Talwyn Sabrauska |
Talwyn would despise himself if he took the book. As he promised, he puts in a word about the bandits continual compliance after their initial route. He hands the spellbook over to the authorities, assuming that is standard practice.
Talwyn's New Spells:
1st Level: Expeditious Retreat, Snowball, Infernal Healing, Magic Missile, Vanish, Wave Shield, Sculpt Corpse
2nd Level: Protection from Arrows, Communal Mouth, Invisibilty, Flaming Sphere, Bull's Strength, Stone Call, Web Shelter, Spider Climb
3rd Level: Fly, Mad Monkeys, Create Spiked Pit, Gaseous Form, Slow, Beast Shape 1
5th Level: Circle of Death
He compliments the prisoners on the fight they put up, then, assuming Aethon has nothing to say, will head promptly to Mosker's residence.
Aethon Thekitos |
Aethon says nothing, but glares intensely at the goblin, with a murderous look in his eyes, the entire trip.
Spiteful RNG |
I presume you head to Mosker.
You drop by Mosker's modest office - and see signs of recent repair. Talwyn can easily tell it was done magically.
You knock on the door, and are greeted by Mosker - dressed almost identically, but with his sleeves rolled up to past his elbows. In one hand, he holds a pair of bloodstained elbow-length leather gloves.
"Please, come in. I apologize for the blood - I've been investigating the reason the tiefling residents of the city went berserk recently."
On a dissecting table that was most certainly not there last time you visited, a dead tiefling lies, his torso and skull both cleanly sliced open for examination. On an adjacent table, a facem
"Here is you payment for the previous job," he says, lifting a black leather case that jingles slightly, betraying its contents. "Two thousand scepters, as promised."
"Now, if you are interested, I have a job which may be suited for you."
You can take the job or not - if you wanna continue down the working-for-Mosker chain of events, it's cool. If not, I have other hooks.
Talwyn Sabrauska |
Aethon, what do you want to do?
Btdubs, nice song choice.
Aethon Thekitos |
Awesome song.
I'm thinking we help them.
Talwyn Sabrauska |
Them? Mosker? The townsfolk in general? The tieflings? The local power tool outlet?
Aethon Thekitos |
As in, take his job offer, which is most likely about what just happened. Thus, helping Mosker will likely help the townsfolk as well.
Talwyn Sabrauska |
Perhaps, though I'm not such a strong believer in Mosker's inherent good will.
After a wordless glance toward Aethon and a slight nod, Talwyn turns to Mosker.
"I am intrigued. Speak on.
Also, Aethon, take 1000 of the 2000 scepter reward.
Aethon Thekitos |
Aethon takes his portion of the reward and listens as well.
Spiteful RNG |
"I'm sure you are aware of the... recent events, in the city at least."
Calmly, Mosker draws a map from a nearby shelf.
"Now, the demon-blooded tieflings recently rioted - and that is most peculiar." He taps Mezen, the land of the heretics, on the map. "Despite them being the most chaotic of the evil outsiders, or perhaps because of that, it would be very, very difficult to, ah, coordinate them."
"Mezen diabolists could, with the aid of a demon lord, perhaps perform such a feat. It would suggest an act of war, save for one issue." Here, he taps the kingdom of Gard on the map. "A great empire stands between us and them - one they have long been hostile to. Not outright war, but nonetheless - an alliance is unlikely."
"Therefore, I and my peers conclude that is is unlikely that the Mezen court organized this... uprising. However, someone must have - and nobody in this city, save perhaps the Undermage, has the... particular talents to verify the identity of the originators of the enchantment that drove the tieflings to violence."
"In the city of thieves, their is a cruormancer named Silas Cross. He, perhaps, could trace the magic back."
"Should you choose to accept this job, I will pay you five hundred scepters each, up front, and another three thousand once you return."
Talwyn, make me a Kn Local. You know on a take 10 that cruormancy is frowned upon, to say the least.
Talwyn Sabrauska |
Local: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 26
Talwyn Sabrauska |
I needed a nat 20?
Talwyn Sabrauska |
:P A sixteen if I had maxed. Unfortunate that I don't have unlimited skillz.
Talwyn Sabrauska |
"We accept."
Aethon Thekitos |
Let's try this again.
Aethon nods. "A single question. When you say three thousand scepters, do you mean each? Or in total? It is a lot of money, so I hope you can understand my curiosity."
Spiteful RNG |
"Three thousand apiece - to be paid in crowns - for a total of seven hundred crowns between you. I would appreciate if you kept this job on the down-low, however - I understand that you hired some muscle for the previous job, but it would not be appreciated were you to do the same on this job."
Talwyn, you easily know that he must either be exceedingly affluent or be working for a man who is exceedingly affluent, as crowns (platinum peices) are not heavily circulated and relatively few were minted. Thus, those that do exist exist primarily in the vaults of the rich.
Aethon Thekitos |
Aethon nods again. "I understand. We shall handle this alone, then."
