When you wanted to buy the shaved ice you had to bang on the door a few times before the vendor's window opened a slit and a pair of glittering eyes peeked out. "What, seriously?" a familiar voice said. "Oh. It's you." A goblin's hand reached out through the window to give you your shaved ice in a curled birchbark cone, then slammed the window shut again, without charging you. "Now go away!" the voice had said as you walked away toward the Palace of Illusions.
((Quentin knew that the Pixie Tree had been destroyed by gnoll raiders about a year and a half ago, of course, though he did not know the stories of the people who had fought at the battle. He was also aware that the Arch Witch had been held prisoner in the Primordial Forest before breaking free after the tree's burning, causing havoc, and being hunted down at last on the Floating Islands. At that time, he was already living in Ellantar, so he only heard it second-hand through messages form relatives, but he did know that the Sorcerer King had taken a personal part in the Arch Witch's defeat, and he vaguely remembers hearing the names of the three human adventurers.))
Del asks about the root system of the tree, and the theater manager says, "Gnome tunnels have not been dug around the roots for many generations, out of respect for the tree and for fear of harming the roots. So I'm afraid I can't help you with that." He seems more interested in the sigar, saying he knows many who might be interested in buying it, and offering to ask the clan leaders to send merchants to negotiate. "Not that they will have many people to sell their cakes and candies to, but the oxcart drivers and river crews would probably be happy to buy some sweets."
Edeleth Treesong (Aldalire) WoodElf Druid lvl 8 Talaveroth Sub 2 Last Tree StandingTabaxi Ranger, Chef and Hoardsperson lvl 5, Company of the Dragon Team 1 Choir Kenku Cleric, Tempest Domain, lvl 11, Descent Into Avernus Test Drive Poinki Goblin Paladin, Redemption, lvl 5, Tales from Talaveroth Lyrika Nyx Satyr Bard lvl 1, The Six Kingdoms of Talia
Elwin listened to the conversation between Del and Mindartis with growing unease.
"Well," he said, sounding more like he was rationalizing than anything else, "surely she must have been defeated somehow. It's not as if she would have just walked away from the attack for no reason... right?"
He watched afterward as Del negotiated the sale of their sugar, almost relieved to have something else to occupy his thoughts. But the truth of the statements haunted him... there was no record of how this great evil, which had taken on so many powerful opponents, had actually been defeated. So it was plausible the ask if it really had been. His mind again went back to the performance, to the unnamed Ranger, and he imagined the halfling coming to their time, and wondered what he would do in this situation?
((This stuff only happened a bit over a year ago, so...these guys are still out there somewhere.))
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Edeleth Treesong (Aldalire) WoodElf Druid lvl 8 Talaveroth Sub 2 Last Tree StandingTabaxi Ranger, Chef and Hoardsperson lvl 5, Company of the Dragon Team 1 Choir Kenku Cleric, Tempest Domain, lvl 11, Descent Into Avernus Test Drive Poinki Goblin Paladin, Redemption, lvl 5, Tales from Talaveroth Lyrika Nyx Satyr Bard lvl 1, The Six Kingdoms of Talia
"I think we should see if we can locate any of those who imprissoned the arch witch and see if we can find out anything from them." Raven put sin as she moves up to her companions. "Seems they would be interested in learning that the hags are working to free the witch after all."
The theater manager politely escorts you out, as the tired actors and illusionists go backstage to enjoy a break and their lunches.
You ask him your questions (I assume) and he tells you that the Halfling Ranger settled down in a network of burrows to the Northwest, about an hour's ride from the city. The Sorcerer King is, of course, still ruling the Primordial Forest. Bri Stormborn married Dwarf King Thornæd I and lives in the Nâr Barâk Mountains. The last he heard of Thanicles, the wizard was still wandering around, searching for new magics to study. He is not certain where the Randal Styles Bard College is, but he thinks it's somewhere in Mastandia.
It's about noon now. Most of the river and dock crews are heading for the Puffball Inn, the restaurants, or the underground area. Gnome street urchins continue to run from the underground to the warehouses with their packages and back. Nobody seems to be stopping at the shaved ice place.
