Fait Accompli one shot.

Game Master catman123456

Muneshige asked the collective, ::How's our knowledge of the strengths and weaknesses of white dragons? And what Rods of Rulership do?::

Knowledge: Arcana 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11 (Dragons)

Knowledge: Arcana 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23 (Rods of Rulership)

Skender thinks for a bit, and soon you can hear his reply.

::I've got nothing.::

No Knowledges of any sort.

::Other than the fact the shiny dragons are the good ones, I don't know much. I never felt the need to learn about them.::

Khazak doesn't look too happy when Muneshige refuses the platinum bars, but does not make any overt comment about that. What he does say is, "We need to figure out how we are going to best work together. The four of you seem to make a good team, but the other gentleman and myself need to find out what your strengths and weaknesses are and what our best tactics will be. Going up against powerful and intelligent opposition is not the best time to try improvising things on the fly with unknown companions."

Muneshige sighed. "I apologize, Khazak. Too many years of knowing exactly which each person does in an assignment, er, adventure." The redhead looked at Khazak and Nathan, continuing "Count me as the sorcerer - I can make what you would see as a Fireball, a Wall of Fire, Scorching Ray, but also of cold, or lightning, or harsh sound. Nathan, you would recognize these, in your mastery, I believe. Lightning Bolt, Cone of Cold, and Knock, as well as a kind of Tongues spell. I can protect myself as if with Mage Armor. I can also heal, if Skender cannot. Skender has our communication and healing strength."

"Against a white dragon..." Muneshige mused, glancing at Orielle. "I would attack with fire first, of course, and conjure weapons as needed for myself. Hinterbite probably can cast spells herself or himself, so I would expect fire protection at the least, and change my powers as needed. But I am best from the rear of an attack. I lack flying ability or teleportation, and I did not expect it to be this cold here! I study tactics during battle and counter-attacks, as well as history, arcane studies, and when we need to talk our way through a challenge, instead of fighting. I carry the provisions for the team, as well as some of the creature comforts. I also talk to others for Skender when needed." Muneshige looked at Sandria to take the imaginary baton and tell the non-psionics about herself.

"Good point. I can't spend them here, but if you can hand out 60,000 gold then why isn't the road fixed, not that I am above taking money for services rendered, but it seems the tax money is a smaller issue with 60,000 gp lying around. You mind telling us more of what is going on. "

Sense Motive for whatever story I am given:1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15

I should have put ranks into sense motive.

Khazak will contemplate what the Baroness has said so far and attempt to sense motive to get a feel for her veracity.

1d20 + 16 ⇒ (2) + 16 = 18

Unfortunately with rolls like that I doubt much will come of it.

Khazak comments: "My specialties are scouting, sentry removal, as well as trap detection and removal. I am especially effective underground, but white dragons are not the sort of sentries that I normally go up against."

"I'm sorta like Moony." Je'grik says with a gesture toward Muneshige. "Except I can't do as much. But what I can do I can make even stronger that what he's capable of, though not without risk. The rest of my abilities cover survival and defense. I'm not half bad as a scout either, and I'm not afraid to get up close in a fight."

::Mune, not Moony:: Muneshige corrected for the hundredth time through the link. "Don't sell yourself short, Je'grik". the man drawled, picking at the meal in front of him. "You are far faster and more mobile than I in battle."

"I don't have to sell myself short, Moony, I already am!"

I missed your request in the previous posts.

knowledge arcana check for white dragons:1d20 + 20 ⇒ (2) + 20 = 22
Rod of Rulership knowledge(history or arcana or nobility:1d20 + 20 ⇒ (3) + 20 = 23

"I am a wizard specializing in Conjuration, specifically summoning. I try to do a little of everything, except for things that deal with mind control. I don't particularly care for it, not for moral reasons, but I find I can do other things better. I am also knowledgeable in variety of subjects."

I ended up rolling twice because I copied and pasted to the bottom, but I forgot to erase the top rolls. I will go with the low rolls. I got a 22 for the dragons, and 23 for the rod, in case both somehow still show up.

