SUDDENLY...! (DM Donna) Monday June 17th, 2013 3:41:22 PM
CLANG..!
The bell rings out, prompting more tremors that sweep the entire town of Bryn Baraz. The children cavorting with the appearing/disappearing writing of the circle squeal and giggle--they haven't had this much fun in ages!
CLANG..!
Another knell from the bell sounds, and a crack appears to either side of the excavation entrance in the north wall of the canyon that surrounds the town. Will the stone itself break apart and cause an avalanche...?
CLANG!!!
The cracks explode outwards with a roar that deafens, giving nobody any time to run or even duck...however, paradoxically, there is no dust or debris...only the presence of two more entrances into the canyon wall now.
As that final toll of the alien bell reverberates into silence, the town militia man who'd been tasked with guarding the suspects in the headquarters tent hustles out, half-dragging/half-carrying a sobbing human male with wild cobalt-blue eyes and his formerly-cascading-straight-black hair now wildly askew as he babbles incoherently.
"Whatever spell you all just cast," the town guard says, looking around in wonder, "It made ol' Rogy here fall to his knees and confess that he killed Mark Avant. Says Mark caught him ripping off gems from the excavation an' so Rogy just clonked him on the head to keep his secret." Once more, the guard looks around, giving a low whistle.
"I think you have your hands full, though," the militia man says wisely, "I'll take this guy off to the holding level in the mines so's we can secure him for a formal trial." With this, the murderer of Mark Avin is hauled away...
...and the party is left with THREE cave entrances into the canyon's north wall and a group of now-disappointed children who all have the same reaction to the suddenly-inanimate crop circle (now strangely devoid of runic writing):
"AWWWWWWWWWW, darn...!"
Keela[AC 17; HP 66/76] [Mage Armor; Telepathic Bond] Monday June 17th, 2013 7:39:25 PM
Keela spares a thought for the breakfast dishes, still soaking in the sink. Then again, the odds are pretty good she'll still have an Unseen Servant left by the end of the day.
She looks at the kids, most of whom she knows. "You don't want to be late for school," she says. "We're lucky to have one."
She looks at the three cave entrances. "Any thoughts?" she asks her companions.
DM Donna Monday June 17th, 2013 8:29:38 PM
Oh, silly me--here's a bit of a visual for the players....
Alexi AC 28 Tch 13 Ffted 25 HP 102/120 CMD 26(Trip 28) d20+8=25 ; Monday June 17th, 2013 11:27:55 PM
OOC: My guess is the bell vanished(?)...
At least Alexi was on the right track when his question to the rocks about what minerals were in the rocks around the area of the murder was interrupted. :)
IC: Alexi is completely puzzled by the whole purpose of this entire thing. The only solution to the puzzle lies in finding out what that darn bell is. Someone in Floating City or Plateau City might know but it would take days or weeks to get to either. An answer was needed quickly.
Since the bell brought the entire citizenry out, he approaches Garth and asks him to contact the mine's shareholders and describe the bell and what it did. The mine shareholders can then do the research on their end.
Meanwhile, there are openings that need to be secured, er, explored. Such good things as the new mineral vein probably came with a price.
"This gift, so to speak, is probably not free. We must investigate these openings and make sure they don't harbor some guardian or other creature to test us."
With that, he gathers up his gear. Armed and armored, he approaches Entrance 1. With the light of his Everburning Torch, he peers in.
Perc +8 = 25
DM OOC: No, no--the Bell has not disappeared. It is still there, floating above the "crop circle" next to the All-Gods Temple. It's just that the Bell is no longer ringing.
Sesha [AC 25 | HP 72/80 | CMD 14] [See Invisibility] Monday June 17th, 2013 11:51:04 PM
As Alexi quickly sets himself into a plan, Sesha smiles. Sometimes, it was good to not the be Blood Witch of the Ga'alin. Sometimes... it is good to simply follow another and bask in their confidence.
She escorts Alexi throughout his business, confident in his decisions. The young drow taps Alexi on his breastplate before he enters the mine, and looks up at him.
"I am glad to have found you in my travels Alexi. I hope that we shall be acquainted for a very long time."
She gives him a thumbs up, then enters behind him, using a small cantrip to light his sword before he enters.
She looks back to the others.
"Do any of you wish to have your sizes changed? I can do this for you."
She takes her own offer and taps through the woldsblood for another small cantrip. After a few moments, her size is reduced, and she is smaller than even Garret. (Though not by much.)
[1] Light: Alexi [2] Enlarge Person/Reduce Person whomever wants it.
