(( not sure if adding an image helps or not...would be nice if it merged with the text, or sat at the far right )) Silthras watches the mage leave and turns back to the Sybil, waiting for her answer. When she is finished, he nods and asks "How far is it to the nearest mine, and do you know anything of the numbers of the enemy, or their movements?"
A slight smile touches his face with the halfling's words. "By Lady Winter's blessing. The aid would be welcome. If we can get ahold of the materials tonight I could possibly make three flasks. I wouldn't dare make as many tomorrow morning if that's when we intend to leave."
"I can agree to that idea." As the half-orc moves to leave, he also rises and grabs his things. "I've no desire to speak to the priestess of Maliel however. I'll start with this Elixyr you spoke of Sybil. Where can I find her residence?"
"I think I'll follow—perhaps there's something I can gather from the priestess that could be of use," Fauna says before taking the leap from her chair to the floor. Grabbing her belongings, she sets out behind Urgoth with a slight skip to her step.
Urgoth nods to Kal and Fauna as they move to follow him out of the tavern, the slender half orc keeping a serious look on his face. "Sybil did not seem to carry much of an opinion of me. She just sorely wish that my parents had answered the call. I hope to show her she is wrong to think such a thing. I may not have the experience of a soldier but I spent my own time traveling the roads."
Sybil runs a hand across her head, making a face that seems to say I don't like messing with numbers in my head."Simon, one of the smiths probably has some. I can go buy as much as I can from him, but you'll be paying me back right after."
Offering a parting farewell to Urgoth, she then answers Silthras, "numbers? A damn million for all I know. Nearest mining village is Moonvein, about 34 miles to the west. Take you about a day to get there if you keep up your pace. They're most active after sundown and stick near the settlements. If you run into one group there's always another nearby, so watch your back."
"Weird little shop called the Owl, by it's own on the southeast part of town. Don't let her offend you, that's just how she is." She says in warning to those going to see Elixyr.
"After I get the silver dust I'll be back here." The soldier gathers herself, "Coming with me Silthras, or do you have other plans?" She moves towards the bartop first, intending to pay for the drinks before leaving.
Kal throws a fur lined cowl over his head as they step outside, saying to Urgoth. "Sybil is a soldier, her concept of respect is very rigid and easy to follow. Prove yourself to her once, and she'll see you differently. Don't worry over it."
"I'll see you back here soon, hopefully our time spent will be well worth it."As they head towards the town's plaza, he turns down a road to take him to the south east edge of the town, keeping an out for the lone shop Sybil described to him.
((wasn't sure if Kal had anyone with him at this point, will edit if that's the case)).
Silthras nods, "I'm not much for carrying heavy weights, but I can certainly lend moral support and encouragement" he says, smiling.
He takes one more taste of the ale and then follows Sybil out.
(( Most important question of the evening: did she buy us good ale or the cheap stuff?? ))
As they walk he looks more closely at the town itself, trying to get a sense of where things are and, if anyone is out, the general mood. He also casts a practised eye over the defences, noting their weaknesses, if any. If he sees any of the latter, he will mention them to Sybil.
"When we are done, I should also visit your arcanist, but perhaps in the morning as you said, when I am fresh. What can you tell me about her, and how she came by news of Elirion?"
Usul follows suit, and makes sure to finish his drink before hopping off the bench to follow Silthras and Sybil. “We’re good at encouragement too!” He adds cheerily. Walking outside he immediately skips over to Muad, sitting next to the wall trying to stay as dry as possible, rubs his head, and hops on the dog to gain a small bit of height while walking I near his new companions.
Group I(UrgothFauna) Group II(Kal) Group III(UsulSilthras)
Group I The town's plaza is a short walk westward from the Topaz Hammer, and you're able to reach it fairly soon. Towards the southwest you can make out the rectangular stone complex of the temple, a faint column of smoke rising from a chimney in the center of the roof. As the two of you approach, you notice the two columns holding up an awning etched with the images of a grand phoenix, a common depiction of the Everlasting Flame. Shadows dance along the walls from a moderate sized flame burning in a fire pit at the chamber's center, creating an illusion of motion from some of the reliefs carved into the stone walls.
