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The Cute And Fuzzy DM's page
34 posts. Alias of Dennis Harry.
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the Roc and the Oliphant - The City of Greyhawk - 581 CY
Mordenkainen does not react to the news in any easily discernible way, "These are grim tidings indeed.
Silvertail is correct, this information must not pass beyond the mouths of any present. If the world at large to hear of such a catastrophe, it could upset the balance of power greatly.
The strange events of the last six months apparently have something to do with the Eye and the Hand of Vecna and an astrological alignment. How the artifacts figure in or what the alignment is, I cannot guess.
I have been in my own library, looking for books that might reveal more on the subject. The Chronicle of Secret Times has given some hints and might yield more but the tome is difficult even for one such as I to interpret easily.
I do not know where the Circle of Eight met their deaths. The only thing I can surmise is that they were searching for the Eye and the Hand when they traveled to this secret location. Further research may turn up more information about these artifacts. It seems that I may wish to brush up on these items as it has been some time since I bothered to consider their existence.
Perhaps even more grimly, the divination blackout-the failure of those spells-is beginning to spread to other parts of Oerth. I have had reports of similar problem from the Kingdom of Furyondy and the Duchy of Urnst.
The only bright spot is that, so far, this strange blight on divination affected only those spells of the greater and greatest mysteries.
Level 1-3 Divinations still work.
I postulate that there are three possibilities for what is disrupting the divinations of Greyhawk. Each has its own disturbing implications.
First, some powerful group is at work, trying to isolate Greyhawk, perhaps in preparation for a coup. The conspirators know how to cause the blackout using certain items that have perhaps been recovered from some ancient treasure horde.
Second, the priests and citizens of Greyhawk have managed to offend divinatory deities and are now being punished. This seems even more doubtful than the first suggestion but the Gods are known to be fickle.
Finally, the realms of the greater powers are themselves in turmoil, making predictions on the fate of Oerth impossible. However, what could this have to do with the Hand and Eye of Vecna?
Of course, the two events could be totally unrelated...
Regardless, with the Circle dead or magically recovering, assuming your Masters and my Allies were powerful and visionary enough to plan ahead, someone will need to fill their roles as best as possible.
As you all appear to have retained your faculties, I would ask that you honor the memories of your Masters and seek out the fate of the Circle.
Meanwhile, I will be spending my time investigating the divination failure with my spells and library resources. Keep the ring for now that you may contact me if you find anything significant".
His image begins to fade...
What do you do?
Selene Spires wrote: Dragoncat wrote: Questions? Okay...
What's your favourite fluffy animal?
Cats What?
Not big barking dogs!?
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the Roc and the Oliphant - The City of Greyhawk - 581 CY
The man appears shocked by the fact that you all address him in such a manner, "I well I. uh. Well, sorry then".
Jalucian wears a bemused smile, "Worry not Ravel. How were you to know? This secret must stay with us. Now, place the ring on your paw Zizi and the meeting shall begin".
Zizi places the ring on as Jalucian suggests and slowly an image begins to form on the opposite side of the room. It takes the shape of an older man, dignified and serious. He is tall, and his slightly graying black hair is severely cut. The figure glances at everyone in the room and finally returns to its summoner. “You have learned something?” it asks in a solid, deep voice. He appears not rattled at all to be addressing a group of familiars and two humans.
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the Roc and the Oliphant - The City of Greyhawk - 581 CY
The Masterless Familiars head to the Roc and the Oliphant. They experience no impediments on their journey and the few who do notice, only give odd stares.
As you arrive, you see that Jalucian is seated at a table with another human male. The ability of each of you to hide or otherwise remain inconspicuous is not put to the test overmuch as most here are either drunk or distracted with other business dealings.
The man at the table seems impatient until Jalucian gives a signal. The man stops grimacing and speaks, "Not sure what we were waiting for, I only arrived 15 minutes early. Regardless, let us go".
