DM Carl Sunday February 24th, 2019 9:07:43 PM
With prayers and camaraderie, Humble's Sword wraps things up. Hobie and Murphy load up as many interesting scrolls as they carry. It seems the writers in the Iron Giant recorded everything that happened in the vicinity for hundreds of years.
OOC: I'm not writing hundreds of years of history, at least not all at once. The library you've gained access to gives you a +5 bonus to knowledge, history checks regarding The Scab when you're able to peruse them. If there are any specific questions you'd like to study, I'll address them. I may also use these as hooks for future adventures.
Our heroes arrive home in Humble's Sword before the rest of the citizenry. They left early this morning, and will take some time to return home. Anyone checking from a higher vantage point can confirm they're on their way, though.
***
Thus begins scene zero. You folks have a week of downtime to shop, role-play, whatever. Like I said in my email, I don't really care if you post in the Catacombs board to sell this stuff, but you do need to deduct the 50% restock fee from anything you intend to sell.
Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 25, touch AC 18; HP 87/125, CMD 24; Rumpus - AC 25, touch 14; HP 62/62, CMD 24 Sunday February 24th, 2019 11:30:18 PM
Kezzem ponders what to spend his new wealth on. "Well, I wouldn't mind boosting my headband to make me smart-like, but I don't think I'll be wanting to spend all my gold on it to do so. Probably should boost my armor and stuff first."
Succotash (Jeremy) AC 27/13/25 CMD 29 HP 129/129 Miss Piggy AC 30/12/28 CMD 25 HP 96/96 Monday February 25th, 2019 5:10:57 AM
"Talia, I know you asked Murphy, but allow me to answer your question", Succotash says with much enthusiasm, "Being fairly new to the team, I can say from personal experience, that anyone with a good heart and heroic temperament is welcome as a member, for goodness sake, you bled with us, and fought with us, in my mind, that makes you one of us!"
Bliss (Cayzle) HP80, AC25 Monday February 25th, 2019 11:31:22 AM
“Of course you are on the team, Miss Talia! Wowsy, it’s a no-brainer!” declares Bliss.
He advocates taking all the Giant-only stuff and saving it for when the party hires a caretaker or guardian or steward. “If we take it as our own, we’ll need a fighter/butler. If we don’t want it, we should equip a tour guide to charge for tours and give the proceeds to charity! This could be quite the tourist attraction! Our pal the merchant priest could have a concession stand for snacks and tchotchkies.”
But the first order of business is wla training and shopping!
Succotash (Jeremy) AC 27/13/25 CMD 29 HP 129/129 Miss Piggy AC 30/12/28 CMD 25 HP 96/96 Monday February 25th, 2019 1:04:37 PM
I agree Bliss, some shopping is definitely on the to do list!” Succotash grins.
The Unbelievable J.T.T. Zaragosa (Jack) (Jairus Houdek) (AC 24 CMD 23 HP 71/71) (spells left by lvl 6/6 3/5 1/4) (abilities bar Monday February 25th, 2019 2:38:05 PM
Jack notes Murphy and Bliss's kindness towards himself and Talia. He gives the two a reassuring smile but his voice lacked his usual enthusiasm, "Yes yes, of course, our team. I'll make note of that."
Murph writes down the sounds he heard Anur say earlier, even though he did not understand them. He figures he will check in with someone at the WLA about what he heard earlier. He also plans to have Hobie and Talia explain what they gained from looking over Anur's scroll earlier - the Make Whole thing.
"Yes, yes, Talia. You have shown yourself clearly to be a worthy member of Humble's Sword. Succotash and Bliss both said it well. Let us officially welcome you - and Jack - as full-on members of the Sword." He takes and squeezes her hand. "You made a difference several times for us."
Concerning the disposition of the magic gear and gems, Murphy says, "Well, it looks like, if we take either outside of the giant, they lose their effect - and need to be brought back in before they will start working again. But, yes, so that they are not lost, I concur with your idea of securing them in some reasonable manner, whether doing so within the giant or elsewhere. Go ahead and take initiative on how to do that, Tali."
Thinking over what they have been told, he talks with the group. "Since living within the Iron Giant, one in effect becomes a construct, according to Anur. He said that while dwelling within the giant, one does not become hungry or thirsty - although Shan did prepare some tea for Pressi. One does not grow tired. We ourselves did not feel tired, or winded. We exerted ourselves, yet did not break a sweat. 'It's the magic of this place. Makes you part construct,' Anur told us. He also said that his wife was not dead, but only broken."
After letting that sink in, he adds, "I don't know that I wish to be part construct. I'm fine with visiting the giant, but do not wish to make it my general dwelling place. It's no great secret that I am a druid. I think that I shall dwell at the Sanctuary of Humble's Sword - we have lots of projects there - and visit the giant from time to time, for now. I kind of like its current posture: on one knee, arms extended down toward Humble's Ford. A warrior, in submission toward the town it came to destroy."
Balance of day Murphy works with Hobie and others to transfer all the scrolls with writing upon them to The Sanctuary of Humble's Sword, as well as a few other items. He suggests they leave one scroll, with 'Darkness' written upon it, within the Scriptorium. To answer an earlier question, how does Murphy propose to move a construct which weighs a ton from the Iron Giant over to the Sanctuary? He wild shapes to a huge (not large - he can do huge now) earth elemental. He weighs 48,000 pounds. Surely he is capable of carrying something weighing about 4% of his own weight. If needed, he can get one of the town's larger wagons and a small team of ponies to bear it in - but otherwise, he'll do it himself. Before hauling it the mile or so required, he will first wrap it in canvas. He takes it to a room in the large stone fortress in the center of the group's compound, and will contact Hugo Primula PipeLeaf about taking a look at it.
