Highly misleading, but not lies, not really. ;)
Auric didn’t say so in so many words, but you can ask Saeri if he gave the impression (suggested) that it would be particularly productive to talk to him. So technically…
And he did give the impression that the elf he’s travelling with would be absorbed in whatever she was doing, and perhaps less inclined to deal with unexpected business. What she’s actually up to we have no idea, but he doesn’t need to know that (yet), so we’re name-dropping, and seeing if that might make him think that it would be a good idea to find out who these people are who are insinuating they know so much about him.
On the other hand, if he isn’t our man, we don’t want to encourage the rumour that there’s an unlooted tomb out there ourselves! If he is one of the people we’re looking for and finally admits to it, then it will be cards on the table time, “Hey, we think we’re both looking for the same thing, so why don’t we join forces? We’re more interested in the archaeology of the place, and just don’t want the knowledge of what was in there originally to be lost. Where things actually go is … negotiable.” Or something.
Or next time we remember not to let the chaos-addled wild mage do the talking, whose idea of how to get magic to cooperate is to grab it and fiddle around with it any old how to get it into a useful shape. And magic is more complicated than people. :)
[Edited to add: I don't mean to dismiss Janus' concerns or to be particularly imperious. I can take a step back if what makes sense to me at the time is just too crazy for everyone else.]
Uhm, no concerns. I did vote for subterfuge.
I just thought what you did pretty much qualified...misleading and implying things that are not exactly true :)
As such, I was amused rather than concerned.
So no worries over here.
Except, of course, I would prefer if you'd keep the same approach during "cards on the table"-time...that is, not reveal all about us. ;)
Fair enough- I just wanted to give everyone fair warning that this is about as straightforward as Chaïa gets. I'm not exactly sure what the line would be for her to say, "Wait, this is getting really complicated!" but we're miles away yet. You know what they say about wizards and subtlety. :)
All-game post:
Today the veterinarian told me, unexpectedly, that I will have to euthanize my companion of almost 13 years, my housecat Nikita.
She would not survive the weekend, and I will go to the doctor tomorrow to prevent her from suffering.
I am feeling both like crying all night and hitting walls with bare fists.
I will take a while off.
I have no idea. I may need a couple days to come to term with this loss, or I may be back soon hoping to put my mind somewhere else.Please bot as needed. Apologies.
:( Take your time.
Poor kitty :/
I'm going away for a short trip today, but after that Lu might be able to try and take over the information coaxing if you want some peace of mind.
... though I realize now that I'm not sure how to actually intercept and not tip our hand too much! Hmm...
Not sure if this will accomplish much, but seeing as they seemingly have no healer it might cause some minor annoyance at least ^^
Incidentally, could we get a copy of the specifics of the oath in the Campaign Info tab for quick and easy reference? ^^
Just wanted to give a heads-up that I'm back. I'm still catching up with what happened in all my games, may be another day or two before I get to post, but I'm here again. Thanks for the patience and understanding.
Incidentally, could we get a copy of the specifics of the oath in the Campaign Info tab for quick and easy reference? ^^
Done.
Heads up: I'll be travelling tonight to both my own and my SO's family in turn, over the weekend, inmediately followed by a work trip until next tuesday evening.
I should be able to post, but irregulary. I appreciate if you feel you can wait for me, but if I seem to delay a scene, do feel free to bot me.
OOC speculation time!
What do people think about the planar thingy?
I mean a portal of some sort seems like the most logical option, but why label it with a name? A place/destination seems easier - unless it is a makers mark or something?
Or perhaps a prison/calling device for a specific outsider which is sorta worrying given that it is broken : P
I mean it could be something simple (I do believe various trapped-elemental powered devices are cannon?) too I guess and having a fresh air system in your private evil lair is always nice I guess.
Though if this is an tomb why would any of these things be here? So maybe an imprisoned elemental tomb guardian to be released at pesky adventurers that come poking around ...
Right now, not feeling up to speculation.
Too wide range/margin of error.
As you say, it could be anything from a broken trap summoning air elementals, over communication devices, ventilation, to actual transportation systems.
For all we know, right now, it could serve almost any kind of purpose. Until we learn a bit more, either about this place, about the stuff in this place, or the name, I feel that we would not come to a conclusion backed up by any other information, making it more likely than any of the other potential explanations.
As such, I appreciate that you intend to start a speculative discussion, but I will abstain for the time being until we have a bit more to go by.
