The wizard studies the diagram again. Nodding he says, Bor, I believe we can send you home within a year's time. Not only you, but possibly some of your wing as well, if you want them to go with you. But for this you must also agree not to act against us in any way. Can you agree to this?
"I'd give anything to see that dragon dead for all the things he did to my friends. But these days, my knees go watery just at the sound of his name. If I never go back up there, it will be too soon for my tastes.""If that creature stands between us and Tsar, I promise you it will fall", the minotaur rumbles with authority. "And it will be at least in part thanks to the information you've shared with us."
"I'm glad to hear it. I hope you succeed where others have not." With that, Maulf stands up from his chair, nods to everyone, and then announces that he is going to get some rest. "You should too, there are many dangers out there and they will not wait for someone to yawn in the middle of combat."
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"Hmmm, ghost and tar. I think I need to consult with Elen on a few potentially useful items."
Lavinia absentmindedly pats Ruul on the hand as her thoughts are clearly elsewhere as she wonders off to find Elen.
"Elen, I was thinking of either attempting to find and/or make a couple things before we continue on. Some more universal solvent would be quite handy to take with us if we find ourselves later trapped in the dragons tar. Also perhaps some ghost salt if we find ourselves against any unfriendly spirits. What do you think?"
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"I think we're close to terms, Bor. I will accept your promise not to act against us for the next year, passage through your territory -- you'll need to tell us where that is, exactly -- and the information you've already shared with us in exchange for your freedom. Additionally, I will work to return you to your home in exchange for what you know about the phylactery. The information would be due immediately prior to sending you there. Is there anything else you want to discuss?"
"I think we're close to terms, Bor. I will accept your promise not to act against us for the next year, passage through your territory -- you'll need to tell us where that is, exactly -- and the information you've already shared with us in exchange for your freedom. Additionally, I will work to return you to your home in exchange for what you know about the phylactery. The information would be due immediately prior to sending you there. Is there anything else you want to discuss?"
"Do you have a map of the area?" With that, Bor begins drawing again. His crude map indicates the location of Tsar. A little bit to the east of that is where he indicates the dragon 'sits' when he is in front of the gates. A little further east of that he indicates some kind of building or structure. "This is where we perch. I should tell you that, our wing only takes the top portion of this place. The rest of the building usually has the undead inside, but they do not bother us and we the same. I cannot vouch for what is inside, but if you go in to clear out these vile corpses, we will not interfere."
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The wizard studies the diagram again. Nodding he says, Bor, I believe we can send you home within a year's time. Not only you, but possibly some of your wing as well, if you want them to go with you. But for this you must also agree not to act against us in any way. Can you agree to this?
The wizard studies the diagram and then Bor a little more.
(+2 if Bor is an evil outsider)
The wizard studies the diagram again. Nodding he says, Bor, I believe we can send you home within a year's time. Not only you, but possibly some of your wing as well, if you want them to go with you. But for this you must also agree not to act against us in any way. Can you agree to this?
The wizard studies the diagram and then Bor a little more.
[dice=Sense Motive]1d20+8 (+2 if Bor is an evil outsider)
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I am satisfied, Bor. Though we met across the field of battle, I respect you as a worthy enemy. I will hold you to your word and will meet you again when next our paths cross.
Numair will free the last of his bonds, and watch him until he is well away from the village. Then, he will join the others at the inn, and update them on the situation.
Date: 3/23/4707
The weather is downright cold as you prepare to head out. The wind goes right through your armor and winter clothing () and leaves you feeling frigid. You consider whether or not to stay another day when Maulf come up to you, a scroll in hand.
"I keep a few of these around for people, especially adventurers, when the air turns bad like this. Here." Maulf hands over the scroll to Ruul and says, "It kinda like armor, except that the spell will only protect you from the bad winds, especially when it gets cold like this. It's that Worldwound that does it, I tell you." Waving his arm in a gesture of dismissal, he continues. "Anyway, that should last your party through the day if you don't stay up too late, and it'a a one-use spell. That being said, if you stand close enough together, your wizard should be able to cast it with no problems." Maulf begins shaking everyone's hand and wishing you all luck in your journey.
