Galahad looked at the direction Desseer and John were heading.
"We could try and find a library or... follow whatever Desseer is trying to do? I will be honest the thought of him alone in this unknown city does unsettle me a little, even if Morgrave is with him. The library can wait if you think he might be walking into danger.
Myriana watched as Desseer and John left them and turned her focus back to So'ren when he spoke with some concern. Myriana considered whether they should follow and then shook her head and said, "No, I think we would be best to stay away nya. If they run into trouble having some distance will give us a better chance to withdraw and get any needed help nya."
At the jostling from John, Desseer startles back to the hall. "Oh..uhh..," he stumbles as he wrangles his mind in order.
"One of the guards down there made reference to a 'great mage'," he begins again informatively. Desseer then muses, "What are the chances that 'great mage' is here. I'm thinking probably the capital."
"Well, only one way to find out." With that, Desseer strolls through the hall, subtly avoiding any physical contact. He observes the hall and its occupants for any clues as to a hierarchy, or important offices.
1d20
Seeing a rather heavy man eating grapes as he reads a book, his bald head shining in the sun, he looks like he has an almost black brown robe. As everyone else is rushing around he is enjoying himself.
"Nah, I'm not going to sit around waiting for some NPC to take care of our HQ. I'm headed in. Anybody fight-worthy can join me. The rest of you get the non-coms to the farm as a fallback. It may not be ideal, but I don't want some stranger poking around our secrets." So'ren says, gathering Safron, Peoni, and Breaking Dawn to her side before moving towards the HQ.
Galahad nods
"That's true, in any case they can likely deal with it, Desseer isn't the type to jump head in into danger. Well, where would a library be?
He turns around and asks a passerby
"Excuse me, would you happen to know where we can find a library around here?"
The passerby shakes his head at Galahad and laughs before moving on.
Almost as if on cue you hear a brown official in his tan looking robes with the brown official Veil tabard. "Greetings and welcome to the town hall of Drother, any of the brothers and sisters can help you within. Though if you need directions I am here for your ease!" You likely hear him say is several times before you get across the town square and up the stairs.
you notice that no other dark brown robed brothers or sisters are in this room. Many of them have tan or a golden brown coloring to their robes as if they were made from old papyrus.
|
He walks over to the man comfortably sitting, reading, and eating grapes. He does his best to not startle the man, "Excuse me sir. It seems you are enjoying yourself and you are a high ranking individual. My associate and myself were looking for..." he trails off and then comes up with some random reasons as he doesn't know.
---
He is afraid of the innuendo in the man's voice but with a nod towards Desseer he follows the plump balding man towards the back.
The man sets his book down and finishes the grape in his mouth, he is about to say something but stops. He then offers, "I am a high ranking official here. I could easily help you bypass some red tape for the right tip, come along we will talk more in my study. Just you, your friend can wait."
Desseer gives John an accepting nod in turn.
After the plump man has turned his back and begins heading toward the back, Desseer quickly gathers his will and, with a small burst of air and a low hum, he turns invisible and follows after.
John follows the plump brown official to the back with Desseer close behind. They get into an 'elevator' which has plenty of room for the three of you, likely eight could comfortably fit. After going up three floors, the plump man leads John to what you think is his office.
After John takes extra care to slowly close the door behind himself. The plump man asks, "So what kind of favors are we talking about?" He continues using innuendo to plant ideas of what he might want to do to John, or have John do to him.
John just raises his hand and says, "Just stop. I have no interest in you touching me or the reciprocal. Great One, what question would you have this overstuffed turkey answer? Now if it wasn't clear, I have the advantage here. Even your traps won't affect me until I try to leave. If you answer the questions then my payment will be not killing you."
Desseer strolls and finds a seat. "Now, now. There is no need for threats. Surely our portly new pal would be more than happy to assist us. You see, I'm looking for information on the Veil Kingdom. Your structure confuses me. Who is in charge here in Drother? What tier of magic are you capable of? What tier of magic is the Great Mage capable of? What about your king?"
So'ren notices the man falling, but urges her companions forward. "Enough time has been wasted. The fortress burns. Let's proceed."
