The five of you have been spending the last few days lounging around the Grand lodge, in between missions. As you are swopping tall tales in the Lounge a harassed looking Ambrus Valsin barges in. You lot! he barks, I have a job for you. Grab your gear, you're off to the Five Kings Mountains.
With that he shoves a letter into Eadie's hands along with a small silver disc. This explains everything. If you need a guide from Larrat ask around for Gurda Ironboot, she can get you to where you need to be. If you cant manage your own magical transportation then head to the kitchens. Captain Caleban Gallonica can get you there but you will probably have to taste his latest "creation" first!
Any questions? No, good. Get going.
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“Venture-Captain Valsin! You shouldn’t be such a meanie when you talk to us. We’re all Seekers now, and I’m practically all grown up.”
Stretched out on a divan, using her helm as a pillow, lies a plain, mousey-haired girl with startling sapphire-blue eyes. Currently sporting padded under-armor and wrapped in a golden cloak, her scuffed, black enamel full plate, featuring a heart-headed key embossed over the left breast, lies in a heap nearby.
Eadie has been spending her morning slurping tea, while reminiscing with Quenly about the mission he became the Jacinth Sage … “Such a funny name for a herb.”
And with Yanndu about making baddies eat their dust, during the Race for the Runecarved Key. “Explode head is such a cool spell. I can cast it with my falchion!”
"I once tried to coup de grace someone and failed. Twice. I trust that your damage output with sharp sticks is higher than mine."
“Uh huh. That’s because you’re a Casty and I’m a Fighty, Lichaam.”
Once re-focussed on the mission, Eadie lets out a ... “Squeeeee! We’re gonna be assassins, or maybe a Death Squad! Cool! I’ve always wanted to kill a Venture-Captain!”
“Let’s go hunt down Cap’n Gallonica, guys. I’m hungry!”
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A thin, somewhat-tanned elf looks up from his book at Ambrus' sudden appearance, obviously startled. "Wait, what?"
But it was too late. The Venture-Captain was gone. Was two entire minutes too much to ask for a matter dangerous enough for this group? Well, he and Yanndu anyway. Standard Pathfinder policy wouldn't pair them up with significantly-less-experienced members, so logically the others were also Seekers.
He notes the page he's on and gently closes the book. Standing up, he gives a small wave and says "I am Lichaam Pisell; scholar, Sage, and wizard. I... guess we have a mission, then?"
"Third Eye or First? Divination of the Ancients."
Moving over to the one who was given the letter, he holds out a hand. "May I?" He quickly skims over the letter before handing it back.
"The Five Kings mountains? I could teleport myself and four others there, if we got a reliable description of someplace to target." He does a quick headcount before adding "That might be enough, unless there's another member of our team or someone has assistants. The letter mentioned an attunement period for the token, though, so perhaps something a little slower is in order? I could prepare phantom chariot and magnificent mansion if we were to travel overland, but from here that would be..."
After consulting a map and his personal abacus, he comes up with "A little over 600 miles as the crow flies. My phantom chariot would take slightly under five days to reach the destination, assuming we ride for 12-hour days. Possibly longer, depending on the terrain - I'm not quite at the point of achieving true flight with that spell, and it needs to touch the ground every six seconds. It can run over the water, though, which would get us to the mainland with a twelve-and-a-half-hour day."
"I would also appreciate a rest before we actually approach Larrat is possible, to re-prepare spells. So perhaps five days and walk the rest of the way there? Unless this Captain Gallonica has something more appropriate."
"Could I examine that token, to get an idea of how long it takes to attune?"
Lichaam deeply examines the silver disk's aura.
“Such a funny name for a herb.”
“Explode head is such a cool spell. I can cast it with my falchion!”
“Uh huh. That’s because you’re a Casty and I’m a Fighty, Lichaam.”
Lichaam looks at Eadie a little oddly, but nods. "Yes, and I appreciate having a "Fighty" type with me. Until recently, though, I believe the Society has more-often sent me along as the "Scholarly" portion of the team. Also... were you by any chance raised by gnomes?"
