Okay, you made it back to Ysgard with the grimoire. Next move?
Level ups for your NPCs will come tonight or tomorrow, work was just a beast yesterday. In the event you manage to hit combat today, we'll pause. You shouldn't, but just in case.
First order of business is to study the grimoire a bit. REVEAL YOUR SECRETS!
The grimoire sits on Miranda's kitchen table. Last you hear, the others are out sparring, leaving just Tryll and the book. How are you going to approach this?
'You know, I never asked your name. Do you mind if I read you?' Asking a book. How awkward.
'A name! A name! Of course, I need a name. Tell me, what is a good name?' The book asks.
'Well, what do you want in a name?' Tryll asks, 'A good name is important, and you're fortunate enough to have the opportunity to choose your own. How would you describe yourself?'
'Oh, I know. Bookaradus is a good name, isn't it?' The book asks.
Calleigh falls through the ceiling, "Hi there! Are we naming things!?"
'You must missed it,' Bookaradus says, 'Now, what where we doing?'
Jesus christ on a cracker he's really going with Bookaradus ok welp here goes nothing
'I was hoping to stud-'
"Ohhhh did you pick a name!?"
It's a book, no one said books are good at naming themselves.
'I did!" Bookaradus says, Tryll cut off. 'How does Bookaradus strike you?'
"...it'sa bit derivative, isn't it?"
'Derivative? How? No more derivative than Tryll, which is the height of derivative names!' Bookaradus thunders, 'Nay, far less derivative than Tryll!'
'My name is derivative? How?' Tryll wonders, a bit indignant.
"Nevermind that! You can't just put the word book in your name! You're not just a book! You're a grimoire! A thinking grimoire! You need a name with GRAVITAS! The kind of name that adventurers whisper in awe and fear and maybe a little greed! Something like
AETHERIUS, GRAND TOME OF WONDERS!
or something similar! You can do better! You can be better! Be all that you're meant to be! Not just a ten-copper trashy romance novel!" Calleigh is briefly able to be heard from several hundred feet away.
The book wobbles in place, 'Aetherius?! That's so calling me the Ethereal Plane with -us at the end! Hmph. Try harder!'
Unnoticed by the book is the screams of shock and surprise from Miranda, Dana and Benyen.
"We could get really creative! We could use a word from outside Common! Everybody loves that stuff! Adds mystery! Words in draconic or elvish are real popular! Xumropheos, The Eternal Mind! Nulroanth The Magnificent! Mnementh the Vigilant! Filaurel the FLAMETHROWER! Do you throw flames? That one might be misleading."
'That's it! Filaurel!' Filaurel declares, 'That shall be my name!'
"There we go! That's a NAME! It's got moxy! A bit of passion! Mystery!"
'Then we go!' Filaurel declares, then, 'Oh, and I was talking to Tryll, wasn't I? Be a dear and rename him for me, would you?'
"Too late! Already renamed him Swimmyguy Tentacleface!"
'WHAT.'
'Splendid,' Filaurel declares, 'So, where were we?'
'I wish to read you.' Tryll sounds defeated.
'I can do that, Swimmy,' Filaurel declares, as the door to the room opens.
Miranda pokes her head in, "Can you not make that much noise?"
'Fantastic.' Tryll's voice is dry and barren.
Calleigh turns to Miranda, "Hmmmmmmm nope!"
'Then go on, read me,' The book invites Tryll, as Miranda gives Calleigh a look. "You're a guest," she reminds the courre.
"I'm a loud guest!" Calleigh says cheerily as Tryll takes hold of the tome and cracks it open.
Gimme an Int check. +2 circumstance bonus since the book is agreeable to it.
[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+17 : 5 + 17, total 22[/blockquote]
You can read the book.
It is supercharged with psionic energy and powers, just waiting to be used. A vast cluster, a vast mind of them awaiting to be contacted, controlled. You can feel the anticipation of them, waiting to be taken.
Of course, identifying them, figuring out how to get them and finally getting them remains an open question.
'Oh. Oh. Well now. You're just packed full of psionics, aren't you?'
'That I am,' The book replies, 'How else would I be?'
'It's a bit more than I expected. I mean I expected a lot, but this is-'
"A lot-lot! A lot of a lot!"
'Yes. I'll need some time to study you, to understand.'
'Exactly. Study me, see if you can figure out the puzzle,' The book encourages you, 'That is my purpose, more or less.'
'Well, I certainly have the time. Forever, really. If there's a puzzle, I'll solve it.'
'Then close your eyes and focus,' The book instructs, 'Focus on me.'
Tryll does so!
Gimme another Int check, +2 circumstance bonus again.
[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+17 : 5 + 17, total 22[/blockquote]
OH OKAY
It's like unlocking a dozen locks at once, each one a puzzle, while keeping them all track. It's intricate and time consuming, slowly working on it. Hours pass for Tryll like the blink of an eye until...
"Hey Tryll, lunch," Dana pokes in. "Still at that book?"
'Yes.' Tryll has the book upside down now, one eye on each page and a third on Dana. 'What'd I miss."
Calleigh is face-down in a fruit bowl, snoring.
"Practicing," Dana says, "Me figuring out how to rip apart the boundaries of space and dimensions to teleport because fuckholes can't figure it out themselves."
'Good choice.' Tryll replies. Turning the book sideways.
"So anyfuckingway, we doing anything today or you lost in that book?" Dana asks.
'...did you say something?' Tryll asks, shaking the book a bit as though it will help to decipher it. 'We're Keeping Benyen, by the way.'
"Great," Dana says, "I'll get to training his ass in order," Grinning, she whistles and closes the door, leaving you back to it.
Going to work on the book some more?
