He reappears in the chair covered with snow.
"Alright." he says with a relaxed look on his face "It was a very poor decision to bring that bag into town. You're walking around with a bomb. I have no idea ,other than divine intervention, that could explain how your O.R. Sphere lasted as long as it did, especially without constant concentration. Either you're a far more competant arcanist than I or we're dealing with something much different."
He leans back down for the book, opens it and says "Now please. Start from the begining."
[dice=insight]1d20+2
" I dropped into a fissure in the center of a glacier. It should be an icy wound healed over by now. Frozen shut.
Cold radiates from his body. His beard flecked with ice crystals around his mose and mouth.
Oleksandr's face is a strange mix of shock and bemusement. Like he'd just seen the ghost of a childhood pet. Though, it doesn't appear he is looking at Bill anymore, but through him.
Florr is shocked then amazed.
"Mr. Bill, I hope the tablet will be safe in that... glacier... where you put it. We heard whispers of a Morkathul, and Umberlee the Queen of the Depths. From what we can figure, the tablet was summoning water and creatures from the deep. It was floating over the staircase, and the basement and first floor were completely flooded. Rotten fish, carcasses, decay, destruction." She stops, as her thoughts are getting jumbled from her excitement.
She continues. "But the beginning, the beginning..." She trails off, then remembers. "The letters! We found letters. They can help explain from the beginning. Olias?"
Bill is clearly getting very angry.
"We can do this the easy way or the hard way. I do not understand why each of you insists on being so uncooperative. I realize this mission turned out to be far more than myself, Samuel or each of you could have imagined. Had we known, we would have gone ourselves. Your employment is contingent on the fulfillment of a mission to the best of your ability. Your mission was to go to the Rubrum Grima and report on what happened. With the stakes being as high as they are with the nature of what was found you need to tell me from the beginning, in sequence what happened. If you continue to refuse to do this I'll have no choice but to assume you're intentionally speaking in roundabout ways to avoid being truthful."
He tries to calm himself down.
"Tell me now. 'We arrived at the house. We saw *blank*. Then we....' "
He sighs and opens the book. The quill stands at the top of the page without being held. Bill looks at you waiting.
"We arrived at the house. We saw dead grape arbors and a ramshackle house. Then we opened the door."
"We arrived at the house. We saw dead grape arbors and a ramshackle house. Then we opened the door."
"The grounds were soaked. All the animals had bolted. We could see the house was flooded but when we opened the door the water stayed within the house. That's when we discovered the sea jelly blocking the doorway. We killed it and the water crashed down to the stables. We found a box filled with letters from the last survivor inside the remains of the jelly.
We entered the house. A steady stream of water was pouring down the stairs. We entered the first room to begin our investigation. We encountered some grotesque giant crabs. That's when the doors and windows sealed us in and the water started to rise."
Books fly from shelves and hover in front of him. You catch a few titles fly past you: The unabridged guide to the deities of Yoldur:volume 4", "Planar Travel and You: A mage's guide' Where to visit and where to avoid.",
Book:"A Tale of the Depths 'The Story of the only Human to reach the Bottom and Live to Tell about it. "
That's when the doors and windows sealed us in and the water started to rise.""We then found a room filled with various treasures that required solving puzzles to acquire them. We were eventually able to solve them all. The room also contained many potions and herbs. There was also a skeleton of a shark and a human in the corner.
"Using one of the potions, I was able to speak to the deceased, who turned out to be the owner of the manor. She claimed responsibility for the events at the manor, having returned many treasures from a recent odyssey to a sunken temple, the name of which she could not recall. After returning, the animals and the guests of the manor started acting strangely, and they were sealed in the house. Her husband started throwing lavish parties, and the guests had orgiastic late night festivals, as she called them.
"She also reported trapping a creature in the basement, which we found much later and fought. After it had taken a bite out of Thravum, our Dwarven friend here, it appeared later changed. It was part sea creature, part dwarf? It's hard to describe, but still, that was later. Immediately after speaking to Lady Adonis, we found something to alert Olek about his old master, and about this time I explored the house using another potion that turned me into a gaseous form. I didn't find much out of the ordinary, except a corpse in the attic with some rations, the poor sod.
"Perhaps Oleksander can talk more about what he learned."
"Perhaps Oleksander can talk more about what he learned."
"As we were moving from room to room trying to piece together what was happening and how to get out of there my familiar, a raven, began acting strangely. She was sputtering nonsense and pulling out her feathers. I tried to gaze into her mind but all I saw was darkness. But there was something there. It was constricting. Like I was being squeezed by a sea serpent. I heard a deep voice. It spoke 'Morkathul.'"
"I dismissed her. She was in distress. The most I could make from 'Morkathul' was perhaps some sort of combination of languages meaning 'Eater of the Deep'"
"In the room leading to the basement we found a book of scrolls. On the cover was a message written in a cipher which I immediately recognized. My master, Karl Vaidur, had been there."
Oleksandr reads the message to Bill and hands it too him:
“I’ve been afflicted. Chaosphage. Not long.
Acolyte Demogorgon. Met me here.
Couldn’t stop the flood, didn’t have enough time. Ritual too long.
Tablet is a Portal. Realm. Queen of Depths.
Unholy Aliance.
Dropped Crystal.
Trust Bill. I’m in Library.”
Oleksandr pauses and motions towards the books behind Bill.
"While you were gone I came to realize what he meant by being in the library. Please understand that you do not need that candle to get the truth from me."
