"No, we had no infirmary..." Ardjena admits "Kylth was convinced that the risks were minimal, given that he always personally supervised the experiments..."
"Spellplague..." the apprentice shudders "A disturbing name, for a phenomenon that must have been even more disturbing... Maybe I'm glad I skipped it!"
"Anyway, the portal you say" the young carrot-haired girl is happy to move on to a more pleasant topic "is a permanent teleportation circle. You know, many major temples, guilds, and other important places have permanent teleportation circles inscribed somewhere within their confines... so Kylth has arranged one here too, connecting it to one present in his private laboratory at the Ivy Mansion, the Harpells' Mansion. Each such circle includes a unique sigil sequence - a string of magical runes arranged in a particular pattern. Whoever traces a new teleportation circle can connect it to another whose sigil sequence is known - therefore this circle allowed Kylth both to easily reach this place, together with whoever he wanted to take with him, and also to quickly reach his laboratory from there. After so much time has passed, though, I don't know if I'd trust myself to use it... Kylth's laboratory at the Ivy Mansion may very well no longer exist - with its circle - and I'm not familiar enough with this spell to predict what would happen, in these cases, if we tried to use the portal... It's an experiment that I would avoid doing myself".
"It sounds like we'd better talk to the Harpells and let them know about this, then, rather than checking it ourselves. At least you know the destination it's set to ... the room, at least, may still exist and be identifiable thanks to the information you are able to give them. I'd think a lost circle leading straight into the Ivy Mansion is something that would get their immediate attention."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Famh Thrawn Fiadhaich - 'half elven' sorcerer (wild magic) 2, Sleeping Gods - A Dragon Warriors campaign in the Lands of Legend
Quspira Inirali - tiefling cleric (Life domain) 4, Painted's "He'll be the father of my child"
---RETIRED HEROES' REST HOME---
Sae Ivui Nailo - wood elf rogue (inquisitive) 5 , Sea of Death: Captain Hailstorm's Lost Treasure
Ryshraxea "Shra" Naranthi - tabaxi artificer 1, Nyx's Tomb of Annihilation - Group 1
Ardjena sounds hopeful: "Yes, who knows? It could be a link that is still active and if so I have no doubt that the Harpells would rather know about it than not! And they might even more easily allow me to continue my apprenticeship with them, if they felt grateful to me for the information".
In the absence of other destinations, Ardjena follows you back to the library to sort out the volumes that are worth saving...
Although the apprentice is familiar with most of them, it is still a task that takes some time, probably a few hours.
(OOC: During this time, anyone who doesn't help with the task is free to do something else... if they have something else in mind to do. Otherwise, we can fast-forward to after the sorting has been done)
Spending a few hours examining arcane knowledge together with a fellow wizard (and with Anita, who, although not knowledgeable about magical knowledge, nevertheless decides not to leave Rash alone with the young girl) gives rise to a certain sense of camaraderie in Ardjena, who, over the course of the work, then comments: "Once we return to Longsaddle, we could take a few moments to exchange spells... The high quality inks we use to write them are really expensive, but I hope to be able to sell something, at least to scrape together the material for copy a spell... I don't know many of them yet, it's very likely that you have some unknown to me in your grimoire. And you too might find in my own spellbook a spell you are still missing. Especially conjurations... Conjuration is my favorite school of magic!"
Roxana decides to let Rash and the two ladies work on the books themselves. "I presume it's all arcane stuff I won't understand. But hope if you need another set of hands."
Without much else to do, she says to Gaer, "How about looking through all this mess over again? Who knows, maybe there's something interesting left still."
She uses the time to make a somewhat meticulous search of the place.
