"Nothing on my end other than a plane-hopping rock with kobold immigrants from many planes."
Mihail takes his place at the couch.
"I am in favor for resting, getting supplies and teleporting tomorrow. We need our minds to be in the highest clarity and with the sun going down soon, some of us will be at a disadvantage at night."
|
Sitting silently and making notes with some tiny reading classes on his nose the Paladin lets his more erudite companions discuss possible dangers and precautions.
"We can build castles in the sky all day long, but in the end we just have to set foot into the mountain. I for one would appreciate if we prepare for the teleport. We will scout this town first anyway, and then start our expedition from there?"
Amy frowns. "I still don't like the idea of going in blind - no support, no backup, surviving on nothing but our wits and the gear on our backs..."
Then she pauses, a smile slowly appearing on her face. "Actually, now that I put it that way it sounds kinda sexy. Let's start packing!"
"Well, I'm certainly not averse to going in blind. A challenge makes for a greater reward."
Once we get to this new town, we can buy supplies and if not...Amelia and I can teleport to and make arrangements for supplies that we need to be picked up the next day or so. We then teleport back and continue on with the mission. The next day or so we teleport back pick up supplies and then we are back on track...with supplies.
"Let's not repeat that short but THRILLING adventure of a pigsty run and chase. I lost count of how many times we need to find you if not for the tunnels that keep separating us while you led our chasing enemies into running around like headless chicken."
Mihail tries to maintain his face but there is a hint of a grin. Then, he holds up a paper.
"If J'Victus and Amelia are responsible for our future purchases, we should all put up a list."
I will gladly do the shopping if Amelia will do the porting.
"A shopping trip sounds lovely, but first let's see what we have available here. Athena, you mentioned something about adventuring supplies?"
"We should go to Absalom so Adhadiel can return his overdue library book and visit his sister. We can give him our shopping list as well. One wand of detect secret doors, please. "
Athena responds, "Divination is my specialty and I believe minor divination magic will work there, it just the nature of the dimensional teleportation prevents scrying is some way. As for supplies, follow me."
Athena turns and heads downstairs, on the floor directly below she leads you to a door. She unlocks it and inside are several tables, shelves, and boxes full of supplies.
"I might have a wand that will detect secret doors, I'll look for it. As for staying the night, there are several rooms on the 2nd floor that you can use. Thor will provide a dinner for you and breakfast in the morning."
Athena leaves the group to gather their supplies as she walks back to the stairs and heads down again.
----------
A few minutes later, she returns with a wand. "I manage to find one. I hope this is useful to you."
She hands the wand over to Fuego that asked for it.
Fuego gives her 750 gp. "Thanks for the wand, but I can't just accept a gift like that."
Amelia wanders through the shelves and tables of equipment with a strange sort of methodical excitement, like a kid in a candy store that she's convinced is trying to outsmart her. She focuses primarily on all manner of writing utensils, sliding reams of paper and vials of ink into the haversack at her shoulder - along with the occasional book. She gathers materials for map-making from around the room. Amy pauses lingeringly by a rack of alchemical items, but takes nothing - and she ignores the more convensional provisions and adventuring gear entirely. Just before she completes her circuit of the room, she floats a few feet in the air to snag a spyglass off of a top shelf, along with a pair of clear crystalline goggles to sharpen her vision and a fine elven cloak to muffle her flight . Then she waits by the door for the others to select what they need.
Seeing all the supplies in the room, J'Victus starts off packing up several back packs with items. He has at least three back packs filled when the others notice.
We may need this or that...you never know
Mihail tries to fit the supplies that he did not have into his haversack; the usual bathing utensil, flint and steel, rope w/ a grappling hook, mirror piece, ten emergency rations and bedroll. He also takes alchemical items; five fungal stun vials, alchemical fire, acids and ghost blanches if there are any.
@Amelia
Athena has books she will let you read, but not borrow. She is very 'protective' of her books and will not let them leave her Tower.
@Mihail
There are alchemical fire and acid, but no fungal stun or ghost blanches.
Clara looks over the supplies and aside from making sure her companions don't forget food, firewood, tents, and bandages, is content to go to bed early in the name of being well rested.
"The portable hole was a good idea, but I'm for bed - we're going to want to start early if we're to explore the fullness of the mountain for Mistress Athena."
"I will join you later."
Mihail turns to Athena.
"Miss Athena, I hope you don't mind me asking you some questions about the architectures of a wizard's tower or exploring it with your permission, of course. I admit I am curious as to how wizards reach the top and bottom of their tower that quickly."
@Mihail
Athena nods and begins to explain, "For the stonework I had them carved by dwarves and the woodwork had them done by elves. I then teleported them here where I had the Tower constructed by some humans with assistance with my magic for special places. But the Tower is really just a red herring. Once you stepped through the gate you entered an extradimensional holding. Through a Wish, I cast the spell Mage's Magnificent Mansion and below I have a permanent Gate which I will use to transport you to Harker's Ferry. To travel from floor to floor, there are simple stairs though there is an enchantment that only allows visitors to visit certain floors in mine or Thor's company."
***
The next day comes and the party is met with the smell of eggs, bacon, and porridge waiting for them in the main lounge.
After the group has eaten breakfast, Athena shows up and leads the group down two flight of stairs to a large room filled with armored statues and a huge gate.
Athena looks to the others, "When you are ready, I will open the Gate and send you forth."
Mihail nods and smile as Athena explains.
Next day...
Mihail bows.
"Thank you for your hospitality, master wizard. You and Thor have been great hosts."