'Yes, I thought you might be pleased. Don't break him. Nothing permanent, anyhow. He's one of Raziel's. I'm not interested in stepping on that foot. But by all means, get him up to snuff. Also, we need to find a way for you two to become immortal. Or functionally so, like I am. Also, be a dear and send Miranda in when you have a chance?' Tryll's mental voice follows Dana out the door and off to whatever she's doing.
It's a few minutes before Miranda pokes in, "You wanted to see me?"
'Yes. Need an outside opinion.' The book is thrust into her face, maddening puzzles ahoy, 'What do you make of this?'
"An unbelievably complex puzzle," Miranda says, slowly. "It's tangled and complex and I barely follow most of it."
'Same. Damn.' Tryll says, pulling it back. He stares at it a bit more. 'I know it's in there. Knowledge I don't have. Understanding of psionics. It's so complex I can scarcely believe it. Over a million years of existence, and it's like I'm back home trying to lift rocks again.'
"Then keep lifting the rocks until you get strong enough to do it easily, silly," Miranda smiles, "Build up your mental muscles some more!"
'You think I should go lift rocks?'
This gets Miranda to softly shake her head, "No, I mean keep at it and get better at it."
'Ah. Of course. Yes. That makes more sense. What are you up to outside?'
"Training," she says, "What else do you do in Ysgard?"
'Talk to Jormungandr's kids?'
A flat look back. "Anyway, are you going to keep at this for the day?"
'Most probably; I often spent time in Medi's library while on the Aurora. Unless you would like my presence for something?'
"No, go on," Miranda says and...
Going to keep on this? If so, Int check with a +2 circumstance bonus.
[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+17 : 10 + 17, total 27[/blockquote]
Progress. You feel like you're making slow, steady progress - but emphasis on slow. This book is like a dozen puzzles mixed together and sorting them out is the first hurdle. It constantly changes, but you feel like you're making headway.
It's now eveningtime - you're pretty sure they're all eating dinner in the kitchen right now.
Tryll wanders into the kitchen
Yuth gets the bonus post before work.
It's three people here.
Dana is eating a big hunk of bread and waving the rest around, grinning. "So then what?"
Miranda's kicking back and nibbling on some kebabs, "He realized a sword wasn't going to cut it in lava."
Benyen grins, sitting next to Dana and enjoying a drink. "I'd think it wouldn't!"
'Obviously you need a lava sword for that.' Tryll says absently, floating into the room.
"Exactly," Benyen says, "Now I want a lava sword."
"Well, good reason to visit Fire sometime," Dana agrees, giving his hand a squeeze. "Hey, Tryll. Done with that book?"
"Ooooooooooo FIRE!" Calleigh cheers, coming up behind Dana and draping a napkin over the top of her head.
'No, I'll likely be working on this a month or so. I think? It's difficult to decipher. It was not designed to be read.'
"Well hell, we'll have to drag you out soon," Dana says, "No fucking way we're pissing around here for a month."
"Yeah," Benyen chimes in, "There's evils to fight, demons to smite and Sharrans to kick in the face from atop a berserk pegasus. Which works really well, by the way."
'Oh no, I'd not planned on it. In fact, Calleigh. You're up.' Tryll says, still perusing.
"O-KAY!" A scroll is pulled from her bag and is subsequently unfurled. "We've got plenty of stuff to do! First, we have the super important proxy thing with Miranda! She's part of the ship now and-"
'Part of the crew.' Tryll corrects.
"Part of the ship!" Calleigh retorts.
'Part of the crew.' Tryll is ever-patient.
"Part of the ship!"
'Part of the crew.'
"Part of the ship!"
'Part of the crew.'
"Part of the ship!"
'Part of the crew.'
"Part of the ship!"
'Part of the crew.'
"Part of the ship!"
'Part of the crew.'
"Part of the oh whatever! We're gonna have a ship soon enough. It doesn't matter! Anyway, we need to figure out a way to either get her proxied or whatever way Hanna used. Either way, super important. We'll probably need to impress Tempus or something. Big battles, bigger explosions, lots of fun. But! There's other stuff too! Debonah was hunting treasures stolen from Brightwater! Everyone loves Brightwater! Except maybe Benyen but he's probably never been there! Anyway, she's after some guy named Kelan. We could help her out! She could be grateful! And she's a solar! Solar of LUV! Dude-love though, so don't get too excited." Calleigh points at Benyen, "Unless that's your thing in which case I don't care, you do you. You might incur the Wrath of Dana tho, so watch out. She gets stabby."
"But! We also have Bel! Yes, the former Lord of the First! He's MISSING, and my bet is that he's being held somewhere by either Hell or one of their allies. I betcha he's super mad about Asmodad dumping him for his embarrassing failure of a son so we might be able to flip him to the side of love and justice! It's a long shot, but it'd be a big win and also completely hilarious." Calleigh nods rapidly, gesticulating wildly.
"Next is a trip to scenic Ooze! The Elemental Plane of Ooze is a unique site in all the planes! It's the only place that is entirely rotting away, full of noxious gasses, and is guaranteed to make you ralph if you happen to regret your previous meal! It's also home to Bwimb and Bwimb, the Elemental Prince and Princess of Ooze! The Princess is supposed to be nice! If made of horrifying acid. Afina described her as "distressingly huggy, so remember your acid resistances! Bwimb is recruiting outcasts from the lower planes, and we wanna know why!" Calleigh makes a face.
"We also need to go to the Beastlands at some point and find Thorajin. He didn't show up for the battle for Lifasa and that was a bit rude."
"Lastly, we need our own Medicant. Can't rely on the Aurora forever. Heck, we can barely rely on it now! They're off doing their own thing. So we need a buuuuuunch of deep crystal and someone who can make mobile demiplanes. Who wants to do what?"
Your long speech gets everyone's attention, listening to you before Dana starts to speak.