Looking at the many wizardly tomes, Spira says, "I don't think there's going to be much here I could help with, so I'd be glad to help with the search ... unless you'd like some time alone together, of course."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Famh Thrawn Fiadhaich - 'half elven' sorcerer (wild magic) 2, Sleeping Gods - A Dragon Warriors campaign in the Lands of Legend
Quspira Inirali - tiefling cleric (Life domain) 4, Painted's "He'll be the father of my child"
---RETIRED HEROES' REST HOME---
Sae Ivui Nailo - wood elf rogue (inquisitive) 5 , Sea of Death: Captain Hailstorm's Lost Treasure
Ryshraxea "Shra" Naranthi - tabaxi artificer 1, Nyx's Tomb of Annihilation - Group 1
Roxana rolls her eyes a bit at Spira's question. "No, alone time amidst the rubble of an ancient fight scene is not exactly what I'm looking for," she says with a tiny chuckle. "An extra set of eyes to look about is welcome."
Gaer agrees: "Yes, Roxana... it's probably the best thing we can do while the 'experts' deal with the tomes. I'm with you!"
Between all three, having so much time available, you first find a total of five humanoid corpses are found (3 with metal armor remnants, 2 without), mutilated, in poor condition and in an advanced state of decomposition. Furthermore, among the various scraps and fragments, you manage to put together precious metal or gem fragments for a total value of 15gp.
No, after what hey have been trough and the time passed, the armor remnants are beyond repair. They could just provide the raw materials to re-forge new ones.
Aidwyn justs sits with Solitude in a corner and share some food and fresh water while chatting about their past
Solitude seems to really appreciate the long interlude with Aidwyn... relaxed, she talks about her difficult past without expressing all that anger and resentment that once seemed an essential part of her. Abandoned at birth by her parents, Solitude had continually had to deal with the lack of everything (even affection, evidently) and, often, with the superstition of those who still see tieflings as creatures somehow marked by evil. Her docked tail is the result of the attempts of a superstitious exalted who intended to 'purify' her - probably by removing the parts of her body that made her more devil-like - and from whose clutches she had miraculously escaped. Alone and an outcast in a world in which groups of creatures stronger than her represented a constant threat, both in wilderness and in civilization, she had over time discovered that she was able to channel her resentment to unleash some minor magical effects, but this was certainly not enough to make her feel neither better nor safer...
"And, finally," she concludes, with a smile whose birth would seem impossible, after everything that has just spilled from those lips of hers "I met you".
And, just when the sorting of books seems to be over and the three 'delegates' are leaving the Library loaded with tomes, parchments and files, those lips of hers seek those of the warrior who has become her point of reference - they seek them for a kiss...
Aidwyn listens to Solitude's history not interrumpting her but just holding her hand and letting her know that she was there for her.
She just kiss her gently in her lips and hold her tight when she ends. It is hard for her not to feel anger towards all that stupid people that had encountered her and wasn't able to see the gentle, brilliant soul of her.
So, once the selection of the texts to be saved has been completed, in the meantime the complete exploration of the large hall has also been completed. You will now be halfway through the day. How do you intend to proceed? Do you intend to return to Longsaddle? And once there, what do you plan to do first? Contact Colin again? Or talk directly to the Harpells? Or sell potentially no longer needed items (like Flags)?
"Hmmm... probably not a bad idea... we can take a look when we get back to the city," Rash says."I think misty step is probably my best spell, but basically every wizard learns it as soon as they can. Now, cloud of daggers is a really interesting one if you're good at grappling bad guys and shoving them into the spell... well, or I suppose if you have a friend who can do that for you."
The half-orc does his best to be polite but keep a professional distance... after all, he's already spoken for by someone with a history of throat-slitting!
Returning to the library, Spira tells everyone who remained there, "Not much more left out there, unfortunately. Five more bodies, and battered scraps of armor from three of them. About the only things of value we were able to find were some fragments of silver and gold, a few amethysts and such. Fifteen gold worth, perhaps."