In the late afternoon, or earlier, Murphy congratulates Rosco and the Mayor for their masterful evacuation efforts, and his relief that nothing - save a long path of immense footprints leading most of the way from the Scab to the town - was smashed. He talks with the children about how he hopes that some of them will grow up to be adventurers, to defend the town, and, more important, that some will grow up to be farmers, and merchants, fathers, mothers, craftsfolk. "We need all sorts. Take your time, but figure out how you can help your people best as you grow up."
Next morning Murphy will go with Pressi, and whoever else wants to attend, for the casting of the [b]reincarnation spell for Ix[/u]. He understands her intention is to leave. Murphy's is to remain, and see how his body grows back, and in what form - if, indeed, it does so. And, if Ix returns via reincarnation, Murphy spends some time talking with him.
Before they go, he talks with Kade, lets him know the plan, and offers to let him come along, if he chooses. "If you want to rebuke him for what he did to your friends, that is up to you. My hope is to persuade him to consider a different path. I serve my Lord Eberyon, who initially went for what seemed in the eyes of many to be great violence and evil - yet chose to submit to reform and to much that is good after facing a Wold-wide comeuppance. I believe in reform. In redemption." Then he adds, "And really tasty mushrooms."
Visit to WLA in Angel Springs Murphy can take four with him to Angel Springs for training with the WLA via tree-trunk travel. He also can return half an hour later to pick up to four more in his arms as a huge air elemental (32 feet long), getting there in under half an hour, which may be the way to go for those who love to have the wind run through their hair.
He plans to pay 4,000 gp to graduate from Officer to Champion status, and receive skill and feat training. Feat? Cosmopolitan. Regarding the latter, he can learn two more languages. He asks his companions if there are any they recommend. Old High Woldian is one he is considering. Maybe also the language that Anur read from the scroll that restored Shan. But he is open to other options.
Loot Keeping About the loot, he says, "Let's keep the partial deck of illusions with the hearts, spades and jokers." [value 4,100] "Who wants to carry it? Bliss? Talia? Jack? Anyone, really, could use them. I'm not the best one, as I can't get to them when wild shaped. Could someone use the elixir of hiding? And how about keeping most of the CMW potions? We could take two each, have an extra left over, or turn it in at the Catacombs. Jack, do you want the bardic scrolls? They might come in handy for a ... bard!"
A few visits Later in the week, back in Humble's Ford, Murphy endeavors to schedule a teatime with McGregor HeadWise - the town's Eldest, and wisest Halfling. He has wanted to meet with him - but event after event seems to preclude the druid taking the time to do so. He asks about the old days of the town, and stories. He answers, or tries to answer, any questions the Humble Old One may ask. As always, any members of Humble's Sword who want to join in are welcome.
By way of reminder, here is a The Sanctuary of Humble's Sword. For the most accurate (and detailed) version of the map, see the second tab. If you wish to suggest changes, copy the map on 'Everyone Play' tab to a tab with your own name, and have fun editing. Or, for greater detail, you can copy the detailed map, give it your name on a separate tab, and have fun with working out the details.
Pressi (Melvin) - AC 22 (26), HP 84/94, CMD 21; Pressi's Notes Monday February 25th, 2019 10:45:13 PM
Pressi smiles at Talia. “Like it or not, you’re stuck with us.”
She also kind of vetoes the whole giant in the castle idea. “This place gives me the creeps, but not the correct form of creeps. Plus it doesn’t really go with the vibe any of us are trying to give out. I mean, who’s flavor screams live in a giant head decor?”
Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 25, touch AC 18; HP 87/125, CMD 24; Rumpus - AC 25, touch 14; HP 62/62, CMD 24 Monday February 25th, 2019 11:36:56 PM
"Well, I'm off to the catacombs," says Kezzem. "Who wants to join me?"
Succotash (Jeremy) AC 27/13/25 CMD 29 HP 129/129 Miss Piggy AC 30/12/28 CMD 25 HP 96/96 Tuesday February 26th, 2019 5:04:58 AM
Succotash says, "I'll join you Kezzem, I'm hoping to upgrade my ring of protection, and my amulet of natural armor". "By the way", Succotash adds, "I'm thinking of heading over to Merrydale to try to reacquaint myself with my parents, and make nice with my father". "I know I mentioned how him and I had a falling out when I left to become a Paladin, instead of learning the silversmith trade as he hoped, now after all these years, and after almost being killed in the shadow realm, I really think it's time for me to reach out. Well anyway, I was wondering if any of you would care to join me, I could really use the moral support, and would really enjoy the company".
Succotash (Jeremy) AC 29/15/28 CMD 31 HP 129/129 Miss Piggy AC 30/12/28 CMD 25 HP 96/96 Tuesday February 26th, 2019 5:40:51 AM
adjusting header
DM Carl Tuesday February 26th, 2019 11:13:01 AM
Our heroes immediately get to work spending their hard earned coin.
They have the time. The citizenry of Humble's Ford likely won't make it back to town for another hour.
Kade looks around, taking an immediate shine to his new home. He's especially impressed by the tunnel system that's set up.
