Fluff compilation

[Anastasia]

This assumes normal weather patterns and a mundane world. There's no assertion any of these are true in a fantasy world, they just are. There shouldn't be perfectly warm lands past the Amaryl Mountain Range at the same latitude/longitude, should there? But there are.

In other words, it's fantasy. Sometimes shit violates these rules 'cause of magic and other things. Same reason that there is the wastelands.

[Anastasia]

[Anastasia]

There are several houses for sale within Balmuria. All are at least large houses if not mansions and of fine quality. Exact details below, feel free to pursue one IC and talk to the owner for more information. Sylvie also grumbles about people not mentioning any in-built libraries as selling points. The nerve!

Villa Ali - Villa Ali is located in the southwestern part of the New City. This large two story house is square shaped, with the center hollowed out into a large fruit garden. The style is in the Fiefdoms, with several hardier desert fruits trees planted. It includes four bedrooms, one outhouse and several chamber pots, a private sauna that connects to the Inferno below so there is always warm water, and it comes funished. All this for 2,000 marks! The owner, Ali of Tash, seems to be in a devil of a hurry to sell it.

Rising - A four story house, compact and built around winding stairs and interlocked rooms between levels. Often winding stairs or simply open gaps connect floors and rooms, features playing into one another like a controlled magic waterfall and magically tamed vines. The entire design is airy and open, designed so a breeze always blows through. It includes five bedrooms - three interconnect - one outhouse and several chamber pots an extra large kitchen. It is located in the New City, near the ruins of the Temple of Torm. It runs for 2,800 marks. The owner is unclear, though a mediator by the name of Callan Smooth is handling matters on his or her behalf.

House Moutan - A winter home of the Moutan clan of Tauret, it recently entered the market after the demise of the family scion. It is classical luxury, everything rich, expensive and secluded. The large grounds are in the Western Reaches, private with a large hedge maze that wraps around the front. Within are six bedrooms, two outhouses and special enchanted chamber pots that never need emptying, and an absolutely huge swimming pool with it's own bound small water elemental to keep things fresh, as well as with a heating option for hot springs in the winter months. It runs 1,900 marks.

Goldwatch - The former home of Mia Golddswar, Holycoin of Waukeen. It's done in gold colors all over, a rambling two story manor home in a classically baroque style. Everything is oversized, from the gardens outside to the bedrooms inside, to even the outhouse. It comes with three bedrooms, the typical spread of outhouses and chamber pots, an empty money vault basement, and an attached chapel, formerly to Waukeen but now desanctified. It's located in the Western Reaches, not far from Moonholm. The asking price is 2,000 marks.

[Anastasia]

I don't want to get deeply into this, but the point of introducing that wasn't to depress you. It was to set up the potential for you to do something about it. I figure Shar and maybe even Ao would be awesome end bosses if you ever make it that far. Alicia, Seira and the other newly risen powers are a direct attempt to reduce and counter the power of Entropy; it's not like everyone's going quietly into the good night. I've had going back to the power level of Balmuria 1 as an earmarked possibility, and that leaves a plot to run with if we do. I figure, what's a better plot after putting up with Shar than doing something about her on a level that matters to her? I don't want the PC reply to be one of despair, but instead for it to be another challenge to be overcome.  In other words, ROW ROW FIGHT DA POWAH.

All that doesn't directly map to Balmuria 2, but I do feel obligated to explain where I'm coming from with that revelation. It doesn't really justify Senaril and the horrible kill count she's racked up in Balmuria 2 except in a meta sense, and that's not really relevant to the problems here.

[Anastasia]

To the former, it's certain Alicia and Seira and all the others are fighting her. It just hasn't shown on screen, and just 'cause you guys are fighting Hell doesn't mean a few devils can't sneak in and raise some trouble up. It's just not really something you see much - had Andrea survived the first Senaril mess this would have come up. Plus, taking down a Greater Power and possibly an Overgod isn't the task of 20, 200 or even maybe 2,000 years.  Defeating Shar is a grand quest on the scale of history itself, not something you do in a single quest. Are they opposing her and working against her? Naturally. If Shar was easy to wax, Selune would've managed it a long time ago. If I ever get a chance to DM that type story, it would be on that scale. It's a battle of immortals and powers, of long maneuvering and epic clashes.