Gives a nod, chuckling as she listens, then responds. "I'm more of a front line fighter myself. I take the hits, and deal them." An odd statement, from someone who wears no obvious armor or weapons.

The others in the room (Khazak and Nathan, I believe) are added to the collective.

::I specialize in the healing of others, and I'm quite skilled at it. If need be, I can dip into the abilities of my companions, other than Sandria, and I can modify others, either in small ways or completely change their abilities and skills. In short, I specialize in the manipulation of biological energies.::

Khazak looks around with a puzzled expression on his face. He sticks his fingers in his ears trying to clean ear wax out of them. Finally he simply chugs down the ale in his glass and says, "Ok, whatever."

::It is I.:: Skender bows visibly as he contacts Khazak. ::Try responding in a like manner. Simply think at me, and I should be able to hear you via this link. I lost the ability to speak a fair while ago, so it helps that I can communicate in this fashion.::

"Usually Skender is not so...forward." Muneshige stated, with a strong look at his old friend. ::Be glad the townsfolk are not superstitious here.:: the Elan sent through the link. He continued eating the meal in front of him. "Still, now that our host has her adventurers, perhaps we should discuss our plans before we go find the local General Store? White dragons, I'm afraid, have not been on my list to read up on. Other than they probably deal in a lot of cold attacks, I'm drawing a blank. Rods of Rulership, however, are more prominent to me. Such a magical item can command people as if the wielder was an actual king to that person, as I recall. I can imagine what this Hinterbite could do simply by landing in the middle of Icenvale and commanding everyone in sight to obey him or her!" Muneshige commented.

::If we are going to be working with them, they're going to find out sooner or later.::

"I think we should try to find a library to see if we can find more information about white dragons."

"I like that idea. We could probably find a map of the area there too! No reason to go off into completely unfamiliar territory you know."

Khazak comments, "Finding a map makes perfect sense. I'm new to the area here and we could end up wasting a lot of time simply trying to get a feel for the place."

Turning to the Baroness, Khazak asks,"Are there any libraries nearby? Or perhaps you have a map of your barony that you could make available to us? Such things could be of great help"

Muneshige asked the collective, ::How's our knowledge of the strengths and weaknesses of white dragons? And what Rods of Rulership do?::

Knowledge: Arcana 1d20+9 (Dragons)

Knowledge: Arcana 1d20+9 (Rods of Rulership)

Knowledge: Arcana (Dragons)

I got a 23 for my check on the dragons

Museshige looked at Orielle, awaiting their host's reply to their many questions.

Khazak comments, "Finding a map makes perfect sense. I'm new to the area here and we could end up wasting a lot of time simply trying to get a feel for the place."

Turning to the Baroness, Khazak asks,"Are there any libraries nearby? Or perhaps you have a map of your barony that you could make available to us? Such things could be of great help"

She reaches in to the sack where she removed the platinum bars and produces two maps. One of the surrounding area and another of the city.

Khazak takes the maps from the Baroness and says,"Thank you. These should make our task much easier."

Khazak sets the map of the city aside and unrolls/unfolds the map of the surrounding area, spreading it out on the table so everybody can see it.

Can you get us image files of the maps?

Surveying the maps, Skender thinks through the collective, to all in the room.

::These should be helpful indeed.::

"Thank you, Lady Orielle. Once this fabulous repast is finished, I think a quick trip to the General Store for any last-minute items will be enough. We can then retire here for the night." Museshige looked around the room. "If need be, since we are not supposed to let the townspeople know we are here, I can go by myself to the General Store for all of us. Skender can fill me in with his telepathy from a distance." the young man offered.

Keep in mind, My collective can only reach about 200 ft. Owait, are you talking about your Psicrystal?

::Well then, what will we need? Any suggestions?::

::We're going up into mountains right? Rope and climbing gear just to be on the safe side.::

"Works for me, Moony." Je'grik as he starts swaying his feet back and forth. "I don't want to be in the cold longer than I have to be, power or no power."

