renal leads the party into a blank room, with nothing in it whatsoever, and stsrts setti stones on the floor.
"So, before we go, anyone who has a request for supplies, let me know. Anyone who desires to learn to reincarsnte souls, let me know. Lastly, each of you will be given the choice of one type of magic item you would like to be able to make, and the methods will be imprinted psionically. Questions?"
Berith is following behind, rather confused.
"If he gave it, a bag of holdin' or a handy haversack. Also I dunnae like bleedin'. I've got one wand that can heal me, but iffin' ye have others it'd be appreciated. An' for the spell...I be interested." After some time mulling over the last question, he said "Any chance yer psionic whatchacallit has the ability to finish me studies into carvin' runes on rings an' amulets as such? I was learnin' it back home but never quite got the hang of it."
"A bag of holding is allocated to the stonemason role. We have one allocated to this mission. I'm sure we can manage that, Thorak. We will also have somone bring you an arcane version of the spell soon. Any other requests?"
"My skills and knowledge are yours to command then. As are Master Bloodbeak's perhaps?" he says, turning to Luca.
"'Master' Bloodbeak? Oh no, no, no. I'm no master. Please call me Luca." The tengu speaks humbly of himself.
"Reincarnation? Really? I'll try if I can. Oh, Thorek, I brought a wand and some scrolls for healing needs. And some bandages. Ooh, that reminds me. Madam Renal, can I request an eternally warm blanket?" Ooh, so many ideas are flooding into my head!
"Good. Good. Some tents an' the like as well, should be good. I trust ye'll provide what be needed along with more detailed instructions. An' Maste-, that is, Lucca. Glad to hear. Far too many adventurers only think o' themselves an' fail to bring healing measures. Glad to have ye onboard."
After a moment's thought he adds "I'll ward ye. Means inscribin' runes on ye. Uses magic, nay cuttin' or chiselin' needed. It'll jus' call the eyes o' me ancestors onto ye for protection."
Lwazi follows quietly, observing the others. The Tiger always watched... until it pounced. But he would pounce to guard them, not harm them.
He considers Renal's offers. "It would be best for the reincarnation knowledge to be widely known, yes? If I can, I shall learn it also. And we shall need to care for our arms and armor, I am certain. I would learn this also."
"Aw, thanks. I just thought it'd be useful. I'm confident the Moth will see us safely."
Luca's eye's widen for a fleeting moment. "You know if this wand goes out that'd be a sticky situation. I should learn how to make them."
Renal's words make Rivet perk right up. "I know of no reason not to acquire knowledge of reincarnation if it may be done reasonably swiftly. As far as knowledge of the construction of a magic item goes, I have seen communique rings used to coordinate actions at a distance to useful effect but have never owned such.
Looking in Berith's direction, "Also if I am understanding you correctly there is a representative of the White Butterfly Company travelling with us?"
"I will bring all of you that can learn it an appropreate version of the spell. You already have somone who is going to get the knowladge of how to forge rings. While i will allow you to gain the same thing he does, it seems a tad redundant. I can arrange for the knowladge of wands, too, luca. Arms and armor, certainly lwazi. And yes, berith is going with you."
"I'm ? But i'm bound to you, i can't just leave! And besides, i still havent paid up, unless..
the imp's eyes widen, as he realizes something.
"If you go, i'll write it all off. Report back to me when you're done. I'll unbind you, and you'll be free to choose a new master if you desire."
the imp freezes, and stammers a bit
a-a-all of it? Paid? A new... i.. y-yes, of course. Right away. Do i get to-"
renal cuts him off.
"Yes, you can keep your trinkets. No, i won't make you sign a new contract. You know i can find you if you skip out."
the imp stammers incoprehensibly, actually starting to cry a bit.
"y-yes mam! I'll do it, and i'll make you proud.
renal smiles, still arranging stones in a more and more complex pattern.
"Talking like that makes me almost assume you like me, bareth. Anyway. Go pack."
the imp nods and vanishes without another word.
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Thorek's eyes narrowed as he watched this. Someone here was going to die. Most botanical expeditions were for wet-behind-the-ears beardlings and dusty old bookworms. This expedition was well funded, the pay was enough to retire on, and a powerful wizard was giving up a bound familiar for its completion. The very fact that they were willing to teach powerful resurrection magic also meant that they expected casualties.
