Phil shared Arkades' confusion. He called back to him, "It's felt wrong all the way since we heard those kids. Thing is, neither the robed ones nor the barbarians feel right either." Phil's eyes darted back and forth between the combatants.

"Only thing I'm sure about at this time," he continued, "is that we are on our side. I don't know your god very well, father, being born in a village too small to even be on the map and spending most of my life away from people, but I'm not sure any of these are his children. It would, it seems to me, perhaps not be such a bad thing if they all beat each other to death." He said the last half joking, but only half.

"Well so do we haul arse and let them slaughter each other and interogate whoever remains?"Lucas replied, waiting for a consenus.

"We can't leave these children to their fates. If they are not working of their own volition, they'll be torn apart as the playthings of some monstrous entity." Arkades frowned deeply. "I dislike being forced into a bad situation like this, but Phil is right - we must act as if we are our own side." An idea occurred to the cleric. "Vir may not be able to sense the intentions or identity of any being that might be influencing these people, but perhaps he could tell if it's the same being? I'd like to know if we're being played for the fools, here."

Vir turned to his companions. "I've skried the monk leader and one of the barbarians. What little I caught from the monk was about taking revenge against intruders and claiming this region for his master. The barbarian's mind was blank save for a vague mood of hatred, and may not be acting under his own will. And I've come to believe that those 'children' are still keeping something from us."

OOC: Honestly, I'm waiting for my next turn so that I can do another mind read.

OOC 2: Since I thought I saw the monkey's attack, I wonder: can we all see the monkey?

OOC: Brother, I HAVE seen the monkey, and you can too! Take the light of rhesus into your heart, my brother, and watch him pick your nits away!

Arkades casts bless: Phil. Result: 9 rounds of +strength, or 8 as of the new round now.


HP UPDATE:

Robed (3): 43/60
Robed (4): 51/60
Robed (Leader): 60/60 (Curse: -strength, 5 rounds)
Monkey: 85/85

Barbarian (1): 55/100
Barbarian (2) 87/100
Barbarian (4) 76/100
Barbarian (6) 79/100

Lucas: 50/54 (Bless: +strength 8 rounds)
Vir: 41/41 (Bless: +strength 11 rounds, Levitating: 5 feet)
Arkades: 42/42
Phil Harper: 51/51 (Bless +strength 8 rounds)

Kalix's Unit: 150/150
Kale's Unit: 150/150
_____________________________________________________________________

Robed 3 punches Barbarian 6: 9 damage.
Robed 4 punches Barbarian 2: 4 damage.
Robed Leader casts Mass Replenish: healing Robed (3) for 12, Robed (4) for 7
Monkey does 13 damage to Barbarian (1), 5 damage to Barbarian (2), 11 damage to Barbarian (4), 14 damage to Barbarian (6)

Kalix's Unit does 17 damage to Barbarian (6)
Kale's Unit does 14 damage to Barbarian (2)

Barbarian (1) does 20 damage to Robed (3)
Barbarian (2) does 26 damage to Robed (4)
Barbarian (4) does 13 damage to Robed (Leader)
Barbarian (6) does 16 damage to Robed (Leader)
_____________________________________________________________________

HP UPDATE:

Robed (3): 35/60
Robed (4): 32/60
Robed (Leader): 31/60 (Curse: -strength, 5 rounds)
Monkey: 85/85

Barbarian (1): 42/100
Barbarian (2) 64/100
Barbarian (4) 65/100
Barbarian (6) 39/100

Lucas: 50/54 (Bless: +strength 8 rounds)
Vir: 41/41 (Bless: +strength 11 rounds, Levitating: 5 feet)
Arkades: 42/42
Phil Harper: 51/51 (Bless +strength 8 rounds)
______________________________________________________________________

OOC: Yes, "Everyone saw the monkey" (Maybe that's the 'meme' for this game.)

______________________________________________________________________

Phil: move up to 2/act
Arkades: move up to 2/act
Lucas: move up to 3/act
Vir: move up to 2/act

OOC: MAP UPDATED

Gliding beside a boulder, Vir looked towards Kalix and her child soldiers. He focused his attention on her and entered her mind. [Telepathy: Read]

OOC: So, everyone saw the monkey, yet we still don't know what it looks like?

Kalix has begun to sense your intrusion into her mind, but from her garbled thoughts you learn that 1) she has seen the barbarians before, 2) her heart is filled with hatred towards them, 3) she mistrusts the cult, but believes the barbarians are the bigger threat.

OOC: It's just a small monkey. Nothing special. ;)

Attached is a picture of Robed (Leader) with the monkey on her shoulder. He returns to her shoulder after each attack and stares into her palms.

Remaining turns:
Phil: move up to 2/act
Arkades: move up to 2/act
Lucas: move up to 3/act
Vir: cannot act again, but can move up to 2 spaces

Phil shoots an arrow at Barbarian (6).

OOC: All monkeys are special, dammit! Omigawd, that picture is adorable. I can't kill either of them now. Thanks.

Lucas grunts in annoyance at the recent twist and turns and attacks Barbarian(6).

OOC: Dang, I should have mind-read Kale instead. OOC: Oh, so the monkey was in front of us the whole time. I was expecting its entrance and appearance to be more...dramatic. Especially since it has already killed at least two barbarians.

OOC: The theme of this adventure seems to be deceiving appearances.. =o

Your arrow hits Barbarian (6) in the arm, causing 10 damage.

HP UPDATE:

Robed (3): 35/60
Robed (4): 32/60
Robed (Leader): 31/60 (Curse: -strength, 5 rounds)
Monkey: 85/85

Barbarian (1): 42/100
Barbarian (2) 64/100
Barbarian (4) 65/100
Barbarian (6) 29/100

Lucas: 50/54 (Bless: +strength 8 rounds)
Vir: 41/41 (Bless: +strength 11 rounds, Levitating: 5 feet)
Arkades: 42/42
Phil Harper: 51/51 (Bless +strength 8 rounds)

Kalix's Unit: 150/150
Kale's Unit: 150/150