ElseHP 123 - AC 18/13/15 - CMD 20 - F+12/R+18/W+17 Monday June 17th, 2013 11:54:24 PM
Else approaches the second entrance into the mountain face and regards for a moment. Picking up a stone from the ground, she whispers a brief spell and the stones flashes and shines light around her. She holds it up high to peer into the darkness, then looks toward the others. "I can look in this one."
Cyniq al'Lyz AC 18{22}/16{20}/14{18} -- CMD 20 -- HP 65/65 Spells Active: Detect Scrying Tuesday June 18th, 2013 1:22:00 AM
Cyniq follows Alexi, well let's see where door number one leads.
Anrete [HP: 130/130, AC32/Touch18/FF32, CMD 34, DR2] Tuesday June 18th, 2013 10:26:15 AM
Anrete shrugs and follows after the rest. The world has gone crazy!
Garret Goodbarrel [AC:31/29/26 HP:89/103 Ki:7/12 CMD: 30] Tuesday June 18th, 2013 12:16:48 PM
Garret takes one last look at the bell and turns to follow the others. "I don't like the looks of this...."
Alexi AC 28 Tch 13 Ffted 25 HP 102/120 CMD 26(Trip 28) Tuesday June 18th, 2013 4:55:13 PM
Alexi declines the offer of changing his size with a smile, "I like me as big as I am, for now, at least." Then he blushes, stammers a little then clears his throat before calling out to Else, "We all go into the same one. We'll not split up."
Unless Else sees something that seems more interesting than what Alexi sees, Alexi starts carefully into the Entrance #1.
I'll Take What's Behind Door #1... - DM Donna d20=14 ; d20=20 ; d20=3 ; d20=4 ; d20=8 ; d20=19 ; Tuesday June 18th, 2013 9:24:51 PM
As tempting as splitting up the party (again) would be, the wisdom of Alexi prevails and the heroes make sure that there are light sources with them before they cautiously explore Tunnel #1. Garret glances back at the bell, and notices something odd about it:
Wasn't that bell made of bronze before..? Now it seems to be silver...
The party advances about fifteen feet down the rough-sided tunnel when they suddenly find their way blocked by a pair of large, arched double doors--teakwood bound in iron with a pair of iron rings as the handles by which to open them.
ElseHP 123 - AC 18/13/15 - CMD 20 - F+12/R+18/W+17 Tuesday June 18th, 2013 10:52:58 PM
Else approaches the doors, looks back at the party, shrugs, then lifts her lifewood staff and raps firmly on the door. "Hello?"
Keela[AC 17; HP 66/76] [Mage Armor; Telepathic Bond] Tuesday June 18th, 2013 11:07:42 PM Keep in mind that we don't have to speak aloud if we don't want to, Keela reminds her friends over the Telepathic Link.
She waits to see whether Else's knock is answered.
Active Spells: Mage Armor (approximately 20 hours remaining) Telepathic Bond (100 minutes remaining?)
Cyniq al'Lyz AC 18{22}/16{20}/14{18} -- CMD 20 -- HP 65/65 Spells Active: Detect Scrying Tuesday June 18th, 2013 11:24:36 PM Is it yuletide? This is rather interesting.
Sesha [AC 26 | HP 72/80 | CMD 14] [See Invisibility] Wednesday June 19th, 2013 1:08:46 AM
Sesha, now magically fun and pint size, continues on behind Alexi. For some reason, she feels it important to be near him.
Her thoughts continue to drift towards the bell, the tendrils, and everything else that has happened. She shudders, thinking into the telepathic bond.
"I can't help but feel like we are about to do something incredible. Does anyone else feel the same?"
What IS Behind Door #1...? - DM Donna Wednesday June 19th, 2013 2:44:33 AM OOC: Yeah, the post is way early, but why leave you all in suspense when you've knocked politely at the door..?
Else knocks upon the wood--and the doors yawn open, away from the party. Standing on the other side of the now-open portal is a very surprised-looking female about five feet tall, with pearly-white hair, lavender eyes and a short sword in one hand. Even more surprisingly, there is a fully furnished office in the room beyond the door--complete with bookcases full of thick tomes, a large desk with unfurled scrolls and paperwork scattered on it, and an ornate set of scales that are prominently displayed on the desk.
ROLL FOR PERCEPTION (and Sesha gets a whopping +10 on her roll, too):
Beat DC10 and Highlight to display spoiler: { you are just SURE that the chamber belongs to a very busy and successful merchant of some kind.}
Beat DC15 and Highlight to display spoiler: { not only are you sure that this has to be a merchant's office, but the obvious craftsmanship of the furnishings and decorations would seem to indicate that it's a VERY rich merchant.}
Get 20 or more on your check and Highlight to display spoiler: { hey--this isn't JUST a rich merchant--it's an Official rich merchant...most likely from It'lal...}
In fact, as long as Sesha doesn't roll the dreaded Natural 1 on a d20, she can also Highlight to display spoiler: { Sesha can tell that this is THE Official Office of Trade & Commerce for It'lal...and the Drow female is the newest Junior Trade Minister!}
OOC: just moving the story along, my next Official post will be around 9pm Eastern time.
