"It's still early enough in the morning, We have some time to prepare. I have a proposal. Vernon and Lindaer attend classes, see what we might learn there as well as keep an eye on our competitors. Hireath, if anywhere was to have the copper we need, it would most likely be the Artificing club. Check there and see what we can acquire. As for me, I plan to head into town and make exchanges for what copper we can as well as make preparations in case things go wrong."
Anita pours herself an additional cup of tea. "Any scrolls you're comfortable with selling, I'll take with me. Hireath might find more use for our gold should we need to trade for copper materials they have. If anyone has any other plans, let's hear them out before going our separate ways. Good luck everyone and let's meet back here once our tasks are complete." The human girl downs her fresh cup before standing up to leave.
"Oh, and can anyone play an instrument? I'm planning a little show for our kobold friends should the need arise. Might help keep the eyes off you, Hireath." Anita says with a wink.
Hireath dashes back to her room and grabs a few scrolls. "I've got two scrolls of Comprehend Languages and one scroll of Mage Armor. Hopefully they'll sell for a decent price."
"Unfortunately I can't check out the Artificing Club until later. For one thing they don't have a separate workshop; they meet in the Alchemy Classroom. Maybe Vernon and Lindaer could look around while they're in class and see what kind of supplies they have? The first club meeting is this evening, so I can also ask Leonard then." She considers for a moment. "Or I could try to catch him while he's headed to class."
Vernon digs in his pouch and pulls out his scroll. "Add mine to it as well. Sadly multiple copies will likely make it worth less gold."
Alchemy class is taught in a sunny laboratory on the top floor with high, sweeping windows of the surrounding countryside.
Desks are smooth slate, so clean to show that magic was involved.
On one site lies a huge pile of copper wire and machinery labelled "Leonard's Lightning Redirector—PROPERTY OF ARTIFICING CLUB, DO NOT TOUCH!!!"
The Alchemy teacher is Professor Gif, a cheerful gnome with bright purple hair.
"Welcome, welcome all to the first Alchemy lesson! I imagine that you have an inkling of what the discipline ensues, but if you don't, here it is: Alchemy is the science-slash-practice dealing with refining, distilling and combining the magical or quasi-magical properties of various substances. Relatively simpler uses include creating mundane but useful substances such as tanglefoot bags or alchemist's fire, like this."
With a sudden motion, the gnome throws a vial into an empty fireplace. As it shatters, a flash-fire explodes around it, burning away in a few seconds.
"Potions fall under the label of alchemical creations as well" she continues "allowing a spellcaster to infuse a reagent, usually liquid, with a measure of their power, trapping the spell for later use. Quick and easy, anyone can use a potion, even if they don't have an inkling of magical power. And they are easier to use than scrolls, for example. Drawback, they can only affect you, and there is a limit to the power of the spell. Now! Generally you need to know a spell to make a potion of it, but I can't go around making personalized assignments for the first lesson, so you follow the instructions I'll write on the blackboard-" she pulls a ladder to the blackboard and climbs up to write by hand a protocol "-and I'll help you with the spellcasting if you are not of the healing persuasion. Ah, yes, I didn't tell you, we are going to make simple healing potions."
You spot Leonard, his hair messy and his eyes heavy with sleep, shuffling with a zombie-like gait towards the classrooms for advanced courses. He's taking sips from a steaming mug and hasn't noticed your presence yet.
Hireath runs up to the half-awake upperclassman. "Hey Leonard, uh, it's Hireath, remember we talked yesterday? I was wondering if I could ask you a couple questions about where the Artificing Club gets its supplies."
She sells what scrolls she can and purchases a book that looks as similar she can remember to the copy of Astral Fires and the Endless Sea. Making her way to the tailor, Anita picks up a rather provocative dancer's dress as well as a draconic theater mask. Once her backup plan was complete, She rest of her money was exchanged for copper pieces, copper dust, wire and anything primarily made of copper (Copper pots, pans, etc).
Entertainer's Outfit 3G
Monster Mask for 5G
Sack (as many as required) 1S each
Porter (labor) 1S
Copper ???
