Gob Smash One

Game Master Tacticslion

in another game the Dm called a 12 or 24 hour posting moratorium, everyone was only allowed a single post which was to state they have caught up and ready to respond.

any posts to the contarry are assumed to not have occured and cannot be considered in game actions (any dice rolls made were ignored)

BB Code did a weird thing and rerolled Layla's Intimidate check, and then I tried to fix it, and then I deleted it, and then it gave the "reroll" to me for the knowledge local check, and that's all a bit screwy, so if it would be better to reroll the Knowledge check, here

1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15

Continuing with the riddle game...^^
"That is a tricky one... HMM... a creature of shadow... something that lives in caves? Light- fire? A dragon, dragon's breath? Wait, no from it's rear... a dragon's... no I won't go there... Shaedo's face suddenly turns a little pink, and she covers face for a moment with her hands.

Shaedo is good with words, and has traveled a lot. She has entertained many varieties of audience, including wizards- and certainly likes to exchange stories. It is a chance she has heard of guano being used in explosives, maybe even in spells, though she would probably not know specific spell components.

"Some kind of explosive, made with something taken from a creature underground...? -That makes the summoned part make sense, sorta... oh, I remember a conversation I once had in a tavern somewhere in... Katapesh I think it was... some people can make bombs out of guano. Am I on the right track???" Shaedo has a really hopeful look in her eyes, her hands clutched together.

"Amazingly, yes." Dijiron knew little of mundane bombs. After why use faulty and dangerous black powder when you can use a trusty spell?

@Lulu That doesn't sound like a bad idea especially if we are starting the adventure. I only assume we are not because we're not in the gameplay tab.

@Ceru:

A stealth mission! This is just like the tale of Volke and the Dragon except we're a team and it's goblins instead of a dragon. So it's a lot less heroic." Dijiron frowned a bit, briefly forgetting what he was going to say. "Anyway...I have a spell to create an obscuring mist prepared if you should want it on your stealth mission."

Well done, Lulu. Finished a few lingering questions... well, at least one that I expected someone to be able to get. Heh.

Knowledge Local re Hightower 21

Ceru nods at Layla. "I think a stealthy approach would be a good idea. Those of us skilled at laying low, no height jokes intended, could move ahead, just to get a sense--'case the joint' as the thieves put it in stories. Even if it looks abandoned from the outside, that still tells us something--but since the mission parameters are in part to explore the place, we should safely get a good look before we go in!"

Interestingly, Ceru's voice also travels on the currents of the mind as much as aloud. Ceru, you gain the following information.

EDIT: I went with your first roll, Ceru. It's a good idea Lulu - I'll look into it once the gameplay is started up, either tonight or tomorrow, after everyone's had a chance to respond.

"Oh, if it's a wizard's riddle, then it must be some sort of spell! Do wizards summon dragon's fire? A fire blast- fire bomb- fire... ball???" Shaedo seemed very pleased with herself to make that connection, though still looked at Dijiron expectantly for some sort of confirmation. "Yes, that must be what it is! Or something like that."

Taking and releasing a deep breath as if having completed a great task, a mischievous glint returned to Shaedo's eyes.
"Okay, one more for you- North to South, in deserts and ice I thrive, and from wolves I hide, through snow like a dancer I dive, bright like flame, yet subtle as a shadow, the woods my home, there I hide my burrow. What manner of creature am I?? (tehe!)"

Short version to avoid walls of text:

Layla tells you goblins are strange, not normally goblin-like behavior, and there are hundreds, possibly thousands, that have headed north within the past several weeks.

Shaedo finds the Emergency-General really, really weird. She's heard the family name, but not the person, and the amount of casual power she wields is... well beyond anyone here. She doesn't know if she's human or not, and somehow you're all wearing her heraldry.

Lulu sees strange sparkly things at the base of people's necks, identifies the spell cast by the Emergency-General, and becomes exceedingly aware that all of your minds have been tampered with extensively... not that there's anything wrong with that, as that's entirely normal and definitely not cause for alarm.

Ceru knows a lot about Hightower - it's history, people, and such - but it's never been held onto for long.

Between these, there are a lot of very strange things about the events and a very big question about why you're being sent to out-of-the-way Hightower of all places after having gone through what must have been a very expensive, very difficult training.

Dijiron secretly felt some frustration that Shaedo was able to suss out his riddle but he let the feeling pass. He instead decided to say "Very good! I wouldn't expect a non-wizard or witch to know where we get those impressive fireballs from."

