Book Return - Session Summaries
Session: 20230414s - 20230414c
- The timelines finally converse as we officially move from Searching For Alexandria to Book Return.
- But really, first we all need to catch up a bit, yes? That is after an amazing performance in The Town That Shall Not Be Named we finally reach Dragon Fen and the Manor.
- Mostly just chitchat which is good and fine, but better to read than to summarize. A bit of lovely chaos, some misunderstandings, some introductions, a gift for Branwyn, a little bit of not planning planning, and all that good stuff. So go read the Story Chat.
- That moves us close to the actions of Book Return. Should we be worried that Bob is encouraging old characters to return? Nah.... maybe...?
Quotes of the Night
Youtargim: Who's interest in whom now?
Michael (Talwin): Third base
Session: 20230421c - 20230428s - 20230428c
- Look, these two sessions were mostly planning sessions. Given that a lot of it was done over on Return-OOC, and I was already feeling planned out helping to plan, I didn't and still do not want to write the summaries. Fair?
- These are also the sessions we got to practice fighting some things that Fives summoned up. You know, for research purposes.
- I will only add that second session did have some fun IC with old friends catching up, some weird friendship forming between the flirty chaotic good priestess and the frisky chaotic evil priestess, and some more planning but IC. Yay fun. I am planned out.
Quotes of the Night
TMO: what kind of iffiness do you need?
Lisa: spiffiness?
TMO: Carissa - you and I should probably hop on voice for a moment so you can help me identify which Guild member you want to kill.
TMO: Bob - pls release Tieran Guild Thief 3 for Carissa
BOB Free for Carissa to kill now
Lisa: release the thief kraken
Raelynn: We need more interplanar friends.
Zayden: Don't we all Rae
Talwin: I don't like the ones we have Rae
Michael (Talwin): I mean, don't get me wrong I'm not giving up, but with the rules as they are with hell, kinda hard to want to engage as much as usual
BOB 100% you cannot use basic attack ideas and survive
Michael (Talwin): And no shit?
Session: 20230505s - 20230505c - 20230512s - 20230512c
- So these chats make sense to group together. If you go to Book Return you'll see a shorter, round by round summary by BOB. This will be similar, but wordier. And with opinions.
- First we prepare things. Fives gives us a bit of last minute advice, a few charms were thrown around the night before, Gerry is tucked away safely with the cook, the gates are open to create walls, and the portal (looks like a mirror) is finally opened just a few handfuls of feet from the gate. Now what?
- We see a Highway to Hell. If that's the location of a library, it's not a great one. Unless it's like one of those mobile libraries. Is it a mobile library driving towards us??
- To be seen, just as our portal has been seen from the other side and all the weakly scum decide to run out to freedom! or something. A lot of least lemure, some hell hounds, the usually - and unable to breath fire if they step foot into the Mist.
- By the end of the first chat, security comes out in the form of a tall, creepy skeleton guy known as an Osyluth. That's a fun one to Google if you enjoy having nightmares! And if you don't want nightmares, please imagine Fives yelling out Sechurity! like Bon Qui Qui.
- Let us resume removing the low level devils and add in insulting Sechurity! Or at least Fives does so, and nicely I may say, while N'laea tries to just get the dang thing to talk.
- We also notice this round just how unusually stringy security is. Either he's stronger than he looks, or it's just such a thankless job they'll hire any ole' beanpole.
- Security brings his friends Spiteful Irascible Laughter Kocrachon and (not as fun) regular Kocrachon. If they bite you, and you don't free yourself, you'll die! Thankfully, even though Fives, Talwin, and Johan all get bit, they manage to free themselves on their own or with the help of the very angry HULK SMASH! Indigo.
- Now, unfortunately, while Jennevive does do something to briefly make Security disappear and/or shrink in size (BOB can clarify what she did). But he reappears, and you know what that jerk does when he reappears? Grabs Fives and teleports away with him! More on this later.
- I'll also mention some flying devils join the fun, set some people on fire, but while generally annoying, are easily dispatched.
- Finally a Pit Fiend comes and yells at us. He's apparently not an assistant but THE librarian. Doesn't he know how to use his inside voice?? And inside fireball??
- Because yes, rather than talk to us, he complains a lot then sets us on fire which, to be fair, we've all probably wanted to do with our problems at some point in our life.
- Rest In Peace, Dear Craigh and Johan. Your health just could not take that fireball.