At the far back of the temple, a figure emerges from around the corner. Relatively short for a wood elf, she is dressed in simple white robes, with an orange flame embroidered over the heart. Auburn hair is braided over the top of her head, with the sides and back cropped close. The firelight plays across her bronze skin, and reflects off a singular piercing on her right ear. "May I assist you with something, or have you merely come to make an offering?" She asks in a soft voice, gesturing towards the fire pit.
(it is typical for those directing their prayers towards Maliel to make offerings to a ritual flame in her temples. Objects with sentimental value are burned, with the level of a person's emotional attachment correlating to the chance of Maliel hearing their prayer.)
Group II By its own turned out to be a severe understatement on Sybil's part. The ruddy little shack of a home with an Owl sign built over it was so far displaced from the rest of the town that the palisade they had erected had been forced to be built out further to compensate. It takes you several minutes to reach the place, and you can see the shadow of a figure moving within through a window, framed by candle or torchlight.
A small bell rings as you open the door, revealing a small room made up solely of a counter, and as many shelves as could possibly be packed inside. The shelves themselves are overfilled with various baubles, jarred liquids, tomes, and other miscellany. Sitting behind the counter is an elf with stark white hair, and dark purple tinged skin. She looks up at you from beneath a pair of spectacles, a scroll of some kind sitting in her lap. "Well don't just stand there with the door open." She snaps, motioning you to come further in. "The wood inside isn't treated, it'll rot if you let it get soaked like that."
As she gets a closer look at you, a flicker of recognition flashes across her features, and a white eyebrow goes up. "Didn't think your kind were into this sort of stuff. Get a little lonely in the mountains then? Need a little love potion to spice your life up a bit?" Her teasing comes across in a near deadpan voice, with a hint of sarcasm accenting her tone.
Group III Sybil scoffs at the pair beside her, shaking her head. "The only thing you should be encouraging is that damn knight to pay me back for this. Does he even carry money? Never can get a serious read on him."
The town's defenses are shoddily put together at best. The palisade you can tell was hastily erected, and nearly half of the guard shacks you pass along the way are unoccupied and poorly reinforced. Your trip takes you straight north, and you pass a few other shops along the way. 'Taravan's Concoctions' and 'The Roadheart Knot' the latter of which simply appears to be a general trade store. The other buildings you pass by are residences for the most part, with some being unidentifiable by any markings on the outside.
"Elixyr's attitude can be a bit overwhelming until you get used to her. She's got a sharp tongue and no reserves about insulting customers. To be frank I'm sorry to be missing Kal's meeting with her. From what I understand she met Elirion some time ago, when he was paid a surprise visit to a mutual acquaintance of theirs."
She glances at the mastiff riding gnome beside them, nearly smiling at the sigh. "So Usul, how did you come to know Kwiz, and what did you do to earn his trust enough to be sent in his place like this?"
Usul chuckles at the memory “Well... We didn’t meet him so much as be caught by him. We’ve always been a bit interested in fun magics...”At this he creates a small pop! by her ear followed by snapping his fingers as a 5 foot fierce orc appears in front of the party that they quickly ride/walk through. “And one day thought it’d be a good idea to sneak through his tower. Turns out he’s more clever than us and could see through our illusion where we hid.” Usul sighs. “Rather than turn us into the guard though he let us work it off, and over time even started to share some other small things with us.”
Sybil scoffs at the pair beside her, shaking her head. "The only thing you should be encouraging is that damn knight to pay me back for this. Does he even carry money? Never can get a serious read on him."
Silthras laughs, "A knight you say. Well, that makes sense...", he rubs his chin to give the appearance of deep consideration then continues, "I've found it's best to treat such people as you do the toys that some gnomes make -- no offence Usul -- just wind them up and point them in a direction, then pray that the don't break too much -- and pay the bills afterwards, of course."
"But if you are worried about the gold, I'm sure I could persuade my companions to cover the costs in return for, say, a 10% share of the outputs of each mine we clear? Speaking hypothetically of course, but part ownership is a strong motivator in such things. What do you think? It seems like a good deal for everybody..."
"We were actually hoping to speak to you about the problem of the undead that has recently increased. Sybil said that perhaps you would know more due to your connection with the divine." Urgoth says as he reaches into his pack to produce a small and much more worn book. "I do not know if this is worth while to you but this is the book given to me first learn the arcane runes for my spells. While I shall not offer the entirety of it to you I will give you my first great stride in the arcane." The half orc opens it to a page with what would be an example of chicken scratch to a wizard, carefully tearing the page from the binding of the book before letting it fall into the fire.