Any left over money will be spent on as much ale as she can afford. Drunk kobolds are probably less observant.
Immediately distracted by the pile of copper wire Vernon struggles to keep his attention on the task. He hadn't studied crafting alchemical supplies but was interested in the concept. With the instructions on the board, and with the help of the spell from the instructor he tries....
He breaths a sigh of relief when it is successful and decides that in the future he will have to add this skill to his training!
Leonard twists his mouth. "We can scrape by some bits and baubles, maybe a pound or two spare, but we've used most of it to build the Lightning Redirector. And putting in a request will take at least a couple of weeks. Sorry. Best of luck for the assignment, though!"
Several shops actually have a rather significant reserve of copper pieces and tools. The conversion is straightforward, but all of the shopkeepers are getting some profit: whether by claiming that the labor involved in crafting parts make them more worthwhile, they all take a small profit margin. In the end, she and the laborer that she hired for the purpose have to make two trips back and forth, but there is something comforting in the weight of a hundred and a half pounds of copper.
Professor Sif would likely pat you on the back if she was tall enough. Instead, she appreciatively slaps your forearm.
As Leonard continues on his way, Hireath frowns in thought. She could make it to Alchemy, maybe even only a few minutes late. But what she'd said earlier was still true; it seemed unlikely they'd be teaching anything she didn't already know. Not on the first day.
So with one backwards glance at the classrooms, she heads to the Library. Not to explore; she doesn't dare enter the Library itself without the rest of the team. But maybe the librarians would know something useful?
Once she enters the Library, she heads straight to the front desk. "Um, excuse me, I'm one of the first-year students. We found one of the books for our research assignment, but it's being guarded by a dragon who wants 10,000 copper pieces for it. Judging by its hoard people have been pacifying it with copper for a long time. Do you happen to know anything about where they might have gotten it?"
|
There were some things that Lindaer was just not good at. Alchemy, it seemed, was one of them.
It was, to put it blunt, horrible. He didn’t understand a quarter of the words, given his complete unfamiliarity with surface fauna. He was distracted. And he just wasn’t skilled. His concoction tasted as bad as it was ineffective.
So he relied instead on his charms, such as they were. Using the failure to seek assistance from their teacher after class. And at the same time, working his way into the conversation with Leonard whether or not it was possible via alchemy to transmute other materials into copper...
Settling into the dorm room, she resigned herself to a long morning of counting money.
"Ah, don't worry, don't worry. Take a look at the first chapters of your book and you'll find some tips to help you." says the gnome cheerfully, climbing the desk to ruffle Lindaer's hair. "Transmuting metals is a rather advanced subject, hmm? Everyone usually starts wanting gold, though, copper is rather humble, as beginnings go. Still, changing the fundamental nature of substances is, in common terms, a huge mess, and not at all the scope of alchemy, nevermind what all those charlatans tell you. What we deal with, more commonly, is combining the intrinsic properties of different materials, having them work together for our ends, rather than imposing different natures on them. That is more like the job of a master transmuter wizard. Then, of course, there are exceptions, but blanches and the such use more of the substance they are mimicking than would be profitable, and philosopher's stones are a devil to make. So it's generally better to go another way if you need basic materials."
"No. And we can't assist students in their project either. Dean's orders."
If the librarian Hireath asked were any more blunt she'd be an effective weapon against skeletons.
Hireath bristles at the tone. I was just asking a question, not trying to cheat! Her tone icy, (though still polite), she says, "Thanks" and leaves.
Well that was a waste of time. I should have just gone to Alchemy. Nothing good ever comes of skipping class!
For now she heads back to the dorms, hoping to reconvene with the others. She meets Anita there and stares at the large number of sacks bulging with copper. "That's amazing Anita, were you able to get all ten thousand? Leonard said they might have a pound or two lying around but they'd have to put in a request for any more, which would take a couple weeks." She grimaces. "So unfortunately we won't be able to get much help from the Artificing Club."
Anita looks up from her pile of carefully stacked coins and says, "I'm still counting the coin, but from the weight of it, I'd say we're about three quarters of the way there! The day's just started, we could still get all of it before we go for our fallback plan. If nothing else, this big pile of coins gives us a good reason to be down in the kobold's lair." She finishes another stack and starts a new one, the clink of copper filling the air.
