A momentary look of surprise crosses Kavelin's face, but then it spreads into an easy grin.
"Easy to miss something when it hides in plain sight...a good lesson to learn. In any event, if I can dispatch my target before the elemental is on me, then the best option is to flee. If it pursues, it sets the house ablaze. Unfortunately messy, but then people die in fires all the time. The target's death becomes an accident. Alas, the maid and the dog go too, but not everything goes according to plan; it simply goes as needed."
Shadowborn presents Kavelin the Red, Chelish Illusionist
TarkXT wrote:
1. What can you bring to our organization?
"Everyone knows that arcane knowledge is the true power in Cheliax. I am a consummate student of the arcane arts. Of all the schools of magic, illusion is best suited for discrete use, and that is my forte."
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2. Why should we trust you?
"I take pride in my skills and am pleased to be able to put them to practice. As for trust, I'm certain you'll be able to pay well enough to ensure my continued loyalties."
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3. What future do you see with us?
"I'm sure that the experience and wealth I can acquire in service to your organization will propel my art to great heights. Perhaps one day I'll be training an entire class of arcane assassins to answer your beck and call..."
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4. How religious are you?
"When facing death, no one is an atheist. Until then, I'm pragmatic enough to adjust my piety to the situation. The Seventh Veil of course holds my faith in light of my occupation."
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5. Your target is sitting in his study smoking a pipe. Next to him is his prized warhound. Across from him his maid is quietly dusting the mantle of the well lit fireplace where a blaze is going brightly on top of the stone floor of the hearth. Thus far you are unseen. What do you do?
"I would move quietly into a position where all three would be in range of a color spray. The maid will be out of commission. The dog should be incapacitated long enough for me to dispatch the target, who will be unconscious or debilitated to the point where he'll be easily dealt with. Once I have, I can leave. Neither the dog nor the maid will be a threat or potential witness."
"Praise to all the gods in earshot! A hot meal and a dry bed!"
Kavelin is all politeness and smiles to these people, and acts as if every small kindess they offer is a lifesaving gesture. He will sit and eat, working the knots from his shoulders and listen to whatever the people have to say to Muerdon.
Kavelin will help fetch and carry items for the building of the raft, using the time to find anything else that will help with the journey (dry kindling from the wreckage for future campfires, for example). When the raft is completed, he'll try to get a seat as close to the center as possible.
Kavelin seems a bit out of sorts with the presence of death that has quietly come so close at hand. He hovers on the outskirts of the camp, unless directly asked to assist with anything, until the party is ready to start out.
"I heard something about magic before I drifted off to sleep. I could possibly divine their properties, but such magic is expensive. Unless Grenep knows of any species of oyster that lives in swamps, I don't think we'll be able to obtain the pearls I need to cast the spell until we reach civilization...and gain some coin."
In the morning, after studying his spellbook, Kavelin will gather up his gear and prepare to head out...as soon as someone figures out what direction to head in.
"Unless there's any pressing need to have me around, I'll head off and try to get what sleep I can before I need to stand watch. I'm sure our warriors can handle the disposal of the bodies."
Frog 5 [Target: Kavelin] Ranged Touch, Provokes AOO. attack [this provokes AOO from the target only.]
Slurp! (24*) (hit)
*JuJu roll needed
Grapple DC: 7
Pin DC: -3
Well, since at this point I'm prone and unarmed, I'm assuming no AOO...
Grapple Check: (1d20+1)=4 Uh-oh.
Ok, take two: AoO= (1d20+1)=13 to hit. Grapple check as above (4).
Kavelin will also prepare to cast a Color Spray assuming he isn't grappled. He'll take a 5 foot step if necessary to avoid any AoO or hitting party members.
In passing to Sir Muerdon: "In that case, I shall see you dark and early in the morn." Kavelin will walk over with the wedges to Alvartus.
To Alvartus: "Nothing exceptional or magical about these that I can discern, but if we need to keep a door open...say against traps or mechanics...they should serve well. Come to think of it, they'd be just the thing to keep a door wedged shut should we not want anything to come out of it. We'll take along as many as your professional expertise advises."
To DM: Kavelin will use the remaining duration of his spell to scan the sandbar and wreckage to locate anything else with a dweomer that might be found, then will assist in gathering wood for the fire, after which he'll retire.
DM: Since it seems we're staying, Kavelin will take the aforementioned actions once he finds a spot in the ship's wreckage to settle down in. Casting detect magic, then focusing for three rounds on one of the wedges: Spellcraft check of (19+8)27, 29 if divination magic is involved.
"Once I'm done sorting this out, I'll retire for the evening. I'll be happy to stand last watch with someone."
"I for one am not comfortable with the idea of trekking through a dangerous swamp in the dark of night, a storm looming overhead, even if we have a druid to guide us. I suggest we each carry one of these magical torches, and take the remainder; we may be able to trade them for coin or useful goods once we return to civilization.
I vote we use the remnants of the ship for shelter, as Grenep suggests. We can use wood from the wreckage to build a fire for warmth and to ward off animals. I'd like more time to examine these wedges; they may have unknown uses. If not, we should probably take them along...never know what might be useful. In the daylight we can scrounge for anything else that may be of use, and perhaps adjust our spells to something more suitable for a hostile environment.