"Any chance you could use your magic to carve me out a place to sleep down here while I get settled? I'd rather dig my own home and farm out the old fashioned way, but I wouldn't mind a head start."
***
As usual, my posts during scene 0 are pretty minimal. Tomorrow's will be bigger once the townsfolk get back, but scene 0's mostly your show.
Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 25, touch AC 18; HP 87/125, CMD 24; Rumpus - AC 25, touch 14; HP 62/62, CMD 24 Tuesday February 26th, 2019 12:07:26 PM
"Oh, and Murphey, here's the 1000 gp I owe you."
Kezzem forks over the coin.
Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 29, touch AC 18; HP 125/125, CMD 28; Rumpus - AC 25, touch 14; HP 62/62, CMD 24 Tuesday February 26th, 2019 12:22:25 PM
Header update
Pressi (Melvin) - AC 22 (26), HP 94, CMD 21; Pressi's Notes Tuesday February 26th, 2019 3:26:26 PM
After waiting for Jack to speak up, she pulls him aside. "You did some pretty good moves up there. I know the group isn't always team stealth what with the druid, two paladins... Heck, even I began to give up on stealth moves once it became clear everyone knew we were there. Anyway, if you wanted to get some training, I could run some drills with you, as someone who also mixes spells and skills.
"And... I may take the deck if it comes to that, but frankly I think it's more your style. It's a little carnivalesque trickster and I'm going more the dark spirit avenger route... you know, drop out of the mists in black clothes and chains, maybe some exotic flourishes like the leopard and western god statue. When branding falls in your lap, you just have to run with it."
(A similar offer is made by others, but even Talia appears sure of her abilities.)
As for securing it, Pressi suggests burying it in nature. Murphy has his large form and a bunch of spells, Pressi and Bliss can create water and freeze it, Talia probably has a few tricks, Kezzem and Succotash can use their mounts, etc. It may be warded against direct attacks and have survived centuries in the open air but it can still be slowed down by nature.
After all, it was the first time.
Bliss (Cayzle) HP80, AC25 Tuesday February 26th, 2019 4:11:32 PM
Bliss loves loves loves Pressi’s idea of everybody getting some stealth! He suggests cloaks of sneaking or chameleon rings or shadow armor or even just carrying a few elixirs. “With the witches and casters we got, we can use polymorph and invisibility to sneak around.”
Plus of course +4 for being small in size!
Succotash (Jeremy) AC 29/15/28 CMD 31 HP 129/129 Miss Piggy AC 30/12/28 CMD 25 HP 96/96 Wednesday February 27th, 2019 5:13:28 AM
"As much as I would love to be more stealthy", Succotash says to Pressi and Bliss, "A Paladin if full plate armor doesn't actually equal quiet movement, and have you seen the cost of Mithril these days?"
Bliss (Cayzle) HP80, AC25 Wednesday February 27th, 2019 6:06:06 AM
Bliss says, "Mithril! That makes no nevermind. An elixer of sneaking, and a potion of invisibility, and you're golden!"
[OOC: OMG! With your dex, size, ranks, WLA bonus, and armor, you're a natural +7 on stealth! Elixer costs 250 gp and lasts an hour, gets you up to +17. Potion of Invis costs 300 gp, gives you a three minute burst of +20 on stealth (until you attack). That's +37 on stealth, for just 600 gp.]
Bliss actually takes the time to watch Sir Succotash move and walk. He puts his Int 18 to use. "Hey! Actually, you are no slouch in the sneaking department, my friend! You stop your fibbing, SIr Paladin! You're already not too shabby at stealth! Spend some gold on Shadow Armor and you will be super sneaky!"
[OOC: Seriously, just a token 6,450 gp to add glamered and shadow properties to your full plate, and you can literally walk around with no one knowing you even have any armor on.]
Murphy (Kim) Halfling Druid(12) AC27 CMB16 CMD35 HP91 Wednesday February 27th, 2019 8:03:36 AM
"Kade, I can dig the basic form of a burrow for you, and you can refine the details. Or, we have other housing available, too, here in the Sanctuary. I'll show you some options. Both may also be possible - get you a conventional room in one of our buildings, and start you a burrow. If you're looking for a spot in the town proper, well, we'd have to take that up with the Mayor - and now's not a good time - he's supposed to be on his honeymoon. But for right around here, within the current walls we'd have to figure that out. Just on the other side of the walls, though, that would be easy. Let's talk it all over. I'll introduce you around to the folks who live and work here, besides those of us you met in the giant." He does so. "Over here is the workshop... Oh, hey, Foreman George, this here is Kade..." ---- "Sure, Catacombs sounds great, paladins. I'll join in. Our entrance to the Catacombs awaits the return of Pirnook Deeppockets, so he can re-open the General Store for us." ---- "Kezzem, you're an honest paladin," Murphy says when his friend returns the 1,000 gp, "with talent at accounting, to boot. Thank you!" ---- "Think about this guys. We were all in the Culverwood, and Emerald City, just - what is it, three days ago? So much happening in so little time. I could use a good long break. And traveling to Merrywood sounds like a good break. Unless we have to deal with something strange relating to the warning the cleric of Gargul uttered when we were back in Emerald City." ---- "Stealth? Yeah, all right, I'll learn a rank in stealth," Murphy agrees. "But that's it! Too many other things to do! If I want to be unobtrusive, I can go for a small bird or animal." [That gives him a 7 stealth, I think]
"Also, I'm learning boating. 'Bout time someone in the group do that. Seems we find ourselves on the water from time to time enough."