There would be plenty of time to explore the differences between explode head and the directed application of physical force during the trip. The herbology... Lichaam's not quite sure where to start with that one.
Valsin scowls at Eadie and turns on his heel muttering something about whippersnappers!
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“Goodness me, Venture-Captain Valsin! As my Aunt Alix always said, 'It costs nothing to be polite.' Why you can disembowel someone and still wear a smile.”
"May I?"
“Please do.”
Eadie hands over the note, and waits to hear if she’s missed anything important.
"Also... were you by any chance raised by gnomes?"
“Uh uh. I was raised by my Aunt Alix when my mother died having me. She was an Abadaran, not a gnome.”
Eadie is well used to odd looks. “But my big sister is a gnome! Her name is Lore. That’s short for Lore-LEN-dral. Pretty name, isn’t it?”
“I suppose she kinda raised me after Aunt Alix died. Maybe? Anyway, she pointed out when I was doing something silly, and was much nicer about telling me than Aunt Alix ever was. Abadar add her soul.”
The warrior claps her hands. “Oh, and Lore lets me drink! Like alcohol. Which Aunt Alix never did.”
“Come to think of it, Lore actually encourages me to drink. She’s really responsible.”
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The tall, beautiful, and silent elven male steps into the light - though the light seems not to take kindly to his presence, and skirts around him.
With a wry smile and a nod of acknowledgement towards Eadie, the elf makes a short, complex series of hand gestures. The shadows that cling to him gather in his hand, forming a sphere. Within the sphere there appear a thousand motes of light - as if they were a great distance away. In an instant, the orb expands and then vanishes. In its place, there sits a tiny dragon, no bigger than a housecat. Its scales are black as midnight. It flutters its wings and perches upon the elf's shoulder.
I am Quenlariel Saelgwath, the Jacinth Sage. You may address me as Quenly. I have made this creature of elf-magic to speak for me. Know that since the gods of my people chose me, I have heard no voice but theirs. I can see words upon your lips, if you face me when you speak, but it is easier by far to merely think, and my creature will convey your thoughts to me and mine to you.
I am pleased to see the Apatite Sage amongst us Quenly acknowledges Lichaam with a slight bow. No doubt you also know Eadie, the swordswoman attached to our Order.
I too am capable of summoning steeds or carriages. We could halve our journey time, if both of us do this Lichaam. But I would like to know how long it may take to attune to the token we have been granted. There is alternative magic available to navigate labyrinths of course, and perhaps a scroll or two of appropriate spells would be useful insurance.
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All this talk of appetite and sage is making me hungry.
“No doubt you also know Eadie, the swordswoman attached to our Order.”
“Yes. As the Jacinth Sage suggests, I am also known as the Garden Sage, Appetite Sage.”
Eadie stands and bows with a flourish. “Which sage are you, Yam Stew ..? I mean, Yanndu?”
“Does anyone have specific spell requests?”
“On occasion I like being made big. It’s good for reach against big things. But it’s no biggie, if you’ve got bigger gish to fly.”
“I also like it when someone chain-casts freedom of movement on me. That spell is a life saver! I will certainly bring scrolls of that and some diamond dust, Quenly. As well as a life bubble and breath of life scroll you can use on anyone that needs it.”
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Lichaam bows back to Quenlariel. "Always a pleasure to meet another Sage. It's so hard to get an accurate count, with recent events, and Tahonikepsu doesn't seem inclined to help."
He then turns to Eadie and pulls necklace from under his shirt. On it hangs a blue stone with a faint cats-eye effect. "This is apatite, a type of stone. Its name comes from an old Giant word meaning "to deceive", after mineralogists' tendency to misidentify it."
"I can prepare enlarge person for you, and routinely prepare life bubble. I also have scrolls of those and breath of life, for more redundancies. Which reminds me, I have a scroll of heal that someone should carry - it's one of the few remedies for feeblemind."
Lichaam ponders the options available to the group.