No argument with the latter half of that post. It's part of why I'm not happy with how this has turned out. If you guys kicked her ass and dealt with her, it was cool and inched you into some more heroic options. It hasn't worked out that way at all. So hey, I have Senaril say some stuff to make everything make more sense and make it more personal. Give you some possible hooks out of it, you know? Shar is a bitch, this is established again and you could even devote yourselves to smacking her shit in if you wanted. Anyway yeah, the entire thing has had some problems and you guys have managed to drop like flies so it's not working.

[Anastasia]

Most of the heavy stone buildings are in the Old City. The New City and the Commerce Quarter tend to be fancier and less blocky. On one hand the Old City is crowded and that drives prices up. On the other side, much of the Old City is less prosperous than other areas of Balmuria and this drives prices down. That said, size can be done. Cellars are less common, both between the sea and the fact that Mihail's Inferno and relating laws forbid cellars in the area. If you want a cellar you'll need to look for something in the Western Reaches.

Let me know and I'll give you more info.

---

What sort of lodging are you looking for, Arachiel? Nice? Simple? Cheap? Rich? What's your price range?

[Anastasia]

Hey, super high charisma does strange things to people! <_< Overwhelming force of personality and magnetism draws people to you. It's not that he's an epic character, but that he has a superhuman charisma. To a normal person that isn't used to dealing with that sort of force, it's enthralling and possibly overwhelming. For other epic characters he's not so overwhelming. I don't do this too often, since I don't want to fall into Elminster syndrome with them. It's fun for them to show up occasionally, but not to come in and dominate things since they're super awesome high level. But I digress. It's an interesting digression, but still a digression.

What you're asking is really a segmented question rather than a blanket reply. Most of Balmuria is focused on the Crimson Guard. While almost everyone was a member or still technically is, these days it's said to be lead by Commander Hellman Oberuth. Well, still is, anyway. He's lead it and de facto the entire city of Balmuria since the independence war. He keeps a lower profile these days as he's getting up there in the years. Despite that he's still seen as a city hero, something of a legend that's endured countless battles.

Argh, again I disgress. The Crimson Guard hasn't had as many overt actions as it had in it's youth. With Malmuth a memory and most local threats tamed, befriended or neutralized, big and obvious events aren't as common. The mythal stops several types of shenanigans in the city by itself, though rumors of farther afield missions are common. Right now the current rumors are buzzing with a new war between Kelara and Nodlitz in the far west, and that various members of the Crimson Guard are involved. At least that's the rumor, though who's involved varies from tale to tale. Other stories puts them in Malmuth, in Pallanth, farther east in the whispered lands past the Amaryl Ranges, to the south in the Southern Confederacy and more.

The names always vary. Eudard, Abagail, Oberuth, those names and others.

Of the Crimson Guard below him are several other famous members. High Watchman Eudard was a compatriot of Demedais the Prophet and fought at his side several times. Since then he's been at the forefront of the Crimson Guard. He participated in the Pines War, defeating several forest giants singlehandedly and repelling an assault from the forest giant chieftain. He keeps a presence in the city, directing Helm's church and taking an active role in the world around him. He often guides promising heroes  - interestingly this would ping on Aaeru's radar, as the High Watchman of Helm is the one who talked to Lyris and Neveril.

Abagail Aryn you've also met recently. She's known as a powerful archmage and a disciple of Seira Aryn. Besides her own participation in the Pines War, it's known that she confronted the pit fiend Baalbal, banishing it back to Baator in a dawnbreak battle over Victoria. This was approximately three years ago. Stories tell a tale of corruption, a vile monster trying to corrupt and destroy the government of the Baronies before being exposed and ultimately defeated. Beyond that she keeps a presence in the city, having a few students and often teaching lawful magic to those with the potential to learn. Indeed, it's known she has ties to Mechanus and stories say she can summon and command Inevitables, the clockwork soldiers of Mechanus.

