Kien has messaged me saying he wouldn't be able to pick up the game again anyway. I hope Luca is well, but in any case this does look like the 'official' laying-to-rest of the campaign.
Thank you for the kind words, Tyrus. You've been a great player and Tyrus an amazing character. Just for giggles, I'll let you know what I had cooking for his future:
The 'dark backstory' I had cooking up for Tyrus was that he is one of the vessels for the soul of a dead wizard (or maybe sorcerer? I hadn't figured out the class for certain yet). This magician was a necromancy and transmutation savante who largely concerned himself with living flesh instead of dead, and was especially interested in body modification and such. Long story short, he made some powerful enemies (both due to things he'd done AND that the nature of his work squicked a lot of people out) and was attacked and overthrown, but before he could be killed he enacted a ritual that surrendered his life and divided his soul up into pieces, to be reborn in different bodies who would then be compelled to seek each other out (all of this to make sure his enemies couldn't prevent his return).
Tyrus's illness is due to the extra bit of soul within him, which is growing stronger and stronger as it is a bit overdue to have been reunited with the rest of itself and placed into a new body. The man who contacted you in the cursed city was another such (former) vessel, and had steered you towards the rest of the group which were working towards the Sarkomancer's resurrection.
I was concocting some interesting consequences for the removal of the soul shard from Tyrus, and am a bit sad we didn't get to the point of you having to deal with them. ;)
I may well try another campaign on these forums some day, but for now I'll continue hibernation. All the best to you!
So, the pandemic times threw me for a loop, but I am alive and well (and hope you are too). I don't know if there is still interest in continuing this campaign, but I'm keeping my GM promise if there are still players here.
I hope you've all managed to keep it together over the last few months too!
Given that you've spent considerable time with the Academies already, you imagine that you could return to speak with them again without much notice being taken.
In fact, now that you think of it you remember a fellow whom you spoke with on the subject of alchemy. Really a rather impressive fellow himself. Though he spoke little of his own abilities, he did mention being interested in the subject of teleportation.
The only thing mentioned was to not leave the city for a day - they asked nothing else of you. You guys would know it's not unusual for taverns to prepare travel food for their guests, and you can likely get at least that from the place you're staying. Whether or not the temple is watching for that kind of thing, you do not know.
I'm struggling to keep checking in on the forums, and this last week they've basically not been on my mind. I have a couple relatives to check in on and help out because they're highly at risk, so I'm actually busier now than before. :|
But we will continue! I'm determined to find a mode that gets this campaign back on track.
And it does sound like you will bugger off. Let's see how that works out for everyone. :D
Doing fine, though despite the change to work-from-home I'm still plenty busy. I have at-risk relatives I've been running errands for.
Hope everyone is well... as well!
Vis-a-vis our own adventure and assuming we want to continue, I think we were awaiting a decision from the party as to whether to put yourself in the hands of the temple clerics (or put Luca in their hands at least) or just skip town.
Essentially speaking, you guys would know enough to see that you have two basic choices: Stick around and see what happens with the Temple of the Triarch, or get out of dodge before that happens.
Trying to take the middle route is also possible: Try to stick around and only fly the coop if you don't like the plan they come up with. But makes escape riskier.
The three do not look at each other, but you feel that they have shared an important realization.
"So you are a captive, then. Or hostage. But we must respect your wishes even so," the dwarf says. "We will send for you tomorrow, at the eleventh hour, and we will do our utmost to free you."
You are free to go, and we are free to get the rest of the party more involved again...
You are escorted back to your rooms after your meeting with the three judges, the guards silent as they walk to all sides of you. Their leader, the same man who found you at your employer's home, bows before he departs, also without words.
"Correct. Things here on the mortal plane are... messier, than in the Heavens, but we strive to remain as close to their ideals as possible. And one of those is that without grave and imminent threat, avoidable harm to innocents is evil."
At Luca's words, the three share a long look, as if they have some manner of communicating with each other without speaking.
One woman speaks. "Very well. We sent for you as soon as we learned of you, and have had precious little time to reach out to the Divine Triad for counsel. Will you remain here with us for one day, to give us that time? We will take no other actions without your consent, and if we recieve no answer..."
The dwarf finishes. "Then perhaps the threat is not so grave as we fear, and it is the Triarch's will that you remain here so long as you please."