Travelling overland it is likely to take about 5 or 6 days to reach Larrad. It is then a couple of extra days hiking into the mountains with your guide.
As for what he might know.
Venture Captain Caleban Gallonica is a powerful wizard and personal chef to the Decemvirate. He is an enormously fat man who floats about the extensive underground kitchens, berating the lesser cooks and scolding pot boys. He possesses a permanent unseen servant which is under instructions to never allow the silver platter it carries to ever be empty of elaborate pastries and sugar based confectionaries.
Gurda Inronboot is a former pathfinder, a dwarven ranger who specialises in guiding parties through the mountains.
Larrad is a small, unremarkable town nestled in the foothills of the mountains. Its only relevance to your missions is that it is the closest place to your destination.
Muhlia al Jakri is a former assassin who fell in with Thurl after several setbacks acting against the Society. She worked with Thurl, Aslynn the Night Hag and a Glabrezu named Koth'Vaul to try and invade Absalom with an army of demons. You know nothing more about her sister Khismia. Likewise, you have all you know about Thurl.
Magrim is the Dwarven god of the Dead. The dwarves built Taal Mornat 600 years ago to entomb the faithful of Magrim, especially those who served the Cathedral of Magrim in Larrad. Over the centuries, the site became the final resting place for scores of celebrated dwarf heroes and is thus considered both a holy place and an important cultural site to the dwarves. Taal Mornat has no permanent staff. Caretakers from the church of Magrim visit the ossuary three times each year for maintenance. In lieu of guards, the priests of Magrim inscribed powerful wards to hide the site. Those wards were inscribed onto four runeplates that are embedded into the walls in strategic locations within the ossuary.
Runeplates are rune-carved stone discs imbued with powerful divine magic often found embedded into the walls of sites sacred to the followers of Magrim. Most runeplates are unique and provide some specific magical boon—either when imbedded or carried.
The runeplates sometimes found in Magrimite sites are homages to the true runes that Magrim carries for his own use. The most famous of these are Aeruk, which guides the souls of the dead to the River of Souls; Chasarad, which can magically weigh and measure the worth of a dwarven soul; Hurenarr, which hides dwarven burial sites from magical scrying; and Urdrekk, which provides divine protection to the spirits of dwarven petitioners and safeguards them from corruption. Magrim sometimes lends his personal runes to his followers.
Runeplates are highly focused conduits that link to a vast reservoir of divine magical energy. Highly capable spellcasters could redirect this magic to perform dangerous rituals, especially those tied to necromancy or transmutation.
Kolm is a priest of Magrim and an old friend of Ambrus Valsin.
Baphomet is the demon lord of Minotaurs, Mazes and Beasts.
Examining the labyrinth token it has some magic attached to it. It appears to be a unique item, designed to allow a person to navigate magically created labyrinths with lesser risk of becoming lost.
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“Wow! I had not heard of Magrim, but boy he sounds cool!”
Eadie tries to convert Lichaam’s description into terms she can understand. “A kinda guiding spirit for the recently dead, like Anubis is for the Osirion gods.”
“Runeplates also sound interesting. I’m glad we have a lot of spellcasters in the party. I guess this priest Kolm will be able to tell us more.”
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Korin was cataloging his adventure logs and was caught off guard by Ambrus Valsin's sudden request. He contemplates quietly to his teammates' conversation for a while, then speaks up:
"Assassin sounds like trap, poison, and ambush, while our demonic ex-VC might still have some fiendish creature that works for him." he points to his familiar, "The higher power might give us some insight on what lies ahead."
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“Ooh! Ooh! I have questions!”
Eadie claps her hands together in glee.
“If oranges are called oranges, why aren’t grapes called a bunch of purples?”
“Why don’t Chelish pizzas come in round boxes?”
“Can atheists get insurance for an Act of Iomedae?”
“If a Minotaur Cow laughs, does milk come out her nose?”
"Ma'am, I'm afraid questions that're not phrased in the Yes or No style will not get answered 99.9999% of the time." Quidditch react to the first two question Eadie asked politely, while waiting for other Pathfinder's more constructive question suggestions.