The people do genuinely appreciate them. Most adults are old enough to remember Kondrux or the Night of the Walking Dead, so appreciation comes easily. Every so often something big and attention getting becomes a big story and sends people talking again. Of course, less obvious things are the meat and drink of rumor, and perhaps some of them are true.

[Anastasia]

I excluded Seira and Alicia from this. As deities they speak for themselves and aren't really a part of the proper Guard any more. Antenora, Latha, Donald and Amaryl are more connected to their respective patrons than the Crimson Guard. Still, some basic details following.

Antenora: Her name is known as a servant of Alicia's. According to the doctrine of Alicia's faith, she is an erinyes who was redeemed by Saint Alicia's wisdom and charisma. It's known she walked the world with Alicia and left when she ascended. It is said she is an angel of opal who serves her Goddess even now. Nothing current there. All this is dated.

Latha: About the same as Antenora as far as being with Alicia and serving, then leaving. Details are a bit sketchier here.

Donald: Oh, Donald's known. He comes back to Balmuria every so often. While not a hugely official part of the Guard he's had his battles. He's known to have a mouth that gets him in trouble, and a knack at solving trouble with strength of might.

Amaryl: A powerful elf maiden who is a peerless archer. She's known as much for leaving her position as Scion of House Gaial as much as anything else - it's a sore political point in Pallanth yet. Stories from the west are fairly consistent, that she defeated some sort of desert dragon in the southern wastes of the Fiefdoms.

[Anastasia]

It's easier that way. I don't pretend it doesn't exist, that's unrealistic. Yuria chases after Whurric not out any personal desire on my part, but because that's what she'd do. I can deal with it so I don't mind including it within reason. For what it's worth, I figure Marianne was a closeted bisexual and Lyris is ramrod straight. Everyone else was fairly normal as far as I could tell. Josa was entirely straight, just utterly flamboyant and elven.

It's interesting and I keep very loose track of it, but it's not really required for a character. I just feel a character rings hollow if I don't have at least a vague grasp of how they go and think like that. After all, sex drives us on dozens of conscious and unconscious levels.

[Anastasia]

I don't think Sylvie's story is going to wrap up anytime soon, no. She's a very unhappy person who's gone from rags to riches, from slacker to active. She doesn't have the foggiest what she really wants right now, and she's hurt, upset and lost. To be honest she doesn't want to come home - both because of the memories of her various failures, real and perceived. Calley reminds her of her past relationship, Whimsical Sweets reminds her of all her lost friends that she could've saved if she'd only been a little more focused, even her home reminds her of Janson.

More than anything else, she doesn't want to forgive herself or let go. She can't save Janson - nor does he need saving - but she refuses to accept that. It's unhealthy and beneath her, but she doesn't care. She has friends and family, but can't make peace with them and accept what she's lost. She's gained power, but it's meaningless to her since she can't get what she wants. She can't find solace because she won't accept solace.

I wasn't planning to have Sylvie come back for a long while, if ever.

[Anastasia]

My old B2 notebox. I think this was like the last post in that game's odds and ends, or close to it.

So what AM I going to do with the Fiefdoms? I have a few things that I know are happening:

1. The Pasha is old and getting close to dying.

2. They're prosperous and enjoying some patronage from Seira due to her revitalization efforts of the Wastelands. This applies to the nobility and merchant class. The lower classes are still recovering from losses in traditional trade routes due to Seira's network. I don't want this all Malmuth level unstable, but it's a shaky time. Some social dissent is brewing.

3. Magic is making desert exploration and even expansion more feasible. It's possible there are a few settlements off the trade paths a bit.

Hm.  A lot of low level, subtle play rather than anything obvious. Cloak and dagger shit, manipulation, small scale struggles. Lots of opportunities for jobs if the party goes that far afield.

Not sure which debate this was from.