She turns to Ardjena next. "If the second level was only for screening guests, as you say, we've probably found about as much here as we're going to. Returning to Longsaddle seems like the next logical step, and I for one would be glad to put in a recommendation for you with the Harpells. Would you ..., " she pauses, "would you like me to lay the ones who fell here to rest before we go? I don't know what gods they prayed to, but ... "
(OOC - Changed my post since it seemed Spira got in a post first and invalidated what I said. So, here's the edited version...)
Before heading back, Roxana comments, "Seems no sign of Kylth among the remains." When Spira tells Ardjena about all the remains she grimaces a bit, having preferred to just leave the girl ignorant of the matter. 'But what is done is done,' she thinks. "Yes, we can certainly help see the bodies properly laid to rest if you like. Unfortunately, it's all we can do for them."
Hearing Spira's suggestion, she offers her own idea. "If we are ready to head back to Longsaddle, maybe we ought to speak with Colin first. He might be able to help us out with the Harpells," she says.
'I do wonder why nobody ever came looking for Kylth,' she thinks. 'Was he out here hiding what he was doing from the Harpells? Would they be glad to meet one of his apprentices? Although, the Harpells never struck me as being the sort that would worry too much about how they managed to get more magical power. This seems the sort of thing they'd love.'
“Cloud of Daggers is interesting even if you have no cooperation!” eslcama Ardjena, excited by the disquisition on spells "Have you ever tried to combine it with a Grease? And I know them both, if you're interested... Or if maybe you'd like Tasha's Hideous Laughter... works wonders, against weak-willed opponents..."
Once the book sorting is finished:
"Lay the ones who fell here to rest before we go?" repeats Ardjena, instinctively looking at Zentromya, as if asking for advice "I hadn't thought about it... but if people have incalculable value, like spells, it seems to make sense to take care of them in all possible ways, even once they have met their end... Yes, please Spira, go ahead. I don't know what god they worshiped, but they died conducting experiments for the advancement of magic - albeit with methods that, as you have now made me understand, may have been questionable. I hope that Azuth want to take their fate to heart... We could bury them outside... Or maybe... would it be more appropriate to burn their bodies with magical fire? There should be a magical fire-based trap, in the dead end over there... It would be usable for a cremation ceremony... Then you could intercede for them by Azuth, Spira. What do you think?"
Hearing mention of the absence of Kylth's corpse, Zentromya intervenes: "Yes, Kylth did not remain in this hall... When Ekandre completed his work of extermination and destruction, he must have finally understood that he was outclassed and sought the escape, going out".
"Strange that he didn't use the teleportation circle..." observes the apprentice.
"In fact, he immediately tried to run there," recalls Celestial "but he hit an invisible barrier... and a very hard one, judging by the noise of the impact and the groan of pain. Then he fell back on the double door".
An expression of anguish distorts the young, carrot-haired girl's features for a moment as she thinks of her powerful mentor fleeing for his life, with shattered pride, and helplessly crashing into an invisible barrier. What a pitiful scene it must have been... But she forces herself to focus on the present: "Nothing I can do about it now... But one day I will find out what happened to him". From the tone in which she says it, it almost sounds like a promise she is making to herself...
"No, we had no infirmary..." Ardjena admits "Kylth was convinced that the risks were minimal, given that he always personally supervised the experiments..."
"Spellplague..." the apprentice shudders "A disturbing name, for a phenomenon that must have been even more disturbing... Maybe I'm glad I skipped it!"
"Anyway, the portal you say" the young carrot-haired girl is happy to move on to a more pleasant topic "is a permanent teleportation circle. You know, many major temples, guilds, and other important places have permanent teleportation circles inscribed somewhere within their confines... so Kylth has arranged one here too, connecting it to one present in his private laboratory at the Ivy Mansion, the Harpells' Mansion. Each such circle includes a unique sigil sequence - a string of magical runes arranged in a particular pattern. Whoever traces a new teleportation circle can connect it to another whose sigil sequence is known - therefore this circle allowed Kylth both to easily reach this place, together with whoever he wanted to take with him, and also to quickly reach his laboratory from there. After so much time has passed, though, I don't know if I'd trust myself to use it... Kylth's laboratory at the Ivy Mansion may very well no longer exist - with its circle - and I'm not familiar enough with this spell to predict what would happen, in these cases, if we tried to use the portal... It's an experiment that I would avoid doing myself".