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“Ooh, that’s a big number, Mister Inevitable. Say, do you know Abadar’s Herald, The Lawgiver?”
Eadie looks about like she’s searching for someone.
He can’t be referring to me as ‘Ma’am’ … Can he?
"Only by name I'm afraid. Inevitable of my rank rarely get to meet a Herald. If you have question for the Lawgiver, then I would recommend visiting the Vault of Abadar in Ivy District and seek help from the priestess there. But if you have question for our Empress of Heaven, I might be of help."
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"I have answers for some of your questions, Eadie." An honest desire for knowledge should always be rewarded, no matter how... trite.
"Oranges aren't named after the color. The color was actually named after the fruit - most used to just call that a shade of red."
"Minotaurs are, broadly speaking, built like most other mammalian creatures. If you want the answer to that question, consider whether you would expel milk from your nose in that situation."
"You would probably need to talk to an Abadaran for the insurance question. As for the boxes... it's significantly more difficult to make a round box than a rectangular one, so it's probably just convenience on their part."
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"If you have question for the Lawgiver, then I would recommend visiting the Vault of Abadar in Ivy District and seek help from the priestess there."
"Nah, that’s OK, Mister Inevitable. You see, I made a pilgrimage to Sable Barrow near Chesed once, and kissed the ground at the site of a miraculous appearance of the Lawgiver, in 4309 AR.”
Eadie speaks in hushed tones. “I didn’t wash my face for a month!”
“Anyways, I was just wondering if he’s as super-duper-amaze-balls in real life as he is in my Manual of City Building coloring book.”
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"Oranges aren't named after the color. The color was actually named after the fruit - people used to just call that a shade of red."
So oranges used to be called “A shade of red”??
Eadie gives Lichaam a doubtful look.
He must think I came down in the last flower!
"If you want the answer to that question, consider whether you would expel milk from your nose in that situation."
Huh? Milk comes out my nose when I laugh ALL THE TIME! Laughter is a serious thing.
“You would probably need to talk to an Abadaran for the insurance question.”
“Oh, believe me I have! But Brother Bor is always indisposed with a headache coming on, whenever I go to speak with him.”
“As for the boxes... it's significantly more difficult to make a round box than a rectangular one."
“Wow! That makes perfect sense.”
Eadie thinks it over for a few minutes. “It’s a pity about the waste, but some Abadaran Inquisitor no doubt did a cost benefit analysis on the cost of the simpler manufacturing process versus the excess material cost of rectangular packaging, and concluded the former was key.”
She nods sagely. "Thanks, Lichaam!"
Quidditch closes his mechanical eye and pray to the god:
Will we face incorporeal enemy on this mission?
Will we need to deal with one or more traps on this mission?
Will we encounter poisoneous/harmful gas-based effect on this mission?
Will we face creatures predisposed to using grappling, entanglement,
entrapment, or swallowing-based attacks?
Will it be advantageous to our mission to teleport to Larrad, rather than traveling overland or using Caleban Gallonica's assistance?
Will we face enemy with spell/spell-like-abilities with 'chaotic' descriptor?
If Quidditch wasn't immune to mind-affecting effect, he would have tremble in fear. He open his eye: "The Empress has spoken! We are blessed, for there will be no incorporeal or grappling foe. However! There will be traps, and enemy have ways to shut down my regeneration. What's more, it's unclear whether there will be harmful gas, and the empress leave it to us to decide whether teleportation will be helpful or not."
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"I generally prepare life bubble, and have a scroll as backup, so we have some defense against the possibility of harmful gas. Traps... may be more difficult."
Lichaam pulls out a pair of scrolls and a book. On closer examination, the book is volume #27 of the Pathfinder Chronicles. Several bookmarks dot the latter half of the volume. "With magical aid, and some techniques from this volume, I can handle almost all spell-based traps. Well, at least the ones using standard techniques. More mechanically-based traps could be beyond my skill without some amount of luck."