But still! A dwarven miner and stonemason (he thought proudly), a tengu linguist, a catfolk survivalist, an elven alchemist, and a gobli-...a goblinoid, spellcaster? And a fey ball of teleporting energy. Whatever Mido was. Anyways, he thought. The group seemed to have enough punch and tricks to survive anything outside the world-wound. And even if they didn't, he had given his word, and he would break before it he broke that.
Midioto follows Renal over into the other room, giving the occasional as a kind of skip to his step.
Once there he watches intently as she starts placing the stones in a circle on the ground.
Midioto was so excited about the prospect of going on this expedition with these new people that he completely forgot he had a job to do, and was so completely distracted he didn't even notice when Renal did his portion herself.
Professor Flitwick said that he was going to bring a backpack full of research equipment for me to take with us, so I am just waiting for that.
As for myself, well. You guys have done so much for me so far... But, well, I would really like to know how to infuse magic into these stones like Flitwick does. I figure it should help tremendously once we are on our own.
He pulls out a few Power Stones as he speaks, only now clueing in that he was supposed to help with the portal...
Oh Crap!!
With a darker green blush he replies, "Ah, I had misunderstood. Then if we are speaking of the more general training I should wish to learn of crafting the most general wondrous items. There are so many which could be useful."
Lwazi observes how Berith reacts quietly, wondering what the imp shall add to the group. For that matter, they should discuss their strengths and weaknesses at some point, as they will be relying on one another for their very lives.
renal laughs.
"For as jittery as you are, you seem to miss a few cues, midioto. You can finish for me."
the offers the remaining stones to midioto.
"Alright, can do."
a man arrives with a backpack full of things.
"Alright, so, things for each of you."
she withdraws a ring, and offers it to lawazi. A pickaxe, and offers it to Thorak. A book, and offers it to midioto. A bag of holding filled with stonemasonry supplies to rivit- it even includes some metal for any metal needs in resting a base. She rifles about some more.
"Hmm. I can't seem to find your item, Luca."
she glances at the man, who darts off to find it.
Thorek takes the pickaxe, and nods his thanks. He plans to examine it closely when doing so would be less impolite. He says nothing as the bag for stonemasonry was given to the goblin. Interesting. The goblin is a stonemason as well? A good, honest craft. Let's see what it is made of.
renal takes a rock from the man as he returns to the room, along with the other requested supplies.
"Alright, here you are, Luca. Alright, next..."
she gestures to the man.
"He will be providing you with crafting knowladge psionically."
Lwazi accepts the ring with a murmured thanks. Tiger within him is impatient to go, to test himself against this new challenge, but Lwazi's discipline keeps the unruly spirit in line. He waits to receive the promised knowledge.
the man goes around and, one by one, grants the knowladge they were looking for. It leaves quite a sense of nausea and dizziness.
"Once you all recover from that, let me know, and I'll open the portal."
Lwazi closes his eyes and takes a few deep breaths, letting the nausea wash over him and then pass.
"I am ready," he says after a few moments.
The boggle drops flat until the dizziness goes away. "Oooh. That was... a lot." Climbing back to his feat he grins. "Oh yes, I'm ready now," he says.
Luca gags for a moment on the cosmic knowledge before clearing his throat.
"Alrighty."
Gin followed the group and listened to the conversation. He also accepted the knowledge offer. He slouches over slightly and seems to be off balance. A look of contemplation can be seen on his face.
"Interesting, gives me some ideas."
He mumbles before standing straight again, his friendly smile back.
"I have a set of equipment for my work, but I am wondering if you have a better one? Mine is rudimentary."
He asks Renal.
Midioto accepts the stones and continues to place them in their spots.
Once he has completed his task he then takes the book that was handed to him,
Is this an Unending Book? Sweet! There is so much I could write in here! Ok. I am ready for the Knowledge Transfer...
However, despite his bracings Midioto is still significantly disorented by the process.
Woaa, that didn't feel goo...
Midioto appears a dozen or so feet away, and upside down, landing with a CRASH!
Picking himself up and dusting himself off, he speaks once more
OK. I a ready.
Berith pops back into the room, with a violin with a strange yellow cloth wrapped around it. Renal smiles.
"Yes, I did forget your item, here."
she gives gin a coin.
