second one maybe?”

“It was Szrariel wasn’t it?”

The doctor continued to ignore what Ron said. “Your second wife Toothie. The half-orc prostitute, I believe you did care for her…”

“No it was Titus wasn’t it?” Ron queried.

“Ron. It wasn’t anybody. And Titus wasn’t there.”

Ron continued to press. “AJ. Oh I’m going to fuck him up.”

“Ron it wasn’t AJ. It wasn’t anybody. Now…”

“Then how? Ah! A legend lore spell.”

The doctor sighed. “Yes. Precisely a legend lore spell. Now back to what we were talking about.”

Ron whistled. “Woah. That’s an expensive spell. How did you afford it?”

The doctor closed his eyes and rubbed his temple. “Yes it was very expensive. Now can we get back to talking about understanding feelings.”

Ron sat back on the couch contentedly. “You bought that spell just for? That’s the nicest thing anyone has done for me. I choose you. I’ll imagine you dying in horrible way. So what do you want me to do now?”

“No, I’d think I prefer you think of Toothie…”

“No screw that bitch. I’ll imagine you dying doc. So what’s next?”

The doctor shook his head. “I don’t think this is going to work.”

“Come on doc, you got me interested. What do I do next?”

“Forget it Ron.” The doctor looked both dejected and frustrated.

Ron continued on regardless. “Okay so a snake man is slowly skinning you alive, using this unholy dagger that sends evil energy convulsing through you. You are screaming in pain. It goes on for a whole hour. You watch in horror as you see your skin being peeled off before you.”

The doctor sternly spoke. “Ron. Please stop this. This is not the side I want to see of you. I wanted to ask how you would feel if some came up afterwards and asked for in-depth details.”

Ron gave the doctor a baffled look then said. “Well I’d tell them.”

The doctor shook his head. “This is a real problem Ron…”

Therapy Session of Ron Plunderman #12

Ron was in a buoyant mood, happily recounting his exploration of the ruined city of the monkey men.

“…talk about a disappointment. Treasure was scarce and the place was filled with those useless monkey men. What a waste of space those things were. They reminded me of the vege-pygmy things; lots of potential but no ambition. Give them a human brain and they could dominate every plane to hell and back. When they got worked up they could move really fast, like knocking back a haste potion.  Instead they live their lives smelling each other’s bum and sacrificing black people to snake gods. Pathetic really, but I enjoyed killing them, even started to like the taste of them; fleas and all.”

“And the ruins … not much to tell really, ramshackle old buildings made by the fucked up snake people. Tell you what though the snake people … they tasted much better than monkey men, kind of like chicken except better. Hmm. Should’ve kept some of those fuckers alive; could’ve started a farm. “

Ron quietly laughed to himself, “Any way where was I? Oh yeah, the dumb ruins. They weren’t really  built by the snakemen but their slaves. And guess who the slaves were? Yep, the useless smelly locals. Seriously these natives give human’s a bad name.  Useless back then and useless now. I’ve lost count of the number of times we’ve saved some useless black arse. “

The doctor cleared his throat and interjected. “Well Ron, it may surprise you to learn that just about every adventurer I have interviewed has expressed similar views…”

Ron nodded. “Yep useless black…”

“No…” the doctor continued quickly. “I mean adventurers from the north, Cheliax, Varisia and beyond. There are always … “ and the doctor held his hands up mimicking quotation mark, “… useless people that need saving. I did a paper once on the hubris of the adventurer.”

Ron looked momentarily confused. “You mean there a black people getting saved in the far north?’

The doctor shook his head. “No I don’t mean black people. I mean normal folk of any colour or creed. People not trained in sword play, magic or alchemy.  Farmer’s, baker’s and merchants. Innocent victim’s of the nefarious scheme’s of others.”

Ron still looked a little confused. “Gee Doc, you’ve lost me. I was talking about the useless natives and how they always need saving.”

