Toran examines the necklace, This could come in handy, and I'd like to take it if no one objects. I'd suggest that we each claim whatever magical items seem most valuable to us, and split the profits from whatever we decide to sell equally, in order to best benefit us all.
Don't think the fist-sized cat’s eye chrysoberyl of Mestama is very safe.
"All the better to kiss the girls without having to come up for air my dear Toran?"
" 'And so to the victors goes the spoils,' as Sootscale would say." says Riva with a chuckle, as she stows the chrysoberyl and spell scrolls into her pouch.
Toran laughs, brushing hair out of his face as he examines the amulet with care before undoing the clasp and placing it about his neck.
I won't say the thought hasn't run through my mind. There are a...variety of uses to which this could be put.
"What about you Mal? I suspect you might favor this particular axe; its enchantments fit you well I think. You will find that it focuses your rage and bolsters your resolve on accomplishing what must be done."
"And El, what might you want of this pile?"
You also each get 1900 xp each for beating the hags.
After you get back home Elga talks to Riva
"I am getting sick of walking from my home to city all the time. i would like you to make for me a Broom of flying. In returns I will brew you 17 thousand gp worth of potions"
"My dear Elga, though I would normally be happy to fulfill such a request, I'm afraid I don't have the resources available for such a project at this time. However, if you can advance me half of those potions, I could sell them in order to to obtain the resources required for the task. But...er, why a broom?"
"Can you think of a better form of flight that also allows for carrying heavy objects?"
"I've heard tales of flying carpets from the far East that can carry great loads, though they aren't cheap from what I understand."
"Besides the're traditional."
She smiles showing pointed teeth.
Mal will take the axe. With a very healthy sense of caution along with it.
Nothing bad happens when you pick up the Axe.
"I have done it."
Sootscale flys above the city to cheering applause and awe from every koblod that can see him.
He had over the Belt of the Weasel back to Riva.
"I can't really use it anymore"
Tarka Firefang tugs on Riva's sleeve and asks in wonderment
"Can you turn me into a dragon too!'"
"Surely a dragon can still wear a belt around his abdomen, Marshal Sootscale, I insist you hang onto it." says Riva before addressing her daughter next: "If you continue with your arcane studies, then perhaps you will be able to change yourself one day, my darling, and without the need for an external power source too."
"If you insist. It just seems so overly overdone and I don't really need to show off anymore."
Tarka whines
"But I have been working"
She turns invisible
"and you said that wouldn't be able to cast that spell until I grew up. HA"
Someone in the trade carvan: "Don't think we will be going back to Brevoy. The place is falling apart. I think they have more sides in their civil war then they have people. I hope Numeria is better."
Toran nods sadly, Well, I'm sorry to hear that about my homeland, but I hope that things will eventually improve. In the meantime, I hope that you enjoy your respite here in our fine kingdom before you continue your travels.
"Well you left just in time. I'm guessing only reason you haven't been swamped with refugees is that there are patrolling bands out the pressgang everyone they can find into this army or that. Those patrols don't do much about the bandit tho. Well I guess someone will have to win out eventually ether that or they will run out of people to fight with."
That's awful, I hope that Caerulus can become a place where refugees can come to in order to leave behind such chaos. You mentioned bandits, are there any bandits within our kingdom that you know of?
"There was one group, but we took care of them on the way here and they were quite a bit north, but I suspect there will be others. More always come to fill the gaps. Also well you do have a great green dragon right north of you between here and Brevoy. That sort of thing tends to put people off."
"Still we have been enjoying our stay. Also all the magic items does make the trip profitable. I suspect we will come back here next year."
After the visitors are done treating with the mayor, Riva escorts them around the city, introducing them to the theater, taking them on a tour of the brewery, and ultimately leaving them at the inn for the night--all the better for them to spend their coin throughout their stay.
"Please, stay as long as you like. We're an open community with a fondness for far flung travelers and the...stories...they bring to our humble city."
"Friendly and developing place. I look forward to seeing how it turns out next time we come."
Many Kobolds seeing that Sootscale's has managed to turn into a dragon seek to do so themselves. To that end they work to find a way to mass produce the process. They work together to design a Wondrous Items for the purpose however it becomes clear that such a thing would be very expensive costing 56 Bp so they come petitioning for a government grant.