Anrete [HP: 130/130, AC32/Touch18/FF32, CMD 34, DR2] d20+16=30 ; Wednesday June 19th, 2013 9:38:33 AM
Anrete rises an eyebrow but remains silent - it seems there is little need for his blade to speak.
Sesha [AC 26 | HP 72/80 | CMD 14] [See Invisibility] d20+17=28 ; Wednesday June 19th, 2013 10:00:41 AM
[ooc: Is portal being used to describe a magical effect, or as a lesser used word for door?]
Sesha blinks twice, then gently tugs on Alexi's belt loop to slow him so she can slip ahead. As she does so, she dismisses her reduce person spell. She smiles at else and stands next to her.
Peering into the doorway, Sesha calls out.
"Blood-Kin, I am Sesha, formerly of the Shadow Dragons of It'lal, friend to Larien, Eclip, and Gilin. If you are surprised now, just wait! Bryn Baraz is full of them it seems."
Sesha looks back to the others.
"This one is a very important merchant for It'lal, the home city of the surface Drow. This is her office. And her office, when I last left it, was in It'lal as well!
Keela[AC 17; HP 66/76] [Mage Armor; Telepathic Bond] d20+2=14 ; Wednesday June 19th, 2013 12:49:27 PM
Keela looks at the office. It does seem to belong to somebody important. Sesha seems to think she knows it.
Are you sure? she sends through the link.
Active Spells: Mage Armor (approximately 20 hours remaining) Telepathic Bond (100 minutes remaining?)
Garret Goodbarrel [AC:31/29/26 HP:89/103 Ki:7/12 CMD: 30] d20+21=38 ; Wednesday June 19th, 2013 12:53:59 PM
When Garret sees the doors in the cavern hallway, he has a sense a de-je-vu. He looks around that the others to see if anyone else has a passing thought of the last time they came upon a nice set of doors in the middle of an underground cavern. He steps back as Else knocks.
When the doors open (perception 38), Garret looks as surprised as the female on the other side of the door. Before he can babble his incoherent thoughts, Sesha introduces herself. He looks back and forth fro Sesha to the woman, unable to speak as he tries to comprehend the massive magic at work. He looks back down the hallway towards the settlement to see if anyone else has wandered into the hallway.
Cyniq al'Lyz AC 18{22}/16{20}/14{18} -- CMD 20 -- HP 65/65 Spells Active: Detect Scrying d20+18=27 ; d20+16=29 ; Wednesday June 19th, 2013 1:32:18 PM Interesting decor, interesting place for a portal. I think that the gods have decided Bryn Baraz no longer has need of our services.
Cyniq takes the opportunity to step forward giving the point of the shortsword a raised eyebrow that she then quirks at the drow. Stepping past she walks over to a bookcase and giving the tomes a closer look, I wrote that one. Her finger trails across the spine of Racial Prejudices and Market Growth.
Turning back to the drow, she plops down into one of the chairs in front of the desk, so what does It'lal need with Bryn Baraz?
Perc=27; Know:local for It'lal=29
Greetings - DM Donna Wednesday June 19th, 2013 2:29:19 PM OOC: This is lovely! So many people posting--I'll move the story along a little further again:
The Drow female eyes Alexi and his sword a bit warily, but then her attention is snagged by Sesha's introduction.
"Sesha..?" she echoes in wonder, her short sword sliding back into its sheath. "I know that name! I am Barta...Barta Selio of House Mylyl. I am a probationary Junior Trade Minister for It'lal, working to restore my House's good name." Indeed, now that Barta has stated her house, it is easy for Sesha to notice the coat-of-arms on the brooch that is pinned to the young woman's left shoulder: the seal of House Mylyl.
"And...we are in It'lal," Barta insists. "I...I just heard the sound of a bell ring out and this set of doors appeared in my office. I heard you lot on the other side and opened the doors..." Here her lavender eyes peer at the rough-hewn tunnel that leads from the door to the exit outside. "Hey...that rock isn't the same as the stone that surrounds It'lal! Is...is that actually the rock in the southern plains area that you were sent to explore, Sesha...?"