(Not sure how much he would know not being very religious and all but he threw in a page of something that serves as a practice Spellbook/Journal)
Kal steps inside the cramped shop space, shutting the door behind him. He remains impassive in the face of the elf's mockery, approaching the counter and throwing back his hood. "A love potion is unneeded."
He takes a quick glances a the shelves behind him before locking eyes with the woman. "Sybil said you might have something that could collapse a mine if needed."
Group I(UrgothFauna) Group II(Kal) Group III(UsulSilthras)
Group I The flames briefly burns a light gold as the page catches fire, fading back to orange after the page is completely consumed. A warm sweet scent, with aromatic wood undertones fills the temple now; the priestess smiles, bowing in appreciation for the offering. "May the light guide you." She says in ritual response, a sort of blessing that 'finalizes' the offering. As her thoughts turn towards the undead, her smile fades. "Ah, yes...That is quite the problem for us right now."
"The arcane arts are useful I will admit, in another life I may have devoted myself to that study. Alas, the undead require a special touch. They display a certain resilience it would seem. I've seen men and women hack at them to no avail, until they're so tired the can no longer defend themselves. Overbearing damage appears to do the trick, as does anything sourced in the divine." Her eyes twinkle as she glances down at Fauna. "Amah's power would be more than enough to strike them down."
"These beings are souless things, moved and controlled by dark and malicious powers. The holy light of any deity burns the darkness from their flesh."
She pauses, a curious look on her face as she tilts her head slightly,"do you intend to relieve us of this scourge?"
Group II "With that charm a love potion may be your only hope." The dark elf sets the scroll onto the table in front of her and removes the spectacles, standing as she does so. "Sybil sent you? So you're the "reinforcements" she spoke of?" Elixyr takes a moment, hands on her hips as she looks Kal up and down in assessment. As her eyes move back up towards his face she blankly returns the stare, once more raising an eyebrow. "You might do the trick. Or I might as well set the stuff off in here and get it over with."
Letting out a short sigh, throws her hands up in a shrug. "Yes. I have developed a rather explosive recipe that should bring any cave system come crashing down. Just check the crater on the other side of that sharp fence they put up."
"But, it is terribly expensive to make you see...And an arcanist needs to make a living somehow." She says, leaning up against the counter. "How much you got?"
Group III Sybil waves her arms in front of her as she walks through the illusory orc, "Bah!" She casts a sharp glance at the gnome, "no more of that, I get enough of these damn magical tricks from Elixyr."
"Though I can see why Kwiz gave you the opportunity. He's not one to waste talent is he?"
The solider stops walking, a bizarre look on her face as she turns towards Silthras. She looks down at herself and back up, gesturing towards her uniform. "Are you mad? Do you think I would be out here like this if I had any ownership over the mines? Do I look like royalty to you? If you want to have a share, you'll have to go begging at King Lidae's feet for that." Scoffing, she shakes her head and starts walking again. "Kal will pay me back, one way or another."
You arrive at a blacksmith's shop The Tempered Sword, run by a fairly young blonde haired man by the name of Simon. After a brief negotiation(with Sybil engaging in a little proverbial arm twisting), the man goes into the back of his shop, returning with a bag(2) of 50g worth of powered silver dust that he hands to the soldier. "Ah. Thank you Simon." She says, though there's a slight strain in her voice as she hands over an uncomfortable amount of platinum and gold pieces
She turns to look at Usul and Silthras. "Either of you need anything while we're out like this?"
OoC:
As a quick note on national hierarchy, Evanicea's separate regions are still "governed" to an extent by the original royal family. In conquering them, High King Valerius allowed monarchs who yielded early a greater degree of control over their former kingdoms than those who prolonged the conflict.
Fauna watches in amazement from behind Urgoth as the flames consume the page. She turns her attention towards the priestess and gives a slight nod at the mention of Amah. Taking a small step forward, she says, "thank you, this is very valuable knowledge. I'm positive it will prove quite useful. While I'm not sure how effective our efforts may be, we will surely do what we can to help." Pausing a moment, her eyes move back towards the brazier. She plucks one of the many feathers hanging from her staff and drops it into the flames. "May the Gods guide our path."
