DM Jan Thursday March 8th, 2007 12:49:58 AM
After the big celebration, the castle has that 'empty' feel to it. Even the hallways seem enormous, and sound has a rather shocking habit of bouncing off the stone walls and rattling around in corners like a couple of battling brooms.
The Platinum Dragons find themselves suddenly knee-deep in the mundane - castle accounts, restoration and upkeep proposals that need signing off, the usual pile of 'Dear Sirs, please can you save my cat' (and similar) requests from the citizens of Plateau City (usually in wobbly scribble), invitations, marriage and business proposals, reports from outlying areas, mainly from the Adventurers Guild and the Star Council; personnel issues, so on and so forth.
There are piles of papers, all stacked together like dozens of baby birds, their mouths wide open, clamouring for food and attention. It's a far cry from the killing fields.
As for Ve Mundr's room, on his return, the guards observe protocol and don't say anything, but the looks on their faces are saying What the heck have you got in there? This suggests the evil staff has not been sitting idle while the celebration ran its course. Opening the door he gets the feeling of long etheral fingers pulling sharply back, like someone has been caught with their hand in the cookie jar.
The kitchen porters get the news first, they being the ones at the market at the crack of dawn, and in touch with street level talk. There's a huge, frightning, metal monster approaching the City. It is accompanied by two scruffy-looking (nerf herding) halflings who apparently wish to speak to the 'Gold Dragons'. The use of the word 'Gold' suggests they are out-of towners and not up to date on all the news.
Fabersham brings this news to the Platinum Dragons at breakfast.
Valdor Thursday March 8th, 2007 12:57:34 AM
Valdor asks Cori if she wants to share his bath and asks the servants to prepare a hot bath. He is actually fidgeting a little, as though he is a bit nervous, as it's been a long time since he thought of such things. He feels like a teenager again. He sleeps in and decides to, for once, skip his morning workout...well, in the gym at least.
Mordrid Thursday March 8th, 2007 1:28:04 PM
At rise, Mordrid makes his way down to the study in hopes of attending to the hungry birds. Pulling a chair up to the pile of documents, he strikes a match. Then lighting two table lanterns to either side, and placing a pair of round spectacles upon the bridge of his nose; the old adventurer gets to his office duties.
He removes the first document from the pile and examines it carefully. This proceedure takes the better part of the morning and afternoon.
Mordrid will accept any visitors that come to the castle for an audience.
Ve Mundr Thursday March 8th, 2007 3:59:24 PM
Ve nods to the men flanking his door as he passes. Just before closing it, he dismisses them. Other than the word dismissed, he says nothing and the door shuts. Busy little bee. What have you been up to busy little bee? Ve looks about the room for a moment or two, before pulling off his robe and tossing it onto the bed. It would soon be time to destroy the staff. It didn't get tired, it would never fatigue and it would never repent. Ve steps into the invisible gateway and disappears within the grand mansion. A mental command brings the unseen servants and his gear. Tonight he would stay within the mansion fully armed. Tomorrow he would prepare himself to destroy the vile weapon. Ve spends the rest of the evening in prayer, meditation and going over his family affairs to ready everything for the move to the Floating City.
In the morning he sends a page to Valdor to deliver a message. Valdor, I am removing the staff this morning from the castle to destroy it. I expect to return by midday. Ve Mundr of Domi
Ve will then retrieve the staff and head out the balcony and away from the city upon the flying carpet.
Corialote Thursday March 8th, 2007 7:24:00 PM
Cori smiles as she follows along with Valdor. She can feel the butterflies in her stomache and the way that he is acting...he is feeling the same. "Well it would save water and time." Her flashing eyes and the grin on her face tells the true story.
The bath is nice and the activities later, much better...though it does lead to the need for another bath.
When the morning comes she wakes to find herself in a different bed than her own but still comfortable. The better part of that morning is not spent in study of spells or training of anykind...it is spent on more pleasureable activities.
At last she sits up and kneeds the muscles of Valdor's shoulders with her dexterous fingers. "So...feel like something more like breakfast or are you full from all the desert?" She cannot hide her smile as she sighs in pleasant happiness.
Dahlia Thursday March 8th, 2007 8:30:14 PM
Having spent most of the Celebration at the Giggling Ghost keeping a surrepticious eye on Valdora as she cavorted across the dance floor with that Dandy of a pirate from Ailsidur, she was pleased to see that the young lady had presented herself well and not gotten into anything she couldn't have handled herself. Making sure to spend a few hours with her each day while they were around Dahlia planned on honing her beginning skills with the dagger and moving around unnoticed.
With Sheri and Cori now both attached to their beaus, Dahlia is begining to feel a bit out of place in the castle and once again when not involved in other things spends a lot of time in the city watching and collecting information, as well as making sure noone is stealing the people blind.
Nick Thursday March 8th, 2007 10:11:53 PM
Back at the castle, Nick goes straight to bed. The celebration, followed by all the goings-on at the Giggling Ghost have left him quite exhausted and he sleeps like a log.
He's up early the following morning, and after prayer, he figures he'd better have a meeting with the head cleric at the Cathedral of Light and let him know what transpired.
On his way out he catches a glimpse of Mordrid tackling some paperwork. "If you need some help, I'll be back mid-morning," he offers.
Valdor Thursday March 8th, 2007 11:09:27 PM
Valdor sleeps little all night and...well, we'll leave that to the imagination. Upon awakening, he says to Cori,"I'd like to just stay in bed all day. It's been so long since I just enjoyed a single day...well, I'd really like to go shopping too. We can take Valdora and you two can pick out some girl clothes, but nothing too racy for her, please. That's a battle I'm not prepared to fight yet, but I know will soon be coming.
I guess we should see how everyone is feeling this morning and I'll need to help Mordrid with the stack of papers, if he hasn't already finished them. He always did start early. So, let's get cleaned up and have breakfast then see where the day leads us."
Standing up and stretching, he notices how his muscles feel much less tense from the massage and stretches himself out a little, before realizing he's completely naked. He shrugs and goes to wash himself off before dressing and heading downstairs."
DM Jan Klaatu Barada Nicto and nasty monkeys! Friday March 9th, 2007 2:13:35 AM
Mid morning.
While in one part of the city, an official parade marches through the streets, honouring the Emerald Dragons, another impromptu, completely unofficial parade, and no less well attended, is heading toward the castle.
Out on the streets, Dahlia catches sight of people running to see what all the fuss is about. The cobbles vibrate with a THUD THUD THUD. And the source of all this excitement? A huge metal monster. A construct. A golem. It is not attacking anyone. It is merely walking through the streets at a ponderous pace. In it's shadow, two halflings appear to be accompanying it. These two seem fairly young, are dressed in a very plain manner - scruffy by Plateau City standards - and are sticking close to the monster. Their eyes look wary of the crowd, a mob really, which is growing by the minute.
In contrast, the metal golem appears to have been fashioned from the finest metals. It is highly polished and has a strange look about it, as though someone has thought a great deal about it's design. In fact some of it's sweeping curves and sharp angles seem nothing like anything ever seen before.
A couple of kids are throwing stones at the thing. It does not deviate from it's course.
Nick is halfway across the bridge, on his way back to the castle; Ve Mundr is also on his way back after having to listen to every plea in the book - the staff appears to have been quite terrified of being terminated and has gone all-out in the pleading dept; Mordrid is currently listening to a plea from one of the local beggars - a one legged dwarf named McNab who has a particularly nasty monkey on his shoulder - "You see, this place is a tourist attraction, so o' course it's a good place to stand and well, y'know, ask for offerings, like. But yer guards keep chasing me away. Only trying to make a livin' an' it don't seem fair, if you get me meaning." Yak yak yak, blah blah blah; Valdor, Cori and Valdora are just about to head out shopping, when -
- what now amounts to a huge crowd of folk, grind to a halt at the outer castle gate. The golem is now motionless, the guards are on full alert. The halflings have taken their caps off, and are asking for an audience. One of the captains comes running inside to tell the Dragons.
Valdor Friday March 9th, 2007 10:09:48 AM
Valdor tells the captain to allow them entry, completely unaware of the chaos outside.
Mordrid Friday March 9th, 2007 3:29:07 PM
Having dealt with the one legged dwarf, and diving into yet a third pile of documents (bills no less), the ranger's attention is drawn to a glass ful of water, sitting on a stand next to the desk. The clear water ripples in circular spasms, matching a rythem and time that reminds the ranger of a slow motion gate, that of say... a giant?
The ranger quickly stands, and darts at full speed toward the windows. Throwing open the curtains, he takes in the full view of the castle gates.
Dahlia Friday March 9th, 2007 4:46:11 PM
Behind the scenes, The dark halfling does her best to get the citizens to stop harrasing the construct and its escorts and to disperse with the least amount of fuss.
And once they make their way to the the castle she walks up to the halflings after they sent their message in and simply asks as if it were a common every day occurance, "So, what brings you here to day, looking up at the construct?"
Corialote Friday March 9th, 2007 11:13:18 PM
Cori smiles as she has a bath and then changes into the normal clothes that she wears. This attire is a simple sleevless shirt, pants and high black boots. She slowly makes her way downstairs to get a bite to eat with Valdor. "Shoping you say." She arches an eyebrow and wonders what kind of clothes Dahlia and her could get for Valdora. She tries to keep in mind that he said something about conservative. She fights to hold back a smile as she eats and shakes her head.