He continues.
"The mention of chaosphage was quite alarming. Were we to encounter a Slaad while trapped inside the house we would certainly be killed. Or worse. So Olias drank a potion of gaseous form to investigate the rest of the rooms of the house while I read through the scrolls that Karl left behind."
"The lady of the house mentioned she was going to try to trap the tablet in a bag of holding. We were able to retrieve that from inside of the shark she was fighting. It did seem dangerous to me, but the water was getting quite high and I was sure we were to drown if no action were taken."
"Thravum and I walked below the tablet. It gave off a most horrid energy. A high pitched wail that pierced through your eyes and skull. And a low rumble vibrating your insides making you wretch. It was beyond my ability but I was able to successfully make use of the Otiluke's Resilient Sphere scroll to trap the tablet. That's when we were able to get it into the bag. We were able to exit the house then and we spent a night outside."
Florr nods intently the whole time.
"In the morning we dug graves and buried the 13 bodies we found. We then hitched up my horse, Storm Surge, to a wagon - 4 wheels, a wagon, right? - and started our way back to town on the road. The wagon is currently in the yard. On the way on the road we were attacked by 4 big, ugly, dumb, smelly ogres and 4 Deepflagon dwarves helped us battle and defeat them. They threatened to kill us and eat my horse, plus take the tapestries in our wagon. We came right here!"
"We also finished off that creature from the basement before leaving. Though, one of the other three will have to fill you in on the details of that encounter. I was nearly killed. Florr saved my life."
I was able to speak to the deceased, who turned out to be the owner of the manor. She claimed responsibility for the events at the manor, having returned many treasures from a recent odyssey to a sunken temple, the name of which she could not recall. After returning, the animals and the guests of the manor started acting strangely, and they were sealed in the house. Her husband..
"Jessica was one of the very first Guild initiates we had. She was one of the bravest and kindest souls I ever had the pleasure of knowing. Her husband was a weak willed buffoon. Her death is a huge loss to the adventuring world. But she died doing what she loved."
He pauses with a faraway look.
"She also reported trapping a creature in the basement, which we found much later and fought. After it had taken a bite out of Thravum, our Dwarven friend here, it appeared later changed. It was part sea creature, part dwarf? It's hard to describe, but still, that was later. Immediately after speaking to Lady Adonis
"Please tell me more about this creature."
"As we were moving from room to room trying to piece together what was happening and how to get out of there my familiar, a raven, began acting strangely. She was sputtering nonsense and pulling out her feathers. I tried to gaze into her mind but all I saw was darkness. But there was something there. It was constricting. Like I was being squeezed by a sea serpent. I heard a deep voice. It spoke 'Morkathul.'"
"I dismissed her. She was in distress. The most I could make from 'Morkathul' was perhaps some sort of combination of languages meaning 'Eater of the Deep'"
Often the minds of simpler creatures are the first to succumb to possession...I've never heard of 'Morkathul' in my readings...Your familiar should be perfectly fine now, save a bit of trauma.
"In the room leading to the basement we found a book of scrolls. On the cover was a message written in a cipher which I immediately recognized. My master, Karl Vaidur, had been there."
Oleksandr reads the message to Bill and hands it too him:
“I’ve been afflicted. Chaosphage. Not long.
Acolyte Demogorgon. Met me here.
Couldn’t stop the flood, didn’t have enough time. Ritual too long.
Tablet is a Portal. Realm. Queen of Depths.
Unholy Aliance.
Dropped Crystal.
Trust Bill. I’m in Library.”Oleksandr pauses and motions towards the books behind Bill.
"While you were gone I came to realize what he meant by being in the library. Please understand that you do not need that candle to get the truth from me."
"You? You are the boy Karl raised? The last I saw you, you were very young. We once spent quite a bit of time together. Life has a funny way of bringing people back together. You've grown into a gifted mage. You being here is a comfort. Karl made me promise that if any harm befell him that I would make sure you were safe and your studies continued. I have every intention of keeping that promise."
He places his hand on your shoulder.
"Unfortunately, that is all the time we have for sentiments for the time being."
"The mention of chaosphage was quite alarming. Were we to encounter a Slaad while trapped inside the house we would certainly be killed. Or worse. So Olias drank a potion of gaseous form to investigate the rest of the rooms of the house while I read through the scrolls that Karl left behind."
"You're right. Slaad are some of the most formitable foes in all the planes. But they're not the type to plot or scheme. They're motivated by havoc and instinct. What's happening here is more complex."
His eyes scan through the books that hover in a circle around him.
"If Karl fell to the chaosphage he's grown into a Green Slaad with Karl's gifts of magic. He'd be a dangerous foe. His mind and personality would be lost. We're can approach this a number of ways: 1) If he has been lost, there's nothing we can do about it. 2) Karl may very well have figured something out but whatever his solution was has prevented him from reaching out to either of us. 3) We can somehow, through miraculous means, recover Karl's soul. At this point we don't know which of those to pursue. For the time being, we'll have to wait if there are no clues."
"The lady of the house mentioned she was going to try to trap the tablet in a bag of holding. We were able to retrieve that from inside of the shark she was fighting. It did seem dangerous to me, but the water was getting quite high and I was sure we were to drown if no action were taken."
