Sunset sets to work at actually clearing all the trash out of the pool.
Clearing all the trash will take quite a long time, bit over an hour if you do it yourself. You can do an excellent search through the trash in about 15 minutes.
you find two additional things of interest
first; a pearl necklace of excellent quality that makes you feel more calm and serene when you touch it.
second; a bag with 3 oak acorns in it; that for some reason have not been spoiled by the water, meaning they have not sprouted or gotten soft, in addition; they give a soft red glow.
It is my expectation that those hurt would come forward to you and bring it up Desidera, but party should work out how to do that yourselves.
Clearing all the trash will take quite a long time, bit over an hour if you do it yourself. You can do an excellent search through the trash in about 15 minutes.
you find two additional things of interest
first; a pearl necklace of excellent quality that makes you feel more calm and serene when you touch it.
second; a bag with 3 oak acorns in it; that for some reason have not been spoiled by the water, meaning they have not sprouted or gotten soft, in addition; they give a soft red glow.
Sunset puts her new finds in along with the rest of the gear that's been 'salvaged' from the pool. The young, brown skinned Elf bobs and swirls about in the pools water like an otter.
"Looks as if Sunset is in her native element now. Just need to find a pool of water for her every now and then, and she'll be happy." Gloisil says this with one of those rare ear to ear grins of his, and is obviously giving Sunset a friendly teasing.
Gloisil then looks Desidera's way and says with a wink of one eye, "Now if we could just find a way for patch of blue sky and sunlight to follow Desidera around ..." He trails off as he begins to inspect the items brought out of the pool.
He begins casting a spell and studies the items further.
Ok; couple things about magic item identification, in general.
magic items have experience point bonuses applied to them. A player gets this bonus if they use an item and figure out its abilities. If a mage seeks to identify an item; they have to hold, wield; wear, use the item to do so; thus get any penalty and item such as a curse that is inflicted upon the bearer; they dont get experience for the item; but do get experience for the spell and a bonus for appropriate in game action role playing and perhaps a bonus if it turned out to be critical to the scenario. So, just wanted to point out there are a few ways to go about figuring out magic items and whoever does so gets the bonus, thus you dont have to always risk your mage or his/her magic ability.
For example; if yoiu cant breath water; and put on a ring and stick your head in the water and cant breath; well; you know its not a ring of water breathing. Some magic items are fairly easy to figure out; most magic weapons glow and the glow is different depending upon how powerful the weapon is, generally, a darker color, dimmer sword is less powerful than a brighter color, more intense sword; thus an artifact is bright white.
Also, Identify cannot be used on artifacts or relics as these items are directly tied to a diety or Thread of Fate and have certain protections. Also, using spells to identify items is always a strength contest; thus if an item is being protected by a second level spell and is being detected with a first level spell; the second level spell wins. So those certain items that have things like missdirection and the like can modify results.
Items from other planes have inherent magic ability; so something from the plane of earth, for example, might not be magical here, but be magical there or be able to damage creatures from the items home plane; thus have a magic aura but as its on this plane; not have any active magic to be identifies; this works in inverse as well; magic items gain or loose magic when taken to other planes; the expection being some religious items that are maintained across planes by a diety who has a sphere of influence across those planes.
so; that is my basic speach on magic items, so to figure out a potion; you have to drink about a tenth of it to feel its effects, otherwise you use the item as appropriate. Things are usually somewhat obvious; rings are about the most difficult; sometimes take a command word as do rods or wands or staves. Potions are the easiest as are things like wings or fins and the like shapped like what they are supposed to do. Weapons and armor are always the highest quality; so even if you dont know what they cut better or protect against; they are the best quality made so even their high quality bonus applies all the time.
So, is the party staying here or moving on? can I get an update on what everyone is doing; are you waiting for me to respond to something?
If Sunset shows these things; they certainly detect as magic.
Clearing all the trash will take quite a long time, bit over an hour if you do it yourself. You can do an excellent search through the trash in about 15 minutes.
you find two additional things of interest
first; a pearl necklace of excellent quality that makes you feel more calm and serene when you touch it.
second; a bag with 3 oak acorns in it; that for some reason have not been spoiled by the water, meaning they have not sprouted or gotten soft, in addition; they give a soft red glow.
These also detect as magic.
you find a short sword that is not tarnished or damaged by the water.
you find 4 arrows that are not tarnished or damaged by the water.