(And just for the record, this hallway already seems way too fancy for a simply tomb. Those usually are handled a bit simpler...stairs down, room, coffins/sarcophagi. If someone important, maybe a short deadend/secret wall, or a trap...so, what I'm saying: we assume it's a tomb, IC, but it could well have been a kind of temple or anything else, really. Also unless it's a broken trap, few things would make sense in a tomb)
I think that at first level, we are hilariously ill-equipped to deal with almost any planar thing. XD There's no problem with exploring the rest of the area.
I think that at first level, we are hilariously ill-equipped to deal with almost any planar thing. XD There's no problem with exploring the rest of the area.
...said those who came before us, before they ran into the elder air elemental using lethal force to protect this place... ^_^
Tshhh you are trying to use logic but everyone knows Ao dictates that a proper tomb needs at leasts several thousands square meters worth of tunnel complex and traps worth the gdp of a small nation :P
Besides baseless speculation is the best sort because then you don't have to acknowledge the flimsy restraints of reality.^^
@Progressing deeper
The explorers formed up and pressed onward, following Janus' enspelled stone into the depths. The carvings marched along on the walls and they soon came to a second and rather deeper pair of alcoves. At first plush they looked nearly like a second corridor intersecting the first.
The western hall extended perhaps forty feet, ending at a small, marble platform raised a half foot off the floor. A strange apparatus stood upon it, curved ovular frame giving the look of a noble's dressing mirror. Only a third of it remained. A strange glyph marked the platform.
To the other side, fifteen feet down a huge pile of collapsed rubble blocked the alcove from top to bottom. It looked like it might take the work of weeks to tunnel through it to what, if anything, lay beyond.
First paragraph sounds like a four way intersection. The next two describes what happens to the west (room with strange device) and east (caved-in room).
Presumably that means we can still continue forward along the initial corridor I think : )
@Progressing deeper
The explorers formed up and pressed onward, following Janus' enspelled stone into the depths. The carvings marched along on the walls and they soon came to a second and rather deeper pair of alcoves. At first plush they looked nearly like a second corridor intersecting the first.
The western hall extended perhaps forty feet, ending at a small, marble platform raised a half foot off the floor. A strange apparatus stood upon it, curved ovular frame giving the look of a noble's dressing mirror. Only a third of it remained. A strange glyph marked the platform.
To the other side, fifteen feet down a huge pile of collapsed rubble blocked the alcove from top to bottom. It looked like it might take the work of weeks to tunnel through it to what, if anything, lay beyond.
First paragraph sounds like a four way intersection. The next two describes what happens to the west (room with strange device) and east (caved-in room).
Presumably that means we can still continue forward along the initial corridor I think : )
You can indeed. The main tunnel intersects with another in one of those graph-paper perfect plus signs. The layout is:
Ahead: Some faint green light seen earlier.
West fork: A dead end alcove with the planar device thingie. You are here.
East fork: rubble
South: back outside.
Tshhh you are trying to use logic but everyone knows Ao dictates that a proper tomb needs at leasts several thousands square meters worth of tunnel complex and traps worth the gdp of a small nation :P
Besides baseless speculation is the best sort because then you don't have to acknowledge the flimsy restraints of reality.^^
It's also entertaining from this side of the screen. :)
I tend to ignore those flimsy restraints anyway :P
It's a role-playing game, so for once, I am fully justified in substituting my own reality. I'm not usually going to Yin-Levels there, but...yeah.
So lets go on - full speed ahead to the faint green light! What could possibly go wrong?
Just to let everyone know, I'll be travelling back home for the winter break tomorrow, so I may not be able to post between this afternoon until late tomorrow evening, what with packing and then being on the road for however long winter decides it will take this time.
@Chaïa - Safe journey : )
@Map - I moved Lu ontop of one of the wolves which I do think is out. If it isn't, please move her back!
@Dice - Hmm I think I somehow managed to absorb all the good luck from our two magicans! Sorry about that :P
Well, my alignment is Good, so I suppose I can forgive you for it. ^^ Success simply wasn't in the cards.
*Ducks a thrown shoe* I make no apologies!
Better now against 3 wolves, than later against 2 Ettins and their Ogre-Mage buddy.
Also, you only did that to save the man you love. So it's totally acceptable, socially.
Just popping in while I'm at a stop-over with wifi. Lucrecia's luck absorption is apparently still in effect. :)
Better now against 3 wolves, than later against 2 Ettins and their Ogre-Mage buddy.
Also, you only did that to save the man you love. So it's totally acceptable, socially.
Two...ettins...one ogre mage buddy. Got it down now. Should I read it back? :)
Unless we find hand puppets and you use that in the descriptive text, it can wait a couple levels, methinks.
Better now against 3 wolves, than later against 2 Ettins and their Ogre-Mage buddy.
