This is for all the players to chime in so we can see who is still with us and to give you all a handle to this game.
Here and ready
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"What's the crisis this time?"
"Fruitful indeed," said a Professor. "We know where the treasures of Dahkaan is hiding."
"Which treasures?" asks Dakaal, "The Dahkaani Empire covered most of the continent and lasted for ten millennia. All of the treasures can't be in one place."
"A long time ago," the Professor Klarn begins. "There were twelve artifacts created. Three for each elemental plane. The people of Darguun are sponsoring digs in Xen'drik and are scouting for a second here in Breland."
"Do we know which groups from Darguun are looking into this?" he asks with definite concern. "Some of the groups would be more intense than others."
"We know that they are hobgoblins," said Professor Klarn. "We believe they are looking for something that belongs to the plane of fire. We think they are in Xen'drik to find an artifact of fire. The Idol of Fernia."
He is irritated at the lack of detail of the report. "So we have no idea if they are Kech Volaar, Kech Shaarat, Ghaal'dar, or if they support Lhesh Haruuc? If they are military, do we know which unit they are? Knowing their motivations and methods might be essential if we have to face them. If there are competing groups we might be able to play one off of another."
Having built up momentum, he continues, "What's more, a successful mission could disrupt the power balance between the different groups of Darguun and the possibility of conflict on our borders. Shaarat has already absorbed some lesser clans and it's only a matter of time until they feud with Haruuc. The Volaar are playing a longer game, counting on restoring culture and inspiring people. Potentially taking over without bloodshed. I doubt Haruuc has such long-term plans. He's getting by on charisma and victory. But as the current ruler, he has all of the maintenance issues as well as keeping his head in place. I suspect that your contacts at the crown want to keep the stalemate for as long as possible, but they also know which way they want the sticks to fall when it does go down. Having these artifacts could be tools for future influence on how this goes down. Well worth any ill will caused by taking them out from under them."
There's a sudden shift in tone as he transitions from speculation about the far future to speculation about the near future. "So what information do we have on the locations of these artifacts? If they have significant forces searching Xen'drik, then it's pointless to send us unless we have information narrowing it down to a specific location."
"For the local site, we have home field advantage. They'll likely have a smaller group. We should expect taarka'kesh and/or shaarat'kesh. If they don't know the origin of the troops, then they will likely have missed the more subtle forces."
Content to let his brother deal with the humans since his expertise was with animals, Kozzemo, having removed his boot, busies himself by chewing on his toe nails as they have gotten a bit long of late. He does look up every now and again to see how things are going but ultimately goes back to his business at hand... or foot.
Hobgoblins were not folks that Kozzemo much liked, while they were cousins of a sorts they were always rather domineering and constantly pushing Goblins around to do their dirty work. Heck even the Bugbears, their other cousins of a sort, seemed to treat the Goblins better, not by much but a bit better, than the Hobgoblins did. So nope, Kozzemo did not much care for the Hobgoblins.
After his brother's speech Kozemo pauses and looks up over his toes and asks, "What dis Idol of Ferny look like?"
"Well, we have a picture of it right here, in this old book," says Professor Klarn. He opens the book to reveal a beautiful golden idol in the shape of a scorpion. "An old Antiquarian named Belloch managed to draw this picture, but he was slain by the dragonborn in the jungle before he could collect it."
Professor Klarn then pulls out a map of Xen'drik, unrolling it. He points to a ruin dubbed Last Chance. "That is where the Darguuni are. But we know that Belloch found it here, at Obsidian City. That's where you are going."
[b]"If they are that close, I assume that you've procured suitably fast transit?"[/]b he asks.
"I can reserve a Lyrandar sky-ship to Stormreach," said Professor Klarn. "After that, you're on your own."[/b]
Kozzemo gets up to get a close look at the map, "Looks like you," he glances to his brother, "can take boat; get real close." He looks up at Professor Klarn, "You pay for boat. With the way Kozzemo said that it was unclear whether he was making a statement or asking a question.
Professor Klarn says: "You want to go by boat? Are you asking a question?"
"He means hiring a boat when we get to Stormreach." clarifies Dakaal. "What funds are available for the expedition? If nobody minds, I can keep track of the expense logs. Subject to auditing to avoid any appearance of impropriety."
Kozzemo looks up at Professor and his eyes narrow a bit then he leans over the map again and puts a finger on Stormreach saying, "You Sky-ship Stormreach, You Boat" he moves his finger onto Osidian City, "Black City." He then looks up at the Professor smiling and nodding as if to say there I cleared it all up and the Professor now fully understood what Kozzemo was saying.
"He means hiring a boat when we get to Stormreach." clarifies Dakaal. "What funds are available for the expedition? If nobody minds, I can keep track of the expense logs. Subject to auditing to avoid any appearance of impropriety."