She makes herself present after breakfast, though it is well past that time, for any help that she can be around the castle. The arrival of somekind from somewhere prompts her to move outside and to the gates though. "So...what do we have here?"
Ve Mundr Saturday March 10th, 2007 1:48:50 PM
The staff destroyed, Ve comes across the city rooftops and easily enough spies the construct. Since it is not tearing things up as it goes, Ve merely alters course to take a fly-by look and then continues to the castle. Coming over the gates his gives Mordrid a semi salute, catching the man in the window and then takes the carpet to his own balcony and lands.
Ve goes inside and heads towards the audience chambers, guessing that is where at least Valdor and Mordrid will be shortly if not already.
Nick Monday March 12th, 2007 3:26:18 AM
Nick dashes up to the outer gate. He can see Dahlia in the middle of the throng, Ve arriving back, and Mordrid up at the window.
What in Alemi's name was going on? Were they having a statue delivered, he ponders, on seeing the big metal thing. Didn't look like anyone he knew...
He'll try and catch up. For the love of all the Gods in the Wold, how come, now he was in this ancient state, had he to do more running around than ever before?
DM Jan Monday March 12th, 2007 4:03:18 AM
Distracted by the arrival of a man on a carpet, the mob don't put up much of a protest as they're shooed off and the odd visitors are allowed inside.
One of the halflings attempts to answer Dahlia as the guards escort them inside. He doesn't look old, although his eyes make him seem as though he had the entire weight of the Wold on his shoulders. "We're... in a bit of a fix," he says, an inflection of relief in his voice at seeing another halfling in Dahlia. "Well actually, the whole Wold is in a bit of a fix, but it wasn't our fault. Well it might have been, but we didn't do it on purpose." His companion rolls his eyes. Cori is greeted by the sight of the big construct, shiny and gleaming in the light filtering through the front door. It's companions and Dahlia seem inconsequential alongside it. It says nothing, and finally as all three visitors stand before the Platinum Dragons, although the two halflings bow deeply, the construct remains unmoved. It either cannot bow, will not bow, or perhaps the thought never occured to it.
For a moment, not a word is said, then the one who was talking to Dahlia starts with - "Greetings great heroes, my name is -" He's stopped in mid sentence by the other, who steps forward and blurts out - "We're from Dirt City, we've done something really bad, and we need your help."
Posting Report For Monday March 12th, 2007 7:48:43 AM
Game # 1 The Platinum Dragons For the week od March 5,2007
Name*****MTWTF DM Jan***XOXOX Valdore**OOXXX Mordrid**OOOXX Fr,Nick**OOOXO Dahlia***OOOXX VE Mont**OOOXOS Coralote*OOOXX
Adm Ceil - BOY are they having fun at the Giggling Ghost!
Dahlia Monday March 12th, 2007 7:28:33 PM
rolling her eyes at the drama of it all, Dahlia moves around to join the other Plats and listens with amused eyes.
Corialote d20+10=15 d20+34=40 d20+39=56 Monday March 12th, 2007 10:41:20 PM
Cori arches a single eyebrow at the idea that these halflings have done something wrong. The fact that they have come to them for help does not bode well either. "Boys and their toys." She cannot help mutter this phrase as he looks over the golem more closely. For an instant she wishes that she had Amarth with her but his assistance would not be needed at least right now.
[appraise[for type of metal] 15, knowledge(arcane)[for details to creation or the like] 40 and spellcraft[for the spells used in creation] 56]
Valdor Tuesday March 13th, 2007 12:46:25 AM
Valdor smiles at Cori and almost says something when she makes her comment. He stifles a chuckle, and returns his attention to the matters at hand. He says,"I have some friends in Dirt City and do not want them to be in danger. Get to the point and slowly, with detail, tell us what exactly you have done...and why this monstrosity is in front of our castle...please."
Nick Tuesday March 13th, 2007 1:20:23 AM
Nick watches quietly, sure that the visitors would be intimidated enough without him adding to the interrogation. What do they mean, he wonders. After all the Dragons had been through recently he's hard pressed to imagine what on earth could possibly be wrong.
DM Jan Tuesday March 13th, 2007 2:00:31 PM - and why this monstrosity is in front of our castle...please."
At that comment, the golem's head swivels in Valdor's direction. "Er, I don't think he really meant that," one of the halflings tells it.
The two diminutive residents of Dirt City start to tell their tale. To the dragons, they look too young to be any kind of major pickle, have wide, open faces, and sandy hair that sticks up in tufts, and it would be hard to tell them apart but for the fact that one wears a red neckerchief, the other, a blue one. An odd note - their clothes. They're torn, dishevelled, but they seem to have been constructed out of superior fabrics. One of them wears a brocade waistcoat that must have cost a lot of money. It now sports a rather nasty tear on the left side.
"My name is Tommy," says the one wearing the red 'kerchief. "This is my brother, Wenty." "Wentworth." "Right. Anyway, we er... invented a thing that let us travel forward, it time, if you see what I mean. We kept it secret, like. We used it to go ahead, see what was in store. I mean we were curious! We did it lots of times. It did no harm." "Used it to bet on the rat races an' all," pipes in Wentworth. "Made a lot of money." "Did you have to tell him that?" "Yep. He said he wanted detail." Tommy gives a sigh. "Anyway. We have a friend. A wizard by the name of Crow. And we got to drinking one night, told him about our machine. He said he wanted to come along. Well - we figured it'd be okay. We figured it might cheer him up. Man's just lost his wife you see, well, few months ago anyway.
"So. We used the machine, hopped forward a bit. Thing is, Crow didn't want to come back." Tommy shrugs. "He seemed happy, so we left him. We didn't think it would do any harm." "We shouldn'ta come back without him. We shouldn't," says Wentworth. "No, we shouldn't," agrees his brother.
What comes out next, comes out in a rush. "Because when we went forward again, further this time, orchards are better further on, did you know that? Apples are huge! Well no, you wouldn't know I suppose, but when we went - everything's gone. Orchards have been cut down. There's big holes in the ground. Place looks like one big blacksmith's and there's all these things - like Config, here - walking around, and everyone's a slave, all digging and pulling and hauling, and there's no more magic, and there's no more Gods, and there's pictures of Crow all over the place, and honest we really didn't know. "And now the machine's stuck and it'll only go to one place, and - " "Show it to them, Tommy."
The halfling wearing the red neckerchief named Tommy, pulls out what looks like a large pocket watch from his pocket. It seems to be made of brass, has a lot of wheels and cogs that move silently and quickly within it's casing. Tommy places it on a nearby table.
Cori's examination of the metal golem gives her the following:
- the 'structure' of magic present in it's construction seems fairly standard, although it looks to be 'written' in a different hand. Like someone has changed the 'font'. It's style is unusual, lacking in the usual curliques and flourishes. New.
- the creature is listening. In fact anyone paying close attention to the construct will note faint inflections and movements of it's head.
Dahlia d20+30=43 Tuesday March 13th, 2007 9:41:42 PM
Shaking her head in disbelief, both at the story and at the naivite of her fellow halflings, She takes a closer look at the construct. Did they actually call it a name? Config, or something like that? as she continues watching it she catches the subtle movements of the thing as it seems to be apparently actually listening. {i] Can that thing actually be alive?[/i]
"Ummm, No disrespect intended, but you seem to be indicating that this,... ummm, Config here, is alive and sentient. If this is so and it does appear that it is listening, can it add anything to this, ... hmmmm, for lack of a better word, problem you bring before us?
Ve Mundr Tuesday March 13th, 2007 9:44:07 PM
Ve listens to the two men his face twitches a bit and his right hand flexes at his side. No magic, the gods destroyed or mayhaps only abandoned. Surely this one lone wizard could not have unmade the known Wold quickly. Ve finds his voice first. "How far ahead do you go with this Crow and I need to know everything you know about him. Everything."
Corialote Tuesday March 13th, 2007 11:32:57 PM
Cori is both fascintated and appalled at the sentient possibilities of this construct thing. But what she has heard otherwise is even more disturbing and she wonders if this will be their last mission. "Ve is right...we need to know everything you can tell us about this Crow...especially about the magics that he has access to." A wizard to mess with time would need great power, great luck or a little of both...neither a great combination.
Nick Wednesday March 14th, 2007 3:31:26 PM
Nick crouches down to get a closer look at the object on the table. "Could you go forwards and backwards in time with this?" asks Nick. He stands up and rubs his chin. "It's a strange concept to ponder over, but perhaps going backward might fix things. If this object itself could be fixed. It's stuck you say? Broken?"
DM Jan Wednesday March 14th, 2007 6:39:08 PM
Tommy frowns for a moment to himself as the questions about Crow come forth. "Well, lets see," he says after a moment. "He lives - lived, in the Trade Quarter. We're talkin' 'Below', here. You familiar with Dirt City? Not too far from our place in the Halfling Quarter. We used to see him in the local tavern. He always had lots of stories to tell, and he was able to get me and Wenty pieces of metal sometimes. Things we needed. Typical wizard, I suppose. His place is amazing. Full of stuff! The only weird thing - he had lots of dead things lying around, and he was always tinkering with them." He laughs nervously. "Said he was trying to bring them back to life. O'course we never believed any of that. That's priests work, that is. And it costs a fortune. Not for the likes of us who live Below, thats for sure. "As for his magics, I dunno. You'd get a better idea if you looked at his place, I think. There's stuff written on the walls and everything. Funny really, in an odd sort of way. When his wife died, we didn't see him for weeks, then he turned up in the tavern, all forelorn like, so we told him about our machine and he got all excited. Seemed to cheer him up straight off, it did."
