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Bliss / CatBliss (AC20, HP112of116, +3nonlethal) (Cayzle) 
Tuesday November 28th, 2017 9:37:25 PM

Bliss shouts as the elementals are destroyed, "YEAH! THAT'S WHAT YOU GOT FOR MESSING WITH HUMBLES FORD! TAKE THAT YOU BIG BULLIES!"

He looks around and realizes that with all his yelling, he did not even get in his last licks. Oh well.

He retracts his thorns, allows his fists to change back from wood to flesh, and calms down a bit.

Looking around the battlefield, he sees the two halfling heroes, Garret and Katinka, who stepped up to fight. "Well, you guys sure were helpful! Hi! I'm Bliss, and it is purely nice to meet you!" He holds out his hand to welcome them.

Bliss is a very young looking halfling boy who has no armor or shield and did not use any weapon in the fight but his fists. He has a tiny pot on his belt.

Lance Foxwell (Tanner) HP 97 -- AC 18/18/15 -- F+8 R+9 W+11 -- CMD 16 -- Fly +16 
Tuesday November 28th, 2017 11:31:36 PM
Lance allows the electricity to wink out around his hands. "Excellent." He alights to the ground and looks over to where the elemental appeared. "See anything? There may be more."

RobC - Katinka Hushfoot -- AC 29/23/21 (shieldless) -- CMD 26 -- HP 185 -- Spells -- Active Effects 
Wednesday November 29th, 2017 6:00:02 AM
Tink sees Hobie wander off on his own. She doesn't miss much and can tell he's upset by something. She directs her Azatas to heal the party while she spends some time with him. The Azatas can cast CLW at will, some CSW spells, lesser restoration, restoration, and heal spells and each have around 10rounds left to cast all this.

She makes her way over to Hobie - picking up her sheild on the way - and looks off into the distance rather than at his face. She speaks softly such that noone but Hobie can hear. "Would you think less of your friends if they messed up a spell or failed to connect with a sword? Don't be so hard on yourself. You have heart and your friends. Those are what truly matters. Trust me on that. Take a moment and then join them in the victory that you all achieved."

She's not sure if her words will have any impact or not but she speaks from experience. How many battles did it take fighting alongside the Iron Dragons for Tink to feel equal - to feel worthy of standing along side them? Self doubt can be hard to overcome.

Tink returns to the group and looks over herself and Garret. Ugh! Ash. She casts a Prestidigitation spell to clean both herself and Garret up. Tidying up the party though may be a bit presumptuous.

"Ah, much better. I suppose introductions are now in order. Katinka Hushfoot, Justicar of Pantheon, member of the Iron Dragons and Dragon Consortium. A pleasure" she gives a formal bow to the party "But please, call me Tink. Only my father calls me Katinka these days"

She looks at the halfling boy 'Bliss' "And it's nice to meet you too" She's a little concerned that someone has let this little boy wander around and get into fights. If it comes up she will be sure to have a word with his parents about this.

"I think I can see why we're here. The Dragon Consortium specifically requested Garret and myself come to Humble's Ford. It would seem these unusual events are spreading across the Wold. The Consortium currently doesn't have any knowledge as to the cause, and that's a little concerning."

"But end of the Wold events aside, how's everyone doing?"

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 24 (21 currently), HP 94/109, CMD 24, Resist fire 20; Rumpus - AC 26, HP 62/62, CMD 24 
Wednesday November 29th, 2017 9:17:54 AM
Kezzem checks out thw new arrivals.

Ooc: detect evil

"So who arr you people?"

After they reply, Kezzem says to Tink, "Have we met before? You seem familiar."

"So...does anyone know how to fix my armor?"

Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10 (Kim) HP 80/80  d20+27=47 ;
Wednesday November 29th, 2017 10:59:47 AM

Murphy walks over to what appears to be the stony center of the huge elemental that the party - and the two newcomers - just took down. He touches it, gingerly at first, and if no harm comes, he hefts it, carrying it over to the other ashen heart.

"Your arrival - though I only at first heard you come here, as the creatures had blinded me - was most welcome, Katinka Hushfoot - Tink, and Garret, of the Iron Dragons," says the large earth elemental. "I am Murphy Leafwin Pipewood - though not in my usual body. We are Humble's Sword. And these opponents had some powers we were not accustomed to, compared to some of what we have faced in the past. Pardon me a moment."

Murphy transforms from earth elemental back into his own body, and walks over to Pressi, and gives her a hug. "I'd rather be the one to embrace you, than some ash monster. Good work, sweetie." He turns a bit, and says to the newcomers, "Pressi here can tell you all a bit about what she knows concerning the volcano who wants to move here. We would love to learn what you may know about the coming 'Doom.'"

He takes a step forward says, "Garret - I've never seen any who had quite the moves you just displayed. One of my cousins, Podo Danderfluff, is a monk, but I think you may have been at it a bit longer than he."

Looking over Kezzem's armor, Murphy says, "It might take me two hours to mend that for you, Kez."

"And, well done, all of you. I felt somewhat out of it, being blinded for a good part of the battle, but it's good to have so many friends who work to pitch in. Bliss, you are heroic, indeed. Lance, good to see you - I knew you were up there somewhere."

Addressing the two Azatas, Murphy says, "Thank you for coming to our aid. Your presence is a real comfort. How are you known, if I may ask?"

[With perception 47 - nat 20 - I think Murphy understands where Hobie is.] Shortly after Tink leaves his side, Murphy comes up to him. Not being able to see for most of the combat, he was not aware of the apparent lack of effect of his companion's arrows. "Hobie - you all right?" he asks.

Garret Goodbarrel (AC 39/35/32; +4 vs AOO HP: 167/167 Ki:18/18 CMD: 45 SR: 27) 
Wednesday November 29th, 2017 11:34:52 AM
Garret stands in the remains of the ash elemental and looks around. When Tink prepares to clean him up, he shrugs, apparently oblivious to the mess he has made of himself. He walks over as the introductions are made. He says, "Indeed, I am Garret Goodbarrel of the Windbourne Hills. Tink and I are of the Iron Dragons, possibly named such because I have even ridden two different dragons myself!" He pauses for applause.

He looks around at the group and wonders why no one has any food out yet. He reaches into his belt pouch and pulls out a piece of soggy meat and takes a bite. He thanks Murphy and says, "Indeed, I was raised in a small monastery and I've been at this ever since, traveling all around the Wold. What are you folks doing here battling with elementals? Is that part of this whole 'The Wold is Broken' we're seeing?"

Pressi (Melvin)-AC 21 (22), HP 78/83, CMD 20; Harper-AC 21 (22), HP 61, CMD 23; Followers 
Wednesday November 29th, 2017 2:25:51 PM
"Yes, yes, welcome and good graces, ashante and all that, but you kind of walked right into our shot, so..."

Pressi eyes the azata warily but accepts the lesser restore spell for her con damage and the healing for her pet leapord, Harper. "I do suppose we owe some thanks for the assist, having been caught a tad underprepared."

Pressi returns Tink's bow and smiles wanly at Garret. "Pressi Silverglove, Crones of the South Justicar and herself a member of the Iron... actually, Southern Crone works there too. Rather unexpected of you to show up, especially since we've been cut off from the rest of the world. As for what we are doing battling elementals, well, you know how soccer games get out of hand...."

At Murphy's prodding, she explains to Garret and Tink about Vé-Eldfjöll, that immortal power of fighter opposed by crossword puzzle enthusiasts everywhere, and about her divinations regarding something called the Sleeper or also the Doom of the Wold. "Anyway, he's manifesting currently and would like a few followers, so here we are."

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 81/81 AC 21 (shield off) CMD 24 Hero Points 2  
Wednesday November 29th, 2017 2:47:06 PM
Hobie sits silently and invisibly nodding as Tink gives him her encouraging words. He thinks on them and takes them to heart.

When Murphy approaches and asks how he's doing, he responds, "Its just that.... that you were all so welcoming to me, asking me to be a real part of Humble's Sword, and I let you down."

"This was my first fight as a part of your team, and I didn't do my job. I wanted to play my role and help the team, but I might as well have not been there. I stood blind on a rock, and then even once I could see, I didn't land a single arrow. I just wanted to prove myself valuable. And I couldn't"

Bliss / CatBliss (AC20, HP112of116, +3nonlethal) (Cayzle) 
Wednesday November 29th, 2017 11:15:14 PM
Bliss says to his friends, "Dragon Consortium! Wowsy! These guys are real heroes! Wow! It is super super neat to meet you!"

"Some day I want to be a hero like you guys are!"

Lance Foxwell (Tanner) HP 97 -- AC 18/18/15 -- F+8 R+9 W+11 -- CMD 16 -- Fly +16 
Wednesday November 29th, 2017 11:30:51 PM
Lance floats over the conversation. "The Wold is broken? The entire Wold? Well, I don't know about the entire Wold, but I can tell you that our neck of the woods has been rather erratic lately. Unpleasantly erratic."

Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10 (Kim) HP 80/80 
Thursday November 30th, 2017 3:00:45 AM

Be of good cheer
"Oh, Hobie. Others of us were blinded. I did not do as well as I could have hoped," Murphy answers. "Look, sometimes I am able to contribute a lot to an attack. Sometimes hardly anything at all, it seems. But I try, and don't give up. You kept trying, didn't you? Also, I've never fought an ash elemental before. How much damage will an arrow do against something as ephemeral as pieces of ash? Maybe you'd need something that can affect incorporeal things.

"The great thing about being part of a team, Hobe, is that each of us brings different skills and abilities. Maybe the next thing you loose arrows against will be very sorely damaged by them. And, we learned something. With this volcano thing coming, maybe we need to tool up, refine our equipment - which, I know you just did - and I think the cold thing will be very helpful against fire critters.

"But, most important, don't be discouraged. Let's see what we can learn, and be better prepared next time. For me, I'm wondering if there's something we can do to help to keep us from getting blinded so easily - or to get unblinded in a snap, at least.

"Anyway, Hobie Browncloak, buck up. Do you see anyone here who thinks you're a slackard? Because, I don't. I'll bet the time will come when, without your help, we would lose. So, don't even think about leaving us."

--------
Snacks and Chocolate
Noting Garret's hunger, Murphy reaches into his haversack. "I've got, let's see. A loaf of bread. A half round of good cheese. Some halfling trail rations - 4 sets. And a pound of chocolate. You look hungry after all that work." He spreads a small blanket, and places the food on it.

Murphy then takes out a bar of chocolate weighing a pound. He takes a dagger, and carefully cuts the rectangular sweet into... ten pieces. He offers one to each person here - including the Azatas, Tink, and Garret. "Try it."

----------
What news from the Dragon Consortium?
As people gather to eat - and perhaps offer some of their own food and drink, Murphy, with a small piece of bread, a thin slice of cheese, and his chocolate reserved for dessert, and asks, "So, the Dragon Consortium. You might know that people cannot leave Crescent Valley, and the volcano wants to move upon us. What is going on elsewhere in the Wold? What things are known? What sorts of rumors are floating about - and what weight do you give them?" After his first bite of bread and cheese, he nibbles on the rest, and listens.

Garret Goodbarrel (AC 39/35/32; +4 vs AOO HP: 167/167 Ki:18/18 CMD: 45 SR: 27) 
Thursday November 30th, 2017 11:53:55 AM
Garret listens to Pressi but is quickly distracted by the spread of food laid out. He quickly runs up and takes a seat. Somehow, even after Tink's cleaning, a slight...odor comes from him as he sits down shoves some food in his mouth. As soon as his mouth is full, he pauses and says, "Mffgh. You guys have plenty, right? We could bring you some more if you're low on food."

After he swallows he continues, "Indeed, there are strange happenings all over the Wold, and most of the rumors are probably true. Who would thought a volcano would be moving here? The Dragon Consortium sent us here to check things out and we're clearly going to have to report back that things aren't right here, either."

Pressi (Melvin)-AC 21 (22), HP 83, CMD 20; Harper-AC 21 (22), HP 61, CMD 23; Followers  d20+19=35 ;
Thursday November 30th, 2017 5:56:22 PM
Pressi takes out her own almost expired Mr Goodbarry and finishes her healing, offering it to others. "Yeah, I think food is the one area we should be all right in, thus far. And again, I'd avoid promising anything until you've actually tried getting out."

She sits and pokes at the ashen cores, looking for any more clues that might tell them what they are looking at (Perception 35), but not expecting anything to be found. They all seemed a bit drained, and she didn't think anyone in Humble's Sword felt all that happy about their performance.

To Hobie, she started with her usual speech about the need to shake it off, but he seemed unresponsive. "For my first outing with the team, back when I was just a monk, I spent half of it under a charm drink and the other half staring forlornly at flying pixies. Nobody's judging you for screwing up. It happens five percent of the time, at best."

DM Ken BATTLE MAP 
Thursday November 30th, 2017 7:11:54 PM

Garret and Katinka explain a little bit about what's happening in the Wold. In turn, Pressi explains their own situation as per her wicked divinations. Vé-Eldfjöll, a power associated with Chaos and Fire, was on the run, from well, something. It had chosen Humbles Ford and the Crescent Valley as the spot for it's relocation.

In turn, phantasms and creatures native to his realm showed up here, being phased into existence here as their natural habitat, Vé-Eldfjöll's area of influence, did the same.

No one, as Pressi explained, has been allowed to leave the 100 mile radius. Who knew why the Iron Dragons were able to break in?

------------------

Pressi examines the Ashen Cores. They appear to be some form of condensed, bonded minerals or metals. The strange mixture and the magic binding them all could possibly be valuable. Appraise: DC 15

------------------



Lance Foxwell (Tanner) HP 97 -- AC 18/18/15 -- F+8 R+9 W+11 -- CMD 16 -- Fly +16  d20+2=10 ;
Thursday November 30th, 2017 11:01:27 PM
ooc: Appraise 10

Lance examines the bonded minerals and rubs his chin in thought. "Hmm... I have no idea." He straightens and looks around. "Do we have any merchants, pray tell?"

Bliss / CatBliss (AC20, HP112of116, +3nonlethal) (Cayzle) 
Thursday November 30th, 2017 11:40:56 PM
Bliss listens to everything with wide eyes.

"Well, now I get it," he declares. "This Vay-Elf-Jill is not just an invader. She's a ... a ... well, a refugee. Who wants a new home. Huh."

The little guy sits and thinks about that for a minute. "Well, I don't think it's nice to send lots of monsters around that might end up hurting people. But I kind of feel bad for her. Can we help her some how? A hero helps people in need. Is Vay-Elf-Jill a people? Can we find her a new home? Can we ask her not to put her monsters where they might hurt other people?"

RobC - Katinka Hushfoot -- AC 29/23/21 (shieldless) -- CMD 26 -- HP 185 -- Spells -- Active Effects 
Friday December 1st, 2017 2:56:03 AM
Tink looks at the crumbs piling on Garret's tunic once more. Is... is that smell coming from him? She doesn't join in on the food and drink, however she doesn't want to appear rude either. She takes the piece of chocolate offered to her by Murphy. "Thankyou. That's very kind of you"

She glances at the ashen cores. She's fairly sure she knows what they are but doesn't want to interfere with the group (Appraise check: 30). If the group struggle she'll put her 2 coppers in.

Tink grins at the question as to how she and Garret were able to arrive "You'd be surprised at the places the Dragon Consortium can go. Just a few days ago we were teleporting to places not even on the Wold" She's happy to brag a little, but of course won't go into the specifics of the adventure. Not until Gargul gave the go-ahead anyway.