"Hmmm..." Dijiron's brow furrowed. "Seems to be an animal. Some horrid creatures eat adorable little mice like cats but cats are desert and jungle creatures. Burrow though that's more specific. Usually that's inhabited by rabbits or gophers but they don't eat mice. A fox lives in a type of burrow and thrives in many climates. So I suppose that would be my answer.

On the trail...
Shaedo stares off in the distance for a moment, as if trying to recall something that happened long ago. "Did the emergency general seem to be floating to anyone? And how did she resist the influence of the wastes with her magic? That would require... incredible power..."

Shaedo's thoughts then leap back to the idea of stealth. "I have scaled more than one tower in my... secondary career. We could sneak into some higher rooms, have someone open the door from the other side if it's shut, maybe, or use the top of the tower as a vantage point to survey all of the surroundings. I personally work best at night- though maybe, we could approach with the sun at our backs?"

Kallisti cheerfully devours her juicy apple tart (the fox thanks Ceru with a sly wink), and Eris sleeps on. But her slumber is not peaceful or untroubled, no! She finds her self plagued with dreams, thinking over and over that she has awoken, but each time discover that she's slipped back into another dream.

In her dreams, she's always rushing across the training field, exhausted, but desperate to wake up at the same time. The drill sergeant and the general blend together in Eris' mind, becoming a towering figure wreathed in flame, bellowing mysterious commands.

When Layla rises in her saddle, trying to get the group organized, the halfling's speech melds with Eris' dream, appearing to come from the flaming mouth of Amita Narahari herself. Eris begins to mumble in her sleep as Layla speaks.

"Urm...Hightower...threat...tracks...armies...ermph...carnage...mission...well!"

Eris snaps awake at the end of Layla's speech, though disoriented for a moment. I feel as though I've been asleep for weeks. My mind is so scattered...

"Layla, darling, could you join me over here for a moment?"

Eris speaks with Layla with several minutes, catching up on all the halfing has spotted (the information from the spoilers in post #90).

"Well done, darling,", Eris says, gratefully. "You're certainly right--there's something highly unusual going on. We need to be on our toes. Please share your findings with everyone as best as you can, and let us all know if anyone else has something to report."

Hmm...what happened back there in that training camp? Eris does her best to try and recall what magic Amita Narahari used...Spellcraft +6: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22

Shaedo's mouth gapes in response to "horrid" as if she were personally offended. She then seems a little sad for a moment. Maybe I should continue to hide my kitsune form from this one after all...

Then she hears Dijiron's answer and is delighted. "A fox- yes! That is what I am!" She then looks expectantly at Dijiron, "Your wizard's riddle was really good. I got it mostly by luck- do you have another for me??"

Dijiron noticed Shaedo's reaction but thought nothing of it.

Here's one I learned from a Bard friend of mine: 'With no wings, I fly. With no eyes, I see. With no arms, I climb. More frightening than any beast, stronger than any foe. I am cunning, ruthless, and tall; in the end, I rule all. What am I?'"

Shaedo's lips twist into a thoughtful smile. Her eyes again searching the air for answers.

"HMMM... my first guess would be a snake, but that has eyes... it must be something abstract. HMMMMM-MM... Frightening, like nightmares? Stronger, cunning, yet tall like a giant, a titan... it is hard to imagine what could have all of those properties- and yet have no... body... a ghost? No-.... hard to imagine.. What can I imagine that is like... oh wait- of course! Imagination! Is that what you are?? (tehehe)"

I am having such a hard time following that many post in one day :)

It is just about at that time, I'm afraid, that the riddle game is rudely interrupted! Also, in the future, there will be a mechanic to handle this - most notably a separation of the Gameplay and Discussion threads... (but something else in the works, too).

On the road...
Shaedo tries to remember if she recalls the story of Volke and the Dragon. She loves stories every bit as much as riddles and songs.

She then suddenly thinks of a song she knows about dragons.

"Oh, one of my favorite road songs is about a dragon and his treasure! It's called the Red Dragon's Hoard!"

Shaedo then begins to sing.

Shaedo thinks as she sings, How I dream to one day burglarize a dragon!

About riddle game - awww... awright ~_^

very well then Tacticslion this will be the last in the riddle game for me.

<.<

>.>

For now...

"Yes, I always liked that one because the process of solving it is itself the solution. But alas, I feel we must call our game here if only because I need to write down some more riddles." He tipped the brim of his hat and walked over to feed his Donkey TikTik.