"Trust is hard to build, but I had hoped our position as clerics of the Triarch might gain us some initial standing," says one woman with a wry smile. "And we cannot tell you a plan, as we do not yet understand what manner of evil we are dealing with. Our magic has discerned no immediate danger from you, and thus we cannot do you harm, for to do evil unto an innocent is forbidden, even in the pursuit of good. Only one other thing is certain - we cannot allow it to remain here unless you are willing to let us help you. Your aid in this matter, or your departure from this city and its whereabouts, are the only choices left to us."
"These are not simple animals, my dear. And they do not protect you out of love, but because they are directed by something else, a cruel being from a very strange place," says the dwarf. "What it's interests are is always hard to discern. But it has claimed you for its own - you would be wise to want rid of it. And we offer you a way. Stay here with us, miss, and see you free from it!"
The dwarf is halted by an upraised hand from one of the others. "I think perhaps we have started on too dire a tone. My name is Kamon. What is your name?" the woman asks.
The judges all but ignore Kien, and if anything show only a small amount of amusement at Luca's dodging of the question. "Indeed, the Triarch and all their followers hate Evil, for it is our anathema," says one of the women. ”And it is naive to think that Evil cannot do things that seem Good to further its own ends, for that is a favorite tool of the truly corrupt. But you have not answered our question, and so let me rephrase it: How long have you known of this evil, and what do you know of it?"
The soldier seems unfazed by Kien. "As you will, miss,"
He put his helmet back on and steps outside, three more soldiers appearing from around corners and across the road, forming a box around you two as they escort you through roads, crossroads, ever-upward, to the hill upon which the Temple of the Triarch is built. The Temple is an enormous stone structure, decorated with fluted columns and an open gallery in the front full of marble statuary depicting winged humanoid beings interacting with mortals, offering aid in battle, counsel, healing of the sick and wounded, every manner of succor mortals ever desire.
You are escorted through a side door and enter the interior, moving through a wide central hallway, finally arriving at something like an audience chamber.
Both of you are now under the effects of a Zone of Truth spell.
Three clerics sit in stone seats, two human women and one dwarf male, all middle-aged and older. They rise and bow as you enter.
”We thank you for coming,” says one of the women. ”We were alerted to a troubling presence in this city, and it is our duty to investigate. Eubeia, speak again what you told us.”
The golden-eyed woman Kien had met earlier steps forward from a side hallway, and likewise bows. ”I was about in the city when my Sight revealed a disturbing nature within this girl. A great evil, coiled, a snake capable of striking whenever it pleases. An ancient and distant greed."
"And?"
The woman looks at Luca with her unnatural eyes. "But though this child has evil within her, the evil is not of her. Rather, she is a host as for a parasite. Or a conduit, perhaps."
The three judges - for that is the only thing you can call them - regard Luca with calm, and not unkind, eyes. The dwarf speaks. "Do you have anything to say about this woman's claims, girl?"
Luca: The ZoT will not allow you to lie, but it does not compel you to answer.
Hate it when the forums don't notify of an update! No worries, as I was very busy over the holidays. Busy tonight as well but will make sure to post tomorrow!
The armored man bows respectfully. "The temple of the Triarchy, the Lords Most High, Makeal, Kabreal, and Atheal. Into whose hands are pledged all those whom enter this city."
For some reason had been thinking I needed more info from you guys to move on... but doesn't seem as I actually do!
Luca & Kien:
Rather than the usual butler greeting you at the door, the person who opens it is dressed in the armor and outfit of one of the temple guards whom you've seen at some point in the city - soldiers in the employ of the Temple of the Triarch. His helmet is off, and he bows politely. "Greetings, young miss. You are the girl called Luca? Indeed, you can help. It is the order of the master of the temple here in the city that you be brought there at once. He has questions he must ask you. Your guardian is welcome to accompany us, as well."
I find it entirely in keeping that Tyrus would turn to alchemical aid for this task, and the tea sounds about right. I'll allow the +2 to count towards this check. Also, given that it is just tea after all and doesn't give crazy effects, it costs only 1 silver to prepare (which is still the equivalent of a day's stay at an inn, so it's a pretty expensive cup of tea).
Thought to prepare right away? (DC 10):1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18
Pulling out all the stops, you spend some money on a set of herbs that combine to form a tea to ward against anxiety and stress. You figure a normal dose will be enough to shut out most of the spurious desires of the flesh and the baser instincts.
Drinking the tea and settling in for another attempt, you wonder what it is success will even feel like. As the herbs take effect, you find it easier and easier to forget physical sensation and focus on pure thought - or absence thereof. You use the most basic meditative trick known to you - focusing on the sound of your own breathing, a simple in-out rhythm. Your eyes are closed and the room around you is mostly dark anyway, Luca and Kien allowed you this solitude at your request.
