Vexas Flamespark's page

Can Vexas use scrolls for spells higher level than he can cast? If so, I can make some changes.

Okie, for this downtime period how much free time would Vexas have to transcribe these and scrolls he already had into his spellbook? It's 1hr/level, he has money to transcribe 9 2nd level spells and 3 1st level spells, for 21 levels = 21 hours, so 3 days of work.

"If this is something we're seriously going to do, we need magic to either put Nymbleth out for a while, like a sleep spell, or we need divination magic so we don't have to be physically present while we're peeking."

I have sleep and I have invisibility for the simplest approach. I have charm person as well if it can be effectively directed. let me see what else Ramona has available.

Let's say that any Core scroll up to 375 GP (3rd-level wizard or cleric) has a 75% chance of being available (roll 51-100 on 1d100), and any non-Core spell a 25% chance (roll 76-100), up until you have found 2000 GP in scrolls.

Ramona will freely give these to you if you ask.

The 75% chance would rather be 26-100, right?

That went surprising bad...

Time for some B+E/stealth to get a better read? :P

Vexas frowns and looks at Kowal.

Well, that's a simple enough explanation. Have you made any other notable observations, or should we just give him the time?

Vexas strokes his chin.

A short review of Nymbleth posts later...

Well, we always found Nymbleth to be friendly enough. I think he gets lost in his head sometimes. So, maybe you're right, or maybe he's in the middle of intense experimentation or implementation. Come along. I think I can snap him to attention.

He takes Kowal (and any others willing) with him to Nymbleth's shop door, and knocks loudly.

If Nymbleth comes to the door, Vexas says the following. If instead Vexas only hears footsteps on the other side of the door, Vexas will holler through it.

Nymbleth! It's Vexas from the old gang. I'm NOT here to drag you back out into danger with us! We've all settled nicely into our roles on the island. I'm here with Kowal and just wanted to check up and see how things are going! I figured you might be working on something really interesting or perhaps our Azlanti notes from the field will give you some more ideas.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (5) + 12 = 17 well...

Loot and, more importantly, discoveries. I agree, let's had there after a short trip back to town. Vexas concurs.

Oh, right. I thought he'd tried to failed to use his before, but that must've been a different shaped slot.

Vexas is excited at reading over the engraved sheets.

The plans for an orrery, just like that which we saw in the tower. I wonder if they meant to create more of these.

Are the sheets attached to anything and are they reasonable small enough to carry (in say, a haversack)?

Vexas would prefer we agree to use the spherical ioun stone.

The less damage we do to mechanisms here, the more we can learn about then.

Who was holding it?

Resting sounds like a smart idea.

The halfling retrieves his bedroll and starts scoping out a free spot away from the bigger folk. Sometimes they roll over in their sleep.

Vexas has to gather himself after the end of the combat. The explosion rocked him and he's feeling particularly rough.

After several moments, and giving the healers a chance to work on him, he joins Fenna in inspecting the arcane system they are exploring.

Knowledge (arcana): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16

While Sosche gets its attention, Vexas takes a prime opportunity to plunge his blade into a most vulnerable spot.

[standard] attack with flank
+1 rapier attack, piercing damage (sneak attack): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 281d4 + 5 + 2d6 ⇒ (3) + 5 + (5, 2) = 15
confirm?, crit piercing damage: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 201d4 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6

Vexas too will ready a skewering for the undead. He steps up to the side of the double doors, opposite Sosche, and readies his rapier.

[move] 10ft, drawing weapon
[standard] ready action

Vexas grimaces and stands back.

Maybe... I have a feeling we'll be heading back to see Vriskirsa soon.

Vexas nods.

That would be prudent. We can distribute such a map when we next return to the village.

Next Vexas further inspects the slots that seem to accept ioun stones. He plucks out the burnt-out stone, and detects magic on both of them.

If they seem safe, he will try to insert his tourmaline sphere ioun stone into the same slot, only to see how it reacts, and quickly pull it back out.

So the Eastern socket is not directly connected to the silver circuitry, which seems to go straight through the break?

Well... at least it's over.

Sheathing his rapier, he carefully eyes the doors to the North, wondering where the team might safely rest after the encounter.

Perc (locate traps): 1d20 + 15 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 15 + 1 = 21
and detect magic

Quickly now!

With one down, Vexas has the room to creep nearly around back of the other one.

[move] 20ft
[standard] Attack
+1 rapier attack (flank), piercing damage (inspired): 1d20 + 8 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 8 + 1 + 2 = 311d4 + 5 + 1 + 2d6 ⇒ (2) + 5 + 1 + (6, 2) = 16
confirm?, crit piercing damage: 1d20 + 8 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 8 + 1 + 2 = 191d4 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 5 + 1 = 10

Bleeding Attack +2 (Ex) Sneak attacks also deal 2 bleed damage/round.