With the maps that the clanliege gave you yesterday (), you feel mostly prepared for the journey. The only thing that bothers you is the bit about the area known as the "Chaos Rift." You remember the clanliege remarking that, while such a place exists, no one has been able to bring back a map of the area. He said to you all, "I've heard rumors about the place, but since I don't know how accurate any of them are, I won't repeat them here."
The horses have all been setup and fed, and you see Dwili, Maulf, and a couple of others bring them out before Maulf came up to you. At this point, it is time to make your destiny upon the land.
Elen whispers to Numair in Kelish, "Does the clanliege get to make a decision too? Or are we claiming right to decide his fate due to our direct capture of him? I'm always a little unsure of how laws and such work...
Elen also whispers to Ally, giving her tiny friend her own thoughts and evaluation of the gargoyle.
Elen looks over the scroll and casts a simple cantrip to identify its contents.
"Hmmm, ghost and tar. I think I need to consult with Elen on a few potentially useful items."
Lavinia absentmindedly pats Ruul on the hand as her thoughts are clearly elsewhere as she wonders off to find Elen.
"Elen, I was thinking of either attempting to find and/or make a couple things before we continue on. Some more universal solvent would be quite handy to take with us if we find ourselves later trapped in the dragons tar. Also perhaps some ghost salt if we find ourselves against any unfriendly spirits. What do you think?"
"Oh yes, honey, I agree! We definitely need more Universal solvent. However, I fear that I lack the spell needed to give it potency. Azaraunt should have it though."
"Do you know Alchemy, dear? We could share my lab; these lovely big backpacks made it possible for me to replace my usual portable lab with a full-sized one. Even if you don't know it, you could be my lovely assistant." She winks playfully at her friend.
Ally peers at the Gargoyle, uncertain if she really trusts him, especially once his extraplanar (or perhaps just extraterrestial) origin is revealed.
Ally uses her Truespeech ability to speak to Bor in the language of his childhood . "Ne boytesʹ, tovarishch, my naydem vam dorogu domoy. Dney sredi tekh, nekulʹturnyye svinʹi, kotoryye borolisʹ za vami pridet kkontsu."
Elen whispers to Numair in Kelish, "Does the clanliege get to make a decision too? Or are we claiming right to decide his fate due to our direct capture of him? I'm always a little unsure of how laws and such work...
Elen also whispers to Ally, giving her tiny friend her own thoughts and evaluation of the gargoyle.
[dice=Aid another Sense motive to assist Ally]1d20+5
Elen looks over the scroll and casts a simple cantrip to identify its contents.
School conjuration (creation) [force]; Level sorcerer/wizard 2, summoner 2, witch 2, ranger 3
CASTING
Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V, S, F (a piece of cured leather)
EFFECT
Range touch
Target 30 ft. radius from creature touched
Duration 1 hour/level (D)
Saving Throw Will negates (harmless); Spell Resistance no
DESCRIPTION
An invisible but tangible field of force surrounds the subject and anything around it, in most ways, like a mage armor spell. However, unlike the other spell, this does not provide added armor protection.
Because it is a force effect, the spell is designed to keep out elemental effects of a supernatural nature. For example, the spell keeps out the excessive heat of the Elemental Plane of Fire from those who are not native to the plane. The spell adjusts to the individual so that any weather or elemental effect that it is outside the person's 'comfort zone' is negated. It does not, however, protect from damage actually incurred by elemental effects (i.e. it will not protect you from any effects of a fireball in any additional way; you will still take damage from the blast).
This spell differs from endure elements in that enforced environment goes beyond the other spell by allowing the target(s) to be protected from environmental hazards (i.e. smoke, incorporeal winds, etc.) and includes an air pocket that is brought up whenever the target encounters such a hazard.
The ranger version of this spell is slightly modified form, designed by a high-level ranger who used it during a forest fire to protect many of the animals in his jurisdiction. This form constantly renews the air pocket within the radius, but has no additional function beyond what has previously been mentioned.
Ally peers at the Gargoyle, uncertain if she really trusts him, especially once his extraplanar (or perhaps just extraterrestial) origin is revealed.