The Unbelievable Jack T.T. Zaragosa (Jairus Houdek) (AC 24 CMD 23 HP 71/71) (spells left by lvl 6/6 5/5 4/4) (abilities bardic Wednesday February 27th, 2019 9:10:46 AM
After Pressi pulls Jack to the side, he nods and agrees. "I could use the training. I have adventured before but not with such a group. They are more talented than even my performance team I was a part of. So I could use any pointers you give me. I'll take the cards and let Murphy know I want them and the scrolls. Thanks for your help."
To Murphy, he agrees to take the scrolls and the deck. He also requests to get one of the cloaks of resistance, since there are so many
Jack would attend the reincarnation spell for Ix
DM Carl Wednesday February 27th, 2019 11:03:55 AM
Murphy's right, of course. Humble's Sword has been pretty slammed. Honestly, so has all of Humble's Ford. Biggest party of the year, and they all have to wake up at dawn and flee town?
It's hardly surprising that the citizenry looks half dead when they return home. There's applause, of course, and once again our heroes find themselves on the receiving end of appropriate appreciateion. Really though? They want to go back to bed for a few days.
Mayor Bingo gets everyone's attention.
"Friends, it's been an exciting few weeks for us here in the Ford. I think we can all agree we could use some down time, yea?" There's a murmur of approval from the crowd. "Go home. Spend time with your families. Catch up on sleep. There will be time to celebrate Humble's Sword's victory when we're all good and rested." The tired crowd disperses quickly and goes home.
Considering what Humble's Sword went through to save the town, it's maybe a little anti-climatic? Let's hope things stay quiet for a while.
***
Kade is not oblivious to the fact that while no one wants to deal with coding and housing issues, he needs a place to sleep. "Probably best if I set up shop here at...Sanctuary, you called it? Mushroom farming can use quite a bit of space. Probably best I'm not digging under folks homes." He prefers living underground, because of course he does. He's more than happy to start with a simple hole in the ground.
Pressi (Melvin) - AC 22 (26), HP 94, CMD 21; Pressi's Notes Wednesday February 27th, 2019 11:41:02 AM
"Yeah, I think I need to take a step back," Pressi said as Bliss started to push for everyone to be stealty. "First, I don't expect everyone on the group to be stealthy, let alone the particular form. Though I agree that even a paladin needs a plan on what to do if he wants to just get around a fight or what to do when the roguelikes are scouting or doing their thing. I mean, its not like I'm going to rule the combat roost in an antimagic field or start blasting things out of the sky.
"Second, I think that stealth is also a matter of strategy and attitude more than ability. It's the question of how we approach a group of enemies or how we keep a group of enemies from approaching us. But more than that - and this is the third point - its more than just starting attacking or buffing. By stealth I mean spending minutes or even hours studying the enemy and environment, laying down traps and locking/unlocking stuff, turning enemies against each other, or getting allies and enemies ready to battle before they even get a glimpse of us. Jack and I can each do that using different strategies, and what does Bliss do in the meantime besides get a coffee or start clawing? I mean, you have some of my abilities, but do you have the strategy or the patience?"
Regarding the reincarnation ceremony, "I think people understood what's going on. I want to give him a second chance... away from us. I want nothing to do with him and I hope he feels the same. I don't want to know how he feels about it, what form he takes... or even if it works. I mean, I get why people are hanging around out of curiosity even about the process but its getting kind of crazy here." (OOC: Also, I wanted to leave the story on an unsettling cliffhanger where the DM says nothing about whether it even works, and maybe doesn't even decide until a year from now.) "I guess if people need to stick around, just don't tell me what happens. I do this for cosmic balance, not because he deserved it."
Bliss (Cayzle) HP80, AC25 Wednesday February 27th, 2019 12:14:52 PM
Bliss is in halfling form, but his fur still bristles. “Hey! I got lots of patience and strategy!”
Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 108/108 AC 27 Touch 19 Flat 21 CMD 29 Hero Points 6 Wednesday February 27th, 2019 1:36:12 PM
Hobie finally returns from trading in the loot at the catacombs.
"Good news everyone!! I got a better rate than I expected on some of the stuff, so everybody's share comes to 29,080.5 gold pieces, not the 28,000 that I estimated in my inventory. Don't go spending it all in one place. I mean, actually we are probably all gonna spend it in the Catacombs I suppose."
Hobie will take the time to go sit at his cousin Roscoe's house. He will fill him in on everything that happened at the Giant, and most importantly he will brush up on some reading. He's got with him a catalog he picked up in the catacombs, he's thinking carefully about what purchases he might want to make. He's also got Shan's spellbook, and excitedly studies it, to see what new spells he might be able to cast. He will probably prepare and cast a few of them in the next days to practice. (preparing a spell from a borrowed spellbook is Spellcraft check 15+ spell level, which is an auto success for all spells Hobie can cast, so he won't bother copying the spells to his spellbook.)
