We'll start OOC for this one as well. Go ahead and describe your plans for the hydras, so we have it on paper and we're on the same page, Surraruthru.
Plan is to do some general knowledge tutoring to help them adjust, address any special areas of interest, then move into teaching them some Monk stuff and Wizard, if any are interested.
The hydras have a large, icy pool in the courtyard - the rather crowded courtyard now, you have to admit. They lounge in the cold, a few water elementals mixed in as well. You can see Blue and Ice at the edge of the pool, talking to Sylvie. She's sitting on a chair just besides it, one of Vul'lath's acolytes behind her. He's furiously scribbling away as they talk.
Go ahead, Surraruthru.
Surraruthru wings over and lands next to them, listening in for a moment.
"...and then all the little ones become a small elemental," Ice says.
"It's long been accepted that elementites do merge," Sylvie says, "But hearing a first hand account is always valuable. Thanks." She flashes them a smile as the acolyte writes and writes. "Confirmation of the mere essence of air and not air elementites being present is even more valuable. Right, Surraruthru?" she glances over to you.
Surraruthru tries to recall what he's learned about elementites...
> roll 1d20+34 K:P
<Serith> Iddy roll for Serith < 43 > [d20=9]
Elementites are tiny little elemental masses about the size of a pebble. According to lore they're embryonic elementals, though the exact mechanism to which they evolve isn't clear. They're mainly notable for swarming together and making a pest of themselves.
"Indeed. It's a rare thing to see, and very valuable to record. If you've been able to give Sylvie a clue to get her closer to knowing how to trigger it, then you've enriched all of Aurora."
Ice's tail wags, splashing water about the pool.
"Yes. There's more than one way of elemental genesis, but getting direct confirmation of this one is useful." Sylvie stands, the acolyte finishing his writing and picking up the chair. "They're all yours, Surraruthru."
Surraruthru nods to Sylvie.
"Thank you. Now, everyone, I know you're all eager to learn, so lets get to it. I'm going to cover some basics and general knowledge that apply to Aurora and how things work, as well as explaining the planes. Once we cover that, I'll answer some questions. If everyone is interested in the same things, I'll go over that subject in detail, otherwise I'll make a note of what you all want to learn and prepare for that next time. Once we finish that, I'll start showing you some teachings of Monks and of Wizards..."
Finishing with that, Surraruthru launches into his lecture!
Planning to cover the general structure of Aurora, some basic stuff about the war and Lifasa, then move into explaining the Planes.
Have any ranks in anything relevant to teaching or speaking at all?
Um, Diplomacy maybe? Depending on how you want to interpret it.
It's tangential but go ahead and make a check on it.
> roll 1d20+33 Diplo
<Serith> Iddy roll for Serith < 53 > [d20=20]
You teach as best you can. You largely make it up and learn on the fly, expressing things as best you can. Your diplomatic skill helps some, but it's really a different beast than simple word play. Blue and Ice are both interested, as well as a third. This one is named Scale and has seven heads, each intently on you as you speak. When you finish your bit about monks and wizards, "Why? Why would anyone fight with fists when they can fight with magic? Magic can do anything."
"True, magic is flexible and can allow for many things, but it's also limited. You can only cast so many spells in a day. You can only plan for so much. What if your opponent plans for your plans? What if you run into an anti-magic field? What if the enemy you thought was vulnerable to fire acquires a piece of equipment that renders them immune to it instead? Magic, much like psionics, is the power of the mind. A powerful mind is a dangerous thing, but a powerful body, and the knowledge and ability to use it when your magic fails you, is far more dangerous. Just look around Aurora and it's most powerful people. Almost all of them combine both magic and physical combat. They learn both, and use the abilities to make each more effective."
Scale considers this, "So you have to master both is what you're saying? To take the lessons of magic and use them to strengthen the body?"
"Not that you have to, no. There are many paths, as many as there are people. Everyone has their own. It could be psionics, it could be magic, it could be physical, as a monk or fighter or barbarian. What I mean is that as separate and different as each discipline is, one often benefits from another. I mean to say, do not trick yourself into limiting yourself into a single thing. Be as many things as you need to be, to be the best you that you can. Seek knowledge, and find the best way to use it for yourself."
Ice perks up at that, "That means we all want to learn magic and how to fight better. Everyone here's so strong and we used to be the top predators."
"Excellent. But remember, some of you have different talents than others. Some may be good at magic, some at psionics, some may be better at multiple types of physical combat; merging fighting styles together to make something better than each alone. It's something we'll have to explore and learn together, train for, and experience.
I'm eager to see how you all decide to develop, and to be honest..."
Surraruthru gets a mean, toothy grin.
"I want to see you all dominate the battlefield. I want to see what kind havoc you cause, and I want to be with you when you do."
A cheer rises from that, as Scale looks to Surraruthru. "You'll teach me magic?" he asks, "I want to learn magic!"
Surraruthru nods to Scale.
"I will. I'll teach you all some basic things, and we'll see who's good at what and go from there."
Surraruthru launches into an explanation of basic magical theory and exercises, hoping to judge who's suitable for what.
Make a Sense Motive check here, I suppose.
