The scaly hand gives you the parchment. The raspy voice returns! "I hope this will be to your satisfaction, mage," says the leader.
Reuben puts it into a fold of his robe, tersely thanking them.
"Many thanks for your cooperation, but I still must agree with my compatriots that you leave immediately."
He is going to glance at the paper, searching for any information that might tell him what is going on here. The reptilian appearance of the scaled hands reminds Reuben of part of the Legend of Magius, but he is too busy at the moment to remember exact details. He raises an eyebrow inquisitively for a moment, but quickly sets his attention back on the strangers.
"Thank you," says the raspy voice, and they leave your presence.
The scaly hand gives you the parchment. The raspy voice returns! "I hope this will be to your satisfaction, mage," says the leader.
The scaly hand gives you the parchment. The raspy voice returns! "I hope this will be to your satisfaction, mage," says the leader.
Yeah, I understand. Sorry for the snippy tone.
Kadmos moves up to protect Reuben
Kadmos moves up to protect Reuben
We all ready to eat now?
The seekers back off and continue down the road.
Reuben grabs a bowl of stew, apologizes for his rash actions, and reads the parchment, thinking about the legend of Magius.
* You met some seekers on the road.
* Auggh was coming back with some rabbits to cook into a stew.* The seekers revealed that they have scaly skin while working on Reuben's map.
* Some of you took it as a possible threat and started rolling for initiative.
* The seekers backed down, seeing that you were threatening, and continued on their way.
After the seekers depart, Torgar settles in to east some of Aggghh's stew. "Nice catch Agghh."
Good rabbits. Eat up, we might go hungry later on.
The half elf takes a bit of the rabbit stew. After she is done eating, she quietly walks away to be alone. Looking up at the stars she is pensive and reflective on what all of this means.
After dinner, Augier curls up in a blanket and goes to sleep.
The half elf takes a bit of the rabbit stew. After she is done eating, she quietly walks away to be alone. Looking up at the stars she is pensive and reflective on what all of this means.
Give me a perception check. Oh, does anyone have knowledge: Stargazing?
Kadmos, unsure of what the Seekers had shared will ask Reuben a question, "Why did the Seekers' hand concern you, and what information did they share with you. They had a, hmmm, weird vibe to them. Are all Seekers scaly?"
Reuben responds,
"The seekers' hands, all covered in scales of brass, worried me because of the legend of Magius, or rather, its villain. Galan Dracos was his name, a powerful renegade wizard who killed Magius and served the old goddess Takhisis, the Dark Mother.
His delve into forbidden magic deranged him, and changed his physical form to become like a dragon, with a grotesquely twisted face, and severe scales all over his body. In truth, he looked more monster than man. This is what I saw when I saw the unusual scales on the hand, for no known disease gives scales of metallic brass.
I do not yet know the information of the parchment."
Reuben then studies said parchment.
Perception
Perception 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15
Reuben responds,
"The seekers' hands, all covered in scales of brass, worried me because of the legend of Magius, or rather, its villain. Galan Dracos was his name, a powerful renegade wizard who killed Magius and served the old goddess Takhisis, the Dark Mother.
His delve into forbidden magic deranged him, and changed his physical form to become like a dragon, with a grotesquely twisted face, and severe scales all over his body. In truth, he looked more monster than man. This is what I saw when I saw the unusual scales on the hand, for no known disease gives scales of metallic brass.
I do not yet know the information of the parchment."Reuben then studies said parchment.
The parchment shows a cut off path to Haven through the mountains and through Darken Wood.
Reuben shares the information with everyone else.
"We need to setup some sort of watch through the evening. There are eight of us so we could do pairs at 2 hours each. Sound good? I don't have a preference as to who is on duty with who. What about Goldmoon and Riverwind on first, Reuben and Jedijon can take last, Mariel and Orlin can be second, and me and Agghh will take third. Unless someone wants a different order, I'm crashin'." Torgar says pulling out his blanket.
Realizing what she sees, she hurrys back to the encampment and points up, not really being able to speak.
They, they are gone. she says.
Yup. Weird people gone. Augier replies and rolls up in his blanket.
She shakes her head at the gully's comment. No, the stars are gone. The constellations known as the Valiant Warrior and the Queen of Darkness are gone from the heavens.
She shakes her head at the gully's comment. No, the stars are gone. The constellations known as the Valiant Warrior and the Queen of Darkness are gone from the heavens.
Reuben scratches at his beard and ponders this. Finally, he grunts, and says,
"I must consult my Order."
He pulls a handful of grey powder from a pouch and throws it into the fire, droning,
"Perak Bilak!"
He holds his orb above the now-white flames, seemingly impervious to the heat, and gazes into the depths of the crystal. A silvery image appears in the crystal of a white-robed mage. Reuben addresses the apparition.