"As much as I dislike the prospect, there could also be copper hiding in the Library itself, though that'd be a shot in the dark at best. I think now's the time we decide if we keep pursuing the copper trade or start preparing for a heist." Satisfied with this particular pile of coins, Anita carefully scoops the copper back into the empty bag and begins another.
"Hireath, those scrolls you made fetched a decent price. I think even if our plan fails and we're expelled, you could make a living. At least enough to support your family." Anita says to her half apologetically.
Hireath looks over the gathered goods critically. "About three quarters? That's a lot...but it would be hard to get the last bits. I don't think continuing to pursue the copper trade would get us much more, unless we're able to find some in the Library itself like you suggested. Diminishing returns." She rests her chin on her hands thoughtfully. "However, what we have might actually be enough. I may not be good at talking to people myself, but I'm a shopkeeper's daughter. I've seen a fair amount of haggling. If we can't find the rest of the copper, we can still offer this to the Book Wyrm. 7,500 copper in exchange for a book that's useless to her." Hireath smiles. "That's still a pretty good deal, and she's not going to get a better offer from the other groups. Not with you already clearing out the town of all the copper they had."
Hireath sits down and starts helping Anita count out the pieces. "If she's too proud to accept, then we can plan the heist."
"Hireath, those scrolls you made fetched a decent price. I think even if our plan fails and we're expelled, you could make a living. At least enough to support your family." Anita says to her half apologetically.
"Yes, well...I kind of tried that, to raise some tuition money in case I got in but wasn't offered a scholarship. Unfortunately there's only so many scrolls of Comprehend Languages you can sell before the market becomes over-saturated. I simply don't know enough spells to make it work long-term." Hireath sits up straighter, a determined look in her eyes. " If I want to be successful I need to learn a larger variety of spells, and maybe how to craft other items as well. Which is why we're not going to be expelled. Even if we can't get this book, we'll find another one."
Vernon joins the others, happy with his luck at alchemy class. "Hey guys. Alchemy class was OK for me. Got lucky and I got a potion of healing that should work if anyone gets hurt. Also, there was a machine there with a huge pile of COPPER wire by it. Had a sign on it saying it was some lightning redirector and property of the artificing club? Depending on how much copper we need there might be a part or two that could be 'lifted' from that thing. Who's with the artificing club though? Maybe they'd have more copper or might know where some more wire could be gotten?"
"I'm thinking too that maybe we should explore a bit more of the library. We're on track with the copper, but there are two other books, and not to get greedy but if we found another we might could approach one of the teams that we don't dis-like.... And maybe they'd have the last of the copper that we might need? And maybe something else valuable in the trade."
"I talked with Leonard this morning. They have a pound or two of copper to spare, but it would take two weeks to requisition more." Hireath folds her arms and glares at Vernon. "I certainly hope you're not suggesting dismantling the Lightning Redirector. Leonard's been perfectly nice to me and is already helping us as much as he can. Sabotaging a project he's spent months working on would be a poor way of repaying that."
She goes back to counting coins. "I do agree that exploring more of the Library would be a good idea. Anita pointed out that we might find more copper there. And I have to admit it would be nice to get all three books. That's an accomplishment that seems to garner a lot of respect around here. Impressing the professors early can only be a good thing."
Besides, imagine the look on that stuck-up blonde's face when she has to beg us for a book!
The party's own stuck-up blonde says, "I suppose now we decide what to do with the coin we have. Leaving it here is risky, I think it would be best if we deliver most of the coin to the bloated pig-drake. Once it is in her possession it is no longer our problem. Are we all prepared to make an expedition?" Anita looks rather proud of the coinage she's collected and allows herself a moment to stretch.
"I have just about all the things I need for our backup plan, maybe get some treats or whatnot to placate our audience and make them relax. Let me give you a quick rundown. Hireath, as before, you're going to sneak to the pedestal in the kobold's den and swap it for the fake." The human girl points to a smallish blue book she left on the table.
