(1) Atalantia - Scourge of Magic

Game Master mdt

Oh, no that's fine deary, she's going to kill off any of the elementals that are left, now that the portal is closed. She was quite cross with me for having it closed.

Connor stood back and made some mental calculations. His sculpting classes actually came in handy for once. Size would stay the same for granite compared to flesh, so you only need to multiply two point six nine one times the creature's normal weight. Snowcoat Senior looked like a robust two hundred and sixty pounds, maybe two-seventy-five. So two hundred and seventy-five times two point six nine one would be five hundred and fifty pounds, add seven-tenths...one hundred and ninety-two pounds, shave off one tenth, add the five-fifty back... About seven hundred and thirty, thirty-five pounds of granite. Now shared by six lifters the weight would be one hundred and twenty-three pounds each. Well within limits. A good thing he wasn't turned to gold.

Connor spread out his hands, and gobs of ectoplasm started appearing and forming into small humanoid shapes.

(Each construct has a STR of 15.)

Connor unhinged Hero from his necklace and put him on the floor to watch the statue's feet while he and the constructs tipped Snowcoat on his back. Connor put the sunrod next to the psicrystal. You've been quiet, old buddy. he sent. Just tell me if you see a crack forming in the feet or anything falling off.

Connor and the constructs tipped the statue over slowly, taking time to keep the statue from touching the floor. (Now, would that be a Dex check or a Str check? STR check (plus assist): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (20) + 12 = 32 Whoo-hoo!) The result was six pallbearers carrying one stone statue an even foot off of the floor.

Once the statue was securely held between the six astral constructs, Connor took back Hero and his sunrod. ::All right, let's go back up. I want to return these lockpicks when we get to the center room, and then it's the Surface.:: he told his friends.

Oh, it's fine deary, you can keep those.

"Thank you, Tenfa. I mean there has to be at least something we can take back from this little escapade... aside from a petrified feline. Something tells me we will not get an extra bonus for not only returning snowcoat, but also delivering a life-like lawn ornament."

Connor laughed at Tenfa's offer and Alys' comment. ::Yes, sorry, Tenfa. Thanks for letting me keep the 'tools of the trade', but I can't take them back home. I've been told divine magic blows up just as quickly as arcane magic in the islands-in-the-sky. But,:: he said, a sideways look at Sammark, who was now committed, ::maybe I can leave them here on the Surface in such a way that they find themselves to a worthy halfing.::

(So I just need to find a way to get 100 lbs of copper ingots out of the central room. One more construct to carry stuff.)

The constructs carry the statue fairly easily even up the stairs, and the copper ingots as well. Getting the statue up the hole is a bit harder, but with enough rope and strained ectoplasmic muscles, you all manage to get the statue to the surface as well.

Hero remains quiet, trying to recover from nearly being shattered. The psicrystal remains very fragile right now, and too much movement on it's part could shatter it's body. He's at 0 hp remember

Back on the surface, Flick is nowhere to be found. Judicious searching finds neither blood nor feather from the hyperactive one. Eventually the group has to head back to town, carrying the statue with the ectoplasmic constructs.

"Tenfa, what would you like us to do with you? I'm sure we could find some friendly priests to pass you off to but I'm sure we could also keep you entertained."

Oh deary, you promised me you'd build me a temple. Trying to dump me off before you do is probably a bad idea. You know, that whole wrath of the goddess thing. Especially a trickster goddess. Unless you'd like to have purple deer antlers, a glowing green skunk tail and forty seven eyes, each a different color...

The constructs carry the statue fairly easily even up the stairs, and the copper ingots as well. Getting the statue up the hole is a bit harder, but with enough rope and strained ectoplasmic muscles, you all manage to get the statue to the surface as well.

Connor made one last astral construct to carry his and Alys' copper ingots.

Getting across the gap and out of the hole was harder, but Connor was determined to get out before he ran out of time with his constructs. While the constructs did the heavy work, Connor used up a chalk piece writing down "WARNING - MATURE SILVER DRAGON TO FAR SOUTH" and "HALFLING CITY, LOOK FOR FEMALE TENFA" in Strix, of all languages, on the walls in different places. The dragon probably knows Auran, he thought to himself.

Back on the surface, Flick is nowhere to be found. Judicious searching finds neither blood nor feather from the hyperactive one. Eventually the group has to head back to town, carrying the statue with the ectoplasmic constructs.

(Ok, roleplay time. Ya'll bear with me, this is one of those player-knowledge is not character-knowledge things.)