Edeleth Treesong (Aldalire) WoodElf Druid lvl 8 Talaveroth Sub 2 Last Tree StandingTabaxi Ranger, Chef and Hoardsperson lvl 5, Company of the Dragon Team 1 Choir Kenku Cleric, Tempest Domain, lvl 11, Descent Into Avernus Test Drive Poinki Goblin Paladin, Redemption, lvl 5, Tales from Talaveroth Lyrika Nyx Satyr Bard lvl 1, The Six Kingdoms of Talia
That may be helpful Del agrees Shall we start that first thing tomorrow though? A search for an un-named ranger in burrows vaguely Northwest, maybe we ought to count on a whole day. And maybe we can find a name or something at the Hall tonight. Unfortunately his events were precursors to the Arch Witch debacle we really need to understand.
For now Del will find a restaurant, hopefully a working lunch with sugar negotiations. Looking for wherever deals are done.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Galanodel Deacon Tosh - Less-than-Half-Elf Bard - & -Flitterbug - Pixie Sorceress : Meanwhile in the Westwoods Amadow 'Tug' Rioux - Human Psionic Palooka : Revenge Heist - - - Gofer Bayut - Bugbear Paladin Messenger : Shrouded Sky
((Between the two open restaurants and the inn, they will gladly buy as much sugar as you want to sell for about 1 gold per pound. Nobody seems to know the name of the halfling ranger, though they have all heard the story.))
Edeleth Treesong (Aldalire) WoodElf Druid lvl 8 Talaveroth Sub 2 Last Tree StandingTabaxi Ranger, Chef and Hoardsperson lvl 5, Company of the Dragon Team 1 Choir Kenku Cleric, Tempest Domain, lvl 11, Descent Into Avernus Test Drive Poinki Goblin Paladin, Redemption, lvl 5, Tales from Talaveroth Lyrika Nyx Satyr Bard lvl 1, The Six Kingdoms of Talia
We make the deals, set up the tapestry, and the sugar gets schlepped. Probably puts some of the unemployed stevedores to work -1500# is a lot of sugar ((more than were in the supermarkets last few times I was there. 300 GP each))
More illusions after lunch?
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Galanodel Deacon Tosh - Less-than-Half-Elf Bard - & -Flitterbug - Pixie Sorceress : Meanwhile in the Westwoods Amadow 'Tug' Rioux - Human Psionic Palooka : Revenge Heist - - - Gofer Bayut - Bugbear Paladin Messenger : Shrouded Sky
Okay, you sell your sugar to a grateful trio of gnome restaurateurs, and Del heads back to the Palace of Illusions...maybe?
The manager is pleased to see you back, even if it's an audience of one.
"We have one more spectacle in our current events series," he says. "That's the pirate raid on Dasterus. Thanks to having access to witnesses on all sides of the battle, we are able to offer you the chance to view the raid either from the port or from the deck of the pirate ship, or to join King Pelios in the swamp battling the Black Dragon Clan. We understand that great events are also taking place in the Lowlands and the Nâr Barâk Mountains, but we don't have enough information yet on those ongoing battles to offer a program."
"After that, we can offer many exciting, but less recent historical events. Perhaps you would like to witness the Battle of the Wall at Noldar, the defeat of Grimmerang in Lomalos, young Zanderfell's wrestling match against the god Annam All-Father, the defeat of the Lich Jarastoth, the battle against the great Sand Dragon in the Great Desert, the terrible Trout Typhoon, the Night of the Drow, the forging of the statue of King Bolgen, the Kraken Plague, or just about any other historical event you care to name, given time to prepare new material. We also offer a variety of less educational diversions for your entertainment: plays by the great playwrights of our age, and past masters!"
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Edeleth Treesong (Aldalire) WoodElf Druid lvl 8 Talaveroth Sub 2 Last Tree StandingTabaxi Ranger, Chef and Hoardsperson lvl 5, Company of the Dragon Team 1 Choir Kenku Cleric, Tempest Domain, lvl 11, Descent Into Avernus Test Drive Poinki Goblin Paladin, Redemption, lvl 5, Tales from Talaveroth Lyrika Nyx Satyr Bard lvl 1, The Six Kingdoms of Talia
Mindartis follows Del, still thinking about how people can think the Archwitch was sealed away if no one really knows how it happened. "I don't know much about entertainment on this plane," he says, "It's up to you Del."