[dice=Sense motive with Elen's help]1d20+7+2
Ally uses her Truespeech ability to speak to Bor in the language of his childhood . "Ne boytesʹ, tovarishch, my naydem vam dorogu domoy. Dney sredi tekh, nekulʹturnyye svinʹi, kotoryye borolisʹ za vami pridet kkontsu."
Macavity stealthily sets the pace on foot ranging out in front of the group. When they pause to rest their mounts, he circles the group before checking in to see them. He reviews everything that he has seen with them and then restarts the routine.
During significant meal breaks (breakfast, lunch, and supper) he does not eat and instead sleeps hopefully accumulating the 2-hours of sleep he needs per day.
The mount that was purchased for him is saddled and walks behind baggage or can be used by Digory. Macavity lets Numair decide that.
Digory works to prep the horses for the journey and is otherwise resting from the attack.
Macavity stealthily sets the pace on foot ranging out in front of the group. When they pause to rest their mounts, he circles the group before checking in to see them. He reviews everything that he has seen with them and then restarts the routine.
During significant meal breaks (breakfast, lunch, and supper) he does not eat and instead sleeps hopefully accumulating the 2-hours of sleep he needs per day.
The mount that was purchased for him is saddled and walks behind baggage or can be used by Digory. Macavity lets Numair decide that.
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Date: 3/23/4707
The weather is downright cold as you prepare to head out. The wind goes right through your armor and winter clothing () and leaves you feeling frigid. You consider whether or not to stay another day when Maulf come up to you, a scroll in hand.
"I keep a few of these around for people, especially adventurers, when the air turns bad like this. Here." Maulf hands over the scroll to Ruul and says, "It kinda like armor, except that the spell will only protect you from the bad winds, especially when it gets cold like this. It's that Worldwound that does it, I tell you." Waving his arm in a gesture of dismissal, he continues. "Anyway, that should last your party through the day if you don't stay up too late, and it'a a one-use spell. That being said, if you stand close enough together, your wizard should be able to cast it with no problems." Maulf begins shaking everyone's hand and wishing you all luck in your journey.
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"Hmmm, ghost and tar. I think I need to consult with Elen on a few potentially useful items."
Lavinia absentmindedly pats Ruul on the hand as her thoughts are clearly elsewhere as she wonders off to find Elen.
"Elen, I was thinking of either attempting to find and/or make a couple things before we continue on. Some more universal solvent would be quite handy to take with us if we find ourselves later trapped in the dragons tar. Also perhaps some ghost salt if we find ourselves against any unfriendly spirits. What do you think?"
"Oh yes, honey, I agree! We definitely need more Universal solvent. However, I fear that I lack the spell needed to give it potency. Azaraunt should have it though."
The wizard looks unhappy. While I can indeed craft Wondrous Items I fear that I do not currently know that spell. Perhaps a scroll of it could be acquired before we leave so that I can scribe it into my book?
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** spoiler omitted **...
Elen whispers to Numair in Kelish, "Does the clanliege get to make a decision too? Or are we claiming right to decide his fate due to our direct capture of him? I'm always a little unsure of how laws and such work...
Elen also whispers to Ally, giving her tiny friend her own thoughts and evaluation of the gargoyle.
[dice=Aid another Sense motive to assist Ally]1d20+5
Elen looks over the scroll and casts a simple cantrip to identify its contents.
Elen, we can use that scroll one time to protect our group for 8 hours, or you or I could learn it and then have it available for whenever we travel. What do you think? I could learn it, and then scribe it again for you so that we both would know it.
There is little else around to block your scouting, and you feel confident that if anything were to attack you or the party, you would see it coming long before they got into melee range.
The winds finally begin to die down before sunset as you look for a suitable camping site. You find one about 40 feet to the right of the road, and it looks like it has been used before as a campsite, judging from the pit and old logs sitting in the middle of the area. There is enough flat land that the scrivener's desks can be setup to form a perimeter. The sunset has a dusty look to it and the air is cold (), but the desks are working as advertised, you think. There is just enough room to squeeze in the horses along with the party's sleeping arrangements, and still have the fire going for the evening meal. As your low-light and then your darkvision kicks in, you see nothing on the horizon that is threatening.