- Neither could Daphene or Olson, but they are just barely alive enough to become walking wounded and not die. Yet. But given at least one of them is wearing red... it's only a matter of time.
- Now more pissed off than HULK SMASH! Indigo, Branwyn decides to cast her infamous Manyjaws spell at Ramiel and.... he resists it. Jerk. Now IS a wonderful time for your darling husband to sweep you off your feet into safety!
- ...which instead he rips the bodice, er, I mean book, away from her, shoves it at Jennevive, and tries to push Branwyn down to the ground. Again. Because some other devils did the same to her earlier. But this time she wins and stays standing. And not swept off her feet.
- With book in hand, Jennevive... runs at the portal, shoves the librarian inside, and disappears???
- Yes, the portal closes and Jennevive is gone. Let us all gather our wounded and fallen, take them into the sunshine, and... what the heck is THAT portal?
- Oh, right. Remember our plan if someone got stuck in Hell? They'd use the other gate scroll to summon someone back in our plane at the Inn to get back? No, it's not a trick. It really is Jennevive. She looks tired, and haggard, and in need of a good bath like all of us, but alive!
- With that, Jennevive declares the deed done, a demon owing her a favor, and the worst is over. For most of us. We still need to find Fives, but we'll regroup and make some plans after that wonderful bath.
- Yep. That's it. That's the end. Nothing else to see, guys. Definitely no cliffhangers in chat. No reason to remain on guard. The fun is done and over. DEFINITELY OVER.
- ....or is it?
- Well, anyways, great way to bring in a 30th Anniversary game, amiright? Wait, is great the word to use here...??
Quotes of the Night
Lemon (Daphene): mirror mirror on the border, please take this book and restore library order
Lisa: there are 6 hell people and Red shirt
Lisa: so give one to the 6 and we'll feed red shirt if needed
Lemon (Daphene): Yeah, we definitely don't need to let red shirt have a potion
Fives: should I object to labeling Olson as a 'Red Shirt'? ;)
BOB Looking inside the scene through the Portal you only see hard stone that seems to be steaming cracked dirt and flickering flames
Lorie (Licornah): (The road stretched out before me as I looked out into the distance...)
Lisa (Branwyn): it was a road paved with good intentions
BOB So can EITHER chant or make sure he knows where she is
BOB Yes voice is not invisible
Lisa (Branwyn): if she is invisible but chanting everyone will know where she is
TMO (Fives): *MY* voice is invisible. What are you doing that yours isn't?
Fives [Infernal]: [Translation] Somehow, the damned Infernal Hierarchy kinda forgot to publish the proper ritual for returning your damned library books! So we went to the source. If you don't like it, publish your damned rules!
Lisa (Indigo): we summoned him where in the Hell is he???
TMO (Fives): not the Hell here
Carissa (N'laea): what the hell man
Session: 20230519s - 20230519c
I have waited to do this summary for many, many reasons. I debated not doing it at all, but that isn't quite right in my mind. In regards to the story arc, what you need to know is that, yes, Jennevive successfully bargined the removal of the mark, Fives is gone for good, Craigh will be resurrected, and Branwyn is retiring.
But that isn't the matter making this summary necessary. It's not the end of this arc or this story era, but recognizing the bookend of Lisa's time with us as a player. It's taking the time, as we should do more often, to truly recognize those who put in those extra bits and bops to not only keep this game going, but to make it fun. As we move on, some of us dragged kicking and screaming, to a whole new game plan, it's important to note those players who have such a profound impact on this game. Once a Dragonslayer, Always A Dragonslayer BUT it isn't fair to say every player is the same and contributes the same nor should we treat it as such.
In my years of playing, no one has been more reliable than Lisa: her knowledge, her presence, her ability to engage the other players and keep us going. The one who hated planning yet was always someone who I could count on for brainstorming when things did get tough. The one who could convince me to push my comfort limits and tiptoe into the harder adventures. The one who would always read what I wrote, who would be as active IC on site as she was in the game, who I could always, always count on for anything.
If you want the model of a strong and reliable player, if you want someone to strive to be like as a player, then that would be Lisa. Yes, other players have come and gone, but no loss is the same, nor should they be treated the same. Recognize these players who make these big marks and impacts, rare as they are. And while I know I'm still sad of her rightfully needed break - whether it's temporary or permanent - her impact, and others like her, should never, ever be underestimated, taken for granted, or ignored.
Wishing you the best, Lisa! And glad I can still bug you outside the game.