Del has seen the illusions he wants most this morning - we can go there to kill some time or spread our activities out, maybe learn some monster features? Neither Conjure Animals or Polymorph mention having to see a beast so menagerie would also be just entertainment
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Galanodel Deacon Tosh - Less-than-Half-Elf Bard - & -Flitterbug - Pixie Sorceress : Meanwhile in the Westwoods Amadow 'Tug' Rioux - Human Psionic Palooka : Revenge Heist - - - Gofer Bayut - Bugbear Paladin Messenger : Shrouded Sky
Del nods Yes, like actively trying to repel business. That is the same Sharky right? Tagec the Sock Boss? to Raven Are his untenable businesses fronts for anything important or just normal crime?
"Worth checking into I suppose." Raven says with a shrug. "If he is here, I doubt he has anything actionable, or else he would have contacted us already." Or at least Raven believes so, she has a fairly high opinion of herself in his associates.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
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...
When you wanted to buy the shaved ice you had to bang on the door a few times before the vendor's window opened a slit and a pair of glittering eyes peeked out. "What, seriously?" a familiar voice said. "Oh. It's you." A goblin's hand reached out through the window to give you your shaved ice in a curled birchbark cone, then slammed the window shut again, without charging you. "Now go away!" the voice had said as you walked away toward the Palace of Illusions.
((Quentin knew that the Pixie Tree had been destroyed by gnoll raiders about a year and a half ago, of course, though he did not know the stories of the people who had fought at the battle. He was also aware that the Arch Witch had been held prisoner in the Primordial Forest before breaking free after the tree's burning, causing havoc, and being hunted down at last on the Floating Islands. At that time, he was already living in Ellantar, so he only heard it second-hand through messages form relatives, but he did know that the Sorcerer King had taken a personal part in the Arch Witch's defeat, and he vaguely remembers hearing the names of the three human adventurers.))
Del asks about the root system of the tree, and the theater manager says, "Gnome tunnels have not been dug around the roots for many generations, out of respect for the tree and for fear of harming the roots. So I'm afraid I can't help you with that." He seems more interested in the sigar, saying he knows many who might be interested in buying it, and offering to ask the clan leaders to send merchants to negotiate. "Not that they will have many people to sell their cakes and candies to, but the oxcart drivers and river crews would probably be happy to buy some sweets."
Edeleth Treesong (Aldalire) Wood Elf Druid lvl 8 Talaveroth Sub 2
Last Tree Standing Tabaxi Ranger, Chef and Hoardsperson lvl 5, Company of the Dragon Team 1
Choir Kenku Cleric, Tempest Domain, lvl 11, Descent Into Avernus Test Drive
Poinki Goblin Paladin, Redemption, lvl 5, Tales from Talaveroth
Lyrika Nyx Satyr Bard lvl 1, The Six Kingdoms of Talia
Elwin listened to the conversation between Del and Mindartis with growing unease.
"Well," he said, sounding more like he was rationalizing than anything else, "surely she must have been defeated somehow. It's not as if she would have just walked away from the attack for no reason... right?"
He watched afterward as Del negotiated the sale of their sugar, almost relieved to have something else to occupy his thoughts. But the truth of the statements haunted him... there was no record of how this great evil, which had taken on so many powerful opponents, had actually been defeated. So it was plausible the ask if it really had been. His mind again went back to the performance, to the unnamed Ranger, and he imagined the halfling coming to their time, and wondered what he would do in this situation?
Tooltips Post (2024 PHB updates) - incl. General Rules
>> New FOW threat & treasure tables: fow-advanced-threat-tables.pdf fow-advanced-treasure-table.pdf
((This stuff only happened a bit over a year ago, so...these guys are still out there somewhere.))
Edeleth Treesong (Aldalire) Wood Elf Druid lvl 8 Talaveroth Sub 2
Last Tree Standing Tabaxi Ranger, Chef and Hoardsperson lvl 5, Company of the Dragon Team 1
Choir Kenku Cleric, Tempest Domain, lvl 11, Descent Into Avernus Test Drive
Poinki Goblin Paladin, Redemption, lvl 5, Tales from Talaveroth
Lyrika Nyx Satyr Bard lvl 1, The Six Kingdoms of Talia
(( Aaaaaaaah. That would have made things all the more interesting for Elwin. ))
Tooltips Post (2024 PHB updates) - incl. General Rules
>> New FOW threat & treasure tables: fow-advanced-threat-tables.pdf fow-advanced-treasure-table.pdf
"I think we should see if we can locate any of those who imprissoned the arch witch and see if we can find out anything from them." Raven put sin as she moves up to her companions. "Seems they would be interested in learning that the hags are working to free the witch after all."
Randal Styles has a Bard College in ((search is broke but we heard sometime)). And this Heroic Halfling Ranger is nearby?