Even as Barta's dialog unfolds, Cyniq's vast store of Woldian trivia tells her that there is, indeed, a marked difference in the stone that makes up the floor, walls and ceiling of the room that Barta stands in and the tunnel the heroes occupy. She also recalls that It'lal--a colony of Surface Drow who are trying to live down their race's megalomaniacal image by developing fair trade practices with their neighbors--has been sending out parties and individuals with an eye towards starting diplomatic ties to the various countries, settlements and towns in the area. Sesha had even mentioned as such the first day she'd met the other heroes. No doubt the people of It'lal would just LOVE to trade for a supply of pure mithril...
Alexi AC 28 Tch 13 Ffted 25 HP 102/120 CMD 26(Trip 28) d20+8=13 ; Wednesday June 19th, 2013 3:13:14 PM
Perc +8 = 13 pffft....
OOC: all these posts popped up while i was writing mine. :P
BTW, Alexi doesn't use a sword much anymore. His primary weapon is his flail, but no biggy.
IC: Alexi is just to flabbergasted at the weirdness of the whole thing to notice much and Sesha tugs at his belt, she easily passes him by as he offers no resistance.
None of what she says makes much sense, or any sense. It is quite clear that the doorway, or the whole tunnel, is a portal of some sort but that's about all Alexi has time to digest.
Sesha [AC 26 | HP 72/80 | CMD 14] [See Invisibility] Wednesday June 19th, 2013 7:36:25 PM
Sesha smiles at Barta then looks down into the doorway, and tentatively steps through it. Assuming she hasn't been blasted into another dimension, she quickly crosses the room towards the Junior Minister.
She turns to her side and introduces the rest of the party.
"These are good people. When I arrived in Bryn Baraz it became clear it had a number of guardians already. These are they. First there is Alexi, he is their leader of sorts. Then there is also half-man Garret. Much like half-man Giovanni, he is brave and reliable. Then there is Anrete. He likes stew and fighting, though I suspect there is more to him than he lets on."
She takes a deep breath.
"There is also Keela and Else, both excellent companions. Somewhere around here there may be a walking tree, it follows Else. Finally, there is Cynique. She is trustworthy, not like the Elves I was asked to read about when I moved to It'lal from the plains tribes. There is no atrocity against my blood-kin in her heart.
Sesha grins.
"Cynique, everyone..welcome to the City of the Drow! " Sesha motions out the door to the tunnels. "Barta...welcome to Bryn Baraz, the land of mithril, some hundreds of miles away!"
Alexi AC 28 Tch 13 Ffted 25 HP 102/120 CMD 26(Trip 28) Wednesday June 19th, 2013 10:43:55 PM
Alexi simply bows slightly, trying to fathom what kind of magic could do this in such a grand scale. It would not be unusual for the gods to do something like this, but the question then would be why?
Is there something in this library that may hint at the evil the Ahote Dream Sequence gave them several years ago perhaps?
ElseHP 123 - AC 18/13/15 - CMD 20 - F+12/R+18/W+17 Wednesday June 19th, 2013 11:49:23 PM "No, no, this isn't right. I shouldn't be here..." Else starts back-pedaling, keeping her lifewood staff raised and warding off the sight of the merchant's office as she slowly heads back the way the party came.
Mithril, You $$$ay??? - DM Donna Thursday June 20th, 2013 6:24:32 AM
Barta nods and smiles as Sesha introduces everyone, but when the witch mentions "mithril", her lavender eyes light up.
"Mithril?" the ivory-maned Junior Trade Minister echoes. "Would you be so kind as to show me? It'lal has been seeking quality raw material for a while now...if this mithril that you mention is now only a mere magic passage away, I can practically guarantee that the citizens of Bryn Baraz can name their price if they would agree to trade with It'lal for it..."
As Barta eagerly asks permission to enter Bryn Baraz, Alexi silently ponders what information about Ahote legends may exist in the Drow archives and Else gets rather nervous at the possibility of getting cut off from Bryn Baraz and starts to retreat back out the passage.
Even as the druid begins to withdraw, however, she hears voices raised in anger just outside the tunnel...on the Bryn Baraz side.
Keela[AC 17; HP 66/76] [Mage Armor; Telepathic Bond] d20+22=40 ; Thursday June 20th, 2013 10:07:06 AM
"Well, we'd be thrilled to have a visitor," Keela says, "but I don't know how stable this portal is."
She looks at the portal, trying to figure out whether it will be there for a while.
[Spellcraft or Knowledge Arcana 40]
Active Spells: Mage Armor (approximately 20 hours remaining) Telepathic Bond (100 minutes remaining?)
DM OOC: very good point--as far as Keela can tell, the magic that has created the portal is disturbingly Chaotic...who knows how long the present link between It'lal and Bryn Baraz will last...?