Khazak tries thinking at the collective:

"I've got everything I think I need. However, there are other items it might be handy to have. Depending on how severe the weather gets a wand of Endure Elements could come in real handy. Everybody needs to make sure that they have cold weather outfits and furs. Aside from that I'd have to see what they have at the store."

::Well, does everyone have their furs?::

::Furs? Ha! You forget that I can ward myself against all weather! Maybe some waterproof boots though. Wet shoes are no fun.::

::Warding is nice, but it never hurts to have a back-up plan, Je'grik. You remember a few months back, when your power got disspelled just prior to exhausting yourself? Were you cold then?::

::Not with the heat of battle still going through me, no. And you know very well I made that warding last all day.::

::Now that we're on the subject of knowing something, we all realize we're in the same room and can talk right?::

::That's awfully rude, Je'grik. Skender sends through the collective with a mock-offended look. ::You should know by now that I can't talk. I'm a mute. For me, it's either this, or some wacky hand signal language, and I don't know that.::

::Oh, I'm so sorry! I can't believe I forgot! It's not I'm not always hearing you or anything...::

::In any other group having a conversation with the voices in your head would land you in a crazy house.:: Je'grik sends through the collective. ::No it wouldn't! Yes it would! Wouldn't! Would!:: ;)

::That's not the reason you'd be in a loony bin, Je'grik.:: Skender sends, grinning widely.

Khazak takes the maps from the Baroness and says,"Thank you. These should make our task much easier."

Khazak sets the map of the city aside and unrolls/unfolds the map of the surrounding area, spreading it out on the table so everybody can see it.

Can you get us image files of the maps?

It doesn't have one

Muneshige started to reply to Je'grik, but the telepathy was flickering too fast between people. When everyone had stopped "talking", Muneshige spoke up. "So that's Je'grik wanting a grappling hook and rope. I've already got one with 200 feet of hemp rope, do you want more? Khazak wants furs for everybody. That'll be 12 gp each. I do have a Wand of Endure Elements, Khazak, and it's not even half used. When I can get it to work." the redhead said, turning to face the dwarf.

"Je'grik wants cleats. Those are five gold each. I agree. And I'm getting snowshoes as well, because I don't like walking chest-deep in snow. Those will be five gold. But getting a local set of cold weather clothes is a good idea."

(I've already got furs, cleats, and snowshoes on my spreadsheet, this will just give me an excuse to have them outside my usual traveler's outfit. I will pick up a cold weather outfit - 8gp, 7 lbs - that I don't have on my spreadsheet yet.)

(The math: cold weather outfit adds +5 to Fortitude checks, furs add +2, for a total of +7 against cold weather.)

(catman, Nathan dropped out - is he going to vanish after this meal, or turn into an NPC? I ask because I was going to let the arcane magic-user try my "emergency wands" like Endure Elements, rather than roll for Use Magic Device.)

"All right." Muneshige said. "Everybody pony up the gold pieces. I'm not spending that doorstop" the man indicated Orielle's reward still on the table, "until we get back. And no loans this time, Je'grik. Skender's right. You haven't run into an antimagic field yet. Hinterbite probably has traps and magic, which are set to dispel any high-power magic entering its' nest. So unless you're hiding a Ring of Cold Protection somewhere, think about mundane backups to magic and powers." he told the halfing. ::But that doesn't mean I won't "borrow" your Adapt Body power anyway tomorrow.:: Muneshige added through the link.

His meal finished, Muneshige stood. "Thank you for the food, Lady Orielle." he said, bowing slightly to their hostess. The young-appearing man picked up his Handy Haversack and went to the door to the house. "I'll be back shortly. No one should ask why a non-native is buying cold weather gear. If you think of anything else while I'm out," the redhead motioned to his silent partner, "just tell Skender."

(Just buy the stuff and mark your character profile pages yourself. I'm not going into detail here. My next post will have me returning from shopping.)

"Hmm, if the snow get's chest deep for you, maybe I should get snowshoes too. Might as well get furs and the cold weather outfit too." Je'grik says, handing over 35 gold. "I guess that's enough rope though. Anyone been hiding a tent?"

