"I can read the titles to tell you what spells are in it, anything beyond that is me muddling. I could read it straight through..maybe..but it would consume the spell on the page."
"Is this something you could use?"
"Some of these I am comfortable enough that I can read right out of the book like a scroll...grease, identify, magic aura..but the others I would have to force...hold portal, magic missile, shield, true strike. While the rest are cantrips let's see..detect magic, , flare, ghost sound, and open/close. Like I said, of limited use to me...my magic is more ingrained, I can learn some of these but more through memorization and repetition than reading it everyday out of a book."
|
Sable whispers for a moment to his raven, then speaks to Sebastian in Common, "Korax tells me he does not know the winds of those spells. I do not think they would settle well in his craw. If you can learn any of these, they are yours to utilize. Although I am not familiar with the magics you speak of, I am certain they would be able to put to use for your benefit or the group's."
Kira will assist in attempting to identify the equipment, she may not have access to detect magic, but she will try her best to help.
spellcraft check
Without access to detect magic Kira has no way to ascertain what magical properties the bracers contain, or what the wand would do.
|
|
While Sebastian reads over the book, Sable will also give a cursory glance of the items, he gestures over the pile muttering words sounding similar to what Sebastian uttered and casts detect magic. Picking up the bracers, Sable will turn them over in his hands, feeling the winds of magic, listening to see what songs the bracers sing.
Winter watches intently as the arcanists discus the items and listens to their processes and methods for divining the nature of the magic in items. Although Winter can detect magical properties, the Erastite Bretheren were not ones for lengthy academic studies, so Winter is keen to catch up on some of this missing knowledge.
To Winter in Elven, "Has Erastil given your keen owl's eyes the ability to see the magics of the world?"
"Not quite, simply the capacity to call on His will and detect them, unfortunately the gift does not extend to the ability to decipher what it all means, just to know they are present - I can see the seeds, just can't tell you what they might flower"
Unless somebody else wants them, Kaylen will take the arrows for the shortbow, and recommend that somebody take the crossbow and daggers. She'll take them if nobody else does. Any leftovers can be sold in her opinion, although having extra weapons never hurts.
|
|
"Not quite, simply the capacity to call on His will and detect them, unfortunately the gift does not extend to the ability to decipher what it all means, just to know they are present - I can see the seeds, just can't tell you what they might flower"
"The winds of magic work differently for us all, but Erastil will guide your wings true. He has chosen his flock well... If nobody minds, I could take this sickle in addition to my own. What of the bracers and the wand? How shall we divide those baubles?"
** spoiler omitted **
** spoiler omitted **
"The wand emits a small electrical charge upon touching a target. Something I could...coax into behaving with only a slight chance of it shocking me instead. Although if Kira understood any of her potential she might use it better...seems she shoots sparks as it is now."
As to the equipment, I can probably put the crossbow to use. Point and shoot applied trajectory, can't be too hard I imagine."
"From what I've seen Sable is far more learned in his magical art than Kira is in hers, perhaps he would put the wand to better use? I can't forsee him or Sebastian accidentally using the wand while gambling as she was apt to do."
|
|
"Kaylen, Winter, I would offer these bracers to either of you first. Since it seems you are the most heavily defended, more protection can only improve the chances of our raptors staying in the fight longer. If, however, neither of you want them, I shall happily don them to save my own feathers from the axe."
"Sweeney, I could use the wand if needed, but it would probably rest better in the claws of our savant Sebastian, since he does seem to know a thing or two. The winds of magic are always changing and it takes a sharp mind to ride those currents without flying into a storm."
Kaylen tries to look interested briefly at the magic-talk, but quickly loses interest when it centers on the stick taken from the former occupant of the robes.
Kaylen tries to look interested briefly at the magic-talk, but quickly loses interest when it centers on the stick taken from the former occupant of the robes.
"Thank you, but I think these items are more suited to other homes, and the left overs suited to a pawnbroker, perhaps the bracers are better for you Sable"
** spoiler omitted **
** spoiler omitted **
"If it is supposed to be smaller, then surely we need not take anything because the smaller horde would be less visible, theyd assume we had it secreted upon us perhaps? So all that would be required is a good disguise..."
"Indeed, Winter. If you all would like I can scruff everyone up a bit. I could turn all of us into wharf rats pretty easily, I believe."
Sebastian pulls the scroll back out. He pushes his glasses further up his nose as he looks over the writing. " You all might want to back up, I don't want to accidentally shrink any of you. As it stands, I calculate only a 1 in 3 chance of this working. But I did a research paper on the phoenetics of arcane symbols..lets see.."
Sebastian attempts to read the arcane symbols, squinting at the last moment. When he opens a squinted eye, the chest remains the same size. In a relieved voice almost to himself. "Well at least I didn't shrink my dink." Turning to the others behind him. "Sorry guys, that is a pretty advanced spell. I guess we can just bring a large sack that is supposed to hold the chest. Good news is the scroll is still intact."
|
|
"Winter's plan is sound, he sent the scroll assuming the chest would be made smaller with it... unless the buzzard demands to see it before we're close, we could go without, but I will try to see if I can shrink the chest myself. Stand back, please."
