Are we in the clear to rest the night, hopefully allowing for a reset of these fear penalties?
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Is there a temple to Sethiel's god that would be a good place to help him get to and recuperate, or does he have a home in town? To drop him off or to keep him on as an NPC?
Belfer reaches for a glass of wine, his hand visibly shaking. He stops just short of picking it up before moving both hands to the glass to steady the normally casual movement. He retreats to the wall, leaning back against it, staring into the crimson liquid. "Well, I'm not done yet. Sir, please have your servants bar entry into the basement for now. We'll get this sorted out. We'll round up the needed resources for this venture and reconvene here. We just needed to know what we were dealing with first. Come on fellas, let's run down some leads." Alistair says getting to his feet. "That seems reasonable. We can get a good night's rest, calm ourselves down, and then gather what we might need in the morning," Belfer adds, more to convince himself than anything.
I apologize for the delayed response. I was undecided how much to say because internet posts can come off as inauthentic, pretentious, or worse, and everyone grieves differently, so its hard to guess which approach to take. I'm sorry for your loss and my sympathies for you and your family. One of my aunts had difficulties conceiving for a long time. The babies suffered congenital heart defects where the 4th chamber was either underdeveloped or missing. Some were miscarriages and others were born prematurely, surviving no more than a day. It might not be much, but you might find some solace knowing that if it was not meant to be, that nature ended it earlier rather than later. The premature birth scenarios were more emotionally tolling for them.
I just like the idea of a slime pony, no other IPs referenced. A gooey little horse is fun visual…until it melts someone’s face of course. Given the current direction of the game, maybe I should have gone with this.
Belfer takes a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves, before heading back up to the previous room.
The translucent spheroid undulates as it builds enough energy to throw itself at the sinister horror:
They took one down... where are the rest? Where are they? Are they all around us? Belfer's head pivots frantically, looking behind, forward, on the ceiling. Seeing an opportunity, he mutters an incantation and throws a jab like a boxer, striking in a blast of phosphorescent light that hurtles an acrid ball of jelly-like glue.
Please tell me that it is a pony-shaped slime and not just a slime using pony stats. It's all visual fluff, so feel free to pick whichever works best for you :) Honestly, no, I was thinking Dragon Quest more than Ponyfinder.
If Summon Monster I goes off:: Slime(pony) stats. The slime will appear behind the one on Dargys, providing flanking.
"Wh-what is causing that? Why is it affecting my light spell as well?" Belfer asks, hoping someone knows what's going on. Belfer inches backwards nervously as the long-limbed creature stalks closer. When Rasmus moves forward to attack, Belfer sees the opportunity to dart further back(5' step).
Belfer takes out a small bag and stuffs it with what appears to be a waxen sculpture, crudely formed into a tear drop shape. Hastily he begins reciting the necessary incantation, the words growing louder each time. When enough energy is gathered, Belfer winds up and hurls the bag deeper into the cave. As if controlled by an invisible hand, the bag stops rotating inverted. The bag opens up, and a thick, viscous goo pours out, plopping onto the rocky terrain.
"Very well... staying here alone seems like a bad idea. Keep your eyes on the walls as we head back - in case there's another spirit forming."
"Sethiel's in a bad way! I'm gonna take him to go get treated!" Deshe yells at the others before setting Sethiel's arm over his shoulder and making to slowly heave him back out of the dungeon. "Deshe might need some help. I'd offer, but it might be easier for one of the taller folk," Belfer suggests to those around him.
"That trap door is just the other side of the room with the table Alistair. However, be careful around that crystal. If it's like the bowl, it might allow... other things to look back into our world. It looks like there's some brown stuff covering the top. It's probably worth taking a closer look."
Belfer moves forward slowly until he can get a better idea of the brown stuff.
No worries; I just wanted to make sure the trap door wasn't a literal trap in case Belfer just reset the trap. Given the vision, I just wanted to cover the Orthanc.
Is the trap door/slide actually a trap? Will it release if someone steps on it, or is it just like a hidden compartment, like a concealed garbage mechanism?
