IC I

[zebediah]

Zoltar the Blind

The old mage answers Drudsa, "If you are certain, young man, that this is what you wish, then yes. Though I must warn you that my library is not as extensive as that of the Guild, and I also cannot allow you to remove any of my books from this property. If you wish to study with me then you must study with me!"

Drudsa the dabbler

"My mind is set in making my own path, and for that you are a better instructor - and a better role model - than any institution-minded technocrat. What I seek is dialogue and sharing, if you recognize these as worthy principles then I would be honored to study under your tutelage and call you master. Of course, I have pending matter that I must attend to with my companions. I will gladly pay for any scrolls or other writings that would allow me to mantain my studies while on the road, but I will come back as soon as these quests are accomplished."

TK, is it possible that I keep a "spare" character? So if Drudsa has to stay studying with Zoltar for some time I would play with the other one, who would then remain drinking in town whenever Drudsa is in action.

[thirdkingdom]

Drudsa the dabbler

TK, is it possible that I keep a "spare" character? So if Drudsa has to stay studying with Zoltar for some time I would play with the other one, who would then remain drinking in town whenever Drudsa is in action.

Actually, I would prefer not. There will be plenty of downtime where the other PCs are studying (either magic or weapon skills) and we just go ahead and fast forward through chunks of time.

I may not have made this clear, but it is perfectly cool for you to be studying the spellbooks of the other PCs at nighttime when you guys are on the road, spending (as per the outlines I provided) approximately two hours a night of study. So, you essentially have a chance (25%) to learn a new 1st level spell every eight hours of study. This goes up if you are using a library (such as Zoltar's or the Guilds'. The Guilds' adds a 15% chance, Zoltar's 10%. Also, the Guild has every 1st level spell in the book, plus some new ones if you search, while Zoltar's only has a 75% per spell of having a specific spell (I haven't actually rolled these out yet, BTW). Does this make sense?

[Finglas]

Lanny the elf

Lanny thanks Zoltar for his efforts and accepts his allotment of the Traladaran arrows. He also seems somewhat taken with the serpent bracelet of elvish design, smiling as he shows it to Bregalad.

"It's from Alfheim, Bregalad, the ancestral homeland of our people... One day we must journey there, to learn more of our ancient roots..."

Lanny offers Bregalad the bracelet, or else will wear it himself.

Bregalad the elf

Bregalad examines the elven bracelet, admiring its craftmanship. "Yes..... it is exquisitely made! And now, finally, it is back into the hands of elves!" .....and then returns the treasure to Lanny with a bow. "Please, keep it, Lantharios, for I see that it means much to you. And I, too, would one day make that journey with you, my friend."

You will have to excuse me: I am an old D&D'er, but am not familiar with this particular setting and its history. (It's actually kind of refreshing, though, because everything encountered it completely new to me!) I'll have to work Bregalad's ignorance into his character, or find some background material online.

[Bouv]

Tratiln looks at Lanny, "You have earned that bracelet my friend, for everything you've had to go through to get to this point. Wear it proudly for all of us and maybe we shall one day journey together to our ancestral homeland to discover its true meaning."

Mystara is really neat - many of their countries are based upon "real world" models - Karameikos (where we are now) is kind of eastern-European-ish with other parts, Thyatis is Roman empire-esq, etc.

[zebediah]

Actually, I would prefer not. There will be plenty of downtime where the other PCs are studying (either magic or weapon skills) and we just go ahead and fast forward through chunks of time.

I may not have made this clear, but it is perfectly cool for you to be studying the spellbooks of the other PCs at nighttime when you guys are on the road, spending (as per the outlines I provided) approximately two hours a night of study. So, you essentially have a chance (25%) to learn a new 1st level spell every eight hours of study. This goes up if you are using a library (such as Zoltar's or the Guilds'. The Guilds' adds a 15% chance, Zoltar's 10%. Also, the Guild has every 1st level spell in the book, plus some new ones if you search, while Zoltar's only has a 75% per spell of having a specific spell (I haven't actually rolled these out yet, BTW). Does this make sense?

Drudsa

Looks good to me. Still, does Zoltar have any scrolls or other writings for sale?

[frobozz]

Lanny the elf

Tratiln looks at Lanny, "You have earned that bracelet my friend, for everything you've had to go through to get to this point. Wear it proudly for all of us and maybe we shall one day journey together to our ancestral homeland to discover its true meaning."

Lanny nods his head in thanks to Tratiln. "Kind words, brother. I look forward to that journey."

Bregalad - TSR put out a series of gazetteers on the Known World (aka "Mystara"), each of which highlighted the different nations, histories, cultures, and peoples of the D&D World. The only gazetteer I ever owned was Gazetteer 1: The Grand Duchy of Karameikos (I still own it, incidentally). In it are references to Karameikos and, occasionally, the world outside of Karameikos. Gaz 1, more than anything else, is what really got me interested in D&D - so much colorful history and so many interesting NPCs. So, Lanny may make mention, every now and then, to very basic things from the gazetteer that I think a 125 year old elf would most likely know just by living a long life in the Grand Duchy (no spoilers, I promise). Having said all that, I never actually played any of the B1-9 modules (I only played some of the later Basic modules), so all of the plot hooks based on the modules will be completely new to me as well. Needless to say, I was very happy to find a PbP campaign based on the Known World of Mystara.