He leads the Wizard to a room on the second floor, before he can close the door, Jalucian places his foot in front of it, allowing you all to sneak in. The man seems perplexed, "Just how many familiars do you have man!"
Jalucian shrugs and grins.
Shaking his head the man closes the door as the last of you enter, “I’ve thought over your tale. I must say, it does seem strange, but with Mordenkainen, I’m not surprised. If what you say is true about the Circle of Eight, then the situation is very serious. I have decided Mordenkainen must know. However, I cannot guarantee that he will come here in person tonight".
Jalucian appears perplexed, "I was under the impression that he was coming here tonight".
The man shrugs, "Mordenkainen has grown more and more concerned about the recent divination failures. He wished to conduct further tests from his own private haven rather than risk coming here and wasting time if you'd had no information of great value".
Jalucian hands the ring he showed you earlier to your collective group. The man cocks his head and shakes it. "Do you want the Arch Wizard of the Flanaess to confer with your Familiars?!"
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Tekumsah has not posted anywhere on the boards in some time. For now I will write the PC out of the game and move on with the rest of the group.
Hopefully, we cab start to move along with less interruptions on my side!
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The City of Greyhawk - 581 CY
Jalucian shakes his head at Zizi, [b]"To be honest, the comings and goings of Familiars was something I never tracked, nor thought about tracking, beyond my own of course.
The rest of the night and day, pass by uneventfully. Despite the fact that some of the Mightiest Mages the world knows are missing if not dead is a secret only your group seems to know as events at the Guild move along normally.
The time for the meeting looms but the feelings related to these events stay with the little creatures. No one "slips", no one seems to lose any power. Perhaps you are all special. But then you see Tekumsah, he seems to be struggling. Perhaps the magic is fading from him?!
Do you proceed as a group or in pairs to the Roc and the Oliphant?
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The City of Greyhawk - 581 CY
Jalucian sags back and sits in a chair on the verge of tears at the news of just how severe the situation truly is. "If something were to happen to Jallarzi were I to hold back I could never forgive myself.
It's a great secret you must understand, only a few of us know, although
the rumors are spreading. It was first noticed about six months ago by Master Bubka. His superior identification spell was acting strangely. The subsequent investigation revealed a number of our powerful divinations were inexplicably failing.
We didn’t want to create a panic, so the Guild kept quiet about their discoveries. I talked this over with Jallarzi, and she agreed. The next thing I know, Mordenkainen has come from his mountains to pay me a visit. He wanted to know everything we had learned. And now you say my beloved
Jallarzi might be trapped or worse..."
He pauses and then continues, "Mordenkainen gave me this,” he says, standing up and taking a ring from his desk. “He said I should use it when I have learned more. Gather tonight at the Roc and Oliphant in Clerkburg and use that ring. I will arrange for a room to be available as I suspect they'll not rent to you all. He will come to us".
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The City of Greyhawk - 581 CY
Jalucian grins as the Familiars enter his room and take their various seats. He seems almost delighted to observe you all that is until Silvertail explains the situation.
"Hmmm. That is indeed a pickle. Mordenkainen eh? I do have a way to get in contact with him. For now, stay here in my room, rest and recuperate and by day I shall speak with the other Guild Members to see if they know anything about what you just informed me of.
What of Jallarzi? Have you any idea on her status Zizi?"
Do you wish to do anything by day or actually do as the Guild Master suggests?
He does NOT register as evil.
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The City of Greyhawk - 581 CY
The door is indeed locked and Anaxian is forced to knock a few times before the door is opened by a sleepy, and grumpy, Jalucian in a long robe.
"Who the devil..." He sees Anaxian and a host of other familiars at the end of the hall and he becomes instantly more alert and curious.
"Ah. Anaxian yes? This is most unusual, where are your Masters?" With a gesture, he turns off his Ward. "Come closer, I've deactivated my spell. I must say, you're all quite clever. Well, no sense in speaking in the hall, enter, enter".
