DM Delmoth's Planescape

Game Master Delmoth

Rinika shakes her head and says, "No, he didn't."

She starts to fish through pockets, pulling out coins and gemstones, Akrynn's wand, then a pair of boots and finally the bottle with the ember in it. "But I did find....some...stuff." She expected to be a lot more excited at this proclamation, and is surprised to find it falling flat even in her own mind. She looks around the table hesitantly and then takes a long drag on her glass, finding much the same point of interest that Jek did.

Nik's eyebrows go up when he sees the boots coming out of Rinika's pockets.

After staring at the bottle a moment, Nik starts to point.
He opens up a small cut on his arm when he moves it and remembers being pelted with arrows not very long ago. He then casts Infernal Healing on Jek and himself.

"Ya did good, Rinika." Nik says finally, before joining the moment of silence for Akrynn.

Nik: 11->21 hp
Jek:14->24?

Jek:14->24?

Yep, and I forget the 9 from level up

After a bit Jek finally looks up and sees the ember in the bottle.

"Wait... is that mine? Do I just drink it?"

Nik shrugs "I think I remember the couple from that town a while back saying that they drank something."

Rinika looks in Nik's approximate direction, keeping her eyes cast down. "Can you identify it just to be sure?"

Conor frowns over his ale at the ember, "I wonder if I matters who's it is? Maybe it's just a common thing it steals. Maybe it's Nik's fox zombie's spark? I say drink it and let's see what happens, you get your mojo back and we don't have to go kill a mess of lizards anymore, fun as that sounds. Better to kill things and get paid for it."

Nik accepts the bottle from Rinika and casts Detect Magic. He speaks as he starts eyeing the bottle.
"Well yeah, but anyone who messes with Jek can't get off easy-"
Nik shrugs without taking his eyes of the bottle -on the other hand, maybe we've done enough just getting this thing back."

Knowledge (Arcana) to identify the school of magic involved: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (17) + 11 = 28
Spellcraft to identify the item's magical properities: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (20) + 13 = 33
in alphabetical order, as usual for rolls no one specifically asks for...

Nik is able to determine that it is magically extracted beauty. Despite his lack of training in the field the embers give off an enchantment aura. And would produce an effect not dissimilar to sympathy but affecting everyone that can see the affected object or person. He determines the effect would last about a week for a normal person, but it probably would dispel the curse that Jek is currently under.

After a few moments examination, Nik wears a look of disgust; for the first time ever, as far as those present know.
"Ugh, enchantment magic. Awful. Stupid flashy nonsense..."

Shaking his head to recover his focus, he holds the bottle between Jek and the bariaur's emptied mug. "I'm not an expert (in fact, I avoid this kind of magic as much as I can), but I'm also pretty sure that this'll fix you up, no matter who was drained to produce it. If drinking it doesn't work, why don't we... take a little trip tomorrow?"

"Let's give it a go then." Jek drinks the embers.

Rinika watches with rapt attention and checks her pockets for any more bottles of embers.

Conor stops noisily slurping his stew and ale to watch

The ember has a soft warmth and the taste is slightly sweet but not overpowering. It dissolves almost instantly. The effect is slower with Jek regaining his gravitas over a few seconds, his companions no longer have to cringe when looking at him and his overall appearance is no longer grating despite not readily definable difference.

Nik lets out a heavy sigh of relief.

Conor thumps his empty ale mug on the table as he laughs, "There we go! You're back Jek!

Rinika makes a show of looking away and then exaggerating surprise when she looks at Jek again. "Oh, who's that handsome fella? Glad you're back to normal."

"Who wants to pick a fight with some giant squirrels?" Nik asks brightly.

"Who wants to pick a fight with some giant squirrels?" Nik asks brightly.

Rinika turns to Nik slowly.

Jek sighs in relief. "Thanks for finding that." He sets the bottle aside and downs his mug.

"We owe the crocs another visit, but that should wait. Squirrels sound fun. Anyone need supplies? I was thinking about finding the smith. Conor, did you need a new shield?"

Conor frowns, "Yes, I was forced to leave mine behind. Another would be useful. I've heard they make ones suited for throwing, might be a fun diversion."

"Sure. I've been thinking abut trying to find some better armor."

"Well, if anyone has old armor to donate, Zombington is still doing without..."

Nik turns to the barkeep. "So, who wants to do something about the giant squirrels? Or is there a reward poster up I missed?"

"Excuse me, barkeep, we might be interested in the squirrel job. Is there a job board or someone we should talk to? Jek looks at the collapsed bariaur half-expecting him to wave in acknowledgement.

He turns back to the group. "There are some shoes I'd like to try, but who knows what they have out here."

