- 1x Potion of Cure Light Wounds
- 1x Potion of Shield of Faith
- 1x Unidentified draft labelled 'Fire Breath'
- 1x Oil of Magic Weapon
- 1x Unidentified Cloak
- 2x unidentified ointment (DC 21 Knowledge: Nature check)
- Masterwork Scimitar
- Masterwork Chain Shirt
- Masterwork Tower Shield (Modified Sarcophagus lid)
- Masterwork Hand Crossbow
Halistar mounts up and rides off with the Crook Bearer's guards, leaving Shine, Rameth and Zanos behind discussing their plans. It doesn't take long for the group to reach the alley where they had cornered the halfling, and as Algharud seems to have failed to shut the secret door behind him it is relatively easy to locate.
Despite Halistar's aprehensions he finds the Halfling exactly where Algharud had left him, in a crumble heap by the small attic window. Illec helps carry him back downstairs and loads him onto the back of Halistars camel.
"We will be leaving now?" asks Illec impatiently.
A couple of things I was not able to identify, Halistar perhaps you can. Anyone use a crossbow? This bolt here is covered in Scorpion Venom.
"I can take a look at the items," Zanos replied to Rameth's question.
Upon seeing the markings on an empty container, he exclaimed, "Stars and stones! This half-orc had the venom of the purple worm!"
He cast detect magic and examined each magical aura closely.
"A cautious examination of the leaf ointment identifies it as Sassone leaf residue, an ointment that slowly absorbs itself into the target's skin on contact causing severe burns."
"What have we here?" Zanos muttered to himself as he examined the items.
When the sage was finished, he attracted the others' attention. "Well, this is an elixir that will allow you to breath fire. Whoever imbibes it can target a single victim within twenty-five feet with a gout of flame thrice within a one hour period before the elixir's power is spent."
Indicating the cloak, he said, "This cloak bears a minor enchantment that allows the wearer to resist adverse effects--such as poison or magic--better than normal."
Holding up the ointment, Zanos finished with, "This is Sassone leaf residue. It slowly absorbs into someone's skin on contact, causing severe burns. Very dangerous!"
Shine declines the crossbow bolt, even though she uses a crossbow. The lady would not approve. She explains. Besides, I am clumsy enough to likely poison myself...
Hear the other items explained she looks puzzled with the explination of the Sassone leaf residue. How on earth would you apply that as a weapon? Is the idea that he hoped one of us would think it a balm and apply it to ourself? She looks a little pale at the thought.
"I think that you could coat a weapon with it, if you know how to handle poisons. I certainly don't!"
Zanos smiled at the gnome, "Personally, I have several far more reliable methods of burning someone."
Shrugging, he added, "As for the weapon and poison--I'm not interested. Nor do I need the cloak, as mine is slightly more potent."
"Although I find myself intrigued by the elixir of fire breathing."
"As soon as we remove all items from this spying halfling, we will drop him and his friend a guardpost, then we shall head off."
Halistar turns to Zanos (who seems to have the cloak)"I could use the cloak, but only if no one else amoung us needs it more."
Its all yours as far a I am concerned. I have one. I might could use the hand crossbow, but likely its either too big or too small. And if you have far more reliable ways of burning people, I would be pleased to carry the fire breath potion.
Rameth takes the cloak and cleans it. And passes it to Halistar.
Seeing Rameth pass the cloak to Halistar, Zanos said, "Well, that's settled. I don't mind if Shine takes the elixir."
Any magical goodies on the halfling? Shine will you hold onto all those healing potions?
I could hold it, but thats a bad call. I can channel and spontaneously cast healing. Someone who can't heal themselves should carry it.
"I already have several, but I'll take it if no one else does," replied Zanos, looking at Halistar and Rameth.
"Go right ahead Zanoos. With your Invisibility spell, you could use them sneakily during battles."
"Hey, I resemble that remark!" Zanos replied with a laugh.
Halistar smiles "What, totally transparent?"
Rameth smiles at the banter between the two.
Well are we ready to move?
Tell me of this halfling. How did you come to render him unconscious? She asks as she casts Detect Magic on the small fellow and prepares to search him.
Illec remains impatient to be off, but says nothing further to Halistar's reply, riding back with him to the others who chose to remain behind at the Crimson Oasis. On the halfling, as you strip him in the inn's courtyard, laying him unconcious besides the likewise stripped Half-Orc you find...
- Masterwork Sap
- Masterwork Sling
- 2x Dagger
- Masterwork Studded Leather
- Potion of Cure Light Wounds
- 2x Alchemical Fluid
- 1x Different Alchemical Fluid
- Artisan’s Tools – Craft: Traps
- Brush
- Glasscutter (1 lb, 5 gp)
- 2x Flask of Holy Water
- Black Ink
- Smokestick
- 3x Sunrod
- Masterwork Thieves’ Tools
- Thunderstone
Zanos laughed at Halistar's remark and waited patiently for them to finish with the unconscious halfling.
Rameth leans down close to the halfling leg and examines the tattoo. He takes the time to cast detect magic
This tattoo is moving folks.
"Moving? That's fascinating!" Zanos said, moving closer to see.
The tattoo is of moderate size, and unusual design. As to moving... well if you Zanos weren't staring at it so intently he never would have noticed it, but it does indeed seem to twitch and shift.
Hallistar, Zanos. This tatoo radiates Abjuration and Evocation magic...but I cannot make heads nor tails of what it is.
"Huh? Well, I guess I can give it a go," Zanos replied before casting detect magic.
"Hmmm, very interesting."
Halistar will likewise cast Detect Magic.