Also, my face hurts a bit..."
To the party: We should probably decide upon or let someone take up the role of party leader. We could use the discussion forum to decide on party actions and allow the leader to post them here.
To the DM: If we're resting here for the night, Kavelin will take the following actions:
1)Cast detect magic and examine any auras that might be on the wedges, or anything else within range. (+8 Spellcraft check to discern auras, +10 if they are divination)
2)Hold one of the torches and pronounce "Night" to see what effect it has.
3)Pronounce the word on one of the wedges while holding it.
"Yes, it most certainly was," Kavelin says as he pulls himself up to his feet, "and considering we're not all dead it would seem as if the beast got what it came for. However, I'm don't feel like testing that hypothesis. I say we grab these magical torches, anything else of use, and get the Nine Hells out of here."
Kavelin will examine the strange metal wedges from the supply closet. If physical examination leads to no clues about their purpose, he will assume that the word is a command word, and pronounce it. Otherwise, he will cast detect magic scanning the wedges along with everything else in the general vicinity, to be sure we don't miss anything.
Simn Thistleworth wrote:
"Has anybody seen the crew?"
"No, however I don't hold out great hopes for anyone on deck when the dragon grabbed the ship. We should gather up any survivors once we're out. We'll need to get our bearings, figure out where we are, and where we go from here."
Kavelin pulls himself into a sitting position with a groan, touching his fingers gingerly to a split lip that's beginning to swell. His normal verbosity has, for the moment, been silenced.
"OUCH."
Kavelin will rack his brain to see if he might know what the monstrosity was that just totalled the ship. Knowledge(arcana)16+8=24, Knowledge(planes)8+8=16
Since Simn seems to be the only one moving with him, Kavelin will accompany the gnome out of the room and find the nearest crewman, questioning the whereabouts of a first mate or other officer with authority.
Kavelin jumps to his feet. "Aubec, Grenep, if either of you has any healing skill, check on Charles." Even though things seem to have gone seriously wrong, the look on Kavelin's face is one of wonder with a slight smile.
"I'm going to see if any of the crew of this ship knows what's going on. Surely there must be a first mate, or someone else who can tell us. Who's with me?"
Kavelin will be going over the images in his head, trying to make sense of what he's just seen. The first image obviously has something to do with our mission--the princess herself, no doubt--but the second part seemed to be some sort of warning...if this ship is flying, Kavelin is currently equal parts excited and terrified.
Spellcraft check of 12 (roll 4, +8) to determine the nature of Charles' entrance...chances are Kavelin was too deep in conversation to notice much.
"Well met, Master Able. I would echo Alvartus' sentiments, and perhaps ask for particulars. The general arrangement sounds agreeable, but specifics would be preferable."
Kavelin leans forward in his chair, tempted to cast detect magic and scan the man's armor, but having enough skill in etiquette not to do so...at least during a first meeting.
"Hmm...I'm not sure stealing from dragons would be preferable, unless said dragon had already been slain. The wrath of a thousand beggared noblemen would pale in comparison to a dragon that found it's hoard a single coin short."
"Perhaps ancient tombs and the ruins of lost cities would be more to your liking? They would tend to be less...vindictive than robber barons if their treasures are liberated, more often than not."
"It was merely a matter of staying secluded in training and feeding on whatever knowledge happened to trickle in through the walls or from between my masters' fingers, or going abroad and finding what I seek. If I had stayed with traditional study, I'd be old and feeble before I'd learned all I can.
The risks are greater, certainly, but the rewards are equally great."
"I thought as much. For myself, however, the greater glitter is the lure of knowledge; it's market price is higher than even the noble metals. Still, a good amount of coin or precious stones is a fine prize...it can be traded for lore readily enough in some circles."
"I'm certainly looking forward to meeting him. He might be using magic for show, but a man with the means to do so should likely be a worthy patron who offers intriguing tasks that will pay handsomely in currency of a type both I and Alvartus should appreciate."
Aside to Sir Muerdon"You have a talent for understatement."
To the avian humanoid stepping off the ship:"Your pardon, good...sir? We are here to meet Charles Abel, the captain of this vessel. Could you direct us to him?"
Elven (to Duneriur): "Consider it a blessing he has a herbivore's palate; a typical tusker would have coated you in worse fashion." Kavelin gives him a sympathetic look and a good natured chuckle.
Kavelin manages to intersect his path with the party's through a well-chosen side street, mercifully opposite the odd half-orc's watermelon barrage, hustling to put himself in step with the group.
"I'm certainly eager to set eyes on our mysterious employer. I don't like secrets, unless I'm the one keeping them."
Kavelin if you want to take that feat now you can. Just add a flaw as well.
There's a potential for combat, so character needs to be finalized, i don't see a lot of your weapon profs. You need to pick those before combat starts. (the Variant Rule located on www.d20srd.org under variants has the rules for weapon groups.)
I just dropped Improved Initiative and took the prereq, so I can take it at 3rd level as I planned.