Kade's Burrow "Very well, Kade. For tonight, at least, we'll have a room for you. At some point tomorrow," he says, thinking of the reincarnation spell Pressi plans for Ix, "I can dig you a burrow, and would be happy to connect it to one of the tunnels I have on the far side - the north side - of the wall. It's over there that I intend to start an orchard, have a little grove, and a few more burrows. Yours can be the first." He pulls out some paper, and sketches a few possible floor plans for the burrow, and asks him which style would suit the dwarf, or just how he would want the basic design set up. He will find a suitable spot, with Kade's thoughts on just where might be the best. He does make sure that the burrow is 40 feet or more away from the wall, 150 feet at the most, and not in a centerline with the gate opening, nor down range of the archery lane on the Hovel side of the Sanctuary. He also says, "Since this area is under the aegis of all the members of Humble's Sword, let's get their approval before we make a final decision." He lets members of the group know about the plans, asks if they are all right with what he and Kade intend.
If so, then at a suitable time the following day he wild shapes to a large earth elemental. Going to huge would be bigger than he needs to be for this task. He digs out the shell. "If you'd like, I can do as I did for the tunnels through the town - put a thick limestone lining along the walls and floor. That will have to wait for another day, however. Let me know before you start putting in any furniture, but after you've got the basic refinements to your dig."
Once he is finished, Murphy tells Kade, "All right, Mister dwarf. There's your rough cut. Now shape and accessorize to your heart's content. If you need any tools, lumber, or stones, check in with the foreman, George. I'm letting him know you may have what you need to borrow for your burrow."
Mayor's Announcement "Mister Mayor - thank you. I do believe yours is among the most important work of any of us here at the moment. So, go home and you and May enjoy yourselves! We're glad she's joined our town. Have your honeymoon!" He turns to the crowd. "And I concur that for our town - rest is the best celebration at the moment!"
Hobie's News "That is great, Hobie! It will be good to augment our outfits."
WLA Training Murphy reiterates his offer to quickly get over to Angel Springs any team members who wish to attend Woldian League of Adventurers training. "Either tomorrow night (on the evening of the day after the Iron Giant battle) or the morning following (2 days after Iron Giant), I can be ready to get us there, via trees and wind."
Ix - Reincarnation? "Pressi, when you cast your spell, I will be there as a little bird," he tells her whom his soul loves. "At a river's headwaters, a small stone might determine the direction the river takes. I intend, should he regenerate, to provide a nudge. As you request, and unless you ask, I will not tell you what transpires. I cannot, though, not be there. If you wish, I can cast the spell myself. I would rather it be me who incurs the wrath of Anur, Shan, or Gargul, than you."
Bliss (Cayzle) HP80, AC25 Wednesday February 27th, 2019 5:33:40 PM
Bliss will go with Murphy to train in Angel Springs. “Maybe they can teach me some patience!” he says indignantly. “Or some strategy!”
Talia (Jon-Paul) AC 27, HP 94/94, CMD 24 Wednesday February 27th, 2019 6:52:16 PM
Taila declines the offer to hold onto the deck of illusions but accepts the task of researching for the gears and other gear we cannot allow to fall into the wrong hands...thinking about it, Talia says, "Mister Murphy, perhaps a bag of holding for the gears and other "gear" that we need to store; we can hide the bag of holding within the compound where someone with the right "walking" spell might access them?" I'll think about it some more, but I'm sure the party wealth can afford a bag for this purpose!
Talia will also accept Mister Murphy's offer for transportation to Angel Springs; as Talia plans to pay 4,000 gp to graduate from Officer to Champion status, and receive skill and feat training. She also believes that the choice of Cosmopolitan feat may be the best for her at this point in time.
Regarding the latter, she can learn two more languages. Also, there is something about adding two additional skills as part of her repertoire!
Once she returns, she will head on over to the Catacombs to trade and gain new additional gear.
Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 29, touch AC 18; HP 125/125, CMD 28; Rumpus - AC 25, touch 14; HP 62/62, CMD 24 Wednesday February 27th, 2019 7:11:33 PM
"I'm glad to be an honest paladin," says Kezzem. "It makes it easy to stand out from all those dishonest paladins."
When Pressi does her reincarnation ritual, Kezzem says a prayer to Gargul. "And this time, could you maybe not give him a dad or step-dad or whatever who's not such a jerk?"
To Kade: "Oh may Gargul, are you a mushroom farmer? THIS IS FANTASTIC! I hereby dub thee an honorary member of Humble's Sword, and as such, I can tell people Humble's Sword are mushroom farmers WITHOUT HAVING TO BREAK ANY PALADINY OATHS!" Kezzem is way too excited by all this.
Succotash (Jeremy) AC 29/15/28 CMD 31 HP 129/129 Miss Piggy AC 30/12/28 CMD 25 HP 96/96 Thursday February 28th, 2019 5:30:56 AM
Succotash declines Murphy's offer to go to Angel Springs, and instead heads to the Temple of Flower/Ffloy, wishing there was a temple to Pantheon in Humble's Ford. Once their he asks to speak with the High Priestess, and when Sarabella emerges, he shares how he made the first strike after the failed parley with Shan. He concludes his story by saying, "I know that because we were defending our homes, and that the parley was over, that no wrong was done, but for some reason it keeps gnawing at my conscience, and I was wondering if you could cast an atonement spell on me". "I can pay of course!", he quickly adds.
DM Carl Thursday February 28th, 2019 1:31:19 PM
Pressi slows everyone's stealth roll for a moment. Murphy decides to wait and see the result of Pressi's reincarnation spell. Maybe he sees something.
OOC: I genuinely haven't decided if it works yet. If it does, I'll fill Kim in if/when he comes back around.