As for the journeys themselves - "He asked if we could travel forward about half a year. So thats what we did, and thats where we left him. Then we went forward thirty years. See, someone developed an orchard, up near the tomb of Violet and Arturo. And a proper garden. it's not there right now, but it will be. "But this last time, it wasn't there. Everything's horrible."
The diminutive Wentworth approaches Father Nick as the cleric looks at the strange brass instrument. "I could never get it to go backwards," he says. "Only forwards. What happens is - you set that, there, then press that - and forward you go. When you want to come back, you press that again, and everything resets itself and you come back to when you started from. Trouble is, now it'll only go forward to a certain point. Thirty years. No more. No less. Don't know why."
And the construct? "Talked the hind leg off a donkey all the way here," mutters Tommy to Dahlia, "but now it hasn't said a word for ages." And with that, the golem gives out a long sigh. The sigh carries a scent that all those who've dealt with elementals before will recognize - fire and iron, water and earth, heat and chill. It's voice is a low rumble. "This monstrosity. I control it," it growls. "Others of my kind were not so lucky. They are slaves to abominations such as this, trapped inside rattling cans, and ugly, fleshy creatures. It cannot be allowed to go on. We will fight to the very end. We will destroy them all. Only then will we have peace."
Valdor Thursday March 15th, 2007 12:41:22 AM
Valdor listens to it all shaking his head. When the golem turns its head, he says,"My bad." He doesn't want it getting loose in the city for sure. He then says,"This is all beyond me. How could this wizard change the future so much? Where are the Dragons? Where is Sturdevant and...where are we? Why would he want to travel only six months into the future? Because we are retiring about then and he didn't have us to battle?
Did you travel to other areas around New Elenna, or just Dirt City when you went forward thirty years? And what happened to make that device only go thirty years and why thirty years? Magic items don't just quit working properly. Someone changed something on it. Can you create another one? I'm sure you have the plans from when you built this one."
Mordrid Thursday March 15th, 2007 3:55:51 PM
The ranger stands by, not knowing what to make of all this. Too much new information to really have a point of view on the subject.
Corialote Thursday March 15th, 2007 6:50:02 PM
Cori looks to both Ve and Father Nick as she steps a little closer. "I will need to see this place of his...if I can get a better idea of the location, a good description that I can take some of us there easily." Looking to Ve she nods her head to him. "If noone objects I will take Ve and maybe Dahlia...if she is interested with me." She glances to Dahlia to get her opinion as she continues. "I believe that the three of us should be able to get enough details and information there to at least assist us." She glances to the halflings that have given them so much and smiles. "Undead is not just the place of clerics my friends...we wizards have uses for them as well." Sending out a mental command, she calls out to Amarth to meet her just outside the front doors of the castle.
Ve Mundr Thursday March 15th, 2007 8:49:26 PM
Ve nods at Cori, "As soon as you are ready. I don't want to speculate until I see this place of Crow's." All of Valdors questions were perfectly legitamite but there was no reason everyone had to stand about to hear the answers. He and Cori, mostly Cori needed to get to Crows and check out th place. He could keep her safe enough and really the less people that went, the fewer he had to keep an eye on and that was all the better in Ve's mind.
Nick Thursday March 15th, 2007 9:25:12 PM
One Valdor's questions inspires another in the cleric's head. He stands and asks - "If this wizard wished to travel six months ahead, and that's where you took him, what's to stop someone from simply waiting until six months have gone by, then lie in wait and grab him as he appears? After all, the trouble doesn't really begin until about thirty years later, am I right?"
He shakes his head, trying to grasp the concept. "Whatever we do, Cori's right. It would seem prudent to take a look at this fellow's dwelling if nothing else."
Dahlia Thursday March 15th, 2007 10:41:25 PM
Nodding to Cori as she makes her suggestion, Dahlia is already tallying what she might need to take with her.
Valdor Friday March 16th, 2007 1:42:58 PM
Valdor says,"My head's spinning from all of this. Let's check out the guy's house, then we can decide what the next step is."
He turns to the halflings and asks,"So, am I understanding that golems and machines are in control in thirty years? Or whoever is controlling them is in control? And there are good and bad machines? Or did I not get that part?"
DM Jan Friday March 16th, 2007 5:44:07 PM
Little Tommy looks up at Valdor. "We don't know how Crow did it. Doesn't even seem like he'd do something like that. But that's his picture, his face that's everywhere. I tell you it's everywhere - drawings, paintings, carvings. "As for dragons? I dunno. We didn't see any dragons, or heroes like you. As for any other place than Dirt City, we don't know. There's no magic. Can dragons live if there's no magic?"
It appears that the halflings don't have much in the way of answers beyond their own experience and Dirt City location, present OR future. Perhaps the wizard's residence would provide more clues.
Nick's question gets a reply from the construct. "You don't have six months," it says flatly, "the destruction has already begun. The fabric between what you see as 'real', and our realm, is already beginning to tear under the strain."
Wentworth comes to stand alongside Valdor and wrinkles his nose in thought. "I wouldn't call this construct, or should I say the elemental inside it 'good', as such. I don't think they know what that means. But they don't like what's happening, thats for sure. "Know how you can tell the difference? The ones who can exert some control over their construct shell - they talk. Something me and Tommy learned real fast. If it doesn't talk - duck and run, fast as you can."
As for the time travel thingy. "I could try and fix it," says Wentworth, "but I think it got damaged. We've been in all sorts of scrapes, and some of the pieces are irreplacable. If I start tinkering I may never get it to work again. Seems to work fine if I leave it alone. But now we can't vary the time. It's either thirty years and back or nothing."
((OOC - is everyone going to Dirt City? or just some of you?))
Mordrid Friday March 16th, 2007 8:24:35 PM
"I'm going upstairs to get equiped. Let me know if some of you leave. I will meet you right back here."
The ranger proceeds upstairs to get his armor, and grab his weapons. He seems a bit naked at the moment.
Stopping he turns and asks the construct, "what kind of elemental are you?"
Valdor Saturday March 17th, 2007 11:06:39 AM
Valdor says,"Well, something we need to consider if we go into the future then, is that our clerics and mages may not have access to their spells. It's harder to believe the gods wouldn't be there to power the spells, but it could happen I suppose. And what of our magic swords, armor, and such? We must be prepared to walk and assume our magic items won't work well, if at all.
Let's all go to this mage's place. I don't pretend to think I can figure anything out from it, but the more of us we have, the better our chances. We leave in ten minutes."
He turns back to the construct and asks,"Do you and the other constructs feel pain? You are obviously an intelligent being and if there is a fight coming, I would like to know what we are facing. I have no desire to fight you, or any who will either help or stay out of the way, but it is good to know what an opponent is capable of. And are there 'constructs' of different sizes an speeds there?"
Ve Mundr Saturday March 17th, 2007 12:47:47 PM No Magic, none at all it would seem. It has been a very long time since I have been without the blessings of Domi Ve looks to his longest known friend Father Nicholas. How do I keep you from going? Should I keep you from going
The inner unspoken question pulls at his mind for a bit. He had about 10 minutes to decide and with that he headed quickly upstairs to grab a few last minute items.
Valdor Saturday March 17th, 2007 6:46:48 PM
Valdor adds,"And my next question would be, if we take magical items, will they cease to function? If so, would it be temporary or permanent? The time device, which sounds crazy to me, seems to have continued to work, but now it is messed up. Would the same happen to my sword and armor?"
Coming over the dragon network Saturday March 17th, 2007 10:48:49 PM "Valdor, Ingrge Nightseer here. Just thought you might want to be made aware that Nickoli, the red dragon you let go, has decided that the New Elenna is a nice place. He paid our tower a visit during the ceremony, killing around a hundred or so and making off with quite a bit of magic. We currently have to go save the Star Mage Tower, which has somehow been over run, but will attend to your red friend when we return."
Valdor Saturday March 17th, 2007 11:39:02 PM
Valdor replies to Ingrge,"He's no friend of mine. I wouldn't kill even a red dragon that was defenseless. What do you mean, 'a visit'?"
Corialote Sunday March 18th, 2007 1:29:46 AM
Cori feels the tightening of the noose around her neck as she catches the bits of news. Her magic was everything for her and without it she would be little use to the group. She swallows hard as she tries to get her breathing back under control.
Trying to get Ve's attention she moves off to the side and away from the group a good distance. "Without my magic I will be of little use to the group...I will be a distraction and may cause the deaths of many of us." She cannot help it, though she tries to take the sting out of her voice. "I cannot even pull my weight in a fight like you can." Desert the group when they need her most or possibly get them all killed...she is not even aware that she speaks her last thoughts. "Some choice."
Ingrge Sunday March 18th, 2007 12:32:30 PM By friend, I meant the red dragon you let go without killing when we were dealing with Lathiese. By visit he killed a bunch of elves under our protection as well as our household managers, tore up the tower and looted the place. In any case I was just informing you that your kind deed in letting him live seems not to have transferred to the beast. In any case when we return from freeing the StarMage guild tower we will put an end to him..