"I plan to perform a dance in order to distract them. Most of my lessons were for ballroom waltz, but I did learn some more energetic ones in my spare time. Lindaer, those flames of yours would make quite the spectacle. Can you set me ablaze without injuring me? And you, Vernon, you're in the Music club, correct? Any form of musical accompaniment would greatly improve the show. While I don't relish the idea of performing for the amusement of savages, I think the results would be worth it. If we must fall to this plan, we should get some practice in before the real show."
Vernon accepts Hireath's words and nods, "I would never suggest damaging a magical experiment of a friend. I didn't know who was involved. Are any of the teams from this year on that project? That could be a group that we could work with or offer support. They might have a line on a different book, and if we worked together their team and ours could more easily each get a book and possibly combining efforts get the third. Then we both decide which team we want with us next year."
"I don't play an instrument but I can sing a little. A song in draconic might get their attention. Can you cast the Prestidigitation spell? You could use it to change your skin color during your dance. And one of us could cast a Dancing Lights as a single flaming humanoid shape and super-impose it on you. It would make it look like you were on fire but not harmed. Simple illusion I know, but to a non-caster it might be impressive...."
A...dance? Hireath finishes her stack of coins. I'm glad I'm going to be unnoticeable during that!
"That certainly sounds like it will be impressive, if we have to resort to that. Unfortunately I don't know yet who else is going to be in the Artificing Club; I didn't see anyone else approach the booth. I'll find out tonight." She finishes the last stack of coins and stands up, dusting off her hands.
"Just to be certain I understand; the plan is for us to skip Lore and visit the Library now. First we'll drag all this coin to the Book Wyrm and see if we can convince her it's enough. If we can't, are we implementing Plan 'Distract Them and Steal the Book' immediately, or are we going to explore the rest of the Library first? I'm fine either way, I just want to be sure we're clear."
"Remember though, they said anyone coming in had to have the mark, on both eyes."
"Right." Hireath is decidedly unenthusiastic about that part. "Hopefully looking at the Celestial planes will provide the mark. If it doesn't...if it doesn't than Lindaer and I can look. Anita, Vernon, you don't have to. I think Lindaer should be able to negotiate, and if necessary I could probably steal the book without a distraction."
She shoulders her supplies and grabs a sack of copper. "Are we ready?"
"If we're going to make a performance, I'd like to practice at least a little before hand. Perhaps we can even create some kind of story!" The bard titters behind her hand, but refocuses. "Let's deliver our bounty, perhaps the gluttonous lizard will be impressed by the speed we collected her prize. Once it's delivered, we should take the opportunity to explore the Library if our negotiations fail."
Anita hefts one of the bags with surprising ease, the human girl is stronger than her appearance might suggest. "I suppose I am ready as I can be."
You make your way towards the Brass King, walking through the mazing corridors while magelight shows the way. Your steps resonate in the eerie silence of the Library, with no response save the echo and a faint chittering of small animals.
As you enter the room, an unpleasant surprise awaits Hireath: she accidentally steps over a thin silk thread and snaps it. There is a twang of rope releasing tension, and a large book falls from a nearby library. At the same time, what seemed to be the usual dust on the ground shoots out of the ground, revealing itself as a very big, very sturdy spiderweb. In less then a second, the tiefling is swept off the ground and dangles from an unseen ceiling, suspended by a thick noose of spiderwebs coiled around her legs.
To make traps out of spiderwebs is usually a sign of an ettercap, a hideous arachnid monster with a penchant for laying traps and ambushes.
Hireath screams as she's suddenly flipped upside down. "What the...help!" She struggles to free herself from the webs around her legs.
"Oh my! Hireath try to relax, we'll get you down from there!" Anita tries to reassure the tiefling girl, but isn't actually sure what she can do. If only I had a dagger or some other sharp Instrument. "I.. I guess I can catch you Hireath! Be careful!" Anita drops the sack she was carrying and rolls up her sleeves, this is probably going to get messy.
Hireath's bare hands are not strong enough to break the thick, sticky silk strands.
Lindaer's spell hits the strand of spiderweb, burning away a few of the filaments. Not many, though. Aside from some scorching, the web looks in rather good shape.