"A volcano making a move is certainly unusual, however in a strange way it is not too strange given what else is happening across the Wold. People in Hook visiting alternate realities, the Tree of Parting animating, extremely wild weather surrounding Bonetown. These are certainly unusual times"

Tink pauses for a moment as if lost in thought and then nods to Garret.

"I'm sorry to have to cut this short. We've been called back to Hook" The Rings of the Dragon Consortium allow for telepathic communicataion any distance on the same plane.

Tink takes a small-sized silver dagger from her pack. The handle is covered in some kind of black leather and the blade is almost reflective, save for a small glowing rune (an arcane mark). The rune is the mark of the Iron Dragons. She admires it for a moment, and then holding the dagger by the tip hands it to Hobie

"I want you to have this. When I first travelled to Hook City I had this dagger by my side. It's been with me every day since. Through cursed artifacts, crazed monstrologers, teucri madness, fighting monsters in Jericho Space, and even by my side during the times we met with Gargul and Gimp.

I've taken comfort knowing it is with me and that I can always depend on it should the situation arise. Much like a friend"
(Silver Dagger removed from Tink's equipment list)

Tink stands and gives her neck a 'crack'. "I'm sorry we can't stay longer. I had kind of told Garret about the taverns in Humble's Ford. We may have to pop in again soon."

"As for your volcano problem, if the situation becomes dire or you ever need our help, please send word to Hook City. The people there know how to get in contact with us - day or night"

She waits to see if there are any final questions or thoughts from the group.

Pressi (Melvin)-AC 21 (22), HP 83, CMD 20; Harper-AC 21 (22), HP 61, CMD 23; Followers  d20+4=16 ;
Friday December 1st, 2017 10:44:29 AM
(Appraise Untrained Roll 16 - pass) Pressi studies the ashen cores intently and begins to understand some of the items throughout. She does remind everyone of the traveling merchant trapped with them, and wonders if maybe they can take him with them.

In response to Bliss, she almost scoffs. "Mister Vee Jay is not some misunderstood innocent blundering through the fields. He is a piece of nature itself, incapable of balance or mercy. The tiger may be blameless but you don't invite it to tea."

In response to Harper's growl, "With certain exceptions, of course. My deepest apologies."

She doesn't really have final questions or thoughts besides the bristling of them just popping in and out without nary a thought, except....

"This may be one more piece of the puzzle. Bliss and I... we two now witches are the only ones who had strange nightmares. And, as I mentioned earlier, we both kind of changed form right before these events occurred. I first, through a soul gem, and then Bliss with visions of me making the changes. Animating spells, elemental attacks, opened portals, it's as if the Woldsblood itself is in flux and the immortal powers are at war."

She paused for a second. "We might need to visit Alleah, after all."

Garret Goodbarrel (AC 39/35/32; +4 vs AOO HP: 167/167 Ki:18/18 CMD: 45 SR: 27) 
Friday December 1st, 2017 11:03:21 AM
Garret continues to shove food in his mouth as the conversation continues. He stops when he realizes he is stuffing himself with food from an adventuring group and he pauses to ponder taverns in this area. A quick glance around and he remembers they're nowhere near taverns. As Tink mentioned, perhaps another time...

When Pressi mentions dreams, Garret's eyes roll back as he says, "Dream, oh man. Our entire city was plagued with bad dreams just the other day. Indeed, something is wrong with the entire Wold right now, and we're trying to figure out what it is. If we figure it out, we'll pop on in and tell you, but I'm betting when we figure it out, the entire Wold will know!"

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 24 (21 currently), HP 94/109, CMD 24, Resist fire 20; Rumpus - AC 26, HP 62/62, CMD 24 
Friday December 1st, 2017 12:22:06 PM
"Thanks Murph, I appreciate it."

----

Kezzem snickers when Tink mentions Bonetown. "Sorry," he mutters afterwards.

"Alleah? Do we have to, Press? I still owe her money from the last time we played cards."



Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 81/81 AC 21 (shield off) CMD 24 Hero Points 2   d20+3=23 ;
Friday December 1st, 2017 1:18:53 PM
Hobie returns to visibility, and looks at Katinka with a look of deep admiration and appreciation. He takes the dagger and stares wide eyed at the mark of the Iron Dragons.

"Thank you so very much. Not merely for the dagger but especially for your words. I will cherish this dagger, and let it always remind me to stand strong and fight for my friends, no matter my luck. I wish that I had something that I could give you in return for your great gift, but I.... Oh!"

Hobie takes his common Cold Iron dagger from it's sheath and replaces it with Tink's silver dagger, puts the cold iron dagger in his handy haversack, and retrieves from his handy haversack the Lute that he purchased recently.

"I will give you this song, as my way of saying thank you."

Hobie plays this song for Katinka. Inspired by her words and her presence, he hits every note about as perfectly as he can, and is quite proud of himself.

(Perform check 23, with a Nat 20)

"I wish you could stay and tell us more of your adventures, but it seems we all have some work to do in the meantime. You Iron Dragons most of all."



Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10 (Kim) HP 80/80  d20+3=5 ; d20+7=24 ;
Friday December 1st, 2017 5:51:21 PM

Seeing that Tink and Garret are about to leave, Murphy asks, "Please, can't you tell us, briefly, what is happening elsewhere. It sounds like much, but you have not given us much that is solid. Also... Tink - did you know something more about the heart of these elementals?"

"Yes, Garret, the valley, I think, is fine for food - except that the soil seems to be drying out all over the place. We have rich soil, but also need moisture, and Mister Mountain is doing something to affect that."

RobC - Katinka Hushfoot -- AC 29/23/21 (shieldless) -- CMD 26 -- HP 185 -- Spells -- Active Effects 
Saturday December 2nd, 2017 5:53:20 AM
Tink passes on what she learnt from the appraise check.

She smiles warmly and then nods along, closing her eyes to truly enjoy Hobie's performance. The guy has talent.

Pressi said something interesting though "Nightmares you say? Interesting. Every single person in Hook City had a nightmare just last night. Every single person. It was when we woke up we found things were quite unusual"

She follows on with her explanation to answer Murphy's questions as well "Yes, when we woke up things were very unusual. There was a thick fog covering the city. We could see tall, slender, faceless beings walking amongst the fog. There were these weird glowing orbs too. Each one we touched transported us to an alternate timeline. In one case a land where Marteus had conquered the Gods of the Wold. Yes, not a nice place that one. Oh, and another where the alter-Garret wouldn't eat"

"Anyway, there are other things happening in the Wold that we are aware of. All of the Iron Dragons have been dispatched to different parts of the Wold. Restlin and Sesha were sent to the Tree of Parting. The Tree animated to protect the people there from treants and I think I heard tell of negative energy elementals. Restlin just checked in over the link to tell us that the Tree appears to be in a kind of slumber or hibernation now. He's gone to see an old friend of ours for aid.

Bosk and Zane just returned from an island off Bonetown. Some huge undead thing attacked two ships that had been tossed around by some unnnatural storm. There were a group of heroes there as well.

Sesha has been mulling over a theory. Were the Iron Dragons sent to make sure that important landmarks or artifacts are safe, or perhaps the Consortium are using us to make sure these sites are adequately guarded by heroes such as yourselves?"

Tink leaves the group with that puzzle.

"Oh and hey, what do you guys call yourselves? We have to report back to the Consortium on what we found here"

When answered Tink will give the party a nod and a wave.

"Best of luck to you all. Stay together and stay strong."

Tink will drag Garret away from the food if possible. If not, she simply grabs the collar of his vest. That's all it takes before the pair disappear from Humble's Ford (Teleport)

Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10 (Kim) HP 80/80 
Saturday December 2nd, 2017 1:15:48 PM

"Thank you, Tink," Murphy says following her detailed report. "It sounds as though whoever, whatever this coming Doom may be, Vé-Eldfjöll and his attendent demons and elementals make up Crescent Valley's local ramification. Here, take this extra bag of rations, Garret. We are called Humble's Sword."

DM Ken BATTLE MAP 
Saturday December 2nd, 2017 6:53:14 PM

Tink is a busy bee. She explains to Murphy that the Ashen Hearts are made up of many normally incompatible elements, bound by magic, and very very valuable. Her most educated guess puts the large one somewhere around 30,000 in value. The smaller one is worth less, nearly 5,000 in value.

She explains that the consortium rings are pretty powerful, and that is likely why she was able to break through Vé-Eldfjöll's barrier.

-------
Hobie and Murphy give parting gifts, and soon, Tink and Garret are both gone, leaving the Sword holding some valuable stones, a few cuts and bruises, and the disturbing realization that Vé-Eldfjöll's minions are finally starting to take shape.

Perhaps worse, what they are dealing with is just the local ramifications of some much larger problems. And if even the mighty Iron Dragons have yet to identify this coming Doom, it means that they might be forced to just accept the answer to that question isn't coming any time soon, and that the most they can do is put out the local fires and do their part as best as they can.

Things might be about to turn dangerous in Humbles Ford, but that's not necessarily new news for the heroes of Crescent Valley.

The immediate threat is vanquished, but hundreds of these phantasms have been seen over the last few weeks. Granted, this is a single sighting of such creatures taking a solid form. Surely, this is an isolated incident and the town itself isn't about to be under siege from dozens of apparitions. Right?

Lance Foxwell (Tanner) HP 97 -- AC 18/18/15 -- F+8 R+9 W+11 -- CMD 16 -- Fly +16 
Sunday December 3rd, 2017 11:33:34 PM
"Surely, this is an isolated incident and the town itself isn't about to be under siege from dozens of apparitions. Right?" Lance laughs sarcastically. "Just kidding. They're probably boned. Let's head back and try to keep them from all dying horribly."

Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10 (Kim) HP 80/80  d4=3 ;
Monday December 4th, 2017 2:23:11 AM

"Nice playing, Hobie. Didn't know we had a lutist among us. My father is a luthier, among other things. Maybe some day when things settle back down, you can join in with my family, and some of our friends, and make some music with us."

[Did the Azatas respond when Murphy earlier asked what they are called / named? Did they take the chocolate offered, and, if so, did they eat it?]

He casts detect magic and spends a few rounds acquainting himself with the magical auras of the two stones, about which Katinka kindly filled them in further. After that, he says, "Let's return the stones to town. Perhaps the Second Dinner Club, or the town armorers, or, failing that, the Catacombs may be candidates to purchase the two items from us. Certainly we can use the funds to help us better prepare for whatever is coming next. Who will handle the chore of selling them? I will be busy with other things," Murphy says.

He does take a five minute break before they group heads back to town, in order to devote that time to a prayer to Eberyon.
Lord Eberyon, thank you for this Wold you help to keep verdant and rich. I know that ash can be useful for growing things. But as with some good things, too much of it may bring more harm than good. Help to fit me, I pray you, for the tasks that lie ahead. I am grateful for the elementals who have brought us much assistance as we face foes of the valley, and foes of our group. I want to use the powers you have granted to protect and heal the land, and the people, and also to make a strong showing against those who would harm us. Grant me, I pray you, insight in to how to respond to the incursion of Vé-Eldfjöll and those under his sway. He will bring much fire, and ash, and woe. I pray he not settle over any of our cities here in the valley. Guide me, and us, as we seek to protect the good halflings of this village. Bring to mind the ways I might best serve you, and my friends, my community, and land. I humbly ask for power to face what is ahead of us. And wisdom. If I have your ear, I thank you for hearing my prayer. Selah.
"Yes, Lance, I think you're correct. We need to head back to town and fill folks in on what happened - and these two manifestations are likely forerunners. Also, I want to see if I can't build a good place of safety a ways underground for the people of the town."

"Kezzem, I do wish to help you in the mending of your armor. I will spend ten minutes to get the process started," (during which it will regain 3 hp). "For more than that, I can think of three options. One, Alouryn, Hazel's wife - both are members of Humble's Sword, but are on inactive status, and they care for our burrow next to the river - she may be able to cast the mending spell. Two, Primula PipeLeaf, our town's ginger blacksmith, may be able to use her skills to repair your armor. Three, once I have gotten sufficient underground escape routes set up for the populace, and barring anything else popping up to divert us, I will take the time needed to get it back into proper shape for you. Four, you can ask Pressi and Bliss whether they or one of their new found witchly followers might have access to the mending spell, and spend the requisite time attending to the task. If my brother Kendry were in town, he could help - but last I heard his wife Airin is great with child, and they are expecting any day now. They are likely to travel to the Birthing Tree in the Culverwood before too many days pass, if they are able. It's a family tradition."

Murphy pauses, and adds, "I know, Kez, I probably just used too many words for your liking."

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 24 (21 currently), HP 94/109, CMD 24, Resist fire 20; Rumpus - AC 26, HP 62/62, CMD 24 
Monday December 4th, 2017 1:50:16 PM
Kezzem nods his head as Murphey is talking. "Yes, uh-huh, yep, etc."

"Wait, can't you cast mending Murph? I thought that was something druids could do. Or is it just something you cant do today."

"So any thoughts and what to do abiut these ohantom things? My skill set is limited to waiting for them to materialoze and then stab them."

DM Ken BATTLE MAP 
Monday December 4th, 2017 1:50:23 PM

With the consortium gone and the halflings left alone, Lance pushes the idea that maybe it's time for them all to head back to the town proper, because the odds of the town NOT being besieged by a horde of apparitions is pretty low, by his accounting.

Murphy figures it's time to sell the stones, but he's pretty certain the catacombs wont be buying them. The catacombs deals strictly in magical items and artifacts, and though these are magical in nature their value lies in the assortment of metals and minerals making up their core.

He takes a moment to pray, telling his thoughts to to his lord Eberyon, and then gets to his feet. He still has his chocolate, as the azatas were whisked away before they could eat any.
------------

Bliss wonders if a prayer or request straight to Vé-Eldfjöll might be enough to convince him to choose a new location, but the plan is shot down by Pressi. She's of the mind that Vé-Eldfjöll might not be considerate of the wants and rights of the populace he is meaning to absorb into his worship.

----------------

The trip back to town is uneventful. When Humbles Sword arrives, things are more or less how they left them. People are going about life, either ignoring or enjoying the spectacle of the apparitions.

There are the claimed items to sell, but who to sell them to?
Is it worth alarming the local populace of lemmingly halflings that the apparitions could turn violent at any moment?
How much fortification of Humbles Ford is possible with an unknown amount of time before the other apparitions manifest?
Should perhaps some sort of system be set in place to help with attacks? Perhaps the dwarves Bliss visited are ready to help?

There's a million different questions for Humbles Sword, and no wrong way to proceed.



Pressi (Melvin)-AC 21 (22), HP 83, CMD 20; Harper-AC 21 (22), HP 61, CMD 23; Followers 
Monday December 4th, 2017 3:00:32 PM
"I did have a thought," Pressi began. "We discuss the possibility of wondering where these apparitions might appear, but why continue to let the bad guys set the terms? Perhaps we should start trapping buildings Vee Jay can be convinced to attacking, like our quite oppositional temple. We could fill the area with create water spell after create water spell, get these guys to come, and Rose Control the building into one big icebox. We could even use the ashen cores, they're made of metal, arent they?

"Or if we can find a way to reach Vee Jay, we can challenge him to some form of contest. Him versus us, for all the marbles."

As for the claimed items, "We do have that merchant locked in with us, if Hobie would care to deal with him again."

Pressi is generally in favor of letting the populace know, but recognizes that they'd need somewhere to evacuate people to. They might be able to build some tunnels with help of the entire town, but its not long before she starts thinking of ways to trap monsters in them.

Pressi also begins to think in terms of mobility. She can fly for a number of hours and send signals or spell cast as needed, and she knew Bliss could do the same. But Lance and Murphy would be limited to a few minutes, and everyone else (including Harper) would be stuck on the ground.

Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10 (Kim) HP 80/80 
Monday December 4th, 2017 3:02:33 PM

Quick post (more later):

"Yes, Kezzem, I know the spell. I cast it and was able to take care of a small portion of the repairs (3 hp) during the ten minutes it takes to cast it one time. That ash critter really did a job on the metal, though, and many joints were damaged, and metal creased... it will take maybe 7 to 10 more castings - each lasting ten minutes - to get your armor fully repaired. See, remember the crease on the breastplate, along the right side? That's the only part I've fixed next door. Mending, even magically augmented, takes time."

He lets the group know, unless someone has a better plan, that he is going to work right away on an underground escape tunnel network for the populace. Among the dreams that people have had, at least one included rocks and fire falling from the sky. He figures a good tunnel system, with some larger caverns under ground, is among the best defenses he can think of.

For the stones - he's already given his suggestions.

[Murphy talked to the Azata several posts back - the morning of Nov 29 - not just in his last one - immediately after the combat ceased... did they answer him at all as he spoke with them, several posts back, when they were still described as being around? The chocolate offering was a few posts later, so that part makes sense.]

DM Ken: They were under Robs control. For the sake of ease, we will say they were particularly snooty, and only like Katinka Hushfoot. Speaking to a hairy-footed Pipewood is probably beneath their station as servants to an Iron Dragon.

Bliss / CatBliss (AC20, HP112of116, +3nonlethal) (Cayzle)  d20+10=16 ;
Monday December 4th, 2017 6:25:58 PM

Back in town, Bliss looks around the area at any "ghostish" monsters that are hanging around. He thinks about what if these monsters come alive, like the ones they just fought. He hates to feel pessimistic, but if these monsters are not appearing in Angel Springs or Hovel, maybe it would be better to evacuate people to one place or another.

He tries it ask around to find out if these apparitions ARE turning up all over the valley, or just here in Humbles Ford ... Diplomacy to Gather Info ... 16.

Lance Foxwell (Tanner) HP 97 -- AC 18/18/15 -- F+8 R+9 W+11 -- CMD 16 -- Fly +16 
Monday December 4th, 2017 11:37:41 PM
"So... here's the thing." Lance knuckles his back and sighs. "We could talk all day about how to attract and trap the spooks, but at the end of the day we are probably not going to be able to catch all of them -- and then they will go crazy and start eating people like a fat kid at a half-price bakery. So rather than trying to corral a bunch of spooks we can't even touch, I suggest we corral all of our flesh and blood neighbors instead. Move them all to a holy place, set up a ward, and protect them all with a handful of spells.We have them hunker down until the danger passes. The biggest problem would be convincing them..."

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 24 (21 currently), HP 94/109, CMD 24, Resist fire 20; Rumpus - AC 26, HP 62/62, CMD 24 
Tuesday December 5th, 2017 9:59:48 AM
"Two words, Lance," says Kezzem. "Free. Food. If we serve it, they will come."

Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10 (Kim) HP 80/80  d3=1 ;
Tuesday December 5th, 2017 10:00:07 AM

"Great idea, Lance," Murphy affirms. "Against the 'spooks' - giving people shelter in a holy place would seem to be a sound approach. Already the temple of Flower and of Ffloy could meet that qualification, I think. Against things falling from the sky, though, I will go ahead with my plan to dig something which could provide shelter. Once I have done so, we also could consecrate that. I can dig today, and consecrate tomorrow. Or possibly get Lady Sarabella, high priestess of Flower, to do so."

As the group talks, Murphy goes ahead and spends a few more minutes on Kezzem's armor, but is only able this time to mend 1 hp of damage to the metal.

Then, unless any object, Murphy heads back to the Dancing Pig, to visit the spot started by the small earth elemental he summoned earlier. While there, he kneels and prays again, first to Eberyon, then also to Maab, Flower, Ffloy, Alemi, Domi, and other major deities. As he does so, any who may be watching him see the vestments he wears glow with red, brown, yellow, green and blue for a few moments. In the midst of his prayers, Murphy starts, then falls face down, where he remains for six or seven minutes. He then rouses, pushes himself back to a kneeling position. He wipes dirt from his cheek. He looks heavenward. "Thank you. Bless you. I will."

He stands to his feet. If any were watching him, he says with a grim smile, "We have work to do." He asks people to stand back. "I must wildshape to a good sized earth elemental, and call forth another elemental to help me." He transforms into a huge earth elemental. Then he summons a medium earth elemental. When it arrives, he requests in the terran tongue, "Teach me to dig a tunnel, to excavate the earth. I must do so to protect the people of this village from the stones and fire soon to fall from the sky."

He learns from the elemental, and goes to work to excavate an escape route near the inn. The earth and stone excavated can serve as a mound to create what looks like an adjacent burrow. He plans to work on this for several hours, unless called to do something else. He communicates to Pressi what is going on. To her, he says, "I believe Lord Eberyon has blessed me."

Pressi (Melvin)-AC 21 (22), HP 83, CMD 20; Harper-AC 21 (22), HP 61, CMD 23; Followers 
Tuesday December 5th, 2017 11:07:42 AM
Pressi isn't the best at handling her idea being shot down, but does accept it, preparing ideas to help fortify the temple and helping Kezzem with his armor.

Followers that can cast protect from evil: Chicory

Followers that can cast mending: Jamir

Feel free to peruse the follower list for other spells and skills so we can have some ideas.

(I will add equipment for my followers later.)

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 81/81 AC 21 (shield off) CMD 24 Hero Points 2  
Tuesday December 5th, 2017 1:58:17 PM
"Yeah, I'll be happy to go talk to the guy, see if he'll buy these things. Anybody have an specific gear requests for me to pick up while I'm there?"

Hobie will take the cores and head back to the traveling merchant atop Pippa.

"Good sir! Good news and bad news! Good news: we killed a couple of those ghost things. Bad news: we killed them because they started attacking people. We thought maybe you would be interested in purchasing these metal things that came from the beasts. An Iron Dragon (that's a long story) told me that 35,000 would be a fair price for the pair if you are interested."

"We are still working to clear this problem and get you out of here and back home, but I'm afraid it's gonna get worse before it get's better. We're gonna have to fight a handful more of them, and they are tough buggers. I was wondering if you might have anything that could help us in this fight? I know it's a longshot, but maybe do you have a ghost touch weapon or two lying around that you'd loan out? Or anything else that could be useful against a fireghost?"



DM Ken BATTLE MAP 
Tuesday December 5th, 2017 3:56:26 PM

Pressi has an idea, that perhaps trapping the monsters is one avenue. Or maybe trying to gain Vé-Eldfjöll attention, and calling it out in battle or contest.

-------

Bliss does some digging, and finds the phantasms exist within their 100 mile entrapment, pretty much anywhere.

-------

Lance suggests that trapping the creatures is much harder than herding the halflings. Kezzem has ideas on how to make that happen.

-------

Murphy isn't entirely sure that hallowed ground is going to matter much. The phantasms are more like echoes, not ghosts, and Kezzem detected no evil. Precautions against undead will likely be meaningless.

Murphy works for several hours. There's more to it, than just digging of course. There's support, ladders, braces, and a manner of things to consider. The elemental is more than willing to help him dig and remove dirt however. Over a two hour span, he removes enough dirt, and supports with enough framework, short of magics like mud to stone, to sit 5 or so people comfortably on the bare earth 10 feet down. It's not much, but it's a start.

-----------------

Pressi's suggestion seems to be over-ruled, which is aggrivating. Still, a team player, she does what she can. (Feel free to cast mending spells for Kezzems armor.)

-----------------

Hobie takes Pressi's advice. The Venturer considers Hobie for a minute, and he eyes the stones for a long while. Finally, he makes an offer.

"I can sell this stuff, certainly. On the elemental plane of earth, there's an elder there that eats this stuff like candy."

He thinks for a minute.

"I can enchant your items as needed, as it's a skill of mine. I even have a Ishgara stylus to speed things up. You give me the stones, and I'll give each of you one thousand gold pieces worth of equipment. I've got quite the inventory, and access to the catacombs for anything else I need. Note, a cash offer isn't on the table."

Bliss / CatBliss (AC20, HP112of116, +3nonlethal) (Cayzle) 
Tuesday December 5th, 2017 10:38:46 PM

Bliss is just not sure what to do, but since Murphy is at least trying something, he lends a hand with making a refuge.

Lance Foxwell (Tanner) HP 97 -- AC 18/18/15 -- F+8 R+9 W+11 -- CMD 16 -- Fly +16 
Tuesday December 5th, 2017 11:29:13 PM
"Yes. Yes, you are right, Kezzem! If there is one thing that no halfling can resist... it's a potluck! We can hire some boys to play herald for the day and announce it throughout town. Can anyone cast heroes feast or something? That would go a long way. Otherwise, we are going to have to commission every baker and cook in the village.... and then bill it to the town as a business expense, of course."

Pressi (Melvin)-AC 21 (22), HP 83, CMD 20; Harper-AC 21 (22), HP 61, CMD 23; Followers 
Wednesday December 6th, 2017 2:35:39 PM
Item Purchases

Feeling some need to prepare items for the group, Pressi asks the group if they have suggestions for wands or scrolls to buy. She also asks if she can chip in some of her own money to buy, say, 2,000 of stuff.

Lance

Pressi shook her head at Lance's throught. (Heroes feast is a 6 level spell - Iron Dragon territory.) While she can create water and purify/presti food, her magical abilities to create food are limited, and she suspects that it is the same for others.

And as she notes, that should be fine. Pressi gives her fellow halflings far more credit, knowing they aren't completely suicidal. If they explain the situation and give unambiguous directions, the members of the village should react fine.

Kezzem

Jamir begins to spam mending on Kezzem's armor.


Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 81/81 AC 21 (shield off) CMD 24 Hero Points 2  
Wednesday December 6th, 2017 2:44:32 PM
"A thousand gold pieces each?! That's less than a quarter of their value! You are trapped here and you may well die with the rest of the town if we can't keep you alive. Now's no time for you to try and cheat us. We'll gladly take our payment in equipment rather than gold, but a thousand each is insulting."

Hobie gives the merchant an angered look and waits for his second offer.

Pressi (Melvin)-AC 21 (22), HP 83, CMD 20; Harper-AC 21 (22), HP 61, CMD 23; Followers 
Wednesday December 6th, 2017 5:17:39 PM
As Murphy takes some time to continue digging, Pressi and her followers (besides Jamie, who is fixing Kezzem's armor, and Chicory, who is dealing with the Dancing Pig for room and food) head to the temple.

To use such a high target as a refuge, Pressi understood that the primary goal would be fortifications. Doors would get extra wood and iron plating, spikes would be strategically set to slow intruders, and the interior would be modified to allow for safe zones if the demons breached the doors.

If time permits, she will lay metal through the floor, hoping to create a heat sink.

Bliss / CatBliss (AC20, HP112of116, +3nonlethal) (Cayzle) 
Wednesday December 6th, 2017 6:15:53 PM

This talk of food makes Bliss hungry. He takes out his magic elven lunch box and enjoys some waybread.

DM Ken BATTLE MAP  d20+10=20 ;
Wednesday December 6th, 2017 7:29:22 PM

The merchant scowls at Hobie.

"I have a family that might well starve at any more than 2000 each! All the time lost here is lost profits! I need to recoup somehow, and short of Pirnook, no one else in this hobbit hole has a dime to their name! Do you wish to ruin me, fair hero!? My wife shall have to sell her wedding ring just to feed us!"

Perform (Dat Market Hustle): 20!

Hobie or anyone with him: Perception or Sense Motive, DC 20

Highlight to display spoiler: { Rando M'name is not even wearing a wedding ring. Between his clothes, his jewelry and his fine mounts, you are fairly certain he is far from starving.}
------------

Pressi finds a use for her minions. Menial Labor! Kezzems armor is fully healed, after a whole day of the mending from Kamir.

Pressi looks around the church and tries to find ways she might be of use. In addition to neutral elementals, they HAVE seen demons, so the odds of evil being a thing are real.

It's hard to consider traps and partitions for creatures that walk through such things, but she starts to have some inklings of ideas. There aren't any large surpluses of metal laying around to sheet the floor, but maybe there's other options?

Pressi, Knowledge Engineering DC 12 or Knowledge Suvival DC 22.

-------------

Bliss eats lunch. He isn't really sure what to do anymore. Perhaps he might check in with his coven? Or he might perhaps check once more with his dwarven friends? Or maybe he could help Lance organize the citizen trap, complete with food and drink. Pirnooks might be a start.

---------------

Lance and Kezzems ideas are good ones. Eventually though, they'll need to spread the word.

----------------

Murphy is still busy with expanding his hole.



Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 81/81 AC 21 (shield off) CMD 24 Hero Points 2   d20+15=31 ; d20+17=30 ;
Wednesday December 6th, 2017 10:40:48 PM
Perception=31
"I guess she'll have to sell hers like you've already sold yours? Perhaps if you loved your (Hobie does air quotes with his fingers) 'wife' you might have sold some of this other jewelry before getting rid of your own?"

Hobie stares the man down.

"Look, 'Monsieur Thénardier', you are an opportunist, I get it. I was more or less in your shoes at one point. But we are literally the ones trying to save your hindquarters, so you should not be trying to take advantage of us."

Hobie displays some sort of trinket that he pulled from the merchant's pockets during the conversation.
Perception DC30 to notice Hobie taking it. (opposing my Sleight of Hand check)

"Besides. If you aren't gonna play fair, neither are we."
Hobie hands the trinket back to him.

"Our price is 35,000 for the both. We will be more than happy to turn most of that gold right back into your hands for your wares, should you be fair to us."



Lance Foxwell (Tanner) HP 97 -- AC 18/18/15 -- F+8 R+9 W+11 -- CMD 16 -- Fly +16 
Wednesday December 6th, 2017 11:52:32 PM
Lance leans in and whispers, not very quietly, to Hobie. "Ask for the we-will-let-you-into-the-temple-and-not-die-horribly coupon. It should be good for, oh, about 5,000 gold pieces."

Pressi (Melvin)-AC 21 (22), HP 83, CMD 20; Harper-AC 21 (22), HP 61, CMD 23; Followers  d20+4=7 ; d20+4=24 ;
Thursday December 7th, 2017 2:02:22 PM
Pressi wonders how Hobie and Lance are faring, and telepathically checks in on Murphy to see how the tunnels are coming along. Her untrained knowledge of engineering falls flat, but she goes almost zen at the possibilites for reinforcement as she looks throughout the area. (Survival Natural 20 for 24). With a flurry of activity, she finishes turning the temple into a shelter.

When she finishes, she moves on to stop by the local government to advise them on the situation, and to raise, among other things, the need for an air elementals tower.

Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10a (Kim) HP 80/80 
Thursday December 7th, 2017 4:33:55 PM

Murphy takes a minute to talk with a few of his fellow citizens - he grew up here, he has some feel for who is trustworthy and not. "Please, a few of you - don't travel alone - go to the place that was just given to our group where the old communal house stood. Talk to George, the foreman of the work there. Ask him to bring his men and his tools, and help us with this tunnel. The town's safety is far more important than getting started on the work over there." To another, he says, "Go to my home. Ask one of my siblings to take the cart and two ponies over to the old communal house, to help carry the workers' tools and lumber back to here to work on the tunnel." He ensures that both groups clearly understand where to go, and what to say.

