As Ya'Bo works at the thus far uncooperative lock, Theo picks up the vile revealed by the Gnomes earlier spell. Assuming the container is translucent, he holds it up to the glowing end of his staff. Turning it this way and that, Theo inspects the liquid's color, viscosity, and texture -- as well as one can manage visually. Then, making sure that he isn't breaking an intact seal, Theo pops the cork and gives the liquid a sniff.
As he works, Theo addresses his newly armed comrades. "If any of you are interested in the exact nature of your boon, you may want to do some jewelry shopping when we return to town. Ya'Bo or I can identify your enchanted gear, but the spell requires a rather high-end pearl. Even in areas not land-locked, something of this quality would sell for at least 100gp."
Once satisfied with his cursory inspection, and once his friend is done finessing open the mysterious box, Theo turns to Ya'Bo and inquires; "So, seems that our martial companions have come to an amicable arrangement for splitting the mystic armaments. I suppose that leaves us to come to an agreement on the scroll."
Theo puts his back to the wall and slides to the floor, thinking better of taking his chances on any of the furniture considering the state they had found the Orcs in.
"I'll be blunt, I'd very much like to have the scroll. The return of my Arcane casting, and so vastly improved to my adolescence, has been thoroughly intoxicating." Theo goes limp and his eyes glaze for a moment as his arcane energy begins to recharge. "That said, 'twas your spell that sussed out these boons in the first place, friend. It's only right that the choice be yours."
"Anway, first-pick on a shiny trinket is the absolute least I can do. Without your help, who knows how long it could have taken to re-acquire my arcane skills? If I were the type to risk heresy, I'd accuse Lady Mystra of but a single flaw: overestimating my competence."
Theo takes his next breath slowly, granting himself a brief pause. He reflects on the trial given to him by his mistress; his mind flooding with decade-old arcane formulas. Nigh-forgotten lessons reviewed through a lens of maturity, experience, and divine tutelage. A cycle of fractured memories invoking epiphanies about abstract arcane principles, only for those epiphanies to inspire deeper questions, and those questions to trigger more fragments. Theo was truly blessed to have been in Ya'Bo's company when the trial began.
"Without a competent mage to lean on and observe, it could have been weeks, or even months, before I puzzled all that information into something coherent."
Just as Ya'Bo has enough of being denied by the obstinate lock; finally ransacking it's boon with a minor show of force, Theo becomes acutely aware of the potion still in his hand.
"Oh, yes. That's right." The half-elf says to no one in particular.
"Woeful news, friends. It seems none of our boons will aid us in acquiring a new amphibious mascot." Theo says, giving a knowing look to Ore. "Silver lining: this crimson tonic will stave off death." Theo holds the vile up to the light again, admiring the color. "Should mend cuts and bruises as well as any of the Divine casters among us -- at least for the time being."
Divine, Neil spits. Ain't nothin dee-vine about that a&~&!~%, he says, referring to Talos.
Divine, Neil spits. Ain't nothin dee-vine about that a+@%*#!, he says, referring to Talos.
"No. I suppose not." Theo agrees
Fortunately, all magic stems from The Weave, from Mystra herself. No spell, however great or minor, is cast without the Arcane Mother's leave."
Theo pauses, his face turning sour. His mind wanders back to the destruction that magic had brought upon Neil and his family.
"Sadly, for the sake of mortal freedom, and to safeguard the cosmos from the tantrums of petty Gods, Lady Mystra often keeps a loose hold on the reigns of Magic in the universe."
"Know that the tyrant who assailed you is a sad pretender throwing around borrowed power. And try to find peace in knowing that none - not mortal, not God, none - abuse the gifts of Mystra without consequence. 'Tis the whole purpose of my order."
"Cast your spells in health, brother. Take pride knowing that your honor and good-spirit spit in the face of any profane machinations that some False God may have for your life. Your power is not Talos' power. All magic is a gift from Mystra, and is yours alone."
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Watching the last sizzle of acid eat through the lock.
"Now was that not nicer with out all the loud banging from swords on the lock?
Well, well looks like we are having a nice dinner tonight at the inn with this coin."
And Ya'Bo starts to count how much is there, while listening to Theo talk about the gods.
"I feel the gods just look at us like ants at an ant hill. We are forgotten about until someone kicks the ant hill over, just to see what happens. But what you said Theo is well said."
"And Theo about the scroll. We are wizards we can just scribe it in one spell book and the other can just copy it from the the others book.
Then we will both have it, would you not agree that it would be the best plan for any scrolls that we come across?"
Once the coin is counted Ya'Bo splits it up into six equal amounts. If there is an odd number of coin he places that it the seventh stack for general party use. Once the stacks are made he picks up his stack and offers the other party members their share of the coin loot.
If there is a seventh stack "Who, other than Ore, wants to be responsible for the party funds?"
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"Oh, aye, Ya'Bo, that were nicely done, that.