"When you activate this, it will turn into a specialized alchemy lab for dealing with speical potions.it's heavy as hell when not in a coin. Make sure you only put it where you don't think you'll have to move it for a long time."
she looks as the group, and hisses out some strange noises, the stones on the floor opening up a portal in the floor.
"Well, here we are. Did I forget anything? Any of you need more supplies before you go? Speak now or do without."
Lwazi frowns in thought for a moment. "Ah!" he suddenly exclaims. "I shall need tools to use this newfound knowledge of enchanting weapons and armor, yes? As will likely the rest of you... unless you already have such tools?"
I don't need any such tools to create Power Stones. I simply need precious stones that I can find on the island and raw magical essence.
Ummm.... Did we pack any food?
"Ah, yes, we'll stuff an anvil and tools in the bag of holding for you."
she looks to midioto.
"Not that I know of. That's Probobly wise."
"A couple of weeks for myself," Rivet says, patting a small satchel, "it seemed useful considering a remote destination. You did not?" he asks curiously.
"In any case I believe I would have many of the tools required for my own skills. Perhaps a mending kit for making minor alterations to existing items as part of the crafting process, if it can be obtained quickly."
He leans forward to look at the portal closely.
"I brought a few days' worth, but mostly knowledge of how to obtain more, if it is to be found."
renal nods, and sends off for the kit, and hands it off when it arrives.
"Anyone who forgot rations..."
renal pulls out a few bags.
"Take one of these. Three days worth of goodberries."
"If we do find food, I can try to make something nice out of it." Luca idles while talking, moving a bit more than before. The excitement is getting to him.
"Anyway, when you're ready, just hop in. Careful, the other portal is upright, and you will come out feet first."
Lwazi smiles. "Then I shall be first, for a cat always lands on his feet."
And with that, he jumps through the portal.
Luca follows shortly after.
Stuffing his mending kit into the satchel despite them being of apparently equal size, Rivet steps through more carefully.
Thorek takes a deep breath and then steps into the portal...
Gin walks up to the portal and lets himself fall into it.
renal takes Bareth and throws him into the portal, met with a rather bruef protest of
"hay, wait, I can go on my o-"
Renal glances at midioto, and offers him a scroll. "Oh, and take this to bereth, please. And remember, this is a good chance to fill out your book of lore. Good luck!" and with that, she nudges him toward the portal, a "go on" look on her face.
Rivet picks himself up and steps away. "Ah! Well, the Great and the Good can still be somewhat petty it seems."
Looking around, "While that mountain might be an easy place to fortify, I should prefer not to have my back to the maelstrom. In any case it could not be done overnight. Shall we explore one of the nearer groves for a defensible camp site?"
Lwazi does, indeed, land on his feet... but he's not quite quick enough to get out of the way before the others start landing on him. After a few moments he manages to extricate himself from the heap and stands up. He sniffs at the air, getting the scent of this new place as he examines his surroundings.
"The forest could provide materials for a stockade," Lwazi suggests, "Though we had best build in the open, where we could see threats as they come and respond accordingly. That is, if forests here are like forests upon Golarion."
He grins just a bit, relishing the thought of new discoveries... and new challenges.
Gin comes out and lands on his feet... before falling over because he is on a pile of people. He then proceeds to get up and observe his surroundings.
"The groves do seem like a good idea for at least a temporary camp."
Luca pulls himself from the pile of explorers and brushes himself off.
"I'm sorry! Is everybody okay?"
Thorek looks around. "We all seem to be fine. This island nay be right. The maelstrom. The snowstorm. Weather be odd. I expect that whate'er lives here is nay goin' to be normal. Let's find us a defensible position near fresh water to make camp. To the groves."
"Maybe not too close to the water. We might attract, I dunno... tentacle crocodiles." Luca takes a moment to take in the sight of the maelstrom. The clashing terrain and looming void briefly overwhelm him until he stops to take a deep breath.
"*Inhale* I have to admit this is just about what I expected from that map. Yet... so much more. You can feel this place change, can't you? Are you ready, everyone?"
"We must not rely too heavily on what we know. This place may not work like anywhere on Otune. Assume everything is a danger until we have made certain it is not."
The fact that Lwazi is grinning as he says this might be less than comforting.
He gets his bow out and starts walking towards the woods, eyes, ears, and nose all keeping a lookout for danger.
"But some things are likely the same. Standing obviously in the middle of an open field is still likely unwise. Come, let us be moving."