Talwyn Sabrauska |
"Perhaps, but to be sure - you want us to go to the city of theives and recruit one Silas Cross, a cruormancer, to track down the culprits behind the tiefling frenzies. At the end of said job, we will have received 3500 scepters apiece. Is that correct?
Talwyn glances casually towards the windows and door as he says this.
He is not about to have his mission waylaid by hungering thieves or bandits - at least until he reaches the city.
Spiteful RNG |
Smiling, Mosker reaches out to shake Talwyn's hand. "Yes, that is correct."
Since ya'll are about to head into the city of thieves, kindly put your sense motive and perception mods in your subtitles right before AC.
Also, remember that Julius Kane (the item crafter) gave you a quest thingy to retrieve that scabbard.
Talwyn Sabrauska |
Talwyn will remind Aethon of their promise to Kane, and assuming he has no complaints, will go there before leaving.
Aethon Thekitos |
No complaints here.
Aethon Thekitos |
It has been done.
Talwyn Sabrauska |
Talwyn smiles pleasantly. "Indeed we did. Aethon, if you'd be so kind, show the man his scabbard. You offered something in return, as I recall."
Aethon Thekitos |
"Of course, Talwyn. Your scabbard, Mr. Kane. Retrieved from the possession of one particularly troublesome goblin."
With a flourish, Aethon presents the scabbard to Julius.
Spiteful RNG |
"Ah, many thanks! Now, as to your reward..."
He briefly roots about in a box, before pulling out a coil of rope.
"This is an iron rope. When I get mass orders, I often have two or three excess due to the nature of the task. I'll send some of them to you that would be useful in your profession when I get the chance."
Talwyn Sabrauska |
Talwyn examines the rope.
"How can this be? Is this natural or magical in nature? Either way, we thank you. Please, be sure in the future to let us know if you have any products we might be interested in."
He turns.
"Aethon, care to hold on to this?"
Also, did we ever do EXP?
Talwyn Sabrauska |
Cool, then retcon my response to something more normal.
Aethon Thekitos |
Aethon will find a bank and deposit most of his money.
About how much is good as carrying money? Also, how much did we get, again?
Talwyn Sabrauska |
Talwyn will do the same.
He will also purchase a pair of plain travelling cloaks so as not to draw attention to either him or his companion while in the city.
Spiteful RNG |
You just got 1000 apiece. Probably don't carry more than 300 on you.
You may want to buy pickpocket's outfits (5 GP) to store money - that limits the amount of money a pickpocket can steal in a single go. Pocketed Scarves (8 GP) where you can keep a few select values and they'll be almost completely safe. In case of emergencies, you can buy a decent reversible cloak (2 SP for a bad one, up to 1000 GP for the nicest ones) for a quick disguise.
Talwyn Sabrauska |
Talwyn will purchase the pickpocket's outfit, the pocketed scarves, and a 7 GP reversible cloak, then store all but 250 of his gold in the bank.
Total cost: 20 GP
Aethon Thekitos |
Aethon will follow suit, and buy a pickpocket's outfit, pocketed scarf, in which he will store his Snapleaf and Spell Component Pouch, and a 5 GP reversible cloak (one side looking like beggar's clothes, the other looking like stereotypical fortune-teller clothes). He will store all but 250 GP in the bank as well.
Total Cost: 18 GP
Aethon will also restore himself to full health, along with Talwyn (if this hasn't already been done).
Talwyn Sabrauska |
Ah, right.
Talwyn's reversible cloak is a simple rustic brown on one side, but embroidered with the runes of a lower tier northern noble on the other side.
What would it cost to well secure my spellbook?
Spiteful RNG |
Changing to a locked book cover in a waterproof pouch will be 10 GP, plus the price of the lock. simple (DC 20) 20 GP, average (DC 25) 40 GP, good (DC 30) 80 GP, or superior (DC 40) 150 GP.
You may want to purchase some spells targeted towards security or concealment, if you lack them. Alarm and Arcane Lock (would give your book +10 to it's DC, as well) could be handy. Also, you may want to set your sights on a Bookplate of Recall (1000 GP).
Some antitoxin might not be insane. You never know. Or sunrods - take a look through the alchemical equipment section.
Aethon Thekitos |
To be safe, Aethon also purchases an Antidote Kit (100 GP), a Water Purification Sponge (25 GP), 4 doses of Vermin Repellent (20 GP), and a single vial of Antitoxin (50 GP).
Total Cost: 195 GP
Talwyn Sabrauska |
I'll pay 90gp for the chained bookcover and a good lock.
What would it cost me to pick up arcane lock?
Spiteful RNG |
Some very common (3rd level or lower, very recognizable spells - things that have been around since IRL OD&D) non-harmful spells are available for free access at university libraries - Talwyn would be at least an honorary member of the largest arcane university in the city, the University of the Silver Arcana.
You will still have to pay for inks, however.