"Based on the choices you had available to you, it certainly was a novel idea. I don't question that decision, just your decision to bring it into town. Though that doesn't matter now. You were successful. This mission was far beyond anything a guild initiate has ever tackled. You should all be extremely proud. You're impressed me beyond words. You'll receive payment from our clerk in the sum of 1200 gold pieces each in addition to anything you recovered from the mansion. Unfortunately it would seem that the mansion has been lost to these forces. I can't justify using guild resources to restore it and without a way to finance it's repair, it'll likely be taken by the elements of the wild soon if the winter doesn't destroy it first. You'll each also be promoted to the rank of 'member'. Usually this is reserved for initiates that have completed no less than 3 missions successfully and have portrayed the Guild in a positive manner. Based on the circumstances you've gone far above and beyond. We'll have a ceremony in one week before the festival begins. In the meantime I suggest you get some rest. As guild members you may take living quarters within this tower and you have access to any of our resources, including this library. Your living expenses will be covered within reason. I'll be speaking with Lord Haven about our next course of action. As frustrating as it is, waiting might be the wisest option. I know nothing of this acolyte your master speaks of, but he's no Slaad. Slaad do not become acolytes. My working hypothesis is that this tablet attracted this acolyte to the mansion and somehow Karl also knew of it's presence. I believe this unholy alliance he speaks of is between Umberlee and the Demogorgon based on what you've told me. A powerful Daemon Prince and a Lesser Diety. I shouldn't have to tell you how serious that it. Finding and vanquishing this acolyte is my utmost priority. The acolyte is likely the only foothold these powers have to this realm. What their ultimate goals are remains a mystery but they certainly can't be good. "
"One last thing. It's imperative you tell no one of this tablet or it's location. I fear that this Acolyte may be hiding within the town trying to find out it's location. The Demogorgon wears two faces, one of destruction but also deception. Do nothing to show to others that you know anything about Karl or the tablet. Do you understand? "
Olias is disturbed by what he has learned and wants to retire to his room and think about what he has heard. "Thanks, Wiseman. I think I'll start resting, now."
Olias finds his room and plops down on the bed. He changes his clothes into something more relaxed and comfortable. Before settling in completely, he remembers the cart outside. He decides to wait for his companions there to decide what to do about it.
Olias thanks the half-orc guarding it, and assuming nothing is missing, pays him an extra 2 coppers.
He thinks to himself, I wonder where the bank is?
Florr nods as Bill says not to say anything.
"Mr. Bill," she says before leaving, "You might see that we brought back a large wagon, as I said. We took several valuable things from the mansion. We also found the deed, and were considering living there after fixing it up." She ignores anything her companions say or do until she's done.
"You said to tell you everything, and if we ended up making that a base you'd surely want to know if we were allowed to do so! Don't worry. We have the lady's blessing! When Olias spoke with her using the potion, she said if we restored the manor to its previous reputation then we could be welcome to be at the manor." She pauses for a breath. "Part of the reason we buried the bodies was to address that. We haven't talked about it extensively," now she looks around to her companions, "but I'd like to honor her request and fix it up and we have the means to do so. I mean, she told us where the deed and the fortune of the manor was." She sits back. "There. Now I think you know everything, Mr. Bill."
Olias is disturbed by what he has learned and wants to retire to his room and think about what he has heard. "Thanks, Wiseman. I think I'll start resting, now."
Olias finds his room and plops down on the bed. He changes his clothes into something more relaxed and comfortable. Before settling in completely, he remembers the cart outside. He decides to wait for his companions there to decide what to do about it.
"Olias. I'm concerned you're not realizing the weight of this situation. A more serious outlook on such things would keep you safer."
Florr nods as Bill says not to say anything.
"Mr. Bill," she says before leaving, "You might see that we brought back a large wagon, as I said. We took several valuable things from the mansion. We also found the deed, and were considering living there after fixing it up." She ignores anything her companions say or do until she's done.
"You said to tell you everything, and if we ended up making that a base you'd surely want to know if we were allowed to do so! Don't worry. We have the lady's blessing! When Olias spoke with her using the potion, she said if we restored the manor to its previous reputation then we could be welcome to be at the manor." She pauses for a breath. "Part of the reason we buried the bodies was to address that. We haven't talked about it extensively," now she looks around to her companions, "but I'd like to honor her request and fix it up and we have the means to do so. I mean, she told us where the deed and the fortune of the manor was." She sits back. "There. Now I think you know everything, Mr. Bill."
A smile cross Bill's face. "As your contracts state, you're entitled to anything acquired as part of Guild duties assuming no reasonable claim to these items can be made. I think this applies. Your mission was far more than I would as of any initiate. I'm glad your reward is able to reflect that. If you're going to restore the mansion, you'll have to take certain steps quickly, it's possible they could be aided by magic, but winter and the wilds will devour that house almost as quickly as the tablet was."
"Keep in mind, this acolyte may return as well as the fact that these lands are dangerous. Jessica was an accomplished warrior and sorceress who kept a small force of guards. There's a reason Haven's cross is surrounded by walls."
"Oh, thanks for the tip. Could you direct us to someone who could manage the reconstruction in town?"
"Based on the choices you had available to you, it certainly was a novel idea. I don't question that decision, just your decision to bring it into town."
"Yes, I agree, but we did not feel comfortable leaving it out of our sight. This is why I brought it to your attention immediately before recounting the rest of our journey."
One last thing. It's imperative you tell no one of this tablet or it's location. I fear that this Acolyte may be hiding within the town trying to find out it's location. The Demogorgon wears two faces, one of destruction but also deception. Do nothing to show to others that you know anything about Karl or the tablet. Do you understand?