"FLICK! EL-RO-HIR!" Connor called for several minutes. Stretching his wings, the Humavian employed flight for quite a while, looking down on the ground for the Elfavian.

::Reaghar! How did you leave Elrohir?:: Connor kept asking the other man.

(mdt, what about Sammark's horse? Lost, or hyena-chow? If you want us to roleplay back to Vuomik faster, I will, I'm just asking.)
(Everybody, the astral constructs should be good for 3 hours outside the hole-in-the-hill, the sunrod for another 2-3 hours. So we do need to set up camp, either at night near the hill or before the constructs expire otherwise. And use a guard/sleep schedule. It took us a day to get here, so at least a full day to get back.)
(We can still talk to Tenfa? Is it through Selvan's Net, or Sammark's gem, or both? For how long?)

Hyena chow. No sign of Flick. I thought I'd leave it up to you when you went back to town. It'll take a few days longer, carrying Statuekitty. Tenfa seems to be using a combination of Selven's network, and the gem. With the gem, anyone with line of sight to Sammark she can talk to, but it's limited. She can broadcast and receive, but nobody else can broadcast to anyone but her. Remember, Selven's network had to be reestablished once you exited the null-psionic zone the dragon set up.

(Connor can make 18 1st-level constructs a day. If I give them Celerity from Astral Construct Menu A, they'll still move 30 ft/round, even with a Heavy load. So we can do 12 hours a day, easy, with 15 hours of carrying a statue.)

(We left on the afternoon/evening/late night of Day 4, we can get back to Vuomik on Day 6, no problem, right? That gives us a few hours to settle with Lorieth Snowcoat, sell our loot, go shopping, etc, before getting back to the hyena brothers. Spend a night at an inn and go back out on Day 7.)

(Count up that loot! Shopping, shopping, shopping, finally! :) )

LOL, I leave it up to you to count up the loot. But yes, that looks like the time line

yeah, just make palanquins for us and have the constructs carry them.

"how? I crawled in the hole." Reaghar replies smugly.

Connor flew as much as possible over the return trip to Vuomik, when he wasn't personally directing the constructs carrying the statue. The first night under open air, Connor finished writing in his journal about the abandoned halfling city, with its' otherworldly inhabitants. He also copied the unfinished map from his chalkboard to the journal's pages.

----------
While he was flying, Connor kept looking for Elrohir. (Not going to find him, but roleplay needed...)

-----------

"Palanquins?" Connor said, replying to Reaghar's quip. "I never thought of it that way, they would all be humanoid, and I'd have to find a way of storing a transport. I can't make ones tall enough to carry us yet, except for emergencies." But it wouldn't have to be a noble's sedan chair on heavy timbers. A hammock could carry a person, and a bag sling could carry equipment. Just two humavian-sized constructs would be needed for those, if he could make them strong enough. Reaghar's comment actually made Connor ponder on the possibility.

The group slowly treks back to town, carrying the heavy stone statue the entire way. It takes longer than they expected, with the constructs stumbling through the woods with such weight. Even if they have the strength, it's awkward to carry.

They get a hotel room though, and a hot bath (1 silver each), and hot food. The next morning, they head out to their employer's place of work.

There's a lot of attention as the group grimly delivers the statue to the lumber yard. Dozens of workers gather around to watch, some hanging from rafters and windows to get a good seat.

"Well for $@*$#'s sake! Why the $*#$& did you bring the $(*#$& ##@&*( ($#*& back like that?" Lorethiel asks with an exasperated waving of her hands. She reaches out and touches the open pocketwatch, the only part of the statue that wasn't stone, and flips the face closed.

The statue's gray stone slowly fades to fluffy white fur and a dirty brown outfit of leathers and a backpack. The restored Snowcoat leaps back and away from nothing. "#$(*$! Where the $#(*$ did those $#*&( elementals go?" He blinks, looks around, and then takes his hat off and throws it on the ground and stomps on it. "$#(*#$&*(! How the $#(*$#& did I get back here? How the $#(*&? Now I have to #$($&* tromp all the way back out!"

Lorethiel then grabs the older catfolk by an earring and drags him off down the street screaming at him at the top of her lungs, and with mostly curse words, until they are out of sight.

A hyena man who's laughing so hard he can barely stand up waves at the group, wiping at his eyes with the back of one furry paw. "Oh gods, that was priceless! Lorethiel left the armor in her office yesterday, I figure you can take it." He waves at a couple of lizardfolk who are barely able to stand without leaning on each other as they hiss in amusement. Both nod and stumble off. A few minutes later, they return with a stunning set of masterwork full plate, complete with engravings (it appears to be made from Mithral).