Nick Monday March 19th, 2007 12:25:18 AM
Seeing some of the others dash off to get ready, Nick thanks the construct for it's answer then sets off to his room to get ready.
What did the thing mean by destruction? And what was all this about no Gods? To Nick, that was worse than the 'destruction' part. No Alemi? Unthinkable. Or was it? Nope. Unthinkable. What if Alemi was in some kind of trouble? Hard to imagine, but.... If that was the case then he HAD to go and put this right.
And was he afraid? Supressing a shiver, he gets his gear together.
Posting Report for Monday March 19th, 2007 9:00:27 AM
Game # 1 the Platinum Dragons For the week of March 12,2007
Name-----MTWTF DMJan H--XXXOX Valdore--XOXOXS2 Modrid---OOOXX Fr.Nick--2OXXOS Dahlia---XXOXOS VE MONT--OXOXOS Coralote-XXOXOS
Adm Ceil - Pretty good for a fading breed!!
~~Jan~~ We rock! :)
Valdor Monday March 19th, 2007 10:52:35 AM
Getting the news about the elves, Valdor's mouth goes dry and he rocks back on his heels. He says to Mordrid,"You decide what to do. I need to be alone for a few minutes."
He turns and heads back inside, heading to his room. He's a bit in shock, but gaining anger. The noise from his room in incredible. There's all kinds of noise coming from it. Things breaking, metal objects colliding with other things...like walls.
He sits down finally and asks himself,"Why did you let him go? For the sake of all that's right, you should have killed him, helpless or not. He's a red dragon, dang it...you should have known this would happen sooner or later you idiot. Their blood is on your hands and head. Killing Nikoli isn't the only answer, but it's a start."
Mordrid Monday March 19th, 2007 1:55:55 PM
As Mordrid makes his way back down stairs, he catches Valdor's command, "I will do as you command Valdor." But first Mordrid makes his way to Valdor's room.
Knowing full well, after hearing the dragon network (?) broadcast, what Valdor must be thinking. Speaking thru Valdor's closed door, "Valdor my friend. It was important that the new group learned a great lesson. They did. The teacher has many ways to teach, some are harder for the student, some are hardest for the teacher. Alemi has bestowed a great responsibility upon you, to dispense death when it is needed. It is upon you as a mortal man, to make the decision when and where. You're not perfect. If you were perfect, you would be a god; and Valdor my friend... you are no god. You're just a really good guy who loves pancakes. Shake it off and get ready to go."
Ve Mundr d20+16=33 Monday March 19th, 2007 2:53:52 PM
Nothing much ever slips past Ve Mundr and Cori's look towards him is no exception Ve nods and unobtrusively alters his course to come into the room she moved to from a different direction. Instead of going upstairs. He has a good idea of what she must be thinking as a Drow Wizardess she has been at one with magic for for much longer than Ve has been alive or would live for that matter. That thought suddenly triggers another on her and Valdor. To her in all too brief a time, she would watch the man she loves die. He pushes that conversation away as he enters the room with her and walks close enough to be able to talk quietly.
Ve listens with compassion on his normally stoic olive features. "I have been thinking about Father Nicholas and just such an issue and I have also been wrestling with the halfling's words. Parts are contradictory to me. Elementals and the continuing function of the timepiece to return to our time suggest it is not all together banished from the Wold. But more importantly, I do not agree with your self assessment. Your skills and worth are not wholly controlled by your magical skills. You are brilliant, a problem solver, I would wager quite good with a light blade and bow and have natural sences far more keen than I. " Ve puts his hand on the smaller woman's shoulder, "You would be no mere distraction that put any other in danger. For the immediate future you will be invaluable. Let us see and learn what we can before deciding on the final journey." Ve gives her a small nod and a pat, then he bounds upstairs, putting 3-4 of the steps behind him with each running stride.
DM Jan Monday March 19th, 2007 4:26:00 PM
The metallic head swings Mordrid's way. "I am earth," it tells him, "fashioned and purified it might be, but I am at home in this metal. That is why I can control it." "Pain?" it asks Valdor. "Is that the fear of destruction?"
As for questions about magic items, Wentworth tells the Dragons that the halflings had a bag of holding on their first trip into the '30 years hence' timeframe, and they lost all their provisions. Tommy had folded up the bag, put it in his pocket, and on returning, they tried it out and discovered that it was working again.
In the midst of preparations to visit the wizard's abode in Dirt City, the shocking news comes over the ether about the turncoat Nikoli and what has happened to the Emeralds. A good deed never goes unpunished, so it seems, and now both Dragon groups are left to struggle with priorities.
Decisions have to be made. Hard ones.
Dahlia Monday March 19th, 2007 9:21:32 PM
Having run up to gear up, Dahlia returns looking ready to go.
"So, are we taking our magics with us or leaving it behind, or what?
Corialote and Amarth Monday March 19th, 2007 11:47:36 PM
Cori nods to Ve and then lays a hand upon his shoulder. "You are right of course...it is hard to think of losing something so personal." For a few seconds something flickers through his face...fear. Still when she leaves the small room she is once again a master of herself and heads for her room. If magic works to a point she will go armed for the worst.
She returns to the front of the building some time after. Amarth is already there seated upon the golem with a cocked head. She is not sure but they might be talking.
Nick Tuesday March 20th, 2007 12:04:52 AM
Nick comes dashing down the corridor, having heard the commotion. "Did I hear something about that dragon?" he asks, approaching Mordrid. If he did hear correctly, he knows this is devastating news, for all of them, but for Valdor in particular.
Valdor Tuesday March 20th, 2007 12:41:22 AM
Valdor's door swings open...and his room is a wreck. Chunks of wall have been taken out, a couple of warhammers are lying on the ground, and he has tears streaking down his face. He bellows,"You think I don't know?! Of course I'm not. But I killed those elves with my action! Me! I will go into the future, if that's what we decide upon, but know this brother, that when we return, if the Emeralds haven't killed that lizard, I will! I swear it on my own life that I will not let him live!"
He begins to don his armor and gather his weapons. He makes sure that he has a couple of real torches, instead of his magical one. He gets 50' feet of rope and coils it over his shoulder, then makes his way down stairs.
Ve Mundr Tuesday March 20th, 2007 9:43:52 PM
Ve comes down stairs with his journal, tucking it away and stands ready at the front door for the others. They were going to this wizards place, Crow. currently no need for other precautions beyond the ample power they all had with them. Once the wizards house was researched they would know more and then he would start making the more difficult desicions. The dragon was of secondary imporrtance and he knew if he engaged Valdor on that topic he would merely infuriate the man. What was done was done in that regard.
DM Jan Wednesday March 21st, 2007 1:10:09 AM
((Eeeek, sorry this is late, guys.))
Although the construct remains visibly impassive, the sight of the Platinum Dragons loaded up and preparing to leave gives Tommy and Wentworth cause to glance nervously at one another. There was a gathering of power here - mighty, unstoppable, and given a keen edge by the bitter rage emanating from Valdor's sword.
((Guys, let me know whereabouts in Dirt City you want to arrive, if you want to be seen, or would rather keep a low profile, etc.))
Dahlia Wednesday March 21st, 2007 9:40:22 PM
Walking up to the two nervous nellies, Dahlia puts forth all the charm she posses and asks the two halflings a few questions.
"So, Tommy, Wentworth, who's running the Knives these days? And are they still at odds with the Wolves? Is this wizard's place belowdirt or abovedirt? If Below, is it anywhere near the Blue Barrow?"
Corialote and Amarth Wednesday March 21st, 2007 9:53:42 PM
Cori moves down to stand near Dahlia and nods her head. "Yes, I will need some precise directions to get us there...though I am not sure how secretive we are going to be." She glances to Valdor as he has shown up and quirks an eyebrow at him, waiting for some idea.
Amarth has flown down and landed upon his Mistress's shoulder. He is currently preening his feathers as he waits for something else to happen.
Valdor Wednesday March 21st, 2007 11:53:48 PM
Valdor manages a nod to Cori, but is unable to look at anyone in the group. He simply listens as the group decides.
Nick Thursday March 22nd, 2007 12:53:52 AM
"Secrecy could well be a problem," adds Nick. "If everyone is sneaking around spying on everyone else. Like this we'll stand out like a sore thumb, unless that doesn't concern us. Maybe if we don't tarry too long, and we might have to consider bribes."
DM Jan Thursday March 22nd, 2007 1:00:50 AM
Tommy looks at Dahlia with astonishment. "It doesn't pay to mention the Knives and the Wolves in the same breath. They're always at odds with one another. Knives wnat the few rules we have upheld, and well, I'm sure you know what the Wolves think about rules. "Crow's place is Below, Trade Quarter. That's how we know him, seeing as Trade is right next door to where all the halflings live."
Wentworth adds, "It's getting toward lunchtime. Halfling Sewer tunnel will be quiet. Everyone's eatin! It'll be busy in Trade, though."
"Wonder why I was so hungry," says Tommy sadly.
For those who've been to Dirt City before: Dirt City Info
Mordrid Thursday March 22nd, 2007 11:36:39 AM
Mordrid eyes each person as they speak, sizing up the situation, especially Valdor's melancholia.
"We're the Platinum Dragons. We go where we like, when we like. No skulking about. That's my vote."
