Locus 22's page

Chronicle is good. Sorry I can't stick around. I need Locus for a F2F game at GenCon, and I doubt any final boss fight we attempt would be done by then.

Thanks for a good game everyone.

There's a second set of saves within the Spoiler. I presume that means if we examine the ledgers, we have to roll those. But even if just one of us takes the 10 minutes to examine the ledgers, then we all have to make the extra set of saves cause we're all there together. 

Reflex DC 23: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (13) + 13 = 26
Fort DC 23: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (14) + 13 = 27

As Locus examines the ledgers, she's so distracted by the data (and the horrible penmanship) that the next wave of abyssal energy catches her off guard.
Reflex DC 23: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (4) + 13 = 17
Fort DC 23: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (4) + 13 = 17

Ditto. Good Boy Ra'uf and the angelic healer Celestia.

After resting and when everyone is ready, Locus approaches the locked door. "Why would they lock it? Were they not just moving supplies?" She checks the bodies of the two champions to see if they have a key.

Assuming not, but I don't know that we said we would loot check them.

"It seems it falls to me, then," she says when no one else moves to open the door. She searches her nearly perfect memory and recalls some lessons she picked up the last time she passed through the Grand Lodge.

Boon: Steady Hand: [free-action] (fortune) Once per adventure. Roll twice and take the higher result on a Thievery check. You can only activate this ability before rolling the check.

Thievery (T): 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (6) + 14 = 20
Thievery (T): 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (20) + 14 = 34

Locus recalls Toop and pats her familiar as it sits upon her shoulder and purrs. (Well, it sounds like a purr; maybe it's just the giant locust rubbing his legs together.) "I, too, would like to rest a bit before moving on. That was a very dangerous fight. Thank you Ra'uf, for being such a stalwart front line. I don't think we would have survived without you."

Who's a good boy? Ra'uf's a good boy; yes he is!

Refocus time, yes please.

Scribing Lore (T) DC 20: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (12) + 13 = 25

Minzy gets some work for Locus doing translations of pre-Worldwound Sarkorian legal documents. Toop helps by walking on the papers like a cat, albeit one with 6 legs.

Success = 7.2 gp

Reflex : 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (14) + 13 = 27
Fort : 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (3) + 13 = 16

Locus finds her feet, but the void energy just seems to be relentlessly effective against the poor girl.

Buzzing Bites, Save previously Failed: 4d4 ⇒ (2, 4, 2, 2) = 10

Needle Darts attack: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (16) + 15 = 31
Cold Iron, P: 6d4 ⇒ (2, 2, 3, 2, 1, 1) = 11

◆ Sustain buzzing bites, ◆◆ Needle Darts 

I'm satisfied with the two Successes you rolled for Locus. Thanks. 

And thanks to Celestia for the healing. I'll do an IC thanks on Locus' turn.

Reflex : 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (17) + 13 = 30
Fort : 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (2) + 13 = 15

Once again, the void energy wreaks havoc on Locus, causing circuits to decay and her tattoos to dim. But she presses her attack on the remaining monster with a whisper to the swarm and another hail of cold iron needles.

Buzzing Bites, Save previously Failed: 4d4 ⇒ (3, 3, 4, 3) = 13

Needle Darts attack: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (9) + 15 = 24
Cold Iron, P: 6d4 ⇒ (2, 1, 1, 3, 2, 1) = 10

◆ Sustain buzzing bites, ◆◆ Needle Darts 
3 damage from the Reflex + 9 void and 17 healing = 46/64 hp.

Ref DC 23: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (8) + 13 = 21
Fort DC 23: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (2) + 13 = 15

The android girl is again rocked by the blast, barely keeping her feet as the void energy rips through her artificial body.

Hearing something about using cold iron, she sets the swarm to their task on Purple while she sends darts of cold iron needles at the same one.

◆ Buzzing Bites Piercing DC 25 Fort: 4d4 ⇒ (3, 2, 1, 2) = 8
◆◆ Needle Darts

Needle Darts vs Purple AC : 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (15) + 15 = 30
cold iron chunk: 6d4 ⇒ (2, 2, 2, 4, 3, 4) = 17

"Miss Celestia, I believe Ra'uf needs our assistance," she says as she follows Kat into the main room. She settles into the corner and lets the voices just tickle at the edges of the mind of the monster menacing Ra'uf.