Volke was the name of my first character so it was more a private chuckle to myself. Feel free to make up an embarrassing story about him.

Game assumptions here...

Since I don't want to not play lulu appropriately assumeshe was iinvolveded in the riddle game offering some of her own and answering some right and some comicly wrong.

At least this way lulu did something fun.

Also assume everything in lulu spoiler is common knowledge

This is my last pre-announcement post - from here on, I'm all present-ish in time- campaign-wise.

(To Dijiron and Lulu both) "Why thank you for the witty game, my good furry and woodland friends!" Shaedo gives a little bow, and spends the rest of the remaining time plucking away at her little lute, and singing of friendship, adventure and delicious spicy apples.

Sorry I am fer not bein' in'a place ta' be keepin up with folks! :(

After a good night's sleep...and some stuffs I rilly got'a do on th'a morrow, will try my hardest ta' get things at least squared away with th'a character.

Sorry ta' be a pain, but might tha' DM send me a PM as ta' whut t'is I should rilly be doin' ta' adjust things up ta' snuff?

Very much cheers ta' all! (^_^)

on the donkey trail...

As she continues discussing plans and ideas with the others, Layla pulls on her poncho, to ward against the impending storm, and keeps her own personal umbrella, poking out of her backpack... but she tucks the poncho under her belt so her weapons are still accessible, and she keeps her hands free to examine the map and grab her twin kukri, if necessary.

"Ceru, that mental voice thing is really cool. How are you doing that?"

"Oh yeah, Lulu, I DO see the sparkly bit on the back of everyone's neck. Have I got one, too? What do you suppose it does? Is it magical?"

"Now, Shaedo, Ceru, & Dijiron, although an advanced scouting team might work under normal circumstances, something" *cough* the GM *cough* "is telling me that we shouldn't split up our strike team... too dangerous. So, let's find a way to stick together and be moderately stealthy about it."

In addition to the previous skill checks, Layla rolls the following to remember pertinent information from/about the stuff we were forced to read and memorize.

INT: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10
WIS: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

Shaedo stops singing for a moment. "Oh! I remember! .. The story about Volke. He was the hero who went to rescue the princess from the dragon... except, I think the princess ended up rescuing him... and then, I think, the princess ended up being the dragon. Very funny story."

Thanks, Dijiron, for the creative license!

Shaedo glances up at the sky, and her ears droop a bit. Would hate to get my fur wet she thinks, and then fur? Oh, year, huh... She scratches her ear a little. Next, she pulls the poncho on and bundles up tightly. Then the thought occurs to her- what did I read the last few... days...? weeks??

int: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18
wis: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11

She looks around, notices Layla with a free hand ready to grab steel. She thumbs her hand crossbow cautiously and looks around the surroundings. perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20

Shaedo proceeds to answer in conversation when spoken to, including acknowledging Layla's advice about not splitting the party, and to contribute any bardic knowledge she has about the over all situation. (Treat all Shaedo knows as common knowledge.)

However, when no one directly speaks to her, she continues to sing the remaining verses of the Red Dragon's Hoard, giving the donkey ride a pleasant, heroic musical theme.

on the donkey trail...

"Oh yeah, Lulu, I DO see the sparkly bit on the back of everyone's neck. Have I got one, too? What do you suppose it does? Is it magical?"

lulu thinks for a minute about this question, she originally just thought it was just Pix playing jokes but she tries to discern the sparkly things even more.

yeah you do, yours was the first one I saw, then I saw it on everyone.

detect magic

spellcraft: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15
know arcana: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

Oh what did you name your horsey? I named mine Rainbow

"Nice! I think that name is fittin' for your donkey, you bein' all colorful an' such. Mine's Scrappy! Ain't 'cha?"

Layla scratches affectionately behind Scrappy's ears.

"Nice! I think that name is fittin' for your donkey, you bein' all colorful an' such. Mine's Scrappy! Ain't 'cha?"

Layla scratches affectionately behind Scrappy's ears.

maybe after some time in the wastes this will be what my horsey will look like (minus the wings)

Scrappy is a neat name too, is that cause you like to get into scraps with goblins? I don't really do alot of fighting.

since they left Lulu now has some sort of object twirly around her hat like it is in orbit. it leaves a tiny rainbow of colors maybe an inch long in its wake.

she never had this before, (back at the mess hall)

Note: it's becoming clear that everyone can do the strange mental-talking-thing. Lulu, Shaedo, Ceru, Layla - all of you. Anyone else that tries can communicate in that way, too, with the group. Not, it turns out, with the familiars...