::I thought you would anyway. I just give everyone that nice, warm feeling inside, don't I?::

Khazak says, "I will go ahead an accompany Muneshige. Partly because I want to see what the store has to offer and partly because we need to start acting like a team, and except for scouting missions that means nobody going off alone."

If I strap snowshoes to my Psionic boots, will they retain their properties, allowing me to use them in the same fashion, or will they not be usable since they don't have contact with the ground? Also, can I get the kind of cleats you wrap around existing shoes/boots? I'll pay extra, if you want.

::Could you pick me up a pair of cleats and snowshoes?::

Looking into his coin pouch, Skender "speaks" again. ::Uhh..... All I've got are gems. I don't know if they'll be acceptable currency here, I'm used to being able to buy equipment back home, where they don't care.::

(I'd say it's looking too closely at the rules, Skender. Of course, your Boots of Skate and my Boots of Levitation might be exceptions to cleats or shoeshoes, but I'd roleplay them still having powers/magic even with additional stuff on them.)

::I'll try the gems first, Skender. Otherwise, I'll switch coin for gems with you when I get back.:: Museshige called out from outside with Khazak.

(Skender, we can ask catman if we can use gems. Icenvale should be enough of a frontier town to allow it.)

I have a habit of doing so. I assume that they would work, but I've had DMs before say that they don't with things like this.

Muneshige started to reply to Je'grik, but the telepathy was flickering too fast between people. When everyone had stopped "talking", Muneshige spoke up. "So that's Je'grik wanting a grappling hook and rope. I've already got one with 200 feet of hemp rope, do you want more? Khazak wants furs for everybody. That'll be 12 gp each. I do have a Wand of Endure Elements, Khazak, and it's not even half used. When I can get it to work." the redhead said, turning to face the dwarf.

"Je'grik wants cleats. Those are five gold each. I agree. And I'm getting snowshoes as well, because I don't like walking chest-deep in snow. Those will be five gold. But getting a local set of cold weather clothes is a good idea."

(I've already got furs, cleats, and snowshoes on my spreadsheet, this will just give me an excuse to have them outside my usual traveler's outfit. I will pick up a cold weather outfit - 8gp, 7 lbs - that I don't have on my spreadsheet yet.)

(The math: cold weather outfit adds +5 to Fortitude checks, furs add +2, for a total of +7 against cold weather.)

(catman, Nathan dropped out - is he going to vanish after this meal, or turn into an NPC? I ask because I was going to let the arcane magic-user try my "emergency wands" like Endure Elements, rather than roll for Use Magic Device.)

"All right." Muneshige said. "Everybody pony up the gold pieces. I'm not spending that doorstop" the man indicated Orielle's reward still on the table, "until we get back. And no loans this time, Je'grik. Skender's right. You haven't run into an antimagic field yet. Hinterbite probably has traps and magic, which are set to dispel any high-power magic entering its' nest. So unless you're hiding a Ring of Cold Protection somewhere, think about mundane backups to magic and powers." he told the halfing. ::But that doesn't mean I won't "borrow" your Adapt Body power anyway tomorrow.:: Muneshige added through the link.

His meal...

You can Npc him. If you like.

::I have cleats, snow-:: Nathan's thoughts came through the link, and he stopped, fork still in hand from the meal, surprised. Clearing his throat, the Varisian man said out loud "I, ah, already have all the cold weather gear that I need, it was a long trip here from the nearest town. But I will ask to use your Wand of Endure Elements, just to make sure we don't freeze to death during the night outside." The wizard's own backpack was at his feet, looking like a Handy Haversack.

I have a habit of doing so. I assume that they would work, but I've had DMs before say that they don't with things like this.

Its fine.

She softly chuckles. "I have some cold weather gear, plus my armor can keep me warm pretty decently." Says the woman in no armor, stretching. "As for climbing gear...hmmm...Yeah, might be useful."

What about that 23 knowledge check I got on dragons before my premature departure? :)

After purchasing the cleats Nathan begins to ponder the possibility of combing them with snow shoes, and making money selling the new invention instead of chasing demons and dragons.

What about that 23 knowledge check I got on dragons before my premature departure? :)