Sable reads over the scroll, his brow furrowed in concentration.
"So it seems that we're going with the option of no chest at all, unless someone else can read this chicken-scratch. Shall we, then?"
Sable and Sebastian both take a turn at using the scroll to shrink the treasure chest. They can feel the tendrils of arcane energy nip at, and surge through their fingertips.
The words on the page become blurry, then their tongues become thick, making it impossible to utter the words which are at the edge of their minds. For a moment, the words become clear, and they find their voice. As they start to read aloud the words, the arcane text flits away like a leaf caught in an autumn wind storm.
It appears as if the scroll is still in good condition, though to Sable's and Sebastian's eyes, the runes spin and contort on the page, making both of them slightly queasy.
i was completely unaware of my power during the tournament, but i had a sudden revealation when the robbers interrupted. twas like a rapid series of flowing images in my eyes. i saw the flashing visions of many elves, a crystal scaled kobold, a crystal scaled dragon, and a massive entity made of wind and lightning. all of them seemed familiar, even though i couldn't identify them because of the vision being too sudden and passing too quickly. do you know the exact symbolism of this vision? Kira begins to say to Sable in Elven
|
|
Sable responds to the child in Elven, "The winds of magic can take one to soar to great heights, or bash them against the rocks. Every hatchling must take time to learn to fly. It is possible that those creatures have something to do with your magics, either granting them to you, or to use those winds for their own purposes. You could be their egg, and they are waiting to see what hatches. To understand a flight you must look at the whole sky. Be wary, for lightning has never been known for its beneficial nature, and taming it could leave you worse than a sparrow in a hurricane."
i know that my surrogate father is a kobold of really advanced age, and i always wanted to beleive his achievements were true. but he seems to be unable to walk. how does a great hero lose thier ability to perform the most basic of somatic functions? and he has made claims to be my ancestor. because of my desire to beleive his stories, i have beleived that one day, he will return to his former self.
|
|
"I know little of the life of kobolds, but I do not believe them to be immortal. There are very few magics that can stop the progression of migration. If his wings be bent and his years are long, he is more likely to die than to return to a mantle of heroism. I would reflect upon his songs and take what mirth you can from them rather than expect his vivacity to return. Every death feeds the next generation of crows."
Taking a moment to examine her reflection in the nearest surface, Kaylen considers her disguised self while the scroll is futzed with. She searches around in the equipment taken from the robbers looking for the most ostentatious hat she can find and puts it on. She'll snag a belt pouch while she's at it. Upon a second consideration of her reflection, she nods to herself. Then she turns to the others. "People get old, things top working. Legs, hands, guts, and brains. Some get lucky and avoid some of that. Some die young and avoid it all. Sounds like your old man is just getting on in years. You may want to get ready for what comes next."
"Indeed, its best to get ones stores in order for when their final Winter comes, it makes the season easier to bear for those who remain to see the Spring"
Checking his gear one more time, he nods that he is ready to depart.
As the clocks approach midnight, the streets are still full of people, choking off access south to the wharves. Soon, however, people start to clear a path as people start to recognize the party, the memories of the robbery still fresh in their minds.
Soon the gambling hall crowds clear, to be replaced with the drunken masses from the brothels and drinking halls along the wharves. The crowds here are not as thick, and as you leave the main thoroughfare and approach the docks, there is little activity, save for isolated groups of men loading and unloading cargo.
Boats creak and moan as the wind whips up off the ocean. The chill air cuts through your clothes like a razor. Huddling into your clothes, you all step onto the wooden walkways of the wharves.
When Bree sees the group, she hangs back until she can move in behind them. She checks that her daggers are free to be drawn, keeping the tips of her fingers resting near the one hidden at her hip. She follows the group from a distance, keeping her target in her sights.
Sebastian pulls his cloak tighter about him to ward off the cold and peers out of his hood at....his hooded companions. In a sarcastic whisper, "Shouldn't be too hard to find a hooded figure on the wharf tonight. Thankfully he should be looking for us."
Sebastian tries to look more menacing as he remembers the time he played Thug#3 in the university production of Inner Sea 11, the casino drama. "Hey did any of ever see..?", but he shuts his mouth in chagrin after hearing the way his voice carried on the night air.
To compensate, he tries to peer around and find their mysterious contact.
But he remembers the way that theater groupie kept staring at him from the front row, with that look of hers that meant...
Winter shoots a whisper back...
"Then the fish will be feeding well by the morning"
Pulling the hat down a little bit lower over her eyes, Kaylen scans the wharves and the surrounding area for signs of anybody waiting for them or any other signs of trouble.
"Keep an eye on those men," she says with a gesture toward the cargo handlers. "I don't like that the enemy has chosen this battlefield."