However, Benyen is faster and cuts in, "Kelan, right? I'm for that."
Dana sits back, idly tapping her fingers, "Wel fuck, so who can make mobile demiplanes, that's the real fucking question."
Miranda says, "Anything will do, I'm good with whatever."
"We could always go find what happened to Medi!" Calleigh says.
Dana tilts her head to the side, "Croaked when Aurora failed the first time, right? Or Medicant or what the fuck ever he called it."
"You ever seen his body? I'll betcha he's still around. Mages that strong have back-ups. Heck, Tryll's got one."
'That's true. I never thought of Medi. Just assumed he was dead. I don't think it's probable that we'd find him though. If he IS alive, he obviously doesn't want to be found.'
"Yes. If someone like that wants to slip away, they'll slip away," Miranda agrees, "I've heard he stopped an apocalypse on his own as his first move. That sort of hero's hard to track down. Hardly something to be done trivially, if he's even alive."
Calleigh makes a face, "Fine. Maybe if we do this favor for Debonah then she can point us in the right direction!"
"Okay then," Dana agrees, "Let's get fucking going!"
Next move?
Brightwater, looking for Debonah! We'll give Benyen a tour of the place too if he wants.
Sure. How are you looking for Debonah? If it's something GIish go ahead and make Diplo along with the description of it.
Checking Sune's district, since she's most likely to be spotted there or have someone know where she went. [blockquote]Rolled 1d20+48 : 12 + 48, total 60[/blockquote]
Digging, you find good intelligence. You hear that Debonah is somewhere called the Leopard's Spot right now and should be easy to find there.
Tryll heads out!
The Leopard's Spot is a rather quiet building down a dark alley, a tavern. It's full of older men, chatting in duos or triples. Older men of all types, the muscly and bearded sorts. Nice place, fairly low key on a glance.
Tryll elects to stay in mist form to remain inconspicuous and not spook the bears.
Calleigh elects to be as conspicuous as courrishly possible bursting tinily through the door, "ITSA BAR!"
Several dozen pairs of eyes turn to Calleigh here, while Dana and the others follow. A tall, strapping half elf comes over, "Excuse me," he says, "But this bar is themed for men. I think all of you have the wrong place."
"He's a man!" Calleigh points at Benyen.
"Hi?" Benyen offers, tilting his head to the side.
"I suspect he's not our type of man," The burly man says, "Is he?"
"Look, we're here to find Debo-fucking-nah," Dana says, stepping closer and in front of Benyen. "Is she here?"
"She's about yay-high," Calleigh gestures, "and is made of SUPER SCARY MANLOVE POWERS!"
"Oh." The man says, jerking a thumb, "In the back, up the stairs, third room on the right. Knock first."
"Thanks! You're very pretty!" Calleigh calls, heading up the stairs and trailing mist.
In the back and up some stairs, to that room in question. On knocking, "Come in," A deep, manly voice calls.
"Deboooonaaaaaaahhh!" Calleigh sings, bursting into the room, "Hiiiiiii!"
Inside the room is a tall, well formed elf man. He wears a simple tunic and leathers, sipping from a mug. In an instant he is a she, Debonah taking on her true form.
"Tryll and friends," she greets.
"Hi, so we're here. Debonah? It's an honor to meet you," Miranda says, "I've heard stories of your battles against Chourst."
At that, Debonah's expression clouds. "Ah yes, the Lord of Randomness. Randomly ruining my month whenever I stumble across him."
"Whatsa Chourst?"
"The slaad Lord of Randomness, child," Debonah says, inviting all of you in. Once in she takes a seat - a rather simple room, an inn room in essence, except the bed's bigger than usual. "He doesn't like me at all."
"It has made for marvelous battles," Miranda agrees, eyes lighting up. "Faerinaal's ballad of your battle at Argent Hills against his servants is a classic."
"Yeah?" Dana asks, "How bloody?"
"Ohh, he's a slaad lord! Like Great Teacher Renbuu!" Calleigh nods. "That makes sense."
"Bloody," Debonah says shortly, "Tryll," she says, "You're here about the tome?"
'Yes.' Tryll replies calmly. 'We're here to assist.'
"You didn't find it," Debonah concludes, "I had hoped you had more luck on getting it."
'Wait. Which tome? Because we found a tome.'
"The psionic tome," Debonah replies, "Or did you find it?"
'Oh. Yes. Filaurel. Chatty for a book.'
"Congratulations," Debonah says, "But then, why are you here?"
"Uh. Why ARE we here, Bossman Swimmy?"
'Somebody stole something.'
"Oh yeah!"
"Yeah," Dana nods, "So let's fuckin' get to it!"
"Very well," Debonah gestures to come closer, "What was stolen?"
'Calleigh.' Tryll sounds tired.
"Ya boss?" Salute.
'The scroll.'
"Oh right. The scroll. The scrolly scroll. The scroll of scrollitude. The infinite scroll. The magnificent scroll of magnitude. That scroll. The scroll." Calleigh pulls a tiny scroll from her bag and unfurls it, waiting until it drops to the floor, "According to Dana, Debonah was after some guy named Kelan who stole something from Brightwater."
"That's right," Debonah says, "Are you looking for him as well?"
'Insomuch as you are looking for him, yes. We thought we'd help out.' Tryll explains.
"Thank you," Debonah says, "Do you have any leads? He's shielded against the divinations I've tried."
"Of fucking course he is," Dana drawls.
"It's only sensible," Miranda counters, "Otherwise Debonah would have sorted this out already."
'I've come up with something new. Might work.'
"By all means," Debonah invites, sitting back.
"Yeah, I want to see this mind shit, too," Dana comes on over. "Shit, I still need to show you mine. I'll show you mine if you show me yours?"
Quietly, so quietly that only Tryll's advanced hearing picks it up, "Not the first time that's been said in this room, I'd wager." Miranda murmurs under her breath.
