((Did Randy always have a +3 strength save?  The only other thing I noted was the ability to give the bow a name...))

((Yeah, Rangers get proficiency in STR and DEX saves.))

Coljin would be very interested in hearing what Kreldoran can give to explain the magics of the knitting needles.

(Ulmwin has two "points of interest" he wants to do at some point, one at Kreldoran, and one with Randy probably, so-)

Somewhere at a peaceful time, where things are laying low, Ulmwin eventually manages to catch a spot to talk to Randy in private, sauntering up to the ranger. 

"Here. You still wanted to talk about the little white secret I've been keeping, right?"

Randy quickly glances around to make sure no one is else is close enough to overhear.  "If you're ready to share."

The gnome nods. 

"Sure am. Again, I wouldn't have kept this from you guys if I saw any real harm in it, but then I'd probably never have taken the deal in the first place. And while it's not happy about others knowing about it, it understandable I can't really keep it a secret from all you guys with the tricks it pulls. Yiu, at least, too smart for your own good," he says, offering the ranger a cocky grin.

"On a more serious note... What you'd like to know to put your mind at ease?" 

((I have to find where I wrote down what the axes and needles do exactly, but I'll get that posted from Kreldoran once he has some time to identify them.))

As Ulmwin and Randy are having a chat, the other magic items from the ooze lair are dropped off with Kreldoran, and he finds some time while taking some tea to pore over them and fill you in as to their function.

"The needles are actually magical tattoos! I've not seen their like before, but these ones," he waggles the ivory box at Dornikal and Coljin, "function much like a spell scroll, just touch the needle to your flesh and speak the command word... I'll write that down... and the needle vanishes into ink on your skin, then you can cast the spell from the tattoo itself! Marvelous bit of crafting, though I suppose the old traditionalist in me would miss the crinkle and scent of vellum. Can see how it might be more convenient, though. There's mostly some lower level utility spells in there, but some reasonably decent beginner spells after that. The other three are a bit more interesting, the first lets you change your shape for an hour a day, the second lets you go incorporeal a few times a day, and the third lets you grab and constrict things near you. Not single use though, can use all of them over and over, the first two just have a limit of times per day."

 "The handaxes are a matched set, the runes are in Sylvan, as are the tattoo needles, though the axes call honor to Balador... name sounds vaguely familiar... Anyway... They are are more finely wrought than most, and will deal extra damage to shapechangers or those susceptible to silver, and can lock such enemies in place for a time."

 ((Coljin can also make a Wisdom (Religion) check on the name Balador.))

Randy nods to Ulmwin. "Let's start with what happened in the transportation gate. You went in with us, but came out later. What happened in there?"

((  Sorry about the delay. Got really busy for a bit. ))

Ulmwin nods. "First time I guess you mean? That's when I originally met them. They intercepted me during transit and started off by assuring me that there wouldn't be any kind of harm to either me or any of you guys, just that I'd be arriving a bit later. I think I probably spent more time talking than I was actually seemingly stuck? In each case..." he starts, pauses for a moment as he considers where best to start, then continues. 

"I wouldn't have taken the deal if I didn't feel like the force was good, or at least neutral- They just prefer to stay out of the limelight. Which is why I'm not gonna go too much into detail about them, unless you doubt my own motives. They never really forced me to keep them private in the first place, would just much prefer it. And if I'm going to take a deal for borrowed power, then I'm going to respect those wishes, right?"

"But, you know. Even they admitted that the way we talk to each other may be a bit too conspicuous for someone to not figure something is off."

"The basics of the deal made that day are very simple: they just want stories. Knowledge in general too, but they mostly delight in learning new things, and want to see them shared, which is likely why they plucked the bard out of our little group. So I share these, and they help me in return. That make sense?"

Randy cocks he head. "What kind of power? What kind of help?  Just stories in general or about specific subjects?"

"Magical power. You've seen plenty of it in action by now I think, I've mostly been using it to augment my combat abilities, and a few healing abilities as well. Though I did discover they can give physical gifts too, after our last trip through the astral plane... And just stories in general. As for the story, I won't lie and claim I've not been sharing 'our' story with it too... But it is any stories, yes. As long as stories are made and spread, it is satisfied."