[frobozz]

Lanny the elf

Lanny retires early for the night, wishing to be up before dawn to study his spell book and prepare the animals and cart for the journey back to Threshold. In the morning, while saddling his horse, he pauses for a moment, then speaks to Bregalad.

"We'll need to implement some security for our caravan. This load of treasure that we carry is twice as valuable as our last load. I wonder if perhaps we should see if the scouts would be willing to ride the horses, one scouting some distance ahead and one scouting some distance behind the cart. You and I are heavily armored and would do well to stay on foot with the cart in case it is attacked. Also, I think our longbows are not nearly as accurate on horseback as they are on foot..."

If Bregalad is agreeable to this idea, Lanny will approach the scouts when they are awake:

"Jake, Saul... How are you fellows at riding horses?"

I would actually go a step further by recommending that the Thieves become the "official" scouts on horseback for our overland travels (if they would wish to take on that role). Lanny would be happy to give up his horse. Also, is there an alternate route back to town? I was looking at the map and wondering if coming in through the south gate (instead of the west gate) would take significantly longer or about the same time (if significantly longer, then forget it). Lanny is just thinking that they might have attracted some attention with the last load of treasure they brought to town...

[Makofan]

I'm sure Jake can sit a horse if he has to. If the GM allows it, he will take Lanny up on his offer and accept the scouting role as suggested, and then buy a horse for himself when he gets back to town.

[thirdkingdom]

Thaumont 7, AC 1000

The party wakes early and after a quick breakfast and goodbye to their host they start the trip back to Threshold under a cloudy sky. They reach the Windrush road with no difficulties, to find that traffic is heavier than expected, with carts, wagons and folks on foot all heading north. "'Tis for the gnomes," one man explains when asked, "their caravan is expected any day now, and the festival that comes with it."

The presence of one more heavily laden cart raises no eyebrows, and neither the mounted scouts nor those with the cart encounter any difficulty beyond having to deal with the heightened traffic. The group arrives at the Threshold gates just before midday, and enter with no difficulty.

Weather: (1d20=12, 1d20=10, 1d20=4)Cloudy but no precipitation. Random encounter: (1d6=2). No. Again, the gnomish caravan is expected to arrive in Threshold on the 10th.

Okay, so it looks like we're going to have some folks levelling up. Let me know who you are and I will roll out hit points. Let me also know if anyone will be purchasing mounts. It sounds like the plan is to deposit the cash then get back out to the caves, no? There was no mapping this adventure, so I'm afraid the extra 5% bonus for mapping will not apply.

[Bouv]

Before the party splits, Tratiln will remind them to be quick with their errands as the party should get to the caves sooner rather than later. "We have already spent more time than some of us were conformtable with on the side quest. We need to get to the caves quickly in order to lay ambushes and traps for Elwyin's men."

Afterwards, he will go buy himself a horse with proper gear for riding from his share and deposit the rest with the moneychangers guild.

[Luis]

Saul has never ridden a horse before, let alone own one. Until yesterday he hadn't killed someone while they slept either.

He'll see a man about a horse. A real horse this time. He's thinking a nice gentle mare, something faster than better equipped for hard loads but something that can still haul some treasure while eating apples.

Just because he never rode doesn't mean he doesn't like to baby animals in his care.

[zebediah]

Drudsa the dabbler

"What do you guys think of leaving the cart behind this time? We can leave it here in the city if we all have mounts, this way we will arrive at the caves more quickly."

[Makofan]

Drudsa the dabbler

"What do you guys think of leaving the cart behind this time? We can leave it here in the city if we all have mounts, this way we will arrive at the caves more quickly."

"Good thinking, Drusda" says Grey Jake. He will buy a riding horse in town.

[Bouv]

Drudsa the dabbler

"What do you guys think of leaving the cart behind this time? We can leave it here in the city if we all have mounts, this way we will arrive at the caves more quickly."

Tratiln agrees, "aye, good idea and if we need to, our better riders can quickly come down and get the cart afterwards!"

[thirdkingdom]

While shopping for horses the companions are approached by an elf who introduces himself as Meagnor.

[rremedio]

Meagnor, the Elf

Meagnor has arrived at Threshold the day before. In the morning he searched the town for any kind of job without luck, hearing praising comments in the Church about a party of brave adventurers he might fit. He finds the group shopping for horses and introduces himself: "Gentleman, let me introduce myself. I'm Meagnor, coming from the southern woods. I heard about your dangerous adventures in the Church and I wonder if you would accept the help from another sword and bow."

Hi guys! Green light from Thirdkingdom.

[Luis]

Saul is in a particularly good mood as he's looking forward to having a horse and greets the elf warmly.

"Good morning, Saul Falla, looking for a nice mare. Youngish, hard-working but sweet in disposition."

Oh please let this Meagnor fellow be a quest-giver and not the actual horse salesman

[zebediah]

Drudsa the dabbler

"Isn't this convenient? Well met Meagnor!"

[Bouv]

Tratiln pats the elf on the back, "Well met, I am Tratiln and it is nice to meet a fellow elf. We are in fact still trying to help out the Church by investigating further on information we have found. Our friend had other business to take care of and our party is down by one. If you nterested in joining us we could aways use more steel and spells against our foes. We are all purchasing horses but if you cannot afford one allow me to purchase one for you"

[thirdkingdom]

Oh please let this Meagnor fellow be a quest-giver and not the actual horse salesman

Umm, he's a PC . . .