Ida adds each person back to the collective as they come within visual distance, and checks the health of them as they come.
All are fully healthy, though something else ails Jack.
Ida seems confused for a moment, and focuses her attention on Jack.
[Dice=Health Sense, DC 15 Heal check to sense poison/disease]1d20+9[/dice]
Yes, he is poisoned by some snake venom. Dexterity damage you believe, he will be having another episode of the venom taking effect very soon. What do you do?
"Were you bitten, or something? There's poison in your blood.... Unfortunately, there's nothing I can do magically to help with that, so we'll have to do it the old-fashioned way, Ida says, getting to work treating the poison, having Jack lay down, stay calm, etc etc.
[dice=Heal Check to Treat Poison, DC = Poison DC]1d20+9[/dice]
Assuming Jack allows it...
Jack make four saves now...
Then Ida has one more chance before he has to do two more saves...
Jack runs to Ida sitting down trying to calm himself, he knows the basics of poisons. Not wanting to cause any more issues he begins breathing excercises healing the damage he has taken but is unable to remove the poison. "I was indeed bitten, forgive my audacity in my exploration." Jack follows Ida's instruction.
Jack thanks Ida. "Thank you my friend, this place is nought but smoke and mirrors. I do not know what separated us in the water even though we went the same direction. Pray we get out of here soon... I do not wish to stay in such a dangerous place more than necessary" Ida does notice Jack is wearing a pair of gauntlets that you have not seen him with before.
"Welcome to your first Vault, that was more of a magical one, rather than a lump of rock protecting something." Five states as he stays focused on his puzzle.
Elo dragging the goblin behind her also comes to the group.
Five puts away the box, since the whole group has collected. "Come on, I am sure that the town is nearby. Anyone good at tracking down signs of life? If so would you please take point."
Balthe stretches and points. This way
Sorry I couldn't help much, I've not dealt with poisons in quite some time, Ida says, scratching the back of her head. Turning to Balthe, she says, "I've no experience tracking, so I don't really know too much about it. If that's the way you think we should go, I don't really have any arguments.
"Thank you nonetheless, it is more than I knew." Jack nods at Ida. "I shall also follow you Balthe, I trust your sense of direction more than mine. Tell me if you need help lighting the way or dimming the way as it may be. Other that that I shall bring up the rear and defend people."
"Thank you all, now on to find that town." Five says following Balthe.
Soon very soon the group starts to hear sounds of a festival. After moving massive ferns to the side, you find yourself in a town. The town's buildings are made up of wood and actually time was taken to put them together as opposed to most of Pandora's buildings which are slammed together from scrap metal and anything you can use.
Booths are setup for selling food, for playing games, and vendors selling trinkets.
Lanterns are strung up, criss-crossing above head from one building to the next.
The people, mostly all humans, are happy and seem to have care free attitudes.
What do you do?
"Well, then. It looks like we've found it, eh? Looks like a pretty lively place, too!" Ida says, eyes darting about with interest.
"Yes it seems that way, ahh, look it is the symbol of the everlasting flame. Yes this is our location." Five says as he points to several furs with a symbol of flame and a lantern below it.
"Enjoy yourselves, when the whole town meets up at the Northern part of the town, is when the adventure starts again. I can understand if I don't see some of you there, this is a nice place to settle down away from most threats on Pandora." With that he offers his hand to Ida.
Balthe spends time at the festival. For the first time in years he feels happy.
He gathers up everyone I have to stay here. I feel like I have a home for the first time. I wil remain here, learn to craft weapons and armor. Come to me for work if you like.
Elo remains silent as they see and head towards the festival; when she gets a moment, she takes Five aside and shows him the hilt she discovered. "I found this in a box on the way here, any idea what this thing is?"
Five takes the 'S' shaped hilt made of a substance like moonstone, which he tells her.
He looks at it and casts a few spells, after a few minutes, he swishes it to the side and a magical blade made up of a weak energy source flutters to life. He swishes it the other direction, and the blade dissapates. "It looks to be an energy sword of some kind, attached to the weilder, it likely will be a stronger blade with one such as you. Just think open or awaken, and the blade should come to life. It is an Eridian blade."
Elo raises the blade and concentrates, trying to form her bow in the hand containing the sword.
The handle as your focus draws a magical force from it to form two arms of a bow, with a string of pure energy just like your normal cascading attack.
Ida takes Five's outstretched hand. "Well, if that's what you want, Balthe, then feel free. If it's what makes you happy, do it!" she says, leading the way to drinks and dancing.
Elara's eyes go wide as the hilt seems to turn itself in her hand and explode outwards into her energy bow, only far more intricate with curving arms and a longer string. Plucking the string it vibrates hard, far more than before; drawing an arrow out of nowhere, Elo swiftly sights and shoots an arrow at the stone floor, sending up shards of rock. She nods in satisfaction, surprised.
"More kick... yet easier to draw. Interesting."
This looks like quite the festival here, from such danger to such .. I can't call it quiet but definitely safer atmosphere here, amazing sometimes. I wonder how oblivious people are when enjoying this time.
