DM Harpwizard’s Heroes of Elsir Vale (Inactive)

Game Master GM Harpwizard

*YOINK* Well, this was worthwhile!!

Bofus skips back, whistling happily as he rejoins his friends on The Quest. Found it! Good eye, Poppy!! Let's boogie.

As they start north into the mountains, Bofus asks the newest companions. So, I'll bet you're wondering about these Eyes of the Dragon...or do you already know about them?

Lorth shakes his head "I know nothing of them"

"Nay."

"I have included the brown map with token of Bofus to represent the current location of the company. You are at the lower left hand corner. This is at the Skull Gorge. Please tell me what direction you wish to go, to try and find the Fane of Tiamat.

Elsir Vale

"Pray tell about yon eyes. I have no clue, but they sound exciting. I need a gem that can see truly through illusion and craft--true sight is a great gift for one who is judged by his actions."

didn't have time to write up anything today. possibly tomorrow. busy week--lots of colleagues on vacation blarg

Can always get the explanation as a retrospective if needed?

sorry all...been crazy all week last week and had no desire to do any of htis over the weekend!! I'll try to throw somehting together today.

My sincere apologies, everyone. I am covered in shame for how long I've NOT posted this.

Bofus keeps one of the jewels in his hand, deftly tossing it to show off it's purdy colors/sparkles, while he talks.

Way back when this whole mess started, we'd heard about a jewel called the Eye of the Dragon, that as far as we knew, was simply a precious gemstone. It was a bit of a bonus in the Brindol Games, specifically in the Maze of Traps. Through various bits of luck, we found a few more identically cut gems of differing colors, all of which are magical in nature. We sought out a wizard of repute in Brindol who adivsed us that the Eyes of the Dragon are powerfully magical when all brought together. There are 10 of them, a pair of each color corresponding to the chromatic dragons.
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Individually, you can look through them and see things more clearly--not like True Seeing, but brining out details better. If you have a matched pair on your person, they give you the power to resist some of the effecs of the energy type of the corresponding dragon's breath weapon.
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But the wizard (a fine gent by the name of Deitrovica Manturiel, nicknamed "Harpwizard" because of his musical skills) informed us that all 10 gems brought together are some sort of key for a planar portal or something. We managed to find 9 of them; all we have mising is one blue one. What's kind of neat is, if you look though one of the gems and another is nearby, it glows like crazy to yoru sight so it's really easy to find.
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Now, we know that the guy we're hunting is trying to do something crazy like get Tiamat to come to this place and eat everything. We're pretty sure he wants these... the thief gives the gem one more toss before stowing it again. We just don't konw for sure what they're all about. that's why we left 2 of the gems with my friend D. M. Harpwizard--so we don't just hand all 10 over to ... what was his name again? (I'll look it up)...and give him what he needs to finish the job. With any luck, though, if we *do* need to get our hands on the last 2 quickly ,I can message DMHW with a feather token, and he can magick them to us.

Any questions?

"Nay. Let's be on with it."

Lorth listens before giving a short bow "Seems straight forward enough... lead on to danger and death."

"Do we get issued any of these stones? Yes, lead on."

"Do we get issued any of these stones? Yes, lead on."

That's a valid question. Tirion, what do you think? The way I see it, if we're going to be heading into the Lion's Den together, this would be a good show of trust in our new friends here.

"Well, now many can you use at once? If you get a benefit from using all those gems, that is fine."

As far as we can tell, anyone could use as many different pairs as they want each set gives Resist Element: 10 for the corresponding element, but they don't stack so having a pair of green & black does you no good. You can only benefit from a single gem for the search +5 to perception checks for things like trapfinding, secret door finding, etc

I still would like to know what square the company proceeds to search or travel through in your search for the Fane of Tiamat. Please be sure to discuss and let me know. At this point, your choices are likely R17 or S17, unless you wish to travel north along the Dawn Way and approach the Wyrmsmoke Mountains from the north side.

Elsir Vale

D.M. Harpwizard has the 2 black.

Bofus smacks a palm to his forehead. Oh yeah, I totally forgot about this!! D.M. Harpwizard actually sent me the black gems back, with this note...

He holds out the note for each of the party to read.

Dear Bofus, I have studied the dragon eyes at length and I have not seen anything of their sort. They certainly have some elements of conjugation magic, as I've mentioned, but more importantly, they have some great power against dragons if the set was complete. There may be some device that works with the stones, but I cannot guess at what it looks like. Please take care of these stones and use them wisely. I hope you can put them to good use on the path you travel. Good luck and be well!

Your friend, Deitrovica Manturiel

Bofus / Tirion / Rebel - any preferences on where to start the search?
Lorth can suggest, but it would basically just be flipping a coin.

Tomkin points to a spot on the map the corresponds to R17.

"THis is where I would go.

None of you have a clue where to search, but some agreement would be helpful. Are you all agreeing with Tomkin and inclined to begin trying to find a route through area R17? A few more yesses would be helpful.