The doctor shook his head. “Yes I know, but that’s my point. Its not because they are black that they are ‘useless’ its because they aren’t trained in combat and war. They can’t defend themselves from those that have chosen to prey upon them. If your adventures had taken place in Varisia or Cheliax, the people you would’ve been saving wouldn’t have been dark skinned.”

“Look Ron, you …”

Ron held up his hands. “Hang on Doc, that’s not right. The native’s we saved often were hunters and warriors. You certainly don’t find bakers or merchants much amongst the blacks, not even farmers.”

The doctor quickly shook his head. “Yes may be they were warriors, but nowhere near as skilled as you  are.”

Ron rolled his eyes but the doctor continued on. “The many adventurers I interviewed held a great disdain for the local constabulary or military. Often they needed rescuing and were often described as weak and ineffectual in combat. Adventurers do not seem to make any distinction between commoners and guards or soldiers. All equally useless and beneath them.”

Ron opened his mouth to speak but hesitated momentarily as if lost for words. “Well what about the chick with the dinosaur ... can't quite remember her name, anyway she was white and a little girl when she was abandoned. She did just fine. Got her self a dinosaur and survived quite nicelessly.”

The doctor frowned, “That doesn’t a proof anything either way. It’s one example she could just as easily have been black.”

Ron furrowed his eyebrows in doubt, clearly unconvinced. “Don’t know about that doc.”

The doctor continued. “Look Ron, you need to challenge some of the perceptions you hold. Learn to see things a little differently. Like see things from someone else’s point of view. Think like someone else”

“Why would I want to think like someone else?” Ron asked, clearly baffled.

“Well so that you could understand how they would feel.”

Ron stared at the doctor with a blank vacant look while the doctor continued. “Its called empathy Ron. It’s a very important social skill and allows people to build relationships with each other.”

Ron shook his head in confusion. “You want me to have relationships with black people. Like sex?  I’ve done that heaps…”

The doctor shook his head. “No. No. No I don’t mean specifically black people.”

“…but I’ve also had …”

The doctor held his hand out for Ron to stop speaking. “I don’t mean sexual relations. I just mean understanding how people feel. Why they might be frightened or put off by how you act or insulted by what you say.”

“But why would I care?” asked Ron.

“That’s just the point Ron. You should care or you should atleast try to care. Take for example the young ladies you saved from the succubus. How did you think you treated them after that.”

Ron tilted his head dismissively. “Pretty well I should I expect; we did after all save their lives.”

“No Ron you verbally abused them with sexual innuendo.”

“So? What of it? Was just making small talk. Would you rather I have killed them? I’m sure if you asked them they would be extremely grateful to be alive.”

“But Ron, even so, why would then demean them after saving their lives.”

“I didn’t demean anyone. “

“You propositioned them, asked them to take their clothes off.”

“So it’s the least they could’ve done. We did just save their lives.”

“But Ron, they had been ensorcelled, forced to prostitute their bodies against their will.”

“So they got to have sex with heaps of people.”

The doctor shook his head. “What if it happened to you. What if you had been forced to have sex with lots of men.”

Ron cringed. “That’s disgusting.”

The doctor nodded. “Yes exactly. So how would you feel if that had happened to you , then you were rescued. Then you’re rescuers asked you to have sex with them.”

Ron scratched his head. “That would depend if they were male or female.”

The doctor sighed. “The rescuers are male. A male would ask you to get your clothes off.”

“Oh” said Ron. “Then I would threaten to kill them .”

“Exactly so how do you think the women you rescued would feel.”

Ron shrugged. “I don’t know. They didn’t threaten to kill me when I asked them to get their clothes off.”

“But it’s the same situation Ron. They too would’ve felt violated and angry.”

Ron looked at the doctor strangely. “But they’re women.”

“Yes Ron, but it’s a similar situation.”

Ron shook his head. “No its not. They’re woman, its normal for them to have sex with men.”