At the beginning you feel a lingering frustration that you don't even know what is supposed to happen. Undirected exploration into the psyche is the stuff of charlatans, not research. Yet, you find the tranquility comforting, and decide to enjoy it for its own sake. You aren't sure how much time passes before your next conscious thought. You simply become aware of a gap in time, and think that this must indeed be what successful meditation is like. You can feel your own mind almost like an enormous chamber, largely dark and still but still explorable - like a warehouse at midnight.
And then you become aware of somebody else there with you. Or something. Some presence - not threatening, not alarming. Not even stirring. Dormant in a deep and fundamental way. You explore the sensation in your trance-like state, wondering if you are simply dreaming... but no. When you attempt it, you can feel your body. You know you could move if you so wished, but there is no point to it right now. It is not the physical world that currently concerns you, but the world within.
After some contemplation, you become almost sure of it - there is another being sharing your mind and body. But it itself is not a mind - there is no sensation of another will, such as you have felt before through spell and other means. It is presence without activity, but you feel it deeply rooted in you.
As the tea wears off and you feel the pull of the physical world again, you surface to consiousness. But the memories of your experience are clear, as are the conclusions you came to.
There is another soul in your body. And it is growing stronger.
You've successfully discovered something in your trance. The Will DC for continued success has lowered to 22. You aren't sure how many successful checks you will need before you understand what is going on with you.
None of the group feel up to the task of investigating things in a city in which they've spent not even twenty-four hours. And so they decide to go about their business and wait, but to be on their toes.
Luca, aiming to be useful, goes about the town to find work and help them pay their board. Kien accompanies her for safety and so he can have good reason to be out and about. Tyrus continues to meet with the medical Academies.
Luca's style of calligraphy isn't much in vogue her in a city so distant from where she learned, but eventually she finds hire - at least for a few days - with a wealthy merchant who does business in the Obansul. He contracts her to write up decorative title pages for several long-term contracts as a sign of respect to his foreign business partner. For this work Luca will earn a total of 12d6 ⇒ (1, 2, 1, 6, 3, 5, 3, 5, 5, 2, 1, 4) = 38 silver over 6 days.
Kien Perception:1d20 + 12 ⇒ (9) + 12 = 21
Kien notices nothing untoward to give him unease as he follows Luca to and from her work, and busies himself in the day getting to know a bit of the city. However, it is only three days into her contract that Luca is greeted at the door of her workplace (the merchant's home) by an unfamiliar face...
Tyrus go ahead and roll your meditation checks for three nights if you so please. I'll be moving us along more fully tomorrow.
Alright righto, and also sorry I didn't come through on monday. I've had a helluva couple weeks with various things coming up, so I'm going to try again for THIS Monday.
Busy week, won't be able to post likely until Monday. Though upon looking at the last post it would seem further player input is needed! We can always do another 'spend awhile working' if you're waiting for other things to happen, as well.
The party decides to stick with the more humble accommodations at first, with hopes to move to the House of Lights should the stay in the city turn out longer and - with regards to Luca - lucrative.
The inn you decide on, known as the Dancing Pig, is in a quarter of the city frequented by small-time merchants, craftspeople, and their customers. It feels quiet and almost lonely after the bustle of the House of Lights, but there are several other academicians of limited means staying there as well (none, however, from the medical academies that Tyrus has gotten to know).
Tyrus can attempt his meditation tonight if he pleases.
The night passes without incident, despite Kien's run-in the day before.
Somewhat intimidated by the costs at the House of Lights - whatever the comfort may be - you look into other lodgings. The academicians are happy to help. Many of them are forced to be highly conscious of money, as well. They point you to a reputable and safe inn some distance away where you can acquire a room just large enough for all of you and food for 1.5 silver a day.
It gets a little easier at higher levels. But fabulous wealth requires dedicated effort (or a lot of luck).
This place is fairly upscale, figure the 150% ish mark. You'd be able to find accommodations at 1.5 silver a night elsewhere in the city that are still clean and have food. The suite option, however, is only available at the nicer inns.
There are lots of other inns and stuff, I just figured with your newfound cash you wouldn't care as much about finding the absolute best deal in town. But if so, just remark that that's what you do. I didn't want to spend much time on it. :)
A few quick inquiries into the House of Lights reveal that the inn is quite expansive, and has ample rooms from pedestrian to opulent open to let in short or long-term. It is, however, on the more expensive side.