"I was hoping the guild would be a place we could relax our guard slightly but I understand the importance of which you speak. If we see anything unusual or anyone starts asking suspicious questions we will seek your counsel immediately."
"It is a great relief that you knew Karl. I hope with your help we can uncover the truth behind what happened to him. This is quite an impressive library and I'd hope to be able to study here frequently."
...We took several valuable things from the mansion...
"I feel as if the wagon full of valuables we are transporting are a danger to us. Does the guild maintain a vault with a trustworthy ledger?"
"Yes, I agree, but we did not feel comfortable leaving it out of our sight. This is why I brought it to your attention immediately before recounting the rest of our journey."
"It wasn't without wisdom."
"I was hoping the guild would be a place we could relax our guard slightly but I understand the importance of which you speak. If we see anything unusual or anyone starts asking suspicious questions we will seek your counsel immediately."
"In some ways. But the guild is full of people. Any number of those people could tell other people, without malice but eventually that information could reach those we don't want it to. Demogorgon is a master of deception."
"It is a great relief that you knew Karl. I hope with your help we can uncover the truth behind what happened to him. This is quite an impressive library and I'd hope to be able to study here frequently."
"I'm trying to stay optimistic."
"I feel as if the wagon full of valuables we are transporting are a danger to us. Does the guild maintain a vault with a trustworthy ledger?"
"Our clerk downstairs will stow small valuables, like coins gems and jewelry. There's a 10% fee when the value is first deposited but it's guaranteed."
"Please tell me more about this creature."
"It were some sort of big, red, glowing eye. First time we saw it there was some sort of swimming snake thing. Ate part of me leg. I stabbed it with my new spear until it let go. It's a good spear. Then this Big Eye thing appeared, and took off into the water. Didn't want to go after it. Part of me leg missing and all."
"Later, after we stuck yon watery rock in that sack you got so werked up about, we went back in to clear that critter outta the basement. Black op, no witnesses and all. Heh. This time there was this big crabby lookin fella, kinda handsome, really. Instead of a beard, he had all these things...Whaddya call em? Tenta...? Testi...? well whatever. They were grabby. He had a big red eye under his big fat crab head in the middle of his dwarfy face. Had a big snakey thing coming out the top of his head with teeth on the end. Tried to eat us. Bastard."
"I stabbed him with my spear too. I think they were shootin it with spells or somethin. Some of em picked a bad time to take a nap. Daft, you ask me. Anyhow, I stabbed it real good with my spear and that big eye thing flew out of it and tried to get away. I stabbed that with my spear too. Didn't get away this time. Heh."
"Oh, thanks for the tip. Could you direct us to someone who could manage the reconstruction in town?""Gonna have to hurry on that, girl. All that water like as not wash out the foundation, cause a whole bunch of mold. Probably be the kind that grows teeth, knowing that damn place. If that water's still in there in the winter. Forget about it. Foundation crack apart, whole place come down around yer ears."
"Oh, thanks for the tip. Could you direct us to someone who could manage the reconstruction in town?"
"Due to the festival, most craftsman in the area come to sell their crafts. I'm positive you'll be able to find a number of carpenters, masons and laborers if you have money to spend. The more you spend the quicker and more quality the job you'll get. You could also assist them through magical means or through your own labors and abilities. It may be helpful to find someone to act as a central supervisor with a plan. I'd offer my services due to the former owner, but I have more pressing matters. I'm confident we could build something to increase your travel speed between here and there if necessary. It would cost quite a bit in components though.
"It were some sort of big, red, glowing eye. First time we saw it there was some sort of swimming snake thing. Ate part of me leg. I stabbed it with my new spear until it let go. It's a good spear. Then this Big Eye thing appeared, and took off into the water. Didn't want to go after it. Part of me leg missing and all."
"Later, after we stuck yon watery rock in that sack you got so werked up about, we went back in to clear that critter outta the basement. Black op, no witnesses and all. Heh. This time there was this big crabby lookin fella, kinda handsome, really. Instead of a beard, he had all these things...Whaddya call em? Tenta...? Testi...? well whatever. They were grabby. He had a big red eye under his big fat crab head in the middle of his dwarfy face. Had a big snakey thing coming out the top of his head with teeth on the end. Tried to eat us. Bastard."
"I stabbed him with my spear too. I think they were shootin it with spells or somethin. Some of em picked a bad time to take a nap. Daft, you ask me. Anyhow, I stabbed it real good with my spear and that big eye thing flew out of it and tried to get away. I stabbed that with my spear too. Didn't get away this time. Heh."
"Gonna have to hurry on that, girl. All that water like as not wash out the foundation, cause a whole bunch of mold. Probably be the kind that grows teeth, knowing that damn place. If that water's still in there in the winter. Forget about it. Foundation crack apart, whole place come down around yer ears."
Bill draws a second quill from his sleeve to assist the one writing on it's own. He and it vigorously write down everything you say, asking for clarifications, showing you sketches.
"So the creature is dead, without a doubt?"
_____________________________________________________________________
"Thravum is right about the house. I'll be here by sundown each day. If you need me, come and see me then."
House Restoration
A) Full Restoration, refurnished and with hired staff growing grapes and making wine= 200,000 gold x 1,200 gold per month net profit
B) Restoration and refurnishment of just the home, without staff or business/vineyard=150,000gold
C)Just emptying the basement water, de-molding and winterizing: 15,000gold
D) Doing nothing: Free
[/ooc]
He and it vigorously write down everything you say, asking for clarifications, showing you sketches."