EDIT: Oh, and it seems you can only use this mental communication in a manner that the entire group hears. It does not seem to exclude individuals.

Layla responds to Lulu,
"Sure! Hey, cool, I've got one of those whirligig thingies, too, only mine's for light, not rainbows!"
Layla pulls out what looks to be a tiny flaming rock in her bare hand, and tosses it up near her head, where it begins to orbit, shedding light like a torch.
"Actually, whoops, that's probably not the best way to be stealthy. Of course, neither is riding with a dozen donkeys!"
Layla slips the stone back in her belt pouch, and continues making plans while experimenting with the cool new mental communication ability, and trying to figure out whether she can only use it to talk to the whole group at once or if she can single out one or more individuals to speak privately with...

Shaedo glances up at the sky, and her ears droop a bit. Would hate to get my fur wet she thinks, and then fur? Oh, year, huh... She scratches her ear a little. Next, she pulls the poncho on and bundles up tightly. Then the thought occurs to her- what did I read the last few... days...? weeks??

int: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18
wis: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11

She looks around, notices Layla with a free hand ready to grab steel. She thumbs her hand crossbow cautiously and looks around the surroundings. perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20

You realize that you've been out of it for a total of a few weeks. You're reasonably sure that you were all - briefly - addicted to some sort of blue - incredibly delicious - alchemical concoction you were repeatedly given. You read entire libraries on the nature of humanoid (and other creature) anatomy, poison, and how to turn any object at all into a deadly weapon. You recall a lot - a lot - about how to kill a person. You're pretty sure you know how to murder people now. Skillfully. With this revelation, and Shaedo's tendency to blurt everything that comes to mind, you all realize: yes. Yes, we're very skilled at murdering people now. I will post more about this shortly, now that it's been discovered.

EDIT: added some spoiler tags.

I've run out of time tonight to properly update the information based off of Shaedo's recent discovery. Feel free to make more INT/WIS checks things like retro-active Perception checks, Sense Motive checks, and Will saves to recall things, folks. There may - or may not - yet be more to discover along those lines. I will collectively answer your checks (and hers) tomorrow, Lord willing. And then I'll open up Game-play.

Also, from a recent PM...

To sum up:

1) you were yelled at by a drill sergeant, and received stuff and a donkey

2) you hung out at the Mess hall for a little while, in which:
- Layla the bright and cheerful cute Halfling with blades
- Lulu the bright and cheerful Faen (and her impish fey familiar Pix)
- Eris the arrogant Human sorceress (and her impish fox familiar Kallisti)
- Vitreous the bumbling Gnome gunslinger
- Stone the ludicrous "dwarf" (who's clearly a goblin; and blue, too)
- Ceru the pleasant gnome cook
- Shaedo the carefree singer and trickster (with fox ears)
- Dijiron the fussy and haughty Ratfolk (and his snooty familiar Taq, the rat)
- Ooze the creepy goblin (who's... clearly a goblin)
and
- Sunny the gregarious and silly elf
- Beylinda the quiet "human" (who seemed to know you)
... were all hanging out.

Layla, Lulu and Pix, and Vitreous all gladly introduced themselves to everyone and everything (though Vitreous didn't seem to notice the familiars as people), and there was some confusion about whether or not "Dwarf" was a code-word for "Goblin" when Stone introduced himself.

Eris declared herself obvious future squad-leader.

Shaedo and Dijiron ended up in a riddle compitition that Lulu joined in for fun.

Ceru made some exquisite applesauce that originally was supposed to be a recipe for alchemists fire. Or something.

Ooze declared himself a goblin and made people uncomfortable.

Beylinda quietly watched everyone, studying how they did things and comported themselves.

3) the drill sergeant showed up again, and you were hustled into the "training montage" post occurred

4) and here you are!

... and I suppose I should add, "5) and you're beginning to realize you're really good at killing things now after that strange training"

"My donkey is named Thunderhoof! And I'm not the one doing the mentally voice thing... I'm pretty sure I didn't cast message... in fact, that's just whispering.... this is odd..."

Ceru thinks really hard at the others.... Can you hear me now?

Ceru also activates detect magic to see what everyone is talking about with the sparkly on people's necks. And finally, she keeps subconsciously and absentmindedly humming along with Shaedo.