Kade asks only for a hole in the ground at the moment. He's keen on fashioning his home the old fashioned way, not with magic, but might. He chuckles nervously at Kezzem's enthusiasm.
Several of our heroes embark on a trip to Angel Springs to train. The weather is lovely for travelling, and they find the journey without incident.
***
Succotash has matters to attend to, though. He explains his situation to Sarabella, who listens patiently. She smiles warmly and places a hand on his back, guiding him to join her in a walk through the temple.
As they walk, she bends down to pet Miss Piggy. "It looks to me like Patheon hasn't decided your...transgressions were enough to warrant stripping your status, Succotash. I don't believe an atonement spell is the proper response here." She stops, turns, and gives him a tight hug. "Try harder to be the vessel of Pantheon's justice in the future, but for now show yourself kindness. Not even paladins are perfect." She gives him one final squeeze and a smile before she gets back to her rest.
Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 29, touch AC 18; HP 125/125, CMD 28; Rumpus - AC 25, touch 14; HP 62/62, CMD 24 Thursday February 28th, 2019 2:10:37 PM
"Not even paladins are perfect."
Kezzem pops out of nowhere. "That's for sure." He then disappears again.
Murphy gives Kade whatever size hole he wants for a head start on his underground dwelling. He asks if he also wants the link to the underground tunnel network from near his starter hole. "Or, I can just show you an opening to it near that tree about sixty yards from here."
He tells the dwarf about roughly mapping out the underground to a depth of 300' beneath the compound, as well as up to 150' outside the walls. "Let me know, and I can show you that."
To the WLA It sounds like Bliss, Talia, Jack - anyone else? plan to go to the WLA. When they arrive, with Bliss next to him, Murphy tells the person in charge, "Yes, sir" (or ma'am), "Bliss here would like to be trained up in strategic patience."
He suggests to Jack that he turn in the write up on the Iron Giant to the WLA archivist - making certain that the party keeps a copy of Jack's report, as well.
By Murphy's reckoning, the trip to Angel Springs is made two mornings after the Iron Giant encounter. If four come with him, they can get to a tree just outside the walls, over by the elvish enclave, and then it's about a ten to fifteen-minute walk into the city and the WLA outpost.
Iron Giant Trinkets Storage "Sounds like a good idea, Talia. Likely the smallest size bag at 2,500 gp would suffice - it holds 30 cubic feet, up to 250 pounds. Would a handy haversack be enough to hold the gems and gears? I often finance such items, but with some of the projects I've got going, things are a little tight. I could kick in 500 gp toward it, though. You want to take up a collection?"
He continues. "We could have it in a walled off room. Or stored underground. Whatever we decide, those who know where it is should be kept to a minimum. Maybe three people, or so?"
Bliss (Cayzle) HP80, AC25 Thursday February 28th, 2019 10:25:33 PM
OH! The first morning after the adventure, Bliss wakes up with a huge messy grin on his face.
"I had the bestest dream," he declares. "I dreamed I was eating the most delicious chocolate ever! And when I woke up, I WAS!"
He licks the chocolate off his lips and fingers.
[OOC: Thanks to a lotto win of free chocolate! It's all gone now, though.]
Talia (Jon-Paul) AC 27, HP 94/94, CMD 24 Friday March 1st, 2019 12:39:48 AM
Eventually, Talia will return from the catacomb visit and find a place to call her own within the Humble's Sword compound. Thinking to herself, Talia wonders, "Perhaps I should ask Mister Murphy, what's free for the taking here?!"
After Talia figures out where he place is, she will put out a call for Rayya, and spend some time both meditating while awaiting Rayya's return and recuperating from the Iron Giant excursion; at least two (2) hours.
When her meditation is over, and Rayya has returned, Talia will spend time with Rayya showing her their new home base. From corner to corner and barn to orchard. Everywhere Rayya could explore.
While at Angel springs, Talia chose to learn the dwarven and Elven languages to add to her understanding of the world she lives in, while in the WLA chapterhouse. She knows it will take some time, but she is always ready to add to her skill set.
Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 108/108 AC 27 Touch 19 Flat 21 CMD 29 Hero Points 6 Friday March 1st, 2019 1:00:40 AM
Hobie takes some time to go riding out in the countryside. It's really only been a few days since the fire elementals and the sargrass, but it sure feels like he's been away from home for a long time. He wants time to relax with his horse.
Succotash (Jeremy) AC 29/15/28 CMD 31 HP 129/129 Miss Piggy AC 30/12/28 CMD 25 HP 96/96 Friday March 1st, 2019 5:51:34 AM
Succotash is much relieved by Sarabella's words, and thanks her, heartily returning the hug. As he and Miss Piggy return to the Sanctuary, he sees Hobie heading out for his ride through the countryside. Succotash stops him and asks, "Going for a ride? Would you mind if I join you? A nice leisurely ride would be most relaxing".
DM Carl Friday March 1st, 2019 12:54:26 PM
A week passes as normalcy returns to Humble's Ford. It is uneventful, which suits everyone just fine.
Kade is pretty insistent on his hole in the ground being isolated. "Mushroom farming takes space. It's best if I get to digging on the outskirts. Won't do to go digging under folks' homes."
One morning, about 6 days after the ordeal with the Giant, there's a knock on Sanctuary's door, right in the middle of breakfast. Your guest turns out to be The Second Dinner Club's own Tiana Taithen.