◆ Stride, ◆◆ Rank 1 fear vs Purple. DC 25 Will save. 

Will: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (15) + 14 = 29
Reflex : 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (12) + 13 = 25
Fort : 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (3) + 13 = 16

Locus keeps her feet and easily resists the droning sounds. It's actually quite soothing given how it drowns out the voices for a moment. But her constructed body isn't as tough as it looks against unholy energy waves.

Not confused, 3 bludgeoning from the Reflex success, 12 void from the failed Fort save. Plus 18 from Celestia = 53 I think

Oh, right, we had time to refocus. 

Locus pushes the voices in her head into the head of the remaining evil champion.

◆◆ Amped daze on Red. DC 25 basic Will save, except on a Crit Fail.
Mental: 3d10 ⇒ (1, 7, 10) = 18
If the target fails its Will save, until the end of its next turn, it gains weakness 2 to mental damage and takes a –1 status penalty to Will saves. On a critical failure, the weakness is 4 (in addition to the target being stunned 1). The weakness applies before daze deals damage. (Heightened.)

She then...

If Red is still up, Sustains buzzing bites for 4d4 ⇒ (1, 2, 4, 3) = 10 damage using the previous save result so 5 damage.

If Red drops from the daze, she moves to the back row. 

"I am an android, a constructed life-form," Locus-22 politely informs her attacker just as Ra'uf's blade deflects the scythe a bit. As her purple-colored blood-like substance begins to flow, her staff flashes with an eerily similar colored glow. "Thank you, Ra'uf," she says still in the same calm and soft voice just as the world begins to shake.

Reflex : 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (11) + 13 = 24
Fort : 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (2) + 13 = 15

When the cultist failed his save against blood vendetta, her accursed staff gave her 4 temp hp, which were quickly wiped out by the hazard. At least it helped a bit. So I think she's at 50 hp.

Complying with her direction, Toop stays well out of the way of any hulking demon-bugs or cultists. And of Locus' spells. First she calls upon the nearby hill of carpenter ants to feast upon the cultist in the bright Red sash. Then the android girl gestures into the room from the corner of the doorway. A wave of gray mist formed of negative energy spills out from her outstretched hand, briefly taking the shape of a pack of giant preying mantises that set viciously on her foes.

◆ buzzing bites Red DC 25 Fortitude save or 4d4 ⇒ (1, 1, 4, 1) = 7 piercing damage (Basic) except also sickened on a Crit Fail. 

◆◆ feral shades reimagined as mantises. DC 25 Basic Fortitude save or Void: 2d4 ⇒ (2, 4) = 6 plus slashing: 2d4 ⇒ (4, 3) = 7 damage

Just in case, if someone hits her, she will use blood vendetta on the first one that does so.

Next round, she will step back out of the front line.

Locus silently sends Toop around the corner to see what's going on. He's "just" another flying bug, and they are worshippers of the biggest bug-demon of them all, so maybe the ones in the room won't even notice him. She urges him to be careful, stay high and out of reach, and to come back quickly to make his report.

Flier with 25 foot fly speed. Positioning on the slide is just notional as we don't have eyes on whatever is actually in there. 

As she moves forward, Locus points the swarm from the downed cultist towards a new meal wearing sickly Green robes. A few of them break off and join Toop and her to conceal them should wither of the Deskarians get too close. She concentrates a bit on the aura around herself to expand its influence on the enemies' minds, too.

◆ Stride
◆ Sustain Bane: now 20 foot emanation, DC 25 Will saves from both
◆ buzzing bites on Green: DC 25 Fort save
She and Toop are Concealed. 

If being eaten by parasites and bugs is what these guys really like, who is Locus to deny them. She reaches back out to the swarm she dismissed earlier and asks them for their help again. She points them towards Orange and tells them to enjoy themselves.

As she watches the centipedes, spiders, and fire ants crawl up the Deskarian's legs, she hefts her iron-bound staff and channels her power through it to evoke an aura against her enemies.

◆ buzzing bites Fort DC 25. Basic except on a Crit Fail for Piercing: 4d4 ⇒ (2, 1, 2, 3) = 8
◆◆ bane  10 foot aura DC 25 Will save for any Enemy in or entering the aura

As the champion's blade arcs towards Toop, Locus snaps her fingers and the locust turns ghostly for just a moment. The blade passes (mostly) harmlessly through her familiar as he's pushed back towards her. A moment later, Kat unleashes a wave of healing. Toop turns to the monk and thanks her. In Common.