"No, no. The crabby guy needs to look more dwarfy."
"So the creature is dead, without a doubt?"
"Stuck me spear right through, like it was cooked on a stick n being sold by one of those guys on the street"
He and it vigorously write down everything you say, asking for clarifications, showing you sketches.""No, no. The crabby guy needs to look more dwarfy."
"So the creature is dead, without a doubt?""Stuck me spear right through, like it was cooked on a stick n being sold by one of those guys on the street"
"Youre right Thravum. That's a very fine spear. "
" I've never heard of a creature such as this, but I can say it's a good thing it doesn't breath life anymore. It would seem it was able to steal essence from some of you, allowing it to improve and adapt. Many organisms have been known to do this, but over generations, not hours. It's fascinating, terrifying and with many implications. It's essentially moot at this point. The acolyte remains our primary dander. "
Oleksandr insists on 8-9 hours a day of uninterrupted study. He will inform the library staff that he is to not be disturbed unless there is a matter of extreme importance. He will give Bill, Florr, Olias, and Thravum a codeword to use at their discretion which he will respond to. During that time he will study each of Karl's books taking careful notes. He also begins his first manuscript regarding the arcane arts. "Secrets of the Arcane: Unlocking the Chromatic Orb and its Practical Applications in Spell Construction." He will also spend about a day's worth of work searching for new spells for his spellbook."
Regardless of what the party decides to do with the manor, he will not be present during any reconstruction efforts as he does not want to interrupt his studies with the time needed to travel back and forth.
As he develops the core ideas in his book he will offer short lectures to other mages and scholars in town describing ways spells can be molded and modified. He will demonstrate how a firebolt can be twisted to produce a ball of ice or a fog of poison. His reasonable speaking fee will be waived for those who would volunteer their talents to help rebuild the manor. Those knowing Tenser's Floating Disk would be useful in helping move heavy materials. Those with the mending skill could help repair pieces of framing which would otherwise need to be replaced. Alchemists could brew potions to enhance the main crew's abilities. Anything they could offer he will accept. He will try to convince the owners of the Drunken Horse to let him hold his talks there in return of turning many people on to a delicious stew which will allow you to stay awake longer studying while gaining the benefits of a full night's sleep in a shorter amount of time.
He will set aside an hour every other day to meet with his friends over a meal and drinks to discuss the progress, barriers, and solutions to any projects currently being undertaken (mainly the manor).
He spends half a day meeting with various craftsmen coming into town for the harvest. He wishes to have the crystal of which he has been using as his arcane focus built into a staff of the highest quality. If any enchanters are around to assist in the construction he would entertain their ideas.
There are several evenings where he tries to catch in his office around sun down. Oleksandr will want to check in frequently about any news or rumors about the Acolyte. He will also inquire about how long Bill new Karl. Had he ever travelled to Solnevo? Did Bill know Olek's parents?
He will also try to spend time catching up on Mallark Buckman's progress. How has he progressed with Mage Hand? Has he learned anything new? What are his ambitions with magic? What sorts of tasks has the guild sent him on? ....has he seen anything suspicious...
Florr’s 10 day adventuring in town:
Florr will spend her time praying to Valkur for bravery and deeper understanding of her magic, practicing her bow marksmanship, practicing her riding and shooting while mounted, and making fish jerky.
Each morning at 6am for an hour Florr sits and prays to Valkur. She thanks him for his blessing of guidance, bravery, and stronger understanding of her bestowed magic powers. She will additionally take an hour at noon and at 5pm each day.
Each morning from 7am until 11am she will train her marksmanship on the bow. She seeks out Gritnarr Deepflagon, admiring his prowess as he disposed of the ogres. She will ask him to help teach her how to shoot more accurately, and will ask him about his bow and if he could suggest an upgrade for her. She’s happy to purchase a new bow if she can handle it. If Grit isn’t available, then she will ask Rurik to help her; she can practice shooting him as a moving target since he’s so adept at blocking. She hopes to be more accurate with her shooting in 10 days.
From 11am until noon she will take a break and eat.
After her noon prayers, Florr will go to the stables. She will practice horsemanship, becoming a better rider and practicing shooting her bow mounted. She will ask Constance to help her as much as possible to be accurate with shooting mounted, and to be a better rider - more directly control where Storm Surge goes, be confident keeping her seating at faster speeds, and jumping. She always ends with washing, brushing, and feeding Storm Surge.
After her 5pm prayers, Florr will either walk to a nearby stream to go fishing or go back to the Guild Yard, where she has pitched a tent. She will eat and dry strips of fish for her jerky. She hands them next to her drying clothes on a line, and keeps a small fire going.
She agrees to Olek’s recommendation of meeting an hour every other day to work on group business. She suggest this happens in the late evening over a meal. She welcomes the chance to chat and get to know her adventuring colleagues. She thinks they should invest in the manor, at least to get it restored at they promised, if not completely bring it back to its full potential.
On her first day of 10 she trades an old dirty rune wizard the sungod pendant she found for the rune of vind inscribed on her amulet. She spends her noon time that day thinking about her impulsive (almost involuntary) deeds that Valkur would admire: how she saved her sailormate from drowning after falling overboard, how she volunteered for 8 days of overnight shift to give her fellow sailors a restful night, how she jumped into the water to shoot at the water beast at the manor when she could have drowned or been harmed, how she pulled her companion to safety.