(And, yeah--there's at least 100 minutes of Telepathy left in the spell Keela cast.)
Garret Goodbarrel [AC:31/29/26 HP:89/103 Ki:7/12 CMD: 30] Thursday June 20th, 2013 2:02:53 PM
Garret moves with Keela -- despite knowing next to nothing about magic, he stands at the line where the tunnel ends and the room begins. He looks carefully for the exact point at which the two change, hoping to understand the magic that powers this idea.
Sesha [AC 26 | HP 72/80 | CMD 14] [See Invisibility] Thursday June 20th, 2013 6:49:27 PM
Sesha looks back to see Else stepping backwards away from her and Barta. Concerned, the young dark elf steps towards Else with her ebon hand outstretched.
"What's the problem Else? This isn't normal, but what is these days? Spirits are at ill-rest everywhere and ..."
Hearing the commotion, Sesha puts her hand to her mouth to shush Barta. She quickly feels for the darkness, something she has always been able to do, and summons a patch of the stuff behind her to cover the doorway to It'lal. If there was trouble, she would not let it see her blood-home. Barta and anyone else with Darkvision wouldn't have a trouble seeing through it.
Stepping forward past the studious Keela and Garret, she lightly taps them both with a finder and points the direction of the angry voices.
Then she follows the tunnel towards them, curious as to what could be happening now.
Cyniq al'Lyz AC 18{22}/16{20}/14{18} -- CMD 20 -- HP 65/65 Spells Active: Detect Scrying Thursday June 20th, 2013 8:02:31 PM
Cyniq nods when she is introduced, but otherwise settles back into the chair and just observes.
Alexi AC 28 Tch 13 Ffted 25 HP 102/120 CMD 26(Trip 28) Thursday June 20th, 2013 8:17:17 PM
Alexi starts to put a few things together as the new revelations start to congeal.
Justice, Law, was servered when the murderer suddenly babbled his guild. Law - chaos.
The new vein of mithril ore suddenly appears just as a new market that would pay extremely well for the ore. Law - ?. The chaos part would be the instability of the portal.
He was right. All things come with a price. He didn't think Bryn was ready to pay such a price, whatever it was. Bryn was too young, still going through groing pains. It's organization is still, well, chaotic. The funds that could make Bryn grow strong and well organized threatens to bring lawlessness and chaos if the town gets too greedy.
"I agree with Else. This isn't right. Something is bound to go wrong. If this portal is that unstable and we are trapped in the, wherever this is, are we to be helped to get back to Bryn? It could be weeks, rather months, or even years." Alexi starts heading back but then the entrance goes black.
"What tha... blazzing blackness is .... going on!" He blurts, getting angry.
Sesha [AC 26 | HP 72/80 | CMD 14] [See Invisibility] Thursday June 20th, 2013 8:34:03 PM
[ooc: Might have been unclear. She only blotted out the doorway itself. Nothing further back in the tunnel. Of course, if there were any of us in the office, they might have to deal with that. heh]
ElseHP 123 - AC 18/13/15 - CMD 20 - F+12/R+18/W+17 Thursday June 20th, 2013 11:50:52 PM
Else seems torn, obviously not wanting to stay on the side of the portal leading to the drow's office, yet somewhat fearful of the angry voices behind her. She stands near Alexi as the two of them face going back the way they came.
Canteloupe Watermelon Canteloupe Watermelon - DM Donna d20=2 ; d20=3 ; d20=16 ; d20=17 ; d20=9 ; d20=10 ; d20=20 ; d20=3 ; Friday June 21st, 2013 12:00:07 AM
The experienced spellcasters can deduce from their skill(s) at Spellcraft that the magic that has clearly exposed more mithril and created the connection between Bryn Baraz and It'lal is Chaotic in nature, and that it is reasonably stable for the moment...however, it is natural logic that prompts the question of: if this be Chaos magic that started this whole thing, then how stable will it prove to be over the long run?
Alexi feels a hand snag the hand in which he bears his flail--or, more accurately, the grip of fingers encircles his wrist of that hand. He is tugged forward, into the darkness...and past it, to exit the tunnel with everyone in the group who go to investigate the hubbub outside.
"--dare you all keep the discovery of an even bigger deposit of mithril from us???" a booming basso demands stridently. "You have a binding contract with the Floating City!"
The party can see there is an ever-growing crowd of townspeople who are ogling what looks to be a glowering contest between Garth Turnbuckle and a shorter, wider and much-more-richly-attired round human that none of you have ever seen before. The stranger is looking very angry, as is the wagon-master-turned-unofficial-mayor. However, the mustachioed Garth spies the heroes emerging from the tunnel.
