Waylund Wyllt's page

In the morning Waylund casts mount and rides back to Sothis never to be heard from again.

Mind your own business and stop playing your weird ooc power games. Don't think I didn't catch what you were pulling.

Waylund pinches his nose. "This is neither a judgement nor a sentence. It is a bill of service between my client and I. It is up to him if he chooses to pay his debts.
Remind me to never take any of you to the market, lest you nag me for paying 1 gold vice 10 silver."

And I forgot the part where he gives the guy a way to escape the gang that is trying to murder him.

The man attacked us, poisoned the woman Waylund loved and Waylund avenged his wife, dug her grave personally, gave him advice on how to pull his life back together, offered him a job and then tried to let him keep his dignity by saying it wasn't charity.

Shu-kri has an 18 intelligence and is an investigator. From my POV it's more metagamie to force her into misunderstanding the obvious, but it's your character.

The party drama thing is cliche and boring. We have enough food, water and camels for a five day journey for seven people, not a five and a half day journey for eight people.

Camels travel about the same speed as Donkeys, which is three miles an hour. The camp is eighteen miles away from Sothis. If the terrain was flat enough or high enough you could easily still see Sothis.

The way back to Sothis is literally the only patrolled and safe section of the Journey and we are heading into the Sahara desert if the Sahara had Zombie gnolls and Sarlac Pitts.

Do a Google image search of the view of the Giza pyramids from Cario, which are 8 miles away.

The guy can't stay in Sothis due to the gang, he can't stay in the desert or realistically travel with us to Eto.

Waylund steps close so that only Shu-kri Kaba can hear him. His expression bored and haughty. "If you wish to sink the raft I've just given this drowning man, that is your choice. However, I will never be on a first name basis with someone so twisted and cruel Lady Kaba.

He steps back and addresses Rawiya with a cool look. " His world has been shattered. He's moments away from slitting his own throat. He needs structure, he needs a goal and he needs a way to put food in his belly that doesn't involve hurting innocent people. "

He turns his back on the women and walks back toward his tent. "You will excuse me if I don't give credence to the moral authority of the two jackels who pounced on the woman's body before it was cold and were counting her coin while the crocodile still endangered us all."

He pauses by his tent flap "Now. If any other uneducated bigot wishes to call me a slaver out of the left side of her mouth while demanding the same man be put in chains out of the right side of her mouth...I'll be in my tent."

Waylund uses his dagger to pry the largest tooth he can find from the crocodile. Then he cuts a piece of twin and tiesbit to the tooth making a simple medallion.

“Tariq al-Zarqa, son of Karim al-Zarqa.”

He holds up the medallion. “You will wear this as a reminder of the cost you paid this day for your treachery and deceit."

Waylund stands in front of him for a long moment then continues. “In the morning when our party leaves, you will travel back to Sothis and to the pier nearest the Black Dome.

He pauses for a moment to let his instruction sink in. “You will speak to Captain Marlain, master of the Prophet's Ascension. You will give him tonight's tale with neither omission nor embellishment.

The wizard seems to be struggling to keep his expression hard. “You will offer to trade - it's important not to beg - your labor for passage to Druma and instruction in the Prophecies of Kalistrade.”

“If he will have you, you will take great care to learn as much Taldan as you are able during the voyage. When you arrive in Druma, travel to Prophet's Home. You will then hand deliver a letter from me to Liliana Wyllt.”

“Then you will report to the Thousand Shields fortress and offer a trade to the Master of The Horse. He speaks Osirion fluently. Again, you will give him tonight's tale with neither embellishment nor omission.”

“You will point out that you managed to waylay an honors graduate of the Academae and snuck past the Falcon that ruined so many of his ambush drills. You will also explain that you are familiar with the route between Sothis and Eto - where many future contracts are likely to be.”

“You will offer him five percent of your wages as scout in the Mercenary League if he agrees to accept you into the training corps.”

If he will have you, you will train for two years and then spend five more years protecting caravans in Nuzha’s name. Very likely, most of your contracts will be along this very route. You will be able to pay respects to your wife's grave and show her what kind of man you've become.”

“I suggest you spend those five years observing and learning from the merchants you protect. Make allies and contacts among them.”

Waylund then hands him the medallion and steps aside so that the others may bind the man. “Seek me out then. I will test your knowledge of the Prophecies and the merchant trade. If you pass my test there maybe a place for you in the Wyllt cartel but remember that I am not a man inclined to charity. It will not be an easy test.”