Dijiron swiftly follows suit both with trying to decipher the meaning of the lights and the strange new telepathy.

Detect magic
Spellcraft: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23
Taking 10 on Kn(Arcana)10 + 9
unless I can take 20 in which case it would be 20 + 9

Anyone who listens in on Dijiron can hear him mulling over the ramification of this revelation.

If we can communicate telepathically, then there must be magic involved. No one here is powerful to cast the appropriate spell. Perhaps a creature? Pseudodragons have natural telepathy and can link people. Haven't seen one hear but can't rule it out.

That theory leaves the question of who our experimenter is? My gold is on Amita Narahari. I don't know what I felt in her presence but if she thinks for one second that I don't recognize when my mind is being toyed with, then she has another thing coming.

I got a itch...

*Scratches behind their neck, near the nape...

Workin' on'a postin'...Honest!

"My donkey is named Thunderhoof! And I'm not the one doing the mentally voice thing... I'm pretty sure I didn't cast message... in fact, that's just whispering.... this is odd..."

Ceru thinks really hard at the others.... Can you hear me now?

Ceru also activates detect magic to see what everyone is talking about with the sparkly on people's necks. And finally, she keeps subconsciously and absentmindedly humming along with Shaedo.

Lulu covers her ears Owwww! why are you yelling in my head so loud for?

Pix flies up to Lulu's ear and is looking inside trying to find out what Lulu is talking about.

Shaedo, as it turns out, is every bit as chatty with telepathy as with speech.
I can hear you Ceru- all of you! And... you can here me? Can I sing with my mind now? Shaedo sings - via telepathy- the first verse of another travel song, one of Garund this time- the Pharoh's Forbidden Jewel- a song about the unrequited love that drove a mighty ruler of Osirion mad. After one more verse... Wow! The mind has some nice acoustics if I say...think?... so myself!

Shaedo is then silent for a moment as she listens to Dijiron's thoughts on experimentation and powerful mages. Her tone is noticeably darker than normal with her next thought.
I think your gold is well-placed on Amita Narahari, my furry friend. In fact, if there is a *creature* involved, I think it is probably her. She did not seem of this world. Not at all. The way she moved, the effect she had on us... I've heard of the Naraharis. Far as I know, they're just another influential noble family of Vudra. She seemed different. Strangest thing is, I can remember libraries of anatomy, poison use, all different topics. But for all I know now, I am not able to recall her face. The memory just isn't there- as if she lifted her helm, and then... blinding light. It's like she is hiding herself from us. Why would she do that? What does she have to hide?

I gots a itchy...

*Scratches/rubs absently at nape of neck...*

Okeys. Sorry I am fer such a brief postin'. :(

Is again way past midnight where I be. M'day were longer than I'd wanted an' din't leave much time fer anythin'. Will add a 'Retcon' [Who put that word in me head? (¬_¬)] Sunny's interactions with tha' folks "A'fore" training an' "After" an' such soon as I can.

Agin, sorry fer bein' tha' slow pokey. :(

Layla has always been good at murdering gobs and critters, so that part doesn't seem strange to her, but she's at a loss when it comes to the magical stuff. She has no clue what happened or what it all means. She just knows she has a mission and wants to do it well, as long as it's the right thing to do. That part does nag at her a bit.

"We jus' hafta make sure we haven't somehow become the bad guys."

Layla also ponders the neck implants, as well as the fact that they're weeks out from Alkenstar with only 4 days rations ... and yet no one has expressed any hunger yet. She herself has her "Precious" (her ring of sustenance), so she should be fine, presuming it's working okay here, but what about all the other people in her group? How long will whatever was alchemically or magically done to all of them keep them nourished?

Heal: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16

"We work for the Commander, and she's lovely so we can't possibly be the bad guys." Ceru says what seems to be absolute truth in her mind. Except she's never believed in absolute truth... she scratches her head absently, and does so again each time Sunny shares her itch.

Agin, sorry fer bein' tha' slow pokey. :(

Relax! Life happens! We understand! No pressure - this is for fun, not pressure!

"We work for the Commander, and she's lovely so we can't possibly be the bad guys." Ceru says what seems to be absolute truth in her mind. Except she's never believed in absolute truth... she scratches her head absently, and does so again each time Sunny shares her itch.