But soft, you are too harsh on the deities. For without us, they would not be, so how can they not care about our fates?
Look to thy own gifts; thy cunning, thy intellect, thy craftiness. These are all gifts given to you at thy conception, so that as you trod your Road of Fate you may use these strengths of yours to bring Glory and Honor to the deity that chose -you- at thy birth.
For indeed, does that not make more sense? We all of do not chose who we cleave to, but that is already chosen. For us we merely must seek _WHY_ we follow them, and why they have chosen US!
So tread soft, friend Neil. Though it may seem that thy path is not of thy own choosing, is one who can see all of the Multiverse beseeming as one who is prone to mistakes, or to be overly-casual with how they hand out favor?
Examine your thoughts. You are angry and confused and torrential. Heh. Are those not perfect traits for one who serves the StormLord?
So, Ya'bo, is that what thy heart craves? That we have a soft night in soft beds before carrying on the war on the morrow? Very well! As you have brought glory to us this day, I shall relinquish my request that we stay here to gather our strength so as not to lose another moment in our glorious mission!
But let us arise and be back here all the earlier upon the morrow.
You never can trust the Orc."
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Neil's eyes glass over as Theo tries to explain magical theory.
Watching the last sizzle of acid eat through the lock.
"And Theo about the scroll. We are wizards we can just scribe it in one spell book and the other can just copy it from the the others book.
Then we will both have it, would you not agree that it would be the best plan for any scrolls that we come across?"
"That would certainly be ideal"
"Is copying a spell of this level within your power, Ya'Bo? If so, I'm quite jealous. Theo gives the scroll a once-over. During my time as an apprentice, I fancied myself something of a rune-smith. Even at the height of such youthful arrogance, I doubt I would have beleived myself capable matching the subtle complexities of this script."
If there is a seventh stack "Who, other than Ore, wants to be responsible for the party funds?"
"I'll take the job, should everyone else decline."
"How about you, Neil?" Theo asks casually.
I have, and will continue to, trust each of you with my life. But despite our differences, Neil, the consistency of your candor and simplistic sincerity of your worldview has earned a great deal of my trust. I'm fairly certain you would cut off your possessed limb before you allowed it to spend a single copper of coins not your own. That said, in the spirit of such candor, we may want to have someone else handle the accounting."
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"Sadly Theo, I am still doing research on the more powerful spells, such as this one. I am not sure even if I can cast this one off the scroll without mishap. So I will carefully place it in my pack til I am able to scribe it in my book and make a copy for you. Or if the situation is so dire that it does not matter of the risks of mishaps by just casting it."
Ya'Bo places the scroll in his pack for safe keeping. And finds a nice place to rest in the corner.
"I assume we are resting here. Who would like to do the watches to alert the rest of danger?"
Go ahead and get some sleep. I'll stay up late. Neil offers.
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"Gratitude for your vigilance, Brother Neil. I shall relieve you of the watch as soon as I am restored."
That said, Aterro pours himself into a corner of the room. Used to hard nights spent in wet mud and cold rain, he drifts instantly to sleep, glad at least that the room is dry and free of obvious vermin.
Looking around the room, Arterro is surprised to find a hidden seam on the south wall of the cavern. Closer inspection reveals a secret door there!
Looking around the room, Arterro is surprised to find a hidden seam on the south wall of the cavern. Closer inspection reveals a secret door there!
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Ore will volunteer to watch the secret door during his watch...and when nobody's looking... will peek in just a little to see what's inside...
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"Squeek, squeek, squeek." Ya'Bo says to Whickers to have him stand by the secret door to sniff out any Orcs.
Ya'Bo pulls out a small block of cheese that he got from the inn and breaks off a chunk. He then hands the chunk to the person who will be on first watch.
"Just break off a small bit and toss it over to Whiskers every now and then or he will get board and wander off. That should be enough for your whole watch. I will take last watch."
And Ya'Bo gets settled in for a little sleep.
saving space:One thing that this shakes loose in my mind is that you never 'unprepare' spells. I don't recall if this was part of the discussion on the first go-round, but strictly speaking, changing your list of prepared spells is something you can choose to do after a long rest.Likewise, after a long rest, you regain your slots (no choice on that one).
If you choose not to change your list, you keep the same list of prepared spells.
So unless something else went down, a wizard who lost their book wouldn't be without spells, they'd just be unable to change their list from whatever it was when they lost it.
Make of it what you will.
The scene is immediately familiar to Theo, he is back in his old room at his former master's home. He's sitting at the modest, but adequate, workstation provided to each student.
Several scraps of paper litter the area, and a poorly-kept ink well sits in the far corner surrounded by ink stains from where a quill has been repeatedly tossed aside haphazardly. Shielded by a unique bubble of order at the center of all this chaos, a modestly-sized tome sits splayed open on the tabletop.
"My spellbook?", Theo attempts to wonder aloud, but his body feels as if it's made of lead. Not even his eyes will move at his command.