The doctor’s voice started to show strained signs of agitation. “Yes but they had probably been …”

Ron held up his hand. “No doctor I get. They may have done some woman on woman action. But its okay for woman to do that sort of thing. I really don’t understand the point of this. It’s a completely different situation.”

“You really can’t see the similarities?”

Ron shook his head.

The doctor sighed dejectedly then sank back in his charge. “Okay Ron. I suppose it is different.”

Ron sat with a look of bewilderment on his face. “I told you Doc.”

21. Szraiels ‘Notes aboot Notin’

In the morning between Ron, Dorian and surprisingly Helga we managed to heal up. I don’t like getting drained. We continued our systematic explorations discovering some mold and constructs easily dispatched. I really have to do something about creatures resistant to damage. Some sort of damaging spell perhaps.

While exploring I spotted a serpentfolk who was hiding from us. The first I have met I wanted to learn more about him so expressed my desire to talk. He said he was an explorer and wanted to wander off, I don’t trust him, he could get reinforcements or inform our enemies so I intend to keep an eye on him. Some of the others seem to dislike the addition but lack the will to strike him down.

The baboon people keep bothering us. The first bunch had a four armed monkey that almost became an issue till Helga pointed a bonny finger and knocked it unconscious. The serpentfolk just watched. Some other baboons attacked later apparently from the same clan their abilities to get us at great range is irritating. It is a constant surprise to me how little cover and concealment are offered by ruins and jungle.

Between my ever hitting gracefully beautiful kukri, Ron imitating the brute beasts that have plagued civilization since the beginning of time, and AJs odd hit we make easy work of the baboon folk. Helgas and the serpentfolks lightning bolt sped things up considerably.

The serpentfolk would seem to be a wizard, what sort I have yet to figure out. The serpent folk mentioned all the boab trees we keep seeing poking from the ruins. Boabs are found in warm deserts and jungles but I don’t think his right. The trees are bloated which is confusing visually. I think they might actually be Tetrameles nudiflora. I have drawn some of what I have seen in this magnificent city below as a guide I can use to enhance my illusions later on. 

s.

20. Szraiels ‘Notes aboot Notin’

Seems I was wrong, two of the women survived the succubus’s death. Pity they seemed spiritually and physically scarred by the experience and drained of all personality. At least the attack knocked some sense into AJ and his started using that iron mallet of his, can’t help but wonder if his pop was part of the Maillotins Revolt such is his fetish for hammers. Good for destroying stuff I suppose.

We kept marching along, 8 days; Ron made me some handy boots that allow me to ignore difficult terrain. I know they will come in handy and save me a spell! Seems the others are constantly amazed at my ability to consistently cast my minor magics to boost my resistance. These monkeys have no conception of why they do what they do and how easy it is to keep learning and do other things. It seems age really stifles their ability to push and grow. Aj whines every minute, Helga cackles every minute to herself, Ron checks his stash, Dorian stares at something sexual and makes a comment and they all seem to hold in their poop, encourage their horses, check their angles constantly yet it seems things other monkeys don’t do that they didn’t learn as children seem impossible to them. It really is bizarre. There is no action one cannot repeat constantly with training and will. As if scanning constantly as well is beyond training. I suppose its just another reason we are destined to rule again.

We found the ruined city easily enough and thankfully the others saw the wisdom in circling the ruins. Seems no other group has beaten us here. Expected really considering how fast we dealt with the hermits demands and the speed of our travel. It’s a beautiful ruin, the architecture is exquisite and it has truly stood the test of lime lasting thousands of years against the jungle. AJ seems to think the natives are master builders and made the place, he thinks to much of what he calls kaffas they dominate his time and thoughts like a clerics focus of worship. Finding nothing but some baboon like humanoid tracks we entered closest to a point of seeming interest. A mostly intact ziggurat at the northern end of the city.

