A Little Learning - Rune Stones/Savage Blight part 3 (Inactive)

Game Master Rev Rosey

"Of course. There are many who would be displeased by my conduct and departure from that frigid array. I am surprised that anyone in the Court would stoop to mere money in order to stop me. But then again, they would not wish to sully their hands directly." Arianwyn muses.

"You're low on the list of priorities at the moment, but I'm sure you can increase the bounty given time. We all have to start somewhere."

Arianwyn laughs, "I was surprised, I must confess, but being a low priority is somewhat mollifying. I had almost thought they had learnt anger."

"Anger would mean they'd taken notice of the mortal world. They won't stoop that low just yet. I felt I owed you a small favour, since you may be in the process of saving my life."

You are now in the street. Unless anyone says otherwise, I'd guess that you are re-convening with the rest of the group.

"I thank you. You have, as they say, struck the nail on the head. "

Gobi marches along proudly holding the book. He nods to his companions. "We've stopped this one."

Whiteclaw rises from the bench. "I wouldn't be so sure of that yet. She.." Whiteclaw clearly isn't about to say Kyleth's name on the street "...may have set up multiple trigger conditions for her books."

"Like the caution," comments The Gentleman approvingly.

He leads you down a sidestreet, and into a small, smokey bar. The tables are packed, but everyone is much too self-absorbed to take any notice of your oddly assorted party.

"This is the best place I know for talking. Nobody will be bothering to listen. They're all too busy plotting their own conspiracies."

He orders drinks and leans back. "Now. Suppose you tell me what you think is in this dangerous book and why I'm a target?"

Reason looks back at the Parthenon and sighs as the group leaves.

What a shame to miss out on something like that. A chance for intellectual discourse in a relaxing setting... but they don't allow women, so a Spawn Of The Netherworld...

The cider and other drinks arrive and The Gentleman looks expectantly at you all.

"Who is making this extremely foolish attempt to eliminate me? I can find out, of course, but I'd rather hear from the horse's mouth. You may be grateful too. If I make enquiries, I'll be discreet, but inevitably someone will hear about it. I need to know."

Kia stops sullenly sipping her cider and answers. albeit alliteratively

"The killer is called Kyleth."

Then somewhat musingly, "We killed her not that long ago".

Reason looks back at the Parthenon and sighs as the group leaves.

What a shame to miss out on something like that. A chance for intellectual discourse in a relaxing setting... but they don't allow women, so a Spawn Of The Netherworld...

Actually, you'd probably be very welcome there, if you could get someone to sponsor you. It's only women (or more, generally, females of the feminine gender) they would have any objection to.

Kia stops sullenly sipping her cider and answers. albeit alliteratively

"The killer is called Kyleth."

Then somewhat musingly, "We killed her not that long ago".

"Inadequately, it seems."

"It seemed adequate enough at the time. I really didn't like her."

"Death is not a career-ending injury for a sorcerer." Arianwyn says slyly.

"True. Why would your dead sorceress want to kill me? I'm merely curious. I'm even more curious to know what you intend to do about it. Am I, for example, the only intended victim?"

Actually, you'd probably be very welcome there, if you could get someone to sponsor you. It's only women (or more, generally, females of the feminine gender) they would have any objection to.

Oh, I know. I just thought it was a good explanation for why Reason stayed outside: assumption of rejection.

"I really think that immersion in lava is usually considered sufficient."

Gobi the dwarf just barely comes up over the counter top and gulps down cider very rapidly, refilling his glass a couple times and drinking loudly when realizing his doings, wipes his mouth and simply apologizes.

He looks over at the package, "Is this thing.. safe? I mean, shouldn't we get rid of it soon?"

Are you planning to try and disable the rune without opening the book?

"Gobi, if you deduce how far the effect of the rune is once it is activated, then we can devise a plan of handling the book without placing ourselves within range of the rune's power, don't you agree?"

"Sure, that sounds about right. But don't you think we should take it someplace safer before we try this? I would think we should be prepared in case something comes out."

"I really think that immersion in lava is usually considered sufficient."

Reason has such touching faith in his ability to find lava pools in convenient locations.

Reason wrote:

"I really think that immersion in lava is usually considered sufficient."

Reason has such touching faith in his ability to find lava pools in convenient locations.

urk.. unclear. I was trying to take part in the conversation about not killing Kyleth dead enough.

The Gentleman nods appreciatively at Reason's suggestion. "Some people find it hard to understand that death should be final. Burying them in lava is usually conclusive."

"I concur with Gobi." Arianwyn adds, "We must find a more secure location."

Whereabouts would you like to go to do this? The places you know about are The Way With Words (probably not a good choice), Narissa's house, the Bathhouse (again, an unlikely option), the Parthenon and the various bits of the University. Feel free to make other suggestions as well of course.

In the time honoured tradition of moving things along, I'll take the first three reasonably consensual posts as a decision.

"I think we should ask Roswitha if there is a good place to do this. She lives here she knows the town best."

Vel looks with some (poorly-concealed) surprise at Gobi. "Good idea. But can you keep her away while we do the job?"

"Well sure, but I doubt she'll want to stick around for that experience again. She'll probably just point us in the right direction of where we can handle this book..thing."

Roswitha is at Narissa's at the moment.