"I'm curious, too. Psionics are still fairly new to me," Benyen pipes in, coming over as well.
'Psionics are often not flashy. Barring the more melee-oriented powers, it's often indistinguishable from magic. The majority of psionics occur within someone's brain or body. Usually one's own. For example, this power allows me to essentially see and read imprints left on a plane's astral links. The downside is that it can only see a week into the past. Don't ask why. The answer is complicated and I didn't want to spend the time building an array the size of a small city when I designed the power. Anyway. Criminals are stupid. They make stupid mistakes. A lack of pursuit can make them bold, and he may have returned to Brightwater to gloat in his own way over a heist well-executed or even to see what kind of hornet's nest he kicked over in his passing. It happens more often than you'd expect. Let's find out.' Tryll says, manifesting Examine Astral Reverberations.
Examine Astral Reverberations
Cast time: 1 minute
Cost: 17+10+5-3=29
Will DC 40
Paid extra for the divination, no-nonsense version.
Paid extra to pierce Mind Blank.
Opposed Caster Level Check![blockquote]Rolled 1d20+33 : 8 + 33, total 41[/blockquote]
> roll 1d20+22
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+22 --> [ 1d20=20 ]{42}
I am so sorry, that is abysmal luck.
No good. Something's shielding it, something strong.
'...huh. A dud. Perhaps I should have built the array. Ah well. What'd he steal anyway?'
"Three Heart Rubies," Debonah explains, "Gems that hold precious memories of love and romance. They can buoy and restore the spirit, as well as mend broken relationships. Each one is an artifact, crafted by Sune's divine will."
'...how the hell'd he get ahold of them?'
"We'd like to know that, too," Debonah says, flatly. "The protections there are not trivial."
"Okay, so a super-competent thief steals something he shouldn't," Benyen interjects, "Sounds straight forward enough. We just track him down, take them back and toss him to Sune to deal with. Sounds like a good few days."
"Well, that depends on who he works for, really. If the protections were as strong as Debonah says, then he probably has a benefactor. Possibly divine. Stealing from a god's temple in Brightwater isn't the same as stealing from a temple on a prime. Gods walk here. Actually walk here, as opposed to just their followers." Calleigh says. "Stealing from Sune's temple when she's been known to actually physically be there sometimes? That's pretty gutsy."
"Balls the size of grapefruits," Dana agrees, "Big fucking grapefruits. So you have to fucking know that suspect one is Mask and his ilk."
"Could be," Miranda says, "But what about Mammon? He cherishes avarice, and what's more to crave them precious gemstones imbued with pure love?"
"How about Secretus?" Benyen pipes up, "He could be expanding and using those for some unspeakable purpose."
"Isn't Secretus dead? I thought Surrarururututheutru got him."
I'm sorry, that was meant to be Shadale. Somehow Secretus came out, no idea why.
I was confused for a bit there yeah. Strike it all and do it again?
"Balls the size of grapefruits," Dana agrees, "Big fucking grapefruits. So you have to fucking know that suspect one is Mask and his ilk."
"Could be," Miranda says, "But what about Mammon? He cherishes avarice, and what's more to crave them precious gemstones imbued with pure love?"
"How about Shadale?" Benyen pipes up, "He could be expanding and using those for some unspeakable purpose."
"He is a yugoloth. They're pretty awful, and maybe he's got the backing of that one 'loth we kicked in the teeth during that whole interplanar collapse event that totally wasn't our fault." Calleigh says.
Benyen and Miranda turn right to you as Debonah's smile, sharp and amused, shows.
"When you can say that, you're a true planar adventurer. What happened there?" Debonah asks. "What did Aurora even do to cause that?"
"Like I said. Totally not our fault. Gathgorian or Lixer or whoever the loser of the week was trying some bad stuff. Pretty sure it was Lixer. I remember his necromancer pit fiends. Anyway, there was a portal. And mage-y guys. So Tryll had been studying portals recently too, and he dropped an unstable rift right in the middle of everything that led straight to Limbo. Not like a full on portal or whatever, but just a rift. Leaks chaos all over the place, messes with casting, bad for devils. Good times. Only uhhhh whatever they were doing interfered with the rift, causing the casket-"
'A cascading multiplanar failure resulting in a collapsing singularity that took a portion of the plane we were in, I believe it was actually Hades, as well as part of Limbo and the Astral Plane and condensed them down into one singular point in space-time. The result was a complete destabilization of the local area and required direct divine intervention to fix.' Tryll says.
"Yep. Totally not our fault. Devils and 'loths. Tryll's rift worked fine." Calleigh nods.
"You managed to bring multiple planes into the Astral," Debonah deadpans. "That's what you're saying, isn't it?"
Miranda just tilts her head to the side throughout the exposition. Benyen listens as well, "Huh," he manages.
"I mean it sounds simple when you put it that way, but yeah. Plus roving bands of demons, devils, gods, major celestials, I think Raziel was there? I know Selune was there." Calleigh says, thinking, "It was a time."
"If you provoke that sort of response, you did something wrong," Debonah concludes, "But we're getting sidetracked."
"We are? Oh! Yeah! We might be able to scan the hearts directly! You said they're like memory repositories?"
"Yes," Debonah agrees, "If you can, by all means."
'It's possible. They may have rudimentary minds based on that they are. Can you metaconcert?'
Debonah rises and offers you her hand, "I can participate in one if you start it," she says.
'I'm afraid I don't know the power. Was hoping you did. Alas. I'll try as-is, then. I should learn that power, I think.' Tryll attempts to focus his power on the gems.
Examine Astral Reverberations
Cast time: 1 minute
Cost: 17+10+5-3=29
Will DC 40
Paid extra for the divination, no-nonsense version.