Selvan shrugs as the screamers leave. "Charming." Then turning to the one that got them the armor he adds. "When they calm down be sure to inform them there's a dragon who would have been happy to eat him if he decides to go back. Next time he may be coming back in a sack weighing slightly less than him."

"Nothing like a happy family reunion." Alys comments while watching the two leave.

Day 6 (Inn room & bath)

Connor extensively studied Hero's crystalline structure. The psicrystal was cracked through, almost in pieces. No more scouting trips for Hero. Connor sighed. Back home, he could repair Hero in less than an hour with a trip to the correct marketplace or Guild. Here, on the Surface? It was like trying to restore a priceless painting with charcoal sticks. Only the wildest rumors held wizards could magically make shattered pottery whole again with a wave of their hands. Connor needed to get back to the Ashen Edge, at the very least.

Day 7 (at the lumber mill)

Connor stared in shock at the restored Ragreth Snowcoat as he was led away by the younger Lorethiel. Weakly at first, then gathering in strength, he began laughing, joining in with the hyena-men and lizard-men. "Magic!" he said, catching his breath. It was good to let all that tension over the daughter's reaction go. "Defensive magic. But who would come and flip the pocket-watch face back?" he asked no one in particular.

"Yes, a dragon who apparently makes balls of death to keep the 'vermin' down, and a curtain of light to protect herself." Connor said, agreeing with Selvan. So the rest of the dungeon would have been clear.

Connor had the small astral constructs load up to carry the mithral masterwork full plate back to Jorge and Gaje Gashan's warehouse. Turning to the others, he declared, "I'm going shopping real quick after we get this back." Silently he added on Selvan's Net, ::It will be our last chance to get what we might need to defend the caravan on the way back with. Any suggestions?::

Reaghar will putz around looking at odds and ends, but has no real goal in mind for the time. He will make tattoos if folks provide the powers and materials.

"All that effort for a set of useless armor. I hope you can sell that quick, I ain't got all kinds of coin just laying around. The purse is kinda light."

"C'mon, we rescued that Snowcoat fella! Ain't a good deed reward enough," Sam said, elbowing his monstrous companion. It was clear Sam did not think this was the case either.

"Connor, you're the planner here, mate. Just get me some leafy greens and citrus before I die of constipation and scurvy!"

"Yeah, I am hungry. Good deeds don't put food on my plate."

Now deary, don't be spreading lies about her. She no more summoned those balls of negative energy than you did.

Selling would be better in Kalliert for everything except the copper ingots, they're always short of metal. You can get equal value of copper coins for the ingots (it's illegal to melt down coins for copper, or to make your own coins).

Mending spell will need to be gotten in Kalliert

Everything is going to cost 15% more in the small town, except the food and rations, which are actually 10% cheaper

Exotic components will need to wait for Kelliert

Town folks seem to not be concerned about dragons, they apparently live with them on a daily basis, although almost everyone corrects you that there's no silvers in the area, only chromatics. You probably saw a white dragon. None of them believe you about how big it is.

Connor hasn't been 'skunked' since he managed to break into the vaults. Apparently successfully breaking into something difficult canceled the curse. I thougth I posted that.

(The colored-antlered-skunked was one-at-a-time, mdt, but I'm glad it's all faded.)

(Reaghar, the Gashan brothers handed us all a 500-gp bag of partial payment. Connor will use that to get people trail rations and food on the way back, pay for the inn room, etc. So you guys don't need to keep track of it, this time.)

(Sammark's "lost" horse (cough, cough), was 3 gp a day, but because we "lost" it, it would be 75 gp replacement + 2 gp for the equipment.)

Connor spent a few hours finding out from the Alchemist and the merchants in town about the raised prices, and talking to the officials. Annoyed at everyone's reactions, Connor realized that the trading outpost needed some of the supplies more than he did; the Gashan supply-runners made their profit for a reason. He decided to forgo some of his planned purchases. The sunrods had been expensive enough.

Buying the food and vegetables was the last thing Connor did on the way back to the inn. (7 days trail rations each for everyone, 15.75 gp; large crate of vegetables, 5 gp; 7 days meat for everyone, 18.9 gp) A couple of astral constructs helped him carry the heavier stuff in without requiring a cart of his own. The horse stables owner had been a little too gleeful; lost mounts were more than a rarity here.

Saving money on food with my new mindpower might be prudent. I wonder if Reaghar can make tattoos of it. Connor thought as he transferred the bought items to the hyena-brothers' cart. (269.05 gp left, if anyone wants to know. Minus the stuff we bought before the trip to the city-in-the-hill.)