Peono and Saffron nod, taking up flanking positions to their mistress, ready to defend her at the costs of their own lives.
Galahad grimaces at the stranger's reaction
Uh, perhaps the people in this town are more wary than they look
As he hears the official, he perks up his ears
"Ah, it seems like they have some sort of official guide in this town! Let's see what this is about
Galahad walks towards the source of the voice untill he finds the man
"Ah, hello sir, I happen to be a Pilgrim and me and my friends are looking for a place where we could find books and perhaps information about the history of this region. Could you point us towards it? - He asks
"Great Ones! We have arrived to aid you! Zhang is inside talking to Shere Khan. Since I'm immune to fire, please make this one useful and use my body as a shield!" - He said, raising his weapon.
"I have resistance to fire! Please use me as a shield as well!"
At this Cao Guojiu sighed
"This isn't a competition, you know?" - He said
He takes a bite from a piece of jerky from a glass container on his desk. Then calmer he states, "The Great Mage is nearly to the highest tier of magic at 6th Tier as our King can cast 5th Tier. Now this seems to be mostly common place information, but you are not from around here."
The town crier gives Galahad a wink and offers in a gracious voice, "There is a small library here in the Town Hall but the only other larger collection that is not privately owned would be the library at the Magic Academy."
Soren, Peono, Saffron, Cao Guojiu and He Xiangu enter into the burning fort with Fyr following behind. Luckily the courtyard and greeting hall were free of fire or even scorch marks. Down the stairs you go find the 7th floor sub basement landing with wounded, healers doing Triage, and not many guards.
As you ask they point out, "The Elementals are mostly below in the 8th and 9th sub basements. Troas and the other monks headed up to deal with some that are loose above. There is a strange water spirit who has been helping."
Myriana's head cocked a little at the reaction that Galah'ad got and began to wonder if they were mistaken about this town. Fortunately it seemed they had some luck after finding a town crier and the response was much more what she had expected. The mention of a "Magic Academy" was a surprise and more than a little exciting.
Myriana looked to Iris and asked, "Magic Academy? Did you go there Iris-chan?"
Desseer raises an eyebrow at the portly mage. "Refreshments and nibblets and you don’t offer any?" He says with feigned offense. He then shakes his head with a smile, "Tsk, tsk. Word might get out that you're a terrible host. And then you won't have anyone sneak in. Then what will you do?"
Desseer gives a chuckle and continues without waiting for a response, "No, no. Invisibility magic can be 1st or 2nd tier magic, the difference being duration. But, I suspect that you knew that already as your robes are dark or something." He ends with a dismissive wave.
"I did notice that you didn't answer the question about your capabilities. So...you know..that. But, aside from that, you seem to have an eye for opportunities. I have one for you. Until I can find a way to get home, I'm going to be getting comfy here. I want you to help me get comfy here in Drother."
Galahad perks up when he hears the words 'Magic Academy', he didn't said he was looking specifically for books about magic, but that was a huge plus.
He looked at Myriana as she questioned Iris, it would likely help if they had a former student with them, although he didn't took her as the academic type.
She simply replies, "No, I went to the elite academy in the capital."
Galahad nods
"I see, well then this will be a first visit to all of us"
He then turns back to the official
"Thank you sir, would you tell us where this Magic Academy is located?"
On the top of the huge barred door sat a stone tablet with graved words in the draconic alphabet.
"Tyger Tyger, burning bright
In the forests of the night
What immortal hand or eye
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?
In what distant deeps or skies,
Burnt the fire of thine eyes?
On what wings dare he aspire?
What hand dare seize the fire?"
As he approached it, he could hear a chuckle coming from a huge black mass laying at one the large cushions scattered around.
"Things must be truly dire if you have come to me... - A deep guttural voice said in a mocking tone
Zhang suppressed the urge to click his tongue
Out of all the NPCs from the Seeds of Slaughter this was likely one of the most troublesome ones, it wasn't a problem when his personality was just a bunch of lines in a backstory, but as an NPC himself, Zhang didn't knew it, to him this was always how Shere Khan had been
"If you can already tell the situation, then I must not need to explain myself" - The undead mage retorted, much to the creature's amusement
A shadow suddenly rose from the cushion and the black dark mass suddenly stood up, revealing a huge tiger with pitch black fur and umbral dark wings, it's eyes shining with a dangerous glow.