Paid extra to pierce Mind Blank.
Opposed Caster Level Check if under some sort of anti scrying ward![blockquote]Rolled 1d20+33 : 1 + 33, total 34[/blockquote]
> roll 1d20+32 the gems are much better protected than the person, interestingly enough
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+32 the gems are much better protected than the person, interestingly enough --> [ 1d20=11 ]{43}
No good - those gems are protected with a capital P.
I ROLLED A 1!
'Hmm. Those seem even better protected than Kelan. I'm going to need to talk to Hamogan and see if he can get me a power stone with Metaconcert in it so we can brute-force it. Or maybe find one here in Brightwater. It doesn't need to last very long, after all.'
That too.
"Go and do that," Debonah says, "Do you need money for it?"
"Naw, we knocked over a trade prince guy's house a bit ago and stole all his stuff and still need to sell it." Calleigh says.
Okay, so what's your purchase and goal here?
We're still carrying around all our goods from Langersun. Never got around to it. First off, does anybody in-group want anything?
It's all saleable I believe, so get with the selling and note it in loot.
A few items may or may not be saleable.
QuoteDarkflame Medallion
This unoriginally named medallion grants the wearer a bonus 2d6 fire damage to unarmed attacks and natural weapons. Additionally, if the wearer worships Imix, this bonus increases to 3d6 and also applies to any cleric spells they cast that deal damage. Further, such a wearer is immune to fire of all kinds.
This is a minor, evil artifact of unknown origin.
No value is assigned here. Assuming it will have to be purified to be sold?
QuoteCirclet of Fiery Casting
This circlet must be worn for one week without interruption to gain any benefit from it. If removed for even a moment, the benefits of it are lost and another week must be spent attuning to it. Once worn for a week, the wearer of this circlet is treated as having the searing spell metamagic feat. If the wearer already has the searing spell feat, they gain a +2 bonus to the caster level of any spells modified by searing spell.
No value was assigned to this item. Seems a bit artifact-y?
QuoteThe old cloak is worth 104,000 gold. Oddly this doesn't match any records in Langersun, and you can tell why. From a maker's mark hidden in the inseam of the cloak, you can tell it's from the Gondworks, Gond's personal crafters and smiths. How such a thing ended up here is anyone's guess.
I want to know what this does before I sell it. [/i]
Post all thi sin loot, please.
Thus you return.
"Let's do this, then," Debonah agrees.
Tryll activates the power stone, dragging Miranda, Dana, Debonah, and Calleigh into the concert. He designates himself as leader and once again tries to scry the gems.
Examine Astral Reverberations
Cast time: 1 minute
Cost: 17+10+5-3=29
Will DC 44
Paid extra for the divination, no-nonsense version.
Paid extra to pierce Mind Blank.
Opposed Caster Level Check if under some sort of anti scrying ward![blockquote]Rolled 1d20+33 : 4 + 33, total 37[/blockquote]
> roll 1d20+32 the gems are much better protected than the person, interestingly enough
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+32 the gems are much better protected than the person, interestingly enough --> [ 1d20=3 ]{35}
The gems are red and beautiful. You see them, floating in a room, dark save for a deep red glow from them. It's a fairly plain room otherwise, a pedestal below the gemstones. They've been sitting in a room, undisturbed - yet a few times aperson comes in. An older man, face lined and aged. He wears rich clothes and cape, that of a valiant warrior. He spends some time inspecting the crystals, yet does nothing to them.
i also get a bit of their past and future, as a reminder!
That's what it was - over the past week, that person came in a few times.
I get a location?
It doesn't say that you, beyond the description of things immediately around it.
Anyway, you paid for the divination part of it as well?
If an additional 5 power points are spent, the power also attempts to postulate a likely future outcome. This provides a benefit similar to that of a divination, but less cryptic. Any information conveyed would concern one single action or possible action regarding that creature, and the question must be phrased to outline the direction for the power to take. Information conveyed can be contained in no more than one single sentence.
Go ahead and make your question.
Where can the gems be found within the next day?
In the basement of Starline, glittering for all time.
' have you guys ever heard of a place called Starline?'
Actually, is there a knowledge I can roll for that?
K:A
[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+50 : 17 + 50, total 67[/blockquote]
Starline. It sounds familiar. You recall something - the Starline, a city or something along those lines once on the Astral, said to be lost in some sort of accident.
'It's a city in the Astral. That's where the gems are.'
"The Astral? That sounds fun and with flying, too," Benyen says, "Plus you wizard types do great there."
"Astral again? Well sure, why not?" Dana agrees, "We'll just have to fly until we fucking find it and wreck that shit like my cu-"
"Ahem," Miranda cuts in, "Starline, you said? Any information on the defenses?"
'It's a lost city. We may have to do a bit of research.'
"Research it is," Debonah agrees, "You'll be well rewarded if you can track these down."
"Well great," Dana says, "More books, huh?"
"Naptime!" Calleigh cheers.
"Damn right," Dana seconds.
"Good," Debonah rises, "I'm going to go rattle my contacts, see if I can find anything about Starline."
'Thank you. Our best bet may be Aurora's library.'
"Meet again when one of us has something?" Debonah proposes.
"I'm for it," Miranda says, "Good hunting to you."
Next move?
To the Aurora!
Ah, Aurora.
It takes a bit of doing, as Aurora has stepped over to Elysium for some matter or another. But you arrive, things busy. The remaining forces can be seen in part, drilling in the courtyard. You can spy a few familiar faces - Ebony in the courtyard, by the phase spiders. Hanna's leading some of the troops, while Drena instructs a small contingent of air elementals in aerial combat.
Miranda takes it all in, silent, while Benyen whistles low. "Nice magic fortress," he says. "Really nice."