(Reaghar, you can make a tattoo of Natural Linguist (300 gp or 1/2 to make), or Sustenance (300 gp or 150 gp), or Inevitable Strike (50 gp or 25 gp to make) from Selvan's Net, or Vigor from your own list. I would recommend Sustenance (150 gp) for any of us, along with a maximized Vigor (75 gp, or 37.5 gp to make). You only have "200gp in inks and needles" on your character Profile, and the rules say only one tattoo a day, so that's what you can do.)

(Ready to go, mdt!)

(Edit: 257.5 gp, with 'restocking' fee. @(*&! Sam gets a scroll of Mount, or something, next time. Just kidding, Sam.)

Add 15% to the horse as a 'restocking fee'. Giving everyone time to respond to Connor's post

Hey, Sam only rides in style. Next time it'll be a swanky wagon. I'd like a few tats of Inevitable Strike to give myself more of a guarantee with my energy rays.

Reaghar will make any tattoos that other players both ask and pay for. Within the limit of time allotted.

(Reaghar, Connor will ask and pay for 2 tattoos of Natural Healing, which you, Connor, and Selvan can all do together in the inn room. Selvan's Net means we can cooperatively craft and still move around a little. Connor can only pay you in coin, not materials. 100 gp for 2 tattoos at full price.)

(If everyone wants to split the partial payment bag after Connor gets back from shopping for food, it's 257.5 gp / 5 = 51.5 gp each.)

you can pay me at cost of creation, you dont have to pay market price. i'm not that much of a douche haha

When Reaghar makes tattoos, he will venture out to try to get some inks to replace his reserve stock.

The party meet up with the brothers, who seem to be happy. They've had a nice week of vacation, drank some, played around with the tavern wenches, and then loaded up all the cargo their sister contracted for last night.

This morning the two seem in fine spirits, joking and laughing at each other's jock jokes. The do however observe a minute of silence for Flick, before setting out, offering their condolences for the mysterious loss of the hyperactive foreigner.

They graciously allow the party to load their backpacks, and the armor, onto the back of one of the over stuffed wagons. The two decide to take a different route back, in an attempt to avoid the bandits on the return trip.

Ok, moving forward again. Reghar, you have 24 hours to craft, so you can make one tattoo of less than 1000gp. While travelling, you can make one tattoo per day of less than 500gp. More expensive tattoo's will require multiple days, obviously. Please let me know what you're building in what order. I need to know what the body guards plan this time, in case of ambush. Marching order, plans for camp, etc.

Reaghar will use the first 24 hr period to make a tattoo of Natural Healing for Connor, taking his payment for that tattoo and the next one and then purchasing inks to restore his stock and to supply the next one without depleting his stock. The second day, he will tattoo the second Natural Healing for Connor (it's under 500gp). Essentially, the crafting cost is paid by Connor, while Reaghar maintains the same amount of ink in stock.

(Thanks, Reaghar. I subtracted the gp off of my Google sheet, and added the tattoos. I feel like putting a Psionic Tattoo of Natural Healing (3 hp) on Hero, but he's not mobile right now.)

Alright, one-man-army, I can't find any flaws in your plans here.

Back on the road Sam either spends most of his idle time writing in his journal or holding conversations with the 'canary' Connor had walking in front of his wagon or Tenfa. It was a hell of a thing to be traveling with someone who had a small army at his beck and call. The plodded presences made Sam a little uncomfortable so naturally he responded with candor.

No objections, just keep in mind Selvan's also the only real "melee" guy as well.

Selvan more or less keeps to himself with occasional complaints about dragging the network hacked in living bomb with them.

Alys spends a lot of time in the air during the trip, not interacting with the others a lot aside from pointing out a few landscape features she particularly likes.

No objections, just keep in mind Selvan's also the only real "melee" guy as well.

Selvan more or less keeps to himself with occasional complaints about dragging the network hacked in living bomb with them.

"Don't worry, Selvan." Connor told the elfavian. "I'm sure we'll find a nice place to leave Tenfa's diamond and lockpicks before we get back to the flying islands. We also can't take the weapons from the vault back, either. But we need to build a temple in one of these cities before Sam goes home."

You can't just build a building and call it a temple, deary. That's not how temples work. It has to be a place I can attract worshipers. That means there has to be halflings around. And you can keep the lockpicks and gem dearies, I'm enjoying listening in.

There is the distinct feeling that Connor is being patted on the head mentally like an adorable but slow witted school boy.