His room is quite spacious, filled with a large bed and bookshelves all around the walls except for two full wardrobes. The shelves are in perfect order though some spaces are simple slots for scrolls. The shades are drawn over all windows. His own familiar, a Raven, sits on a perch across the room quite alert. It gazes at all of you, the smaller of you find the gaze a bit unsettling.
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The City of Greyhawk - 581 CY
The Familiars are able to, without impediments, make their way to the very door of Jalucian. The door itself has easily discernable symbols engraved even from a distance they are easy to spot.
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The City of Greyhawk - 581 CY
The College/Guild is less of a Tower and more of a Manse. Think Professor X's Mansion but in the center of Greyhawk instead of on a sprawling estate.
Getting out is easy, getting in can subject you to magical effects but being the Familiars of current members and instructors, you are all keyed to bypass the magic so no worries there.
Jalucian has a bedroom on the top floor of the building. You can readily enough wander the corridors to get there. Doors open and close as you will them to due to the magic of the place so no worries there, other buildings such issues could be a challenge for a furry little group like yourselves. Considering the late hour there should be no one up and roaming the halls.
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Remember it is the dead of night so no one (except for those with insomnia) are awake.
All PCs are aware of the following important NPCs that operate the Guild/University:
Kieran Jalucian - Human Male Wizard and Guild Master,
Darnak Khorshkan - Human Male perhaps Fighter or Expert?,
Jawal Severnain - Human Female Wizard Head Librarian,
Kondradis Bubka - Human Male Wizard Dean of the Apprentices,
Heironymous Tigana - Gnome Female Arcanist Mistress of Wares, and
Ephraim Blackrod - Human Male Magus Master of Discipline and Ceremonies.
Bunnicula is still nowhere to be found.
Of course, none of you have spoken to any of them before except Bunnicula!
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The City of Greyhawk - 581 CY
Mage Hand will NOT open that window as it is held closed by a spell and a lock.
Anaxian, Whisper, and Zizi inspect the halls of the basement as well as the area around the outside of the University. All is quite. No signs of combat, no corpses, nothing.
Wherever the 8 where when they died, it was not near the University that much is certain.
The three "scouts" return...
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Silvertail wrote: Take care of yourself!
I don't think we'd inform everyone that the whole circle is dead, but if one of us just said that our master was in trouble and we needed to find Mordenkainen, I think that would be safe enough. But only if there's someone one of us would trust enough. So that might be a better question--is there anyone here we know our masters trusted?
(Of course, they might have been betrayed, so not even that might be good enough...)
I'm asking because I really don't feel like we have a direction to go right now, and I'm trying to think of ways we could at least get a hint as to where to go to find Mordenkainen.
Yeah I figured you all would want to make sure there was no danger here first before trying to find Mprdekainen, I'm just taking longer to respond than I wanted to!
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Silvertail wrote: We haven't interacted much with the other guild members, but do we know any of them well enough to know who would care that our masters are dead? Perhaps some of the other wizards who were friends with our masters and would therefore recognize us as their familiars and possibly be inclined to help us? They would all care as it was the Circle of 8 though do you want to inform everyone the Circle is dead?
I'll try to get to this update tonight, went to be bed early last night, still not feeling 100%.
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The City of Greyhawk - 581 CY
Currently the FF are all assembled in the basement at the University of Magic Arts. Based on what you all did see from your visions, the floor where your Masters' was located was a stone floor similar to this one.
You heard nothing down here though so it's unlikely the fight took place here anyway.
Looking out the one window to the basement it is dark outside but all seems as normal as it ever was.
Who will step into the halls and investigate?
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Just looking at all the Avatars for this game amuses me to no end. :-)
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Silvertail wrote: Hmmm... have we seen Mordenkainen recently? No, not for a few weeks.