"Perhaps because this is your home as well...
At those words he saw Shere Khan's ears perk up
A strong creature, but so proud...
"Will you let those creatures defile your house?"
A moment of silence followed by a grunt
"Hehe, you're a smooth talk old mage, fine, I'll follow you, but I expect to be rewarded for this!"
With this, Zhang lowered the doors to Shere Khan's keep and the huge tiger followed along with him to scout for potential intruders in the guild.
"Then, that is where we will go. As soon as you can, move the wounded out to the refugee area outside." So'ren says, twitching her scorpion whip in anticipation of the battle to come.
"Of course, He Xiangu and Cao Guojiu, your assistance will make this all the easier. Let us proceed to sub-level eight."
He gives simple enough directions like he has done it hundreds of times, "Head South towards the tower, stay on the main thoroughfare straight to the academy steps. The mage's tower resides upon The Rock, which the academy is built against."
Myriana's eyes widened at hearing where Iris went to school at and asked wonderingly, "What was it like! Tell me all about it as we head to the library nya!"
Galahad nods
"Indeed, I would also like very much to know about such place"
He turns to the official and politely thanks him before they make their way to the academy
Walking towards the academy she regales you of her memories.
She tells about the social life amongst the students. Factions, clicks, and finding your own place among the hundreds of students. Luckily there was only 50 students accepted each year. If you pay or do missions you can stay there indefinitely as they have a massive campus for kingdom research. Think of the spire we are approaching and it being the corner post of a castle.
The classes are widespread. Some just focus on the schools or magic. Others spread into the occult or are esoteric. Some of them focus on crafting magical items as others on magical creatures.
The college/school has hundreds of professors. Most of them are arcane casters but there are plenty of other classes.
You come to a hallway with light showing from it, then three lava Elementals surge forward into your hallway.
The water spirit, rather diminished in size rolls towards you from the Southern hallway. It stops before you saying, "There is a few more that way..."
You can see a chilling crystal attached to his adamantine greatsword, a shimmer of ice growing on the blade. His stark white gloves have blue evocation runes apparent on them. Finally he has bracers made of winter wolf fur.
Though the rest of his attire does not seem to be prepared for such a fight. His formal noble outfit included his signet ring of his very house he had created, the Smiths of Stonefire. Also his jewelry of golden bracelets, gold rings with precious gems, and a golden necklace with a blue sapphire as its center point. These were all worn to accentuate his natural, or more known unnatural, appearance. His hair shines like gold, jewel-toned eyes of sapphire blue, lustrous golden colored skin, and the glowing golden halo.
Zhang sees the flickers of light in the distance and raises his sword
"Well, if it isn't our lucky day" - He chuckles, Shere Khan not looking nearly as enthusiastic, it's fur standing on edge as it prepares to pounce
-
Init
Zhang
Shere-Khan
Elementals
Perception DC 20: If using stealth the DC can change.
Zhang
Shere-Khan
Elementals
Surprise Round
The large elemental rushes forward and turns towards you. Now 30 feet away. It has friends following closely behind.
"Quick! Hide so we can steal the first attack." - Zhang whispers to Shere Khan, attempting to get the get the jump on the enemies
However, the large tiger fails to do so, quickly being noticed by the elementals
"You clumsy beast!" - He sighs, watching the enemies come closer
"Where the hell was I supposed to hide in this hallway?!" - Shere grunts, annoyed
"Well, there's no point into hiding it now" - He says, his aura of fear seeping into the corridor as he prepares to fight
Galahad looks at the witch with serious interest as she describes the school
"It truly sounds like a fascinating place, you said that they could do missions in order to stay indefinitely? You mean like adventurers? Or more on the research side of things?" - He said, remembering his own college days
"It seems your familiar has already been fighting some to the South. Perhaps you should help it finish off the opponents it mentions. We will check the Western Halls. When finished, we will meet back here and consider our options for North and East." So'ren says to the stranger. "You five stay with me." she says to Breaking Dawn, Peoni, Saffron, He Xiangu and Cao Guojiu.