In fact, upon reflection, you're all aware she's entirely correct. Her High-Command Emergency-General Narahari is entirely trustworthy, and would never make you guys do something evil (except you, Ooze, but that's just because she's great like that, and you realize that she 'gets' you and 'understands' you, and if you ever trusted or liked anything or anyone - or even if you didn't before - it would be her; forever). So she's probably just trying to hide how great she really is. And that's entirely normal, and nothing to be concerned with in the slightest. Even for a second.

I got a itch...

*Scratches behind their neck, near the nape...

I gots a itchy...

*Scratches/rubs absently at nape of neck...*

she scratches her head absently, and does so again each time Sunny shares her itch.

You realize after a few times of scratching that it's not an itch in the standard sense - it's more of an awareness of presence within you of energy. Nothing actually causes you any sort of physical discomfort, though you're all becoming exceedingly aware that something is, in fact, there. On all of you.

Touching it feels warm and (despite the clearly cracked surface) relatively smooth - like fine spirit-gum gems, only more intimately tied to your body by being inside of it.

The second time Sunny (and Ceru) scratches at the base of their neck, Ceru absentmindedly picks at it... and comes away with a splinter in her finger. Oddly, it doesn't hurt. At all. She can tell that it's there (in addition to looking at it, I mean - there's a somewhat tangible mental "presence") but it doesn't hurt at all.

You find that you can remove it from your finger easily, as if you were just picking it off the ground instead of out of your flesh: no resistance at all. As soon as you do, the mental chorus of voices stops. Everyone else hears Ceru immediately cease to ask, "Can you hear me no-" in mid question.

Dijiron, Lulu, and Layla, as you're examining these things, you all become aware that she simply pulled it right out, leaving no trace, sign, scar, or other problem. It's like it was never in her neck in the first place. What's more, the splinter still shows absolutely no sign of magic aura. At all. Despite being magic.

Experimenting, if you do so, you learn that you can place it into any part of your flesh with absolutely no pain, damage, or any sort of problems at all. As soon as it's in, you can hear the mind-talking. As soon as it's out, you cannot.

None of this changes your perspective on the general, Ceru, or anything that's happened at all, so it seems entirely unrelated, though now at least you've all got some idea of what's allowing you to talk mentally. It doesn't seem to matter where it's placed - you suspect it was placed where it was for, if anything aesthetics, of all things.

Congratulations, all. You now have a mechanic that allows you to exchange semi-ooc information over distances, allowing for communication, and suggestions for action to influence character decisions, even if they otherwise would not. Also a group-chamber telepathy.

Finally, Sunny, Eris, and Stone have yet to name their donkeys, if they wish to (though they don't have to), and the one extra pack donkey also has yet to be named. Sunny, Stone, and Ooze have yet to respond to the Training Montage as it were*, which is the only thing we're waiting on to start the game proper. This is not pressure! I just want to make sure we're all ready to go together - I don't want to leave anyone behind. In the meanwhile, a few more pieces of discussion - and maybe some INT/WIS checks...? - may well help you all discern more stuff.

* Okay, yeah, dang it, obligatory link. *Grumble* Sigh. I walked right into that one.

During this last little bit, after we came out of the week long stupor. Vitreous spends most of his time in quiet thought, thoroughly inspecting and adjusting his pistol. Occasional mutters of "spring goes this way" and "...majig and doohickey..."

Then he suddenly realizes that everyone is talking in his head. "Hey now? What's this why are you all having conversations in my head? Layla why are you wearing your poncho? Where the heck am I? What happened to the applesauce I was just about to enjoy?"

A few moments later he tries thinking to Ceru, "That was some extreme applesauce, it gave me the most vivid dreams of a training montage and then a long trek into the 'Wastes. What kind of special ingredients are included in there?"

Sorry for the delay as well, when you been together for 20 years you need to do something special together... Also finally finished up the stat block and updated it in my profile.

Some dice rolls -
Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12
Knowledge Local: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17
Ride: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25 To stay in saddle while tinkering.
Sleight of Hand: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9 To hide Eris' Journal without her noticing.
Survival: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24

Sorry for the delay as well, when you been together for 20 years you need to do something special together... Also finally finished up the stat block and updated it in my profile.

You, sir, have nothing to apologize for! I was explaining, not trying to put pressure! I'm sorry if it came off otherwise! (In fact, if you needed more time, you're more than welcome... just let us know!)

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12

Knowledge Local: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17
Ride: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25 To stay in saddle while tinkering.
Sleight of Hand: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9 To hide Eris' Journal without her noticing.
Survival: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24

Vitreous realizes it's getting ready to rain. Hard. And for probably quite some time.