Hourly breakdown per day (12 hours total):
3 hours praying
4 hours shooting with Gritnarr or Rurik
4 hours riding and shooting with Storm Surge and Constance
2 hours break/eating
2 hours planning finances/manor/future adventures
A squat old dwarf (picture) sits cross legged on a dirty sheet of canvas. He’s wearing a burlap tunic caked in dry and wet dirt. Around him is scattered rough uncut gemstones, flake and bricks of all manner of stone. Chisels, hammers and awls of assorted sizes are strewn about. At his feet lays an inscribed marble plaque with pristine typeface that reads:
Read your Dirt: 10g
Fix something you broke: 150g
Inscribe Rune: “Inarth” Returning.
1500g and an Emerald worth at least 50g:
An object returns to your hand when the runes shape is traced into your hand. A circular shape, with a slight spiral with a triangle in the middle. Returns to your hand at a speed for 1ftxgp worth of emerald (minimum of 50ft per round).
Inscribe Rune: “Eagnrr” Merit.
2200g and a Diamond worth at least 100g:
Enchants a piercing weapon to inflict a critical hit on a roll of 18-20. Each critical hit uses 10 charges.
Enchants a bludgeoning weapon to inflict an additional 4d6 damage on a successful critical hit. Each critical hit uses 10 charges.
Enchants a slashing weapon to inflict a critical hit on a roll of 19-20. Each critical hit uses 10 charges.
Enchants an item to gain durability. This item becomes unbreakable through non-magical means and can absorb magical damage equal to the diamond’s worth. Each critical hit uses 10 charges. A triangle within
a tall rectangle
Inscribe Rune: “Reethit” Flight.
1000g and a Topaz worth at least 50g:
An object gains a flight speed of 1 foot per goldpiece worth of gem. If the object is thrown, it flies straight and swiftly a number of feet equal to its flight speed, after striking something it falls to the ground at the point of impact. A straight line with a triangle on top.
A suit of Armor with “Reethit Inarth” inscribed.
When the rune language is traced on the body and spoken out loud, the armor dons itself onto the body of the inscriber. This can be done as a bonus action.
Inscribe Rune: “Mord” Eternal:
10x Original rune cost=Makes rune permanent, expending no charges. A Perfect circle within a perfect ring.
*Each rune has one charge per gold piece worth of gem (Minimum of 50 charges). When the charges are expended the rune disappears and the magic is forever expended. The rune can be recharged before it’s last charge is expended by grinding a gem of the appropriate time into dust, then tracing it along the rune. The rune regains charges equivalent to the gold piece value of the gem.
*TRADES ACCEPTED
Olias spends about 6 hours each day studying from the Minor Tome of Leadership and Influence, mastering the material by the 8th day. (+2 CHA). He wakes around 7, eats breakfast, and then studies for about 3 hours before eating lunch, preferably with the party if possible. Then he studies for three more hours.
He spends about an hour or so meeting and greeting the townsfolk, and booking gigs for the evening. As he meets people, he inquires about contractors for the manor. Assuming the group is good with it, he will handle the transactions. He attempts to persuade the contractors to lower their prices, given that they will do so to restore the honor of a fellow adventurer (Lady Adonis).
He also meets with craftsmen to see about repairing his lute and drum. (How much will this cost me?)
He makes a few other purchases as well. He buys 2 grappling hooks (4 gp total), a set of fine clothes to replace the ones that were ruined when he fell into the basement (15gp)
He tries to perform each night to gain notoriety and gold. He hopes he can land a big performance for the festival and make even more money. The first night he plays his flute, while waiting for his lute to be repaired.
First 7 days
6 hours studying
2 hours eating/break
1 hour meeting people
3 hours performing gigs
Day 8
4 hours studying (I studied for 2 hours on the way back)
2 hours eating/break
1 hour meeting people
5 hours performing gigs
Days 9 & 10
4 hours perusing the various books in the library to learn more about the history and culture of the land.
2 hours eating/break
1 hour meeting people
5 hours performing gigs
(I'll do more specific townsfolk and performance information later. I just wanted to post so I didn't forget what I wanted to do.)
"We just find more gold n platnum than we ever seen in our lives, and yer big idea is to spend it on a wooden house n making that sour grape stuff!? It's not even made o stone! That sotted house probably only woulda lasted 2 or 3 hunnerd years even before it got filled with ocean. Daft."
"You ask me all that shiny metal should get traded into gems. Easier to hide. Easier to walk around with. Don't have to go trusting no Orcs to watch em. I could get me shield I was talkin about."
Looking around, Thravum slowly comes to the realization that he's losing this vote. It's a rare moment of clarity and progress from someone who usually has the social awareness of a pet rock.
"We won the money together, fair and square. If you all think we end up with more money in the end this way, I'll trust ya. Even if you are a pack of long legs n pointy eared types. You need me, I'll be learnin how to use me new Ogre Sticker, n maybe rustlin up some of that Deepwagon Beer. Good stuff."
Thravum generally spends most of his mornings in the training yard, stripped to the waist and pouring flagons for himself from the first bout to the last. He seems to be learning how to fight using both hands and how to defend himself without using a shield. He takes perverse joy in having someone get through his guard. He'll fight anyone and everyone that shows themselves, blunted, edged, or bare-knuckled.
