"I think that they require someone to be touching each one, all at once, to do their magic, but I'm still unsure what exactly they would do."
"Anyone willing to stand in the circle?"
"I think that they require someone to be touching each one, all at once, to do their magic, but I'm still unsure what exactly they would do.""Anyone willing to stand in the circle?"
"I will!"
"I will!"
Proteus gives Roylenna a stern look. "We need you to help us figure out a solution if something goes wrong."
"I am willing to take the risk," Sandros says, after a considering pause.
Since this looks like an extremely complicated way to get hit on the head once again, Grond just steps quickly away from the circle and the stones.
"Okay, Sandros will stand in the circle and Ka'kara, Grond and I will touch the stones. That is if Ka'kara and Grond are willing." Sandros walks over to the first stone and holds out his hands preparing to touch it.
"Okay, Sandros will stand in the circle and Ka'kara, Grond and I will touch the stones. That is if Ka'kara and Grond are willing." Sandros walks over to the first stone and holds out his hands preparing to touch it.
Yeah, thanks.
"I am willing to take the risk," Sandros says, after a considering pause.
Ka'kara slaps Sandros hard on the back, "That's the spirit! I am liking you guys more and more. If an orc can handle it than Sandros can handle it! I have to admit that I am somewhat jealous and would have offered to stand in there had you not. You have definitely earned the right after slaying all of those little vermin." She seems to have a new respect for his ability to use that toothpick effectively. She steps over to her stone and touches it when told too.
"I will!"Proteus gives Roylenna a stern look. "We need you to help us figure out a solution if something goes wrong."
Crestfallen, Roylenna steps away to watch the experiment. Idly, she looks at the creature, "Oh, hello! Where did you come from? My grandmother told me about creatures like you. Powerful creatures like you live forever and know all kinds of stuff, don't you?" Watching her friends arrange themselves around the room, she asks, "Do you know what the stones do?"
Crestfallen, Roylenna steps away to watch the experiment.
With a big smile, "You have to let the men feel like men every once in awhile otherwise they get mopey. We'll get our turns again soon enough. Nice work on figuring it out. I don't think I ever would have."
Crestfallen, Roylenna steps away to watch the experiment.With a big smile, "You have to let the men feel like men every once in awhile otherwise they get mopey. We'll get our turns again soon enough. Nice work on figuring it out. I don't think I ever would have."
With a big smile, "You have to let the men feel like men every once in awhile otherwise they get mopey. We'll get our turns again soon enough. Nice work on figuring it out. I don't think I ever would have."
Proteus gives Ka'kara a look. "On the contrary, it is for Royl's knowledge that I suggest she allow another to step into the circle, Barbarian. Royl will be invaluable if Sandros ends up in another dimension." His eyes sparkle and a smile flashes across his face. "I would have no qualms with you taking Sandros' place."
Sandros in the middle and Grond, Ka'kara and I will touch the stones. Royl will observe closely
As Ka'kara, Grond and Proteus touch the stones they all have a sinking feeling and suffer a -2 Con penalty. Sandros on the other hand receives a +4 Con bonus.
Feeling a little woozy Ka'kara steps away from the stone, "What happened? I don't feel well."
Sandros moves to the center of the circle and Grond, Ka'kara and Proteus reach out and touch the rocks. A red glow envelopes the chamber and red beams of light shoot out from the three ramming into Sandros. Pain wracks the three, but vitality surges into the body of the fourth and he is overtaken by a rapturous feeling of invigoration. The glow subsides and Grond, Ka'kara and Proteus all look pale in the light. Proteus, obviously weakened, looks over to see that Sandros is still with them, falls to his knees,,,
,,,and vomits his morning meal.
Sandros rushes over to Proteus, kneeling next to him to make sure the priest is all right. The surge of vitality he feels is immediately forgotten in his sudden worry for his friend's health. "Proteus? What happened? What did these infernal things do to you?"
Sandros moves to the center of the circle and Grond, Ka'kara and Proteus reach out and touch the rocks. A red glow envelopes the chamber and red beams of light shoot out from the three ramming into Sandros. Pain wracks the three, but vitality surges into the body of the fourth and he is overtaken by a rapturous feeling of invigoration. The glow subsides and Grond, Ka'kara and Proteus all look pale in the light. Proteus, obviously weakened, looks over to see that Sandros is still with them, falls to his knees,,,
,,,and vomits his morning meal.
Eyes the size of saucers, Roylenna rushes to the priest. "Proteus, are you all right? I'm so sorry to kept playing with the stones, I didn't think they'd hurt you!"
As Ka'kara, Grond and Proteus touch the stones they all have a sinking feeling and suffer a -2 Con penalty. Sandros on the other hand receives a +4 Con bonus.
Proteus shakes off the feeling of nausea and, with the help of his friends, gets to his feet. I'm feeling better," he states, although he is still visibly weakened. "Grond, Ka'kara, are you two okay?" he asks as he walks over to them.
Sandros still looks concerned as Proteus gets up, but he turns to Royl. "Check us for magical effects," he says anxiously. "Something happened to them, obviously, and something happened to me as well. I feel... stronger, somehow."
Sandros still looks concerned as Proteus gets up, but he turns to Royl. "Check us for magical effects," he says anxiously. "Something happened to them, obviously, and something happened to me as well. I feel... stronger, somehow."
Ka'kara shakes the feeling off, "We'll be fine after a nights rest I think." Hefting her sword, "lets stop playing with rocks and find something evil to slay."
"I am well enough to travel. I agree with Ka'kara, let's make some progress in our quest."
As the companions return to the lake, Roylenna notices the creature watching them. "Oh, hello! Where did you come from? My grandmother told me about creatures like you. Powerful creatures like you live forever and know all kinds of stuff, don't you?" She turns to Proteus and tells him, "This is a mephit. Mr. Mephit, what are you doing down here in a cave full of kobolds? Do you have a name or should I just call you Mr. Mephit?"