Valdor Thursday March 22nd, 2007 12:19:31 PM
Saying nothing, Valdor nods his head at Mordrid's assessment.
Ve Mundr d20+16=19 Thursday March 22nd, 2007 5:37:48 PM
Ve chews his lip a bit with Mordrid's comment, but says nothing. He knows what the man means. Instead he speaks to Cori, "So we need an accurate image then or do you know a location at the Trade Quarter where we can come in. I can scry in if you haven't prepared such today if it would help.
Ve catches teh looks on the halflings faces and a different stray thought moves through his mind. A charade on thier part. He keeps the thought to himself, no need to muddy the waters. If it is, they would be in great deal of trouble.
Nick Thursday March 22nd, 2007 6:11:45 PM
"Fair enough," says Nick. He looks down at his white robes. Not exactly blend-into-the-background attire.
Corialote and Amarth Thursday March 22nd, 2007 6:13:12 PM
She goes over her mental list of spells and shakes her head. Having taken the time this morning, during some free time, she had learned her spells for the day. "I did not think to memorize a scrying spell...though I always have a couple of teleports ready. But I will need a good picture of the place that we are to arrive at." She looks the the rest of the group. "Unless someone wants to find out what being a wall is like or a different person...though it would most likely kill you shortly." She will confer with Ve and come up with a location that is suitable to the group and then cast her spell.
Once everything is ready she will prepare the circle for their use. "I will need about six guards to watch the circle after we leave and make sure that it is not disturbed...so that we can use it to come back and prepare fully." She figures that one of the others can set this up while she lays out the circle.
[teleportation circle set up in an out of the way area of the castle yard]
Dahlia Thursday March 22nd, 2007 7:01:29 PM
Listening carefully to the halflings as they speak, Dahlia nods, Stares at them for a few seconds and then adds a few things.
"For now I will ignore the fact that you only answered half of my questions but don't think, I won't be getting an answer for those real soon. Now, while it has been awhile, actually before I met up with Valdor and crew, I, uummmmm, She quickly looks over at Nicholas and then at Cori, spent a bit of time below, which is why I asked. I think that teleporting in just under Halfling Sewer entrance will put us nearest to where where we need to be to get to Crow's place. Unless things have changed drastically, which is unlikely seeing how those below don't much like change. I am certain I can provide a suitable landing spot. The other options are the crescent moon market or Waard's temple. But those two would mean a bit longer of a walk."
DM Jan Friday March 23rd, 2007 12:39:31 AM
Cori's instructions are carried out, and the teleportation circle is made secure.
For some reason, Dahlia's term 'under Halfling Sewer entrance' has been translated quite accurately by the teleportation spell, and the group step from a nice, sunny, late morning in Plateau City, into a much darker environment.
Everyone finds themselves standing on the metal gantry that runs halfway up and along the actual, circular Halfling Sewer PIPE, that runs directly below the Halfling Sewer Tunnel. There's a reasonable amount of room, and no one gets their feet wet. As for the attendant aroma, everyone has smelled a whole lot worse than this before today. Here, about 10 feet below the gantry, a fairly robust stream of water runs out toward the sea. In fact the distant boom of waves against rock can be heard behind the much closer running water.
There is a little light provided by an occasional gas lamp attached to the wall. It's augmented by pools of light that shine down from what look like hatches to the tunnel above. Each hatch has a ladder, and they seem to run at 50ft intervals.
The group discover they are not alone. There is a man leaning over the gantry railing. He appears to be dangling another man by the ankles, with the intention of dropping him into the water below. "So, are you gonna pay, or whu- " The man stops in mid speech and looks stupified at the gathering of newly arrived heroes.
And it is this, along with a loud *CLONK* - as the construct hits its head on the curving ceiling, that greets the Platinums.
Welcome to Dirt City.
Ve Mundr Friday March 23rd, 2007 3:01:10 PM
Ve speaks to teh man doing the dangling. "I suggest you very carefully hoist that other person up and set him safely upon the gantry." The cleric then looks to the pair of Halfling, "Point out the way." Ve simply assumes the crimminal could possibly be stupid enough to not obey his earlier command and has already dismissed the other pair of men in his mind.
Dahlia Friday March 23rd, 2007 10:25:13 PM
Seeing where they are, Dahlia immediately reaches for several sets of double weapon band and quickly binds her weapons, or at least the look bonded to anyone further away than several inches. Forgetting that many of the Plats may not have been here, The little halfling quickly explains the policy of peace bonding all weapons while "Under."
Valdor Friday March 23rd, 2007 11:09:11 PM
Valdor looks at Dahlia and says with a nastier tone than he means to,"I'll kill every scumbag down here if they try to peacebond my weapons."
Corialote and Amarth Saturday March 24th, 2007 1:01:02 AM
Cori starts to laugh as she looks around. "You know...sometimes magic is too literal." At least they are close to where they are suppose to be. She does not spend much time with the guy being dangled or the one doing it. Right now that is not her problem and she is interested in finding this guys place.
Cori looks to her rapier at her side and shrugs her shoulders. She easily slips scabbard and all of her belt and without much ceremony slips the whole long thing into the right pocket of her pants. "Come now dear...surely your hands will suffice to pummel someone into seeing things your way." Her only other visible weapon is her bow that is currently strapped to her pack.
Valdor Saturday March 24th, 2007 2:54:32 PM
Valdor immediatley regrets his harsh tone and replies,"Probably so, but that's not the point of it. I guess I'm too spoiled to calling my own shots. Not to mention that the only ones with usable weapons are the ones you really don't want to have weapons at all."
Mordrid Sunday March 25th, 2007 2:26:27 PM
"Mordrid does a 360 takes of the scene, then steps forward, "I guess we need to get out of here."
Mordrid indicates to Ve that he is ready to boost the war priest up to te next level.
To Dahlia in all seriousness, "Do the authorities here carry unbound weapons?"
Posting Report for Monday March 26th, 2007 6:38:42 AM
Game # 1 The Platinum Dragon For the week of March 19,2007
Name-----MTWTF DM Jan---XXXXX Valdor---XXXXXS Mordrid--XOOXO-S Fr.Nick--XOXXO Dahlia---XOXXX VE Mont--XXOOX Coralote-XOXXXS
Adm Ceil - Still the best players around.
Dahlia Monday March 26th, 2007 12:44:18 PM
Turning to Mordrid and Valdor, " Well, unless things here have drastically changed since I was here last it was realy the only bad no no. The Policy was for only "Clean Opps" down here, so all weapons are supposed to be bound, under penalty of permanent expulsion or worse. These two here are likely to be able to tell us if things have changed, though from the looks of the above situation, I think that threating with a blade would have been easier than holding him by his ankles."
Turning to their two host halflings, she quickly asks them. "Clean Opps" and weapons bound, still in force down here?
Nick Monday March 26th, 2007 5:09:15 PM
Huh. Old and withered, and yet his stomach seemed to weather the teleport spell much better than before.
Rather pleased that he, for once, didn't feel like throwing up, he checks his own weaponry and ties up the flail he never uses. As for the staff, well that was just a stick, wasn't it, to help him along.
Glancing over the railing and looking at the waters below, after witnessing this little display of coercion, he wonders how many citizens have ended up in the ocean via this particular route.
"We go up, I assume?" he asks.
DM Jan Monday March 26th, 2007 5:40:31 PM
There's a bit of shuffling and pulling before the man, dangling head first toward the drink, is pulled back onto the gantry. Both men are now staring like chastized owls at the Platinums, their own quarrel temporarily forgotten. The 'dangler' steps back and inclines his head toward Ve Mundr, while the 'dangle-ee' attempts to answer Dahlia's question. "Er, clean ops, yeah." His head is cocked to one side, like an inquisitive parrakeet. Halfling or no, you're not from round here, are you. "Weapons are against the law down here." "Unless you're a Wolf," snorts the other, regaining a little of his composure.
Tommy and Wentworth head for the nearest rung ladder. "This will take up up into the Halfling Quarter and then on into trade," says Tommy.
Amazingly enough the construct manages to squeeze through the hatch.
At the top of the ladder, the Halfling Sewer Tunnel runs to the right and left. There's no one and nothing about except for the scent of cooking and baking - savoury pies and freshly baked tarts, that would make the most commited ascetic drool at the mouth. The curved walls are well lit, and are painted with scenes of the forest here, rolling hills over there, and quaint little houses. It's a tunnel long portrait of pastoral scenery; an artist's attempt to deny the underground.
Off to the right - a main junction that leads to the Trade Quarter, and this is where the two young halflings lead the party. Immediately, the many people there, going about their own business, suddenly turn their attention to someone elses, part the ways and let the party through. They stare quite openly. Some abruptly disappear into the crowd, knowing they could get paid well for this information.
The Platinums are not approached. This isn't Plateau City, but it isn't Osto, either. With the exception of the golem, they know who this group is.
The Trade Quarter is a labyrinth of store fronts, caged birds, vegetables, spices and cloth of all qualities. The ceiling here is painted blue and grey, in an approximation of sky and clouds, and the obligatory shady tunnels and alleys lead off in all directions.
It is down one of these shady tunnels that Wentworth leads the group. About 30 ft off the main drag, next to a small store selling owls, jackdaws and tiny red finches in cages, is a slightly warped green wood door. There is a dead mouse on the doorstep.