"Will you lot help me talk sense into this nitwit???" he asks, aggrieved. "This here is Otto Rousecor...he's Floating City's trade councilman. Apparent that magic bell-thing opened up a tunnel that leads straight to his office, and he--"
"YOU, there!" the imperious rotund man flicks a dismissive hand at Alexi. "You seem to have the bearing of a man in charge--I order you to arrest Turnbuckle for breach of contract! He's obviously trying to hoard this newest discovery of mithril so that only he profits from it!" His beady little eyes fall upon where Alexi's wrist is being held--by Barta, who was the one kind enough to make sure that the human cleared out of the sudden area of darkness without hurting himself. The Drow female releases Alexi's arm when Rousecor gives a rather high-pitched squeal of outrage.
"What??? You've allied yourselves with Drow???" the councilman asks, his face growing red. "Traitors! Backstabbers! Floating City is supposed to be your sole trading partner."
"Now wait just a minute!" Basal Quartzkin interrupts, bristling. "That wasn't in the settlement contract at all! The Stonehelm Company gave your government the maps to the known deposit of mithril at the time we sought support for the mine--we never said that we were giving up claims to any new deposits of metal, minerals, or gems that were made after the fact!"
Everyone is getting angrier and angrier...and there are a half-a-dozen armed men that have just emerged from Tunnel #3. They spy Rousecor arguing with Garth and begin to hustle quickly to the councilman's side, hands upon their sidearms...
Anrete [HP: 130/130, AC32/Touch18/FF32, CMD 34, DR2] Friday June 21st, 2013 2:46:23 AM
ooc:
Dear all, the indonesia fire is causing the psi (Pollutant Standards Index) in my city to hit over 400 (translate to hazardous). I am semi-dead from the smog as I am asthmatic. There are cases of birds and stray cats dropping dead. It is really like silent hill here.
Not much brain juice to left to read and post. So pls do excuse me if I miss the next few posts?
Anrete [HP: 130/130, AC32/Touch18/FF32, CMD 34, DR2] d20+13=27 ; Friday June 21st, 2013 2:48:29 AM
Anrete breaks into a bout of coughing before glaring at the newcomers.
Garret Goodbarrel [AC:31/29/26 HP:89/103 Ki:7/12 CMD: 30] Friday June 21st, 2013 8:32:05 AM
Garret sees the fight brewing and moves quickly to stand between the officials and the arriving armed men. He stands, arms crossed, and holds up a finger to the armed men. He wags his finger back and forth and shakes his head, clearly indicating that they are not to proceed past him.
Keela[AC 17; HP 66/76] [Mage Armor; Telepathic Bond] Friday June 21st, 2013 3:00:50 PM
There was a time when Keela wouldn't have dreamed of wading into the middle of something like this, but that time has passed.
"All right, she says calmly, stepping forward. "We're not going to accomplish anything if we just yell at each other. Master Turnbuckle, phrases like 'this nitwit' are not helpful. Master Rousecor, breach of contract is a civil, not a criminal, matter; nobody's going to be arrested. Everyone, please remember that these portals are not stable and we don't know how much longer they're going to be open. We need to do our business as quickly as possible, and that means no yelling." She eyes the approaching guardsmen. "And no fighting," she adds.
She takes a deep breath. "For now, I think that I--and anybody else who can cast Teleport--should go familiarize ourselves with Master Rousecor's and Mistress Barta's offices, so we can help get people back where they belong, just in case. And I think Master Rousecor and Master Quartzkin should find their copies of the contract, so we can consult it and see what it says."
Sesha [AC 26 | HP 72/80 | CMD 14] [See Invisibility] Friday June 21st, 2013 6:23:35 PM
Sesha finds this to be a curious matter. She came from It'lal for the purpose of establishing trade, and now that the option was here it seemed the humans weren't interested.
Maybe unintentionally, maybe not, she found herself somehow standing near Barta. Her blood-kin were rarely treated favorably by others, except by more traveled and exceptional individuals. She wouldn't let Barta be berated by simple villagers.
Cyniq al'Lyz AC 18{22}/16{20}/14{18} -- CMD 20 -- HP 65/65 Spells Active: Detect Scrying Friday June 21st, 2013 10:19:55 PM
Cyniq cocked an eyebrow as the others left, they had just gotten here after all.
I've found that Pantheon has some interesting methods for letting me know where his services are needed. So tell me, how's trading been going?
DM OOC: Did Cyniq stay behind? If so, there is nobody in the trade office but her. If she followed everyone out of the tunnel, then please state to whom she is asking her question.
I did not see where the trader had left, so I guess she would have had to follow the others.