"He should be relieved of his weapons. Especially whatever he used to incapacitate Nenet.

Waylund waits takes a moment to consider Nenet’s question. “I am not inclined to charity. To be frank, my wish to see the lady buried had less to do with chivalry than with the fact that I cannot countenance a person being eaten by a beast. You'd think after the first few dozens times I'd have developed a tolerance but I still sometimes become irrationally angry. The thought of a person's final resting place being the bowels of some creature just boils my blood. It’s a common phobia of Academae alumni.”

He takes a drink from his canteen, his expression pensive “Perhaps we should find out his story, and then make an informed decision about what to do with him. It would behoove us to discover where they were based, what resources they had, who else might have a grudge against him, what he knows about the road ahead etcetera.”

So who would be our best coup de grace character/weapon?

Your spear seems pretty scary.

@Everyone: I apologize but I'm really busy with errands today. My wife and I are getting ready to go on a route 66 road trip. I WILL post but it will be later.

The man pulls Rawiya aside and explains that he's actually a women, in disguise because she's secretly Aroden's sister.

I was planning on preparing read magic anyway which auto succeeds on determining what a scroll is. I just figured it's a low priority with a live crocodile and bandit in our midst.

I'm trying to work out our new timeline for the next day. We left Sothis at 1600 and rode for six hours which puts arrival at camp at 2200. It didn't seem like we'd had camp up very long when the encounter started so I'm guessing 2300?

Nenet's dart will wear off maybe 0200? Hopefully the funeral and interrogation will be done by then.

That means a 0300 bedtime, 1100 wake up, and spell prep done at 1200. That puts us in the 1000-1600 'hide from the sun' window doesn't it?

Does that add a half a day to our arrival in Eto?

Also, We should kill the crocodile ASAP. Or maybe let the husband sacrifice it to the gods in the name of his wife or something? Pay the ferryman with it if you will?

Waylund carefully replaced the sleep scroll he'd been holding into it's case. Then as he walks toward Theshen he takes out the last four candles in his spell pouch.

With a casual twitch of his index finger he says “Ixen.” and a small flame ignites from the tip. He lights one of the candles and then repeats the sigil and chant used earlier in the night to create a vessel of force. He recreates the "lantern trick" from earlier in the night and uses it to light the other three candles and offers them to whomever wishes one.

“The beast will slumber no longer than ten minutes. I suggest we secure the mouth first. Once it’s tied we may slaughter it at our leisure and perhaps use the camels to drag its corpse further inland. Afterward I’d like to give the woman a proper burial – and I would appreciate any guidance on local customs.”

He then helps Theshen tie the beast, thankful of the time he spent learning some basic knots from the deckhands of the Prophet’s Ascension.

Waylund cast prestidigitation and Scoop.

Waylund considered hitting the would be camel thief with a drench spell to shock him back to his senses. He realized, however, he'd break his own neck trying to get in range quick enough to make a difference in the darkness.

“Someone please restrain him before he gets himself or one of us hurt.”

He looked in the general direction of where he thought the woman's body was and began concentrating on the auras, hoping it would help find all of her remains. He wasn't sure if Nenet had packed a shovel, but the woman would get a proper burial even if he had to dig it by hand. Including whatever had to be cut from beasts gullet.

Am I right that I can concentrate on the auras while casting another spell as long as that spell doesn't require concentration?

Also, I'd like to cast "Fire finger" from Fun With Prestidigitation I don't see it conflicting with Spark per se, since spark mimics a flint and steel and also has a range of 25ft.

You'd never be able to light a candle with a fire steel and Prestidigitation(fire finger) only has a range of six inches. However, they are close enough that I thought I'd ask before using it.

An FYI: it helps me a lot if you post your spell's (or Ex, Su, etc) DC on your post when you cast it. Or if you have it easily available on your character sheet. No biggie if you forget, but it saves me a bit of time.

Roger.

If everyone hits it as hard as Shu-kri it will die before sleep goes off.

From his spell pouch Waylund removes four rose petals, then with them pinched between his fingers he uses them to trace a hieroglyph in the air. "Sleep" he says in Osirion.

“If the beast is put to sleep by my enchantment, don’t wake it up by attacking. We’ll tie it up, have your revenge then.”