The halfling grits his teeth as fire washes over him and Brannart.

We need to spread out!

Vexas carefully takes a step past Brannart. If the thing lives long enough he can sneak around behind it for the pincer.

[5ft Step] S
[standard] attack BLACK
+1 rapier attack, piercing damage: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 251d4 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6

Darn, I don't see stabilize on any of our profiles.

Vexas dusts himself off after the leisurely drop, moving up next to Brannart while drawing his blade...

[move] 5ft drawing weapon

Squinting into the darkness he lunges at the creature in front of Brannart.

[standard] attack non-RED (doesn't seem to have a color)
+1 rapier attack, piercing damage: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 261d4 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

Apologies, I missed the extra targets by caster level. In that case Vexas can change his action to: drain bonded item, feather fall on himself and two more targets. Assume Fenna would pick others as well, I think that covers the whole party.

Having imbued his team with slow fall, Vexas hops into the chasm...

Replacement turn
[standard] Drain bonded item: Cast feather fall on Vexas and two more
[move] Jump and literally feather-fall down

What? What's happening down there Sosche? Hang on!

Vexas shouts before casting invisibility, and get onto the rope.

However it helps, order other characters completely climbing down before him.

[standard] Cast invisibility
[move] Climb (safe normal speed that uses the rope's DC)

Also in fairness, strictly speaking, Vexas hadn't prepared the feather falls today. Was not looking forward to suggesting a rest if we had to go that way.

doh, I neglected to update the spellbook listing on his profile page.

In fact I have three feather falls... Two more if he'd prepared more in higher level slots.

Vexas unfortunately has no rope and does not have feather fall in his spellbook.

But he thinks he might be able to land like a cat the remaining distance

However, he looks at the vertical surface of the chasm to see how climbable he thinks it might be without rope (hand holds, and such what DC).

So... is this what is was like when it happened. Perhaps they just want us to know, for it to not be forgotten.

Vexas mutters, grimacing at the experience. He knows it's not real, but it still conveys part of what might have been experienced in the end of Azlanti civilization.

--------------------

Was about to post a roll but looks like Vexas is too late.

Thank you Sosche.

He scans the edge of the chasm for any more hazards.

Perception: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (17) + 15 = 32

before approaching it to look down.

Vexas will take the Wand of Flaming Sphere I assume.

Noted. Adding it.

If Sho points it out to Fenna and Brannart do they get their turns before the haunt?

How close are we to the end of book 2?

Vexas could feather-fall 3 or 4 of the party down.

@Vexas: I've been meaning to bring this up for a while now, but I've been so pressed for time I haven't managed to so far. Both Vexas and Fenna have an interest in having written spells on hand, so we should figure out a bit of coordination for them.

Fenna can only cast one a day, but she can cast any wizard/sorcerer, witch, or bard spell from a written source without expending it. Fenna also has the scribe scroll feat. At the moment, she only has one scroll, Paragon Surge, which a nabbed back when we got a reward. Didn't want to leave such a gem of a spell for her to chance. She can't use it until 7th level though.

Vexas has some more scrolls but he intends to transfer them into his spellbook.

If I remember correctly, we now have 2 spellbooks. Vexas has his own, and we found one. We should figure out a system to distribute the spells we have in aggregate so that both Vexas and Fenna have access to them between books, scrolls, and scribing new scrolls.

Once a day isn't much, but Fenna doesn't have to prepare it. She can cast any spell we have in writing on the spot as needed. That takes some pressure off Vexas to use up scrolls, or prepare spells that are only situationally useful. At 10th level she can do 2/day, 14th is 3/day, etc.

Sound good?

I'm also going to pick up 2 or 3 scrolls since Fenna didn't spend any money. I know one of them will be Ashen Path, but I haven't yet had a chance to look further. Any suggestions from Vexas?

Okay, so if we take any arcane spells that we find and let Vexas make them permanent in his spellbook, then we should be able to further transcribe them to the 2nd spellbook for Fenna to use too.

So for now let's say that the colonists have happened to uncover a set of Azlanti copper tablets with inscriptions that they cannot read. Read Magic will reveal these as instructions to cast two different 2nd-level spells, and two different 1st-level spells (total worth 100 GP). These happen to be spells that Vexas was looking for.

1st - Feather Fall, Hydraulic Push

Vexas would like to transfer some spells from scrolls to his spellbook when the team has a little bit of downtime, and probably stop by his local wizardry shop for additional scrolls. It doesn't strictly need to be before they go out again.