Myriana hung on every word Iris said about her time in school and found that she was really jealous. She never got an education in her old life, she didn't even know how to read until she taught herself so she could play Ygdrassil. The chance to get an education, the experience some of the stories she read about when she wasn't on Ygdrassil was something she fantasized about. Maybe, just maybe, she should look at attending herself, so she could learn things useful to their guild of course. Unfortunately it would likely be impossible for her to attend such a place, given she was undead and all, at the very least it would be extremely dangerous for her so it was unlikely she would ever get the chance. She actually began to feel jealousy and hatred towards Iris for just a moment but she quickly tamped it down and locked it away where it wouldn't bother her again. "You will have to tell me all about it in more detail sometime Iris-chan nya."
The large hallway allows two large creatures to stand side by side allowing two of the Elementals into melee as the other two create lava puddles.
They are all shaken for 5 rounds.
plus burn, Reflex DC 14 or take fire damage.
plus burn, Reflex DC 14 or take fire damage.
Galahad looks at the witch with serious interest as she describes the school
"It truly sounds like a fascinating place, you said that they could do missions in order to stay indefinitely? You mean like adventurers? Or more on the research side of things?" - He said, remembering his own college days
She replies with excitement on her face, "Indeed it is! Yes just like adventurers, well only if the reward is worth it. Yeah they are always researching." Then she happily replies to Myriana, "Of course, maybe over lunch and later dinner." She is oblivious to the seething jealously that grew around her.
Out of sight of Soren and the others he continues the poem as he destroys Elementals.
Zhang skillfuly dodges out of the way of the elementals, positioning himself right next to the one who attacked last.
"You should cool down a little" - He cackles, knowing that these creatures are vulnerable to cold, Zhang casts a cold spell on his weapon and raises it to strike at the elemental.
"I guess I shouldn't leave you hanging..."
He glares at the Elemental that Zhang did not hit and gnarls
"Be aware that I won't take any pleasure in this either"
Shere Khan leaped at the Elemental and gave it a fierce bite
After taking a fierce bite, Shere Khan pushes the Elemental down, holding him like if it were mere prey
Desseer gives a chuckle and continues without waiting for a response, "No, no. Invisibility magic can be 1st or 2nd tier magic, the difference being duration. But, I suspect that you knew that already as your robes are dark or something." He ends with a dismissive wave.
"I did notice that you didn't answer the question about your capabilities. So...you know..that. But, aside from that, you seem to have an eye for opportunities. I have one for you. Until I can find a way to get home, I'm going to be getting comfy here. I want you to help me get comfy here in Drother."
Shere Khan does bite and grapple the elemental but likely is unaware of grappling lava. He burns fire damage per turn. No apparent wound or blood comes from the magma elemental.
The other one being struck by Zhang seems to pull back and then continues to try to slam into him or to grapple him...
Round 2
They split their attacks...
vs. Zhang
plus burn, Reflex DC 14 or take fire damage.
plus burn, Reflex DC 14 or take fire damage.
vs. Shere Khan
plus burn, Reflex DC 14 or take fire damage.
plus burn, Reflex DC 14 or take fire damage.
You also feel the floor shudder.
The portly mage realizes he is jesting with him.
In response to the topic of invisibility he states, "That is true but Vanish the 1st level spell only lasts for 1 round per caster level. I seriously doubt you are that strong. Thus the 2nd tier magic. Yes I am an elder brown adept.
Ah yes I can make many different accommodations for you. What were you thinking of, a brothel, an inn, an apartment, or a noble's mansion?"
Galahad nods, he notices Myriana's face sour for a moment, but doesn't think much of it. Perhaps something he should talk to her later.
"Oh, so that's very interesting, I'd love to know what kind of research goes on in these magical schools, I might not be able to join you for a meal, but I'd be delighted to hear more about it" - He says, still making their way to their destination
"What is it? Getting cold feet already?"
He then strikes again with his sword