"Sorry, sorry!" She says as she bursts in. She makes her way to the breakfast table, scoops a bowl of oatmeal out of the way, and dumps a load of scrolls on the table. "I've been busy. Did you know that Giant's skin repels all magic? You probably did, seeing how you fought it. Thanks for that, by the way."
She takes a breath.
"Anyway! I had an idea. The magic that powers that thing comes from the old magic of The Scab. It's the same magic that powered the Giant Tower that was...well, you know. Veselay and I have been wracking our brains for months trying to figure out how to restore the tower before giants come calling again. We thought we were on to something for a while, then that business with the bloodweed happened and it seems like everything got side tracked."
She casually starts eating the oatmeal she scooped out of the way.
"So look here," she says as she puts the bowl down. She unfurls two scrolls.
"Ok, these are readings I took using the Club's exocubic capacitor. It measures aetherovariation signatures. Over here, this is the readings we took months ago from the tower before the whole explosion thing." The scroll she points at contains a series of wavy lines and dots that mean nothing without a DC45 knowledge, arcana roll.
She unfurls another scroll. "...and here's the readings we get from the Giant." The two scrolls appear similar, but the lines on the Giant's scroll are much less wavy.
"You see where I'm going with this, right?"
Knowledge, arcana DC45, Highlight to display spoiler: {It looks like the Giant and the Tower's signatures are almost identical, but the readings are much fainter for the Giant. Probably because of the magic dampening exterior.}
Otherwise, you probably don't know where she's going with this.
Succotash (Jeremy) AC 29/15/28 CMD 31 HP 129/129 Miss Piggy AC 30/12/28 CMD 25 HP 96/96 Friday March 1st, 2019 3:00:45 PM
Succotash blinks twice and then says, “Could you try that again, but this time please speak in either Halfling or Common, oh and Please help yourself to some oatmeal”, He then turns to Miss Piggy and says, “Raw oats are better for you anyway”, to which Miss Piggy gives a squeal that clearly showes her disappointment.
Murphy responds to Kade that he can have his home in the ground as far away as 150' to the north of the north wall - perhaps along the eastern side. "There's no rule I'm aware of concerning where you can dig once about, say 30' below the ground. So if you want to dig out toward the north farther, and from there eastward or westward, that'd be fine. Trees and mushrooms often get on well together. I can plant and grow some. The bulk of the 360' by 150' north of the wall is for agriculture, maybe a few small buildings. Thinking of an orchard, and a mix of complementary crops. A few burrows.
Parsing Tiana Taithen "It's great to see you, Tiana Taithen!" Murphy says sincerely as she takes a breath. As she goes through her explanation, he says, "So, you're the expert here. 'Exocubic capacitor.' 'Exocubic' means - outside of the cube? Outside of the box? 'Capacitor' has something to do with - capacity? How much - whatever - something can hold?
"'Aetherovariation signatures' - That deals with differences in the aether? That is, with how it looks, or its varying features, or levels of energy or waviness of the waves it gives off??
"Do these different size wavy lines and dots have anything to do with that? You and Veseley are used to dealing with these things all the time. We need your help to get up to speed in what you're saying."
It is so good to see her in her right mind, and making apparent progress on the work of the Second Dinner Club.
Murphy is fairly knowledgeable about engineering, and so has a tiny bit to go on (Know: Engr: 20).
After Succotash comments on the food, he shouts toward the kitchen, "Great job on the oatmeal, Alouryn!"
Talia (Jon-Paul) AC 27, HP 94/94, CMD 24 d20+18=37 ; Friday March 1st, 2019 6:31:27 PM
Talia tries to follow along, but she gets the sense, that, she still doesn't get it! [arcana check DC45:37]
On a side note, Talia wonders how the lady likes the oatmeal?
Bliss (Cayzle) HP80, AC25 Friday March 1st, 2019 6:33:56 PM
Bliss, back from Angel Springs and newly trained up, is sure happy to see how enthusiastic the arcanist is. "Miss Tiana, it sounds like good news. Sit and breathe and slow down though, please!"
He helps himself to some oatmeal, loading it up with raisins, cinnamon, walnuts, and fresh goats milk. And honey. Lots of honey. Then he looks around for bacon.
Jack The Unbelievable J.T.T. Zaragosa (Jairus Houdek) (AC 24 CMD 23 HP 71/71) d20+12=32 ; Friday March 1st, 2019 7:23:56 PM
(OOC do I need to roll something for the report or just state that he took the time to write it? Do I need to actually write the report IRL?)
(OOC there was no chance to roll a 45 on the check but I did anyway because I didn't think it through, I seemed to have a natural 20 if that means anything)
Jack would look through the scroll but there was little he could determine from them. "Seems a bit beyond me I'm afraid."
Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 29, touch AC 18; HP 125/125, CMD 28; Rumpus - AC 25, touch 14; HP 62/62, CMD 24 Friday March 1st, 2019 9:07:30 PM
"Um, excuse me miss, but this is the breakfast table. Seeing how you are a member of the Second Dinner Club and not a member of the Second Breakfast Club, I am going to have to ask you to move all of this to the dinner table. Thank you."
To Succo, Kezzem says "I think that was Gnomish. Everything she said, it was Gnomish to me."
