Does Allustan offer scrolls for sale? One member of my party wants to buy a few scrolls. In general the party is afraid of opening up to Allustan. They learned most of what they needed to know by talking with Artosphanx in WC, even though I've been hinting they should follow up with the old sage.
I don't want to run him as a simple shopkeep. Any suggestions for increasing their relationship? The wizard in the party is an elven servant of Moonmeadow.
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One of the players I judge Age of Worms for has a human wizard as a character in the campaign. He really took to the idea of being an apprentice of The Patient Patron. So, given that mentor/student relationship, I use Allustan to give scrolls and potions to the party.
I don't use him as a rich uncle, though. I used Allustan to give two potions of water breathing and two flasks of alchemists fire to the party for use in the Whispering Cairn. And to tell the character, "These are yours until you are epxerienced enough to make your own. Use these as examples when you're ready to try it."
Those kinds of gifts will be rare. But I find this particular connection to the party useful. Allustan does not sell scroll, potions or other magic items. He does not run a store, and I won't let these characters treat him as one.
Perhaps the party could perform services for the wizard's magical assistance instead of exchanging gold. This would be a good way to hook the PCs for EaBK. To further prevent portraying Allustan as a shopkeeper have him lecture the PCs on the responsabilities that come with wielding magic and the duty of the powerful to protect the weak. Monologue always comes before the scroll.
To further prevent portraying Allustan as a shopkeeper have him lecture the PCs on the responsabilities that come with wielding magic and the duty of the powerful to protect the weak. Monologue always comes before the scroll.
I've been portraying Allustan as friendly but self-serving. He is N, after all, not NG. His primary interest is increasing his knowledge, and to do so he needs money. I don't see why he wouldn't create scrolls or potions to sell to the PCs, limited of course by the spells he knows. I don't think he believes in the duty of the powerful to protect the weak. However, it is a good idea for him to send the party on quests in exchange for magic items. That way you can play up the friendship/patronage angle rather than the shopkeep one.
I guess if it were me, in regards to Takasi’s initial question, I would have Allustan scribe a few scrolls for the party, not for free of course, T-Bones comments fit in well here. But I would use the encounter as a means to have Allustan learn more about what the party is up too. Why do they need these particular spells, or what for? He wouldn’t want the party using them for evil purposes. Perhaps he could give them some new information (I don’t know what stage your adventure is at) regarding if not WC then 3FOE, maybe info on Dourstone or Smenk to help gain their trust.
In response to Qbert’s comments, I plan to run Allustan as leaning more to the good side of neutrality. He did run with Tenser after all, who was LG and a member of the Circle of Eight, a group that worked to hold things at the least in balance, across the Flaneass, if not to root out and stomp evil. Allustan may not work to spread “goodness” across the land, but he is concerned for others as is shown by his returning to Diamond Lake in EaBK to gather the town garrison to prevent the invasion of the keep by lizardfolk, defenently a good act. Therefore I see no reason why he wouldn’t be willing to “lecture the PCs on the responsibilities that come from wielding magic and the duty of the powerful to protect the weak” as T-Bone suggested
I guess if it were me, in regards to Takasi’s initial question, I would have Allustan scribe a few scrolls for the party, not for free of course, T-Bones comments fit in well here. But I would use the encounter as a means to have Allustan learn more about what the party is up too. Why do they need these particular spells, or what for? He wouldn’t want the party using them for evil purposes. Perhaps he could give them some new information (I don’t know what stage your adventure is at) regarding if not WC then 3FOE, maybe info on Dourstone or Smenk to help gain their trust.
Guys,
Here are my thoughts and how I play Allustan (as a DM). It mentions in the Whispering Cairn that he has an extensive library that he lets people in the village read for 20 gp. So, I would think that he would also mentor the PC wizards for a fee. He is high enough level to scribe scrolls. And, he probaly has a huge arcane library to match his other. So, charge them 50 gp per day if they want to see his spell research (for their own spell book and adding spells). I would allow them to buy scrolls, but add in 10% more than normal, as he is neutral, living in a town filled with greed and averice. That way he is still a "good guy" in a sense, but more to his neutral align. Just a thought.
Ric
In response to Qbert’s comments, I plan to run Allustan as leaning more to the good side of neutrality. He did run with Tenser after all, who was LG and a member of the Circle of Eight, a group that worked to hold things at the least in balance, across the Flaneass, if not to root out and stomp evil. Allustan may not work to spread “goodness” across the land, but he is concerned for others as is shown by his returning to Diamond Lake in EaBK to gather the town garrison to prevent the invasion of the keep by lizardfolk, defenently a good act. Therefore I see no reason why he wouldn’t be willing to “lecture the PCs on the responsibilities that come from wielding magic and the duty of the powerful to protect the weak” as T-Bone suggested