The bard moves to the gate.
"I am ready."
"Thank you for your hospitality, I am ready. We hope we will find the answers you seek." Fuego answers, then moves to the gate.
Amy listens intently to Athena's explanation, raising her eyebrows at the mention of such powerful spells and nodding thoughtfully as Athena describes the extradimensional space. "Nice setup. I would have expected these haversacks of ours to stop working in such an environment, but you seem to have found a way around that."
As the group disperses for the night, Amy collects the relevant books Athena has allowed her to read during her stay at the Tower. She enters her room on the second floor, casts her standard defensive enchantments, and settles down for eight hours of restful reading.
As the sky begins to lighten, she returns the books to their rightful locations, prepares her spells for the upcoming day, and comes down to the lounge. After ignoring the breakfast, she follows the group down to the room below, smiling at the sight of the gate. "Very dramatic," she comments with an approving nod. She then murmers, "nuntius," now waving her handful of copper wire over the group, "ductu," now pressing her fingerprints to her sternum.
Spellcasting complete, Amy steps into the air and vanishes, . Her voice calls down from the air slightly above the group: "Just in case..."
"Ah, a good point."
Clara touches shoulders briefly, refreshing her normal spells and links, then tugs on her cloak, checking her gear is in place. A short jog in place and she looks towards the gate, bouncing lightly on her feet.
"Ok friends, to adventure. Hopefully it's a simple gate trip, but it never hurts to be ready. When you please, mistress mage."
Etna readies herself with the rest at the gate.
Athena waves goodbye and says "Good Luck! before the party steps through the Gate.
As you step through the Gate, for a brief second it fills like you left your stomach behind but when you are on the other side, everything feels normal.
You find your self in the center of a small town during the early stages of dusk. There are no people on the streets to see your sudden appearance. Noise from a nearby building reveals the local tavern where most of the people are probably located now.
Akarus whispers a short prayer to Vildeis before stepping through the gate.
Fuego pulls up his leather gloves, concealling his burnt hands, then goes to the Bluegill inn to listen on gossip.
Amy blinks in surprise at the sudden evening light. "Well," her voice calls from the empty air, "I guess a shopping trip to Absalom is out of the question. Judging by the time jump, we must have traveled nearly halfway around the world... it would take us days, maybe weeks of scrying and teleportation to make it back without Athena's help."
Amelia pops into view once more, now with wavy shoulder-length blond hair and a light blue dress that swirls as she moves. After ensuring that the rest of the party has arrived safely, she follows Fuego to the nearby tavern.
Checking to make sure his blade is set across his back properly, J'Victus follows the others into the tavern.
Mihail takes in the air of the coming dusk and turns his head several times and then up the sky.
"Bummers. It is evening already."
He lets out a huge sigh but it is a sigh of bliss.
"But I had a blast. Who knew long ranged teleportation can be so much fun than on horseback. I got to try this again if there is another opportunity. It's a pity though. Almost whole day is gone. I guess it is a trade off for covering thousands of miles in an instant."
The bard turns to a direction and reads a sign.
"Well, I am checking the local shop before it closes. I'll meet you all at the tavern later."
Mihail's silhouette vanishes as he enters Barak's supplies (see diplomacy check above for haggle).
-------
As the party enters the tavern, it is almost full to capacity. A rough estimate leads you to believe about 40 people are here. As with most crowded taverns, there is a lot of noise as people are talking, singing, and arguing.
You wait a few minutes before a table large enough to hold the entire party comes open. Once you sit down a waitress walks up, "Watta it be?"
Correct, no magic weapons.
The tavern waitress returns with the food and drinks the party request. They start enjoying their meals and beverages before not too long a blind old man just sits down at their table.
You can smell booze on his breath as he pipes up and greets you. "Well met. We don't get many strangers in this old rundown town. I could smell you when you entered this old tavern. Nothing smells different then new people. Me name is Fedric. Fedric the Storyteller. And a Storyteller I am. I can tell you a few stories about this town, for a small fee of a mug of ale. So what do you say, will Fedric be telling you stories this night?"
|
|
Nodding to the wench Ahadiel, remembering his grandfather, speaks up.
"Listen, for tonight bring Fedric any drink he desires, and a bit of food."
Addressing the storyteller Ahadiel smiles."Please grandfather, tell us stories about this town."
Concentrating for a moment Ahadiel checks the room for any evil auras.
Etna looks at Ahadiel,
"Aren't you being generous again, just hope he does not want the really expensive stuff that costs more then you think."
she smiles somewhat jokingly as she adds
"And don't think I didn't see that quick look you gave the buxom waitress as she served our plates."
Akarus smiles and says to the old man, "Well met. I have a particular story to request. Do you know of a place called Dragon Mountain?"
"Apple juice, please." Fuego orders himself a mug. "Have there been any strange going-ons in town? If your throat is dry, I could always get you more drinks."
As they sit down and wait for service J'Victus takes a look around the room...allowing his gaze to see that which is magical in nature.
As the old man sits he gives him a once over and continues to scan the area.
When Akarus speaks up about Dragon Mountain...
Nice, real subtle...Well now every will know why we are here...great..just fu**ing great!
J'Victus does not even look at Akarus after he speaks just keep his view on the surrounding area looking to see who and how many people noticed...
As fuego orders his apple juice.
With a slight chuckle as he continues to look around.
for the last time Fuego, that book was fake. The Magical Properties of Apples by John A. Seed was a work of Fiction. All this apple juice is going to do is keep you occupied in the bushes..