Pressi (Melvin) - AC 22 (26), HP 94, CMD 21; Pressi's Notes d20+8=15 ; Saturday March 2nd, 2019 12:35:37 PM
“I presume you’re here to show me how the rest of the team feels about me, in which case you need a pithy remark in the pipeline.”
Pressi rifled through the graphs, trying to make sense of them. Harper began sniffing and pawing at Miss Piggy’s raw oats.
“When the towers exploded, half of us went hurdling through time and space to meet the other half, which still doesn’t make sense. But I always suspected there was more to the story than unrecorded advanced technology buried in the desert. May I presume you solved the one point twenty one gigawatt problem?”
DM Carl Saturday March 2nd, 2019 2:18:27 PM
OOC: Nat 20 and Nat 1 mean nothing for skill checks. It's possible for a skill check to be either impossible to fail, or impossible to succeed.
***
Tiana smiles at Murphy. "Not one to just say you don't know, eh? Gotta try and figure it out? I like that. An exocubic capacitor absorbs small amounts of aether. It...well, it gets charged by it up to a certain point, then it drains out at a similar, rate." She grabs a piece of paper and she draws a two-axis grid, then a line that goes from left to right, rising rapidly at first, but tapering off towards the top. "Its measurements are logarithmic, not linear, so the math is kinda involved, but it lets us see an arcane signature, of sorts. If Hobie over there cast a spell by it and we recorded the results, then Pressi cast the same spell, we'd see two different signatures. We call it exocubic because its frame is shaped like a cube on the outside.
"...and yes, the oatmeal is very good, but I need you all to focus."
She places the two scrolls on top of each other, grabs a stone from her pocket, and casts a light cantrip on it. She looks around at Humble's Sword before deciding on Kezzem. "You! Hold these up!" She hands him the scrolls, instructing him to hold them up at arm's length.
She grabs the stone and shines it through the scrolls. The glowing stone is right in Kezzem's eyes. It's not bright enough to do any real damage, but it's not pleasant either.
"Okay, look here." She takes a pen out from somewhere and starts connecting dots and lines on the top scroll. "The signatures aren't identical, but they're so similar in so many places that it can't be a coincidence. I need to study the Giant up close, meaning from the inside...probably for a couple weeks."
She plops the stone back in her pocket. Kezzem will be fine once he blinks away the floaters in his eyes.
"Of course, I don't know my way around the place and would feel better not all alone. You've all spent time there, right? You can help me out?" She looks around expectantly for a bit, then looks at Pressi and asks, "what's a gigawatt?"
Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 29, touch AC 18; HP 125/125, CMD 28; Rumpus - AC 25, touch 14; HP 62/62, CMD 24 Sunday March 3rd, 2019 12:45:44 AM
"Okay, I think I understand now," says Kezzem. "This has something to do with math, yes?"
"Ah, that helps - starting to get an inkling of what you're saying. Just the merest inkling at this point," Murphy responds.
When it kicks in a little more that she thinks the Iron Giant may be key to helping to figure out how to... "You mean, you think the magic and technology of the Iron Giant may be key to helping to figure out how to fix the Giant Tower? Amazing. And it makes some sense."
He turns to the rest of the members of Humble's Sword. "So, what do you say? Can we help her out?"
Talia (Jon-Paul) AC 27, HP 94/94, CMD 24 Sunday March 3rd, 2019 10:41:56 PM
Talia migrates back to her "spot" to make an accounting of her things...something is not adding up correctly.
Pressi (Melvin) - AC 22 (26), HP 94, CMD 21; Pressi's Notes Sunday March 3rd, 2019 11:20:58 PM
“Hmm, yes well I suppose I could return to that place of war machines, but... and I say this as the team necromancer... maybe it’s better to let things lie once in a while. The secrets of both the giant and the tower... they are secret for a reason.
“Ok, pointless gesture and warning made and undoubtedly ignored. If you want the entire team, I’ll be there. But I’m sure a couple of our greener members can show you around fine, and I’m just so busy at the moment... not wanting to.”
Talia (Jon-Paul) AC 27, HP 94/94, CMD 24 Sunday March 3rd, 2019 11:31:44 PM
Talia, not sure she is getting these calculations correctly, turning around looking in the direction she came from, and knowing where the rough location of the kitchen is, points to that room and using message spell, asks Mister Murphy, "Where is the collective Humble Sword's gear vault? I have some items I would love to donate to "our" cause that I do not feel, I can use effectively going forward. "
It is Talia's intent to offload anything the group can use that is not directly related to being a Sorcerer. Mostly many of the items that she lugged around in her Handy Haversack. She frees up space, and add to the greater common good of the entire Humble Sword, Talia thinks to herself.
Murphy (Kim) Halfling Druid(12) AC27 CMB16 CMD35 HP92 Monday March 4th, 2019 12:31:12 AM
"Uh, Talia, you might want to join us at breakfast. Rather important thing happening here. We can discuss the gear vault over oatmeal."
When she gets there, he jots down quick directions to where he was thinking about setting up a place for communal gear within the huge rocky fortress at the center of the Sanctuary.
Succotash (Jeremy) AC 29/15/28 CMD 31 HP 129/129 Miss Piggy AC 30/12/28 CMD 25 HP 96/96 Monday March 4th, 2019 5:30:18 AM
Succotash says, "So you need a guide around the Iron Giant? Why didn't you say so in the first place". "Of course we'll take you, though I'm clueless as to what you are talking about, if it helps protect Humble's Ford, I'm in!"
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