"It sounds like we'd better talk to the Harpells and let them know about this, then, rather than checking it ourselves. At least you know the destination it's set to ... the room, at least, may still exist and be identifiable thanks to the information you are able to give them. I'd think a lost circle leading straight into the Ivy Mansion is something that would get their immediate attention."
Famh Thrawn Fiadhaich - 'half elven' sorcerer (wild magic) 2, Sleeping Gods - A Dragon Warriors campaign in the Lands of Legend
Quspira Inirali - tiefling cleric (Life domain) 4, Painted's "He'll be the father of my child"
---RETIRED HEROES' REST HOME---
Sae Ivui Nailo - wood elf rogue (inquisitive) 5 , Sea of Death: Captain Hailstorm's Lost Treasure
Ryshraxea "Shra" Naranthi - tabaxi artificer 1, Nyx's Tomb of Annihilation - Group 1
Ardjena sounds hopeful: "Yes, who knows? It could be a link that is still active and if so I have no doubt that the Harpells would rather know about it than not! And they might even more easily allow me to continue my apprenticeship with them, if they felt grateful to me for the information".
In the absence of other destinations, Ardjena follows you back to the library to sort out the volumes that are worth saving...
Although the apprentice is familiar with most of them, it is still a task that takes some time, probably a few hours.
(OOC: During this time, anyone who doesn't help with the task is free to do something else... if they have something else in mind to do. Otherwise, we can fast-forward to after the sorting has been done)
(OOC: I don't think Rash has anything better to do... plus, you know, he's the party's wizard! Of course he'll be in those books!)
Unhappy that the market got rid of individual purchases for one-off subclasses, magic items, and monsters?
Provide feedback!
Spending a few hours examining arcane knowledge together with a fellow wizard (and with Anita, who, although not knowledgeable about magical knowledge, nevertheless decides not to leave Rash alone with the young girl) gives rise to a certain sense of camaraderie in Ardjena, who, over the course of the work, then comments: "Once we return to Longsaddle, we could take a few moments to exchange spells... The high quality inks we use to write them are really expensive, but I hope to be able to sell something, at least to scrape together the material for copy a spell... I don't know many of them yet, it's very likely that you have some unknown to me in your grimoire. And you too might find in my own spellbook a spell you are still missing. Especially conjurations... Conjuration is my favorite school of magic!"
Roxana decides to let Rash and the two ladies work on the books themselves. "I presume it's all arcane stuff I won't understand. But hope if you need another set of hands."
Without much else to do, she says to Gaer, "How about looking through all this mess over again? Who knows, maybe there's something interesting left still."
She uses the time to make a somewhat meticulous search of the place.
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard ||
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer || Bronnryn Hethgar, Cleric
Looking at the many wizardly tomes, Spira says, "I don't think there's going to be much here I could help with, so I'd be glad to help with the search ... unless you'd like some time alone together, of course."
Famh Thrawn Fiadhaich - 'half elven' sorcerer (wild magic) 2, Sleeping Gods - A Dragon Warriors campaign in the Lands of Legend
Quspira Inirali - tiefling cleric (Life domain) 4, Painted's "He'll be the father of my child"
---RETIRED HEROES' REST HOME---
Sae Ivui Nailo - wood elf rogue (inquisitive) 5 , Sea of Death: Captain Hailstorm's Lost Treasure
Ryshraxea "Shra" Naranthi - tabaxi artificer 1, Nyx's Tomb of Annihilation - Group 1
Roxana rolls her eyes a bit at Spira's question. "No, alone time amidst the rubble of an ancient fight scene is not exactly what I'm looking for," she says with a tiny chuckle. "An extra set of eyes to look about is welcome."