[Apologies, all - super busy this week. And particular apologies to Melvin, re Pressi. Totally missed her earlier post about setting a trap - we posted nearly simultaneously. -Kim]

Telepathically, Murphy brings Pressi up to date on his progress, asks her about what she is seeing and doing. "If you can figure out how to handle your entrapment plan, let me know. If it sounds doable, you've got my support. I'm kind of busy with this work at the moment - need to make a second entrance, so people don't get stuck in a place with only one escape path." He also, when a tower for the air elementals tower project is brought up, lets Pressi know that the cliff where he met with the elementals might be a good spot for it.

He gives words of encouragement and praise to those who are helping him. Asks someone to put together a list of those who are helping, as those who pitch in should be honored.

[One change, if allowed - Murphy sets up the first chamber so that the top of it is about 15' below the surface, rather than 10' - hope that's okay.]

He works on extending the tunnel beyond the small open area. His plan is to go from near the Dancing Pig to near the Sling and Arrow, and chart an upward path to the surface there. He takes care to pop up from time to time to verify direction, and also has a string stretched taut to ensure a straight trajectory. Here is a Map Humbles Ford Murphy's Tunnels with key Chamber A is in lower right corner, with the solid four-point star. He will tunnel to the 'B' chamber, and first plot an exit from there to the surface, negotiating with Hugo and Primula PipeLeaf as to the exact local of the tunnel exit. After the exit is established, he will work on expanding the chamber, about 30' below the surface.

He makes the tunnels ~7.5 feet wide. In the tunnels, about every 30 feet will be a 10 foot section that is 10' wide, to make it easier for people to pass, or to store things. The initial tunnel, though, as he makes the first pass, is 5' in diameter...

P.S.: Way to go, Hobie and Lance, on negotiations.
P.P.S.: Note: link to updated 'character surgery' sheet listed in header. Includes Legacy Item (druid vestments) and other mods

Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10a (Kim) HP 80/80 
Thursday December 7th, 2017 4:43:20 PM

Oh, and Murphy thanks Bliss specifically for his help. He asks if he wants to with the group to talk with George the Foreman, to get him and his crew over to work on the tunnel.

AND, the druid plans to use expeditious excavation in a spot adjacent to chamber B (near Slings and Arrows) to allow for a water reservoir 5'x5'x5' along the floor. He asks if some bricks or well-fitted stones can be laid therein, so that the water will be kept reasonably clean. Whenever that is finished, he will fill it with water (via create water spells).

Bliss / CatBliss (AC20, HP112of116, +3nonlethal) (Cayzle)  d20+10=25 ; d20+20=24 ;
Thursday December 7th, 2017 5:10:59 PM

Bliss continues to help Murphy, and also volunteers to help Lance's organization efforts. He tries to get his friends in the dwarf-trained militia to help. He also tries to keep alert.

Diplomacy: 25
Perception: 24

[OOC to our kindly DM: Highlight to display spoiler: {could we get a time check? I've kind of lost track of days and time of day.}]

DM Ken BATTLE MAP 
Thursday December 7th, 2017 7:07:02 PM

Hobie seems to have the Venturer on the ropes. Finally, he relents.

"Look, I'll give you 5,000 each in line of credit for gear. I really can't go lower than that, or else I make no margin on this thing. I have to buy some scrolls to shift planes, travel to the fat elemental that would eat this stuff, burn the potion to talk to him, then get back. There's always a chance he's going to eat me too, so there's gotta be something in it for me. F'floy would disown me if I paid you more than that."

He points at the halfling.

"Besides, -I- am the only one who can offload this stuff for you, right now, because the catacombs won't buy it and I don't think other than you lot there's 30,000 pieces in all of Humbles Ford. And I think you might need the help sooner rather than later."

He pulls a stick from his cart, and literally draws a line in the sand. Standing on his side, he offers his hand over it, waiting for the handshake to seal the bargain. 5,000 each seems to be about the limits of the deal, and Hobie is certain he's pushed it as far as he can. He might be able to get the full 35,000 in value elsewhere, but it would require some time to track down someone who had need of this particular oddity.
-----------------

Bliss volunteers to help Lance, who suddenly finds himself in charge of notifying and convincing a community of halflings that they might need to prepare to hide for awhile. Bliss and his dwarves are at his disposal.

----------------

Pressi realizes that with help, she could probably layer the church floor with the soil that is removed from Murphy's excavations. Further, adding the natural soil and stone gives Murphy several options with the Stone to Mud, Mud to Stone, and Stone Shape spells, for adding extra walls, murder holes, natural caltrops, ceiling traps, and all manner of bits, to be decided upon in detail by Murphy and Pressi, or whomever wishes to help them. She was certain that maybe some of the architectural elements could have been exploited too, if only she knew more about that kind of thing.

---------------------

After a few hours pass..

It is about 5 pm.

Murphy may complete either 1 star or 1 tunnel of work, every 2 days. He may attempt a knowledge engineering check, or a profession miner/engineer check DC 20 to reduce the time needed for each section to 1 day. Failure means that section takes 3 days.

Pressi, if we don't already have a map of the temple, please. This is the link to your Flower Temple, found by ADM Kim!

Temple of Flower (and now of Ffloy, too)

Once someone secures Pressi access to the pushed dirt, probably via Lance or Bliss community organizing, but any route will do, for each cast of mud to stone you may "place" 20 ten foot cubes of rock in the temple. For each cast of stone shape, you may fashion traps etc, the nature of which are up to you, and the DC's against which will be set by DM decision.

Lance, places to start when organizing a halfling community might be Inns, restaurants, wives clubs, or stores? Or some other method to spread the word.

Good luck!

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 81/81 AC 21 (shield off) CMD 24 Hero Points 2  
Thursday December 7th, 2017 11:11:54 PM
"Deal!" Hobie says as he reaches to shake the hand of the salesman.
He grips his hand hard, and pulls him close, showing the salesman that while he is small, he is still quite strong.
"Do not try to pull one over on us again. Our interests are aligned, there's no need for us to be enemies. I'll go find my friends and gather a shopping list, I'll be back shortly."

Hobie rides off to find to find each member of the group. He tells each that Rando has offered 5,000 worth of equipment each, and waits to get their shopping list.

He'll ask each for recommendations on what might be useful for him to spend his share on, especially to Pressi and Murphy who seem to know a lot more about these elementals than he does.

"I can't afford another enhancement for my bow, but I could afford to to enhance my longsword. Do you think we're going to be going up against a lot more incorporeal creatures? Should I get a Ghost Touch enhancement for my sword? Are there any other items or things that would help me contribute better to the team?"

Lance Foxwell (Tanner) HP 97 -- AC 18/18/15 -- F+8 R+9 W+11 -- CMD 16 -- Fly +16 
Thursday December 7th, 2017 11:57:53 PM
Okay, Bliss." Lance counts one finger. "Let's have those dwarves be our criers. We can give them a script to read and have them wander around town all day. "A special potluck will be held tomorrow at the Temple of Flower. All are invited to attend. Admission is one side dish per family." Or something like that. I don't have the gift of prose."

Two fingers. "I need you to visit the Dancing Pig, the Belly Buster, the Flower Temple, and the General Store. Talk with everyone you meet. Let them know that about the potluck, and that their local heroes will be shelling out money for the main course for the entire town."

Three fingers. "Murphy! I need you to turn into a bird. Fly around to local ranchers. We need to purchase one two-year steer, three yearling sheep, and about fifty chickens."

(ooc: Assuming halflings have large families (perhaps 4.5 children per family) that leaves us with 1 pound of beef, 0.5 pounds of mutton, and 0.25 pounds of chicken for every citizen. Also, our citizens are the size of children.)

Four fingers. "I'm going to visit our local lumberers. Do we have lumberers? I hope so, because we are going to need enough wood for the biggest cook-out this town has ever seen."

ooc: How's that?

DM Ken: Excellent!

ADM Kim 
Friday December 8th, 2017 2:29:24 AM
Earlier in the Humble's Ford game we had a map of the Temple of Flower. Of course, it was converted into the Temple of Ffloy (much to the consternation of several members of Humble's Sword, including Hazel, Alouryn (they're still in the game, as NPCs, who live in the Humble's Sword Burrow (next to the river, not yet on the map), one or two others, and Murphy himself. Now, we know that there was some remodeling and some add-ons. DM Ken gave us a map to use, if there was not one. I let him know of the existing map.

A proposal - subject fully to DM Ken's 'Yea' or 'Nay' - is to combine his proposal with the existing map. So, I took a few minutes, and stitched the top half of his map with the bottom half of the old Temple of Flower map. The result is this: Remodeled Temple of Flower and Ffloy

It does reflect some of the words (never translated into an updated map) of prior DMs, and gives the team a little more room to work with. Again, Ken has final say.
-ADM Kim
=======
Ken - I made this 'Post Private to DMs' - if THIS update is okay with you, you can either change the link I gave you earlier, or wipe out this below-the-double-line postscript, and uncheck the 'Post Private to DMs' thingee. Thanks again - Kim

-------

DM Ken approves!

ADM Kim  d20+10=29 ; d4+1=3 ; d20+13=16 ; d20+15=34 ; d20+13=27 ; d20+14=26 ;
Friday December 8th, 2017 5:30:25 AM
Too long a post
"Hobie, we may - hard to say for certain. It would be good for at least one in our group to have a ghost touch weapon," Murphy counsels. "Ask the others, though, too. I'd offer more advice, but am, uh, kind of busy," he says with a rocky grin. He asks only for 800 gp, and let the rest go to the others.

Murphy, who owns a few carts, offers one of them, and a couple of ponies, to haul dirt as desired over to the Temple. Some of his gear, including at least one shovel and a couple of picks, are in one of his carts. Surely Pirnook will be happy to sell shovels and wheelbarrows and buckets to his heart's content. If his heart can ever be content.

"My father cuts down a tree now and then, Lance, but does not harvest lots of lumber. Likely he knows who does. I'll ask him tonight (which he does). Or, you can ask our Mayor BumbleLuck. He knows lots about lots of people here and in our vicinity. Likely to include 'lumberers.'"

He is willing to do as Lance suggests in the morning, but not after spending the whole day digging. It's tiring work. "Let's set THE POTLUCK for day after tomorrow, all right? I know the folks at the Belly Buster pretty well. What if I stop by there and talk with the chef tonight after I wash up? They know where all the local cattle ranchers and chicken farmers and shepherds are. Let me check there. If that looks like it will pan out, great. They are really good at cooking, too. How about, 'Lamb, beefsteak, chicken and trout prepared courtesy of the Belly Buster,' [Diplomacy 16 with them - perhaps they don't like that he is starting the tunnel project over by the Pig] and 'Drinks, spuds, salted pork, roast piglet, and great snacks prepared courtesy of the Dancing Pig' [Diplomacy 34 with them, with Pressi's +2 help] both sponsored by Humble's Sword?" he suggests. Should that sound good, Murphy proposes the notion to both Inns. With the earlier perhaps so-so response from the Belly Buster, he returns with the enthusiastic agreement of their competition, and gives it one more try [Diplomacy 27]. He pays both Inns 75% in advance, with a promise of the balance upon satisfactory delivery.

If neither of those pans out, he agrees to transform into a medium-sized fast bird, carry a few pouches with funds, and get orders out to the surrounding farms early the next day for about an hour or so. After that, back to the tunnels. He rather hopes the two inns will instead step up to the plates, as it were, so he doesn't have to get a late start on the dig project.

Before doing those things, however, towards the end of his first day of digging, he summons three small earth elementals to initiate a narrow slanted tunnel to descend from the entrance spot chosen by Hugo and Primula PipeLeaf for the tunnel access near their establishment. That can be improved upon in the next day or two. The last thing he does, after changing into his own form, is to go an open space, make certain that no one is too close, and summon a large air elemental. He speaks of the two ash elementals who attacked earlier, and asks if the air elementals are aware of any changes in the area. He asks if the white spire might be built a little ways back from the top of the cliff where they gathered. He passes on his regard and respect to the elder elemental who offered aid to Humble's Ford.

Eventually, for all the downward tunnels, he plans to have 8' wide descents, with stairs 5' wide in the center, and 1-1/2' slopes on either side, to allow special wheeled carts to descend. There will be ropes along each side to hang on to. But, first things first. He'll run that idea by the PipeLeafs, and see if they have a better idea. They're both good at fashioning things. He also asks George. [Someone did go fetch George the Foreman & his crew, right? Bliss - did you help them?]

On his second day of labor, the focus is the tunnel towards where star B will be. If there is someone in town with decent engineering skills, and/or a dwarf with profession miner, and he can enlist his or her aid, he consults with them on his plans. He discusses the notion of tunneling to 8' diameter. "See, if I cast quench along the length of a tunnel, dampening the surrounding earth on all sides, then in the next round cast transmute mud to rock, then we will have a tunnel of stone. Granted, it will be a soft stone, like sandstone, but, a bit sturdier than packed earth in some regards. He asks his expert to poke holes in his idea, or to come up with potential improvements - or, ways to further treat the area after the two spells are cast for safety and strength. Maybe George might be the right person for this. "I figure I can fortify a tunnel about 200 feet in length through such a process." Another option would be to have some water elementals go down a tunnel and drench the surfaces of the tunnel. Or, he could cast create water down the tunnel - but that would take a long time. A quick dampening, a quick mud to rock seems safest.
Summary: Provide carts and ponies for earth moving. Speak with father about who has wood to burn - and Lance can speak with Mayor. Ask Belly Buster and Dancing Pig for help with potluck/feast. Hope to avoid changing into bird in the morning unless no help from inns. Mainly, work on tunnels.

He does let Pressi and through her everyone else know how things are going, what his plans are. He could divert a transmute mud to stone spell, perhaps a stone shape spell, to doing a bit of work on the temple should she desire. He asks others come up with a decent plan for the temple, and Murph will do his bit when called upon.
=======
Knowledge, Local: 29
Summon d4+1=3 small earth elementals for start of downward tunnel near PipeLeafs' place
Diplomacy: 16 (1st approach to Belly Buster about providing food - for pay)
Diplomacy: 34 (with Pressi's help to approach Dancing Pig about providing food - for pay)
Diplomacy: 27 (2nd approach to Belly Buster about providing food - with knowledge that their competition plans to show up, too)
Knowledge, engineering: 26 (or 28 with help from someone with engineering or mining skills) - for tunnel from Star A to (not yet built) Star B - done in a day!

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 24 (21 currently), HP 94/109, CMD 24, Resist fire 20; Rumpus - AC 26, HP 62/62, CMD 24  d20+16=27 ; d20+16=22 ; d20+16=32 ;
Friday December 8th, 2017 12:21:18 PM
OOC: My apologies for the slow posting this week. I've been busy with grading finals this week. In hindsight, I should have asked for someone to cover Kezzem the past few days.

"Let me come too, Murph, I'm good with people."

Kezzem assists Murph with his diplomacy checks.

Diplomacy (1st Belly Buster): 27.
Diplomacy (Dancing Pig): 22.
Diplomacy (2nd Belly Buster): 32.

Pressi (Melvin)-AC 21 (22), HP 83, CMD 20; Harper-AC 21 (22), HP 61, CMD 23; Followers 
Friday December 8th, 2017 2:59:03 PM
Hobie

"Look, you've seen my notes on the various types and subtypes. You know your build and strategies better than I do. And if you're not sure how to handle various creatures, you can always ask Google. You know, the strange librarian with more confidence than knowledge? A few things, though....

"First, the only reason the elementals had incorporeal natures was that fire template laid upon him. And even then, magic weapons worked 50% of the time. If you want to get a ghost touch weapon without bothering me or Bliss, that's up to you. But weapons that can affect almost anything might be a better way to go.