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Silvertail wrote: To our knowledge, does he live here in the Guild? He has a room but how often he is here is questionable. All of the 8 have rooms here but utilize them only when on Guild business and don't feel like returning to their strongholds or proper homes within the City of Greyhawk.
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Silvertail wrote: Did we know anything about our masters' current activities? Or about Mordenkainen's current whereabouts? Day to day, yes though the amount of attention paid to them depended on what level of involvement they asked of you.
With respect to what just took place, you've no idea.
Not exactly. You could ask around the Guild though prior to this individually as Familiars you have not interacted much with the (mostly) Humans that are Guild Members.
Of course, it is also the dead of night so not many people may be awake ATM.
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Anaxian wrote: You caught your error, are owning it and apologized. Don't do it again and that's good enough for me. THIS ^^^
Keep in mind, between going to bed early last night, running table top tonight and two busy days in a row, I have not checked IC.
If everyone is cool we're cool. Let's assume it was all good natured ribbing and move on :-)
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TheAlicornSage wrote: The rulebooks are free to download, just in case you guys didn't know it was a real game. Totally a blast, even my grandparents enjoyed playing.
original,
http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ante/welcome
and emporer's gambit expansion,
https://www.google.com/url?q=http://tesera.ru/images/items/337608/3DA_Emper orsGambit_Rulebook.pdf&sa=U&ved=0ahUKEwjv2-Ps_-vWAhVHlVQKHadbChkQFg gLMAA&usg=AOvVaw2YaLyA3tshJg9Nqg3SJmWk
I own it but never played it, wanted to do some in game table top gambling with 3 Dragon Ante but the PCs never showed much interest.
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Silvertail wrote: I think maybe you should stop starting new campaigns for a little while. XD
...but I can't really complain since I'm *so excited* for this one.
Yes, no more new ones!
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I'll try and get that update out tomorrow, I'm already lined up 10 deep for tonight. It'll be a big post so the 10 minutes I have before I leave work won't be enough time to get it done .
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Silvertail wrote: I'm not sure I trust you when you say 'interesting' like that... And that's how I know this isn't the first game you've played with me ;-)
See but I'm cute AND fuzzy so you can trust me!
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Once the rest of the Players Dot in, we'll resolve that hand in the game ;-)
I think you will all find the outcome quite interesting!
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I've decided to utilize a Mod for this one instead of a random set of adventures. It's a doozy too ;-)
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Silvertail wrote: One small problem--Silvertail spent all her starting gold. :D I guess she's betting her jewelry? Yep, some of it anyway ;-)
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And here is where we all go down the rabbit hole when need be!
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The City of Greyhawk - 581 CY
It's Three Dragon Ante Night at the University of Magic Arts, or at least Bunnicula called for a late, late game! He has been acting erratically since his Master, Bucknard, disappeared under mysterious circumstances two years before. Still, being around him gives you all hope that one day all of you will, like he, be away from your Humans. They aren't that bad sort, at least not for Humans. Still freedom you all yearn for it...
Of course, the damn Bunny is late, again, so you start the game and will either deal him in later or restart when he arrives.
You, each one of you, feel a pull from your Masters' as if asking Where are you!?. However, you've a LOT of gold on this pot with your current hands each looking favorable for the win!
Anaxian ignores his Master Rary, Tekumsah La'Awethikah ignores his Master Otto, Zizi The Masterless ignores her Master Jallarzi, Whisper Heart Sliver ignores her Master Otiluke, Eirish Carb'Ombe ignores his Master Drawmij, Trakas Aeramirdal ignores his Master Nystul, Silvertail ignores her Master Bigby, and finally Fidget the Raccoon ignores his Master Tenser.
Each of you feels a sense of irritation from your Masters but what can you do? Excuses will be made and this too shall pass. After all, it is 3 am what could these Human Wizards' want a THIS Ungodly hour?
Everyone roll d20, let's see who wins this hand shall we? Let's say you each have in the pot 10% of your remaining Gold post purchases.
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