Josa's an interesting example. He's highly intelligent(22 int) coupled with a low wisdom(9) and above average charisma(15). This leads to all sorts of clashes where he has good ideas or gets something accurately, but doesn't always take action in the most advantageous manner. Sure, he has a great vocabulary and can make big speeches, but he has flaws as a leader and sometime gets himself into trouble. He should look like a fool on occasion because of his wisdom. There's nothing wrong with that; at the same time it doesn't undercut Josa's intellect. Was Seira a short bus candidate for her mistakes? Intelligence is no guarantee of perfection, let alone through the prism of another person's point of view.

For what it's worth, Josa's verbosity and general demeanor is over the top on purpose. He's a drama queen and a windbag, it's part of his charm. His 'charm', if you prefer sarcasm to it.

Josa's fragment of Simmer's letter. He hid it from you, none of you caught his little tell on it or pursued it.

Josa: Hasel says my vocabulary is quite good! Thanks for that. I know you have your problems and it's your choice on how you deal with it, but I think they could help you a lot. There's a noble elf under all that wind.

[Anastasia]

Paused at log 20.

For grand record keepings! More detailed stats of important NPCs can be found in the respective topic for them.

PEOPLE

ALLIES

Josa Confector, Wiz 5/Candymancer 1//Half Elf Paragon 3/Elf Paragon 3

Owner of Whimsical Sweets. A candymancer half-elf prone to drama and extremes as well as the PCs boss. Not the wisest half elf that's ever lived, but he does back his grand words up with brave actions.

Silver, familiar pixie sub-race

Josa's familiar. Crabby, bitchy and perhaps a bit homicidal. Her servitude to Josa is perhaps accidental and involuntary. Tries to stay out of danger as much as possible.

Sylvie, Factotum 4//Fighter 1/Monk 3

A cute blonde girl who works for Josa. She is now a gopher and helper for the party when they desire her services. Has a three year old child and lives with her mother. Sylvie learns things at a staggering rate, having picked up martial arts, a bit of magic and other tricks from her friends.

Noel, Fighter 4//Rogue 4

A ruffian taken in by Wayland, spared jail time by this intervention. He is on the cowardly side, lacking courage and moral fiber. Died in the Weepings of Avernus to the acid breath of a half dragon hell hound.

Branna, Fighter 4//Rogue 4

A ruffian taken in in by Wayland, spared jail time by this intervention. He is a brave man, loyal and as upstanding as he can manage. He was given Frozen Oath and is being trained to make the utmost of the enchanted blade. Sadly, Frozen Oath was destroyed by a fiendish rust monster and then Branna was flayed alive by a Chain Devil.

Balyss, Cleric 5//Favored Soul 5

An aasimar Lunatic of Selune. She gets along well with Whimsical Sweets, having aided them with the Phoenix Keeper and hiring them to explore a profaned temple to Selune

Olan, ?

Father of Brent as well as the instructor of Brent, Andrea and Branna. An old paladin of Lathander who survived his many trials and started a family in Balmuria.

Brent, Scout 4//Paladin 4

Olan's son and a paladin in training. He has good natural aptitude, rising to a respectable level of power without much practical experience. This proved to be his undoing, as his first serious battle saw him charge a dozen Ash Elementals. The heat was sucked from his body, slaying him almost instantly.

NEUTRAL

Captain Wedge, ?

An official in the City Guard. He is friendly to Whimsical Sweets, hiring them on occasion for work the Guard can't or won't involve themselves in directly. Has mythal access.

Vayth, ?

A follower of Alicia who knows Andrea in passing. Quiet and taciturn, gave Whimsical Sweets one of it's first real jobs. His sense of logic is suspect.

Sammas, ?

A mid-rank priest of Waukeen. Young faced, tall and his duties include the holy records as well as greetings.

Sanuth, ?

A traveling merchant. He was manipulated by Qusela into near-poverty and amplified by his own failings. He was saved by Whimsical Sweets, personal improvement remains an open question.

Falis, Mephit 3//Fighter 3

Falis is a fire mephit from Mihail's Inferno.  Brash and curious about the outsider world, he ultimately finds it boring compared to the blazes beneath Balmuria.

Blythe, ?