The group have been followed. Two dwarves in mis-matched but functional armour are standing a little distance away. Dahlia will recognize these two as a patrol from the Tower of Knives. It's their duty to keep the peace down here, after all.
Dahlia Monday March 26th, 2007 8:50:04 PM
Speaking up at the former Dangleee. Actually, no, weapons are not illegal down here, just unbound ones. As for the "Puppies" I've a "Keen" enough mind and know how to deal with the likes of those mangy curs.
Following Wentworth and Tommy up the ladder, Dahlia looks around a bit savoring the view and momentarily remembering her time down here and the freedom of having few responsibilities. Perhaps she would come back here for a little while after the Plats retired.
As they arrive at the shop, Dahlia takes a moment to step back and greet the patrol and assure them that they weren't up to no good.
Mordrid Monday March 26th, 2007 9:36:17 PM
Mordrid stands outside the green door, with a nod to Dahlia to do what is necessary; however hard entry may be (uninvited as the dwarves watch).
The ranger makes a show of binding his sword and unstringing his bow, knowing full well that there are people in the group that can do alot of damage with what's in their mind alone.
Looking at the dwarves as to say, 'there! It's all legal.'
"So Tommy... is this green door the place we seek."
Mordrid bends over and examines the dead mouse. Fishy or not?
Valdor Monday March 26th, 2007 11:02:21 PM
Valdor waits until everyone is out before climbing up. He hasn't 'bound' his weapons, nor does he plan to. He smiles politely at the crowd, his anger from earlier subsiding a bit as he now has a purpose and is moving. He's unconcerned about the gathering crowd and nods to the guards.
He says to Mordrid,"Many years ago, maybe even before you were with me, or maybe you were and it was Rossko who had travelled in your place, I came here and we got attacked with our weapons bound. I'll not see that happen again, old friend. But, I don't want to be seen as thinking I'm above the rules and arrogant, so I'll remove several of my weapons."
He undoes his sword belts on either side and removes his baldric of daggers in the front and on the back. He places them all into his backpack of holding. His dragonslayer, however, remains in its sheath, standing above his shoulder. He touches the handle and tells it,"Do not worry, noone will bind you."
Ve Mundr d20+16=19 Tuesday March 27th, 2007 10:34:00 AM
Ve looks at the dangler and jets his head to one side in a silent statement of 'run along.' He then binds his hammer at his side and while not saying anything to Valdor it is obvious he wants to. Ve takes a breath and dismisses the idea as not one of the better ones to come to his mind.
Following the others, namely Dahlia and the halflings, Ve takes in the surounding buildings and keeps a sort of mental map. A habit of days long ago while moving on patrol through hostile towns. Knowing how to fall back and to where is the most imporatant skill you can learn captain, his Sergant had said upon entering the war torn city. Like many other things, his old friend was quite right.
Ve's eye catches the mouse and then moves to the doors on the left and right of the green door. What precisely did it seem that the neighbors did?
Dahlia had the patrol, but now Ve feels compelled. "Valdor, that is exactly what your are saying. You are broadcasting that with personal power comes exception to the law and you have enough to ignore whichever ones you choose."
"I am not your coinscience and I am not your judge, but as a Platinum Dragon I speak so you can not delude yourself. We are here on personal business, having made no special arrangements with the rightful authorites. By not following the laws we state that they do not apply to those with sufficient power to slay any who might object."
Nick Tuesday March 27th, 2007 2:07:15 PM
Nick spends most of his time during the walk through the Trade Quarter trying to get his breath back and making it look like he wasn't winded. No way he was going to ask for help getting up that step ladder, though. He was going to have to figure out some way of making his armour lighter. Maybe if he bored it full of holes... Dear Alemi.
Ah, no matter. There were more serious problems to consider, if problems they were. He is a little concerned about Valdor, knowing perhaps only a little of how upset his friend must be after news of that half-wit dragon. The creature had to be stark raving mad to do something like that, especially after it's bretheren were slaughtered so effectively on the battlefield. Eh, perhaps the hands of fate were pushing them all this way and that across the board. Who could tell?
As for the dead mouse at the door - "Perhaps the wizard has something other than a lock to protect his abode, and this little fellow tried to go somewhere he wasn't supposed to?" he offers.
CDM Jerry Tuesday March 27th, 2007 2:25:08 PM
Greetings Dragons!
It is now time to do a thorough evaluation of all games that are 8th level and higher to see if they have what it takes to join the Consortium. We'll do this on the Breakfast Nook board.
Head over and see if you have permissions. We won't start until everyone has posted there.
I'll be in charge of this.
DM Jan Tuesday March 27th, 2007 8:24:50 PM
Back by the tunnel intersection, the two dwarven members of the House of Knives listen to what Dahlia has to say. "So long as nothing unlawful's done, and no one gets their skull split open, we don't care. So, what's your business? Someone higher up will want to know."
Outside the green door, Wentworth nods at Mordrid. "Yep this is the place. Tommy, give me the card, while she's keeping the Knives busy." "Do you think it will still work?" asks the other halfling, handing over what looks like a battered playing card. Wentworth takes the card and holds it up in the air in a certain position only inches from the green painted door. A rune appears amidst the green paint, then disappears. There's a click, and the door opens about an inch. Both halflings grin, and without further ceremony, they both push open the door and disappear inside.
As for the neighbours, at the far end of the tunnel, about twenty yards down, is a door that has been barricaded shut. There's a sign nailed to the barricade - CONTENTS REPOSSESED KEEP OUT The nearside neighbour - the birdseller, a tiny, skinny man wearing a dirty apron - pops his head furtively out of the store. "Interest you in a bird of prey, sir?" he asks Ve Mundr who appears to be taking an interest. "Got the owl, here, and a nice red-tailed hawk. Hey, can I have that dead mouse?"
The fact that Tommy is inside, lighting a lamp, and knowing where the tapers are, suggests strongly that these two have been to this place before. The room is cluttered. There's an unmade bed, a wash stand, piles of books line the walls, stacked in an haphazard manner, and there's a table crammed with pouches, bottles, and a stack of journals. Nailed to the wall is an official scroll from the Star Tower, revoking his membership. The fact that it is displayed prominantly for all who enter to see, suggests that it's recipient might well be proud of it. There are arcane scribblings all over the walls.
And there is a door to the rear. It's closed. It looks to have a fancy lock on it. And there's a slight odour of rot, salt and alcohol coming from beyond it.
Still prickly, Valdor's sword passes on to it's wielder a sense of distaste.
Mordrid Tuesday March 27th, 2007 10:58:15 PM
Mordrid steps inside quickly, but with a gentleness too.
He takes in the room, as dark as it may be, even with Tommy's effort at lighting it up. The journals are of surpeme note, and he points it out to the others. The locked door on the other hand demands his attention, and he points it out to Dahlia.
The scent reminds him of encounters of days past, and he immediately gets to restringing his bow. He shrugs sheepishly at Dalhia, regarding the fact that his bow was unstrung for maybe two minutes. "Didn't stay alive this long by being foolish."
Valdor Tuesday March 27th, 2007 11:58:56 PM
Valdor smiles at Ve and replies,"You are right. However, I still refuse to do it. It's not my problem if they have to deal with others that refuse. I simply will not bind my sword, nor would it work for me any longer if I did, anyway. For too many years I have been overly concerned about others' thoughts and have always put others before myself. I removed almost all my weapons. Let that be enough for them. We won't be here long anyway, and if they think less of me for it, that's their choice."
He shrugs his shoulders and then states,"I'll stand guard out here while you smarter ones check out the buildings' contents."
Corialote and Amarth d20+10=27 d20+39=52 d20+14=18 d20+2=20 d20+12=15 Wednesday March 28th, 2007 12:30:43 AM
Cori slips into the room and lets her eyes take in all the stuff lying around. She smirks at the scroll on the wall of his dismissal from the Star Mage. "Proud of that, this one." She slowly moves around but not before tapping one of the runes upon her lower left arm. Her eyes blaze blue for a few seconds and then it becomes a dull blue glow.
Amarth is looking around the room as well. He has been around a mage for so long that he knows what to look for and what not to touch.
Dahlia d20+29=45 d20+29=47 d20+29=42 d20+40=49 d20+40=58 d20+40=50 d20+29=37 d20+29=39 d20+32=46 Wednesday March 28th, 2007 6:39:08 AM
Letting the observing dwarves that they are here at the request of her two cousins to find their missing uncle who was the mage who owned that residence/shop, She waits for a moment to see if they have any questions and then bids them good day and rejoins her companions ter the residence.
Taking a quick look around, she is now sure she doesn't like this guy very much and What is that awful smell. At Mordrid's motion Dahli looks at the door and the lock and smiles. She then makes a very pracitce approach to the door looking for any trap, presssure plates, tricks or other things that might be associated with the door.
Search DCs 45, 47, 42
Disable device DC 49, 58, 50
When she is sure that there are none she approaches the door. and takes a closer look at the door and the lock. when satisfied she begins working on the lock.
Search DCs 37, 39
Open Lock DC 46
Nick Wednesday March 28th, 2007 2:19:59 PM
Hopefully lending some legitimacy and authority with his white Alemi robes, Nick stands alongside Dahlia as she parlays with the two dwarven guards. He'll keep his mouth shut however, unless it becomes necessary to join in with the conversation, knowing full well Dahlia probably had it covered.