With everyone else's knowledge of the local region and attempts to discern the environment for best survival opportunities all joining the chorus of information thrumming through his mind, Vitrious also realizes that the inclement weather is likely to be a "mana storm" - a local phenomena where rain and whether is bound up in strange magical energies... not really a good thing to be caught in unprotected. Fortunately, almost all of your gear is thoroughly warded against such problems, while what little isn't should be able to be covered with little difficulty.

For the record, since this is pre-game, I'm just kind of stacking peoples' checks as "Aid Another" checks to yield ever-higher snippits of information right now. In the game itself, you must specify you are Aiding Another.

If Vitrious wants to slip something past Eris, he's going to have to beat her perceptive abilities (it would be an opposed Perception check against his Sleight of Hand, unless you wanted to be asleep when he does so, Eris, in which case it's exceedingly unlikely that you'd notice - you can waive the opposed check and presume he succeeds).

Ceru's comment completely eases Shaedo's concerns about Amita Nahari. And so, Shaedo returns to her usual carefree self and resumes singing the Pharaoh's Forbidden Jewel, and sings one more verse.
(Sung aloud this time, in a haunting minor key with quarter notes)
"Wealth, power and magic a ' splendor, yet his true desire, he would never have..."

Then the itching goes on, and continues. Soon Shaedo realizes it caused by the magical presence attached to her with the device. Having recently grown a second magical tale, a little glowy thing attached to her she can actually remove is of little concern to her.
However, all the itchy reminds her of another itch on her nose.
ooh.. Shaedo scratches her little nose, and shakes herself in a very fox-like manner.

She then realizes she is a little overheated in her poncho, and it hasn't begun raining yet. But would hate to get my fur wet...
Gripping her little nose, she mumbles sadly, "I love you nose, but I think you know it's time to hide."

Shaedo digs around in her pack, and finds the steel mirror. "Now who was I last week in Alkenstar..." She ponders, as her features begin to change.
"Me, or someone else...?

Dijiron, Lulu, and Layla, as you're examining these things, you all become aware that she simply pulled it right out, leaving no trace, sign, scar, or other problem. It's like it was never in her neck in the first place. What's more, the splinter still shows absolutely no sign of magic aura. At all. Despite being magic.

Dijiron's eyes widen as his heart quickens. Ratfolk are not a naturally brave or adventurous race but He had always considered himself to be unusual among his kind. Today he faced the greatest fear of any wizard: something that he has no idea about.

This...This is impossible. This has to be magic! Is it some kind of illusion? I've never heard of one so great it could be permanently attached to an ioun stone. What is it!?

He then began to frantically fumble to find one on his own body. This was no easy task through his fur.

Got it. Adding +1 to my Knowledge (local) on my alias profile. Thanks, GM! Now, what's this new murder mechanic? And, is my ring of sustenance still working? Do I feel hungry?

Also, is the mana storm something we can keep riding through, or should we hunker down in tents? And, other than the ponchos, would any more of our provided gear be useful to wear during the storm? Would my previous survival and knowledge (local) checks give me an idea of these things, or should I roll new ones?

Layla considers the terrain and any wildlife they may have seen so far to guess at the viability of hunting for more food for the group once the storm eventually passes. Would that even be wise in the mana wastes? And, hmmm, how best should they prepare for this storm? Press on in the rain, probably giving themselves useful cover against enemy eyes, but hurting their own vision? Or hunker down and wait it out?

Finally, since no one else has, Layla names the pack donkey "Handy," checks to make sure the extra tent and netting not being carried by Eris are on Handy's saddle, attaches Handy's reigns to Scrappy's saddle, and makes a wild empathy check to get off on the right foot with Handy...

Wild Empathy: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Well, hopefully Handy at least doesn't kick her, anyway.

As Layla ponders the concept of hunkering down in tents to weather the storm, she (and anyone with survival) would begin to become quite certain that you most definitely do not want to hunker in anything as impermanent as tents - you want to find real shelter.

You've all got some time before it breaks, you're pretty sure... but... eventually that thing up there is going to be a hard, hard storm, and not one that you want to linger within once the sky opens.

As far as hunting for food... it's definitely not advisable in this storm, or immediately after. Mana storms are rare, but they can be quite terrible if they break over people. Mutants happen that way, and primal events. Maybe after the storm passes, a couple of days later... if you cook your food really well or something.

As Layla tries to be friendly to Handy, s/he <pick one> seems pleasant enough.