Hireath freezes as Lindaer takes aim at the web, not wanting to risk getting hit by the fire herself. Unfortunately it doesn't seem to have done much good.
The brief pause does give her enough time to calm down. Focus Hireath, nothing's attacking you yet. Just cut yourself loose. She pulls the dagger from her belt and tries to slash at the sticky strands.
'Tries' being the operative word. She continues to dangle helplessly.
"Um, Vernon, Lindaer, if I give Anita my dagger do you think you could boost her high enough to cut me free?"
Teetering, Anita slashes at the spiderweb as well as she can manage while held aloft. It wasn't a very deep cut, but hopefully it was enough for the web to give under Hireath's weight.
If this wasn't enough, Anita resolves to summon an eagle with Summon Nature's Ally and have it bite the web with its beak.
The first cuts don't manage to go through the thick strands, but as the fibers give way you manage to cut enough of them that the web gived way, unceremoniously releasing Hireath on the ground with a thump. A few more minutes of bladework free her legs, although it will take some more serious effort to get the sticky silk out of her clothes.
Once Hireath is freed Vernon casts a dancing lights to light up the webs higher up to see if anything might still be waiting above them, perhaps not dropping because of only one person being webbed. "Odd that nothing followed up the trap. What placed it, and why?"
"Oof!" Hireath tries to catch herself as she falls, but not being particularly athletic she simply hits the ground hard. Once her legs are freed, she halfheartedly tries to prestidigitate the webs off her clothes.
"No idea what placed it, but they've probably put traps all over the place. They might just check on them every once in a while." She pales at the sound of her own words. "So, uh, maybe we should try not to be here when it comes back? Let's just get this over with as quickly as possible."
She strides over to the telescope and sets both of the dials to LOW. Then she steels herself and looks through the eyepiece.
Satisfied with her handiwork, Anita hands the dagger back to Hierath, handle first. She then picks up her sack of coins and thought for a moment before exclaiming, "Check your belongings, they might have taken something!"
A quick search reveals that none of your belongings are missing.
Prestidigitation having done the little it could to remove the strong strands from her clothes, Hireath sees through the telescope an impossibly large mountain, its top floating. She has visions of noble, strong creatures wandering orderly cities, while what she assumes are virtuous souls enjoy the peaceful atmosphere. Another vision shows a citadel of paladins in silver armor and red cloaks, training together in a shining legion. If what she saw previously was Hell, this must be a Heaven, everything is beautiful, precise and organized.
But when she looks away, there is no green glow in her eyes.
Hireath's shoulder's slump. "I guess we do have to look at hell. Lindaer, I'll be ready to pull you away if things go wrong again."
Which they almost certainly will.
Vernon moves up to the other side of Linfaer. "I'll help just in case you resist Hireath. We don't know the power of this thing. I wish I'd thought to prepare the Resistance cantrip?
"Very well, I will operate the telescope." Now that she was back, Anita felt an urge to peer once more upon the Hells, but was content to wait her turn. She slowly turns the dials to High Ethics, Low Morals. "Be careful Lindear, It's easy to get caught up in everything you see."
Through the lenses a scene focuses on a plane of a beauty unrestrained by any concept or law. Dolphin-like creatures swim in an ocean of the deepest blue, reflecting an untouched sky. Fairy-like creatures dance in moonlit glades, playing wild tones merging in a tear-jerking harmony. Elfin creatures run through verdant fields lit by a dusk in colors that any painter would give years of lifespan to portrait on canvas, and unbridled passion can be felt through the air.
Anita fidgets a bit over the controls. Did she do it right? She'd been the viewer last time and didn't get to see how Vernon had operated the machine. The drow's reaction was puzzling, perhaps she had gotten it wrong? "Are you alright Lindear? What do yo see?"
"I guess we need Low Ethics, High Morals. Which seems backwards; shouldn't High Morals be the good planes? Maybe it was done that way on purpose to trick people..." Hireath shakes her head, forcibly stopping herself from going off on a further tangent. "It doesn't matter. I'm still ready to pull you away." She braces herself as she waits for Anita to turn the dials.