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At Eadie's shout, Lichaam turns from his conversation with Korin. What was that about?
Probably something Quenly told her, judging from her previous vocal comment, but... something embarrassing? Were they romantically involved?
Huh. None of his business, then. He makes a mental note to confirm or deny the hypothesis later, then returns to talking spells with the Investigator.
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"Have you heard of the 'Floor is Lava' game? At some point, it becomes a reality. In my opinion, having the ability to fly or walk on air is strict necessity for Pathfinders of our caliber. When my father and his friends were handling Charvion and the Shadow Lodge's attack on Absalom , their feet never touch the ground throughout the events."
Korin gives his comment while flipping through arcane spell catalogs with master Lichaam "Life Bubble last quite long even when it comes from a scroll, and thanks to our hardworking druid scribes back in Grand Lodge, those scroll are relatively affordable..
"If the trap won't automatically reset, then a simple Summon Monster I might do the trick."
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"Flight can be negated, as can air walk and spider climb. I once had my overland flight dispelled, and I've heard of at least one site with that kind of protection built in."
"True, the scrolls are cheaper than they would otherwise be, and life bubble has saved lives in past missions." Lichaam considers that a moment, then adds "Well, probably. It's impossible to say for certain what would have happened, but it's likely."
"For the traps, mount would often be better, but that only works if the trap can be triggered safely. Consider the humble explosive runes. You could certainly trigger it and take no damage... but at the cost of whatever records it was protecting."
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I will tell the dragon not to convey your more intimate thoughts, Eadie. Of course, it is only a thing of shadow and magic, I cannot be certain how well it understands intimacy.
Life Bubble has served Eadie and I well in previous endeavours. Quenly directs his thoughts to the group again. And I have multiple means of flight available.
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Korin sends Quidditch to place the order for the supplies, and adds "Spells of higher level like Overland Flight are indeed more vulnerable to Dispel Magic, but that also means many essential spell with low spells level are mostly unaffected."
"My father is a druid who is blessed by the Eagle to have access to means of magical flight, and he alwasy have Life Bubble prepared. He told me that with Life Bubble, I can fly higher than the cloud, beyond the sky, to the unknown frontier above us."
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Of course, it is only a thing of shadow and magic, I cannot be certain how well it understands intimacy.
If that's not a loophole, I don't know what is! Wait ... Darn! You heard that, didn't you, Quenly?
Eadie hides her face in her hands.
"I can fly higher than the cloud, beyond the sky, to the unknown frontier above us."
"Until you hit the orb's inner surface you mean, Korin." Eadie gives the Investigator a nudge.
"I mean, the frontier is hardly unknown, right?"
She whispers conspiratorially. "It's OK. Aunt Alix already told me the sky is blue because we live inside the eyeball of a blue-eyed giant."
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"The most-accepted theory I know of in academic circles is that the material plane is boundless and finite, so even the word "frontier" is somewhat ambiguous. Moving on from theory," Lichaam's eyes unfocus for a second or two, as if checking something. "I know... know of? I have access to a spell that promises to allow the exploration of worlds of similar existance to Golarion, without the use of extra-planar travel."
"But then, the Outer Sphere is conceptually similar to an "orb", even if that's a very inexact comparison. Is the orb you refer to intended to be a metaphor?"
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"The most-accepted theory I know of in academic circles is that the material plane is boundless and finite, so even the word "frontier" is somewhat ambiguous. Moving on from theory,"
"That's facinating. I wish one day we will be able to explore and document whatever that's out there."
"Korin, I believe you mentioned fighting while polymorphed. Did you want me to prepare polymorph or greater polymorph? I might be able to find a slot for those."
"After surveying all the magical option that polymorph one's body for combat prowess, I find monstrous humanoid works the best. Unfortunatly I don't think the classic Polymorph spell offer such option. So let's prepare something else."
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All flesh is an illusion Quenly offers is response to the dialogue regarding Polymorphing. This the Gods have shown me.