I spotted yet another trap. There was some curious thunder at that. Seems AJ and Dorian both - along with the gods have issue with my ability to spot traps. I find this most curious for I have heard of alchemists gaining extra attacks from 4 arms despite this being specifically against the fundamental rules of this world, alchemists crafting despite having no ability with spells only concoctions that work on organic things and more specifically themselves. Nevermind summoners with dubious unarmed feats, caster whose abilities are unstoppable and a myriad of rogues who have never needed what they considered the irrelevancy of automatic trap spotting. As its always been easy enough to have them search constantly (yet apparently to monkeys a mere thought to cast a spell every minute is less acceptable). More amusing perhaps is the party, their always complaining about wasted time searching dead ends (that pay off sometimes), when any other rogue ever heard of would be spending much more time just searching where we just walk. I suppose it hardly matters it’s not like others buffs ever run out even with rogues searching non-stop so doing it legitimately is not a concern.

At least its not an ability of mine that is hampering everyone else. Last thunder strike seemed to make normally available knowledge checks irrelevant. Not really an issue for myself with the shared knowledge of the Akasha and all serpent folk but I feel sorry as all other members of the party, even AJ invested in knowledges that are now rendered useless. Curious that some argued against knowledge checks being useful when their the ones that suffer.

It is wondrous for it has sharpened my edge and instead of situational edge seeking through tapping my character and immersing myself in the world I can now focus on what’s important. Acrobatics, perception, spellcraft, combat skills and spells that flawlessly always give an edge far greater than any action intense situational flavor nonsense.

We entered the ziggurat and started to explore. Some of us spotted three giant wasps which attacked, they were well wounded by the time everyone reacted to attack and were quickly dispatched. As we circled round we found a large paper nest, Ron bombed it with a stink bomb and some sort of mother wasp came out. She was hard to kill for she fought through a doorway and was resistant to damage. I dream some nights of being a martial artist type of monk, I was pondering being one in my youth maybe a sensei or qigong one as well, their immune to so much and have the ability to narrow their eyes and strike through any resistance. Puncturing resistance would be so handy it’s been tedious from the start and I only know of martial artists, inquisitors with bane active and nancy boy paladins that have such abilities. After getting damaged, poisoned and generally vexed the five of us eventually dispatched the lone wasp!

We found an outside area with a walkway but stayed inside as to avoid attracting attention. Entering a lowered area, almost a private sanctuary, we were attacked by 4 small statues. Again their resistance was most tedious but luckily Dorian pulled out some spiritual weapons and managed to smash them to bits as the rest of us farcically attempted to damage them. AJs lack of willpower, common sense, awareness, and intuition (wisdom/will save) again was a liability. I have scanned my spell list and there is no way to cease this with just my efforts.

The statues did have an upside as each one that was destroyed emanated spirits that gave us memories of some sort of map room with a hippie astrology motif, glory hole columns, gems and sparkles. It was very of putting but it gave us an idea of how to use the room should we find it. I think I will leave it to the others when the time comes –Dorian should be anatural.

I was against it but at the others urgings we continued to explore, I had predicted as much and luckily had been stingy with my buffs, unfortunately being the end of the day a dead end confused me into advancing instead of just searching at range. Leeches attacked, ALOT of leeches, swarms really are powerful. I hugged Ron as he bombed us then bolted..it wasn’t my finest hour. Everyone else ran as Ron held them off with bombs backing up to a position where Helga could finish them with a lightning bolt. After it we were badly drained and wounded and really needed a rest. I thought the wasp nest seemed really cosy with readymade sleeping bag hollows, one point of ebtry and the added bonus that no native of the ruins (or most stealthy visitors) would ever poke it. From everything I had read wasp nests are a wonder of warmth, and cosiness. Alas AJ arced up again and insisted some other hard floored, cold, unventilated dump. I suppose monkeys are known for sniffing eachothers ass, I conceded as it didn’t matter as it’s not like I sleep anyway and could perch up on the roof watching amused as the others wallowed in their stink and tossed against the cold floor.