"It's a mobile demiplane, we've used it to kick Baator's teeth in a few times!" Calleigh says, "I thought it was staying on Lifasa for a while, though?"
As you chat and come in, you see Ebony rise and begin to head in your direction.
"Must have business here," Dana says, "What the fuck ever, right?"
Calleigh gives a tiny shrug, then waves at Ebony!
"Calleigh, Tryll," Ebony calls, voice calm once more, no sign of the last meeting in it. "I had meant to contact you."
'And here we are. Imagine that.'
"Fortunate," Ebony says, "How did your adventures conclude there?"
'Which one?'
"Oh, just fine," Dana drawls, an arm going around Benyen, who returns it.
Ebony exhales slightly, "The treasure part of it. There was quite some treasure in that cultist hideout."
"Oh yeah. We wend and have a bunch of it back cuz it was air looms and stuff. Or Crown Jewels. Or kissing prophecy swords. And stuff. Also horses."
"I see." Ebony says, "What of the money for it? There are good causes it could be donated to." Here she pauses one moment, waiting for a reply.
"We're in the middle of donating some to Sune!" Calleigh nods.
Ebony merely gives Calleigh a long look.
"What?" Calleigh gives Ebony a sunny smile.
"Calleigh, intentional obfuscation is little better than lying," Ebony says, "Tryll, I believe I was due a portion of that?"
'Actually, we assumed you didn't want any, considering the way you left. Were we mistaken?' Tryll has the tact to keep this private between himself and Ebony.
'I have good causes that could use donations,' Ebony agrees.
"And just what is wrong with lying!?" Calleigh retorts.
"A moment on that, please," Ebony says, waiting on Tryll.
'Well. The money has already been divided based on who participated and stuck around. I can give you a proportionate share out of my own, but I need something from you first.' Tryll offers.
"Which is?" Ebony asks back.
'You owe Dana and Benyen an apology.'
"Very well," Ebony says, a step back. "Dana, Benyen, you have my apologies for my previous behavior. It was unbecoming of me."
Dana just smirks, but Benyen waves it off. "It's fine. We all need to get picked up from falling over some time. The important part is that you get up and keep going, rather than staying down. Actually, that's what my fight sword teacher taught me, but it's true about most everything else."
"Really?" Dana glances sidelong at him, half frowning.
"Sure," Benyen says, "She's a celestial and she's hot, so why not?"
Dana's eyes narrow just a little bit at that. "She's hot?"
"Beautiful. Gorgeous. Lovely." Benyen lists off, "Just not half as lovely as you. She's like a dagger to your greatsword, Dana." Coming and taking Dana's hands, "Besides, she's not the one I want at my side when I crash through Shadale's windows, is she?"
"Nice recovery! Seven out of ten!" Calleigh judges.
As Dana and Benyen have a moment, Ebony quietly clears her throat and turns back in Tryll's general direction.
'We owe you about 42 grand, then. Can it wait a week?'
"Very well," Ebony says, "Though what is the reason for the delay?" Her voice is fairly neutral, a pause as she glances over, as Hanna sends a warrior sprawling to the ground. "Preferably before Ram comes out to take over from Hanna."
'Because that's almost all of my own share. Unless you want to try convincing Dana to give you some of hers...?'
"You can suck my big, fat fucking co-" Dana begins, but Ebony holds up a hand.
"A point well taken," she concludes. "I can live with that, I trust your word."
'I'd be rather insulted if you did not.' Tryll replies dryly.
"A week, then," Ebony agrees, stepping aside. "I'll be here unless Alicia calls me to a task. If I am, leave the money with Elena."
'Fine fine, was that all?'
A nod, Ebony going back to the phase spiders.
Calleigh and Tryll look at the others and shrug.
"Let's go," Dana says, striding forward and in.
Library trip, right? Plan here?
"Nap time!" Calleigh takes off.
Yes. We'll start by searching the library for mentions of the city, see if we can't narrow anything down.
Gimme the Knowledge check again.
[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+65 : 8 + 65, total 73[/blockquote]
You find a little bit of useful information: A mention of Starline, with the thought that it's no longer on the Astral Plane after that mishap. Information is otherwise scarce, though.
'Well. That's only slightly better than useless.'
Miranda slumps back and yawns, "Yes, it implies we don't even have it narrowed down to a single plane. What do we do with that and why is that GITH staring at us?" Miranda looks behind you, as Sage Vul'lath approaches, giving all of you a level look.
Dana snores away on a book, out cold. Benyen does the same, right next to her.
Calleigh is asleep on top of Dana's head. Competing for loudest snore in her own tiny way.
'That's Vul'lath. Sage. Gith. Good man, if brisk. How fare you, Vul'lath? I didn't see you come in.'
"Busy," Vul'lath says, "You brought Dana back, this must be annoyingly serious."
'Yes. We're trying to kill Shar.'
"Very good," Sage Vul'lath says, dry as a desert. "Sylvie has unfortunately departed, so 21 will not be available. I hope you have a back up plan."
'Not yet. It's what you'd call a work in progress. Have you ever heard of a city called Starline?'
"I have," Sage Vul'lath says, "Yet another reason too much magic without enough intelligence leads to ruin."
'We need to find it. Any hints?'
"I've heard it fell off the Astral Plane," Sage Vul'lath remarks slowly, "Towards one of the elemental planes."
'Any idea which one?'
"None whatsoever," Sage Vul'lath admits, "Aurora's library doesn't have any good lore on it that I've seen. I would suggest visiting an outside library to research it."
'Bah. I'll check with the Silverbrow Consortium then.'
"Very good," Sage Vul'lath says, expression like he just bit into a lemon. "So you won't be staying long?"
'Would you like us to?'
Vul'lath merely looks at Dana and then Benyen. "She's found another," he says, slowly and firmly. "I think not."