I'm just setting up the framework for anything the party wants to do on the first day of the ride. It is assumed that, when Macavity finds the campsite, you'll have traveled ~23 miles for the day, and that you should be getting into the Camp late tomorrow. If there are changes, let me know and we can adjust accordingly. The 'random' dice rolls take care of the usual stuff through about 6am on the 24th, and there are no random encounters at this time.
When Ruul showed the scroll to Elen, she read it over, then handed it to Azaraunt immediately next.
As for scribing, Elen says to Azaraunt, "I think we should wait until we camp for the night. We have field scrivener's desks, and it would take between the two of us several hours for you to copy the spell, write it out again on a new scroll, and then for Ally to absorb it. I can't recall, do you have one of those rings that makes sleep less necessary?"
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Calendir keeps pace with the group, allowing Macavity the berth to scout unhindered.
He is usually silent, unless some detail in the wilds catches his attention - an unusual tree or formation, a strange animal sound, etc. Otherwise he is usually vigilant of their surroundings, many times keeping his eyes in the distance - he has not forgot yet that Malerix and the gargoyles approached by air...
Lagash keeps a steady pace next to the ranger, pausing every once in a while to sniff at the air, or when detecting some movement in the brushes.
During the first pause (probably lunch), the half orc eats his meal quickly and, while Macavity catches a few moments of sleep, he patrols the perimeter - trying to get a sense of the environment, its hazards and benefits, and looking for tracks besides their own.
During the evening he takes great care to secure the animals, and seeing that they are well tended, checking hooves, fur and teeth, and also arranging their rest to be as comfortable and safe as possible.
Azaraunt is busy crafting that first day. He scribes a scroll of of Enforced Environment for Elen and then starts crafting Universal Solvent.
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A few hours into the evening but before its actually time to turn in Azaraunt finally looks up from his work at the desk. Done. he notes. At least for now. He presents Elen with the scroll and a bottle of Universal Solvent. Here you are. You had the insight to think to bring one of these with you in the first place. This one replaces the one you had to use. He will hand out the others to Calendir, Macavity, and Ruul. I will make more tomorrow night.
Waking up the next morning you fine that fine flakes of powder are coming down from the sky. At first, you think that it is snow, and a good amount of it, as it has piled up a few inches against your force field. The snowfall is moderately heavy at this point. You look down at the snow, and realize it is not what you think it might be. The 'snow' is more like bone powder then anything else.
[dice=Survival]1d20+11
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Calendir had already been away during the early hours of the morning, letting Lagash exercise his legs and taking in some of the surrounding areas.
He had noticed the strange powder storm bearing down on them and headed back to camp - as he arrives he finds the minotaur up and about - "It seems that this is similar to what Maulf had talked about Ruul - but not as aggressive, and should not affect us anymore than a snowfall would - meaning with the wind picking up, the horses won't probably be able to move much faster than about half speed, and our vision would be limited. If my calculation of our distance to the camp is correct, we will most likely not arrive today under these conditions - best case scenario we would arrive at sundown"
With a second look around and another sniff at the wind, the half-orc adds - "The wind is definitely picking up, and in my opinion this should be cleared by tomorrow - I would bet on a clear, cold day by next morning, so we can always wait it out and spare our mounts, or simply push forward"
Macavity will stealthily circle their encampment keeping it in sight. His light steps will prevent him from getting bogged down in the 'snow' as long as he keeps moving. He'll move to the group every 15 minutes or if he sees a big discussion or decision taking place.
Go or stay. Macavity doesn't mind either decision, because he enjoys traveling in the dark.
Elen will also take time to process the scroll so that Ally can learn the spell for her.
Throughout the day, several more inches of powder pile up outside the force field. While cold outside, you notice no discomfort inside the perimeter. With visibility diminished, it is hard to tell if anyone is attempting to travel along the road in this 'weather.' By nighttime, it has begun to slow down, but it does not get any colder.
It is very early the next morning () that you notice it. The 'powder' that had piled up before is visibly beginning to melt. Sticking your hand outside the barrier shows that, while cold, it is not as bad as yesterday. The question becomes: do you start traveling now, in order to be at the Camp by late afternoon, or do you wait until sunup?
The question becomes: do you start traveling now, in order to be at the Camp by late afternoon, or do you wait until sunup?