While eating breakfast with her daughter, Riva sits over her food with hands steepled, lost in thought:
I've done my job quite well these last two years. Our kingdom is more than ten-fold its original size, more than ten times as wealthy and powerful, and as stable or more stable as any of its neighbors. There are none within its borders that don't trust me to do right by this nation. The other rulers have performed exceptionally well under my guidance as well. They should be rewarded. It is unlikely anyone will notice if I siphon a few more funds from an already overflowing treasury, and even if they do, they won't care for long. Expand the peoples' pride, distract them with festivities and holidays, and generate ever more wealth for everyone without resorting to the burdensome taxation of the populace. Yes, yes, that's it. Keep everyone fat and happy. Always more work to do!
"Stop playing with your food Tarka! Just snap the neck and eat it. No creature should suffer unnecessarily, no matter how small, weak, and stupid it may be."
As you go exploring down the river in I33
A low, muddy hummock protrudes from the middle of the widening river, surrounded by a palisade of outward-facing, sharpened wooden stakes. Inside, tendrils of smoke rise from a handful of mounds clustered around a single larger mound. A simple wooden gate on the eastern side of the hummock seems to be the only entrance to the fortified island.
"So should we do this violently or slightly less violently?"
"We could watch it for a time and see what we're dealing with first. We could also just call out to them in the hopes that they will poke their heads up enough to show us what we're facing before we risk unnecessary bloodshed. No harm in taking precautions first though, not out here in the Stolen Lands."
In addition to her usual spell protections Riva casts heroism on the party.
"And if they decide not to come out and greet us as kindly as we would like, I can stopper that hole that is emitting all that smoke, causing a buildup of noxious gases inside and forcing them out to you to deal with them a little less kindly."
Approximately 150 feet in diameter, the island sits only about 10 feet above the level of the surrounding waters. The palisade is 10 feet high, with a narrow walkway along the top.
Fifty feet of water separate the island from both the north and south riverbanks.
It is noon. The weather is sunny.
You are on the north bank of the river.
After casting her spells as quietly as she can, Riva waits on the north bank of the river patiently, keeping her horse in between herself and any threats that might erupt from the island.
She has decided to leave it to either charismatic Toran or aggressive Mal to get the occupants' attention. In the meantime, she keeps alert, making certain that no foes approach from the flank or from behind from hidden tunnels or the like.
She also examines the fortifications as well as she can from the bank, attempting to ascertain what kind of creatures/people might have constructed it, and for what purpose. It is her hope that she will find a vulnerability to exploit or hidden hazard that can be avoided.
What's more, she casts detect magic and probes for magical auras not emanating from the party, wary of possible traps or ambushes.
Toran looks around, waiting for a cue from Riva, who seems to have a far better plan than he does, Do we want to try to sneak closer, or get their attention from here? Either way, I guess it doesn't hurt to prepare for battle.
"Do you know of a way to sneak over fifty feet of water to scale a palisade without being seen by someone wary enough to have built said palisade--someone who may or may not even be our enemy? My magic might allow for such a thing, but it would be draining, and I am loath to rely on it when we may need it for immanent battle."
The palisade is of lizard folk construction. Lizard folk are big time isolationists.
Riva informs her companions, as well as the various servants of the expedition.
"I believe this to be an enclave of Lizard Men. They are proud and powerful reptilian predators that make their communal homes in scattered villages deep within swamps and marshes. Uninterested in colonization of the dry lands and content with the simple weapons and rituals that have served them well for millennia, they are little more than backwater savages. Though not generally evil, their race is known for its standoffish demeanor, staunch rejection of civilization's “gifts,” and legendary ferocity in battle. I doubt very much that they would want to have any dealings with us. How do you think we should proceed, mayor? Shall we send envoys or arrows?"
Let us try envoys first, and see how that goes. If it fails, arrows are always an excellent alternative.
It might hold as many as 30.
How do you plan on sending an envoy? Remember the fort is on an island in the river.
"Calling out to them and letting them come to us is another possible alternative."
That's a good idea as well, I wouldn't go out all the way to them, I'd stay in the middle where they couldn't easily attack me.
So you aren't going over the wall? How do you plan on announcing yourself?
As you fly into the middle of the stream you see two lizard folk at the wall top. They look at you and speck to each other in Draconic.
They shout at you in Draconic and start readying their javelins.
Toran waves his arms in a hopefully peaceful manner, while yelling out, I come in peace! I come in peace!
The say something in Draconic in response and throw their javelins.
They both miss maybe they were warning shots?
Toran moves back, holding his hands out in front of him, Fine, your choice. We'd like to friends? He turns back to Riva, That didn't seem to work overly well, any other suggestions?