"Second, remember that the goal isn't going to be to defeat the creatures. It's going to be to save the citizens. Trapping and slowing these creatures works better, and if you have UMD it might be time to start buying scrolls. DR's going to be a tough one, too."

Temple

(I won't really have the time to fool with maps or planning this weekend, so if someone else would like to volunteer to do so, or if the DM can wait until tuesday or wednesday....)

Pressi considers a number of other factors in addition to those above, like the fact that they have to get an entire town in there without permanently trapping the town inside. She has a few ideas, assuming she can fit most people on the platform and in the back rooms.

1) Fill up the back row to create a barrier with narrow entry points where the aisles are. (Force large creatures to squeeze in.) Use gaps to allow arrows and slingstones.

2) Cover the aisles with sandstone or mud, mixed with water from create water spells. Cover that with cheap wood that can hold maybe 40 lb creatures.

3) The doors and windows clearly need caltrops and other defenses, but then how to get out? She wonders if they can turn the leftmost and rightmost aisles into thin and unassuming tunnels sealed off between the platform and the edge windows.

DM Ken BATTLE MAP 
Friday December 8th, 2017 8:45:29 PM

Hobie strikes his deal, and leans forward to let the Venturer his exact thoughts on the matter. A surprisingly strong grip holds him in return. Rando leans in and replies in whisper. "Do not assume to threaten me Master Browncloak. I adventured as a wizard long before I retired and settled in as a trader."

With a smile and a wave, he goes back to his cart and starts pulling out the things he thinks Humbles Sword will need.

---------------------

Lance establishes a plan, and sets it into motion! He calculates how much the families will be eating, and asks Bliss to go relay the message to the dwarves to serve as town criers. Then he asks Bliss to go meet with the Inn Owners.

--------------------

Murphy, as always, in extremely busy. He finished up work on his current section, and makes plans for tomorrow's work as well. He gets carts and such ready, and promises to try and help where he can.

His overtures with the Belly Buster are not well received. Perhaps Bliss will have better luck? (Retry rules for diplomacy are pretty specific.) They sure do find it more than a little insulting that they have to cook more actual food when they weren't chosen as the site of the hideouts!

His father has no issues pointing to a group of lumberjacks that sell wood to the smaller towns in the valley. He puts in a reminder to summon them tomorrow.

Regarding his inquiries on the tunnels, the consensus from all know it alls, looky loos, and elementals seems to be that a transmuted stone is indeed, stronger than dirt held up in frames.
------------------------------

Pressi reminds Hobie about what she divined, which is that enemies would mostly have the Fire or Chaos creature types, with liberal applications of the entropic and fire creature templates.

So gear that protects vs chaos and fire, or does extra damage to chaos or fire, might be what Hobie should consider.

Pressi makes a list of ideas, which her DM approves of, and sets them aside for later.


Bliss / CatBliss (AC20, HP112of116, +3nonlethal) (Cayzle) 
Sunday December 10th, 2017 9:37:28 AM

"That sounds great, Mister Lance," says Bliss.

Bliss gets his friends in the dwarf-trained militia to help spread the word. He gets his new followers to do the same. Bliss himself visits the establishments mentioned by Lance, making sure the news gets spread far and wide.

Lance Foxwell (Tanner) HP 97 -- AC 18/18/15 -- F+8 R+9 W+11 -- CMD 16 -- Fly +16 
Sunday December 10th, 2017 11:49:34 PM
Lance heeds Murphy's advice and goes to find the Mayor about some wood to burn...

ADM Kim  d4+1=2 ; d3=3 ;
Monday December 11th, 2017 1:33:02 AM

Murphy digs the tunnel between A and B. Once he is confident it has the shape it needs, he makes sure the tunnel is clear of workers. Then, he casts quench to extend to either side of him, to the interior of chamber A on one side, and to where the tunnel extends where chamber B will later be dug out. Immediately after doing so, he earthglides a few feet in to the adjacent dirt to discover whether the quench spell has caused a degree of dampness within the ceiling, walls, floor of the tunnel. If so, he immediately casts transmit mud to rock along the same passageway.

If quench did not cause dampness within the passageway, he next summons two (2) water elementals (Summon nature's ally iv) along the shorter section, and three (3) more small water elementals (SNA iii) along the longer section to travel the length of the tunnels, drenching the surrounding earth to a depth of 1-1/2 feet or more. Once that is accomplished, again he quickly tests and, if enough moisture has been transmitted into the earth, he releases them from their summons, then casts transmit mud to rock along said A to B tunnel.

If the water elementals' drench ability fails adequately to prepare the surrounding earth for mude to rock, he asks them what else they might be able to do to prepare the earth for what he has in mind. If they have a good idea, he'll ask them to implement it. And, then... mud to rock. If nothing else works, he can do the create water thing - but is concerned about the time it will take, and that parts of the ceiling may start falling in if he does it that way. The earlier described methods have the advantage of quickly moistening, then quickly transforming the damp earth into rock, with little to no risk of collapsing walls or ceilings.

Afterwards, huge earth elemental Murphy earthglides under, and along the sides to inspect the work.

Meanwhile last night, or early in the morning (before today's tunneling project), he let Lance, et al, know about the lumberjacks his father is notifying to provide fuel for the barbecue - and also takes advantage of the information to get additional lumber for the tunnel / safety chambers project. He is happy to pay ~30% above the going rate for what wood they can provide, digging into the 1,000 he requested from Hobie, from the proceeds of the ash elemental sale.

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 24 (21 currently), HP 94/109, CMD 24, Resist fire 20; Rumpus - AC 26, HP 62/62, CMD 24 
Monday December 11th, 2017 1:11:32 PM
Kezzem "assists" Murphey in dampening the tunnel by sprinkling water from his waterskin, bugging the elementals to fill it up when he runs out.

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 81/81 AC 21 (shield off) CMD 24 Hero Points 2  
Monday December 11th, 2017 2:22:20 PM
ooc: Murphy requested 1000gp from the sale of the elemental, but I think that the offer was for 5,000 each, but payment was in equipment, not in actual gold.

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 81/81 AC 21 (shield off) CMD 24 Hero Points 2  
Monday December 11th, 2017 3:04:00 PM
Hobie tries consult with the group, especially those much more familiar with the looming elemental threat about what equipment, scrolls, etc. might be useful in protecting the town from the looming threat. More of a sneak and fighter than a bunker builder, his thoughts go to battle, especially his inability to hit anything in the last fight. He is leaning toward spending his 5,000 on some bracers of archery, unless he's presented with better options for the protection of the people.

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 24 (21 currently), HP 94/109, CMD 24, Resist fire 20; Rumpus - AC 26, HP 62/62, CMD 24 
Monday December 11th, 2017 3:17:23 PM
When he is done "helping" Murphey, Kezzem takes his adamantine short sword and carves 3-ft diamater circular trenches at the entrances to our keep and fills them with powdered silver in preparation for magic circle against chaos spells.

----

Lay on Hands 7/day
Smite Evil 4/day

Spells:
1st Level: Protection from Chaos (3)
2nd Level: Resist Energy, Shield Other
3rd Level: Magic Circle Against Chaos

Bliss / CatBliss (AC20, HP112of116, +3nonlethal) (Cayzle) 
Monday December 11th, 2017 9:10:46 PM

Bliss chats with Hobie about things a sneaky archer might want. "I used to sneak around and fire my bah, which was pretty much fun," he says. "The trick is to shoot when they cannot see you. Invisibility is pretty good for that, or hiding behind things, You can get a wizard to make a permanent shrink item thing, like a wooden box, that you can shrink and expand with a command. You can even expand it just by dropping it. So you can drop your box, hide behind it with cover, and shoot from hiding."

[OOC: A permanent shrink item spell costs about 8,000 gp.]

"Course, nowadays I like to get right up in melee range, so you can always feel free to flank for those sneak attacks if I am a halfling. But in kitty shape I got no reach so I can't flank then."

As an Eldritch Knight, Bliss is in his element talking about battlefield magic.

Pressi (Melvin)-AC 21 (22), HP 83, CMD 20; Harper-AC 21 (22), HP 61, CMD 23; Followers 
Monday December 11th, 2017 9:45:17 PM
Pressi takes a break to brief the mayor and Roscoe about everything.

DM Carl - Humble's Finest Hour 
Monday December 11th, 2017 10:37:24 PM
It's all good an well to go fight evil, but the heroes of Humble's Ford know their primary duty is the protection of the innocent. Kudos to them.

---

Murphy and Kezzem set about the task of turning a dangerous dirt tunnel into one that won't collapse and suffocate an entire village of halflings. Experiments with the quench spell show a distinct lack of moisture. Perhaps the spell works by denying a fire oxygen? It would be a simple matter to figure that out, but the volunteer may not enjoy it.

Working in tandem with water elementals is more productive, assuming Murphy can speak aquan.

OOC: Kim, link your sheet in your header, please.

It's not as smooth going as they would like. The water elementals are easily able to generate enough water to sufficiently moisten the dirt, but it is a careful balancing act making sure the dirt is muddy enough to be transmuted, but not so moist that it sloughs off the roof and walls. It takes time and patience, but the tunnels slowly start turning to stone. It will provide solid protection against aerial bombardment.

...unless an entire mountain comes crashing down on Humble's, of course.

---

That done, Kezzem gets to work preparing wards against chaos. Probably a good call.

---

Hobie and Bliss discuss the best use of their newfound funds. The subject of portable cover comes up, but no decision is made.

---

The mayor and head of the guard make time to listen to Lance and Pressi deliver news of the plan to lure Humble's to safety with free food. Roscoe nods along in approval as Lance outlines the plan. "I'll station men near the tunnel entrances to make sure they stay accessible." He looks towards the entrance. "Hopefully won't have to use them, though. Folks are gonna get trampled if they start to run away from ghosts down there."

The mayor seems more excited about the news. "Yes yes, Roscoe will take care of all that, but with all the goings on we could really use a good party. If we get to protect everyone too, all the better. There will be food though, right? You guys sure you've got that covered?" He waits expectantly for an answer.

For his part, the mayor is able to give Pressi a requisition ordering sufficient wood from a nearby lumberjack. Should just be a simple matter of delivering it and naming a date.

---

So far, the party has a venue, escape plan, and buy in from town leadership. They may want to pay attention to food if they expect anyone to show up...

Lance Foxwell (Tanner) HP 97 -- AC 18/18/15 -- F+8 R+9 W+11 -- CMD 16 -- Fly +16 
Monday December 11th, 2017 11:59:14 PM
Lance ensures the animals are bought, the lumber is stationed, and then sees to hiring some cooks.

Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10a (Kim) HP 80/80  d20+14=24 ;
Tuesday December 12th, 2017 3:09:53 AM

[Murphy speaks the languages of each of the four main elemental types. I use Google translate: Auran=Finnish; Aquan=Norwegian; Terran=Danish; Ignan=Hawaiian. And halfling? Welsh.]

"I've got pork products lined up from the Dancing Pig," Murphy says. "Maybe someone else can try to sweet talk the Belly Buster into helping on the Beef and Lamb side of the equation. They are upset I did not start the tunnel at their place - though I do plan to get the tunnel over there, too. Maybe I can focus on a bigger initial chamber - I'm starting to get the hang of this tunnel making... Anyone, someone besides me should approach them, figure out how to mollify them. I did offer 75% payment up front, and 25% on delivery of the good stuff. Plus a 10-20% bonus if they do a really good job - to be decided after people try it out. Someone want to ask around town as to who is good at cooking chicken? Get folks to participate, y'know?

"Maybe my mother can do up some fish - my Pa built a smoker years ago, and she breaks it out sometimes at big family gatherings. And, we have BIG family gatherings at least once a year. So, we need someone to catch the fish. Say... I might be able to help on that one - I did a good job fishing once in octopus form on the Peaseblossom river last year. Except, I'm pretty busy with the tunnels and chambers, so only if we're having trouble getting enough.

"I know the river has trout, and maybe some perch and catfish. Salmon once in a while. Maybe getting a bunch of boys to fish would be a good idea. There's often one or two any sunny day with a pole and line at some of the fishing holes along the way."

"There are plenty of farmers and gardeners around here - should not be any lack of vegetables, wheat, rye - ask the ladies of the town to bake some bread surprises. Y'know, bread outside, something fun, sweet or savory inside. My uncle Orbi has lots of nut trees, and good stores of nuts."

=========
Tunnel project, Day 3:

After working with the water elementals to properly prepare the soil for mud to rock (and a good tip of the hat to Kezzem and to the many consultants and lookie loos for their help), Murphy next works on Chamber B near Slings and Arrows. He wants to make this one more spacious, with room for about 20-25 people in the chamber itself. "A huge earth elemental is 32 feet long and weighs 48,000 pounds." As such, he ought to be able to move a good amount of earth up and out. Knowledge-engineering 24 (plus 2 for 26, as he consults with any dwarves who might care to help, and Foreman George, whom he has brought back to town with his workers to help with the fortifications - especially focusing on making good entrances to the tunnels).

If there is time, he also widens to 8' in diameter the slanting tunnel earlier started by the earth elementals up to the surface at the place Hugo and Primula want the entrance to be for this one. Once tunnel and chamber are ready, he summons a few water elementals, explains what he would like them to do to dampen the surroundings, and casts transmute mud to rock for the chamber and the upward tunnel. Assuming they do a good job, Murphy thanks them profusely in aquan, asks their names if they will give them, and promises to dedicate a large underground water pool to their honor. He digs a 5'x10' side chamber, uses two expeditious excavation spells for this purpose, and casts another mud to rock spell to give the pool a clean container, having the lip about 18 inches above the ground, so it is easy for halflings to use buckets to withdraw water from it.

Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10a (Kim) HP 80/80 
Tuesday December 12th, 2017 3:20:03 AM

Map Humbles Ford Tunnels and Chambers - At this point, chambers A, B, tunnel between. Stone ceiling, walls and floor in tunnel, Chamber B, and entrance above to chamber B. Chamber A still needs to have mud to stone - but he wants to expand that chamber somewhat before casting the spell - and Chamber A has a fair bit of shoring up at the moment by timber, as does the first tunnel down.

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 24 (21 currently), HP 94/109, CMD 24, Resist fire 20; Rumpus - AC 26, HP 62/62, CMD 24  d20+16=29 ;
Tuesday December 12th, 2017 12:57:15 PM
Kezzem will make another attempt at the Belly Buster.

"Sorry, I know your a bit peeved at Murphy, but he has that affect on people...just ask Shel and Alleah! But it just won't be the same without you there, you know? The Belly Buster is a staple of Humble's Ford! And besides, you don't want the Dancing Pig to be there but not you. I wouldn't think that would be very good for business."

Diplomacy: 29.

Bliss / CatBliss (AC20, HP112of116, +3nonlethal) (Cayzle) 
Tuesday December 12th, 2017 2:15:15 PM

Before the feast, Bliss makes one last round of his dwarfish / militia contacts to make sure that the word is getting out -- free food! and frank talk about the dangers posed by the volcano demigod and the ghost monsters people can see all around them.

Funny how challenging some dwarves to a drinking contest has gotten him some good friends! Bliss thinks he was the contest winner after all!

He also checks in on his new friends (aka followers), and makes sure that not only have they prepped for any coming disaster, but that they are coming to the feast -- and have spread the news.

Bliss also has a sit-down with that Venturer Fellow. "Thanks, Mister, for this deal. You are very kind. Could you please upgrade my bracers, please. That would sure be useful." [OOC: Bliss's Bracers of Armor +2 are worth 4,000 gp. Upgraded to +3, that's 9,000 gp, a 5K upgrade, which should get us there easy peasy, right?]