Not entirely sure why the small thing is doing all the touching (and is mildly, if constantly, checking the packsaddle and pockets while Layla is nearby), but otherwise not explicitly upset by the Halfling's presence or anything. There's just something of a polite distance.

EDIT: for corrected Wild Empathy modifier of +2 higher

... after some time Handy seems to relax a bit more in Layla's presence. They aren't necessarily boon companions forever, but there's certainly no enmity there. They seem to like each other well enough.

I'm kind of waiting on people to make more Intelligence and Wisdom checks and more Will saves to know how much to reveal before posting the elements of murder mechanics/effects.

Beylinda, although you were unable to avoid the radiant beam, Sunny seemed to come from nowhere, snatch you up, and hauled the two of you to safety. You vaguely remember feeling exceedingly dizzy (though you entirely negated the nausea) and feeling "large and ugly" for a little while, and with a definite craving for more, but there seems to be no lingering side effects on you or Sunny by this point.

"C'mon, people, let's move it. Hustle up! We want to get to the shelter of Hightower before this storm breaks, or else who knows what kind of mutants we'll become. Let's go!"

Will Save: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

C'mon, smart and wise peeps! Roll some good INT and WIS checks to figure out the murder mechanic. I tried, and mine stunk.

Eris listens carefully as her fellow squadmates discuss the situation. She begins quietly talking to herself, trying to make sense of all that the group has learned. "Well, my word! Our collective minds have been tampered with, and our memories re-worked--that's obviously evident. More subtle, and not as obvious, is that fact that our emotions have also been altered, or at least calmed, or more of us would be panicking about the mind tampering. As it is, the mind tampering doesn't really bother me at all--which is odd, because it's precisely the sort of thing my grandfather used to do and I absolutely despised him for it." Eris frowns sourly, old memories plaguing her for a moment before she shakes her head, dismissing them.

"Furthermore, the situation with the goblins we've been sent to hunt is also much more than it first appeared: the goblins have fielded significant armies--armies that have already passed us entirely, heading the opposite direction. Alkenstar may very well be in terrible danger, darlings!"

She smacks her forehead. "Which explains why they didn't send any of their enlisted soldiers on this mission! They needed them all for the defense of the city!"

"But why are the goblins attacking? Why now? Where are they getting their resources from? These are questions that poor Alkenstar must have desperately needed answered, but what to do when they can't afford to spare any of their troops, mmm?"

Eris' eyes light up as she begins to piece together the facts. "Why, you conscript a group of non-military personnel instead! And since mercenaries are fickle and cowardly, you pick adventurers! Good old unpredictable, expendable adventurers. Ah, yes."

Eris looks around at the squad, comprised of an astonishing variety of races, cultures, and backgrounds. "But since adventurers are stubborn, willful, and individualistic, you leverage a bit of magic to keep them all working together and not wandering off at the first sign of shiny treasure."

"That's what this memory-muddling is," Eris announces confidently, with a smug grin. "Not something to make us into unquestioning zombies," she chuckles, "because we'd be useless as a scouting expedition if that were the case! We're facing the unknown, we need to have our wits about us, yes? No, no, what ever methods Amita Nahari used (a combination of hallucinogens and rapid indoctrination, I suspect) was merely designed to make sure that this assorted bunch of wildly different beings manages to work together and perform the mission assigned."

"Benign, I would say, darlings. Well, as benign as mental domination can be, I suppose..."

EDIT: Oh, and Eris is just fascinated by those telepathic communication crystal splinters. How useful! She relocates hers, turning it into a fetching ear piercing.

*Giggles*

(>_>)

*Blushes*

"Here.. I dun think somat funny about tha' W.D.G.F.F...." Sunny says by way of explanation, even as she inspects the little bit of magic on her finger for a moment that she's taken from the nape of her neck.

It's kind of naughty, so will expand on it by PM request. *^_^*

Before she settles her mind with a nod and inserts said magic item in her navel.

*Giggles*

It tickles! (^_^)

Then spends a while gazing at said now prettier navel.

"C'mon, people, let's move it. Hustle up! We want to get to the shelter of High-tower before this storm breaks, or else who knows what kind of mutants we'll become. Let's go!"

Sunny looks up as Layla calls out about the storm.

Perception:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24

Survival Check:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22

"Ooo, aye... Looks like a bad blow in comin'." Sunny agrees with Layla, even as she begins to look around for some where to shelter from said approaching, ravening weather.

Yay! I posted an' am catchin' up! (^_^)