Galanodel Deacon Tosh - Less-than-Half-Elf Bard - & - Flitterbug - Pixie Sorceress : Meanwhile in the Westwoods
Amadow 'Tug' Rioux - Human Psionic Palooka : Revenge Heist - - - Gofer Bayut - Bugbear Paladin Messenger : Shrouded Sky
MIndartis nods, "This is all based on the assumption that they themselves know. But it's a good place to start regardless."
Elra Skylash - Human Cleric | Vanzaren Tanidoni - Half Elf Wizard
Mindartis Liadon - Eladrin Barbarian | Naivara Siannodel - Half Elf Ranger
Arrila Evenwood - Half Elf Paladin | Callaphe of Setessa - Human Rogue
Katernin Nemetsk - Aasimar Cleric | Melody - Tiefling Bard
The theater manager politely escorts you out, as the tired actors and illusionists go backstage to enjoy a break and their lunches.
You ask him your questions (I assume) and he tells you that the Halfling Ranger settled down in a network of burrows to the Northwest, about an hour's ride from the city. The Sorcerer King is, of course, still ruling the Primordial Forest. Bri Stormborn married Dwarf King Thornæd I and lives in the Nâr Barâk Mountains. The last he heard of Thanicles, the wizard was still wandering around, searching for new magics to study. He is not certain where the Randal Styles Bard College is, but he thinks it's somewhere in Mastandia.
It's about noon now. Most of the river and dock crews are heading for the Puffball Inn, the restaurants, or the underground area. Gnome street urchins continue to run from the underground to the warehouses with their packages and back. Nobody seems to be stopping at the shaved ice place.
Edeleth Treesong (Aldalire) Wood Elf Druid lvl 8 Talaveroth Sub 2
Last Tree Standing Tabaxi Ranger, Chef and Hoardsperson lvl 5, Company of the Dragon Team 1
Choir Kenku Cleric, Tempest Domain, lvl 11, Descent Into Avernus Test Drive
Poinki Goblin Paladin, Redemption, lvl 5, Tales from Talaveroth
Lyrika Nyx Satyr Bard lvl 1, The Six Kingdoms of Talia
"Perhaps we should seek out the Halfling," Mindartis says, "try and see if he can give us more information."
Elra Skylash - Human Cleric | Vanzaren Tanidoni - Half Elf Wizard
Mindartis Liadon - Eladrin Barbarian | Naivara Siannodel - Half Elf Ranger
Arrila Evenwood - Half Elf Paladin | Callaphe of Setessa - Human Rogue
Katernin Nemetsk - Aasimar Cleric | Melody - Tiefling Bard
That may be helpful Del agrees Shall we start that first thing tomorrow though? A search for an un-named ranger in burrows vaguely Northwest, maybe we ought to count on a whole day. And maybe we can find a name or something at the Hall tonight. Unfortunately his events were precursors to the Arch Witch debacle we really need to understand.
For now Del will find a restaurant, hopefully a working lunch with sugar negotiations. Looking for wherever deals are done.
Galanodel Deacon Tosh - Less-than-Half-Elf Bard - & - Flitterbug - Pixie Sorceress : Meanwhile in the Westwoods
Amadow 'Tug' Rioux - Human Psionic Palooka : Revenge Heist - - - Gofer Bayut - Bugbear Paladin Messenger : Shrouded Sky
"Agreed, something to start tomorrow." Raven confirms. "Wouldn't want our knight-to-be to be missing his vigil night."
((Between the two open restaurants and the inn, they will gladly buy as much sugar as you want to sell for about 1 gold per pound. Nobody seems to know the name of the halfling ranger, though they have all heard the story.))
Edeleth Treesong (Aldalire) Wood Elf Druid lvl 8 Talaveroth Sub 2
Last Tree Standing Tabaxi Ranger, Chef and Hoardsperson lvl 5, Company of the Dragon Team 1
Choir Kenku Cleric, Tempest Domain, lvl 11, Descent Into Avernus Test Drive
Poinki Goblin Paladin, Redemption, lvl 5, Tales from Talaveroth
Lyrika Nyx Satyr Bard lvl 1, The Six Kingdoms of Talia
We make the deals, set up the tapestry, and the sugar gets schlepped. Probably puts some of the unemployed stevedores to work -1500# is a lot of sugar ((more than were in the supermarkets last few times I was there. 300 GP each))
More illusions after lunch?