Ok; for the battle in defeating this creature; all players get 1450 exps, which is the 1350 base for creature level plus a bonus due to the extra risk involved with it. I will also give a +25 bonus for working pretty well together in this groups first fight.
side thread thoughts might be why and how an evil creature from the plain of water is here; should be a curiosity.
you can see the glow of magic on the items stated; per DMG pg 212 under heading spells; you can study one item at a time; so pick one each per the length of how long your spell lasts and will tell you the school and close approximation of the casters spell level.
"Looks as if Sunset is in her native element now. Just need to find a pool of water for her every now and then, and she'll be happy." Gloisil says this with one of those rare ear to ear grins of his, and is obviously giving Sunset a friendly teasing.
Gloisil then looks Desidera's way and says with a wink of one eye, "Now if we could just find a way for patch of blue sky and sunlight to follow Desidera around ..." He trails off as he begins to inspect the items brought out of the pool.
He begins casting a spell and studies the items further.
Eventually Sunset climbs out of the relatively cleaner pool. After reaching to simply pull her shirt up over her head and seeing the Orcs Sunset frowns, hrumphs a little and then simply picks up her large sleeping bed roll and lifts the thick blanket over her head.
The bundle of blanket collapses into a pile and then, one after another, all of Sunset's article's of clothing get spat out one after another accompanied by much wriggling and twisting of the woolen pile.
Popping her head out of the 'top' of the blanket, Sunset stands with it wrapped about herself 'poncho' or 'Kilt' like in fashion. She skips over to Desidera on bare brown feet,
"I has been banged up..a little..." She admits, looking a little embarrassed and sheepish, as if calling upon Desidera's power to fix up things that maybe her attitude got her brown skinned self into might other wise have been avoided.
Desidera
you shudder to think of all those killed; even goblins, but this evil elemental creature; the growing pile...each thing signifies a life lost
The amount of things that come up out of the pool garner a raised eyebrow from Desidera, but she does not shirk her treatment of those injured, despite who they are. Suffocation however, she cannot treat all that well, resorting to going about building a (somewhat sheltered) fire, for the others to dry themselves out with. Anything more would have to be dealt with as it arose.
"Anyone else hurt?"
Kurg goes out into the hall
"Guard"
Mox is rooting through the pile of supposed useless junk looking in minute detail at everything; is sorta comical actually.
all that stress and fighting has peaked your hunger...growl.
Did everyone add the exps from the exp post?
Gloisil's Detect Magic spell at this point has a duration of 2 min. (20 rounds). I figure that I will be able to inspect all the items. If the arrows all look the same, I'm going to only concentrate on one assuming that the would all be the same.
Gloisil picks up the well preserved short sword and concentrates on it for a time as he closely examines it trying to ascertain the strength and type of magic it contains.
in your hand the sword glows dark blue; in your vision you see:
Evocation strong
Transmutation; weak
glow in your eyes; dark blue with green dots; thus you know this is a minor bonus weapon with a minor enhancement.
to guess at caster level; make arcane roll; otherwise you guess level 9 caster; as you get higher level your guesses will be more accurate thus add caster level to your roll.
** spoiler omitted **
Gloisil picks up the well preserved short sword and concentrates on it for a time as he closely examines it trying to ascertain the strength and type of magic it contains.
The only exps I give right away are for fights; otherwise exps, like for the door encounter, come at the end of finishing a level/scene/area; so the exps for rooms other than fighting is yet to come.
Sunset and Gyldyr (and anyone else who can write elven)
if you happen to look, or be looking as Gyldyr has stated...
there is the elven symbol of a rabbit on the blade that Gloisel is holding
As Gloisil studies the sword under the effect of the spell he has cast, he talks as if he were alone in his workroom talking to himself, "Well, I didn't come to any harm picking up the sword, that good, can happen from what I hear. Anyway, this sword has a minor enchantment on top of it having the normal magical enhancements. This will make it easier to strike with and cause more damage, and what the additional enchantment does is unknown to me."
"It is interesting that the sword has inscribed on it the the elven symbol for a rabbit. What that may say about this weapon is also beyond me at this point."
Without access to a higher level magic user who can magically identify the specific properties of this weapon, I'm afraid the only way to find out what it does is by trying it out. Would anyone like to give it a try once I finish examining it?