"The library isn't a nap room, is it?" Miranda remarks, "Much as a sword isn't a fancy decoration."
"Precisely." Sage Vul'lath agrees.
Calleigh snores loudly.
'I suppose we'd best be-'"GONE!" Calleigh cries, bouncing abruptly off of Dana's head and into the air and out of the library.
'...yes.'
A sharp nod from the gith as...
Next move?
To Brightwater! Again! Silverbrow guys. Gem dragons. Oh my.
Who are you looking to contact here?
Aw shit. Uh. An information broker to start? I lack specific names.
HAS Tryll been here before? I know Muirfinn was a few times and a few others have.
They're the ones that sent Tryll to Aurora, so yeah.
Fantastic.
It's not hard to get a meeting with Ruby. You're taken upstairs as last time, Ruby already waiting for you for once. She reads from a sheaf of papers as you approach, putting them down. "Ah. You seek our services again?"
Dana yawns and stretches, "Yeah. This is Tryll's baby, we're just fucking along with him."
"Nice place," Benyen says, "Really stylish, you have good taste. Nothing gets in the way of a good fight, either."
"Yeah well, they're all dragons, so try to be on your best behavior." Calleigh stage-whispers to Benyen.
'In a way. I'm looking for information on the currently location of the lost city of Starline.'
"Ooooooh." Benyen nods along, giving Ruby a second look.
As Dana gives Benyen her own look?
"Ahem," Ruby clears her throat, "A request for information, I see. Is this a matter from the Aurora or a personal matter?"
'Personal, I'm afraid. We're not working with the Aurora in an official capacity on this.'
"I'll have to see what the knowledge is worth," Ruby says, "Do you have anything in a like vein to offer?" She sits there, hands folded over the sheaf of papers placed down on the table.
Tryll ponders the psychic grimoire for a bit, then decides against it. Giving away an intelligent being isn't very nice. 'Not at this time, though we are available for acquisitions and expenditures if needed.'
"Please wait here," Ruby rises, "I must consult with Mister Sisatar."
Once gone Benyen sits back, "Well yes, but it's okay, I was just trying to tell how well she could fight."
"And," Dana says, giving him a steady look.
"She can fight. Dragon," Benyen says, sagely. "I'd want to drop in on her with at least...mmm, say an astral dreadnought? That would be big enough to crush her good."
"Oh we fought one of those! Real big thing! Like, a titanic one! We cut it apart and took it's eye and stuffed it onto a golem! Shaped like a tarrasque! Made of adamantine! And stuffed full to bursting with goldenfire!"
"Really?" Benyen says, "What did you name it?"
"That sounds formidable," Miranda remarks, "Yes, what did you name it and where is it? That sort of thing could be a centerpiece of any army."
"Well, we awakened it and used it to re-conquer Lifasa. Last I saw it, it was laying on its back in a field under the sun. I think it's decided to be a great big dog. We never named it, though. Dunno if it ever picked a name for itself or whatever." Calleigh shrugs.
"The golem's a dog?" Miranda says, "Well, nothing wrong with that."
"Except it should be smashing evil by the score," Dana grumbles, "Fuck, it's built to fight."
Miranda inclines her head forward at that, while Benyen rubs his chin. "So," he says, "Can we teach it to treat yugoloths as bones to chew on?"
"Maybe! It's sort of kind of Lathander's golem. We'd have to ask him."
As you all consider this, Ruby returns. Taking her seat, she goes on, "Mister Sisatar is agreeable to those terms," she says.
'Delightful.'
"Before that, however, he would like to know why you seek Starline," Ruby goes on, waiting.
"We're on a quest for Sune! Someone stole some stuff and hid it there!"
"Interesting." Ruby leans forward slightly, a sharp smile on her face. "Can you share more details about this situation?"
"Someone stole some sorta heart crystals fulla love memories directly from Sune's temple and she's suuuuuuuuuuuuper mad."
"Details," Ruby presses, "What precisely was stolen and who did it?"
"Some guy named Kelan and uhhhhh."
'Three Heart Rubies.' Tryll fills in.
A slight nod to that, "Thank you. Do you know his motivations for this theft or any of the underlying causes of it?"
"Nope! Not yet! We'll be sure to ask him why he did it after we put his butt in jail!"
"What sort of jail does someone like Sune have, anyway?" Benyen hums, "I think most men would want to go to her jail."
Dana snorts at that, "Yeah, you're probably fuckin' right. You probably get room service and a good morning from someone pretty and and wants dote over you about how you can do better."
"It's not as fun as you think," Miranda murmurs, all eyes slowly turning to her. She blinks at that and then shrugs. "I was drunk and punched someone I shouldn't have. Perfectly normal in Ysgard, less tolerated in Brightwater."
"Oh yeah, I remember that mercane guy that got caught importing some bad stuff and he went to jail here and it was no joke in there lemme tell you! They were downright mean in that jail!"
"Well, I don't know about that jail, but the jail in Sune's quarter was a simple bed, three meals and a lot of discussions on why what I did was wrong. We didn't agree, but they tried to convince me otherwise," Miranda says, "But they weren't going to hold me too long over an innocent mistake, no matter who I punched."
"To be fair, sometimes there's no other choice but to punch a dude in the mouf." Calleigh nods sagely.
That is a weird typo.
"Exactly," Miranda agrees, "Sometimes someone has to be punched or beaten."
"Ahem," Ruby clears her throat, "If I may continue now?"
It is not a typo.
"You weren't done?"
What's a mouf, then?
"I was not," Ruby says coolly, "Unless you don't want the information about Starline?"
"Oh! Yeah, ok please yes go ahead proceed!"
"Starline is in the Para-Elemental Plane of Ice," Ruby explains, "It sits deep within Machiss Glacier, where it is said it appeared after its mishap in the Astral. It is well defended and secretive these days, moreso as ages of magical effort have made most of the glacier a dead zone for divinations."