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
"Your confidence is appreciated." Kal says flatly, "but if you intend to blow yourself up, give me warning so I can get to cover first. I still have a duty to fulfill here." Briefly, the knight is annoyed that the arcanist would be asking for payment under such circumstances. The townsfolk lives and her own life were on the line here.
"You either lend your assistance, or I walk out of here empty handed and you end up among the living dead in a week" His pale eyes narrow. "Go ahead, flip that coin."
Urgoth returns the old book to his pack and watches the flames as they consume the paper. As the flicker of flames show in his eyes, the elf orc turns his attention back to the priestess. "Overwhelming force is something I can muster with my spells. Although I need a bit more time to finish scribing some of the more powerful I have knowledge of. I thank you for telling us this. Can you tell us what types of undead you have seen?"
The solider stops walking, a bizarre look on her face as she turns towards Silthras. She looks down at herself and back up, gesturing towards her uniform. "Are you mad? Do you think I would be out here like this if I had any ownership over the mines? Do I look like royalty to you? If you want to have a share, you'll have to go begging at King Lidae's feet for that." Scoffing, she shakes her head and starts walking again. "Kal will pay me back, one way or another."
Silthras laughs, "The king you say? I shall mention it to him next time I see him!"
He thinks for a moment, glancing to where Urgoth went. "So...if we bring the mines down as the wizard might be planning, there will be few tears shed around here. That is a relief."
"Now...more seriously, warrior to warrior, I know you must realize the defences here are ... let's say ... inadequate for any substantial attack? If I were you, I might consider consolidating them in to something smaller and more formidible around the taller buildings" he holds up a hand to forestall another outraged response "And yes, I know that is a hard ask, when ... I assume ... you are charged with defending the whole village, no matter how difficult. Am I correct? Explaining to a villager why you won't defend their home is never easy, and one of the jobs often left to mercenary commanders."
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Usul shakes his head when asked if he needed anything from the blacksmith. At this point he’s just along for the ride, and seeing what the town has.
((Has Usul noticed the general wealth level of this town? Yes, they’ve been under attack, but it is a nexus of mining towns. Clearly wealth goes through here in some ways. - perception 7))
Silthras watches the mage leave and turns back to the Sybil, waiting for her answer. When she is finished, he nods and asks "How far is it to the nearest mine, and do you know anything of the numbers of the enemy, or their movements?"
A slight smile touches his face with the halfling's words. "By Lady Winter's blessing. The aid would be welcome. If we can get ahold of the materials tonight I could possibly make three flasks. I wouldn't dare make as many tomorrow morning if that's when we intend to leave."
"I can agree to that idea." As the half-orc moves to leave, he also rises and grabs his things. "I've no desire to speak to the priestess of Maliel however. I'll start with this Elixyr you spoke of Sybil. Where can I find her residence?"
"We don’t know much of potions.” Usul says. “But when we get there we can stay pretty quiet to see what’s happening.”
PbP 🎲: Tyekanik; Moneo Noree; Korba Muris; & occasional DM:
"I think I'll follow—perhaps there's something I can gather from the priestess that could be of use," Fauna says before taking the leap from her chair to the floor. Grabbing her belongings, she sets out behind Urgoth with a slight skip to her step.
Urgoth nods to Kal and Fauna as they move to follow him out of the tavern, the slender half orc keeping a serious look on his face. "Sybil did not seem to carry much of an opinion of me. She just sorely wish that my parents had answered the call. I hope to show her she is wrong to think such a thing. I may not have the experience of a soldier but I spent my own time traveling the roads."
Sybil runs a hand across her head, making a face that seems to say I don't like messing with numbers in my head. "Simon, one of the smiths probably has some. I can go buy as much as I can from him, but you'll be paying me back right after."
Offering a parting farewell to Urgoth, she then answers Silthras, "numbers? A damn million for all I know. Nearest mining village is Moonvein, about 34 miles to the west. Take you about a day to get there if you keep up your pace. They're most active after sundown and stick near the settlements. If you run into one group there's always another nearby, so watch your back."
"Weird little shop called the Owl, by it's own on the southeast part of town. Don't let her offend you, that's just how she is." She says in warning to those going to see Elixyr.
"After I get the silver dust I'll be back here." The soldier gathers herself, "Coming with me Silthras, or do you have other plans?" She moves towards the bartop first, intending to pay for the drinks before leaving.