Waylund keeps his tone diplomatic and hopes the man sees reason - Diplomacy (Student of Philosophy): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20

Waylund cast sleep, targeted at the purple circle on the map. He uses his spell slot, not the scroll in his hand.

Can we see the Crocodile's location?

Waylund looks at Nenet, then at the man with grim expression. He’d seen how the crocodile had opened a the woman’s -Nuzha’s -belly. He had little hope and didn’t trust the man not to stab him in the back.

“Dismount the camel and swear that you will take up the Prophecies of the Kalistrade. This will be your down payment on my mercenary services.”

As Waylund spoke he dropped his quarter staff and removed a sleep scroll from his scroll case. With it drawn, he the traced the pattern of his arcane eye and intoned the draconic words of power that would open his magic sight. Auras didn’t need light to be seen and the woman was, or had been, a caster. Perhaps something lingered.

Waylund casts Detect magic

Move action, removing scroll. Standard action, Detect Magic

Nile Crocodile At 3:30 a shaman play wrestles an adult croc. At 9:00 a mother and daughter recount an attack. At 11:30 how crocs hunt is described in detail.

ON Waylund's Turn. Sorry Badhru. I didn't want to post until you had your go but it's getting late

Waylund reached into his spell pouch intending to grab rose petals for a sleep spell. Then a thought occurred to him. During his first week at the Scar the Master of the Horse had overseen indoctrination, which included some extremely basic small unit tactics for the supply and arcane officers.

The old owlbear had said “If you forget everything else I tell you, and you will – remember the following. Plan for a Fix and Flank. No plan survives contact with the enemy. Anything that can go wrong, will.

Since the rest of the that advice was proving to be a prophetic foretelling for the evening the Wizard considered the final warning. Anything that can go wrong, will. The last thing they needed was for the thief and his stolen camel to overcome the spell through sheer force of will while the other camels did not.

So instead of rose petals, he grasped a small pad of butter wrapped in waxed paper and strode forward, his will focused on the saddle under the Camel thief. He squeezed the butter onto his gloved hand and then made a motion as if spreading the butter and said “de wer jedark di sia ricin vur arcaniss vehafor shafaer nomeno togofor vi goawy svaklar thric urac usv cha'sid geou jilg ”

Waylund Cast grease on the camel jacker’s saddle

Que Camel Chase Scene! Can you add Noble to the initiative order?

I also approve of your song selection, being familiar with the album in question. :)

Theshen has darkvision so he could have run, albeit in medium armour.

Doh! I forgot about light levels and movement.

I'm sad she got eaten. I was hoping to talk her down, maybe offer a letter of recommendation to the Sage as a second apprentice or something.

Quote:

Was having the girl call Waylund a rich boy and a noble an intentional clue given that he is dressed as a peasant?

I wouldn't read too much into it. From her perspective, the whole group seems rich enough (particularly Nenet) and Waylund addressed her and people around her in a very proper manner (e.g. Lady Kaba), which caused her to assume you were a noble. I doubt she would have said anything much different had she been speaking to Theshen, for instance.

Ok. Between that and that she said "the food and money at camp" and not "your food and money" made me suspicious that the Sage's household had a spy in it. Reasonable, given we're going to meet a spy master. I doubted Nenet was waving around the sack of 10K gold.

My Read is:
??? (Is probably at the camp and thus “Off Screen”)
Woman (Ready Action: Cast color Spray)
Badhru (heads back to camp}
??? [crocodile] (Swims toward Woman)
Waylund (uses skill: spellcraft)
Asmani (Heads to camp)
Shu-kri (skips turn/Never got to use readied action)
Theshen (moving toward camp)
woman (uses readied color spray)
Rawiya (starts Inspire Courage)

Round 2
??? (Still doing whatever ??? Do)
Woman (Skipped?)
Badhru (Skipped/Still moving to camp?)
[crocodile] (Eats Woman)
Waylund (Ready action depending on what others do)
Asmani (awaiting Post)
Shu-kri (awaiting post)
Theshen (moving toward camp)
Rawiya (awaiting post)

With a tone and expression completely devoid of all emotion. "My Ladies. I will not leave you alone with that beast but the others are depending upon us back at the camp. "

The briefest flicker of anger, probably missed in the darkness, passes over him. "We can avenge her later. If we move with haste now, the animal cannot match our over land speed.