When Gloisil is finished examining the sword, he then picks up one of the four arrows and proceeds to examine it aided by the spell that he is maintaining.
Gloisil
gauging the spell, you think probably 11th. You dont know of anyone in your experience whose symbol is a rabbit.
Gloisil and Glydyr
You have the feeling this was created by a half elf rather than a full blooded elf; this sword has the feel of something manufactured quickly; like for guards or an army rather than the loving craft and multiple spells that most elven blades carry; nor does the sword, though mastercrafted; look as fancy fluted as an elf who might spend years crafting a blade for the joy of doing so. This sword is plain; something a soldier or rouge or spy might carry; something to not stand out but be plain and functional. <From a drow perspective; this would be the type sword to give a slave race or ally not worthy of a true elven blade>
As Gloisil studies the sword under the effect of the spell he has cast, he talks as if he were alone in his workroom talking to himself, "Well, I didn't come to any harm picking up the sword, that good, can happen from what I hear. Anyway, this sword has a minor enchantment on top of it having the normal magical enhancements. This will make it easier to strike with and cause more damage, and what the additional enchantment does is unknown to me."
"It is interesting that the sword has inscribed on it the the elven symbol for a rabbit. What that may say about this weapon is also beyond me at this point."
Without access to a higher level magic user who can magically identify the specific properties of this weapon, I'm afraid the only way to find out what it does is by trying it out. Would anyone like to give it a try once I finish examining it?
Gloisil
the arrows are pure evocation, low to moderate level blue power, probably made by 1oth level caster; arrows also are mastercrafted. You also notice that the fletching style is not familiar to you and the wood in not from this continent. The arrow heads are mean, wicked looking; the more you hold and handle these; the more they feel Shamanistic in your opinion and crafted by tribal magic. Your pretty sure they are not goblin or orc make or any of the races that are your races enemies. These have a small glyph on them that is consistant with the Northmen tribes that live in area around the Valley of the Ancients up to the Tundra. (think Scandenavia, ie Swedes; Finns; Danes; Norse) This glyph seems to imply you name your enemy and the arrow seeks his death; <in game terms; might get a bonus added to the regular bonus if you name your enemy; might just be a normal magic arrow though> Gods are fickle; they may are may not honor the additional magic from a non believer.
When Gloisil is finished examining the sword, he then picks up one of the four arrows and proceeds to examine it aided by the spell that he is maintaining.
Gloisil continues to give information about the items that he is examining. Idly pointing out things as he is vaguely aware of Gyldyr looking over his shoulder at the items as well.
"Additionally as to the sword, the caster was of middling talent, not a master as my uncle, but much more powerful then myself. The sword is not of a usual elven make, but made to be very utilitarian. Something made quickly, not in the usual slow elven fashion."
"The arrow had been just a standard enchantment on them, although there may be something else, but may not work for just anyone, it seems divine in nature."
"The creator of these arrows is of a level near to the creator of the sword, but are clearly not the same person I wouldn't think. The wood of the arrows is made of a tree that grows not in this area. I believe that they are the make of one of the northern tribes, and not of anyone on this continent."
"Also, the additional power may be the ability to name a target and then have the arrow seek that persons death, but as I said it may be tied to divine beliefs and not work for just any person."
"Desidera, you may be able to provide more insight on that aspect of these arrows."
Gloisil then picks up the pearl necklace and examines it, with a nod towards Sunset as he does so.
no problem; see you in three weeks
But I'd hate to leave the game.
So, if the GM could control Gyldyr until I return, or find a way for him to be elsewhere during that time, or a different solution? Whatever works. I'll be back when I can.
Gloisil
aura of transmutation; divine in nature, you dont see any symbols holy or otherwise, do you put it on?
Gloisil then picks up the pearl necklace and examines it, with a nod towards Sunset as he does so.
"This necklace appears to be of a magic that cause a change in the wearer." Gloisil says as he then takes the necklace and slips it over his head.
Sunset watches Gloisil's actions with wide eyed interest.
Gloisel
You begin to have acute insights of consequences and causes and effects of various actions the party has taken; looking at the pool and the pile along with Desidera's comment of the number of deaths therin, you see that this creature is not natural to this world and thus the Item the party is here to rescue is sought after by those of other planes of existance as well, maybe even calling them and a wise plan of action should be implemented but time is crucial.