"You have to promise me that you will be careful and that you are coming back. You're my first friend outside of the caravan, and I mean for you to be my friend for many more years."
As for a list of wants for Grond, Proteus suggests rations, rope and pitons/spikes. Also a cure light potion or two wouldn't hurt.
Grond has been looking a little restless lately so you agree to send him back to Warwik to find out more about this Fenton. He takes the jeweled sword and as many kobold crossbows as he can carry and you wish him the best of luck. He gives a special promise to Roylenna to return swiftly.
As the companions return to the lake, Roylenna notices the creature watching them. "Oh, hello! Where did you come from? My grandmother told me about creatures like you. Powerful creatures like you live forever and know all kinds of stuff, don't you?" She turns to Proteus and tells him, "This is a mephit. Mr. Mephit, what are you doing down here in a cave full of kobolds? Do you have a name or should I just call you Mr. Mephit?"
The mephit smirks. "My friends call me Murky, so that would do for you too. This is my lake, and the kobolds - as the rest of the denizens of this dungeon know better than to bother me or to trespass onto my territory. But there is one exception, though. There is a rather nasty mist demon living here who is a constant pain to me. If you would do me a favor and slay it you would be doing both the world and myself a favor. And as a token of my gratitude I'm willing" (he assumes a lofty attitude) "to part with a magical dagger that I have here in my hoard."
The mephit smirks. "My friends call me Murky, so that would do for you too. This is my lake, and the kobolds - as the rest of the denizens of this dungeon know better than to bother me or to trespass onto my territory. But there is one exception, though. There is a rather nasty mist demon living here who is a constant pain to me. If you would do me a favor and slay it you would be doing both the world and myself a favor. And as a token of my gratitude I'm willing" (he assumes a lofty attitude) "to part with a magical dagger that I have here in my hoard."
"Hello, Murky. I can be your friend, too, if you want. What does a mist demon do? How does it fight?"
The mephit twists its face into an ugly grin. "Oh, it doesn't fight fair, that's for sure. It knows how to sap your strength with its vile magic, and it's invisible in mist." The mephit spits on the ground in contempt. "Coward's what it is, that's for sure. It can turn into mist too, and then it can't be harmed by ordinary weapons. Other than that it shouldn't be a match for a fine-looking bunch of warriors like you."
Other than that it shouldn't be a match for a fine-looking bunch of warriors like you."
Proteus can't help but laugh softly. "Where might this mist demon be now, Murky?"
Sandros frowns continually throughout this conversation. He does not appear best pleased by the suggestion of killing the "mist demon," but says nothing as the discussion continues.
"Why is the mist demon a pain to you? Does it steal from you or is it just a territorial thing?"
Proteus can't help but laugh softly. "Where might this mist demon be now, Murky?"
The mephit gestures vaguely behind him. "Just follow the river downstream from here." He assumes a grand posture, as far as it is possible for someone of his limited size. "To show my goodwill I am even going to let you enter the water." He looks immensely pleased with himself.
"Why is the mist demon a pain to you? Does it steal from you or is it just a territorial thing?"
The mephit snorts. "It's OK. I don't expect you to understand the subtleties of territory, grace and rank. Suffice it to say that this creature needs to be eliminated. Or should I say liquidated?" He laughs immoderately at his own joke.
"Give us a moment, Murky, to discuss your proposition." Proteus motions to the group to move away from the lakeside.
Black Tom:
Roylenna follows Proteus to confer in somewhat privacy. Once everyone that is coming is together, she whispers, "I think he is kind of mean, but what he says could still be true. I am not very good at telling lie from truth. But I do not think we are a group of mercenaries, accepting payment to kill.
"You are my friends, and I will follow your lead."
Ka'kara shrugs, "I'd probably do it for free as long as it's something evil but I won't refuse payment if someone likes to pay. Your right though, I don't like the way he talks to us. Hmmmm, wait here let me check something." She walks back up to the lake, "Looks like we don't need the work so you'll have to take care of that little mist problem yourself. So we are just passing through and going to use this passage on the other side of your lake. Talk to you some other time. With a big smile she skirts the edge of the lake and heads to the far passage.
Proteus watches Ka'kara move away and looks at Royl and Sandros, "Well, I guess it's decided."
Roylenna follows Proteus to confer in somewhat privacy. Once everyone that is coming is together, she whispers, "I think he is kind of mean, but what he says could still be true. I am not very good at telling lie from truth. But I do not think we are a group of mercenaries, accepting payment to kill."
"I am no assassin," Sandros spits. Moderating the venom in his tone slightly, he adds, "The kobold mentioned an acid-spitting monster in the lake, and this 'mephit' seems pretty certain of its territorial control. The kobold was terrified of the thing in the lake. We should be wary of what this thing says."
Proteus watches Ka'kara move away and looks at Royl and Sandros, "Well, I guess it's decided."
Sandros smiles slightly at Proteus. "I wouldn't be so sure..."
Proteus watches Ka'kara move away and looks at Royl and Sandros, "Well, I guess it's decided."Sandros smiles slightly at Proteus. "I wouldn't be so sure..."
Roylenna watches the mephit closely as the barbarian walks away from it, "You know, I think she's got a good idea. She's not all muscle and steel, is she?"
Playing along, Proteus will follow Ka'kara.
Roylenna watches the mephit closely as the barbarian walks away from it, "You know, I think she's got a good idea. She's not all muscle and steel, is she?"
Watching closely as Ka'kara walks away, Sandros says in a distracted tone, "No, she most definitely is not..." A grin plays about his lips, but he returns to seriousness as they march past the mephit.