Randy sighs. "Way too many extraplanar entities are getting interested in our little neck of the woods.  The All Mother, your "friends", the elder gods, various other things we've run into. And these are just the ones we know about.  You ever get the feeling something big is brewing?"

Ulmwin offers a wry little smile.

"Oh, definitely. We might be writing history... Isn't that exciting? And terrifying too, I guess. Frankly, it wouldn't surprise me if my patrons main interest is just a first class seat to the action... And to make sure the good guys win, of course."

Randy sighs again and nods. "Well, keep me informed of what your friends are doing or wanting.  If it's reasonable, we'll see if we can accommodate them..  I'm heading back to the library. Kreldoran has some very interesting books.  I found a treatise on lock picking  and other "skills" by a retired master thief and another comparing various languages and dialects including thieves cant. " He smirks, "Some of those odd conversations Tess would get into are starting to make sense."

 Balador?  religion check: 4

Coljin nods with appreciation as the scroll needles are explained.  

"I would like to use a few of the one time spell scroll type tattoos, I would take the entangle, the enlarge and the locate creature spells.   I think that some of you that don't have too many ranged attack options should think about taking the moon beam and the call lightning tattoos.    The ones that aren't one use items, who wants to use them?"

((If no one else wants it, once knows about it Randy would be interested in the Masquerade spell tattoo. Since he's got the bow, he will only take it if no else wants it.))

((I've been feeling the end of semester crunch, so my forum time doesn't seem to have included much progression of my own games and minimal participation as a player. Apologies!))

For a moment Coljin thinks he recalls the name, but then realizes that he was thinking of a dwarf he once knew, and his name was Bwala Duhr anyway.

Randy and Ulmwin spend some quiet hours in Kreldoran's tower having a sharing of perspectives and concerns regarding gods, demigods, and beings with powers beyond what is typical of mortals. 

Coljin floats keeping a few of the spell-like tattoos, specifically ones that would allow him to change size, grow snaring vines and be able to locate specific creatures. As one of the few who has made use of the spell-like artifacts you found in the gnome ruins many months ago, they may be put to good use in the cleric's hands. While the name 'Balador' didn't ring any immediate bells for him, it's likely that with a bit of time and research, that the name might be turn up somewhere in Kreldoran's library. 

Speaking of libraries, Randy heads off to make use of a few tomes he's tracked down, but not before expressing interest in the tattoo that would allow him to change his appearance, but only if no one else wants it.

As the afternoon draws towards evening, the wooded wilderness surrounding the tower shifts towards those creatures active at dusk, creating a whole new symphony of sounds that you find novel after the time spent in the desert.

Zokk tracks each of you down in turn, seeming almost apologetic as they explain that after the arid desert, that they find this mountain forest to be peaceful, and feel like they can do much to help the plants and creatures of the area, and have already talked to Kreldoran about saying behind and doing work in the area while he is here taking readings and preparing his tower for the next jump and observations he wants to make. Zokk says they enjoyed traveling with you, and the experiences they've shared in the short time since they were born, but feel they need to stay here and get to know themselves, as well as their magical 'parent' of Holger, who will be remaining in the tower with Tess until Kreldoran can shepherd them off to colleague who may be better suited to dealing with the chaos illness that is affecting the sorcerer.

Dornikal basks in the glow of a job well done having completed the crafting he set forth to do.

[Is there anything further that you wished to do this evening? I think Ulmwin had floated ideas of performing for the monster hunters at one point? And consulting with Kreldoran (or was it the young wizard) on something? If you've nothing further and want to take your long rest and finalize leveling up, we can go ahead with that. Regarding the next morning, is there anything you're wanting to do? Was there interest in traveling back with the monster hunters, or setting out on your own? They said that they would be heading out mid-late morning at the earliest, so that decision can be made in the morning. You'd also be welcome to take a day or more just hanging out at the tower, I'm sure that the old dwarven wizard can find things you can do to help out.]

((I think we found some magical items we wanted Kreldoran to identify from the slime cave.

Where were we going again? The city with the wizard library?))