Use Loremaster on Knowledge:Arcana=
Halistar and Zanos put their heads together over the tattoo, trying to puzzle out it's properties. Thankfully Halistar's attempt to blindly activate it fails as they manage to decipher what it actually is.
Aura moderate abjuration and evocation; CL 11th
Slot none; Price 7,750 gp; Weight --
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Description
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This glyph is a coruscating pattern of ancient Thassilonian runes stretching across a flat surface in a tight 5-foot-radius circle. It is also a mobile trap with a speed of 20 feet that responds to your commands. After it rests in place for a full round, it blends with the floor and becomes a creeping glyph trap.
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Construction
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Requirements Craft Wondrous Item, animate objects, glyph of warding; Cost 3,875 gp
Type[b] magic; [b]Perception DC 28; Disable Device DC 28
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Effects
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Trigger[b] proximity (alarm); [b]Reset[b] automatic after 3 rounds
[b]Effect an explosion in a single 5-foot square that deals 4d4 points of nonlethal damage.
Interesting. Is this something we can take over? Do we set it off with a stick from a distance? Or just ignore it.
"It needs to be disabled, or it will simply reset," Zanos said.
Perhaps you should all back up. Brigh grant me luck.
Rameth pulls his tools and carefully sets to work disabling the magical trap...hopefully without destroying it.
Rameth's luck lingers as he wipes sweat from his forehead. Almost blew it there.
That should do it...
Rameth pokes at the tattoo with his tools for the better part of a minute, and... absolutely nothing happens. Rameth realizes belatedly, that the glyph needs to be placed upon the ground to function, and that this 'tattoo' form is likely some sort of dormant state. He is also aware of the command word cleverly hidden in the Thassilonian runes that would allow him to control the item: 'majaderías'
hahahahahahaha! Excellent!
Rameth leans his bald head down near the tattoo and mutters majaderias He has the tattoo move onto his scalp, and rises.
My friends we have a delightful new tool!
Rameth will go on to explain to the others just how it works.
Well at least some of this gear is my size. If no one minds I'll hold on to this stuff. She picks up the sling, daggers and sap. And I could sleep in this light armor too. No way to sleep in this full plate.
Rameth helps Shine gather the new gear.
Well folks lets get moving...Shine perhaps prepping some restorations for tomorrow?
I got ya covered Rameth. Want to see how big and strong you are when you are not poisoned. Shine says playfully.
"I'm ready if Halistar is," the sage chimed in.
"Lets just drop these villains off, then we can go."
Halistar sets off his camel in the appropriate direction.
The party at last mounts up on their camels and starts to wend their way through the streets. Stopping at a watch-house to dump their prisoners off, Rameth once again claims authority of the First Speaker's, informing the watch Sergeant on duty of the conflict in the streets by the Crimson Oasis. A few moments later the train sets off once again, slowly making it's way until it at last breaches the city's walls.
"We are over an hour behind schedule now thanks to that little scuffle. We'll need to make good time if we're to catch up." Illec observes seriously. "Do you have anyone else skilled at tracking or was your local guide the only one?" he asks, sighing as he receives his answer. He gives a few orders to his men before riding to the head of the caravan, starting to lead the way.
Illec it seems is indeed a competent guide himself as he leads the way, making good time for most of the day, despite the searing desert heat. It is only as the sun moves towards the horizon that he is forced to slow, becoming less certain in the dimming light as the heat goes out of the day. He finally pulls his camel to a stop, casting his gaze around for somewhere suitable to camp. "The Underdunes are ahead of us, it will be more dangerous once we enter them... We will camp here for tonight, I suggest you rest well."
I think last watch is good for me, that way Shine has enough time to prepare some spells to make me strong again.
With that Rameth lays down next to the Camels and has his tattoo move off to the side of him in case someone tries to sneak up. He of course points it out to his compatriots.
Shine will offer to stand first watch and let everyone know she greets the rising sun and prays to Sarenrae then for new spells. She will memorize 4 Lesser Restorations in the morning and will offer to memorize and cast Endure Elements for anyone who needs it to travel in these climes. Sitting around the campfire she explain I am blessed by the Lady and the heat does not bother me unless is it extreme. To demonstrate she reaches into the campfire and lets the fire play across her skin.
Zanos smiled as Fairsplindle demonstrated her gift. "Amazing!"
He then paused for a moment before adding, "I'm exhausted. Illec, are you and your men willing to take the two middle watches? If so, I'd suggest Halistar take first watch with Shine, and I'd join Rameth for last watch."
"Also, I can likewise provide relief from temperature extremes. All anyone has to do is ask."
"I have a wand which can provide some protection from the heat," Halistar says, "and I would suggest that Ramath take the watch with miss Shiningstar, and I take last watch, as I can see quite well in the dark."
OK Boss.
Rameth puts his head down by the tattoo and summons it back to his head. He will place it near him with himself between it and the camp on watch. [/b]
Illec does little more to prepare the campsite than dropping a bead in the sand, which at a word transforms itself into a merrily crackling campfire. At the topic of watches he simply nods.
"I do not require much sleep." he turns to two of his men, indicating they will join him for one of the middle two watches, and ordering them to bed down. The other two he informs will take the same watches tomorrow night.
"Sounds good," Zanos replied to Halistar.
Rameth sits and quietly watches, making small talk with Shine, trying to make a new friend.
Early on Shine is fascinated by the campfire bead, but quickly looses interest. She had darkvision and keeps an eye out while chatting quietly with Rameth. Every 10-15 minutes she gets up, stretches, and walks around the camp.
When she sleeps she changes into the studded masterwork leather.