A simple room with included meals costs 2 silver a night to let. A small suite of rooms with room for all three of you, plus food, bathing, and laundry, can be had for 15 silver a night.
Degeneration of the mind is a relatively common, and much debated, topic at the academies, so invested as they are in the mind's good operation. You'll find plenty of opinions and theory, and plenty of people who say they treat such things. Your initial descriptions of the disease gets many of the same misdiagnoses that you yourself wrote down in your journal. When you share this information, some stand by their original opinion and others admit to being stumped without more study and examination.
Tyrus ends up speaking to an elderly human woman, one of the most aged members of the medical academies. She is one of the few people there who has much in the way of knowledge over illnesses of the soul. She is from far northern Golm, from the lands beyond the Godswall mountains. A cold, harsh place, she says there are old, primal gods there, barely more than beasts, who subsist not on worship but on predation of the souls of mortals.
She says that the souls is one of the last great mysteries of the academia. But at least one thing she knows for certain: there are two classes of entity which have inherent power over souls: beings with divine power (gods and divine spirits) and the soul itself. Thus, if a soul is sick, one can discern the nature of what ails it by self-mastery of one's own soul, or to seek the help of a being with inherent divine power.
Self-mastery is a tricky subject, she acknowledges, and is always to to mastery of the rest of the self (body and mind). She says that she thinks there are two routes: one through self-denial - Meditation, the subjugation of wants, desires, earthly goals, etc. Essentially utter stoicism. Or conversely - abandonment of self to those same wants and desires without consideration for anything else. Utter libertinism.
Tyrus has enough knowledge of the mind and self-control that he thinks he can begin a process through meditation. You will need an hour of rest and quiet, free from danger and such immediate concerns. You will need to achieve a Will check of 25.
The woman readily admits, however, that her thinking on the matter is likely heavily flavored by her own trials, her own life, and much else. This is how she understands the matter, but she cannot be sure there are not other effective approaches.
Blood magic is treated... carefully, at the academies, as is necromancy. Not that all of them shy away from it, but that because such practices can have corrupting effects the local religion of the Triarchy treats their practice poorly. "All theory, no practice!" is the byword when it comes to such things, even if said with a wink and a nod.
Makon study is relatively common here. There are academies dedicated to several elements of the culture. So wrapped up in the rest of the conversations is Tyrus that he doesn’t really make time to meet them today, though.
Tyrus remains at the academies the entire day, happy as a child at the beach. At the end of the day, an elf enters each hall in turn and rings a small gong.
”That, alas, sound the end of our day. The House of Lights insists they have these halls for less cerebral evening festivities,” somebody says to Tyrus. ”We’re welcome to stay and drink and carouse with the other patrons – and some of us do – but the atmosphere is less than conducive to continued discussions.”
As to what Luca and Kien got up to in the several hours they were there, well, that's up to you.
Some combination of his sketchy memory of more recent days and the sudden immersion in academia makes Tyrus comes alive in a way he hasn't known since he himself was a student. His breadth and depth of knowledge impresses even the most dour-faced practitioner, and he is able to weigh in on several arguments with authority. When several of the members approach him to ask more about his own specialties, they listen in rapt attention to the ephemera he is concerned with, which while not entirely unknown are certainly rare pursuits.
Tyrus has been accepted fully as a fellow academic by the various medical Academies. The membership treats you as an honored and respected professional of their various arts, with much to teach and therefore the right to learn. In essence: ask what you will of them knowledge-wise, you'll get an answer if there's one to be found. Let me know the kind of info you're after. And also:
Tyrus:
It is common to ask about each others' academic history here. While self-taught individuals are not unknown, a considerable amount of honor is given to those from prestigious institutions and backgrounds. When the question of your own learning comes up, what do you tell them?
Kien:
You note that several of these so-called academics are probably more than they want to let on. A few of them carry well-concealed weapons, and some of them move like fighters who know how to handle themselves. Not to say any of them have nefarious intent - you see no obvious evidence of that - but not all of them are book-bound pushovers.
One or two of them notice you surveying the room, and make clear that they too have noticed you. A quick dip of the head, a twitch of the eyebrow. Quiet signs of respect from one formidable individual to another.
Perception(Group):1d20 ⇒ 13
Luca Bluff:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13
Luca:
You come across a couple of individuals who 'take the hint' at what you want - and what you are offering. In a town like this mensha is in high demand, and you don't have any trouble selling it for a good price. Nor is it technically considered a dangerous substance, so while they may wonder how you came across it they won't wonder too insistently.
