Gearing up (Moore, Ithea)

[Anastasia]

Ithea, you're off to a new thread. I'll get you started shortly.

Going to the library is unremarkable. It's quiet in here, people reading away. Crystal flutters over to a table and says quietly, "Elena, could you have someone bring us some refreshments? Thank you." It's a smaller table, almost pixie sized. It's tucked away near one bookshelf, Crystal taking a seat. "The books will come to you if you ask for them or for a category. Say what you want and we'll start from there."

[Nephrite]

"Then let's start from most recent and see what we have." Moore says, lowering his voice mid-way through when he remembers where he is.

"I'd like anything we have on the the most recent dealings with the Mineral plane and anyone who lives there." Moore states, with a look at Crystal afterwards. "...Was that too broad?"

[Anastasia]

Just like that, books fly on down. A few dozen, all landing in a neat set of stacks before Moore. Crystal clears her throat, "Yes, quite. Well," she takes one book and opens it, "We shall be reading."

[Nephrite]

"I suppose I should have specified 'in the last year.'" Moore says, glancing around to see if any more books come flying. "Oh, I do have a spell I think will speed this up... am I okay to use it? I didn't think about it before, but I probably shouldn't just go casting spells without knowing the rules, if there are any."

[Anastasia]

"Of course," Crystal says, "By all means."

[Nephrite]

Moore casts a quick spell and then will start touching the books from highest to lowest!

He's casting Scholar's Touch, which will last for 17 rounds/ 17 books.

[Anastasia]

Okay. Make an K:P check with the library bonus applied.

[Nephrite]

[20:58] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+14+8+8+15 K:P using Improvisation, -8 if that's not allowed
[20:58] <Kobot> Nephrite rolled 1d20+14+8+8+15 K:P using Improvisation, -8 if that's not allowed --> [ 1d20=14 ]{59}

[Anastasia]

The dealings with the inhabitants of Mineral tend to follow along one of two paths.

1. You're here for the riches and treasure. This ends poorly for the treasure seekers, as the natives tend to know or figure out quickly and strike. The only thing they see of Mineral is violence and pain.

2. You aren't here for the riches and treasure. Assuming you don't fall afoul of overly zealous natives anyway, the inhabitants of the plane are fairly apathetic.They're isolationists who are only interested in the affairs of Mineral. Creatures from Earth and the Positive Energy Plane do slightly better, as they share some blood with them, but in general they just aren't interested.

The main inhabitants are mineral elementals. They're like earth elementals made of precious metals and gemstones. This tends to make them even hardier than earth elementals, resulting in high endurance and damage reduction. Virtually any creature from Earth and the Positive Energy Plane can be found there, though.

Anyway, ti is possible to deal with them if you aren't interested in treasure and step carefully. As they don't care about external matters, it's difficult and most quickly lose interest if you aren't talking about those things. If you are and speak well, you can keep one's attention and deal with them. If you speak poorly, you'll be ridiculed as a foolish non-native.

[Nephrite]

Would Moore be able to pick up any specifics on what they might be able to offer that is both 1) Internal to Mineral and 2) Doesn't make them look like they're just hunting for treasure?

In addition, would Moore be able to puzzle out anything he might be able to bring to curry favor with whomever it is he meets with?

Finally, are there any individuals with which he'd want to start talking to that the records mention?

[Anastasia]

Things that are internal to Mineral are the treasures there, protecting them and life. The second one's tough, since there's not much in Mineral except scads of treasure. The best idea Moore can come on is to be there for a mystical location.

The best way to gain favor is to leave any riches there alone and not look like you're about to take them. Part of the problem of diplomacy with Mineral is that they're so hyperfocused about it.

There's the name of various elementals. The most notable is Crystalle, claimed to be an archomental of Mineral. He (or she?) resides in a palace deep in Mineral, one warded heavily. This place is one of the few places relatively open to diplomacy, if you can find it.

[Nephrite]

"...Interesting coincidence." Moore says as he gestures at one of the books. "Are you familiar at all with a 'Crystalle' of Mineral at all?" Moore asks. "It looks like they're probably our best shot at any kind of actual diplomatic relationship. In addition, we probably would want to find some place there that we could offer to clean up or defend or something... some sort of extremely important leyline or...something or other, I think."

[Anastasia]

Crystal shakes her head. "I do not, but it's not that uncommon a name. I've met a few other Crystals in my time. Who exactly is the one you speak of?"

[Nephrite]

"They're apparently an archomental of Mineral. I can't get a good sense of whether they identify as male or female, but it probably doesn't really matter... but they're apparently very reclusive and reside in a palace that's very heavily warded. However, if you can manage to actually get there, supposedly they're very open to diplomatic endeavors." Moore answers.

"So, I think our best bet is to try and focus on finding where they reside." Moore says. "Though I'm not entirely sure how we do that... there are a lot of options."

[Anastasia]

"Hmmmmm." Crystal marks her place with a scrap of paper and closes her book. "I think we need an expert on planar matters. Going in unsure and hopeful into a plane that could turn hostile is markedly unwise, especially when the purpose is to do good and forge stronger ties."