'Of course. It couldn't be simple.'
"I fucking know. It's not just coming to fight us, it's through that gate, our armies and all our bullshit on Aurora," Dana snarks, "Sometimes you just want the nemy to fucking break in and wreck all our shit so you can kill them all."
"Regardless," Miranda says, "That may be why it was hard to use divinations against them."
'We did get through, though. The protection isn't perfect.'
"It's a good start," Miranda agrees, "Do you have any contacts on Ice, Tryll?"
"Doubt it, Jaela has some pissy-fit feud against the Elemental Prince of Evil there, too," Dana chimes in. "It's not really friendly fucking territory."
'Well, actually, we were there somewhat recently rescuing Aka.'
"Really?" Miranda asks. "How did it go?"
"Regardless," Ruby says, hand to her mouth as she loudly clears her throat. "Ahem. Starline is not greatly friendly, moreover because information these days suggests a lich controls the city."
"What kinda lich?"
"The bony type that needs a good smiting?" Benyen suggests, "Those are my favorite, since they scream 'Impossible! There's no way you gaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!' when you surprise them by smashing their soul jar."
Clearing her throat even louder, "His name is Radaxial. He's risen in the ranks there and little else is known of him, except that he favors piercing cold magic."
"Bleh. I met a lich once that was...well, not nice, but he wasn't immediately hostile. He was one of those sand lich guys."
"Sounds like a good time," Dana says, "Come on, we're going to go and kick all the ass we can."
"Yeah," Benyen agrees, "If he's a lich, he needs smiting anyway."
"Maybe he's not hostile! We could try diplomacy!"
"So we talk nicely to him before smiting him to Raziel's judgment?" Benyen asks, Dana nodding along with him.
"It may be, but he's still an undead horror," Miranda says, "We're heroes, it's our duty and our sacred valor to end such a threat if we can. One does not become a lich innocently, after all."
"That's true. Oh! Maybe we can steal the WHOLE CITY FROM HIM!"
"Of course we do," Benyen nods along, speaking as if it's perfectly obvious. "How else do we crash it into Shar's face otherwise?"
Dana grins at that, "I'm in for that. Let's steal the entire fucking city!"
"We'd best be prepared, we'll have to triumph over all they have," Miranda says, "We had best bring a lot of healing supplies and backup scrolls and wands of various useful things." She frowns a little, "That's a lot of fighting."
"Let's let Debonah know. She might have stuff-" 'Resources.' "-we can useOH WHATEVER."
That the next move then?
Si.
Another meeting with Debonah is easy enough to set up. Once done, the solar slowly considers.
"You want to assault this glacier, find Starline and take the entire city over?" Debonah asks calmly, "Do I have the right of it?"
"And steal it off of Ice! That's super important." Calleigh says, "But you got the rest of it right."
"Darling," Debonah drawls slowly, "Courageous. Impressive. Also incredibly difficult." She leans forward now, "Do you have any sort of plan or ability to make this work?"
"Nope!"
"Well." Debonah exhales, "This is really my fault, isn't it?"
Benyen cocks his head to the side, "Is it?"
"Yeah, we're perfectly capable of doing crazy shit on our own!" Dana retorts.
"We rarely have a plan. Like, three whole plans in the last 500 years. It's pretty rare."
"Well. It won't do to let you take Calleigh into that sort of situation," Debonah says, and before Calleigh can protest, "At least not without going with you."
"Oh, you want to come along? We'd never dreamed of getting help from a solar!" Calleigh looks entirely too innocent.
"Of course you didn't, child," Debonah says calmly, "But I did consider going with you from the beginning, if you decided to march into a death trap."
"Wouldn't be the first time!"
Debonah's gaze turns to Tryll, composed but also far less than amused.
'Don't look at me like I'm her boss. We both work for the Queen. I'd hardly be a good partner if I bossed her around. Besides, she's smarter and more capable than you'd think.'
Debonah's look doesn't waver an inch. "You know better," is all she says, then follows it up with, "I'll be ready for this whenever you are finished with your preparations."
"Yay let's go buy stuff!"
Okay, what'cha buying?
Okay, any other prep?
None I can think of. Powers going up are:
Inertial Armor
True Seeing
Both are Extended.
Fantastic.
Last call for anything or are we ready to do this? Everyone able to handle the unnatural chill of Cold and all the needed preparations?
Calleigh's got her wand of Attune Form.
Thus all of you gather, ready to go. Dana and Benyen are chatting away while Miranda checks her weapons. Debonah stands there, waiting patiently as...
Go ahead, Tryll.
Calleigh zips over, arms full of stuff. "WE ARE READY!"
"About time, let's fucking go," Dana says, "An entire glacier to clear out and a town inside? This'll be good." She's grinning now, "C'mon!"
Miranda bows her head in a slight nod, "Let's not take this lightly, but we can have fun tearing asunder the wicked."
"It'll be like a beach vacation!" Calleigh cheers, "Only there's no beach and it's cold and everything's trying to kill us!"
"Frosty," Benyen calls, "Let's go!"
'I'll open a gate. Let's proceed.'
Go ahead and gate it up, Tryll.
Waiting on you, Tryll. I'm looking for where you're aiming the gate in particular so I can move on from there.
I'm gonna exploit our non-aggressive relationship with Auril right now and port in near there, like we did last time with Morniel.
Tryll opens a gate!
Before you is a gate of ice and snow. Blizzard winds can be seen, blowing snowfall everywhere.
"Let's do this," Dana vows, marching ahead and in.
Assuming you aren't doing anything but going through - post so to confirm - we're going to start a new topic after that post.
Confirming.
"Yay! Let's build a snow man!" Calleigh zips ahead of Dana.