Vexas looks for evidence that there was a boat on the coast where the footprints disappear, or else if they depart the beach again elsehwere but per your text, it seems probably not the latter

Perc: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (11) + 15 = 26

Brannart and Fenna both have the next best survival at +4, for the aid

What exactly do you report to Ramona? What details do you give about Medrinnah?

Vexas reports that, although they gave her an out while hoping to just get the satchel back, Medrinnah offered what seemed like a full confession. He continues with her statement of where she left the satchel, he and Fenna's looking in that spot, and that the footprints present were rather inconclusive.

He then tells her about the time they found charter documents for the colony among Rayland Arkley's personal belongings.

Yeah, Vexas is find for us to return to Ramona and report on what we found.

Vexas groans and sighs audibly once Medrinnah has stomped off with palpable teenage attitude.

Useless! So, we know Ramona already looked in that location, but I suppose we may as well look for clues of what direction somewhat might have gone after nabbing the satchel. I wouldn't expect the area behind that building to be heavily trafficked.

--------------------

Assuming they head there next...

Vexas doesn't have survival for tracking, but...

Perception: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (17) + 15 = 32

Ramona certainly searched around the Government House and saw no sign of the satchel. You are pretty certain that Medrinnah is telling the truth about dumping it there, but it's not there now.

Do we assume that Ramona told Vexas and Fenna this?

Vexas smiles warmly as he approaches her. He decides to use a phrasing that gives Medrinnah an out.

We just need the papers back... no need to ensure punishment or otherwise litigate the past.

Hello there! We just got back from an expedition into the wilderness and we were catching up with Ramona, going over some boring logistical things. You see she lost track of some important papers and we suspect they may have been delivered to your home by accident. Did you recently receive some papers that you weren't sure why?

Diplomacy, change attitude: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (14) + 12 = 26

Yes, I'm also curious how certain we are that Medrinnah took it. How much of a trusted eyewitness do you have? Vexas seems uncertain about it for the time being.

I agree the whole group shouldn't go plodding around looking for her, or she's sure to get frightened and evade us. I'd be happy to go with you Fenna.

Vexas is a very tired halfling. He waves off the sentries message dismissively.

Yes, yes...

*Yaaaaaawn*

tomorrow.

He drags himself back to his abode and passes out in his bed.

Vexas chooses Cat Burglar's Boots

If no one else is inclined, Vexas can take the tourmaline sphere ioun stone.

Vexas agrees with Sosche.

We may as well rest before the long day's hike back.

Just humans, or humanoids?

Vexas clarifies.

Maybe halflings were always civilized. he adds, smiling.

He does take it in after his joke.

That is really amazing. I wonder if the Azlanti civilization has more writings about these discoveries in their old libraries.

Two clockwork constructions are found in the cavern. They seem to have tools for digging and excavation. One was crushed by fallin stone, while the other has become encrusted with a hundred centuries of calcite deposits and rust. It might be salvageable by one versed in creating clockwork mechanisms.

Does this require something like craft (clockwork) or would kn. engineering do?

Should we be seeing more of the map now?

It seems to not be useful, but gold is gold.

Assuming we've collected and distributed all of the items found.

He stops to appreciate the glowing worms on the ceiling, smiling in wonder as he remarks nature's lights...

Vexas looks to Brannart for an indication that he's ready to lead the way with his sword. Just in case it gets darker, he casts light on the end of the fighter's weapon.

Shall we continue carefully down this tunnel?

Can I see that amulet?

Vexas approaches the body and frowns at what makes a grotesque first impression on him. Dead is dead, but a strix's form with a decayed face seems to disturb him moreso than the odd corpse they come across.

Detect magic
Spellcraft: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 29

I need to find a weak spot in its carapace... Vexas muses as she shifts to the side a bit to get a better look around his companions.

[move] 5ft
[standard] Cast hand of the apprentice
+1 rapier attack, piercing damage: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 101d4 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9 -_-

I’ll take that hero point deal. Also oof I wrote this post 12h ago and neglected to complete the submission. So if you noticed Vexas already moved on the map, that’s why.

Vexas notices the ripples just as he’s about to hop to the first rock in the water. He looks oddly unbalanced as his body tries to take back that step but ultimately he doesn’t slip or fall into the water. He hops back off of the rock and steps back next to Fenna, drawing his blade.

[move] 10ft drawing rapier

From there he is able to whisper a short incantation onto his blade and fling it across the water at this creature.

[standard] Cast hand of the apprentice

+1 rapier attack, piercing damage: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 8 + 1 = 181d4 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9

After it returns to his hand.

He eyes the crab more closely.

Recall Knowledge (arcana): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12