And as for vaulting the Heavens - you speak of entering the space wherein dwell the Gods themselves. The True Gods of our people, not those young pretenders who sit in the outer sphere. Perhaps, on some enchanted evening when the stars are right, we will be worthy of such a privelige.
The group heads down in to the extensive kitchens beneath the Grand Lodge. The region is a chaotic bustle of servants, pot boys, dish scrubbers and cooks all shouting at each other. The area is hot, thick clouds of steam float through the region carrying the delicious smells of roasting meats, cooking pies and baking cakes.
Suddenly, out of the clouds of steam, looms an enormously fat man, floating above the heads of the servants. He appears to have gotten dressed in the dark, his lime green robes accentuated with slashes of vivid purple, lemon yellow and sky blue.
, he bellows, you must be the team Ambrus said he might be sending my way. Come along, come along, Larrad isn't it. Pisspot little village in the middle of nowhere, quite literally nothing to recommend it. Likely to be cold this time of year, you best wrap up warm. We wouldn't want any of you lovelies to catch a chill.
With that he herds the group into a tight little huddle. Now now, stick close all of you, got to be together for me to take you all, I wouldn't want to accidentally drop any of you in the middle of the ocean now would I. He begins to take out various items from the folds of his voluminous robes, interspersing magical components with delicate sugar pastries from a silver platter which floats near his elbow.
He arranges various components around the group, Got these from the Court Mage of Aspenthar, they help boost the power of teleportation magic. Means I take all of you along with your various companions. Now, hold very still.
As he intones his spells the steam thickens around you and the aroma of freshly baked pastries fills your nostrils. As the mist slowly dissipates you find yourselves standing at the foot of a large mountain range, a small town lies before you. There you go, no problem at all. Larrad, pisspot of a town as I said. Good luck younglings, try not to get yourselves killed!
With that, he vanishes. Behind you an empty silver plater clatters to the ground.
Heading into Larrad you quickly locate Gurda Ironboot who is happy to guide you to Taal Mornat. The journey into the mountains is tiring but uneventful and after a few days you enter a large valley with a sizeable group of dwarves camped before a sheet granite cliff. A patrol meets you and, with introductions made, you are escorted into the camp towards Kolm Durrendar's tent.
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Somewhat confused, Lichaam follows the others down to the kitchens. He'd thought he would be the one teleporting them, but maybe he missed something.
Not willing to miss the opportunity, he whips out a book and takes notes on the ritual. After landing, he collects the dropped platter - a focus? - and checks it for magic, and jots down any further observations while they're fresh in his mind. He can transcribe everything into ink and clean it up later. He'd never heard of a... pastrymancer? Maybe panemancer? Ceremancer? Probably ceramancer. He'd need to discuss terminology with the practitioner once the mission was over.
During the first day of travel, Lichaam decides to experiment with the interesting idea that Quenly had for material component circumvention. After some consultation with his notes, Lichaam finally settles on one selection. Reaching into the shadows in a cleft of the rock (for sympathetic resonance), he sculpts the form of a crystaline dragonling.
Once per day (including the day they teleport), he casts greater scrying. Lacking any good connection, he does what he can with just a description. He also makes sure not to cast it at the same time of day, just in case they spotted one sensor and decided to watch for a pattern. He wasn't quite sure what they would do with that information, but the books suggested he should avoid it if possible.
If necessary, during the hike up, Lichaam uses his bonded ring to cast mass fly to ease the worst section of trail. At night, he casts magnificent mansion to give everyone a good meal and a warm and comfortable bed.
Before meeting with Holm, he casts overland flight, detect scrying, skim, and ant haul. Life bubble and his wand of false life can wait for now, since they don't yet know where they're going or how far it will be.
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Korin look at Lichaam, expecting our master wizard to teleport the group, then turn to look at the fat man as if he's confused by the set up. It's hard to tell Korin's expression under his helmet.
On the day when the group is going to meet up with the dwarf, Korin will use Clear Ear and hands out Blood-boiling Pill to his teammates
Korin will bow to the dwarves, and let those who speak dwarven to take the lead.