A mage who works in Mihail's Inferno. He seems to be tasked with damage control whenever a fiery creature escapes out into Balmuria proper. Blythe is slovenly and laid back, always looking rumpled.  He helped Simmer find her way into the Inferno.

Elestra Moongal, ?

Mother of Dacote Anband, a rich noblewoman from the south. Eccentric and rich, often lost in matters seemingly irrelevant or random. Seems unusually fond of Wayland for unexplained reasons.

Dacote Anband, ?

The owner of Silver Star books. A half elf of some variety, he is well bred and soft spoken.  He seems to be exasperated with his mother, who ignores most of this.

Father Ceiar, ?

An ancient priest of Helm. Keeps doing bits of work for the church despite his advanced age. Despite being an ardent follower of the old school Helm, he values the principals of the rest of the Triad.

Gweonryn, ?

A poor soul inflicted with lycanthropy. He was saved by Whimisical Sweets and cured at the House of Suffering.

Sinnah, ?

A devoted of Ilmater, who came into his service after her family fortune was wiped out in the collapse of the Malmuthian Empire.

ENEMIES, ASSHOLES AND RUBBISH

Qusela, Paladin of Tyranny 3//Sorcerer 3

A heretic, worshiper of Shar and devotee of darkness.  He corrupted the Silverback Lodge, twisting it to it's own ends. A scheme to defraud Sanuth of money and lure him into despair was foiled by Whimsical Sweets. Justice came for him, as he was delivered to the City Guard and executed for his heresy.

[Anastasia]

PLACES

Whimsical Sweets

Josa's candy shop and the home base of Whimsical Sweets. Downstairs is candy, upstairs is where the Troubleshooters work.  Supplies, candy, rest and protection can all be found here.

The Griffon's Eye

An upper class, expensive tavern in the Commerce District. Classy, catering to the richer crowds of the Commerce District.

The Dancing Dragon

An inn in the Commerce District, one that uses a Red Dragon motif. May or may not be a ripoff of Seira's inn.  Aims for a middle of the road clientele, less exclusive than many inns in the district.

Silver Star Books

Dacote Anband's shop. It's stacked with thousands of books as far as the eye can see. A faint hint of magic lingers about the place, often between it's dusty and forgotten tomes.

Wolf's Crevasse

A sinkcave in the Galkass Mountains where Gweonryn had fled to. It was trapped and showed signs of previous inhabitation, though no current residents were found. Perhaps the shocker lizards nearby explain that.

[Anastasia]

Gap between B2 and B1.

Note the B1 stuff tends to be rough. I've learned a lot about DMing!

[Anastasia]

Okay, this is just a lame topic title, but it came up in chat that a centralised collection of information and the like that you gather and read could be useful. So here we go:

Berlioz's gnomish research

Found: In old libraries and doing weeks of research on the gnomes from sources around Balmuria. It came in the form of several tidbits, listed here:

Gnomes vanished a long time ago. While the memories of them in tales paint them as mere mischief makers, occasional things mention them as far darker.

The name 'God-King Daa-vid' comes up one time in an old text, left over from the Malmuthian times of rule over the city and area. It mentions a power beyond 'the fairest star'.

A cryptic bit from an old poem mentions 'The Resort of the First, power inflicting the worst'.

An old tome talking about magic in reference mentions that golemwork 'originated with gnomes.'.

'The bow, the sword, the dagger, the ring, the shield and the last. Do you ever dream about them again? Dream about the day when you'll go there; where the Eternes awaits? It's so bad that...your dream became your nightmare, gnome. - Talinn, seeker.'

---

Febras' Scroll

Found: From Febras. All the various colors and italics didn't copy, feel free to reference the topic this came from for all of that.

OOC: Feel free to ask any questions about it you may like in this topic.

The scroll has cracked edges, the ink a solid, timeless blue. Around occasional drawings of runes and notes in eccentric, arcane terms, one can read the following:

Ill defined? No. There's a good chance this may be closer to what magic 'is' instead of most spells. The form given is minimal, influenced only by a concept and not ironclad rules. Unlike a spell, which is set and cannot adapt, this can. To quote: "Spells are energy given perfect and stonelike form. This is the energy without the definition."