Jack descends to where the festivities are being held and asks one of the attendees politely what the story of this festival is and what that person would recommend.
The man turns a shade whiter and steps back from Jack... Then a large rotund man about the size of Jack comes up. "Walter why don't you get two pints for myself and my new friend here." He says opening his had toward Jack. Walter, the scared man quickly skitters off.
"My name is Mayor Uptal, and this is the town of Kassen, please let me show you around, some of our folk may be scared of such a presence such as yourself, but in my company those feelings should be put away." He says with a smile, still with his hand out to be shaked.
"If you want, we can all meet at the inn over there for dinner and drinks." Five offers before dancing away. Five takes Ida, in a twirl, soon they are in full swing of the festival, tasting different foods at the vendors, drinking from one tavern to an open keg, and then finding the dance square and enjoying Ida's company and flexible frame they dance...
Ida tries out all sorts of foods, making faces at some, and really enjoying others, enjoying the drink, and generally having a good time. She dances more gracefully than many around, but nothing too spectacular.
Jack shakes Mayor Uptal's hand heartily. "Wonderful to meet you Mayor, it is a great town you have here. I would be most willing to be lead around! I am sorry if I scared some of your townsfolk, believe me it is not my intention. I more would like to join the festivities of what you have here!" Jack says brightening up at the friendly mayor. His people have always been plain in their intentions and never really hid anything when they talk, so to hear someone speak so plainly was good to him.
"Good to hear it, what kind of entertainment are you looking for, we have learned to accommodate many different tastes." Mayor Uptal says, then he goes broadly into each section, explaining more as you ask.
food
skill games
combat games
bar scene
dance
socializing with locales
rituals
place of pleasure
forge/crafting
"Should I give the tour to your other friend as well, she is a pretty thing?" Mayor Uptal remarks about Elo.
Jack looks over to Elo, unsure of her motivations here. Maybe this was an opportunity. Jack nods at the Mayor. "I think that would be a good idea." Jack waves over at Elo. "Elo would you like to join us as we walk about?"
As Elo decides whether to come or not Jack ponders his choices then says. "I wouldn't mind seeing the combat games and meeting up with some of the locals. I am an Imakandi, I am always interested in a good fight. I am also interested out of personal preference to know more about this town of yours. I'm sure a lot of locals have something to say about this fine patch of soil, wouldn't you say?"
"Ah yes the arena, as I like to call it, a great choice to pick up some new skill in combat. It is a wonderful area, we are protected by the spirit of Kassen and Eridian technology, this used to be a great focusing area, but we have adapted it to our modest living needs." Mayor Uptal relays to Jack.
Jack's eyes light up as the mayor explains. "What is this technology if I might have the audacity to enquire? Also what do you mean a great focusing area. Your town is becoming more intriguing by the moment." Jack is trying to keep his composure but the mayor no doubt can hear the obvious excitement in Jack's voice.
"I am sure the old wizard Quert, or some of our sages could explain it better, I don't see why not today is for the celebration of freedom and life, tomorrow we send forth champions to collect light from the Everflame. To my knowledge the focusing area is a source of power, with that power we are safe from the normal threats of Pandora, like an aversion to much of the wildlife, thus why the plants grow so well here." Mayor Uptal seems to be out of his element in explaining Eridium or magic, though he does his best using vague terms. The Mayor shows you to the arena, the temple of war, the dance square, and the two taverns and inn in town. These are the best places for combat and meeting locales.
"Would you like me to introduce you to Quert or one of the sages?" Mayor Uptal suggests.
Elo hesitates for a moment and then shakes her head. "Thanks... but no thanks. I haven't been on Pandora since I was a girl." She looks around at everything. "Time to remember."
Elo turns and immerses herself into the festival, watching and hearing and smelling everything, taking pains to hide her tattoos. Eventually she gives in and joins in with the dancing.
Is this me...? Do I feel I belong here...?
Elo you feel that you can be carefree with the children and the other dances.
Jack nods at the Mayor "I would like that quite a bit, does this wizard know much of the are and its history?" Jack muses as he thinks of his time on his own planet as well as the powers he has used before. "Can we walk to Quert while I enquire what are the sages? Are they able bodied magic users who help out this wizard or are they knowledgeable people that maintain the history of this place?"
"Well Jack, the sages are just people who are knowledgeable people, a few of them maintain the history. None of them are magic users, more like scholars and experts in their trade. Besides Quert I don't think we have any other arcane users, there is the few acolytes at the temple and the priest of healing, Jagler." The mayor says as he moves them along the path leading eventually to a quaint tower, with one window on the second floor, a pointed top, and a squat wooden door. "Here is Quert's tower, honestly I don't know what he knows, he helps us out with many magical things."
As you will all learn that the sending off of the searchers of the Everflame will be tomorrow at noon. Everyone will stay up late and sleep in tomorrow.
Jack claps his feet together bows to the mayor. "Thank you Mayor for your help. I shall have a conversation with him, do you need to be with me for him not to find me a threat? Or should I be alright scaling the tower to meet with Quert?" Jack asks politely.
"I might join the tournament yet, it sounds like a fun time!"