"Very well. I think things are starting to come back into focus now. I'm going to close this slide first. If there is some thing linked to that bowl, it's best we keep it in the dark." Belfer rolls to his side, landing a knee before stepping back to his feet. He moves to reset the trap door before following after the others.
Belfer comes alive, gasping for air with a guttural wheezing sound. His head spins, looking around in all directions while his eyes blink rapidly, yet his gaze is distant and beyond. Eventually his head slows and lurches over the edge. He slowly moves his arms, bringing his hands flat against the ground to press off of. He rolls unceremoniously onto his back, taking a few moments more. Hearing Deshe's inquiry, he answers to the void, his eyes still closed, "I'm here... I'm just going to rest here for a bit while the rest of me catches up. That bowl... is darker... malignant... and more powerful than I initially thought possible... I had a vision... or maybe it showed me? Of somewhere else... of a battlefield of bone between two armies of hideous things.". Belfer stops, allowing the cold stone floor to anchor his mind to where he lays, before asking, "You're a man of the cloth Deshe. Are you familiar with a robed skeletal figure that carries a bone staff topped with black crescents and an hour glass hanging from it?"
Perception Roll if needed:
Lying on the ground, his head peered over the hole, Belfer updates the others with what he sees. "This slide appears to be some sort of trap door or chute. There's a black bowl blocking the path, but it looks like a cave past it. There's something off about this bowl, though. It appears to be absorbing any light that goes near it. Not to mention why would a bowl be jammed into a chute like this? Maybe it was for the grisly remains of any activities that happened here?" Belfer looks at the walls of the chute, looking for the remnants of blood or other things that might have once passed through it.
Congrats! Enjoy the trip!
Belfer shrugs, "I suspect that's up to the spirit. However, we should avoid picking a corner of the room down here. If this really is the mad mages tomb, I doubt any other spirit will find rest within it." ... "Before we check the rest of the hall, I noticed something else over here. It looks like a stone tile that's settled funny at first, but I think it's hinged like a trap door. Now that we have a break from the other worldly excitement, let's take a quick look. Can someone lift it up?"
Belfer halts his casting as the Sethiel-spirit begins to speak. "Deshe, I think we need your help... Sethiel appears to be possessed!" Belfer yells back in response to Alistair. Belfer watches Sethiel, intrigued by the combination. Uncertain... Will they answer?
"Sethiel, look out! It's some kind of undead spirit! Everyone, defend yourselves!" Belfer yells in alarm. Belfer prepares himself from behind the table, his head just above the surface. He begins to cast, taking a step back in order reach over the table with his arm as a green energy starts to coalesce into a translucent ichor.
"Sethiel, step back."
FYI, I'm going to queue up commenting about the "S". At this time, it looks like the narration is on Alistair and the desire to open the door. I don't want to disrupt/fragment the narration if I don't have to.
I believe Google forces you to download their app to manipulate things. It's an insidious way to collect more data about you since mobile apps have access to way more information about you.
Belfer gives a visible shiver at the epiphany of what the carvings mean. "Look here. This table has symbols carved into it that allude to dark and primitive magic. It collects blood energy from it's victims, providing fuel for darker incantations. For what, I do not know. Perhaps what you heard was an echo imprinted of the trauma inflicted here."
"I see. Let me take a look."
"What was everyone doing exactly? Touching the table area? Hmm..."
Belfer turns to Alistair, "Did you hear that? That cacophony of torment sounded like it came from the room. The others might need help!" Belfer pulls out his knife and briskly moves towards the other room, yelling "Are you guys all right? Don't worry, we're coming!"
"Animals have pretty good senses. It would be wise to pay attention to them. Besides, it might explain why the door is ajar."
Belfer looks around the room and exposed cave as the torch passes through it.
A minor request - can we put the link to the battle map under Campaign Info please?
"Ok, let's take a look at the south one first," responds Belfer.
No explanation required. Real life takes priority; I'm sure the kid is extra stressed out given the loss of one parent already and can benefit from someone being there.