Kal throws a fur lined cowl over his head as they step outside, saying to Urgoth. "Sybil is a soldier, her concept of respect is very rigid and easy to follow. Prove yourself to her once, and she'll see you differently. Don't worry over it."
"I'll see you back here soon, hopefully our time spent will be well worth it." As they head towards the town's plaza, he turns down a road to take him to the south east edge of the town, keeping an out for the lone shop Sybil described to him.
((wasn't sure if Kal had anyone with him at this point, will edit if that's the case)).
Silthras nods, "I'm not much for carrying heavy weights, but I can certainly lend moral support and encouragement" he says, smiling.
He takes one more taste of the ale and then follows Sybil out.
(( Most important question of the evening: did she buy us good ale or the cheap stuff?? ))
As they walk he looks more closely at the town itself, trying to get a sense of where things are and, if anyone is out, the general mood. He also casts a practised eye over the defences, noting their weaknesses, if any. If he sees any of the latter, he will mention them to Sybil.
"When we are done, I should also visit your arcanist, but perhaps in the morning as you said, when I am fresh. What can you tell me about her, and how she came by news of Elirion?"
Usul follows suit, and makes sure to finish his drink before hopping off the bench to follow Silthras and Sybil. “We’re good at encouragement too!” He adds cheerily. Walking outside he immediately skips over to Muad, sitting next to the wall trying to stay as dry as possible, rubs his head, and hops on the dog to gain a small bit of height while walking I near his new companions.
PbP 🎲: Tyekanik; Moneo Noree; Korba Muris; & occasional DM:
Group I(Urgoth Fauna)
Group II(Kal)
Group III(Usul Silthras)
Group I
The town's plaza is a short walk westward from the Topaz Hammer, and you're able to reach it fairly soon. Towards the southwest you can make out the rectangular stone complex of the temple, a faint column of smoke rising from a chimney in the center of the roof. As the two of you approach, you notice the two columns holding up an awning etched with the images of a grand phoenix, a common depiction of the Everlasting Flame. Shadows dance along the walls from a moderate sized flame burning in a fire pit at the chamber's center, creating an illusion of motion from some of the reliefs carved into the stone walls.
At the far back of the temple, a figure emerges from around the corner. Relatively short for a wood elf, she is dressed in simple white robes, with an orange flame embroidered over the heart. Auburn hair is braided over the top of her head, with the sides and back cropped close. The firelight plays across her bronze skin, and reflects off a singular piercing on her right ear. "May I assist you with something, or have you merely come to make an offering?" She asks in a soft voice, gesturing towards the fire pit.
(it is typical for those directing their prayers towards Maliel to make offerings to a ritual flame in her temples. Objects with sentimental value are burned, with the level of a person's emotional attachment correlating to the chance of Maliel hearing their prayer.)
Group II
By its own turned out to be a severe understatement on Sybil's part. The ruddy little shack of a home with an Owl sign built over it was so far displaced from the rest of the town that the palisade they had erected had been forced to be built out further to compensate. It takes you several minutes to reach the place, and you can see the shadow of a figure moving within through a window, framed by candle or torchlight.
A small bell rings as you open the door, revealing a small room made up solely of a counter, and as many shelves as could possibly be packed inside. The shelves themselves are overfilled with various baubles, jarred liquids, tomes, and other miscellany. Sitting behind the counter is an elf with stark white hair, and dark purple tinged skin. She looks up at you from beneath a pair of spectacles, a scroll of some kind sitting in her lap. "Well don't just stand there with the door open." She snaps, motioning you to come further in. "The wood inside isn't treated, it'll rot if you let it get soaked like that."
As she gets a closer look at you, a flicker of recognition flashes across her features, and a white eyebrow goes up. "Didn't think your kind were into this sort of stuff. Get a little lonely in the mountains then? Need a little love potion to spice your life up a bit?" Her teasing comes across in a near deadpan voice, with a hint of sarcasm accenting her tone.
Group III
Sybil scoffs at the pair beside her, shaking her head. "The only thing you should be encouraging is that damn knight to pay me back for this. Does he even carry money? Never can get a serious read on him."
The town's defenses are shoddily put together at best. The palisade you can tell was hastily erected, and nearly half of the guard shacks you pass along the way are unoccupied and poorly reinforced. Your trip takes you straight north, and you pass a few other shops along the way. 'Taravan's Concoctions' and 'The Roadheart Knot' the latter of which simply appears to be a general trade store. The other buildings you pass by are residences for the most part, with some being unidentifiable by any markings on the outside.