"Yes, thank you Kat," Locus repeats and commands Toop to return to her side. "We've never tried that maneuver before today. And I'm not sure I really like it," she says as she pats Toop on the head.

Turning her attention back to the cultists, she tries to spot them in the gloom. Picking out the one in the Green boots, she lets loose all the voices that are in her head all the time. She's not even sure who they are for the most part. Some are certainly the nearby swarms of insects, but many are in languages even she doesn't know, and in the voices of creatures not remotely human. Either way, Green gets to hear them. All of them.

◆ Command Familiar, and Toop uses the actions to return to her side. ◆◆ Amped Daze. Her Daze always has 120 foot range, and she has the Greater Eye Slash tattoo which quadruples her natural vision and darkvision range.

Amped Daze: DC 25 Will save for Amped damage: 3d10 ⇒ (9, 9, 1) = 19 Plus either 1 or 3.

So that folks aren't waiting on me, I'm going to wait to post in Gameplay until I see Red's status. But Locus will be using Phase Familiar on Toop to prevent 20 damage to him (plus any precision damage, though I don't think there was any precision.)

Locus thanks the swarm on Red and releases them from their service. She turns to the oversized locust on her shoulder and casts a spell into Toop before commanding him to deliver it to Red.

Toop flies over Hobbs and lands atop the Red champion's head. Suddenly mushrooms begin to sprout from the warrior's head, spreading inexorably across their body.

Using Familiar Spell Delivery to ◆◆ cast mycological malady on Red. Toop remains in Red's space for now. Red needs a DC 25 Fortitude save.  Locus remains concealed.

Locus steps around behind Hobbs and calls for the insects of the cavern to set upon the Champion of Deskari in the Red robes. (Or the Green one if Red is already down.)

buzzing bites Fort DC 25 Damage, P: 4d4 ⇒ (4, 1, 2, 2) = 9 and possible sickened

She then considers what she might know of these cultists.

Society? +17 with Dubious Knowledge, looking for Special Abilities (i.e. Class Abilities or something along those lines) and Weakest Saves. 

◆ Stride, ◆ Buzzing Bites, ◆ RK. She is now Concealed

Locus hangs back and waits for someone else (maybe a certain someone in a chair) to move deeper into the tunnels first.

Locus suggests following the line that she carefully traces on the map in Red ink.

Locus rifles through her memory for what she knows of krooths, trying to remember what kinds of spells they might be weakest to.

◆ RK: Assuming Nature +12, with Dubious Knowledge, looking for lowest save(s).

She then goes ahead and tries to shock the krooth with the sudden onslaught of 1,000 voices in 100 languages - what she hears in her head all the time.

◆◆ Amped Daze, DC 25 Will save. Mental Damage: 3d10 ⇒ (3, 10, 10) = 23. +2 damage on a Failed Will save, +4 (before doubling) on a Crit Fail. Also Stunned 1 on a Crit Fail.

Seeing that the Krooth shrugged off the bugs as expected, Locus asks the swarm to shift over to the smaller thing that just popped out of the ground. Then she drives a mental spike into the krooth's mind.

◆ buzzing bites on Holdfast, ◆◆ phantom pain on krooth 

As she does so, some of the swarm come over to her and gently surround her making it difficult to tell exactly where she is.

Buzzing Bites: DC 25 Fort save, Damage: 5d4 ⇒ (2, 1, 1, 1, 2) = 7 GAH! Nearly absolute minimum damage!

Phantom Pain Signature spell heightened to Rank 2, DC 25 Will save. Mental damage: 4d4 ⇒ (3, 2, 3, 4) = 12 Plus 2d4 Persistent mental damage

Familiar of Swarm’s Heart Your familiar is surrounded by a cloud of harmless insects. When you Cast or Sustain a hex (Buzzing Bites), the insects swarm to protect you and your allies. Until the start of your next turn, your familiar grants concealment to you or any ally while sharing the same space.

Locus calls upon the gnats and mosquitos swarming the fetid bog and commands them to go after the female krooth.

Then she shifts her focus to the smaller creature and unleashes all the voices that dwell within her head at all once.