"We've set aside 50,000 Galifars for the expedition," Professor Klarn said. "Don't waste it. As for the boat, that money should also get you a nice boat."
"when does the skyship leave?" asks the professor.
Professor Klarn reports, "In three days. That should be enough time to get your affairs in order."
He then gathered up his papers.
Kozzemo pads back over to where his boots are and asks in Goblin, "You got the details for this all covered my brother?"
"Mazo." he responds confidently. Internally, he is collating lists of expedition supplies and cross referencing them to suppliers. Including some livestock for Golin'Kurar, at least for the flight.
He turns to the silent members of our group. "any particular equipment needs. Ration preferences?"
Rook will walk over to Ivo and Ama and check to see if they still have a pulse.
He is irritated at the lack of detail of the report. "So we have no idea if they are Kech Volaar, Kech Shaarat, Ghaal'dar, or if they support Lhesh Haruuc? If they are military, do we know which unit they are? Knowing their motivations and methods might be essential if we have to face them. If there are competing groups we might be able to play one off of another."
"What's it matter what group of hobs and gobs we're going up against? We'll just end up having to sneak past or smash through 'em anyway, not like we can reason with the..." he trails off, noticing Kozzemo "'people' anyway. No offense."
"What's it matter what group of hobs and gobs we're going up against? We'll just end up having to sneak past or smash through 'em anyway, not like we can reason with the..." he trails off, noticing Kozzemo "'people' anyway. No offense."
The professor doesn't seem offended, merely that this is an excuse to educate you. "It matters because knowing your enemy helps you to sneak past 'em or smash 'em. Kech Volaar is likely to include more magical support than the others. Almost certainly bards and possibly wizards. They'll also have more support in magical items. If we have a simple fight that they withdraw from, most likely it's a test to determine our capabilities."
Kech Shaarat are going to be disciplined skirmishers. If they have the numbers, they will use multiple hit and run attacks, attempting to weaken us while limiting our ability to retaliate. If they know the terrain, they will use that and channel us into hazards or terrain that limits us.
Ghaal'dar are going to be more straightforward. They are the most direct and they try to hit their foes hard. They'll likely have more guul'dar - "bugbears" We should avoid a direct battle and focus on evasion and skirmishing.
Taarka'khesh will be sneaky. They know the wilds and will use that. I don't think that they'll be the main force, but any of the groups could bring along a unit of them.
Soldiers for LLesh Haruuc will likely be more varied. We won't know as much what to expect and if these are adventurers, anything goes."
He'll pause here.
"I was planning to do this on the airship, but this seems to be the time to do it. We should each talk about our capabilities. I am Professor Dakaal, nominally of the the mathematics department because they do not yet have a discipline covering the essential patterns that underlie the universe. By referring to this more essential level of reality, I have insights into most fields of knowledge.
In more practical terms, this gives me insight into locks and security devices, observation, concealing myself from observation, and so forth. With the addition of a little mental energy, I can transform myself to optimize different abilities. Sneaking, climbing, swimming, etc.
Offensively, I look for the errors in expression between the ideal and actual manifestations of our opponents. By calculating the stresses, a minor amount of power results in those patterns failing. Sadly, such ability requires knowing the local conditions and so only works at close range. Frankly, I'm near useless at longer ranges.
My twin brother Kozzemo has our family's way with animals. Ja'Kor Hawkery is our family business, and Kozzemo has a deep spiritual bond with Golin'Kurar, one of our riding hawks. He wields the magic of nature and a wicked crossbow. At times I'll be riding on the front harness for mobility."
Kozzemo has gone back to working on his toe nails with his teeth. At the derogatory comment about Goblins, he looks up over his toes at Human with narrowed eyes. At the no offense comment Kozzemo snorts and says,"Chaat'oor"
He goes back to his toes while his brother talks about that metaphysical stuff he has immersed himself into. Something Kozzemo understands but then again does not understand. Sometimes it makes his head swim when Dakaal gets explaining it to him when they exchange thoughts.
Each of them accepting the alien part of each other has always been part of their bond, but also a frustration.
Ivo shrugs.
"Sure. Still, not worth getting your undies in a twist over it. Bad intel's just a part of the game."
Kozzemo pauses in his diligent work to mumble to Dakaal "Chaat'oor gaa'taat"
He gives his twin a glance in their own shared communication.
He'll nod at Ama, knowing this isn't in her normal comfort zone but also trusting in her magical skills. He expected that she had untapped depths behind her veils.
But he then joins in the expectant look toward Ivo. Word was that he had a number of expeditions under his belt, most successful. Even the couple of failed missions brought people back alive. He supposed that made up for his attitude toward preparation.