Next, after a table of the lunar laws and a small starchart, this lies in soft purple ink.

For a wizard, crude changes are not difficult. Exposing this to organized magic can leave an imprint, giving this focus. But it's like cleaning a spot on the floor with a torrent of water - even if it succeeds, it may not take it in the direction you wish. I am sure of that now. He compared it to a soul without a body or conciousness. That means...?

There are charts next, basic diagrams of simple magic. The foundations of the most basic cantrips, perhaps, written with painstaking care to be flawless. Past these is more writing, this time in a dull, lifeless blue.

I think I understand more now. The forms of magic regulate how much energy can be summoned. The circles of magic are a safeguard, like a series of locks. Even a Sorcerer, one who relies on fiat and whim to his magic, is bound to these. This exists beyond that reconing. Is this the magic of greater beings? Of the Gods? But we -I- lack a tool.

Now comes writing in Elven, Celestian, Dwarven, Abyssial and more. Single words, fragments of meaning. Past this, in rapid, looping words of black ink?

The magic is aligned with darkness. So be it, the font this comes from must be so done. It's an influence, should the means to alter it strike badly it will turn the magic to it's own nature. The necromancy he said was plain. The others act as they do, affecting the magic naturally.

Abjuration - Protective. Protecting the equipment depending on how it influences?

Conjuration

Divination

Enchantment Beguiling. The story of the man who was ensorcelled by a beautiful diamond to chase it even into an endless chasm comes to mind. The magic overall feels contrary in it's evil, if this failed would it become as such?

Evocation

Illusion

Necromancy The base. Magic of life and unlife. Hmm. (AFter those words, there is a small addendium in bright blue ink.) Life force. Altering these things?

Transmutation.Changing one thing into another. It's very essence is changing what the caster finds wanting. Hm.

A break, then words in a deep, rusty red. Amid these is another's handwriting. It's definiely arcane, Seira or Shamal can tell it's part of a basic outline for magic.

The principal is control. Wild dweomer. The opposite of a Wild Mage, a wizard who studies control. Hmph. I believe that this is on the right track, but my studies are limited.

Near the bottom of the scroll there is a little more, written carefully.

It can hide itself. It can manipulate raw magic. I suspected that brash, bold warrior Donald. Fool he may be, but he is not a monster. Investigation is difficult, the tools are limited.

---

Gnomish report on human weapons

Found: In gnomish city.

Report 39 on relevant human counter defenses and artifacts:

Grand Rugnician Deathcap:

A deeply lethal poison that is resistant to magical treatment. Can be cured with the proper reagents or high circle magic. Fast acting.

Location: Unknown; growable so the location is moot.

Countermeasures: Detections.

Warhammer of The Shard:

A warhammer with a small shard of chaos in it's head. Extremely effective against evil outsiders, rendering them defenseless on a strike.

Location: Captured, Grand Junction Fortress.

Countermeasures: Limited/no summoning of lawful outsiders when in play. Not particulary dangerous if not in it's element.

Arondaarq:

The life draining sword of the elves and humans, lead in creation by Jannu Desjardin. Trades the user's life energy for considerable effects. A suicide weapon but a powerful one - it can shatter magic, rend apart diamond with ease and other feats.

Location: Suspected to be in the hands of Talinn the Seeker.

Countermeasures: Attempt to destroy the user with prejudice. Attempt to exhaust the holder by having them have to invoke greater powers several times.

Ring of Eternal Celerity:

The ring that can be worn by no living being. The completion of the greatest research. Undetectable; exists only to augument the wearer's strengths and eliminate it's weaknesses. Evidence suggests that it is difficult to control.

Location: ????

Countermeasures: Capture/destroy the ring if identified. Attempt to make user invoke powers and lose control.

Bloodstar:

Morningstar of oblivion. Little is known about it, as the spies sent never return. Auguries fail.

Location: ????

Countermeasures: ????

More coming once I dig them up, free free to add your own.