The barkeep says, "They haven't been much more than a nuisance. They're not like some rats you'd find in a basement. Last week one was leaping from rooftop to rooftop screaming, "Dark times!" for about 20 minutes before scrambling off again."

She thinks for a moment, "Maybe Marlus over at the Woodworkers' guild would know more. She would have to deal with them more than most folks I'd wager."

She helpfully offers directions to the smith named Vargas Bol.

A large man, about the height of Jek, is talking to Vargas Bol about the job to take care of the squirrels. He looks rather down on his luck judging from his appearance.

He turns from Vargas having apparently come to an agreement with the smith and his eyes focus on your party as you are approaching.

He grumbles something at you, a question
Linje Hestdu?

Vargas is a bald, barrel-chested basher with tough, tanned skin. Just your stereotypical smith. He gives Cr'gir a genuine smile while looking up, "But don't hurt them. I just want my tongs back."

When the party walks up he greets them and asks, "You folks looking for something in particular? I'll buy any metal items you have, at reasonable rates."

Anyone purchasing from Vargas will find that the price is two and a half times as expensive. But he purchases metal items at 25% above list price. He has a 10% chance of having any weapon or armor on him but can make something so long as you're willing to wait for it. Non-combat metal items have a 75% chance of being available.

/b of course I won't hurt the squirrels /b
A large human, about the height of Jek, is talking to Vargas Bol
You think the large human smiles at the smith it is a bit difficult to tell through the unkempt beard though

don't forget the [] around the b and /b
like this:
[ b ]
[ / b ]
(I added spaces so that it would show up)

Keeping a peery eye on the very large orc, Nik sidesteps around and says to the smith "We heard about a paying job that involves squirrels. Are you the guy who needs help?"

Jek studies the tall man and tries to figure out if he's familiar. "Sorry, I didn't get that. Are you traveling as well?"

Appraise (max ranks): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16 Pretty sure it's obvious, not sure a roll is needed?

After taking a few glances at the wares and their prices, something clicks. "Need more metal, eh? Now, I'm new to this neck of the... tree?... but I am freelance courier. Jek motions to his lance. "If you can point me to where you buy it from and tell me how much you need, we may be able to help each other."

Courier: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20

Conor browses the wares then speaks up to the smith, "A heavy shield would be nice ... wood, it seems."

Turning to Nik, he lowers his voice, "with prices like these, do we have any of the metal stuff we took from those lizards go sell? Might be just the place to sell it."

Wood items are 25% cheaper. Forgot to mention.

Nik whispers back "na, we weren't expecting a freaking army and we were hoping to get some loot from that fight back there."

Here is the axe I need repaired, Thank you for the work Vargas

The large humanoid hands the smith a throwing axe and turns away from the smith, while turning you can obviously see that he is not human but a very disheveled orc.

Looking Jek in the eyes he says Interesting a centaur that doesn't speak giant. I have a few more questions for you outside (So we aren't cramped) if you don't mind.

Rinika scrambles to get out of the enormous orc's way as she enters. She gets Nansi out and, hmstill holding him protectively, asks the smith, "Can you fix my friend? Or do you know anyone in town who can?"

Conor looks over at the giant Orc, "Woah, big fella. Could have used you a day or two ago."

Feeling a bit crowded in the shop, he selects a proper heavy shield and digs out the coin for it, stepping out into the fresh air after.

"Interesting a centaur that doesn't speak giant."

"Centaur?" Jek gestures at his horns and wiggles his short tail. "I'm pleased to be your first bariaur. Shall I guess at what you are? You seem big for a half-orc... perhaps a half-bugbear?"

Barrier...Bowier
The race's name obviously foreign to the orc's tongue he tries to sound it out more
Bauriaur...I think that is it, right? I am fascinated to find a new species of horsemen that welcomes talking over fighting. Find me outside after your business with Vargas, I would like to know more of you and your kind.
And right you are half orc half giant.

Cr'gir shambles out, doing his best not to bump into anyone, or any of the smith's wares.

After taking a few glances at the wares and their prices, something clicks. "Need more metal, eh? Now, I'm new to this neck of the... tree?... but I am freelance courier. Jek motions to his lance. "If you can point me to where you buy it from and tell me how much you need, we may be able to help each other."

"I always need metal sir. Occasionally we get a trader coming out of Dwarven Mountain and Yggdrasil does not provide herself. Did you know the fiends have a kind of green steel that's supposed to be lighter and holds a better edge than regular steel? I'd love to work it some day. Say you're visiting Zebrinth? Could you ask her to hold a bottle for me?"