ElseHP 123 - AC 18/13/15 - CMD 20 - F+12/R+18/W+17 Friday June 21st, 2013 11:53:31 PM
ooc: Ninja'ed by DM Donna, see below.
Questions & Some Answers - DM Donna Saturday June 22nd, 2013 12:11:35 AM
Between Anrete and Garret, the Floating City guardsmen are sufficiently cautious so that they do nothing more than halt a few feet away from where the indignant Councilman Rousecor is standing toe-to-toe, glaring at each other.
"Master Quartzkin can go get the contract from his fellows at the mine," Garth says acidly, "If he feels he must. But he's right--the terms for the settlement of Bryn Baraz were that Floating City would help supply 'supporting talent' for the mine in exchange for giving the city first crack at the mithril supply that had already been indicated on the known maps. Anything new was to be considered property of the Stonehelm Mining Company and the town of Bryn Baraz."
"We didn't know you had more mithril!" yells Rousecor. "You deliberately led us astray! You're trying to keep everything for yourselves!" Garth--although he looks like he really wants to punch Rousecor in the face--instead crosses his arms and clenches his teeth.
"I told you--this giant bell suddenly showed up and began ringing," he says with very forced patience. "When it did, that's when the canyon broke open with the three tunnels--one leading to that new mithril, one connecting to your office in Floating City, and the third..." Now Garth pauses and glances over to the heroes.
"Um...where DOES that third one go to...?"
ElseHP 123 - AC 18/13/15 - CMD 20 - F+12/R+18/W+17 Saturday June 22nd, 2013 12:42:09 AM
Else follows Alexi through the tunnel back to Bryn Baraz. She is dismayed to see the throng of angry and disordered people milling about the mine entrance. As tensions reach a peak, she puts two fingers to her mouth and blows a piercing whistle. "Sandy! Get over here!"
Beginning softly, then quickly growing in pace and volume, giant footsteps make their way toward the crowd. Sandy - the giant plant monster - rounds a corner and villagers scatter to make way. Else raises a finger and points at the creature. "Sa yuta nagsugo kaninyo sa pag-nga motubo ug molambo sama sa makalilisang nga sa buntag!"
With an audible hum, Sandy quickly begins to grow in size. By the time she makes it across the courtyard to Else's side, she is now fully 25-feet-tall. Else taps the creature's leg with her staff, "Up, up.", and is gingerly picked up and held at the creature's chest-height. The human druid glowers at the crowd. "Play. Nice."
ooc: Cast Animal Growth, Sandy is now Huge-sized.
Sesha [AC 26 | HP 72/80 | CMD 14] [See Invisibility] Saturday June 22nd, 2013 11:39:04 AM
Sesha looks up at the incredible tree, feeling impossibly small by comparison. Not leaving her place near Barta, she tears her eyes away from Sandy.
"It leads to It'lal, City of the Drow. A whole city of elves who will value your mithril greatly."
The young drow takes Barta's hand for a moment a squeezes it, then whispers.
"You may want to get some words in now. Humans rarely stop talking. Make an offer, Junior Minister, and make Mylyl proud. "
Alexi AC 28 Tch 13 Ffted 25 HP 102/120 CMD 26(Trip 28) d20+14=17 ; d20+14=31 ; d20+7=25 ; Saturday June 22nd, 2013 9:50:17 PM
Alexi is glad his friends have grown much and learned much in the art of diplomacy. He was sorry Jet wasn't here to witness it too. That fiasco with Ma Belle's several years ago was their first experience in dealing with the people that didn't mean having to rescue them. This event was certainly several steps up from that!
Alexi stomps over to the blustering shorty. Planting his armored frame in front of the man he calmly removes his helmet, glares down at him and then leans his head back in a deep guffaw!
"Arrest Master Garth? Don't be silly. Master Garth isn't a Miner, he's the town Mayor, Captain of the Guard, and other things, but no Miner. He has nothing to do with the operation of the mine. So your charge is that he was keeping a vein of mithril from you? It's not his job to monitor the mithril.
And talking about mines, you certainly have all the right to be upset about any mithril ore veins in THAT MINE!" he turns Rousecor to face the original mine entrance and points to it.
"THAT'S the mine in your contract. Any other diggins outside the contract's perimeter, such as THIS WALL RIGHT HERE," he spins Rousecor back around to the three new entrances, "is OUTSIDE that contract. As such, it belongs to the citizens of Bryn proper, not a consortium, and the town can negotiate with whomever they wish. Most likely the highest bidder."
He then calmly steps away from Rousecor and grins, "I'd start trying to get on the good side of Bryn's city council and start negotiating before this lady leaves you behind in the dust."