"This necklace appears to be of a magic that cause a change in the wearer." Gloisil says as he then takes the necklace and slips it over his head.
"I see and understand now, yes, the item that we seek, it is being sought by those from other planes of existence, like the creature that we just defeated. We must have a plan, we must be able to get the item first and defeat those from the other planes that are drawn to it."
"Time is of the essence though and although we need to have a plan, we must keep moving towards our goal."
Gloisil then lifts the pearls from around his neck and places them back on the ground. As he picks up the acorns to examine them, he says, "That was an unusual feeling, and I'm not sure that I would like to experience it again soon."
"Sunset your more then welcome to take those back as you were the one to find them, but if I may offer a suggestion... due to the divine nature in them, perhaps Desidera should wear them, although I believe that they will function for anyone."
"Well let's see what these acorns are, or can be."
Sunset nods at Gloisil's suggestion, "Okeys then!" And she happily scoops up the items and such, before skipping over to offer them to Desidera....while trying not to drip on her freind.
you think them to possibly be some sort of druidic explosive device which probably needs a command word.
"I see and understand now, yes, the item that we seek, it is being sought by those from other planes of existence, like the creature that we just defeated. We must have a plan, we must be able to get the item first and defeat those from the other planes that are drawn to it."
"Time is of the essence though and although we need to have a plan, we must keep moving towards our goal."
Gloisil then lifts the pearls from around his neck and places them back on the ground. As he picks up the acorns to examine them, he says, "That was an unusual feeling, and I'm not sure that I would like to experience it again soon."
"Sunset your more then welcome to take those back as you were the one to find them, but if I may offer a suggestion... due to the divine nature in them, perhaps Desidera should wear them, although I believe that they will function for anyone."
"Well let's see what these acorns are, or can be."
"The acorns are some kind of druidic explosive magic and likely require a command word of some kind to acivate."
"Desidera, I do not believe that you will come to harm putting the necklace on. It's just a strange feeling that comes over you. You know how the past, present and future are connected, but only in a vague, haunting sort of way. You may be able to interpret what you feel and impressions that you get better then I."
With all the items examined, Gloisil lets the spell he was concentrating on drop.
"Well shall we be moving on, or are we stopping to rest here for a time. I'll just say that as much as I would like a rest, the feeling I got from wearing that necklace is that we need to keep moving as much as possible. Desidera may get a different idea from those pearls, I'm not sure."
"I guess I'm supposed to try them on?" she asked, putting them on with slight trepidation.
Sunset frowns a little,
"If'n ye find it hard, I c'n help?" She grins happily eager to help her freind.
Ok; Gm update on game time; had to go back through the thread; whew; it was morning back around my birthday; so between paged 28-31 ish; so that was last nights sleep for everyone; so you have gone through several room since then; down the long stairs and another room and crossed the hall to this well; that makes it about 4pm gametime; so late afternoon. so with the talk of rest; and you all would be getting weary; hard days work behind you since leaving the gnomes room. So; is the party going to continue or bed down; if bed down then where; here or go somewhere else; you could get back to the gnome room in about an hour if there is no issues; but is a long climb on the stairs that any non dwarf would want to avoid.
anyway; that is a update on game time; waiting for the parties further actions.
Friend Koridur, you are welcome to use the sword as I am not very good at wielding such weapons."
"As far as it being time to rest, I could certainly use a rest at this time, or at least very near in the future. If we don't want to stay here, then we could continue on for a time looking for a suitable place to rest."
There is hallway outside the cistern room that goes either direction.
This hall is much more worn and used than the previous hallways you have travel upon; which was more or less the upper levels engineering area.
"Whut's wrong with stayin' here? Th' place ha a supply of fresh water, I dun't think there be another way out. We's got a nice, safe lookin' hidey hole." Sunset chirps, while subtly working on the buckles that hold her leather armor on.
i wouldnt call this water fresh by a long shot; all the bodies that were in it and evil creature and whatnot; yuck. Now; you could purifty it some how; then it would be fresh water; or exchange it with water from a fresh source. Now if you meant fresh water rather than salt water; yes it in not salt water. Come to think of it; the whole idea of "fresh" water is nuts; water has been on the planet for thousands of years; how "fresh" could it be; is darn old; but then you drink it; so that is pretty intimate; and swim in it; guess water can get pretty fresh; aaaaaah; this hurts my brain.