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard ||
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer || Bronnryn Hethgar, Cleric
Gaer agrees: "Yes, Roxana... it's probably the best thing we can do while the 'experts' deal with the tomes. I'm with you!"
Between all three, having so much time available, you first find a total of five humanoid corpses are found (3 with metal armor remnants, 2 without), mutilated, in poor condition and in an advanced state of decomposition. Furthermore, among the various scraps and fragments, you manage to put together precious metal or gem fragments for a total value of 15gp.
(are any of the armor parts salvageable?)
Famh Thrawn Fiadhaich - 'half elven' sorcerer (wild magic) 2, Sleeping Gods - A Dragon Warriors campaign in the Lands of Legend
Quspira Inirali - tiefling cleric (Life domain) 4, Painted's "He'll be the father of my child"
---RETIRED HEROES' REST HOME---
Sae Ivui Nailo - wood elf rogue (inquisitive) 5 , Sea of Death: Captain Hailstorm's Lost Treasure
Ryshraxea "Shra" Naranthi - tabaxi artificer 1, Nyx's Tomb of Annihilation - Group 1
No, after what hey have been trough and the time passed, the armor remnants are beyond repair. They could just provide the raw materials to re-forge new ones.
Aidwyn justs sits with Solitude in a corner and share some food and fresh water while chatting about their past
PbP Character: A few ;)
Solitude seems to really appreciate the long interlude with Aidwyn... relaxed, she talks about her difficult past without expressing all that anger and resentment that once seemed an essential part of her. Abandoned at birth by her parents, Solitude had continually had to deal with the lack of everything (even affection, evidently) and, often, with the superstition of those who still see tieflings as creatures somehow marked by evil. Her docked tail is the result of the attempts of a superstitious exalted who intended to 'purify' her - probably by removing the parts of her body that made her more devil-like - and from whose clutches she had miraculously escaped. Alone and an outcast in a world in which groups of creatures stronger than her represented a constant threat, both in wilderness and in civilization, she had over time discovered that she was able to channel her resentment to unleash some minor magical effects, but this was certainly not enough to make her feel neither better nor safer...
"And, finally," she concludes, with a smile whose birth would seem impossible, after everything that has just spilled from those lips of hers "I met you".
And, just when the sorting of books seems to be over and the three 'delegates' are leaving the Library loaded with tomes, parchments and files, those lips of hers seek those of the warrior who has become her point of reference - they seek them for a kiss...
Aidwyn listens to Solitude's history not interrumpting her but just holding her hand and letting her know that she was there for her.
She just kiss her gently in her lips and hold her tight when she ends. It is hard for her not to feel anger towards all that stupid people that had encountered her and wasn't able to see the gentle, brilliant soul of her.
PbP Character: A few ;)
So, once the selection of the texts to be saved has been completed, in the meantime the complete exploration of the large hall has also been completed. You will now be halfway through the day. How do you intend to proceed? Do you intend to return to Longsaddle? And once there, what do you plan to do first? Contact Colin again? Or talk directly to the Harpells? Or sell potentially no longer needed items (like Flags)?
"Hmmm... probably not a bad idea... we can take a look when we get back to the city," Rash says. "I think misty step is probably my best spell, but basically every wizard learns it as soon as they can. Now, cloud of daggers is a really interesting one if you're good at grappling bad guys and shoving them into the spell... well, or I suppose if you have a friend who can do that for you."
The half-orc does his best to be polite but keep a professional distance... after all, he's already spoken for by someone with a history of throat-slitting!
Unhappy that the market got rid of individual purchases for one-off subclasses, magic items, and monsters?
Provide feedback!
Returning to the library, Spira tells everyone who remained there, "Not much more left out there, unfortunately. Five more bodies, and battered scraps of armor from three of them. About the only things of value we were able to find were some fragments of silver and gold, a few amethysts and such. Fifteen gold worth, perhaps."