As for weapons, I was going for a typical wizard in that regard, so I suppose I'll go with the Basic Weapons group. I'll go add that on now.
"I'll be right behind the rest of you. I caught sight of a few shops I'd like to pop into briefly before we meet the good captain."
After the recent discussion concerning light sources, and the possibility of a prolonged voyage, Kavelin will run off to get some rations and a few more light sources.
To Kevelin:"Your suggestion about discussion over drinks is an excellent idea. We should wait until after we learn more about our mysterious employer, Captain Charles. Of course, we must observe the founding rule of civilzed debate: the one who passes out first loses the argument."
Kavelin orders the lamb chops and, since Gunny has graciously decided to pick up the tab, a bottle of red wine.
"I'm afraid I never drink to excess, Delweir. I should like to recall anything we discuss this evening, rather than wake befuddled and cloudy-headed.
As for our mysterious Captain Charles, I expect that he'll be wanting us for some dangerous mission of exploration. He is a ship master, after all. No doubt our good knight will find his sword hard-pressed to hew all the foul pirates, sea-beasts, and such that will lie in our path..."
This is shaping up to be quite an interesting party. Here's to many enlightening and profitable ventures!
I'm not sure everyone here is the type of person Kavelin would associate with in a social setting, but we certainly cover all the bases a good adventuring party needs. It's likely Kavelin will be getting into discussions of learned topics with Duneriur and Simn ad nauseum during our down time.
"You assume that everyone makes rational decisions. Also, it is not impossible that a hostile group might view these residents as a weak target. If the others are powerful enough they might be correct in their thinking."
"No, I'm not in the habit of making rash assumptions. What I will assume is that anyone who came at this town without knowledge of its defenses would be in for a rude awakening by attempting such a brash assault, unless their numbers were overwhelming, or they were exceptionally powerful. Given that Waterlog has managed to not only grow, but flourish, I can surmise that there are no enemies of either great power or great numbers in the area that are prone to swift attacks.
But we can debate such topics later, if you'd like. Perhaps over a bottle of wine and a meal. Boombada, what sort of vintages does your establishment have in stock?"
"Are there any enemies of Waterlog nearby? I don't see much of a military presence about. Do the citizens form a militia in case of attacks?"
"The town has magical defenses at the gates, drow and ogres as citizens, and its mayor rides a winter wolf. Would you choose to attack here?" Kavelin arches an eyebrow and grins at his fellow spellcaster.
Gunny motions for you to follow him through the east gate. There is a subtle sensation that you are stepping through a thin membrane made of magic.
[you may try a spellcraft DC to identify.]
Blech. I rolled a 6, +8 for a total of 14...or 16 if there is divination magic involved.
"I must say, Gunny, I'm impressed. This is hardly the rural backwater I was expecting. Your town is quite cosmopolitan and I can certainly appreciate its amenities. I don't suppose it would be possible to get a better look at those pumps in the future, would it? Under Rumsfeld's supervision, of course."
To the party: Well, gentlemen, I don't know about the rest of you, but I could do with a bit of food and drink after the trip. Then perhaps a bath. It's always good to wash the road off of you once you get into civilization." Kavelin's glance rests meaningfully on the Grenep for a moment.
I have that book as well, I dig the system they have there to gut your racial abilities and replace them with other perks.
Spoiler:
The feat in question is Share Lesser Divination, on pg 54 of the Advanced Players' Manual. I had forgotten about the prerequisite feat, however. Would it be possible for me to exchange Improved Initiative with Spell Focus, since we haven't actually rolled for initiative as of yet? I had planned on taking this as my third level feat choice.
As for spells, only one would come into play relatively soon, that being Eagle Eyes (1st level, +5 bonus on Spot checks). The others are Third Eye (3rd level, +4 on Spot and Search, prevents flanking) and Manyeyes (5th level, 360 degree vision, darkvision, see invisibility, +10 Search and Spot, can't be flanked or caught flat-footed).
If anyone has Knowledge (History) please roll and post the results.
If anyone has Knowledge (Arcana) please roll and post the results.
I rolled a natural 20 on the (arcana) roll, for a total of 28. I got a 21 (Roll of 13, plus 8) on the (history) check
Kavelin raises an eyebrow and takes an involuntary step back and to the side from the white wolf.
"I'm Kavelin," he says, addressing Gunny, but does not move in for a handshake. A winter wolf, you say? Isn't it a bit out of season for such a beast to be in the lowlands?
"So...Alvartus, was it? Are you familiar with this town at all? I'd rather ask a reliable source for directions to this ship rather than stroll around the docks for the rest of the day looking for it."
Waterlog. Sounds like a positively delightful place, very...rustic. Hopefully there are some old ruins nearby, or perhaps an abandoned monastery, something worth investigating. If I have to continue my learning in an academy I'll be a graybeard before I learn a third of what I want to know.
Ah, a pair of muscles that come with morals; I feel safer already. We have our finesse and trapfinder in the pick, and it seems at least two other people of learning and culture. Excellent. I'm almost feeling at home.
Yes, please. Revenge is a dish best served cold, most likely in the form of my future familiar ending up coiled in the bottom of a certain rogue's bedroll one night...
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