Also, you only did that to save the man you love. So it's totally acceptable, socially.
Must protect my/your assets you know >.>
.
..
....
:P
Also, do ettins count double or do we at least get to outnumber them :P?
So! Look at the dais and then continue on :)?
Also, on the battlemap, there seems to be a small gap in the rubble... Is that an actual gap or just there to make the rubble line seem more rugged?
So! Look at the dais and then continue on :)?
Also, on the battlemap, there seems to be a small gap in the rubble... Is that an actual gap or just there to make the rubble line seem more rugged?
Actual gap.
And ettins are counted by the torso. But since an ettin has two heads it must logically have two torsos. Therefore, each set of two heads is only half an ettin. So two ettins if we were counting them in human terms, is actually four. Cross-cultural math is hard.
...I feel like I should pull out my bestiaries for the pic. XD
So...are we getting Hydras into this?
So...are we getting Hydras into this?
Of course.
So, say I magically crossbreed a Hydra with a Troll...would each cut-off head regenerate into a Hydra unless handled with fire or acid? If so, how many heads would the new Hydra have? Same as the original Hydra?
So, say I magically crossbreed a Hydra with a Troll...would each cut-off head regenerate into a Hydra unless handled with fire or acid? If so, how many heads would the new Hydra have? Same as the original Hydra?
Yes and yes. Troll regeneration is basically cloning...but trolls are hostile to one another and between that and starvation they're usually kept to about stable numbers.
It's not like orcs, who just reproduce the usual way but are often hyperfecund, so every generation or two they reach a critical mass where they can't feed themselves if they want to and get a horde going. Granted orcs are horde-prone culturally, but the resource crunch helps strong orcs rise to the top by making rivals more willing to take subordinate positions than usual. If they make it to the end, they expect they might be able to set up a new hold elsewhere since a horde chieftain rarely survives the failure of the horde. Creative destruction, you know.
I was mostly thinking of Janus earlier theory of "hmm no weapons in the wolf-lair so maybe they were slain *somewhere else* and moved here?" and that perhaps one of the alcoves missing a lantern might be this *somewhere else*.
It sorta fits - why else would someone just steal one (or two - the other missing one *might* just be broken or out of fuel!)? So therefore if we see some swords or suspicious things laying around we should probably be extra careful!
(This all is just a brief guess mind you - bud I do enjoy speculation :P)
Oh, I concur. We did not run into any weaponry, rusty or otherwise. This seems a good place for the wolves to come grab some tasty explorers. Hence advancing carefully.
But I'm curious about the green lantern. If the other group arrived first and already lit one of the lanterns, we're treespassing, potentially. Of course, they could be in trouble and depend on our help, too...else why would they only light one of the lanterns? ^_^
Mm. Though they would have to bypass the wolves then - another entrance or simply bribing them with food? Might just be stealthier then us ...
Though if they are in ahead of us - and also took a lantern (and left the others!) - that does indeed fit very well with the take lantern = bad stuff idea ...
OOC speculations again!
Angels have been noted to be androgynous, handsome, tall and bald quite frequently. Though they are seldom entombed ...
Half-giants?
Speculation time? What about the inscription in Auran from before...maybe some Elemental Lord? That same description could also fit a Sylph Exemplar.
Just taking that as a base hint, as unless it really was a ventilation and sound-system installed by a subcontractor, I would assume inscriptions to be in the language of whoever constructed this place.
(plus there seems to be another glyph on the sarcophagus)
Mm, that is true!
Yeah, that's usually a pretty good rule of thumb. XD
Aye...the one thing that seems off to me: If it's something to do with elemental air, why did they choose the material plane. And why did they construct the tomb UNDERGROUND...in the domain of earth. I would expect air-related tombs to be at the top of a mountain, with narrow ledges and stormy winds. *shrug*
But until we learn more, we'll speculate based on the things we do know, I guess ;)
Hmm. New idea!
Let's say you have an pesky air elemental-ish thingy you want to punish or something. Simply slaying it is not enough! What you do is you take it someplace nasty - say underground. Then, since it doesn't eat, age or breathe, you place it inside a box and puts a lid on said box. Now if that box was made out of some material too hard to break unarmed, say stone, and too heavy to lift, say stone, you have effectively trapped the air elemental-ish thingy for a looooong time. And, should it ever escape somehow, you place the whole thing on the material plane so that some witless adventurers deal with him quick enough!
Maybe :P
You mean it's actually not a tomb, but rather a elaborate prison?
Could be, too.
But then, why not simply take that stone box, dig a hole, drop it in, fill up the hole, and plant a tree? Why even provide a chance to escape?