Was having the girl call Waylund a rich boy and a noble an intentional clue given that he is dressed as a peasant?

Is discussing tactics here too meta?

On waylunds turn
Waylund raises his hands and turns slowly to face the woman if given the chance to see the woman’s glowing hands does a mental search through his arcane knowledge and spellcraft lore to identify the type of caster she is and what sort of spell she has ready: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 271d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17

If given the chance to speak before violence breaks out

“Oh, yes. You should pay special attention to me. You are obviously clever, let’s think through this logically. If you could take us in a straight fight you wouldn’t have resorted to this trickery. You’re alone, completely surrounded by armed opponents at close quarters.”

“I can convince the others not to kill you. However, if you cast that spell your fate is sealed. Lady Kaba will surely take the opportunity to place her spear through your eye and then the others will tear into your carcass like hyenas on a wounded antelope. Let us parley instead, and if it is your familiar in the water let it stay out of the conversation.”

Diplomacy(Student of Philosophy): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10

With Noble out of arms reach and the poor lighting, Waylund gets no perception or SM bonuses. He's back to -2 on both.

The candle falls to the ground when Waylund’s concentration breaks. Several scenerios flash through Waylund’s mind from out of control campfires, collapsing sink holes, giant scorpions to collapsing sink holes full of giant scorpions.

He says sharply to the group “Something happened at the campsite and Nenet is in danger! We must help her.” He starts quickly toward the camp but is careful not to get ahead of the group.

He decides predators drawn by the commotion to be most probable and thinking quickly he remembers the way Asmani and Badhru seemed to vanish.

“If Nenet is under attack then a simple “fix and flank” attack is probably our best option. Mistress Asmani and Master Badhru if you are comfortable attempting to envelop the beasts I, and anyone willing to join me, will provide a distracting frontal assault. I implore the rest of you to stick together and focus our attacks for everyone’s safety.”

He moves forward hoping the others follow.

Is Waylund aware of Asmani and Badhru?

It's a pair of funny and educational videos tangentially relevant to the current context- not an argument on the minutiae of light levels.

Why torches are terrible and why candles are great

Careful not to get to close too the water, Waylund says calmly but firmly and loud enough to be heard over the ruckus, "Noble senses something in the water, perhaps fifty feet out. Crocodiles are less mobile on land so I suggest we move our damsel back to the safety of the camp post haste."

Immediately after retiring from the Sage’s studio Waylund, citing a prior engagement for the evening, politely excused himself from the others. He leaves in the waiting palanquin that brought him to the villa.

An hour later one of the footmen delivers an assortment of equipment to Amenopheus’ estate with instructions to stow it on Waylund’s camel.

The wizard arrives at the Sothis’s Triangle Gate dressed significantly differently than the evening before, but still carrying noble on his gauntlet clad left hand. He now wears an old but clean poncho over a simple peasant’s garb. However, the silk long glove on his right hand and the well-used and cared for soldier’s boots stand out among the rest of his traveling garb.

He stows a newly carved quarterstave on his camel, upon which anyone who cares to look a will noticed about fifty carved names and a bass relief of a tall ship.

At the camp

At the raised alarm, Waylund steps out of the tent holding aloft a candle in time to see Unas-Ankh, Rawiya Shu-Kri and dashing toward the west and assumes Badhru and Asmani are already ahead of them.

He looks to noble perched on the roof of his tent “Scout ahead, stay high and quiet and then cover our eastern flanks. The commotion might draw other predators."
With a quick gesture and muttered incantation waylund focuses his will until a small vessel of force springs into being. He quickly places the candle in it, grabs his quarterstaff and heads at brisk but calm walk to catch up to the group - the floating candle lighting his path.

Waylund Cast Scoop

He considers what he knows about crocodiles: Knowledge Nature: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21

I think everyone one just wants to get underway, but in case anyone wants to do anything in the market I found a few good videos of the Souk in Bahrain. I lived there for a year and made a trip to the Souk about once a month. The Souk in Agadir Morocco was pretty similar. I Know it's not the same as a medieval fantasy city based on Cairo but it could help stir imaginations.

We might end up in the Eto market too.

This video includes only the "medium wealthy" area. The center has high end stores and the outskirts are dirt roads.

This video does a good job getting the feel right, maybe better than the first.