DM Carl - Humble's Finest Hour 
Tuesday December 12th, 2017 10:02:45 PM
Murphy seems to have a wealth of great ideas. Pity he's spending all his time digging tunnels. Between two days of digging and the help of appropriate elementals, he's able to complete a sizable section of tunnel. Still, even with magic it's unpleasant work. Anyone other than a druid may well find it unbearable.

---

Lance checks off his list, then sets his sight on cooks. The obvious solution to that is paying The Belly Buster and letting them do what they do best, but there's no shortage of skilled chefs in any large settlement of halflings. Humble's is no exception. Of course, expecting any of them to give up a town-wide party to slaughter a bunch of animals & pluck fifty chickens for nothing isn't going to fly.

(CRB has the cost/day for skilled labor at 3 silver/day, but with the amount of work needed you can probably expect to pay a premium...say 5 silver/day. Assume the price you're paying the taverns covers preparing the food/drink as well. You'll only need to hire extra chefs to prepare anything extra you feel like bringing i.e., fish or vegetables.)

---

Kezzem decides to have another go at getting The Belly Buster to provide food. "Well obviously it wouldn't be the same without us there. Kinda the point in saying no, eh? Besides, no Buster's gonna be caught dead at a gathering hosted by a bunch a stinking pits."

(ooc: I don't see anything in the wiki about who actually owns these taverns.)

Still, Kezzem's approach does seem more reasonable than Murphy's. "Alright look. You and yours do good work around here. You pay 90% up front and make that Murphy promise that tunnel's reaching The Buster as quickly as his little hands can dig, and we have a deal." He's not exactly friendly about it, but it's something.

---

Bliss checks in with his various cohorts. Turns out getting halfings excited about a bunch of free food and drinks (there will be drinks, right?) isn't difficult. Joy especially seems exuberant about making sure people show up. "You'll let me cook, right boss? I may not work down at the Buster, but I know my way around a kitchen."

Venture, meanwhile, accepts the bracers and looks them over. "Normally upgrading these wouldn't be much of an issue, but with the state of things I'd have trouble finding time to do it all in one setting." He hems & haws a bit. "I can do it, but it'll take at least a week and then some...six days ought to do it. I'll need to hold onto them, so you may find yourself without them in a fight if these apparitions decide to start doing some real damage."

(ooc: For those of you checking my math, The Woldian week is 5 days.)

---

These actions take up the remainder of day 3, but feel free to throw in anything you wanted to do in the evening (within reason). My next post will cover day 4. Is anyone keeping track of how much actual coin is being spent on this?

Lance Foxwell (Tanner) HP 97 -- AC 18/18/15 -- F+8 R+9 W+11 -- CMD 16 -- Fly +16 
Tuesday December 12th, 2017 11:04:38 PM
Lance is pleased to offer 50 gold pieces to the Belly Buster for all-inclusive catering services.

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 81/81 AC 21 (shield off) CMD 24 Hero Points 2  
Wednesday December 13th, 2017 12:42:34 AM
Hobie, feeling even more like an outsider than normal as his friends are all running around talking to local shopkeeps and restauranteurs that they seem to have known for years, feels like he's not quite sure how he can be helpful. He doesn't really know Humble's Ford, it's his cousin Roscoe's town, but it seems as though fate has made it Hobie's town as well, at least for now.

He enjoys his conversation with Bliss about battle and tactics, and decides that he will probably be of most use tagging along with Bliss and the dwarven militia.



Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10a (Kim) HP 80/80  d20+16=18 ; d20+16=26 ;
Wednesday December 13th, 2017 2:43:38 AM

On the fourth day of building the safety tunnels, Murphy concentrates on the link from Slings and Arrows over to the Belly Buster. However, along the way, he encounters some difficult underground terrain (Knowledge, engineering 18/20). He realizes the earth to be less stable in this section, and that he will have to take care lest he cause a sink hole in the ground above. He consults with George and a dwarf or two on the matter.

Finally, he decides he will need to reroute the tunnel. He manages only a short tunnel, and small opening J - a 10'x15' oval, rather than the originally planned link from B to C.

He begins to think of names for the chambers. The one below the Dancing Pig, A, he names Bacon. Chamber B is Quarterstaff. Chamber J is Bend. He plans to name Chamber C, by the Belly Buster, Truffles. When he does H, it will be Deep Burrow - as he intends to use the excavated earth to help serve for a burrow for whoever will be assigned to oversee the tunnel complex. Map Humbles Ford Murphy's Tunnels, Rev1, with Key

The truncated path and small chamber J fare well (Knowledge engineering 26), though Murphy had hoped to accomplish more this day. It's not a bad thing, though, that he learned his initial chosen path would not be wise to pursue. With elemental assistance, he casts transmute mud to rock for this section (B to J).

In the afternoon, Murphy takes a short break, and asks his friends if they would meet him at the Belly Buster this evening. After the day's excavation is done, he cleans up, puts on some nice clothes he left at his folks' place he has not worn in a while, and meets with Humble's Sword at the Buster. It's the inn that he grew up eating at most of the time - it's really only since the Sword formed, and most of his friends preferred the Dancing Pig, that he has become what locals refer to as a 'Pleaser' - a most unpleasing moniker.

Before the appointed dinner time, Murphy meets with the proprietor of the BB, and explains the tunnel reroute, meaning it will take possibly a few more days to safely build the connection. "I want to do it up right for you." He plans to have room for 20-25 halflings in the chamber below, plus another chamber not too far off, and the tunnel branching two directions from the Truffles chamber.

Bliss / CatBliss (AC20, HP112of116, +3nonlethal) (Cayzle) 
Wednesday December 13th, 2017 6:21:31 AM

Bliss says to the magic merchant guy, "Well, what about that stylus you got? That speeds things up a heap, and if any fey pop in, just tell them it's for a Bloodwitch of Maab, and I'm sure they'll be cool with it. Worse comes to worst, I ... um ... absolve ya of any problems that come up."

[OOC: Did we get visited by the retcon fairy? I coulda SWORE he said he had an Ishgarran stylus (implying he has the Woldian Fast Forge Time feat for crafting swiftly). Now I cannot find it. Also, Bliss is in essence sayign that he'll take the gamble on adding a curse to his bracers, because hopefully the curse would not be too bad, and it would make the bracers more interesting!]

DM Carl - Humble's Finest Hour 
Wednesday December 13th, 2017 11:34:17 AM
The two DMs passed like ships in the night, hoping, unrealistically perhaps, that their passage would be without continuity issues. Alas, it was not to be...

---

"This thing?" Venture asks while producing an Ishgaran stylus. "Yes, I own one, but with all that's going on the fey are going to be reeaaaalll interested in me. It's all good and well to say the fey will be on board, but they're fey. I'll enter their cradle to speed this up for you, but it will still take me two or three days in there depending on how much I'm needed out here."

If Bliss wants Venture to go ahead, that's fine, but know I'm significantly increasing the chance of a fey taking notice.

Bliss / CatBliss (AC20, HP112of116, +3nonlethal) (Cayzle) 
Wednesday December 13th, 2017 11:51:24 AM

"Thanks!" says Bliss enthusiastically and optimistically. "I bet some friend of the Queen will stop by for a blessing!"

The little guy pauses for a moment in thought. "Here," he says, digging in his satchel. "This is my Elfin Lunchbox! It's special. If you get visited by a fey, please give it to them and say thanks from me!" He hands the fate item over to the merchant/crafter.

[OOC: -- Box of Elven Sustenance (Fate Item, does not count against limit of five items) - Once per day, box creates Elven waybread to sustain one small to medium person for one day. This food will not last for more than a day once removed from the box. Value 1,500gp but does not count vs WBL. The box has an inscription of an elven family crest. " You will always be seen as a friend of my family with that box in your possession." (granted by DM Shawn, 29Apr17) ]

Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10a (Kim) HP 80/80 
Wednesday December 13th, 2017 12:29:05 PM

Somehow or other Murphy divines that Hobie is open to providing him with 1,000 gp, while Hobie takes the 5k in credit to work with the Venturer. He accepts.

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 24 (21 currently), HP 94/109, CMD 24, Resist fire 20; Rumpus - AC 26, HP 62/62, CMD 24 
Wednesday December 13th, 2017 12:56:11 PM
"You are a shrewd negotiator, my good man, and we will accept your terms," says Kezzem.

"Hey Murph, I got the Belly Buster down to 90% up front, and you need to finish your tunnel to them asap, but they are coming to the pot luck!"

Pressi (Melvin)-AC 21 (22), HP 83, CMD 20; Harper-AC 21 (22), HP 61, CMD 23; Followers 
Wednesday December 13th, 2017 5:48:12 PM
Pressi tries to decide what is left, and remembers the issue with the tower.

(To DM: We haven't really been tracking materials, labor issues, etc. It's just been assumed we've been working, that certain materials are plentiful, etc. It's my end of the year at work and I have the kid and family is visiting, so I've been a little fast and loose, and assuming the DM would just give me some ballpark lump sum rather than calculate every per hour.)

According to Murphy, air elemental help would arrive if the team built a tower for them. It had to be tall and house nothing except the air elementals, but there weren't any other requirements. So Pressi hired some villagers to move the remaining clay (from Murphy's excavations, also used to build fortifications in the temple), wood and water (from create water spells). With this, she directs and builds a simple tower: a thin obelisk with spikes extending from the top, not unlike a palm tree.

Pressi will leave to decide her items on the next day.

DM Carl - Humble's Finest Hour 
Wednesday December 13th, 2017 10:27:48 PM
The tunnel extends onward to The Belly Buster under Murphy's watchful eye. He's going to have to grow himself a beard and change his name to Urist at this rate. He does notice, however, that the water elementals are having to pump more and more water into the tunnel walls to make them muddy enough from his transmutation spell to work. The typically rich, fertile soil of the Ford seems dryer than it should be.

Finally having enough of the digging, he fancies himself up and gets word out to his companions to meet at the Buster tonight. He announces to management that he is indeed branching the tunnels towards them.

(Note: unless anyone says otherwise, I'm assuming you all gather at The Buster on the evening of the 4th day.)

---

Bliss and Mr. Venturer reach an agreement. "Truth be told, I was hoping to keep this to an exchange of goods, rather than labor. Still, not safe to travel just yet. At least I'll have something to do." He looks curiously at the box of wayfarer bread, but accepts it as a potential brib...gift. A potential gift.

---

Kezzem and Lance are in agreement regarding the arrangement with The Belly Buster. The spread for this shindig just got a whole lot better.

---

Hobie continues feeling like an outsider, unsure what to do other than tag along with Bliss and the dwarves. Humble's Ford may be Roscoe's town, but Roscoe's kind of a big deal. Surely the newcomer can find some common ground with the townsfolk.

---

Pressi decides to start building a tower to attract some air elementals. Thanks to Murphy there is an abundance of raw materials, but does Pressi know what he's doing?

OOC: Give me a knowledge, engineering roll, please, even if it's untrained. Also, how high/wide are you making this thing, and where on the map is it going?

---

It is evening on Day 4. Unless you've all decided to ignore Murphy's request to meet up, assume you've all arrived at The Buster. The scene inside the tavern is pretty unremarkable, with the exception of two goblin apparitions sleeping in the corner. They soundlessly snore away, unaware an entire tavern can see them.

Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10a (Kim) HP 80/80  d20+16=26 ;
Wednesday December 13th, 2017 10:42:08 PM

Day 5 Tunnel Project
Murphy focuses on the tunnel section (with a 90 degree left turn about halfway along) from J to C (passing through where chamber G will eventually be dug out). Knowledge, Engineering 26/20. Water elementals to help, and transmute mud to rock for the tunnels (Murphy casts from the corner where G will later be, sending the spell both left and rightward). He tells the water elementals that within the next six months, he plans to make a lake for them to enjoy - and much earlier than that, if he is able.

On day 6, the chamber below the Belly Buster... Will roll for that on the morrow.

Regarding the white spire - Murphy thanks Pressi for taking the lead on this. Depending upon the size of the spire she is able to fashion - if fairly good sized, he joins with her in offering it up. If somewhat diminutive, he asks her if they can offer it up as a prototype, and ask for their thoughts as to whether it has a form pleasing to the air elementals, and how much larger they might want it, or if the shape needs alteration. He tells her that, once formed, he can try the mud to stone transmutation.

Lance Foxwell (Tanner) HP 97 -- AC 18/18/15 -- F+8 R+9 W+11 -- CMD 16 -- Fly +16 
Wednesday December 13th, 2017 11:58:31 PM
Lance ensures that the money is distributed to the cooks, the food is assembled, the fires lit, and all necessary preparations are made.

Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10a (Kim) HP 80/80 
Thursday December 14th, 2017 11:00:47 AM
At dinner, the fourth night, Murphy talks with his friends. He drew up a map of the tunnel complex - with the completed and proposed tunnels and chambers. "The earth continues to dry. For those who can do so, might I recommend a generous helping of create water spells to help out the folks around here with their gardens and fields? Last week I asked people to put out containers for water, and filled those they provided me. My uncle Orby has a flask of endless water, and I think he is helping out on some of the larger farms, and with local fruit and nut trees. We don't want to end up with a food shortage due to this moving-mountain created drought. I will do a little bit of that each day, but feel the need to focus on the tunnels for now.

"The reason I asked you to meet, though, is to ask: How go things for everyone? Work? Plans? Preparations? Negotiations with the fortuitously-located Venturer? Are there things all of us should know about? Sounds like the feast-idea is progressing well. Shall we hold that tomorrow? Day after tomorrow?"

Pressi (Melvin)-AC 21 (22), HP 83, CMD 20; Harper-AC 21 (22), HP 61, CMD 23; Followers  d20+4=16 ;
Thursday December 14th, 2017 2:29:03 PM
Know Engineering 16

While somewhat aware of what she is doing and able to give some direction to followers, she is aware that she won't be building a massive tower in a single day with a few followers and whomever she can bribe or entice. But she can at least build something, and the simple design and engineering means she can build it along the ground and then slowly lift it towards the sky, so she can get it fairly tall.

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 81/81 AC 21 (shield off) CMD 24 Hero Points 2  
Thursday December 14th, 2017 3:12:09 PM
At dinner on the 4th night, Hobie will let the group know he's feeling a bit purposeless at the moment.

"I am more than happy to keep doing the shopping with Rando, but I'd really like to get a list of what things the group wants me to get. I've heard people tell me to 'get some scrolls,' but I'm no bloodwitch, I don't know what I should get. Give me some suggestions, and I'll be more than happy to go and do the shopping."

Bliss / CatBliss (AC20, HP112of116, +3nonlethal) (Cayzle) 
Thursday December 14th, 2017 4:29:25 PM

Bliss invites his new friends (he does not think of his followers as "followers") to the feast preparations. He introduces Missy Joy to the gathered cooks since she is such a good one.

He even lets the cooks borrow his magic pot. At its largest size, it should be quite useful for feeding a lot of people!

He helps out wherever he can, helping to get things ready. When Hobie asks him what he should get scroll-wise, Bliss suggests a couple scrolls of Cure Serious Wounds, say, because they always come in handy. Cure Critical Wounds, even.

Pressi (Melvin)-AC 21 (22), HP 83, CMD 20; Harper-AC 21 (22), HP 61, CMD 23; Followers 
Thursday December 14th, 2017 5:13:36 PM
"Well, let me help you out," Pressi tells Hobie. "Here's my list of what I'm getting."