Ok, now that I know what everyone is doing on the way back, I need a perception check from everyone.

Connor Perception check (rear): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17
Astral Construct on Point Perception check: 1d20 ⇒ 17
Connor Astral Construct Right Perception check: 1d20 ⇒ 7
Connor Astral Construct Left Perception check: 1d20 ⇒ 5

1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15 PErception.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 10 = 20
Would my temp hit points have faded by now?

Absolutely faded

perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

Perception, Jorge: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6
Perception, Gaje: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16

Connor, map updated, please populate your slave army and I'll put in the first post. If anyone is upset about where they are, move. Otherwise, we'll go with those locations.

(That's a big map! Icons according to the "diamond" order. Astral Constructs 1-3 placed (only #3 is a flier, the rest are Ground-Utility).)
(Letting the dice decide who is flying at the current moment, Reaghar(L)-Alys(R)-Connor(rear) 1/3, 1/3, 1/3 1d100 ⇒ 80)
(Connor is flying! 50 ft up, will add a little "wing" icon.)

Good news is, Sammark had one of the two highest perception checks, so he sprung the ambush at the maximum range by being in front. The bad news is, because he had the highest roll, and was in front, he is the only one that can go in the surprise round.

Init Sammark: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Lizardfolk: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (8) - 1 = 7
Catfolk/Gnolls: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22

Sammark blinks as he realizes that the grass ahead is not swaying, and as he opens his mouth, calling out ambush, the grass flips forward and the squatting gnolls and catfolk stand up with bows drawn and fire.

Sammark 1-5, Jorge 6-8, Gaje 9-11, Reaghar 12-13, Selven 14-15, Alys 16-17, Connor 18

Gnoll 1: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11 Random: 1d18 ⇒ 12 Miss Reaghar
Gnoll 2: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22 Random: 1d18 ⇒ 10 Hit Gaje
Gnoll 3: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16 Random: 1d18 ⇒ 4 Hit Sammark
Catfolk 1: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9 Random: 1d18 ⇒ 4 Miss Sammark
Catfolk 2: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15 Random: 1d18 ⇒ 4 Hit Sammark
Catfolk 3: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18 Random: 1d18 ⇒ 8 Hit Jorge

Damage, Sammark: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10
Damage, Sammark: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
Damage, Gaje: 1d28 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
Damage, Jorge: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

The massive lizardfolk who was squatting down lunges forward, holding an absolutely massive polearm in two large clawed hands. The ground begins to shake as he runs forward toward Sammak...

Sammark up

Sam shouts back to the others and then looks to the bandits as a pair of arrows slam into him. Sweat beads on his brow as a ripple of telekinetic force suddenly shunts off of him like a prismatic dust storm.

"You're in the way," he growled coldly as tall grasses in the area whipped around in response to the power he wielded. All around the bandits, loose debris came alive, reaching and grabbing for them. Pebbles adhered to skin and suddenly tripled in weight, grasses and ground vines threaded themselves into crude ropes to lash limbs and anchor them to the earth, even deep roots burst forth to tangle limbs.

Manifesting Entangling Debris for 3 pp, 50ft cube, all within need to make a DC: 16 reflex save or become entangled. DC 20 strength or escape artist check to break free. Those that succeed can only move at half speed in the affected area. I went ahead and marked the affected area on the map.

Lizard Reflex: 1d20 ⇒ 10

Catfolk 1: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19 Loose
Catfolk 2: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21 Loose
Catfolk 3: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11
Gnoll 1: 1d20 ⇒ 15 Missed it by Thhhhaaaatt much
Gnoll 2: 1d20 ⇒ 20 Loose
Gnoll 3: 1d20 ⇒ 9

Phase 2

Init Alys: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21
Init Connor: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10
Init Reaghar: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6
Init Sammark: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24
Init Selvan: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18

Init Jorge/Gaje: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 1 = 20
Init Lizardfolk: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (1) - 1 = 0
Init Catfolk/Gnolls: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14

Sammark, Alys, Jorge/Gaje, Selvan, Catfolk/Gnolls, Connor, Reaghar, Lizardfolk

"Great work Sam. Now get out of there. Shoot the big lizard down. See if the constructs can harass the loose furbags.

I have no idea where I came up with cube as the shape of the power.

Sam nods, still holding a hand out at the bandits, he clenches his fingers into a fist. The ones that managed to avoid the entanglement the first round soon find that the whipping grasses and persistent roots would not easily let them go free.

All bandits that made their reflex saves have to make another one at the start of Sam's turn or end up (surprise, surprise) entangled.