Intimidate +14 (Alexi want's Rousecor to know that he means business, knows what he's doing, and won't be intimidated himself) = 17 Hero Point Reroll = 31
Diplomacy +7 (get Rousecor to realize it is to his advantage to get over it and start negotiating) = 25
...SUDDENLY (again)... - DM Donna Sunday June 23rd, 2013 10:17:45 AM
Else calls her leafy sidekick over and the townspeople (who were actually just displaying how upset the Floating City councilman's boorish behavior was getting them) recognize the druid's companion and make the appropriate room for Sandy, most of them settling down to muttering and glaring at Rousecor.
Sesha advises her fellow Surface Drow to use her skills in trade and barter to their best effect. Barta nods acknowledgement, but before she can say anything, Alexi points out to the overbearing representative of Floating City that Rousecor is being presumptuous to the point of illegality. The rotund man huffs a breath, his eyes narrowing as he finally stops talking and starts thinking.
(Thinking is a good thing...right...?)
"Look, Mommy, look..!" a child's voice pipes up in the relative quiet that settles in the aftermath of Rousecor shutting up, "The big, giant bell is really pretty!" And, indeed, the big, giant bell IS very pretty, its clear crystal structure glittering in the sun and throwing off a multitude of rainbow-colored sparkles...
...hey...wait a minute...wasn't that bell made of metal before...?
Even as the heroes (and many of the townsfolk) realize that the mysterious bell has definitely changed in material composition, a sort of humming fills the air: it's the bell--but it's not ringing...the crystal structure itself is humming...louder...and louder...and louder...
Keela[AC 17; HP 66/76] [Mage Armor; Telepathic Bond] Sunday June 23rd, 2013 1:53:41 PM
Keela turns to the townsfolk. Since things have gotten quieter, she does not shout, but she does pitch her voice to carry.
"All right," she says, calm but clear. "Let's all move away from the bell. Everybody back, please. We don't know what it's going to do."
She suits actions to words, moving away from the bell herself, and doing her best to "herd" the townsfolk in front of her.
Anrete [HP: 130/130, AC32/Touch18/FF32, CMD 34, DR2] Monday June 24th, 2013 9:53:36 AM Interesting! Anrete moves closer to have a look, while incidentally crowding out the townsfolk away from the bell.
Alexi AC 28 Tch 13 Ffted 25 HP 102/120 CMD 26(Trip 28) Monday June 24th, 2013 9:55:15 AM
Alexi didn't like the bell to begin with. It disrupted their investigation. Even if the culprint confessed, it was more so due to panick rather than anything from the bell. Then opening up a new vein of mithril ore only to pit two kingdoms against each other in competition for the mineral that could potentially become violent made things worse, in Alexi's mind.
"I don't like the sound of the bell either. Everyone, do as Keela says, back away as far as you can."
He then sternely tells Barta, then Rousecor, that they should go back through their respective tunnels or risk being left behind in Bryn.
Garret Goodbarrel [AC:31/29/26 HP:89/103 Ki:7/12 CMD: 30] Monday June 24th, 2013 8:24:55 PM
As Keela and the others back away from the bell, Garret moves with Anrete, closer to the bell, looking closely...
Sesha [AC 26 | HP 72/80 | CMD 14] [See Invisibility] Monday June 24th, 2013 8:43:39 PM
Even as Alexi orders Barta, Sesha tightly grips the older Drow females hand in her own. Perhaps it's the bell, perhaps it's her unexpected happiness at seeing another Drow. Either way, Sesha slides in between Alexi and the House Mylyl female.
"This one holds station Alexi. She may not be an adventurer but she brings honor to her house by stepping through an unstable portal to a land filled with Humans who may or may not know the slightest thing about what the Drow are doing in It'lal. Knowing none but me, she risked the proverbial tar, feathers, and pitchfork even showing herself here, knowing nothing about the integrity of you and the people of Bryn Baraz like I do."
Sesha tightens her grip on her broom.
"I shall not let you tell her off like she is some ninny being somewhere she should not. It is her duty to her race, my blood-kin, to try and ensure trade here, whether through this portal or by the same overland route I used when I came here. If the portal closes, I will take her home myself. Walking in the Shadows Pot-pot and I can cover 100 miles in two hours. I can have her home in days. I would not let anyone, even Alexi of Bryn Baraz, whom I admire greatly, send her home with the dishonor to her house of not trying to use this opportunity because of a chance something might not be ideal."
The juvenile Witch scowls and points her broom at Rousecor.
"Now THAT mewling kitten can return home any time he would like and it would be none too soon, though I will not force him or anyone. He has done nothing but bluster and threaten. Barta has done neither."
LOG ON