"Malady of the soul? Why, I have never heard of such a thing - but then, I am no physic. I can introduce you to the academies of surgeons, physics, and such easily enough. And perhaps to those concerning theology, if you think that may help. As for your friend, I would need a bit more information to know where to begin. But let us be about the first bit, mm?"
Sulimach takes you into the Inn, which turns out to be several adjoining halls, each filled to varying extents by academics in debate that range to polite to nearly violent. Fortunately, the academies concerning medical pursuits seem to meet in one of the more peaceful areas.
Sulimach will introduce you, and to speed things along perhaps we can go about questions in a more informal way than full RP. Let me know what you're looking for and throw out a Diplomacy check and one knowledge check of your choice (demonstrate knowledge to gain more, give to get, etc. That's how the academies work).
A quick inquiry to another streetside food vendor gets you directions to the House of Lights. It is an impressive structure - three wide stories built into the side of a hill at the top of a busy road. The traffic in and out of it seems to indicate that it is a center of some kind of activity.
You ask around a bit, and rather than getting an answer from somebody you ask you are overheard by a thin, short man who appears to be somewhere near his fortieth year. "Looking for the academies!" he says in somewhat broken and accented Obanese. "You want over here!"
He leads you to the furthest reach of the lowest level of the House. Many people are sitting outside on a patio of sorts, and you can tell you've been brought to the right place. There are conversation in half a dozen different languages that you can hear, and what little you can pick up is about topics ranging from geologic formations to the true origin of dragons.
Your escort interrupts one of the conversations and peppers one of the participants with Athekoran words. This one, a middle-aged man with the dark complexion of a man from one of the Golaporan cities, speaks to you in impeccable Obanese. "A newcomer! Welcome to the House of Lights, or rather our little corner of it. If you're an academy member they request you don't enter the Inn proper unless and until you're staying there. It's how we keep the peace with the House and its other clientele."
He takes a moment to clearly study Tyrus and the others. "An interesting assortment you lot make! I am Sulimach Sett, but many here call me Sully if that agrees with their tongue better. I am a scholar primarily of herbology, and one of the semi-official hosts of the Forum - which is what we call this space. What may I do for you?"
You guys are going on your own steam right now, but is there any info I can offer to help things along? I'm not entirely sure what Kien is asking from Tyrus right now.
From his university days, Tyrus remembers that there was a focal point for these 'clubs' that served as something of a meeting place and debate ground. A large, multi-level inn and tavern known as The House Of Lights. Assuming nothing has changed in the admittedly long years since then, that would be a good place to start.
You know that the librarians come from all over the world, though most of them are of course from the local people. The Library and those who run it have no official ties to any religion, though again the local makeup of predominantly Triarch worshipers is still found among their number.
The only way you could count on surefire support from the Library and its people is if you were attempting to preserve some information that others were attempting to destroy, as the preservation of information of all kinds is the Libraries sole concern. Any other trouble is unlikely to gain their help - they would direct you to other institutions to seek aid.
Kien's casual threat has no visible impact on the strange-eyed woman. "I see unease in you, but if there is any danger to you in this city, it does not come from me. And it seems you have brought most of the danger with you."
She spares one more glance towards Luca and Tyrus over her shoulder. "This is beyond my knowledge and rank. I need guidance. I suspect I shall see you again."
With that she turns and walks away.
Luca and Tyrus:
"They are called peng nuts, young miss, very common here. I've heard that when shipments of them arrive in far-away lands they are considered a delicacy, but we put them in everything," the merchant says with a laugh.
"I want nothing from you -" The woman turns, and you notice the unearthly appearance of her eyes. Set in the face of a woman of roughly middle years (for a human), her pupils and irides are a deep, lustrous golden color, shimmering like the ocean beneath a sunset. " - but I have been graced with sight beyond that of this world, and I have seen nothing like your companions in all my years. What brings you to this city?"
You notice now that the woman is wearing the half-robes and insignia of one of the keepers of the Great Library, as well as others denoting her to be a worshiper and priest of the Triarch.
Writing all this up reminds me that I really need to get a damn wiki set up for all this world-building. I'm going to have to go back through all our years of posts to remember all the stuff I forgot to save anywhere else!
The streets of the city are loud and lively with hawkers, and Kien has no trouble finding what he's looking for, even with such an expensive taste in spices.