Galanodel Deacon Tosh - Less-than-Half-Elf Bard - & - Flitterbug - Pixie Sorceress : Meanwhile in the Westwoods
Amadow 'Tug' Rioux - Human Psionic Palooka : Revenge Heist - - - Gofer Bayut - Bugbear Paladin Messenger : Shrouded Sky
Okay, you sell your sugar to a grateful trio of gnome restaurateurs, and Del heads back to the Palace of Illusions...maybe?
The manager is pleased to see you back, even if it's an audience of one.
"We have one more spectacle in our current events series," he says. "That's the pirate raid on Dasterus. Thanks to having access to witnesses on all sides of the battle, we are able to offer you the chance to view the raid either from the port or from the deck of the pirate ship, or to join King Pelios in the swamp battling the Black Dragon Clan. We understand that great events are also taking place in the Lowlands and the Nâr Barâk Mountains, but we don't have enough information yet on those ongoing battles to offer a program."
"After that, we can offer many exciting, but less recent historical events. Perhaps you would like to witness the Battle of the Wall at Noldar, the defeat of Grimmerang in Lomalos, young Zanderfell's wrestling match against the god Annam All-Father, the defeat of the Lich Jarastoth, the battle against the great Sand Dragon in the Great Desert, the terrible Trout Typhoon, the Night of the Drow, the forging of the statue of King Bolgen, the Kraken Plague, or just about any other historical event you care to name, given time to prepare new material. We also offer a variety of less educational diversions for your entertainment: plays by the great playwrights of our age, and past masters!"
Edeleth Treesong (Aldalire) Wood Elf Druid lvl 8 Talaveroth Sub 2
Last Tree Standing Tabaxi Ranger, Chef and Hoardsperson lvl 5, Company of the Dragon Team 1
Choir Kenku Cleric, Tempest Domain, lvl 11, Descent Into Avernus Test Drive
Poinki Goblin Paladin, Redemption, lvl 5, Tales from Talaveroth
Lyrika Nyx Satyr Bard lvl 1, The Six Kingdoms of Talia
Mindartis follows Del, still thinking about how people can think the Archwitch was sealed away if no one really knows how it happened. "I don't know much about entertainment on this plane," he says, "It's up to you Del."
Elra Skylash - Human Cleric | Vanzaren Tanidoni - Half Elf Wizard
Mindartis Liadon - Eladrin Barbarian | Naivara Siannodel - Half Elf Ranger
Arrila Evenwood - Half Elf Paladin | Callaphe of Setessa - Human Rogue
Katernin Nemetsk - Aasimar Cleric | Melody - Tiefling Bard
Del has seen the illusions he wants most this morning - we can go there to kill some time or spread our activities out, maybe learn some monster features? Neither Conjure Animals or Polymorph mention having to see a beast so menagerie would also be just entertainment
Galanodel Deacon Tosh - Less-than-Half-Elf Bard - & - Flitterbug - Pixie Sorceress : Meanwhile in the Westwoods
Amadow 'Tug' Rioux - Human Psionic Palooka : Revenge Heist - - - Gofer Bayut - Bugbear Paladin Messenger : Shrouded Sky
“Hey, doesn’t the shave iced place seem weird to you?” Quentin asks the others.
Del nods Yes, like actively trying to repel business. That is the same Sharky right? Tagec the Sock Boss? to Raven Are his untenable businesses fronts for anything important or just normal crime?
Galanodel Deacon Tosh - Less-than-Half-Elf Bard - & - Flitterbug - Pixie Sorceress : Meanwhile in the Westwoods
Amadow 'Tug' Rioux - Human Psionic Palooka : Revenge Heist - - - Gofer Bayut - Bugbear Paladin Messenger : Shrouded Sky
"Perhaps we should go over there and ask him ourselves," Mindartis says.
Elra Skylash - Human Cleric | Vanzaren Tanidoni - Half Elf Wizard
Mindartis Liadon - Eladrin Barbarian | Naivara Siannodel - Half Elf Ranger
Arrila Evenwood - Half Elf Paladin | Callaphe of Setessa - Human Rogue
Katernin Nemetsk - Aasimar Cleric | Melody - Tiefling Bard
"Worth checking into I suppose." Raven says with a shrug. "If he is here, I doubt he has anything actionable, or else he would have contacted us already." Or at least Raven believes so, she has a fairly high opinion of herself in his associates.