Rinika scrambles to get out of the enormous orc's way as she enters. She gets Nansi out and, hmstill holding him protectively, asks the smith, "Can you fix my friend? Or do you know anyone in town who can?"

"That looks like delicate work there ma'am. I'm afraid its a bit beyond me." Nansi squirms in Rinika's arms, she can see that the fastidious gear spirit has managed to a least clean the broken bits of his body and shined them to a luster.

Nik pulls out the strange tome from before titled "The Testament of Worms" and frowns slightly at it.
"Hey guys, after we're done with the squirrels, we need to figure out what this book can do- er- means."
He turns the book over in his hands, making sure that the cover, at least, looks about the same as it did when he last took a close look.

Disappointed, Rinika shuffles outside. She stands with her back against the building and looks up at the towering figure also waiting outside, then starts rapid-firing questions at him. "Hi, I'm Rinika. What do you know about these squirrels? Ever caught one? What's your name? Got any secrets? How long ya been here?"

"Which way to that Dwarven Mountain? Also, would you happen to have one of those quick-release heavy wooden shields in my size?"

Jek peruses the non-metal items of the shop for a bit and pulls Conor and Nik aside.

"That half-giant-half-orc told me twice to meet him outside. I'd rather not brawl before I get to know a town. It doesn't help that I'm tired, cut up, and mostly sober."

"Tell you what, I'll go out with you and trip him up if he tries anything funny. It sounded like he might want to do the squirrel job too. I don't really want to fight him so maybe we should try to work together-"
Nik suddenly looks towards the door and back to Jek.

"I'll meet you outside."
Then Nik rushes out to make sure his shambler hasn't gotten itself dusted.

Ok lemme see if I caught all your questions, you asked them pretty fast Rinika. So I was told by Vargas in there that the squirrels around here are fairly large, I have not seen one in person so I can only go on his information. My name is Cr'gir tribesman and warrior of clan Sklar, son of Cruumsh. I am sixteen if you would like to know how long I have been here here. In this town though, much less than sixteen years, I very recently had to come into town as I was unable to hunt up some food out there.

Leans down and whispers
Not to mention it wasn't like any forest I've been in before, I was a bit afraid

"Which way to that Dwarven Mountain? Also, would you happen to have one of those quick-release heavy wooden shields in my size?"

Show me large wooden quick release 1-75: 1d100 ⇒ 23

He says, "Don't rightly know, other than its on the Outlands. There must be a branch nearby leads somewhere close though. Yeah as a matter of fact. A strange Bariaur ordered it a couple of weeks ago but he hasn't been by to pick it up. I can't say I'm surprised really, if you want to buy it its yours."

Nik looks between Cr'gir and Zombington the third, making sure that neither the overlarge orc nor the overripe zombie did anything troublesome.

"Possible is another question, what's even possible...?" Nik says to no one in particular.

He looks at the book still in his hands again and turns it over slowly a couple more times thoughtfully before putting it away in his pack.

Rinika puffs herself up, pleased that she's finally older than someone. "Now look, kid, I'm surprised anything can scare you, but you're probably right to be afraid here, there's a whole army of lizard people who steal people's mojo. Hey Nik. Nik, *coughing noises.* If you're hungry, that tavern over there has a pretty cheap stew."

Nik looks over to see that Rinika followed Cr'gir and himself outside.

He gives her a blank look at Rinika's coughing noises, one arm over his shoulder already absently groping for a certain book.

Then he remembers.

Refocusing on the present, he takes a step closer to Zombington and farther from the elephant in the room orc that's also standing outside waiting for Jek.

Thank you for the advice young lady
You think the half orc is grinning but again rather hard to tell through the beard
I am guessing you two are traveling companions
Looks at Nik and Rinika in turn (I know Conor is out there but he hasn't done anything yet that suggests they all travel together)
I would actually rather like to travel with someone, if you would have me of course

If not though I thank you for the advice about the lizard people and the inn also.

Jek picks up the shield and tries it out a bit. "Perfect. I'll take it." He happily buys the shield while wearing it.

"Let me know if you come across any horseshoes of speed." They're metal, but only the raw material is marked up crazy high, right?

Jek pauses before leaving. He had no idea if centaurs got along with giants. His conversations with Selana were mostly about the price of grass or fruit. He had however grown up hearing many stories of heroic bariaurs who started their careers as fire or frost giant slayers. Jek had never seen the ones in Ysgard personally. What kind of giant is he? Are they all same? Cr'gir didn't seem dreadfully evil. Would a half-giant be half-evil? Jek decided to stop thinking about it and exited the shop.

"Would you guys mind a trip to the tannery? I'd like to get this hide processed." Jek tries to hide the fact that he's keeping an eye on Cr'gir, but he's not good at subtlety.