"Greetings from Magus Lupul. What does the order know of the disappearance of Paladine and Takhisis from the heavens?"
She shakes her head at the gully's comment. No, the stars are gone. The constellations known as the Valiant Warrior and the Queen of Darkness are gone from the heavens.Reuben scratches at his beard and ponders this. Finally, he grunts, and says,
"I must consult my Order."
He pulls a handful of grey powder from a pouch and throws it into the fire, droning,
"Perak Bilak!"
He holds his orb above the now-white flames, seemingly impervious to the heat, and gazes into the depths of the crystal. A silvery image appears in the crystal of a white-robed mage. Reuben addresses the apparition.
"Greetings from Magus Lupul. What does the order know of the disappearance of Paladine and Takhisis from the heavens?"
Par Salan's voice (okay, I forgot his name) responds, "It must mean War. Did you ask the three moons?"
"I did not, but Solinari and Lunitari wane and Nuitari waxes. Darkness is gathering in Ansalon. If war is to be had, we must fortify the Towers, before they fall. The Black Robes must surely have a hand in this, we must be wary of our magical kin."
"I did not, but Solinari and Lunitari wane and Nuitari waxes. Darkness is gathering in Ansalon. If war is to be had, we must fortify the Towers, before they fall. The Black Robes must surely have a hand in this, we must be wary of our magical kin."
"I will see that they are fortified," said Par-Salian. "Reuben, be wary. The black robes operate with evil. I sense the presence of Good with your group. Is it a magical artifact or something else?"
"It is an artifact of great power. It is a staff of blue crystal, imbued with healing powers. I surmise it belongs to the old goddess Mishakal. We travel to Haven, and thence to Xak Tsaroth to deliver this staff. The way is treacherous though, and we have encountered curious creatures. Hooded men clad in seeker robes with brass scales. They gave us a map with a path through Darken Wood marked."
Ah, thank you! :)
"It is an artifact of great power. It is a staff of blue crystal, imbued with healing powers. I surmise it belongs to the old goddess Mishakal. We travel to Haven, and thence to Xak Tsaroth to deliver this staff. The way is treacherous though, and we have encountered curious creatures. Hooded men clad in seeker robes with brass scales. They gave us a map with a path through Darken Wood marked."
"Darken Wood is a holy place, make sure your group doesn't take anything or burn anything in Darken Wood," Par Salian remarks.
"As you wish, Archmagus. Have you any wishes to be carried out in this region?"
"As you wish, Archmagus. Have you any wishes to be carried out in this region?"
"Not at this time, Magus," said Par Salian. "We will make our own plans, just get to Haven as quickly as possible. I'll have one of our magi meet you there."
"By your command. I will travel with haste, and make for Lemuel’s mageware shop."
Reuben removes the orb from the flames and they immediately return to their normal color. He then addresses the rest of the party.
"We can travel through Darken Wood on the condition that we burn nothing and do not harm the forest, it is sacred. Let us make haste to get to Haven, I have a rendezvous to keep with a member of my order."
He then settles in to rest before his watch. During his watch, he'll study his spellbook and rememorize.
Before Reuben hits his pillow, Kadmos wants to know "What if the map leads us to an ambush. Are there any points along the route they shared that would be a choke point, where we would be hampered in our movement? The story of the scaly folk has my nerves on edge."
We forget that the Staff was not given to us. Lady of the Que-Shu what would you like to do? she asks looking at the Plainsmen.
We forget that the Staff was not given to us. Lady of the Que-Shu what would you like to do? she asks looking at the Plainsmen.
If you go through Darken Wood (through one of the mountain passes I might add), you can save a day's travel.
"We would travel to Haven," says Goldmoon.
Augier snores. All of the high faluten talk bored him to sleep.
Torgar also has turned in. If an ambush, all the more opportunity to kill things that need killin'.
Orlin listens with concern as the others cast strange spells and make dire predictions for the future. At Goldmoon's words, however, he nods gratefully. "I can't pretend to know about all these fancy scholar-folk things, but the path to Haven I do know." The large mountain man seems uncomfortable with the talk of Darken Wood, grimacing before speaking. "Aye, it... might get us there sooner, but it's terrible bad luck to even name that place. Truth told, I'd feel safer takin' the old coach road 'round south a ways, but if that map says so... I just can't shake the feelin' that scrap 'a paper's a trap, for our bodies and souls."
Everyone on watch, I need a perception check. DC 15.
Reuben tries to keep a firm watch, but gets a bit distracted while rememorizing.
Before she turns in for the night she will ask Goldmoon about what she knows about the Staff and where it came from.
Augier's watch..
Before she turns in for the night she will ask Goldmoon about what she knows about the Staff and where it came from.
"Riverwind knows where the staff came from," she says. "He told me he got it from Xak Tsaroth."