Kozzemo having finally finished with chewing his toe-nails shorter begins slipping his boots back on and says, "Good you prepare," he does a quick point to Ama and goes back to his boot, "he prepare," again another quick point this time to Dakaal, "as one an' he tell me what I need know." He stands up and stomps a bit as he finishes getting his feet back into his boots. Then looks at the others, "Me ready. What next?"
Since Ivo seems oblivious to the fact that people are waiting for him to explain his capabilities, he will continue with the planning.
"I have some ideas for the expedition planning. While some of it involves consumables, it also involves some permanent items. Those can of course, be resold upon our return to further expeditions. Here are my proposals."
"If we have combat, magical healing will be needed. We also have the normal hazards of the area. In the best case, Kozzemo and I will be able to provide it, but we'll plan for the worst case. I beleive two wands of curing would be appropriate and a pair of healing potions for those without their own means of healing. Kozzemo can deal with most of the other things we'll face like diseases and both of us can deal with the effects of poison. Four antiplague and four antitoxins will help ride things out and a couple scrolls of neutralize poison for particularly potent toxins. Oh, and a potion to deal with blindness, as that is curiously outside of druidic influence. If we have no debate, that is 4,250 on curatives."
"Food would be next. I don't need any, as mathametics is enough to sustain me. That leavs one regular sized person, two oversized people and one oversized carnivorous bird. Airship passage will inclue meals, so one month should be sufficient. After that we can acquire local rations or rely on our hunting duo. Waterskins for all, and Kezzmo can create water. Fifty gold for provisions."
"For shelter, I suggest the expedition paviliion. Not only is it space-efficient, but it holds in sound, light and scent. With camouflage netting, we will be difficult to spot. It's about as effective as anything outside of sleeping an an extradimensional space. This is 6,500 gold for this option. If we want a less expensive option we could go with the field scrivener's desk for a little savings of the safecamp wagon for more savings."
He pauses before the conclusion. "Transport has the most options. We've discussed hiring a boat to take up partway up to the dig site. If any of us have experience as a sailor we could use a folding boat and have more control over our voyage. But I have a different idea. Kozzemo and I are used to flying on Golin'Kurar. This would use up almost all of our budget, but we could get a pair of brooms of flying and have everybody fly. We wouldn't need to follow the water and it would improve our overland speeds as well. We would only have about ten persent in reserve for unexpected expenses, so we might consider a more frugal living arrangement."
Kozzemo does not quite understand everything that his brother is talking about but knows if their is something he specifically needs to understand Dakaal will explain it to him, in their own language.
The professor said, "The itinerary of the expedition will be thus -- 3 days by Lyrandar airship until you reach Stormreach, then you will have the money to get a fast ship. Then it should take you upwards of two days to reach your destination."
The professor shakes his head at the sudden shift of the universe, but the transition of two of the people in front of him appears to of less importance than their planning.
"With you two on brooms of flying and we goblins riding Golin'Kurar, then it uses up 89.6% of our funds, but it provides fast transport that doesn't depend on waterways and gives us the opportunity to avoid many ground-based hazards. Technically, we could use one broom, but it would be slower and require both of you to spend many hours in close proximity. This is up to you two."
He also takes out a new journal and a straight edge and quickly enters a proposed budget.
Proposed budget
"Seems riskier than taking the transport. A lot easier to take out one broom than a whole ship. And easier to cart away wounded and casualties than hauling bodies along on a broom built for one."
"Plus, you know, supplies are important." he says as if this last thought doesn't really need to be said, but he'll say it anyway.
He does listen, and pauses to think.
"True, but the ship can't take us all the way. We'll have to trek through the jungle with all of our supplies. What's more, I'm also considering the exit. It's unlikely that we'll be completely undetected, so a hasty retreat may be in order. If we are relying on a boat operated by a third party, then it may be a long walk pursued by enemies. Or be forced to steal their transport."
"If any one method of flying is taken out, then we can double up at the cost of a little speed. An inherent safety margin. If two methods are taken out, then we are back to the original state."
"If you are concerned with controlling it, the magic does help keep control. I can't do much about a fear of heights, but I don't suspect that from anybody living in Sharn."
"As for carrying supplies, I have an extradimensional bag. Golin'Kurar has saddlebags and muleback cords. We can purchase more extradimensional storage if necessary. And of course, this is an issue whether we fly or not."
The professor speaks up. "It's safer to go by Skyship," he says.
"We will be sponsoring the dig, find anything interesting," the professor said. "We will pay for surveying tools, your trip on the airship, and digging tools. You're going into a dangerous area, so weapons will be your responsibility. Oh and we will bank for food."
The entire expedition!
Okay, do we need to budget for all of this or can we simply do the small parts and move on?