"Sure, just give me a minute. I wanted to prepare a few things first." Belfer reaches into his belt pouch and pulls out what appears to be a small insect. Holding it precariously between his thumb and index finger, he performs a subtle hand movement and chants, "Lumos,". Belfer's dagger responds with a warm glow that brightens the room, highlighting the dust that floats in the air. "Now to see if there's anything more here," Belfer comments as he starts another weave. "Deprehendere magicae!"
@Belfer I am sorry I missed your question. I am okay with people crafting before we started. So anything that you could take 10 on (19 for you) would be an auto success. Anything above that you'd need to roll and just keep in mind that if you fail by 5 or more you lose the cost of materials. No worries. Belfer will go ahead and attempt to make 2 tanglefoot bags:
Ok, so the first attempt is a fail by more than 5, so Belfer has to pay half the material cost (8.3) in addition to the 33.3 GP for the other two.
Sorry to hear that. Hope things go well. Same. Trips to the ER are always a pain. Hopefully it wasn't food allergy related...
@Klaus - Belfer could have crossed paths at the library and/or been introduced to each other through Saini.As an apprentice, Klaus would most likely have been in the library frequently. As Klaus is lazy, he almost always has Mage Hand and Unseen Servant prepared, and I could see him nonchalantly assisting Belfer obtain an out-of-reach book from a top shelf when Belfer finds the rolling ladder for that wall already in use. Such ease of convenience and Klaus' absolute willingness to use the spell prodigiously could have made for an easy library comradery between the two such that even on days when almost zero words are exchanged, they still seek out each other's table. I'd also imagine Klaus willingly engaging Belfer in discussions about his slime magic theory as theorizing and other armchair wizarding would be right up Klaus' alley. Fair enough. I just wanted to get your agreement before using anything in the game play area.
Belfer's eyes light up as Antero mentions the sealed chamber. His mind starts racing at the possibilities.
Barely waiting for Antero to finish his story, Belfer asks, "Antero, what has been the family business for all these years? No ancestor can be linked to something that might explain the chamber? No one with arcane interest? Links to cults? The need for an escape room?" ... Turning to the group, Belfer asks, "Does anyone know more about the surrounding history? What groups shared this space?" ... "Oh, and if any of ye can read runes, I'd ask ye to check fer that on the seal, as well as checkin' fer any magic. We don't want any curses comin' down on us. It can't hurt to check, but I don't know runes, maybe ye wizards might be able to give it a glance." "Don't worry, I'll be happy to take a look when we go down there. Although if there is, then there's a better chance of finding something wonderful, right?"
>>>Ping...
Belfer is good to go, although story-wise, he's yet to work himself into the party. I'm ok with hand waving this just to speed things up. @Shane - any discounts at the start for alchemical items if Belfer has Craft - Alchemy?
Post assuming Belfer and Klaus have met before...: Hearing the boisterous cheer, Belfer turns and notices Klaus. Ah... a friendly face that can sling a spell... the night might offer an intellectual discussion yet...
Walking over to greet the fellow wizard, Belfer manages to hear Klaus' slurred words through the jovial tavern. Surprised, Belfer can't help but to grin wryly as he shrugs his shoulders and continues to walk between the tall folk. Heh, so much for that. I guess I'm too late. Oh well, maybe it is time to put the books away for the night.... "Good evening Klaus! It looks like you're enjoying yourself. What was all that excitement about?"
This works. Belfer would have found the library soon after his arrival. So far, he's introduced himself to Saini and has made several visits to read anything arcane or alchemy related he can find. In fact, the book on the table is borrowed from there. @Klaus - Belfer could have crossed paths at the library and/or been introduced to each other through Saini.
There wasn't a lot of information regarding gnomes in the Gloamhold setting that I could find. Thus, I figured Belfer came from a distant town/city, probably gnomish, where children are raised by the community. Wizard training took more of a home school approach from one or more residents. This lack of formal education allowed his idiosyncratic "specialty" to grow, where a guild/school would probably quash unconventional schools of magic. Of course, that doesn't help for a hook... Maybe the guild/school learned of his unique ideas and requested him to put together a presentation? Otherwise Belfer has been in town for several weeks now, studying/experimenting at the tavern, so word might have gotten around of the eccentric wizard that would have prompted arcane discussions at the tavern before?
No problems with the order here.
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