◆ Buzzing Bites, ◆◆ Amped Daze 

Buzzing Bites: DC 25 Fortitude save. Damage, P: 5d4 ⇒ (3, 3, 2, 1, 3) = 12 

Amped Daze: DC 25 Will save. Range is 120 feet. Mental damage : 3d10 ⇒ (10, 1, 7) = 18 If the target fails its Will save, until the end of its next turn, it gains weakness 1 to mental damage and takes a –1 status penalty to Will saves. On a critical failure, the weakness is 3 (in addition to the target being stunned 1). The weakness applies before daze deals damage. Amp Heightened (+2): The spell's damage increases by 2d10, and the weakness on a failure or critical failure increases by 1. 

Locus-22 nods in agreement at all the possible plots and motivations, though she can't begin to fathom the feelings given her particular heritage. She's just not programmed to understand certain things about being human, in spite of being in a humanoid frame.

In the end, she thanks for asp for its story of sorrow and suggests that the team continue towards the lake.

"What's wrong with a 'nest of locusts'?" Locus-22 and her attendant locust familiar ask the serpent cheekily. "The Screaming Grubs, though, is that the name of the rival clan, or a bandit group, or a cult, or something else?"

She pauses at Celestia's question. "And we are talking about Hesla Embersplitter, I presume, based on the name?" she asks the asp.

"Though I wonder why she appended '-splitter' to her name? Is that a common appellation here, or a signaling of some sort?" she muses.

"A story of sorrow and tragedy? I've been most fortunate in my very short 3 years of life not to have suffered much of that. But I do know a story. Would you like to hear it in its original Minkain or translated to Taldane? Or some other language, perhaps?"

Regardless of which language the asp requests, Locus recites The Saga of the Fallen Sword, an epic tragedy from Minkai.

Society (M) : 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (18) + 17 = 35

Referenced in Lost Omens Tian Xia World Guide, page 103.  

In the morning, Locus and Toop have a chat about what spells would be more useful. They decide to empower their ability to dispel magic, and replace a few other spells that might prove more interesting.

"Maybe just a bit further south, but then head up towards the lake," Locus offers as she peers over Kat's shoulder at the map.

Swap dispel magic into Rank 4 to replace airlift. Swap out Rank 2 dispel for loose time's arrow and enlarge for feral shades. 

Locus peers at the horrid figurine and finds it fascinating. After discussing its properties with Hobbs, she wonders how truly useful it would be.

All creatures within 20 feet are Sickened or Frightened, including allies. Great for the bad guys, not so much for the heroes.

"I suppose we should head south," she opines when Kat shares her insight. "After Celestia gets dressed, of course."

As mentioned in Discussion, I'll be swapping out prepared spells before reaching the next Hex. I'll update her profile page later today.

Locus takes a deep calming breath now that she no longer feels drawn to the water. But she worries that her friends are in danger. "Minzy, please help Ra'uf talk to the spirits," she says even as she casts two quick spells on Celestia and Hobbs.

Hireling Diplomacy to Aid Ra'uf: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (8) + 11 = 19

Guidance on Celestia. Please don't forget to use it!

Guidance on Hobbs.

I ... didn't know this. (Clearly.) I always thought heightening only applied to spells with a Heightened entry. I reread Player Core, and wow, that changes my tactics. I think the only time I've used dispel magic is on my bard and he was level 3 or 4 then, so it didn't come up.

As useful as airlift was, I think Locus will swap dispel magic into a rank 4 slot in her next preparations.

@Ra'uf, do you desire enlarge during combat? Locus prepares it by default, but if it's not a thing you need/want, she'll switch it out.

I presume Kat doesn't need enlarge?

Locus's spell does not seem to have any effect.

Is that a rank 2 dispel? Failure, and it is not lower rank then your spell so it is not dispelled.

Yes, it's a Rank 2 spell. Rereading some posts about Counteract, I should have been using her Spell Modifier including being Expert Spellcaster, so the result would have been 25.

But how does Rank 2 dispel magic remain relevant as you level? There's no Heightening line in the spell. One post stated that since the spell can't be heightened, you would always use a Counteract Rank of the Spellcasting Rank (i.e. 4 based on highest spell rank available) just as you use the Spellcasting Modifier.

]No no no no... So Away ... We ... Go ...." Locus intones as she summons a massive swirl of wind to carry everyone away from the pond, depositing them 60 feet further from the haunted water. This hopefully gets them either out of the water's area of influence or buys them more time to recover.

airlift

I hate swimming. Why do I feel the need to go into the water now? What is going on?" Locus thinks in a panic as she moves inexorably towards the pond.