In the afternoon he finds his way to the tavern for lunch, and more beer. Most days he also strolls through some of the market areas, keeping an eye out in case someone has something that may be worth trading his Ogre Sticker for. His evenings are mostly spent carousing. He's not really interested in carousing with other people unless they really want to. He just seems to enjoy sitting at the bar or in the corner making comments and jokes mostly to himself.
A number of guild members make themselves available for trading and selling items as well as lessons.
Breena (Human Woodswoman)
Ring of Evaison
Potion of Curing
Cure your Poisoning: 50g
Learning the art of Hunting and Foraging: 50g per hour
Sollen (Hobbit Sage)
Helm of Heroism
Wilnan (Gnome Scoundrel)
Colossus Bracers
Ring of Warmth
Aengus
Beer for sale
Each small barrel has enough for 5 tankard’s full.
Standard Deepflagon Brown Ale: heal one additional hitpoint on a short rest.
Deepflagon Red Eye: Remove one level of exhaustion after drinking.
Deepflagon Stout: Gain advantage on the next save vs Fear you make within 24 hours after drinking
Deepflagon Pilsner: Gain advantage on the next dexterity saving throw you make before your next rest.
Deepflagon Bock: Gain advantage on the next saving throw you make against a charm effect you make before your next rest.
Other Services
Healing: 10g
Help you move heavy objects: 5g-1000g
Learn to Wrestle: 50g per hour
Quara Fallone
Battleaxe of Sharpness
Bracelet of Spellstoring (2)
Mallark
Gladius of Wounding
Rurik
Boots of Endure Elements
Rurik spends the majority of his time Assisting in maintaining law and order with the city guard. The town is currently sustaining about 10 times it’s normal population and with the amount of valuables being exchanged, chances are high that their could be an incident.
Gritnarr Deepflagon
X2 Quivers of Vicious Arrows (regular and great)=500g
X2 Quivers of Blunt Arrows (regular and great)=25g
X3 Quivers of Flight Arrows (1 great, 2 regular)=25g
X1 Quiver of Dwarven Arrows (great)=800g
X2 Quiver of Flare-rrrows (great and regular)=200g
x2 Quivers of Whistling arrows (great and regular)=100g
X2 Quiver of Boomer Arrows(great and regular)=1,000g
X2 Quiver of Peppercloud Arrows (great and regular)=1,000g
X2 Quivers of Bodkin Arrows (Great and regular)=400g
X1Greatbow =100g
X1 Eagle’s Great Bow
X1 Dose of Purplewyrm Poison =2,200g
X5 Dose of Crawler Mucus Poison=1,000g or 200g each
X1 Dose of Oil of Taggit=400g
Long Distance Marksmanship Lessons (50g per hour)
Up close reflexive shooting practice (50g per hour)
Grombar
Nowhere to be found
Thravum generally spends most of his mornings in the training yard, stripped to the waist and pouring flagons for himself from the first bout to the last. He seems to be learning how to fight using both hands and how to defend himself without using a shield. He takes perverse joy in having someone get through his guard. He'll fight anyone and everyone that shows themselves, blunted, edged, or bare-knuckled.In the afternoon he finds his way to the tavern for lunch, and more beer. Most days he also strolls through some of the market areas, keeping an eye out in case someone has something that may be worth trading his Ogre Sticker for. His evenings are mostly spent carousing. He's not really interested in carousing with other people unless they really want to. He just seems to enjoy sitting at the bar or in the corner making comments and jokes mostly to himself.
-Striking at the hands and wrists
-Catching weapons inside your own weapons
-Disarms using the assistance of handstrikes, snatches or kicks.
-Setting up disarms by tricking opponents into overextending or exposing loose grips.
You rotate differently armed partners getting practice using your weapon of choice to disarm a varied selection of weapons for almost an hour.
You finish by playing a game of “King of the Ring”. Two trainees enter the sparring ring, the first one to be disarmed leaves the ring and gets into a line behind the others. If a trainee wins, they stay in until they lose.
Afterwards you and each of the trainees take a 5 mile jog through the surrounding farmlands.
Florr will:
Talk to Rurik about those boots, what they do and how much they cost.
Talk to Grit about that Eagle bow, what it can do and how much he wants for it. And about all of those arrows, and how he makes them.
Ask Samuel about marksmanship/shooting training in the afternoons.
Florr will:
Talk to Rurik about those boots, what they do and how much they cost.
Rukkh spends 8 hours of his daily 12 out exploring the surrounding wilderness and 4 hours selling pelts and meat in the marketplace, meeting people and collecting gossip. He'll pick up a bounty-hunting job if one comes his way.
Florr will:
Talk to Grit about that Eagle bow, what it can do and how much he wants for it. And about all of those arrows, and how he makes them.
Florr will:
Ask Samuel about marksmanship/shooting training in the afternoons.
Rukkh spends 8 hours of his daily 12 out exploring the surrounding wilderness and 4 hours selling pelts and meat in the marketplace, meeting people and collecting gossip. He'll pick up a bounty-hunting job if one comes his way.
During his meetings with craftsmen a sharp wind blows and Oleksandr feels the cold chill of winter approaching.
"How much for 3 of your warmest? If you can direct me to a quality tailor to sew them into robes I am willing to pay a finders fee. Wait, are you the honorable fellow that looked after a wagon a few days passed?"
A number of guild members make themselves available for trading and selling items as well as lessons.