She turns to Ardjena next. "If the second level was only for screening guests, as you say, we've probably found about as much here as we're going to. Returning to Longsaddle seems like the next logical step, and I for one would be glad to put in a recommendation for you with the Harpells. Would you ..., " she pauses, "would you like me to lay the ones who fell here to rest before we go? I don't know what gods they prayed to, but ... "
Famh Thrawn Fiadhaich - 'half elven' sorcerer (wild magic) 2, Sleeping Gods - A Dragon Warriors campaign in the Lands of Legend
Quspira Inirali - tiefling cleric (Life domain) 4, Painted's "He'll be the father of my child"
---RETIRED HEROES' REST HOME---
Sae Ivui Nailo - wood elf rogue (inquisitive) 5 , Sea of Death: Captain Hailstorm's Lost Treasure
Ryshraxea "Shra" Naranthi - tabaxi artificer 1, Nyx's Tomb of Annihilation - Group 1
(OOC - Changed my post since it seemed Spira got in a post first and invalidated what I said. So, here's the edited version...)
Before heading back, Roxana comments, "Seems no sign of Kylth among the remains." When Spira tells Ardjena about all the remains she grimaces a bit, having preferred to just leave the girl ignorant of the matter. 'But what is done is done,' she thinks. "Yes, we can certainly help see the bodies properly laid to rest if you like. Unfortunately, it's all we can do for them."
Hearing Spira's suggestion, she offers her own idea. "If we are ready to head back to Longsaddle, maybe we ought to speak with Colin first. He might be able to help us out with the Harpells," she says.
'I do wonder why nobody ever came looking for Kylth,' she thinks. 'Was he out here hiding what he was doing from the Harpells? Would they be glad to meet one of his apprentices? Although, the Harpells never struck me as being the sort that would worry too much about how they managed to get more magical power. This seems the sort of thing they'd love.'
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard ||
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer || Bronnryn Hethgar, Cleric
“Cloud of Daggers is interesting even if you have no cooperation!” eslcama Ardjena, excited by the disquisition on spells "Have you ever tried to combine it with a Grease? And I know them both, if you're interested... Or if maybe you'd like Tasha's Hideous Laughter... works wonders, against weak-willed opponents..."
Once the book sorting is finished:
"Lay the ones who fell here to rest before we go?" repeats Ardjena, instinctively looking at Zentromya, as if asking for advice "I hadn't thought about it... but if people have incalculable value, like spells, it seems to make sense to take care of them in all possible ways, even once they have met their end... Yes, please Spira, go ahead. I don't know what god they worshiped, but they died conducting experiments for the advancement of magic - albeit with methods that, as you have now made me understand, may have been questionable. I hope that Azuth want to take their fate to heart... We could bury them outside... Or maybe... would it be more appropriate to burn their bodies with magical fire? There should be a magical fire-based trap, in the dead end over there... It would be usable for a cremation ceremony... Then you could intercede for them by Azuth, Spira. What do you think?"
Hearing mention of the absence of Kylth's corpse, Zentromya intervenes: "Yes, Kylth did not remain in this hall... When Ekandre completed his work of extermination and destruction, he must have finally understood that he was outclassed and sought the escape, going out".
"Strange that he didn't use the teleportation circle..." observes the apprentice.
"In fact, he immediately tried to run there," recalls Celestial "but he hit an invisible barrier... and a very hard one, judging by the noise of the impact and the groan of pain. Then he fell back on the double door".
An expression of anguish distorts the young, carrot-haired girl's features for a moment as she thinks of her powerful mentor fleeing for his life, with shattered pride, and helplessly crashing into an invisible barrier. What a pitiful scene it must have been... But she forces herself to focus on the present: "Nothing I can do about it now... But one day I will find out what happened to him". From the tone in which she says it, it almost sounds like a promise she is making to herself...