"No! Begone!" she screams as she blasts the pool with arcane energies and her circuitry tattoos glow.

dispel magic

Counteract with Occultism, Nanite Surge, Stupefied : 1d20 + 13 + 2 - 1 ⇒ (5) + 13 + 2 - 1 = 19
Counteract with Occultism, Nanite Surge, Hero Point, Vestment, Stupefied : 1d20 + 13 + 2 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (8) + 13 + 2 + 1 - 1 = 23

Gah, still probably not enough.

I'd like to use her   nanite surge, but I'm not sure if it applies or not.  If this counts as a Spell that she is counteracting, her counteract roll would be 2 higher by virtue of being Expert Spellcaster.

Correct, there is currently no way for a Sorcerer to be sanctified purely within the class. You would have to take a dedication.

Though curious about the hand, Locus hangs back and considers what might be causing such an apparition.

Skill check? RK w/ Occultism +13?
I should have mentioned, Locus has Dubious Knowledge. 

"To the southwest is the route we had agreed to search along. Either we go that way in search of whatever evil the alicorn is avoiding," Locus says as she feeds Toop a handful of grains. "Or we, too, avoid it."

Eh, press on. But be prepared. 

Locus watches from the back of her horse as Toop flits about playing tag with some smaller bugs.

Perception, Constructed: 1d20 + 13 - 1 ⇒ (12) + 13 - 1 = 24

The large flying creature's movements mean nothing to her, but then she thinks about what she knows of these animals
Arcana DC 39: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (20) + 13 = 33

The Nat 20 would make the Failure vs that DC into a Success, so I presume we can all read the Spoilers now, yes? 

"Did you see that? I think it dropped something. Toop, would you fetch that for us, please?" she asks her familiar.

As she examines the small tarnished necklace with its depiction of an owl talon clutching a skein of yarn, she realizes that Celestia said something that confused her. "Celestia Sol. These are terms for Sky and Sun," the translator android muses. "How do you derive that you were named for an alicorn?" she asks the beautiful sorceress.

"Thank you for the clarification," Locus replies as she writes notes about Deskari in her small notebook. She then joins the others at the table and admires Hobbs' writing set.

"Your route does seem logical," the android girl remarks, "and horses would be a good option."

While they procure horses, she will also pick up 5 more scrolls of foraging friends, 1 extra scroll of Rank 2 helpful steps, and 3 scrolls of sonata span. One can never be too prepared for taking horses through this kind of terrain.

44 gp spent on scrolls, plus a horse. 

Not sure I really got an answer to my questions. What is Deskari's Gullet? And who is Deskari? That might give us an initial direction to search.

Locus avails herself of a pickle, but tells Minzy and Toop to share it instead. The pair of ravenous locust and energetic gnome polish it off in no time as Locus watches without comment. She makes a few notes in a small notebook using a very nice but slightly thick pen. Her handwriting is meticulous and perfect.

"Deskari's Gullet," she says sounding it out. "A possessive of a name, and a term that evokes the throat while also meaning a geological passageway for water. So who is 'Deskari'? And what do we know of their gullet?"

4 glyphs. 7th level monk/medic.

[dice=Door prize]d20

Finally! A new door!

EDIT - I'll update her statblock tomorrow morning (my time)...

Provision: 4th rank heal scroll (hands it to Locus)...

Sorry, should have included that in her intro. Yes, she gracefully accepts any heal scrolls that folks offer to her.

before telling her human to 'go around' ;)

Nope! "Unable!" Still haven't quite gotten the sleep cycle reset, though.

To clarify, Minzy is an Expert Hireling for Diplomacy and comes with Legal and Accounting Lore - so her agent, accountant, and lawyer. The giant locust is her familiar "Toop."

And I hope the GM doesn't mind, but I added a slide at the end for Character Art for those that want to show something larger than a token.

A quiet female android stands with the patience of the constructed. Her pale skin is so white that it looks almost silvery in the firelight and the thin blue tattoos on her face and upper arms even glow softly.

She wears no armor, only a long deep-green robe slit up the sides with sensible pants beneath (in the style of a Vietnamese ao dai). She holds a staff and has a basic pack and a few small items on her person. Iron strips line the body of the staff, capping the bottom and folding into an intricate knot at the top, and it seems to give off dark and eerie vibes.