Kien:
You appear to have successfully evaded notice by the pursuer, a diminutive woman with long, deep black hair. But as you approach from behind and just before you can speak, she does herself - not facing you, but clearly addressing you.
"You keep intriguing company, warrior. Do you know just how much so?"
Tyrus and Luca:
"Ah friend, welcome to Kamporong and my own humble slice of it," the shopkeeper replies in the same language. I assumed you spoke your own common language, Obanese."We so seldom get visitors from the Obansul here! It is a delight to use the tongue again, such a delightful language. And specialties! Why, that would certainly be prardo, a nutbread we Athekorian's and especially we Kamporonians have been making since before the Gods' themselves had names. Try it plain, or with some butter or honey. I have some here with exotic spices in the dough - I find this here with nutmeg especially sets off the flavors..."
He continues to extol his wares until you indicate which one you'd like to try.
Athekor/Kamporong, General Info (No Roll Needed):
All of this is information you would have between the three of you.
Athekor is an ancient human civilization which has existed in roughly the same form for thousands of years, and Kamporong has always been its center of learning. Ages ago when the dwarves first crossed over to the continent through the mystical Deep Way, it was the Athekorians they encountered first, and have been allies ever since.
The dominant religion in Athekor is the worship of the Triarch, three Lawful Good deities who form a unified whole and are always worshipped together even though they are recognized to have different facets to themselves (Makael as a god of martial strength; Kabrael as a god of knowledge; Athael as a god of reason and diplomacy). As such, Athekorian society emphasizes harmony and order, and is likely partially responsible for the enduring nature of the nation's society.
Kamporong is nestled high up in the mountains, near the entrances to the dwarven roads. The thin air has been known to cause some difficulties to visitors until they acclimate, and the weather tends to be cooler due to the altitude (but due to being in a fairly tropical location, it's still a pretty nice place to be - think the northern Andes for a real-world corollary).
Letting you guys know I'm unlikely to be able to get a post up this week, as the next couple of posts might be info-heavy (or need to be prepared to be info-heavy). Next post coming Tuesday next, thus.
I do like that approach as well. I may combine them. It also sort of implies a point at which an item which has been Made Whole is beyond the ability of the spell to repair. In any case, for the majority of things it would likely just be the spell as normal.
And yes, this would be a world-wide caveat. It also opens up the possibility of repair magic specialists who have researched their own special version which is useful for longer periods of time after breaking, but that's mostly fluff and world stuff.
A possible approach. I usually take the stance that wizard's have limited ability to modify/support their spells on the fly beyond simply continuing or ending them. They produce tightly researched effects with known details. Sorcerers and other innate casters have a tad more leeway while casting, but they also can't as easily research new spells. Sort of the science vs art approach to arcane magic.
We can resolve the spell purchase question after the fact. Moving along!
You spend the evening in a comfortable, if perhaps slightly cramped, dwarven inn. The innkeeper explains that the inn was carved ages ago, when the only humans the dwarves treated with on the continent were the Athekorians, who tend towards lower statures. Still, after the drink and merriment you spend the night peacefully enough and rise the next morning to continue on your way.
The low road you set out on the next day is promised to deliver you directly to the gates of Athekor's primary northern city of Kamporong. It takes you around three days of easy travel to reach it, but on afternoon of the third you emerge from the underground only a mile from the city gates. A regular, and entirely free, carriage service brings you the short remainder of the distance. The friendship between the Athekorians and the local dwarven holds is old and strong, each seeing to it that visitors to one place are welcome in the other.
Tyrus:
You know that the city that hosts the great Athekorian libraries is, peculiarly, not host to any great universities. The only learning that takes place here is, in fact, devoted to the librarians - the study of categorizing, maintaining, and making available the great stores of knowledge they hold. The city is, of course, still chock full of academics from the world over, but all of them are, like you, visitors. In lieu of university halls, various inns and taverns play semi-permanent host to various fields of study.
Perception DC 25:
As you walk the streets searching for an inn with an available room, you notice a figure you had passed by a few minutes ago seems to be following at some distance.
I'm embarrassed to admit I haven't established a baseline for what spells should be priced at, level by level. I'll take a look at that today and adjust the price accordingly.
As to Make Whole - yeah, fixing ships I'm fine with, but if wizards could really just repair anything, anytime, anywhere, with a few days of spell casting, the world would be much different than I had imagined it. Magic items have a built in limit of 2x item level, but I wanted some condition on mundane items as well, hence the time limit.