Abstention - which is a passive yes for whichever option has more in favor... which in this case is just R17

We wee ones have to stick together. Let's go north as Tomkin suggests.

R17 is fine. Lets just start moving west.

Sorry that my posting has been light. Work has piled up and I am having a tough time keeping up in a number of my games.

"Aye. North it is then."

"Aye. North it is then."

Mirrin, the great dwarven ranger actually knows that R17 is to the west. :-)

The company ventures forth along the north side of Skull Gorge making their way in a westerly direction. The ground becomes rockier and starts to rise as you start making your way west into the Wyrmsmoke Mountain.

Survival Checks please. Please also let me know the next square you venture into. Are you traveling normally, cautiously, or in stealth? You are located at the lower left hand corner of the Bofus picture.

Elsir Vale

SURV: 1d20 ⇒ 7
"SH*t, are these stickers I stepped in?"

If Lorth is with you... then stealth isn't an option unfortunately...
Survival: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

Bofus confers with Mirrin.

You're much more familiar with the outdoors than I am. Are you also able to cover ground quietly? Maybe one, or both, of us should scout ahead to keep an eye out for trouble. which do you suggest--you, me, or both?

I don't know your capabilities; Bofus is *very* stealthy, but not particularly nature-oriented...

Survival: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

1d20 + 14 ⇒ (20) + 14 = 34 Survival.

Mirrin of the Deep is able to find a route for the rest of you that allows you to climb deeper into the Wyrmsmoke mountains with greater ease.

You were able to move through that square (about 10 miles) in about five hours.

As you progress westwardly, the terrain gradually become more rocky and difficult to travel, but due to Mirrin's skill you are making decent progress.

I need the next square and the next Survival Check please. Are you following Skull Gorge or moving more northward?

Elsir Vale

I think we should turn north, closer to where we found the Hand encamped before.

Seeing how good mirrin is out here, Bofus dedicates his effort to assisting.

Survival, Aid Another: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5 <--FAIL

Bofus, you are welcome to go where you wish, but if you turn north at the moment, you will be nearly returning to the Dawn Way. Remember, the party is located at the lower left corner of your picture. The Red Hand Encampment was located far to the north and west along the Dawn Way which was quite a bit north of the Wyrmsmoke Mountains. You have information that tells you that the Fane of Tiamat is located within the Wyrmsmoke Mountains.

Elsir Vale

I don't know hwere my mind is...you are correct.

Let's stay west utnil we hit the Wyrmsmoke, then see what we see

Blinking up and down on the magical dog, Tom feels guilty he isn't exerting himself in the rough terrain.

survival: 3d20 ⇒ (16, 3, 8) = 27

Blinking up and down on the magical dog, Tom feels guilty he isn't exerting himself in the rough terrain.

3d20

Not so guilty that he neglecst trying to cheat by rolling 3d20 for a skill check!! that was mighty thief-ey of you!!

Survival 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23

"Sometimes the stuff we learn in song is true!"

With Red helping out with finding the fastest route, the company travels west even further toward the Wyrmsmoke Mountains. The terrain climbs gradually taking you higher up into the eastern edge of the high peaks region of Wyrmsmoke Mountain range. After a long day, you have covered a total of twenty miles.

Elsir Vale

Quietly walking with his companions new and old, Tirion is rather pensive as the party moves into the mountains. It was not that long ago that he passed the other way on the Dawn Way.
What if my village has been destroyed?

For, it is just on the other side of the mountains that he was raised. His parents always warned him of the danger in the mountains. He had on many occasions explored the eastern foothills of these dangerous peaks, but never actually been in them because of the rumors of what lay within. Now. Now he would learn whether the threats were real. And, he was certain that the dangers would be far worse than the childhood tales made out.

I am going to move time along to the next day, but before I do, please let me know sleeping arrangements. Who takes watches if any, etc.?

Bofus will take first watch, as he doesn't have good night vision.

Lorth will take the dawn.

Tirion will sleep early, and they stay up with all the watches. He has a Ring of Sustenance, so he only needs 2 hours of sleep a day.

Midnight watch.

Watch Order:

Bofus, Tirion, Mirrin, Lorth.

Tommy dreams of deeds of daring and a mellow pipe tobacco.

Red chills right out... :)

Seeing the lionlike creatures, and knowing that the party has seen, and defeated, many in the dragon army's service before, Tirion puts his hand to his lips. He then grasps a rod topped with a small carving of a feather and silently speaks certain arcane words. A moment later Mirrin winks out of existence and disappears.

Cast Invisibility on Mirrin using the Rod of Silence.

The manticore investigates a moment longer, and then flies off in a southwesterly direction.

No other encounters occur this night. You awake refreshed the following morning to an overcast sky with a light rain moistening the ground.

Which square do you move to today?

Elsir Vale

Tommy looks to Mirrin.

"You have to find the path. Keep straight?"