"Locus-22, or simply Locus," she introduces herself in a soft voice when asked.

In contrast to her calm demeanor, the gnome and huge locust accompanying her have energy and impatience to spare.

"Hey, got anything to eat? Been a long trip," the gnome cheerfully but obliviously asks their hosts. "Locus is shy and eats like a bird," she says as she thrusts a business card into the dromaar's hand. "And one for you, and you," she continues around the room.

"Minzy, please, let them be. They're clearly worried about our mission," Locus chides her agent and lawyer, while the locust the size of a cat chuckles from the android's shoulder.

I signed up with Locus as she's a level 7 and so is Ra'uf. But we've not seen what the other two Players are bringing, so I may change to another character if it makes more sense for the party. I have a bard 7 (or 8 depending on if he levels up tonight) and a swashbuckler 10 as options.

One glyph, same criteria as Ra'uf, though I suspect that might mean we swap Hero Points with each other :)

Locus will accept splash damage or other AOE effects. She's very logical in her outlook and sees it as a small sacrifice in pursuit of the larger goal.

Provision: Scroll of Heal (rank 4). Note that she can cast heal, so if others want to take the scroll as their provision then hand it off to her, she'll use it on you if needed. She does not normally prepare heal, but if there are no other healers or healing capacity in the party she can. Therefore, unless there's a "you traveled together for several days to reach your objective" element to a scenario (which it sounds like there is not for this one), she will do her daily preparations after meeting the team.

1d20 ⇒ 18
So close.

A quiet female android waits with the patience of the constructed. Her pale skin is so white that it looks almost silvery in the magical light illuminating the lobby, and the thin blue tattoos on her face and upper arms even glow softly.

She wears no armor, only a long deep-green robe slit up the sides with sensible pants beneath (think Vietnamese ao dai). She holds a staff and has a basic pack and a few small items on her person. Iron strips line the body of the staff, capping the bottom and folding into an intricate knot at the top. and it seems to give off dark and eerie vibes.

"Locus-22, or simply Locus," she introduces herself in a soft voice when asked.

In contrast to her calm demeanor, the gnome and huge locust accompanying her have energy and impatience to spare.

"Hey, you need reports written? Translated?" the gnome pesters passing agents in the lobby. "Locus here's your gal if you do!" she says slipping a business card into the agents' pockets as they hurry to move on with their tasks.

"Minzy, please, let them be. They're busy," Locus chides her agent and lawyer, while the locust the size of a cat chuckles from the android's shoulder.

Hello, all! I'm planning to play with Locus-22 (or just Locus for simplicity), my level 6 Witch {psychic}, but I can change to a level 3 Investigator if the table goes solidly low tier, or a level 5 magus if we really need melee.

Locus' PBP profile is grossly out of date, but I'll get that updated shortly.

I too am in Asia currently (Japan this month, Thailand in March, Indonesia and Australia in April), but being recently retired my posting reliability and schedule has much improved and stabilized.

I have neither played nor GMed this scenario, and I have no glyphs y

Locus will accept splash damage or other AOE effects. She's very logical in her outlook and sees it as a small sacrifice in pursuit of the larger goal.
et.

Provision: Scroll of Heal (rank 3). Note that she can cast heal, so if others want to take the scroll as their provision then hand it off to her, she'll use it on you if needed.

Locus-22 dismisses the swarm with her thanks. As they disappear into the floorboards, she asks them to consider relocating to another building, suggesting that perhaps they could follow the Aldoris back to their training hall. If nothing else, it's one less thing Master Farabellos will have to deal with as he gets the lodge cleaned up.

She wanders into the sitting room to check on Bugtussle. Even though she knows it was all non-lethal, she's still concerned for her "New Friend's" well-being. 'New Friend'? Where have I heard that term used? Was it in a dream, or from one of the many voices?, she muses, though the question never resolves itself satisfactorily.

At the feast, she makes sure to try one bite of each dish, but only that. She even brings out her familiar and introduces a giant grasshopper the size of a cat as "Toop" who proceeds to indulge in the feast in the opposite manner of Locus, eating as much as possible, just as a locust would.

The next morning, she opts not to return to Absalom, but instead heads off into the wilds of the River Kingdoms. Something is calling to her. Many somethings in fact. Thousands of voices all telling her in different languages and different ways that it is time to grow, to learn, to "level up."

Yeah! Level 3!