A set of vaguely familiar hands, surely his own from years past, begin to thumb through Theo's spellbook and take notes. The hands flip past the first few pages faster than Theo can read, but the final three are examined at length. Runes are copied, incantations are rehearsed, gestures are fine-tuned, and ingredients are prepared.
It takes Theo longer than he would care to admit for him to piece together what he is looking at. This is a memory, an exact recreation of the morning he left with Lady Mystra.
Young Theo's morning preparations take about an hour. They are ended abruptly by a beckoning from his master. The would-be mage quickly gathers his Spellbook and sprints out the door. As he crosses the threshold he is enveloped by a blinding light. Present Theo braces himself for all the sensations of the waking world, but they never come. When his vision returns to him he's back at his desk. His notes are blank and his tome is open to the first spell he prepared.
"Oh." Theo thinks to himself "I guess it's going to be a long night."
Spell Book: Find Familiar, Magic Missile, Shield, Ray of Sickness, Disguise Self, Witch Bolt
Cantrips: Light, Firebolt, Minor Illusion
Prepared Spells: Witch Bolt, Magic Missile, Shield
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Theo decides to join Ya'Bo for the last watch. Theo hopes he'll be allowed to observe as his friend prepares spells for the day. Any honest attempt to further understand magic is an act of reverence towards Mystra and, as such, is an acceptable form of meditation for her followers.
Theo figures he can kill two birds with one stone. He can replenish his divine magic while continuing to refresh his memory of Arcane casting. Maybe he'll even learn something about the fragmented spell that plagues his mind so.
Prepped Cleric Spells: Healing Word, Bless, Sanctuary, PFGAE
[b["Well, that was nice and boring,"[/b] Ore says.
"A good safe sleep: the best kind. Let's go check out the secret room. I... Am not at all embarrassed to say I peeked and it looks like there's at least one more hidey-hole!"
With the watch cycle and his morning rituals complete, Theo gathers his things and heads for the exit.
"The whole cave smells of a chamber pot but I couldn't bring myself to treat it as one. I'm in desperate need of fresh air and a private bush." Theo braces himself slightly on his staff, his movements somewhat slow and rigid, as he takes his leave. "The tender mercy of grass and soil won't go amiss either."
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"Fair points, Theo. Let's just check out the rest of this room first..."
Opening the secret door all the way, Ore waltzs in and looks around for a better view. If nothing else catches his eye, he'll walk over to the chest and check for traps, opening it if he finds none.
Neil peers on.
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Well I guess the big heavy armored humans are afraid to go in, so it's up to us little folk Ya'Bo thinks to himself.
Ya'Bo grabs his gear and walks into the room, takes a look around for anything of interest, then moves over to Ore and gives him a hand with the chest. Casting Prestidigitation for any needed tools.
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The room beyond the door is small, a mere 20' x 30' (I do not have a map for this room). The chest proves unlocked and contains a longbow, 20 arrows, two longswords, and two daggers, all in excellent condition. A wooden bucket in the southeast corner contains only stagnant black water. There are no other apparent exits.
An arms room. Nice. Let's take these back to the keep.
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The return trip takes but a few hours and soon you are safe back in the keep. People crowd about, waiting to hear about your adventures and asking questions about the caves. Children, especially, seem enamored of you.
Theo, someone seeks you out while you are in the keep.
Theo, someone seeks you out while you are in the keep.** spoiler omitted **
"Mayhaps I am." Theo says as he sizes the stranger up, looking for any clues about the man's status or intent.
"Pardon my bluntness, friend. I skipped breakfast and am not used to being so casually approached about my personal doings. Who in this...quaintly mundane little town has business in such matters?"
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"I can provide directions to the fortress. If you and your allies would enter and see if the wizard's spellbook is still within, I would be willing to pay you for your troubles. Say, 500 gold coins, and access to the book, of course. Even if you find no book, it might be that there are things worth your time inside, and you could keep anything that you might find.
"I have a location, but neither the youth nor companions required for such an undertaking. You have the vigor and allies, but not the location. I believe that we could help each other."
He seems to be telling the truth.
** spoiler omitted **
"I should be upfront, friend. I can't speak for any of my comrades. I can only agree to pass along your offer. At least one among us considers our current objective nothing short of a moral obligation; straying will be a hard sell. It is a small miracle that we are even on this prolonged reprieve. We should be done within the week if your mission can wait."
Attero and Neil will hear nothing of interrupting the "cleansing" of the caves. It would be a bold request after the former has already acquiesced to the team's respite. Still...
"Speaking of your mission; what, exactly, do you stand to gain from this venture? Patrons at the tavern whispered of this fortress when we first arrived, but none offered us an artisan's yearly wage for...what, a guarded tour?" Decenters or no, Theo must pry further. His cloth-brothers may be driven by divine purpose, but his arcane-brother is not. Turning down this kind of money off-hand seems like a swift path to tasting Ya'Bo's acid.