Breena (Human Woodswoman)
Ring of Evaison
Potion of Curing
Cure your Poisoning: 50g
Learning the art of Hunting and Foraging: 50g per hourWilnan (Gnome Scoundrel)
Colossus Bracers
Ring of WarmthAengus
Beer for sale
Each small barrel has enough for 5 tankard’s full.
Standard Deepflagon Brown Ale: heal one additional hitpoint on a short rest.
Deepflagon Red Eye: Remove one level of exhaustion after drinking.
Deepflagon Stout: Gain advantage on the next save vs Fear you make within 24 hours after drinking
Deepflagon Pilsner: Gain advantage on the next dexterity saving throw you make before your next rest.
Deepflagon Bock: Gain advantage on the next saving throw you make against a charm effect you make before your next rest.
Other Services
Healing: 10g
Help you move heavy objects: 5g-1000g
Learn to Wrestle: 50g per hourOlias is curious about the prices of the following items:
Ring of Warmth
Ring of Evasion
Bracelet of Spellstoring
Standard Deepflagon Brown Ale
Florr will:
Talk to Rurik about those boots, what they do and how much they cost.
"Ah these would be perfect for my adventuring! I will take them! I will need to go get my gold, but I'll be right back!"
Olias is curious about the prices of the following items:
Ring of Warmth
Ring of Evasion
Bracelet of Spellstoring
Standard Deepflagon Brown Ale
Bracelet of Spellstoring 11,000g or trade (She punched a Hedge Wizard dead when he was stealing townfolks pets to sacrifice to a dark god)
Standard Deepflagon Brown Ale 25g a barrel. A barrel has five servings. (Don't drink it too fast, you're a gaunt fellow.
Olias attempts to negotiate a cheaper price for the rings:
"Friends, now that we have a plan in place for the manor property it is nice to be able to just meet together over food and drink. I do have a matter that requires attending to though. It has not gone unnoticed that there was a moment during our mission where I almost did not make it out alive. I owe you all a debt which I doubt I can ever repay, and frankly, I hope to never be in a situation where an equal favor could be provided by myself. However, I do wish to share my gratitude with you all."
He stands and you hear a familiar squawk from another room.
Ulumpha walks out of the kitchen hoisting a barrel. Oleksandr pulls a fancy looking silver tankard from his robes and hands it to Thravum.
"Thravum, may this Deepflagon Brown Ale quench your thirst for battle when there is no more to be had."
Hilda emerges from the kitchen and offers an item to Olias, a finely crafted lute.
"Olias, your songs and humor make for light work even when the situation seems dire. I told you I wanted to help you replace your lute. I am staying true to my word."
He walks across the room to the doorway to the kitchen talking to Florr
"Florr, you pulled me from the grasp of that vile creature and brought me back to consciousness. Your love for Storm Surge is quite apparent and so I present you with this."
He walks back into the room with Patience each of them holding one end of a dark leather military style saddle. Myra is once again perched on his shoulder.
"I'm not one for riding but I am told this type of saddle will help keep you mounted while in combat. May it aid you in your training. I have also purchased a horse from Patience who seems to get along well with Storm Surge. Doesn't care much for people atop of him but he'll take a pack saddle and pull a wagon as good as any other horse. We may need this extra capacity for belongings as the months get colder, and with another horse pulling our wagon you will be able to ride Storm Surge more freely when we travel."
"I know these gifts are nowhere near as valuable as a life, but I hope you all can accept my friendship as my thanks."
"How much for 3 of your warmest? If you can direct me to a quality tailor to sew them into robes I am willing to pay a finders fee. Wait, are you the honorable fellow that looked after a wagon a few days passed?"
"Righty-so. Rukkh, at yer service. These rabbit and skurrel scraps'll do fer gloves or a hat, but a robe calls for bigger. Eight gold royals will get you deerskin, or do yuh like some-aught less common?"
"Eight gold royals? Which crown are you allegiant to? I'm fairly certain eight of my coin could purchase the entire deer!"
"Friends, now that we have a plan in place for the manor property it is nice to be able to just meet together over food and drink. I do have a matter that requires attending to though. It has not gone unnoticed that there was a moment during our mission where I almost did not make it out alive. I owe you all a debt which I doubt I can ever repay, and frankly, I hope to never be in a situation where an equal favor could be provided by myself. However, I do wish to share my gratitude with you all."
At the dinner, Olias is jovial and telling jokes. When Oleksander begins his speech, Olias raises his glass at the appropriate.
[ooc] Hilda emerges from the kitchen and offers an item to Olias, a finely crafted lute.
"Olias, your songs and humor make for light work even when the situation seems dire. I told you I wanted to help you replace your lute. I am staying true to my word."
...
"Olek, I..." For a moment, Olias is at a loss for words. He is briefly overcome with emotion, but he shakes it off before anyone notices how important this is to him. "I've had this lute for a long time. It was with this instrument that I won my first competition and started making a name for myself." He puts out his hand for Oleksandr to shake, and claps his other hand around Olek's to show his gratitude. "I can't believe you had it repaired so quickly! You're truly a man of your word. Thank you. Really."
Olias is quiet for the rest of the speech and appears to be lost in thought. It isn't often that someone shows much kindness to him, certainly not to this degree.
After the speech, he returns to the jovial mood he was in earlier and tells more jokes. After awhile, he turns to Thravum and raises his tankard. "Thravum, my man. I propose a drinking challenge. Who can hold his ale best? What do you say?
(What Olias has in mind: Raiders of the Lost Ark)