Wand of Bless Weapon (1)
Wand of Grease (1)
Scroll of Slow (4)
Scroll of Align Weapon (3)
scroll of remove blindness (3)
scroll of remove paralysis (3)

Total: 5025 (throwing in 25 of my own money to complete transaction)

"As for what to get, I think you need to calm down and stop thinking in terms of optimizing or showing up in every battle. Instead, think about your role and strategy and what you might do if you, say, can't do direct damage or if something comes after you. Think in terms of emergencies and of the fact that it can take a full turn to pull out and use a scroll. Buffs, heals, battle control, it's all good at range. Also, don't be afraid to have some style out there."

----------------

Pressi fills everyone in on what she has been up to, and introduces everyone to her own followers.

Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10a (Kim) HP 80/80 
Thursday December 14th, 2017 10:35:10 PM

Enjoying not being a hulking elemental for the moment, Murphy takes delight in getting to know some of the new friends of Bliss and Pressi. Some he had light acquaintance with before now (e.g., Jamir Baddapple of that semi-notorious family, and Filiu Wyarr LaRue, whose house is right next to Murphy's family's burrow, and about whom Madame LaRue sometimes speaks). Besides the two mentioned, he also is pleased to have Mourning, Hesitation, Comfort and Joy, as well as Chicory and Dolgrin dining with them.

"Tanglefoot bags. Caltrops. Thunderstones. Acid." As Murphy names each item, he pulls it out of his haversack, and lays it on the table. "Rope. Alchemist's fire. Everburning torch. Antitoxin. Holy water. Smokesticks. Oil. There are many inexpensive things that can help out an adventurer. I heard that once Valdor Dragonstone - well, before he was called Dragonstone, had a tanglefoot bag used against him. It managed to slow him down.

"As Pressi indicated, having more than one option at your fingertips, Hobie, can help you get through any number of difficult situations. I once helped tame a two-headed giant with a couple of pieces of jerky. Never think, if one strategy is not working, that you're stuck with that strategy. Roll with the situation. Do something your opponent does not anticipate. My brother Kendry escaped from a necromancer who was bent on his destruction by emptying a small bag of caltrops."

DM Carl - Humble's Finest Hour 
Thursday December 14th, 2017 11:16:21 PM
Friends, it turns out The Last Jedi is a really long movie, and I have a certification test in the morning & need sleep. I'll post first thing in the morning. Hopefully we can get our posts in tomorrow & pick back up tomorrow evening to get a full week.

DM Carl - Humble's Finest Hour  d100=89 ;
Friday December 15th, 2017 10:12:35 AM
Pressi is able to construct a passable prototype. An actual clay and dirt tower that stands high enough to entice air elementals and can withstand their play will take some thought. It's not a waste; a lot is learned about tolerances and techniques that can be applied to the construction of the tower proper.

OOC: +5 bonus to the engineering check to build the final tower, by whoever makes the roll.

---

The evening at the Buster is pleasant enough. The Ford's on edge with all the goings on, but they take some solace in the fact that a group of local adventurers are preparing for whatever's coming. It's enough to keep the mood upbeat as they dine.

Murphy discusses his progress with digging tunnels, and if your humble narrator can offer some praise, it's quite impressive. The subject of the drying earth is brought up with the beginning of some plans to address it. He mentions an uncle with a decanter of endless water. That could come in real handy in the event the town had to spend an extended time underground.

Lance, who has spent the day finalizing plans, is able to confirm that both The Buster and The Pig are on board with supplying food and drink, respectively. Both are adamant that they're both working with the party separately, not together. It's an uneasy situation. Lumber for warmth and cooking fires is being provided courtesy of Mayor Bingo. There's been talk of bringing in extra fish or vegetables, but nothing's finalized on either front. The priests and priestesses at the temple of Flower and Ffloy are of course ready to welcome the town at any moment.

Hobie admits to a lack of purpose. The rest of the is quick to act and strong in their convictions; it's understandable. He sets himself up as errand boy for obtaining what they need while everyone else is busy with preparations. It's a good use of his time, for sure. Murphy gives a short, but appropriate lecture about being prepared for several eventualities.

Bliss and Pressi's "friends" are introduced to the group at large, and Joy in particular is introduced to the kitchen staff at The Buster. There's some hemming and hawing from the staff before the head chef speaks up and addresses Joy. "Apologies, miss, but have you ever worked in a kitchen before? I'll take your word about being a decent cook, but a good chef also knows his way around a busy kitchen with a bunch of other decent cooks in your way." It's not an outright no; perhaps she can be useful on the prep line during the day. There's always a bunch of potatoes that need dicing.

Conversation ceases suddenly as the sleeping goblin apparitions in the corner are silently set upon by two 8' tall vulture-like creatures. The goblins don't stand a chance as they're mercilessly torn apart and consumed by the creatures.

Knowledge, planes DC 19, Highlight to display spoiler: {These creatures are vrocks.}

It's enough to put the Busters off their dinners, no small feat. One demon tears into the jugular of his goblin victim, sending a spray of blood arcing outwards. There is an audible gasp as the blood lands on a nearby diner. He runs a hand across his face where the goblin blood splattered, and it smears. The terrified halfling runs from The Buster as everyone else turns to face the apparitions, wondering if they'll be coming through next.

They don't. The scene soon disappears, though the blood does not. Things, it seems, are progressing. The remainder of the night is quiet, but new spreads like wildfire. The crowds that once watched the apparitions battle now run whenever they appear.

Morning on day 5 arrives without news of additional materializations. Murphy has plenty to do. The rest of our heroes have a whole day ahead of them.

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 24 (21 currently), HP 94/109, CMD 24, Resist fire 20; Rumpus - AC 26, HP 62/62, CMD 24 
Friday December 15th, 2017 12:30:13 PM
Kezzem gathers up the Sword save Murphey:

"Hey guys, Murphey's been working really hard on those tunnels. I think we should do something nice for him. Any ideas?"

Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10a (Kim) HP 80/80  d20+16=35 ; d20+3=21 ; d20+16=26 ;
Friday December 15th, 2017 2:16:56 PM
Day Four Dinner
"Those are man-vultures - demonic vrocks!" Murphy exclaims as they rip into the slumbering goblins. "My cousin, Gregory, told me about them. They screech, and dance, and send out electrical damage covering a fair distance. Demonic, they are." (Knowledge planes 21)

Day Five
As mentioned before (post of Wednesday December 13th, 2017 10:42:08 PM), Murphy builds 'Truffles' chamber C: an oval, 30'x22' and almost 20' tall in the center of the chamber, the top of which which is 25' below the surface. The ground and surroundings are particularly well suited to that size chamber (Knowledge engineering 35). He also builds the tunnel to the surface in the place that the Belly Buster management wants it to be placed - whether at some place inside the establishment, or just outside the building. Once dug, he summons water elementals, casts two mud to rock spells (one for chamber, one for ascending tunnel).

Later, while next to the spire prototype made by Pressi and her helpers, he summons a small air elemental, showing the spire, and asks the air spirit to inquire of the elder elemental if that form would be suitable, in a larger size. As he inquired earlier, yet without reply, Murphy asks again if placing the spire near the top of the cliff where he met with the elementals might be a suitable locale. Finally - is there any news from the air dwellers as to what Vé-Eldfjöll and his minions are doing?

Day Six
Short tunnel section to I, and underground chamber, 15'x20 oval, 15' height at center, with initial stub of tunnel toward H (Knowledge engineeering 26), then make it stone with elemental assistance.

Will day six be the day of the feast?

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 81/81 AC 21 (shield off) CMD 24 Hero Points 2  
Friday December 15th, 2017 7:24:12 PM
Talking with the group at dinner on Night 4: "I think that perhaps I'll ask for 5 scrolls of Greater Invisibility, a wand of shield, and a wand of True Strike" Total 5,000
I also think I may have something to add to the festivities. No party is complete without music, and I've recently taken up the lute. Maybe I can put together a band to play. I'll hang some flyers tomorrow and see what I can do.

Day 5: Hobie will make a trip to Rando in the morning to get the wands and scrolls he's requested, and will go ahead and pick up anything the others ask him to grab while he's there.

After this he will hang flyers around Humble's Ford. The flyers say "Musicians needed. One night gig. 1 gold each. Experienced musicians only need apply. Meet Hobie Browncloak at the Belly Buster on the morning of (Day 6)"

Day 6: Hobie will show up early at the Belly Buster, hopeful to meet some talented musicians.


Bliss / CatBliss (AC20, HP112of116, +3nonlethal) (Cayzle)  d20+20=25 ;
Friday December 15th, 2017 8:15:25 PM

Bliss spends the next day as a cat, scouting around in disguise. He wants to make sure there are no intruders or funny business going on.

Perception 25

Lance Foxwell (Tanner) HP 97 -- AC 18/18/15 -- F+8 R+9 W+11 -- CMD 16 -- Fly +16 
Friday December 15th, 2017 11:38:38 PM
"Now that we have the trap.... err, the potluck set, how should we best protect these people? It's not my department. I blow things up."

Pressi (Melvin)-AC 21 (22), HP 83, CMD 20; Harper-AC 21 (22), HP 61, CMD 23; Followers 
Saturday December 16th, 2017 4:06:42 PM
"Well, I've made some fortifications to the temple, but it could probably use some outside fencing to further slow creatures down, and I am hoping to station some air elementals inside.

"I'm not really sure what else to do, really."

(Or about what to do for Murphy either.)



DM Carl - Humble's Finest Hour  d100=89 ; d100=44 ; d100=42 ; d8=4 ;
Monday December 18th, 2017 10:54:08 AM
Murphy is able to ID the creatures as vrocks. The day following the incident is tense. The entire Ford is on edge. No longer do the townsfolk stare and watch any apparitions that materialize (and they do indeed still come. They might even be doing so more frequently), but rather flee at the sight of them.

Despite the tension, day 5 is productive and basically free from distraction. Murphy continues work on the tunnels before tending to his deal with the elder air elemental. The young elemental he summons flits around the tower, rapidly twirling around and through the breezeways. The strong wind throws loose dirt from the tower, and the elemental stops before too much damage is done.

"Bigger. Harder." It points towards the top of the tower the elementals are to use as playgrounds. "Chimes. Acoustics...music. Ask elders. Will return."

The elemental flies away, quickly disappearing from view. It returns within 10 minutes with a response. "Cliff acceptable. Vé-Eldfjöll quiet, but fire brethren active. Mountain too unpredictable." The elemental stops swirling for a moment and hovers near Murphy's face. "You are in great danger."

The elemental has nothing more to add. "Release, please," is all it says, wishing to be released from its summons.

---

Kezzem suggests a gift for Murphy, seeing how he's worked so tirelessly lately. The idea isn't shot down, but it isn't really expanded on either.

---

Bliss cats around Humble's Ford for the day. His incognito form he's able to overhear the townsfolk talking. There's much worry about town, but there's also talk of the preparations our intrepid heroes are making.

Bliss only, Sense Motive DC 20 - Highlight to display spoiler: {You're probably preventing a full scale panic.}

---

Hobie takes Rando shopping for all the supplies the group's requested. He then hangs flyers looking for musicians. A handful do meet him in the evening. They look at each other for a bit, then tall, slender halfling woman speaks up. Her voice, even when speaking, is hypnotizing and melodic. Flower's symbol is featured predominantly on her cloak clasp. "I won't accept payment. Flower has provided for me, and gifted me with melody. It will be my honor to perform for the town in her temple." She smiles at Hobie before motioning with her eyes towards the rest of the musicians gathered. "The rest of these oafs need the money."

"Darn straight we do!" shouts a response from the gathered musicians, followed by laughter and agreement. She takes her leave, wrapping her arms around the shoulder of another of the musicians as they leave together. They don't seem to have taken any offense to being called oafs.

--- Consider entertainment covered ---

Pressi and Lance consider how to proceed. Things have basically fallen into place party-wise, but till now they've relied on the guard and Murphy's tunnels (and hopefully air elementals) to provide protection. Lance is content to handle any attackers personally upon their arrival. Pressi suggest something to slow down any attackers, but isn't sure how to proceed. Without knowing where an attack would come from, it will be tough. The river to the south provides some protection, but there's a lot of directions invaders could attack from.

---

Work around town slows as the sun sinks below the horizon. Citizens go to their homes, or their respective taverns. Then, the peaceful night is cut short with a shout.

"FIRE!" comes the call, followed by doors opening, loud murmurs and gasps. Indeed, there is a large fire rising from the east. It takes a few moments for it to become clear what's actually happening: the moon Wardd burns. It's nightly ascent casts flickering firelight across the entire Crimson Valley.

The light grows in intensity until it's punctuated with a large *foomp!*. The ground rumbles and a wave of hot air washes over the town. As eyes recover from the sudden dry blast, a towering wall of flame can be seen in every direction, completely circling Humble's Ford. The flames grow and grow, punctuated periodically with giant crags of glowing rock shoot up from the earth, causing many of the townsfolk to loose their footing.

OOC: Acrobatics DC 10 or fall prone

Eventually, the shaking stops. The firelight from Wardd shows the town encircled by rough, glowing stone. Huge plumes of steam erupt from the river where the wall cut through its path.

The flames on Wardd die down, but do not dissipate. In the dimmer light, only glowing edges of the wall can be seen. It's hard to tell, but they're about half a mile from the edge of town.

Recovering from the shock of what's happened, the towns folk start talking, then screaming. Some full on panic and run. They run home, they run to the temple...some just run.

---

It's evening on Day 5. Tomorrow (real life tomorrow, that is) is the last official post of the year.

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 24 (21 currently), HP 94/109, CMD 24, Resist fire 20; Rumpus - AC 26, HP 62/62, CMD 24 
Monday December 18th, 2017 12:51:53 PM
Kezzem greats Murphey after a hard days work in the tunnels,

"Have you heard of Murphey the druid,
He called many friends that were fluid,
Together the worked,
In mud and in dirt,
After which Murphey smelt quite putrid.


Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 81/81 AC 21 (shield off) CMD 24 Hero Points 2  
Monday December 18th, 2017 3:24:17 PM
Ooc: I’m gonna make my post late tonight, we are having family Christmas stuff today, but I was looking through my CRB while waiting on my wife, and came accross the Rod of Flame Extinguishing. Maybe it would be a good decision for us to use whatever portion of our store credit from the venturer to buy one of those for the party?

Pressi (Melvin)-AC 21 (22), HP 83, CMD 20; Harper-AC 21 (22), HP 61, CMD 23; Followers 
Monday December 18th, 2017 4:45:57 PM
Pressi fills everyone in on a vrock, based on research.

(Not really sure what to tell you. High SR, DR and saves. High HP. Across the board decent resists (but the will is a little weak). Flight with range or reach attacks.... Bless Weapon plus Slow seems like the best bet.)

Pressi (Melvin)-AC 21 (22), HP 83, CMD 20; Harper-AC 21 (22), HP 61, CMD 23; Followers 
Monday December 18th, 2017 4:58:55 PM
(OOC: Not going to have the time to post otherwise tonight. Can anyone post for me? Thanks.)


Lance Foxwell (Tanner) HP 97 -- AC 18/18/15 -- F+8 R+9 W+11 -- CMD 16 -- Fly +16 
Monday December 18th, 2017 11:42:38 PM
"Welp, we're boned." Lance looks around at the towering wall of glowing stone. "Hey, Murphy. Any chance you could fly up and see how high it goes?.... and if there is still a world beyond it."

Bliss / CatBliss (AC20, HP112of116, +3nonlethal) (Cayzle) 
Monday December 18th, 2017 11:51:41 PM

Untrained and with a wisdom of 8, Bliss has no ability to sense motives! He was hunting a mouse at that crucial point.