Ve Mundr Wednesday March 28th, 2007 5:13:36 PM
"I am not concerned with what others think of you. I am concerned with what your deeds santion others to do, but you are right. We will not tarry and we will be inside and out of sight soon enough." To the shop keeper, Ve gives a brief shake of his head and removes his attention from the man and his shop. The Cleric, glances at the halflings as the door opens. Without another word, Ve leans into the room. He scans the area and casts True Seeing.
Valdor Thursday March 29th, 2007 12:02:06 AM
Valdor smiles at Ve and nods, understanding quite well how he feels and where his thoughts lie. Another day, he probably wouldn't have been so stubborn or openly rebellious, but he's just not in a good mood after the news he got and doesn't feel like acquiescing to anyone's demands right now, much less to a rule he feels is stupid anyway. Anyone who has heard of him knows he wouldn't use his weapon unless forced to do so. He stands watch patiently, watching the shadows to the sides and above, not missing anything.
DM Jan Thursday March 29th, 2007 2:02:32 AM
Inside:
Both Tommy and Wentworth get out of the way as the tall, imposing, wolf-cloaked figure of Mordrid enters, and their eyes follow his gestures toward the door and the journals.
Those same eyes light up as Dahlia enters and begins to work on the door. Here was something they knew a little about. Here was a chance to learn, or maybe see what these Platinum Dragons were really made of, on their own terms.
Meanwhile, Cori and her feathery familiar check out the room. If anywhere were the likely place to harbour the radical, the illegal, the nonconformist - it was a place like Dirt City. And as far as nonconformity went, the scribblings she sees on the wall are completely off the charts and unlike anything she has seen before. Written explanations and paths through a spell, although they seem to arrive at the same conclusion, they also take an entirely different route to get there. It's lateral thinking to the extreme. There's part of a Dismissal spell scrawled there, it's method of delivery innovative, (faster?). Other scrawlings don't seem to make any sense at all, or they stop part way and lie unfinished. It seems to be the work of a madman. A brilliant madman, but a madman nonetheless.
However, both Cori and Amarth reach a similar conclusion - most of what's written relates to the fields of summoning, polymorph, and transformation. There's other stuff written there - it looks almost clerical in style.
Ve Mundr's spell enables him to see the room for what it is, and as it turns out, his ordinary eyes are not decieved. No deliberate magical enhancements. Perhaps more disturbing to him, or maybe not, are recognisable cleric spell symbols here and there as part of the wall of scribble - regenerate, restoration - mixed in with the arcane, as though someone has been trying to combine the two catagories. Heresy? It would be to some, for sure.
Another note - what is essentially a 'batchelor pad' has one or two feminine touches here and there. A velvet pillow on the bed. A painting of a dark-haired human woman on the wall next to the outer door, and a pencil drawing of the same woman on a frame on the desk next to the journals.
Tommy and Wentworth are crouched near Dahlia, watching her every move. And then - as there is a click, and four nasty-looking blades slice out of the door lock, leaving Dahlia unscathed, and the door pops open - "How did you - ? Did you see how she did that? Mother's apple pie, that would have chopped my hand off for sure, how did you do that?" Both halflings are aghast, and both are grinning.
The smell from the dark interior of the room beyond is that of a charnal house.
Outside:
The dwarves appear to be satisfied ( or indifferent so long as blood isn't being spilled) and turn toward the gathering crowd who are starting to push forward. "Nothing to see here! Move along!" they call out sternly.
No one pays the slightest bit of attention, for what stands in the smaller tunnel is a sight indeed. Some important-looking Alemi cleric by the looks of it, but that wasn't anything in itself. For there was a huge metal monster stood there - hulking, enormous, nearly filling the small tunnel, and - A group of kids have pushed their way to the front, a ragged, urchin assortment of human and halfling. "Told you," one of them says to the others, their eyes all wide and round like an owl's. "That is Valdor." They gasp in unison.
Ve Mundr d20+22=34 d20+14=22 d20+13=18 d20+22=35 Thursday March 29th, 2007 11:51:08 AM
Ve smirks in return to Valdors grin. "Fighters." he throws a exaggerated eyeroll and smile in return.
Ve takes out his journal, he does not ask if Cori is grasping what she is looking at. Of Course she is. Ve begins taking notes, "Don't go in there if you please." He says as the door is opened and the odor wafts out. [Know rel 34 Know planes 22 Know arc 18 Spellcraft 35]
"Our friend has quite a wide sweeping field of study." His eyes flick up from the book to the wall and then down again as he continues making notes. "What do we know of his late wife? Religion, also a spell caster perhaps?" His eyes again leave the page to take in a section of the wall, though his hand never stops sketching and moving. "There is a premise here most certainly. Our wizard was not interested so much in the dead, but how to achieve immortality and possibly beyond that something I have deemed True Immortality. Not only to live forever, but the actual inability to die."
Dahlia Thursday March 29th, 2007 8:40:07 PM
As the trap is evaded and disarmed, and the lock picked, Dahlia mutters, Wee, that wasn't too bad now. Then as the two ask how she did that, she turns to them and with a wink in her voice says, Practice of course, and I wasn't always a Platinum Dragon."
As the door cracks open and the smell wafts out, she quickly covers her mouth and nose and step back. And as Ve states his warning, Dahlia grins back at him, "Oh, I have done my part, now this helpless little girl will gladly step aside and let you burly men folk have your fun. Besides it smells kind of gross in there."
Corialote and Amarth Thursday March 29th, 2007 8:50:51 PM
Cori shakes her head as she takes in the writing on the wall. "Summoning, polymorphing and transformations...I think this could be the way to bring about our big metal friend out there. That is in greater quantity than would normally be possible in a short time." Her eyes flick to Ve and she notes him taking down all the stuff from the walls and she nods her head. "I would like a copy of that when you are done...further study will be called for." She can see she will be spending a lot of nights with Ve and Father Nick in the forseeable future going over all that stuff.
Moving towards the doorway she pulls out five copper coins and calls upon a little of her power to give them light. She then tosses all five into the room so that they will spread out and give more light.
She glances back to Ve and nods her head. "The things that I noted could have been used to bolster himself for just such a ritual as well." She does move back over to the journals and leans in a little closer to have a look without touching them. "What do you see here Ve?" Her own detection spell does not seem to note magic around them so they might be safe.
[detect magic] [light on five coins]
Ve Mundr post II Thursday March 29th, 2007 9:26:55 PM
"Regeneration, Restoration, the rhudamentary learnings of ressurection is mixed in as well. A definate attempt to blend far more closely the arcane and divine. Far more so than they who study Thuergery." he answers as he continues to write and sketch. "Of course, and Father Nicholas, you will have a chance to copy this as well."
"To the True Sight I cast, I see nothing. We should be able to inspect some of his books without problem. Though Dahlia, why don't you put those extraordinary skills to work again about these books shelves."
Dahlia (supplemental post) d20+26=41 d20+26=42 d20+26=42 d20+40=47 d20+40=49 d20+40=57 d20+30=36 d20+30=45 d20+30=40 d20+32=48 d20+32=44 d20+32=38 Thursday March 29th, 2007 9:57:02 PM
At Ve's request Dahlia moves over to the shelves and any desk in the area and again gets to work.
(OOC: Jan I am out of town until Sunday with 110 5th graders on an overnight field trip and will not be able to post tomorrow.)
Nick Friday March 30th, 2007 3:11:29 PM
For the moment, Nick stays outside, hoping to help with crowd control if that becomes necessary, although it seemed that most were spellbound by the fact that Valdor was here, and were not going any further as to ask why.
DM Jan Friday March 30th, 2007 3:25:34 PM
The subjects of books in this room look like an eclectic mixture of wizardy, sorcery, spell componants and where to get them, dragons and other magical creatures, geography, geology, astronomy. However - biology and creature anatomy predominate. Some contain gruesome illustrations of dissection.
On the table lie the journals. Four battered volumes of drawings, poems, more gruesome drawings, notes, diary entries. The topmost volume's final written page pops open easily. There's a date, a few weeks old, and -
Transition went well, the flesh seems stable. This will take some time, a few months. All I have to do is wait, my beloved. Ah, this dreaded interminable waiting.
Cori's coin bounce on the floor of the inner room. There are large, liquid-filled jars stashed there; there is a table by the looks of it, endess shelves, and the room seems to extend to the rear for about 30 ft or more. There is magic in there, stabilised, holding, continuous. it carries a trail of both arcane and divine, so whatever Crow had been working on - he appeared to have been successful, to some extent.
As Ve and Cori study the symbols on the wall, some of it starts to resemble a more stylized version of that woven around the construct.
Outside, the dwarves are having a job holding everyone back.
Valdor Friday March 30th, 2007 8:14:06 PM
Valdor grins at the children when he hears them. He tells Nick, "You've got the door, I'll be right back."
He walks over to the boys and squats down next to them. He smiles warmly and says,"You are correct...I am Valdor. I am pleased that you brought your friends here. You know, I wasn't known by anyone when I was your age. I was just another boy who learned early on that one person can make a difference. I didn't become the Dragonslayer in one night, one month, or even one year. It took me some time. Anyone can become a hero. It's all about how you live that matters.