"Don't think I'm doubting your skills, but do any of you have any experience in disabling lethal traps?" The Gentleman has been following the conversation with professional interest.

"Disabling? No."
"However, we are quite good at setting them off and then dealing with the consequences later."

"Hmmm. thank you Reason, for your suggestion, but I would rather not set this one off if we can help it. The last time, it made a real mess of my armour and Gobi's shield and I really don't want to go through that again."

Kia considers that alternatives. Narissa, of whom she is uncomfortably in awe or Weltman, who seemed to imply that he was not to be disturbed.

"What would you say, Mr Gentleman? My instinct says that Narissa may provide substantial help, but presumably, you know her better than I. All I know is that she knows a lot of poetry, and a lot of people and is good in a crisis. Or could you suggest anyone you know who could be of assistance?"

"Narissa? She can help, certainly, although I doubt she'd relish open warfare in her conservatory. As far as I know, her tastes tend to the civilsed. In any case, I will not willingly put her in danger."

The Gentleman steeples his fingers together.

"If none of you can disable this trap without setting it off, I may be able to help you. I have some experience. The University has arcane wards that may help with containment if needed. Have you any contacts there already, or must I use my influence?"

Arianwyn smiles, "We know of someone there who may help us."

"Well, let's get on with it then. I really don't want to get stung by more wasps" Gobi scratches his arm a bit while saying this

"Sorry, Gobi. I thought that you came up with a very good reason to see Roswitha."

"Sorry, Gobi. I thought that you came up with a very good reason to see Roswitha."

The dwarf chuckles before clearing his throat. "Well, I don't know why we're sitting on this book waiting for it to hatch. And! Who knows what will come after us when its discovered that the gentleman here isn't sucked up into it."

His tone becomes something less heroic

"Besides.. she's probably got stuff to do without us in her pretty dwarven hair. erm. hair, she's probably busy is all"

Arianwyn lays a friendly hand on Gobis shoulder, "Ah, friend Gobi, the ways of the heart are ever mysterious, and ever eager to voice themselves. I remember the day I beheld Tira Duskmeadow for the first time. Ah, my young friend, there has never been a more bewitching woman than she..."

The gatekeeper at the University allows you in without trouble and Magister Weltmann greets you.

"Right. Target yard. Good enclosed space. Outside if you insist on doing this. I'm close to finding the rituals you need to rescue Pirot. Don't get killed before you've got him back."

With that he shows you into the practice area where you first met him, turns on his heel and returns to his room.

Skill challenge. This one is a little complex.
Objective
Disable the rune in the book without setting it off. Failure to do so will allow the rune to activate and try to entrap The Gentleman. This is a layered challenge, with varied consequences depending on how well you do at the different stages.

Stage One - 3 successes before 2 failures
Identification of how the rune works: Primary skills - Arcana, History, Only one History check. Secondary skills - Dungeoneering, Insight. Success here will lower the DCs on the Arcana or History checks, but do not count as successes in the challenge itself.

Stage Two - 4 successes before 2 failures
Disablement of the trap: Primary skills - Stealth, Thievery. Secondary skills - Acrobatics, Endurance - do not contribute to the successes, but will lower the DCs on the primary skills.

Stage Three - 3 successes before 1 failure
Removal of the rune from the book: Primary skills - Arcana, Thievery. Secondary skills - Perception, Heal - again, do not contribute to successes, but will lower the DCs on the primaries.

You do not all have to contribute to the skill challenge, and you may aid each other. The Gentleman has a handy +12 Thievery and +11 Stealth which you may wish to take advantage of. If you want him to roll a skill check, you need to say so. Otherwise he won't.

Crap. I rolled 13 on my History check. Sigh. How I hate rolling '1'.

Insight (1d20+10=27)

Distracted by memories of Tira, Arianwyn's formidable knowledge of history lets him down.

EDIT
Gobi, on the other hand realises that the runic symbol is closely connected to the ancient lettering used by the oldest gods.

Stage 1 - 0 successes/1 failure (3 before 2 requirement).
No more History rolls. Arcana check DC lowered by 4, due to Gobi's imposing roll.

Arcana (1d20+13=14)

oops

Kia concentrates hard, in case she can add any help to the proceedings.

Arcana check. (1d20+9=28)

Actually, if Vel's roll was a failure, this will be an 'aid another' roll. If not, this will be her arcana check.

Vel finds herself unexpectedly floundering as she tries to decipher the workings of the rune, but Kia quietly reminds her of an abstruse underlying principle before too much damage is done.

Kia's aid another just makes it.

Stage 1 - 1 successes/1 failure (3 before 2 requirement).
No more History rolls. Arcana check DC lowered by 4, due to Gobi's imposing roll.

Kia's aid another just makes it.

In that case, we can't fail stage 1 -- Kia succeeds her assist on a 1, which lets Vel succeed her primary roll on a 1.

No. Arianwyn failed. Gobi rolled a high enough Insight to lower the DC by four. Vel failed without Kia's assist. Kia assisted Vel, giving her an effective roll of 3. You still need to succceed with another two Arcana checks to succeed with stage one.

I am allowing assists to come after the primary roll is made. Apologies if that wasn't clear.

Arcana 1d20+11=29

Insight 1d20+11=27

"Allow me."

Arcana 27

"Ah yes, of course!"