Good news is he caught the mouse, and with his merciful tear, did no long-lasting harm. After snuggles, he lets it go.

When reunited, Bliss laughs and laughs at Kezzem's poem. "Who says Paladins are no fun, Sir Kezzem!"

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 82/82 AC 21 (shield off) CMD 27 Hero Points 2   d10=1 ; d10=8 ; d10=4 ; d10=6 ; d10=2 ; d6=1 ; d6=2 ; d6=3 ; d10=6 ; d10=8 ; d10=8 ;
Tuesday December 19th, 2017 12:36:49 AM
OOC: Guys, I talked to the DMs, and they are allowing me to change Hobie a little bit. His personality is pretty much the same, but rather than a Rogue Archer, he's an Arcane Archer now. When I joined up, y'all already had a Ranger Archer, so I didn't want to step on his toes by building an archer, so I made Hobie a Rogue switch hitter, but then when he stopped playing, I shifted Hobie more into a full time Archer, but he wasn't really built that way, so I messaged the GMs, and they let me shift Hobie into the character that I more want him to be. They were very gracious and since Hobie was still pretty new, they said it was cool.

So Hobie's new character sheet is in the link, hopefully it works, it's pretty much done, except for the spellbook needs to be tweaked a bit, and perhaps there are some errors I missed that will need to be fixed. You'll see he is now a Fighter 5 / Wizard 2 / Arcane Archer 3.

The DMs told me to roll for his new HP here so
lvl1= 10
lvl2= 8
lvl3=4
lvl4=6
lvl5=2
lvl 6=2
lvl7=3
lvl8=6
lvl9=8
lvl10=8

Funny enough, after Toughness, Con, Favored Class bonuses he ends up at 82HP, when he previously had 81.

This is actually the first magic using character I've ever played, so I will have lots of questions, and any tips y'all can provide would be great.

His identity is still (maybe even more so) wrapped up in being an Archer, but I hope the magic can allow him to be a bit more versatile.

Monday, December 18, 2017

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 82/82 AC 21 (shield off) CMD 27 Hero Points 2   d20+7=23 ;
Tuesday December 19th, 2017 12:50:34 AM
The ground shakes underneath Hobie but he manages to keep his footing (Acrobatics 23). He looks to the townsfolk running in all directions, and shouts at them "Move to cover! Get inside as quickly as you can!"

He looks around for his friends, pulls Prowler from his efficient quiver, and prepares to move toward the wall of fire.

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 82/82 AC 21 (shield off) CMD 27 Hero Points 2  
Tuesday December 19th, 2017 1:03:10 AM
ooc: I forgot to mention in my last ooc post that since Hobie is no longer a Rogue, he is going to use his money from the venturer to buy some different scrolls instead of 5 Greater Invis scrolls.

2x Scroll: Haste 700
2x Scroll: Fly 700
2x scroll: Web 300
2x scroll: See Invisibility 300
2x scroll: Mirror Image 300
2x scroll: Knock 300
2x scroll: Spider Climb 300
2x scroll: Darkvision 300
2x scroll: Make Whole 300

Total 3500



Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 82/82 AC 21 (shield off) CMD 27 Hero Points 2  
Tuesday December 19th, 2017 1:05:14 AM
ooc once more. I did that math wrong, should be 3600. The extra 100 will come from Hobie's cash

Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10a (Kim) HP 80/80  d20+5=7 ; d20+25=38 ; d20+17=36 ;
Tuesday December 19th, 2017 3:56:36 AM

The wild shaped druid is pleased with the day's work, especially the chamber and tunnel to the surface adjacent to the Belly Buster.

He changed to his own halfling form before he summoned the small air elemental, and, if she was able, he asked Pressi to be there as well. He telepathically translates what he and the air elemental have to say to each other for her benefit. He takes in the requested augmentations and characteristics.

When the summoned emissary stops to warn him of the danger they are in, Murphy answers, when it appears the creature does not plan to elucidate - "Yes. Thank you for the warning. WIth greetings to your Elder, and blessings to you and your fellows, you are released."

As he has been going about his work, after the first couple of days, it has become somewhat routine. Murphy has been using the time to review several things in his mind. Some plant-helping spells. Some water- and cold-using spell formation, ideas for altering or tailoring other druidic effects use some of this thinking time.

Kezzem comes with a clever and funny limerick about his recent activities, and laughs after hearing it. He asks him to say it one more time, and quickly jots it down in his journal. "You know, I do give myself a shower with soap at the end of my excavations. Yet there may be some ripeness before then."

Trying to do so slightly before nightfall, Murph seeks out Constable Roscoe and/or Mayor Bumbleluck with the elemental's warning. Also he asks Roscoe to work with his men to help organize procedures to get people to the safety of the tunnels, or the sanctuary of the temple, when the time comes.

Staying, likely with most members of the Sword, at the group's Burrow adjacent the river, the call of 'Fire!' draws him to step outside. Wardd - maps of which he has studied - sends down fire to Crescent Valley? [Perception: 38 to discern what he might about the approaching light, and the results thereof]

For all his concentration, the local land rises just right to result in his landing on his keister. [Acrobatics: 7]

Responding to Lance, Murphy says, "I could. If anyone wants to join me, I'm good with that." He takes a moment to see if any want to join him in flight. "Think I'll go as an air elemental. Though a phoenix might be a good form, under the circumstances. Or, as a large bat, if a couple of you want to fly up with me - though we might be more conspicuous that way, in case someone is watching. I'll stay in touch with Pressi, so she can pass on to you what I am seeing."

He changes to a medium air elemental, in the shape of an eagle, and shoots off at a speed of 95x5=475 feet per round, with perfect flight [Fly 36, or 31]. If he discerns he needs it as he approaches the rocky perimeter, he will cast resist (fire) energy, and perhaps also protection from (fire) energy. If he can deal with the heat without resorting to either spell, then he does so. He goes for a fair amount of altitude, so as to get a broad overview. He telepathically keeps up a running commentary with Pressi.

Unless facing clear opposition, he flies in a full circle, deasil, above the perimeter of the surrounding raised stones, grateful to Wardd for the moonlit landscape, if not for the fiery attack apparently sourced therefrom. He takes in all that he can absorb.

After the broad circuit, he returns to his companions.

{Estimating the core of town is about 1,200 feet across, and adding 2600 feet out from there, the diameter of the fiery, rocky encirclement is perhaps 6,400 feet? If so, the circumference would be a touch over 20,000 feet, or about 3.8 miles. If he is able, along with a half-mile flight to the circling rocks, Murphy flies about five miles. At his speed, it would take ~5.5 minutes or so to complete the circuit, including the flight out to it.}

Upon returning, while still in elemental form, Murphy says, "Despite that the encircling flames indicate that our town is his anticipated landing site, I vow to do all I can to dissuade this power away from Humble's Ford. This is too precious a place to succumb to the will of an evil volcano. He can go somewhere else and land on the giants, or in the middle of an ocean."

========
OOC: Nick - great ideas for Hobie. And the notion of acquiring a rod of flame extinguishing is absolutely excellent, under the looming circumstances. You've got Murphy's approval.

Bliss / CatBliss (AC20, HP112of116, +3nonlethal) (Cayzle) 
Tuesday December 19th, 2017 7:37:35 AM

[OOC to Hobie: It's old, but you may enjoy my three-part essay on arcane archers.]

When the ground shakes, Bliss has no trouble keeping his footing. [no reason to roll with my Acrobatics mod]

However, he worries about houses falling down and about the new tunnels collapsing. He hopes they are sturdy enough! Bliss goes around looking to see if anyone needs help.

DM Carl - Humble's Finest Hour 
Tuesday December 19th, 2017 10:19:42 AM
OOC: Of course Cayzle has a 3-part essay...

Nick, we still need Jerry's approval for your character surgery. We'll secure it during the slowdown, but for the moment you're still a rogue. Site rules, buddy.
---

Murphy takes to the skies. His new form allows him to traverse the perimeter of the town rapidly, where he learns the following:

The stone wall is jagged, but averages about 10' high.
The resist energy spell allows you to approach closer, but anyone climbing the wall unprotected will almost certainly succumb to the flames.
The air above the wall is also dangerously hot. He has to fly an additional 20' above the wall before it becomes safe. Hot, unpleasant, but safe.
The rest of the Wold does exist beyond it still.

The actions of the past few days has helped the town prepare for this eventuality. Folks stream quickly to the temple looking for safety. A few stubborn hold outs stay hunkered in their homes, and Roscoe's men end up having to subdue half a dozen or so panicked halflings. Anyone looking to help the townfolk have no problem finding opportunities (feel free to roleplay this yourselves).

The wall surrounding the town blocks any breeze. The stale air heats to a dry, distressing temperature. It's not enough to ignite thatched roofs, but it's hot enough to wear most down.

---

OOC: Above ground is considered severe heat. Per the CRB:

In severe heat (above 110° F), a character must make a Fortitude save once every 10 minutes (DC 15, +1 for each previous check) or take 1d4 points of nonlethal damage. Characters wearing heavy clothing or armor of any sort take a –4 penalty on their saves. A character with the Survival skill may receive a bonus on this saving throw and might be able to apply this bonus to other characters as well (see the Survival skill in Using Skills). Characters reduced to unconsciousness begin taking lethal damage (1d4 points per each 10-minute period).

A character who takes any nonlethal damage from heat exposure now suffers from heatstroke and is fatigued. These penalties end when the character recovers from the nonlethal damage she took from the heat.

---

A cursory investigation shows they're intact; reinforcing them with stone was a good idea. It's also significantly cooler underground (persons underground are safe from the heat).

Roscoe's men report to their posts. Mayor Bumbleluck and high-priestess Sarabella usher everyone into the temple as quickly as their able. The priests and priestesses of Flower & Ffloy tend to the heat-stricken. The town waits for the inevitable attack, but nothing comes.

There's just heat, stillness, and silence...

---

That's 2017, folks. I'll be popping in every few days to address any posts you guys make, but after today's post you're off the hook until January. Happy Holidays to you all.

Lance Foxwell (Tanner) HP 97 -- AC 18/18/15 -- F+8 R+9 W+11 -- CMD 16 -- Fly +16  d20+16=19 ; d20+16=24 ; d20+16=34 ; d20+16=33 ; d20+16=29 ; d20+16=29 ; d20+16=28 ; d20+16=20 ; d20+16=32 ; d3=3 ; d20+16=22 ; d20+16=26 ; d20+16=17 ; d20+16=29 ; d20+16=30 ; d20+16=33 ; d20+16=18 ; d3=1 ; d20+16=25 ; d3=1 ; d20+16=21 ; d20+16=35 ; d20+16=20 ; d20+16=29 ; d20+16=33 ; d20+16=26 ; d20+16=28 ; d3=2 ; d20+16=26 ; d20+16=33 ; d20+16=18 ; d20+16=18 ; d20+16=24 ; d20+16=30 ;
Tuesday December 19th, 2017 11:55:44 PM
Lance casts fly, and joins Murphy in flying as high as he can (2.5 minutes).

ooc: Bunch of Fly checks. Also some d3 rolls, because the dice roller jumps around when the dice-roller text field gets too full.

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 82/82 AC 21 (shield off) CMD 27 Hero Points 2  
Wednesday December 20th, 2017 12:57:42 AM
Ooc: okay, as I’m clearing up confusion about how wizardiness works, I’d like to retcon my venturer purchases to the two wands, and some scrolls to be named later, if that’s okay. Then once Jerry approves the character surgery and I figure out what Hobie’s spellbook looks like, I’ll decide the scrolls. Is that cool?

Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10a (Kim) HP 80/80  d20+14=15 ; d20+16=34 ; d20+16=32 ; d20+16=25 ; d20+16=35 ; d20+16=26 ; d20+16=20 ; d20+16=28 ; d20+16=21 ; d4=1 ;
Thursday December 21st, 2017 1:32:31 AM

Murph thanks Lance for joining in on some of the recon. Now, seeing that the whole town is walled off by the surrounding stone, Murphy quickly consults with the group. "I will see if I can open up two ways out of this wall. First, immediately, the road to Angel Springs. Second, perhaps tomorrow, the road to Hovel - it goes right by our new place where the communal house was. I'm flying back to the east side, and will try to break a hole at least 10' wide and open at the top, so that wagons can go in and out. Can someone come with me in case I need help? I have resistence to fire up, and, once I'm about to start the work in a couple of minutes, I'll also cast protection from fire, and go after the rock as a huge earth elemental" [note: 32 feet tall (or long as he burrows), 32,000 pounds].

"Can the rest of you, besides one or two who choose to come with me, see what you can do around town? Creating water for rooftops and the like would be good. I'm sure you'll find other ways to help, too."

That is what he attempts to do - open a way through the wall in one section, where the main road to Angel Springs passes. With his knowledge engineering of 15, he is able to identify dangerous construction (it's hot for the moment!) and the structure's style or age (it's brand new, in the Vulcan style), but doesn't have quite enough background as yet to determine the wall's weakness (need know eng 20 to do that).

Nonetheless, he begins to rip into the rock, trying to open a passage from one side to another, in as efficient a manner as he is able. He earthglides below, to ascertain how deep the fresh stone is buried, and across, to see how thick it is (though he would also know that from having flown above it).

Taking advantage of his other skills, he drops load after load of water, 20 gallons at a time (once every six seconds) along the sides once he has opened a passage way. If that causes fissures in the stone, he takes advantage of it to further widen the gap.

When he feels he has a good enough passageway (minimum 10' wide, and up to 20' wide if he can effect that), he lays off the work. Alternatively, if the work takes so long that his protection from (and resistance to) fire are about to end, he distances himself from the job, prepared to report back with the current status.

After that, he spends time watering trees, soaking roofs of houses and businesses, trees in his uncle's orchards, and for other people, refilling containers with water. It will be Gunga Murphy - watering, cooling. He includes himself in the showers frequently enough to keep himself cool (evaporative water on clothing and skin has a cooling effect which ought to help mitigate potential heat exhaustion). I think a +4 to fortitude saving throws reasonable if one is being doused with water every couple of minutes - subject to DM modification up or down.

He is able to get through 80 minutes (say averaging ~6x20=120 gallons per minute of water treatment, for almost 10,000 gallons (80,000 pounds) before taking 1 hp of temporary damage, and suffering heatstroke, and becoming fatigued. (It's about time that Murphy becomes fatigued!)

He retreats to the coolness of the tunnels, finds a nook, drinks water, and takes a 20-minute nap. When he awakens, he eats a goodberry (cure 1 hp). He comforts the people in the tunnel, takes off his leather armor, and returns to the surface to resume watering the roofs and plants, and helping people where he may.

Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10a (Kim) HP 80/80 
Friday December 22nd, 2017 1:19:04 AM

Of a sudden, Murphy says, "The river! Come, friends." Any members of the Sword who are up and about he encourages to come with him to look at the river, and how the fresh wall of stone intersects it. Does it look like the flow is stopped, or does it continue? Is the river steaming at all, especially near the rocks?

If the flow is stopped, Murphy says, "In the morning, we must re-open the flow of the water. For tonight, for sure, I would need protection from the heat, which I now lack. On the morrow, I can cast the requisite spells. The water must flow, the fish must be able to pass. Both upstream and downstream need to be unblocked. It might be good, too, if at least small rowboats or canoes or rafts might be able to pass through. If we do not open a passage, the water will begin to overflow the banks on the upriver side."

He speaks skyward, "Lord Eberyon, thank you for what you have just allowed me to do. Watch over us, and I pray your protection from the volcanic power that wishes to usurp our fertile land."

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