The mayor turns to Jack and smiles, "I am sure that Quert as we call him will more than willing to accept you into his tower, he likes the strange ones. Just knock and wait for him to open his door. Once you are done with him, feel free to find yourself to any parts of our festivities." With that said, the mayor claps Jack's back with his arm and heads back to the center of town. The tower is on the outskirts of town.
Once you enter through the doorway, needing to bow deeply just to enter, you find the inside much larger than the outside. It is a mansion of silver, white marble, and many different colors of cloth. You can see the connection between this stark white elf, with the silver bracelets and accent tattoos of different colors. It is very sparse in the mansion with many abstract statues and paintings. Very little furniture.
Jack bows respectfully to Quert. Greetings Quertaneous, I feel a little robbed of my introduction but am impressed you know my name before my arrival." Entering Jack notices the very eccentric house, thinking it is a quirk of the position of the man he doesn't question why the house is as it is. However he does take a mental note of it.
Jack tries to start a somewhat humble conversation with Quert, he would love to know about the tattoos on his body but what little etiquette Jack knows of other cultures he knows to build to the question instead of being blunt about it. "I have heard the mayor says you know much of this town as well as the magic left here. Might I enquire as to what you know. Before you ask I have no motives behind this except that I wish to satiate my own curiosity. If you know my name perhaps you know of my people, we seek things of power and ability. I believe this town and its magic to be quite intriguing. Even though I doubt I would be able to use what is here, knowledge is a wonderful thing to have. Wouldn't you agree Quertaneous?"
Elo departs from the dance, not too exhausted despite its speed and joys fervour. She looks around at the faces she sees here and feels for her feelings. She hesitates, then shrugs, and heads for the tournament to check it out.
Elo you head off to the tournaments, right now there are three going on, a marksman tournament with bows, a wrestling tournament, and a melee shield bash tournament.
Elo attempts to enter the bow and the shield bash tournaments.
Many of the participants and watchers eventually would see Elo and goggle for a bit at your tattoos. It seems like they have seen them before and are in awe of them, though only for a minute at most.
At the tournament of the bow, they tell you:
"You may enter into a simple test against two other archers, or you may enter the true tournament, which takes more time but has better rewards."
"The simple test is 5 sp to enter, and you win the pot of 12 sp and a voucher for a meal at Kornak's Crumble."
"The tournament is 12 sp to enter, 3rd and 2nd places get vouchers for meals for a week at Kornak's Crumble and an ornate silver and copper bow miniture. 1st place gets Kornak's Crumble upstairs room for a week with as much food as they want during their stay, a golden ornate silver bow miniture, and the pot of 1/2 the entrants. This is the last day, so many more archers are playing today." The man says with glee.
At the tournament of the melee bash:
"Greetings, is there a specific weapon that you would like to participate in, mace and shield, two weapons, sword and shield, the one stroke, first blood spat, or our tournament of sword and shield?"
"The true tournament."
"What are the rules for the 'one stroke' and the 'first blood spat'?"
"The rules for the one stroke, we have a column of granite, we record how big of a mark you leave behind, at the end of the day whoever has the deepest mark gets 1/2 of the pot. A test to see strength and to test the mettle of your blade. 2 sp to enter the amateur column, 25 gp to enter the master column."
"In a first blood spat, you fight an opponent, you test each others resolve and pull your attacks for the first minute, after that you duel it out until one person draws blood. That person is the winner and takes the loser's winnings, if you are the winner you allow any other challengers to enter the ring for at least three duels, after defeating the third opponent you may leave the ring with your winnings."
Jack smiles then begins is enquiry. "I have two simple questions to start with. One pertaining to the area around your town. And one...
Jack points to his hands. "About these device on my hands." Jack paces a little around. "On my journey here there were many strange things that I encountered, now I don't know too much about wards but I know that someone needs to be powerful enough to set something like that up. At least with illusionary forces. I have no doubt Quert that you are someone of power but I have a feeling the power around the village comes from something nearby. Would you happen to know more about that?"
Jack then unfastens one of the gauntlets he picked up holding it in his hand. "Speaking of that odd place, I picked up these in a place I believed to be an illusion, however these gauntlets have now been on my arms for some time. Thus they are no doubt real. Perhaps you could fill me in on what they do?"
Elo grins. "I'll enter in the tournament. I'll need to borrow a bow and an arm guide, but I should be able to put on a good show."
"Point me to the blood spat and a spare mace, please."
"Let me see those gauntlets, perhaps I can identify them for you." Querteous offers. After several minutes of him casting a few spells and inspecting the gauntlets he says, "An interesting find, I would say they are not Eridian make, but just a magic user... They will enhance your strength by a small portion (+2 Str), and it seems they could enhance you in other aspects too, though that would take much more time for me to figure them out."
"Well M'Lady, that will be 12 sp and what is your name so that we can register you. Unless you want to be known as the beautiful mysterious tattooed woman?" He smiles and winks at you.
"You can get a bow at the range, and there are spare weapons at the quarreling pits." He points you in the direction of both places. The range is easily seen, though it looks like you have to go through some bushes to get to the pits.