This guy's video is super shaky but is good coverage of the textile section where I usually went. They have some talented tailors, and it's a great place to get good suits hand made.

Souk El Had in Morocco.

Hmmm…that's worrying. I will definitely need Shu-kri to PM me their gmail account, but perhaps everyone else could do so too? This way you do not depend on Shu-kri's availability to update every minor expense of yours but still have somewhere to track your own cashflow? Waylund, would this solution work for you?

That's fine. I'll also keep track in my own spreadsheet and give you the link.

I don't find the XP or loot distribution to be important.

Re-locking the spreadsheet: Absolutely not. I've had no problems figuring out Google spreadsheets and I'm not interested in handing off my responsibility for managing my inventory to another player.

"I am ready."

** spoiler omitted **

Very well.

Guys, just an FYI: I'm clocking in 12 hours at my job now, so my post today will be fairly short (but hopefully informative ;)

I'm ok with hitting the pause button if you need to.

Prince Unas-Ankh has a good head on his shoulders and an admirable disposition. Waylund thought as the Osiriani commented on the need for supplies. Calvary gets the credit, but logistics wins the war.

He was considering the implications of the Princes divine magics when the Sage replied. A soft involuntary cough escaped Waylund when he heard how much money Nenet would be carrying through hostile territory.

The young wizard’s ruminations then shifted in a new direction when Badhru interjected. What a fashionable mustache. I’d bet all the coin in my pocket, what’s left of it, he’s from Absalom. Could he be a Pathfinder?

Then Nenet was explaining the particulars of the trip and he grew more serious and focused. He stroked his chin, considering.

He nodded thoughtfully when Rayliya brought up the Torch and Jewel Sages and then again when Unas-Ank brought up the question of bandits, settlements and monsters. All questions he’d been considering himself.

To Nenet he said: “I should have known you’d already taken care of the details. There is no-one I’d rather travel through the desert with.” He smiled in a way that seemed more sad than sincere. “This time we’ll have more than a rock and a few half understood cantrips.”

Nenets face took on a pained, sorrowful expression.

Waylund continued, “I do however, have a few questions. Like Miss Altaw'am I wish to know more about this spy master in Eto.“ An astute observers might note that Waylund seemed distracted during the introductions by but now seems to recall the details of the conversation, including names, with decent clarity.

“Our esteemed host described Torch as ‘Unsavory.’ Is there a specific incident that prompted this label? Are there any famous deeds for which the man is known? Is he affiliated with any government or organization?”

Waylund continues, “I am also eager to know more about the Jewel Sages. What is the history of this Order and what is its mission? Does it have any political or religious affiliations? How many members does, or did, it have - and what are the requirement for membership?”

He pauses listening to Nenet’s, or the Sages answers, and then askes “Can you also provide details about Eto? What is the history of this city? How is it governed and what is the population? What of its economy? Are there any laws or customs we should be aware of? How about guilds or other influential organizations?”

He again pauses, listening to the answers but then continues with further questions “Like Prince Unas-Ankh I’d like to know more of what we might encounter on the journey to Eto. Is there a contingency plan in case the gods do in fact will a sandstorm? What sort of flora and fauna inhabit the banks of the Sphinx, the Topaz bridge crossing and the Oasis? Can someone who has made the trip before provide a map or sketch of those three sites? Will there be wood and tinder for a fire? Will the terrain be difficult? Will there be roads, or will we be blazing a trail? Are there rumors of bandits or monster along our path? If there are no settlements – what of nomadic desert tribes?”

He stops, pondering the answers and says, “I’ve seen camels at the Korvosa zoo, are they difficult to handle? How long will we travel each day and how much time will we have for resting, meals, preparing spells and hygiene? “ Waylund pauses again, the cocks his head to one side and address Nenet, “Speaking of spells – which ones are you preparing for tomorrow? Perhaps we can synergize our spell choices.”

He nods at her reply, and then adds almost as an after thought “I’d also like to take a sample of that molokhiya please.”

Theshen wrote:

Say characters take items they can use, then split seven ways?

Here's my original suggestion

@Waylund
Let's not assume that everyone agrees with us until they've had a chance to talk about it.

The majority has agreed. In any case - It took four seconds to add. It'll take four seconds to remove.

Badhru: I only read Waylund's vision, I thought it would be more fun that way.

On loot: That sounds good to me Theshen.