"Elixyr's attitude can be a bit overwhelming until you get used to her. She's got a sharp tongue and no reserves about insulting customers. To be frank I'm sorry to be missing Kal's meeting with her. From what I understand she met Elirion some time ago, when he was paid a surprise visit to a mutual acquaintance of theirs."
She glances at the mastiff riding gnome beside them, nearly smiling at the sigh. "So Usul, how did you come to know Kwiz, and what did you do to earn his trust enough to be sent in his place like this?"
Usul chuckles at the memory “Well... We didn’t meet him so much as be caught by him. We’ve always been a bit interested in fun magics...” At this he creates a small pop! by her ear followed by snapping his fingers as a 5 foot fierce orc appears in front of the party that they quickly ride/walk through. “And one day thought it’d be a good idea to sneak through his tower. Turns out he’s more clever than us and could see through our illusion where we hid.” Usul sighs. “Rather than turn us into the guard though he let us work it off, and over time even started to share some other small things with us.”
PbP 🎲: Tyekanik; Moneo Noree; Korba Muris; & occasional DM:
Silthras laughs, "A knight you say. Well, that makes sense...", he rubs his chin to give the appearance of deep consideration then continues, "I've found it's best to treat such people as you do the toys that some gnomes make -- no offence Usul -- just wind them up and point them in a direction, then pray that the don't break too much -- and pay the bills afterwards, of course."
"But if you are worried about the gold, I'm sure I could persuade my companions to cover the costs in return for, say, a 10% share of the outputs of each mine we clear? Speaking hypothetically of course, but part ownership is a strong motivator in such things. What do you think? It seems like a good deal for everybody..."
(( If persuasion is relevant(!?!?): 8 ))
"We were actually hoping to speak to you about the problem of the undead that has recently increased. Sybil said that perhaps you would know more due to your connection with the divine." Urgoth says as he reaches into his pack to produce a small and much more worn book. "I do not know if this is worth while to you but this is the book given to me first learn the arcane runes for my spells. While I shall not offer the entirety of it to you I will give you my first great stride in the arcane." The half orc opens it to a page with what would be an example of chicken scratch to a wizard, carefully tearing the page from the binding of the book before letting it fall into the fire.
(Not sure how much he would know not being very religious and all but he threw in a page of something that serves as a practice Spellbook/Journal)
Kal steps inside the cramped shop space, shutting the door behind him. He remains impassive in the face of the elf's mockery, approaching the counter and throwing back his hood. "A love potion is unneeded."
He takes a quick glances a the shelves behind him before locking eyes with the woman. "Sybil said you might have something that could collapse a mine if needed."
Group I(Urgoth Fauna)
Group II(Kal)
Group III(Usul Silthras)
Group I
The flames briefly burns a light gold as the page catches fire, fading back to orange after the page is completely consumed. A warm sweet scent, with aromatic wood undertones fills the temple now; the priestess smiles, bowing in appreciation for the offering. "May the light guide you." She says in ritual response, a sort of blessing that 'finalizes' the offering. As her thoughts turn towards the undead, her smile fades. "Ah, yes...That is quite the problem for us right now."
"The arcane arts are useful I will admit, in another life I may have devoted myself to that study. Alas, the undead require a special touch. They display a certain resilience it would seem. I've seen men and women hack at them to no avail, until they're so tired the can no longer defend themselves. Overbearing damage appears to do the trick, as does anything sourced in the divine." Her eyes twinkle as she glances down at Fauna. "Amah's power would be more than enough to strike them down."
"These beings are souless things, moved and controlled by dark and malicious powers. The holy light of any deity burns the darkness from their flesh."
She pauses, a curious look on her face as she tilts her head slightly, "do you intend to relieve us of this scourge?"
Group II
"With that charm a love potion may be your only hope." The dark elf sets the scroll onto the table in front of her and removes the spectacles, standing as she does so. "Sybil sent you? So you're the "reinforcements" she spoke of?" Elixyr takes a moment, hands on her hips as she looks Kal up and down in assessment. As her eyes move back up towards his face she blankly returns the stare, once more raising an eyebrow. "You might do the trick. Or I might as well set the stuff off in here and get it over with."