> roll 1d20+5 Wis/No Sense Motive
<Serith> Iddy roll for Serith < 13 > [d20=8]
This goes reasonably well, though it's hard to gauge who really is into it and not. It takes over an hour to go over the very basics and you get a rough idea of who can do what. Very rough, and more testing is probably required. Oof.
"Does everyone want to continue, or do we want to take a break? It's been a fair bit of time since I've been able to be around you all."
"We could use a break," Blue says, "It's a lot and I want to also try some of those maneuvers you mentioned. I bet all my heads could flurry if I did it right."
Surraruthru nods.
"That's fine, then. I'll take a small break myself and visit the Phase Spiders. I'll return shortly."
Planning to drop in on the Phase Spiders, snag some silk, return to the hydras and do some crafting so Tryll can do some selling of stuff.
Right, make your crafting checks.
> roll 1d20+34 Crafting:Weaving
<Serith> Iddy roll for Serith < 52 > [d20=18]
Goes well enough. The phase spiders (via Ebony) also have a message that Bubbles would like to see you about your weaving.
Surraruthru leaves the Hydras to their practicing and goes to see Bubbles.
Bubbles is found in Emerelda's shop, looking over a strange purple cloth. Lightning crackles along it as she holds it. "Oh, Surrathru. Marvelous timing, just marvelous." Putting down her focus, "You got the message from the spiders?"
Surraruthru settles in, lounging a bit.
"I did. What did you need?"
"Dearie," Bubbles turns around and lays hands on your shoulders, "We have to teach you fashion. Your work's good, but only a withered old grandmother would wear a lot of what you make. You have the fashion sense of an old woman, Surraruthru. But don't worry, we'll fix it."
Surraruthru arches an eyebrow.
"Alright. I can... see that I may lack some sense of style. Do take into account that even though I wear equipment, I'm a dragon. We typically don't wear anything at all."
Bubbles steps back and joins her hands together and cheers, "Yes, you get it! We can fix this, you can learn. You're a dragon, can't you take humanoid form or something close to it?"
uhh... I don't think so? Isn't that a true dragon thing?
Correct unless you have something that allows it. I don't think you do unless you took a spell that does it.
Surraruthru shakes his head.
"I cannot. I don't have that ability, nor have I learned the spell for it. Why would I wish to be anything other than a dragon?"
"Fashion. Dragons lack fashion." Bubbles says, "If you can take human form, you can do so as well. That would be the fasted way to teach you, to see its effects firsthand."
"Mmm... Well, I cannot. I have neither the ability nor spells for it. Perhaps one day I will have the ability, but for now, we need to find a different way, unless you have a solution for it."
"Ah, blast and damn it," Bubbles shakes her head, "You'll just have to pay attention. So to you, clothes are just things lesser creatures wear to stay warm and not have their fun parts showing all the time?"
"And to cover the embarrassment of not being a dragon."
"Yes, yes, Titania preserve us from not having scales and egos bigger than mountains," Bubbles says brightly. "We'll just have to have you listen. Now first of all, clothes are all about..."
Are you going to take this seriously and listen to her or are you planning to largely ignore it, Surraruthru? Impacts on how I'll portray this.
I'll pay attention, but feign boredom with it, simply for show. I'll do my best to do so with some obviousness so I don't outright offend her, but well, Dragon Pride. Surraruthru has interest because he recognizes the potential for profit improvement from it.
Okay, make a Bluff check.
> roll 1d20+33 Bluff
<Serith> Iddy roll for Serith < 34 > [d20=1]
Well, she's definitely going to pick up on that I'm pretending not to pay attention.
> roll 1d20+7 Someone lacks ranks in sense motive
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 27 > [d20=20]
As it goes on, Bubbles becomes sardonic and talks down to you. Like a child, actually. "Now look at this one. Nice, bright cut and shape. See how clean the hems are? Good boy!" she says in a sweet voice.
Surraruthru reaches out with a claw towards the item slightly threateningly.
Bubbles reaches out and thwap! A gentle tap to the nose, "Bad dragon, baaaad," she says, smile brittle. "Now now, be a good dragon and tell me why clean hems are good for this style."
"Because you're convinced so."
Bubbles sighs through her nose, closing her eyes and breathing in and out a few times. "No. Do you have any grasp of line or shape theory, or how the eye perceives things?"
"Outside of piles of gold and gems? Not particularly. None of the creatures in my grove had any use for clothes. It wasn't until I came here that I saw people wearing them. Mine are what was useful from our hoard before Lifasa fell."
"Of course not. Well then, back to even more basics," Bubbles claps her hands together, "We'll have to start you from the very beginning."
"Well... Let's try to get this done quickly. I have preparations to make for whatever mission I get assigned..."
Surraruthru realizes the woman will not be deterred and simply gives her what she wants to speed the process up.
From here it's a long couple of hours learning about basic fashion. It finally ends, freeing you.
Anything else you want to get done right now, Surraruthru?
Not really. I can't think of anything I reasonably have time to do. Maybe get some info on what people think we're going to face so I can tailor spells for it.
Depends on which group you're in. Do you know if you're joining the main force or the super small strike force to get Willah?
No idea. I haven't been keeping up with the other threads and no one's said anything to me yet.
Okay. Then I'm going to pause you for now pending the others wrapping up.