Just think, ten years from now people could be looking at you and saying your names. But, it takes hard work and the desire to do good and help others. I was from a poor family and my parents died early in my life. I was probably about your ages. Now, I've got to go, but remember, I believe in you and you must believe in yourself to be great. Noone will do it for you. Have courage and make a good difference in the Wold. I'm counting on you in this! You must have courage and always remember I need you to do this. It's your first mission."
He musses up their hair with his large hand and gives them a smile. He then gets that stern look on their face and turns back to the crowd. He says out loud,"We're just doing some research, nothing big is happening here. Thanks for coming out, but there's really nothing to see."
Ve Mundr Sunday April 1st, 2007 8:33:10 PM
Ve glances over the last journal entry. "Which he did he he shot into the future. he was certainly trying to bring back his wife. though I most certainly do not think that is all he brought back."
Posting Reports For Monday April 2nd, 2007 7:24:29 AM
Game # 1 The Platinum Dragons For the weekof March 26,2007
Names-----MTWTF Dm Jan H---XXOXX Valdore----XXOXX Mordrid----XXOOO* missed 3 postings Fr.Nick----XXXOX VE Mont----OXOXO* Missed 3 postings Ve posted Wednesday March 28th, 2007 5:13:36 PM
Coralota---OXXXOS
Adm Ceil - Only two bad boys.
Ve Mundr Monday April 2nd, 2007 5:28:17 PM
Ve finishes up and steps to the doorway of the room beyond, scanning it with his improved True Sight. Knowing Cori would be there shortly he casts Detect Magic and steps inside. "I think we should both go through the auras present Cori so don't worry about offending me by casting similar spells."
Dahlia Monday April 2nd, 2007 10:09:16 PM
finishing up her search of the shelves and desk, Dahlia ponders her discoveries.
Corialote and Amarth Monday April 2nd, 2007 11:59:44 PM
Cori taps the tattoo on her forearm again and the magic takes effect just as fast. She walks in on Ve's heels and starts to scan the room. "We can compare notes as we go along here." She cannot help but wonder about what this man was trying to do. "He does show promise and ingenuity." There is an almost envious and jealous tone to her voice as she speaks.
[detect magic]
Nick Tuesday April 3rd, 2007 12:32:38 AM
Nick stays where he is and watches Valdor with the kids. As far as he could see, his freind and leader was the focus of their attention - a good thing. No one was asking any awkward questions, although that might change if anyone more official arrived.
He glances up at the construct, to see if it is doing anything of note.
Valdor Tuesday April 3rd, 2007 12:36:05 AM
Smiling, Valdor returns to Nick's side and whispers,"You never know when the right words will turn a child into someone special for the Wold."
DM Jan Tuesday April 3rd, 2007 1:31:16 AM
INSIDE:
As Dahlia looks at everything in this room - the books, the journals, the pictures of the woman, the highly intelligent, mad scribblings - if Ve was correct, then why go to all this trouble? Resurrections were possible. Not easy, and they were expensive, and not every temple would grant them. But they were possible - and this was Dirt City. The usual objections - morals, exclusivity perhaps - would hardly apply here. Maybe it was down to hard cash and the lack of it. Or maybe there was another reason why no one wanted to resurrect this woman.
Wentworth and Tommy, curious as only halflings can be, follow Cori and Ve Mundr into the foul-smelling room beyond the inner door. "Ugh, is that someone's arm?" exclaims Tommy, pointing at one of the jars on the floor.
This room appears to be part morgue, part taxidermist, part butchers shop, with a small collection of metallic sculptures pushed rudely into one corner. All the jars contain liquid (smelling of alcohol) and some body part or other. There are buckets containing stacks of bones; pieces of flesh are spread out and tacked on the walls, with notes scribbled alongside. Open top crates also lie on the floor, full to the brim with salt.
The benches aligning each side of the room glitter with magic - surrounding what look like experiments on yet more body parts. There's a forearm with the hand still attached - the hand's fingers twitching of their own accord. A pair of eyes, attached to metal spindles, move, following Cori as she steps past. All kept alive by magical means. There's a table with nothing but bloodstains all over it. And a little further back into the room is a narrow bed covered in blankets. There's an imprint, suggesting that at one time, a body might have been laid there. But it's empty now.
OUTSIDE -
The words 'Have courage' ripple through the crowd. Some folk start to drift off, but the kids are grinning. One of them mentions Domi to the others, and they nod sagely to one another. They've heard of Domi. They've met Valdor. The dwarven Knife guards start to relax a little now the mob is starting to drift off a bit.
The construct appears to have been watching Valdor's interaction with the crowd, it's head swiveling slightly. So far, it hasn't uttered a word.
Mordrid Tuesday April 3rd, 2007 11:36:44 AM
If Mordrid is aghast at the contents of the room (which he is), you wouldn't know it. The ranger pushes on into the room, watching closely where he steps. Towards the rear, he searches for yet another door; perhaps leading to somewhere even more sinister.
Along the way he tries to indicate the time of vacancy by gauging the dust accumulation on the tables and floors. Footprints?
CDM Jerry Tuesday April 3rd, 2007 4:44:10 PM
No posts in the Breakfast nook today. Suggest you make it a habit to post there before here, until the habit of posting there is created. More you post, the faster we can be done with this.
Ve Mundr Tuesday April 3rd, 2007 5:05:01 PM
Ve gazes about, not pretty and not for the light hearted. He dismisses Cori's comment in his mind, he is too busy controlling the urge to incinerate this entire sacriligious area. Ve turns to regard the halfling his eyes hard and cold and his right hand gripping his own holy book so tight and the hard leather cover is starting to buckle. His voice is controlled, though not by much, "What do you know of this man's wife?"
Corialote and Amarth d20+10=28 d20+14=26 d20+2=10 d20+12=13 Tuesday April 3rd, 2007 7:07:38 PM
Cori wanders for a few minutes through the assortment of oddities that lay about. She touches nothing until she has a chance to get a better idea of what is here and what auras are present. "Reanimation of just parts...very interesting." She is not aware that this might be seen as a violation by the clerics of the group. To her, all magic is fascinating...even if she would not attempt any of it herself.
As she moves around she also tries to spot any hidden areas or doors so that they can see how far this goes.
Amarth lets out a low whistle as his head swivels to take it all in. His own senses are tuned to things that his Mistress might miss.
[Cori - search 28 and spot 26] [Amarth - search 10 and spot 13]
Nick Wednesday April 4th, 2007 1:23:52 AM
Nick nods at Valdor. "Well, if anyone can impart that message, you can. It probably doesn't do any harm for people to see a hero every now and then." He's about to add especially here , but stops himself. An easy thing to say, but an insult to the good people who lived in Dirt City. They wouldn't all be villains. "I wonder what the others have discovered?"
DM Jan Wednesday April 4th, 2007 12:04:17 PM
INSIDE:
The ranger's further examination of the room tells him that this place has not been neglected for long. Dust isn't all that prevalent; some liquids in containers appear to have evaporated which suggests that it as been days, weeks at the most, since it was occupied. Neither he nor Cori can see any further suggestions of rooms, closets or hideyholes. This is it, which isn't an unreasonable assumption in a cramped, tunnel layout such as this city below ground. Space is at a premium here.
Both halflings, Tommy and Wentworth exchange glances when Ve Mundr asks them about Crow's wife. "Well, not that we like to talk ill of the dead," he begins, "but -" "She wasn't very nice," interrupts Wentworth, the more outspoken of the two. "We used to bring Crow back from the tavern sometimes, when he could hardly walk. She always met us at the door. Never said nothing. Never gave us nothing. Not that we wanted anything, but not even a word of thanks. Just dragged him in and slammed the door. I don't think she went out much, either. Not from what folk in the tunnels said." "Maybe she didn't like halflings," Tommy says quietly to Dahlia, his tone incredulous.
OUTSIDE:
As more people break from the crowd and go back to their own business, the construct swivels it's head toward Valdor and Nicholas.
"This metal seems happy here," it says abruptly, it presumably being the elemental encased inside the large metal golem. "It smells it's master."
Dahlia d20+26=42 d20+26=35 d20+26=41 d20+26=41 d20+26=41 d20+30=32 d20+30=39 d20+30=39 d20+30=31 d20+30=34 Wednesday April 4th, 2007 5:55:45 PM
Getting bored with the obvious, The little halfling starts looking for the not so obvious, sectioning the room off and checking out each section rather thoroughly for hidden rooms, compartments, doors, trap doors in the floor or ceiling or anything else that seems odd or out of place.
Valdor Wednesday April 4th, 2007 10:20:47 PM
Valdor replies to Nick,"I don't know all that about a hero, but most of them will be good people...if they are given a chance to be. Most people who grow up stealing, murdering, and so on, grew up watching parents and adults who did these things. It's all they know. Eevryone, including clerics of Alemi and assassins like Korrig, have the potential for good or evil, but many simply choose based on their life experiences. Or rather, they don't choose, they just live like everyone they've seen and known from childhood.
Everyone needs to have hope."
When the construct talks, Valdor's head whips around. He had basically forgotten it was even present. He says to it,"Come again? Can you explain what you just said? Is this metal inside you? Is it a part of you?"
Corialote and Amarth Wednesday April 4th, 2007 11:53:01 PM
Cori looks to the halflings and then to Ve. "It could have been possible that his wife was the one most interested in the things me are finding down here." Shaking her head she is trying to come up with a new idea through what she has found out. "Could it be that he sought to continue her work?"
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