Letting out a short sigh, throws her hands up in a shrug. "Yes. I have developed a rather explosive recipe that should bring any cave system come crashing down. Just check the crater on the other side of that sharp fence they put up."
"But, it is terribly expensive to make you see...And an arcanist needs to make a living somehow." She says, leaning up against the counter. "How much you got?"
Group III
Sybil waves her arms in front of her as she walks through the illusory orc, "Bah!" She casts a sharp glance at the gnome, "no more of that, I get enough of these damn magical tricks from Elixyr."
"Though I can see why Kwiz gave you the opportunity. He's not one to waste talent is he?"
The solider stops walking, a bizarre look on her face as she turns towards Silthras. She looks down at herself and back up, gesturing towards her uniform. "Are you mad? Do you think I would be out here like this if I had any ownership over the mines? Do I look like royalty to you? If you want to have a share, you'll have to go begging at King Lidae's feet for that." Scoffing, she shakes her head and starts walking again. "Kal will pay me back, one way or another."
You arrive at a blacksmith's shop The Tempered Sword, run by a fairly young blonde haired man by the name of Simon. After a brief negotiation(with Sybil engaging in a little proverbial arm twisting), the man goes into the back of his shop, returning with a bag(2) of 50g worth of powered silver dust that he hands to the soldier. "Ah. Thank you Simon." She says, though there's a slight strain in her voice as she hands over an uncomfortable amount of platinum and gold pieces
She turns to look at Usul and Silthras. "Either of you need anything while we're out like this?"
OoC:
As a quick note on national hierarchy, Evanicea's separate regions are still "governed" to an extent by the original royal family. In conquering them, High King Valerius allowed monarchs who yielded early a greater degree of control over their former kingdoms than those who prolonged the conflict.
Fauna watches in amazement from behind Urgoth as the flames consume the page. She turns her attention towards the priestess and gives a slight nod at the mention of Amah. Taking a small step forward, she says, "thank you, this is very valuable knowledge. I'm positive it will prove quite useful. While I'm not sure how effective our efforts may be, we will surely do what we can to help." Pausing a moment, her eyes move back towards the brazier. She plucks one of the many feathers hanging from her staff and drops it into the flames. "May the Gods guide our path."
"Your confidence is appreciated." Kal says flatly, "but if you intend to blow yourself up, give me warning so I can get to cover first. I still have a duty to fulfill here." Briefly, the knight is annoyed that the arcanist would be asking for payment under such circumstances. The townsfolk lives and her own life were on the line here.
"You either lend your assistance, or I walk out of here empty handed and you end up among the living dead in a week" His pale eyes narrow. "Go ahead, flip that coin."
Intimidation?: 17
Urgoth returns the old book to his pack and watches the flames as they consume the paper. As the flicker of flames show in his eyes, the elf orc turns his attention back to the priestess. "Overwhelming force is something I can muster with my spells. Although I need a bit more time to finish scribing some of the more powerful I have knowledge of. I thank you for telling us this. Can you tell us what types of undead you have seen?"
Silthras laughs, "The king you say? I shall mention it to him next time I see him!"
He thinks for a moment, glancing to where Urgoth went. "So...if we bring the mines down as the wizard might be planning, there will be few tears shed around here. That is a relief."
"Now...more seriously, warrior to warrior, I know you must realize the defences here are ... let's say ... inadequate for any substantial attack? If I were you, I might consider consolidating them in to something smaller and more formidible around the taller buildings" he holds up a hand to forestall another outraged response "And yes, I know that is a hard ask, when ... I assume ... you are charged with defending the whole village, no matter how difficult. Am I correct? Explaining to a villager why you won't defend their home is never easy, and one of the jobs often left to mercenary commanders."
Surprised by the quantity needed and the price, Silthras shakes his head. "No...no...I now wonder if that was money well spent."
As they are leaving, he pauses, "Wait. Silver. Are these creatures suceptible to silver weapons, do you know?"
Usul shakes his head when asked if he needed anything from the blacksmith. At this point he’s just along for the ride, and seeing what the town has.
((Has Usul noticed the general wealth level of this town? Yes, they’ve been under attack, but it is a nexus of mining towns. Clearly wealth goes through here in some ways. - perception 7))
PbP 🎲: Tyekanik; Moneo Noree; Korba Muris; & occasional DM: