Expedition: Earc/Guhra's Tower - 15 July 2021

[onlyme]

Halfpint follows.

[Stirling]

Issachar

hoists the flail over his shoulder and his pack. Seems like we have made the decision to press on back to Gaul. Issachar is concerned that we might either be followed or walk into a bandit trap further up the trail, or both. He will trek at the rear of the group and be listening out for the whinnying of horses, growling of wargs or the whizzing of arrows.

[Bluehorse]

Bianca

Is still overjoyed to have Winnie back after nearly loosing her coven sister a second time. She fusses over her this time offering to help her carry this and that. Listening to her words and nodding a little sadly and looking a little pained when she mentions she may even leave the coven, but no longer seems buried in guilt, but rather she too praddles on more than anyone had heard her the entire trip. "We just need to get back to the relative safty of town. Once we rest up there we can make our way to... you know..." she still seems bent on keeping some of their secrets. "We may want a escort at least part of the way... if you are up for it, i hope we can force march through the night if we have to and get as close to town as possible. I no longer feel safe camping out here between goblins, wolves, and now bandits... how badly does it hurt? Do you need another bandage? Maybe we can find some medicinal herbs on the way. I'll keep my eyes peeled for that until we get back..."

[Rusty Tincanne]

Can we get 75% movement for the hours if Olaf carries stuff for an hour, then the disc twice in a row? Mathematically, we could go farther at 3x75% than 100%+75%.
Winnie helps the group move as far and far back to Gaul as she can. After thanking her again for administering the potion, she asks Halfpint to use her innate abilities to scout ahead for the group. It would be nice to not stumble into another ambush.

[Zhym]

Erm.

3x75 = 225
100 + 75 + 50 = 225

I don't see a difference if you consider movement over three hours. And we'd cover more ground over the first two hours in the 100%+75% plan.

Edit: And that's not even accounting for the fact that the disk gets us two hours at 75%, which would be a total of 250% of our hourly movement rate over three hours.

[Rusty Tincanne]

I forgot about that third hour at 50%. Sounds good. We'll go with the floating discs right away.

[Alethan]

However the party arranges it, Earc urges an immediate departure.

"We need to make it to the main road and I think we'll be relatively safe. I feel quite terrible, to be honest with you. But oh am I pissed. I'll remember well that pack of thieves. And I'll have my revenge..."

He seems to be in a sour mood, ignoring most conversation as they make their way back.

[Marullus]

With the giant Olaf hefting several packs and Winnie's magical portation acting as a second mule, the party sets off with haste, beginning a forced march back to town. They can see the road about two miles ahead when Olaf shrinks back to the size of a normal dwarf, rearranging packs with the mule and Winnie, and they reach the road in about three and a half hours. Continuing up the easier path of the road, they cover the 20 miles to town in about eight hours, arriving just before midnight. The laden mule and a few flashed gemstones convinces the night guards of their urgency and the heavily injured group is admitted to safety.

They group is able to discuss their plans in the near-deserted tavern, knowing the usurer will open in the morning.

Date: 11:30pm, 20 July 2021
Light: Town
Effects: None
Distance travelled: ~ 28 miles today
Injuries: Drunil (Severely Wounded), Earc (Severely Wounded), Halfpint (moderately wounded), Issachar (moderately wounded), Winnie (minor injury), Olaf (superficial injury)

(Mission summary pending.)

You enter town at almost midnight on the 20th and must remain until at least the 25th to catch up with the game clock. You can stay to the 28th (or later) to gain a savings throw bonus for resting/eating well.

[Marullus]

Expedition Summary:

Encounter: Spying on the Brigand Camp
Encounter: Goblins at the Dawn
Event: Finding the Waterfall Entrance
Encounter: Slaughter at the Gnoll Hot Tub Party
Encounter: Slaughter of the Gnoll nurses and children
Event: Secret Exit in the Midden Room
Encounter: The Little Goblin's Blanket Fortress
Encounter: I Fell In To A Burning Ring of Fire (elemental)
Encounter: The Dwarven Tomb and Guardian
Encounter: Delicious Pudding...
Event: The Ressurection of the Elf Witch
Encounter: The Brigand Ambush

3,468 character XP / 2,674 item XP per PC
(1,734 character XP / 1,337 item XP for Funil and Drunil)



Treasure...

** Magical

* 32ep from first goblins encountered.

• Ellurian steel longsword with supple blue dragon-scale hiltwraps **
• Ellurian steel longsword with red-steel folded into the bladework **
• A Southron steel longsword with sturdy crossbar
• A Southron steel longsword notched from frequent use
• Ellurian steel bastard sword which glows faintly with its own soft yellow light **
• Ellurian steel bastard sword with a blue sheen in its folded-steel blade **
• Ellurian steel shortsword with running horse engraving **
• Finely-wrought heavy flail with Ellurian steel chain **
• Ellurian steel banded mail armor **
• A finely-embossed kite shield, the edges embellished with thick metal plating and decorated with engraved words. **
• Ellurian steel chainmail woven fine as linen **
• A mighty rounded heater shield, the edges embellished with double rows of metal studs and decorated with feather-like metalwork.**
• Five sets of well-made Southron chainmail
• Four Southron longbows
• Four quivers with 15 goose-feathered Southron arrows, each.

Two small chests containing 750gp 700gp each @ 75lbs each

Two Elurian chests, locked. (20lbs each) **

7 polished opal rondels (10gp each = 70gp)
7 golden brown tiger eyes (25gp each = 175gp)
8 deep blue azurites (50gp each = 400gp)
[645gp in gemstones]

6gp, 6sp, 7cp

pale blue lapis lazuli (10 GP)
blue quartz (10 GP)
large dull banded red and white sardonyx (25 GP)
cracked black jet (75 GP)
cloudy light green jade (75 GP)
cloudy pale blue-green aquamarine (75 GP)
green zircon (75 GP)
blue jasper (75 GP)
black obsidian (100 GP)
banded black onyx (100 GP)
deep blue lapis lazuli (100 GP)
large brilliant light green jade (1,000 GP)

40 lbs of silver medical tools, easily sterilized and resistant to rust. They fill 2/3 of a sack.
- A three foot rod of polished limestone rod engraved circularly along its whole length with dwarven runes. **
- A worn wooden staff

• scrollcase with one wizardly scroll in it **
• - two elven traveling spellbooks **
• - one human travelling spellbook **
• - one ancient and fragile spellbook **

brilliant-cut black gem - (Not natural stone) **
muddy deep blue lapis lazuli (25 GP)
blue quartz (40 GP)
violet garnet (100 GP)
black obsidian (40 GP)
flawed pale blue-green aquamarine (80 GP)
dull clear rock crystal (50 GP)
large muddy red zircon (50 GP)
pink rhodochrosite (17 GP)
small blue azurite (45 GP)

5 small wooden boxes (Each box contains enough inks for several scrolls and weighs about 20 lbs. (total of 1,000gp in inks, or 20 spell-levels worth, 100lbs for transport.)[/ooc]

Spell lists found:

Scroll in the scrollcase (of the wizard Hagaseth):
- Burning Hands (1st)
- Mirror Image (2nd)

Elven Spellbook (of Gaeron):
- Magic Missile (1st)
- Sleep (1st)
- Read Magic (1st)
- Invisibility (2nd)

Elven Spellbook (of Carchannoi):
- Charm Person (1st)
- Read Magic (1st)
- Locate Object (2nd)
- Shatter (2nd)
- Gust of Wind (3rd)

Human Spellbook (of the wizard Dorath):
- Detect Magic (1st)
- Read Magic (1st)
- Floating Disc (1st)
- Web (2nd)

Human Spellbook (of the wizard Hagaseth):
- Burning Hands (1st)
- Unseen Servant (1st)
- Comprehend Languages (1st)
- Mirror Image (2nd)
- Shatter (2nd)
- Web (2nd)
- Gust of Wind (3rd)
- Clairaudience (3rd)
- Dimension Door (4th)
- Conjure Elemental (5th)

[Stirling]

Issachar

rooms at the tavern spending a few days in ritualistic blood letting from sacrificial chickens and the odd bit of repentant flagellation.

"The tower of 'devouring mages' still holds secrets. The dwarf tunnels underneath are strangely wrought. The haul recovered does not give revelation of these but do you need to return so quickly. Revenge is a corrupting yeast young mage, I would counsel against a rash hunt of the vermin bandits."

Unless specifically requested to aid a further exploration of the tower, Issachar will not commit to return immediately.

He invites Bianca and Winnie to come discuss the issues relating to the resurrection and possible subsequent curses at the Gaul Temple of Gwanwen or with White Casper if they venture to Idmi.

[Marullus]

[2d6] = 4 retainer end-of-session

Funil and Drunil speak with reverent excitement about the dwarven wonders under the tower; pleased that the tower will be given to the Blackhelm Clan. They are ready to discuss their full shares of what was reclaimed now and look forward to returning with the wizard Earc to finish the work.

[onlyme]

good luck to whoever is in charge of divvying this haul...
And how do we go about determining the strength of the magical swords/armor? I know the other stuff we have to have professionally tested.
And, can halflings have longswords? I always assumed they couldnt. But LL doesnt appear to prohibit. Just bastard swords if I read correctly.

Halfpint thanks the others for all their help in keeping her safe.
mentions that she could certainly use a sword with abilities other than her own skill.

[Zhym]

Olaf tried all the swords (to his misfortune) and knows what the bonuses are. He's going to have to pay 600 to be rid of his current sword, so I'd ask that he get first pick of the remaining swords as compensation for taking a risk and losing.

Olaf is also interested in the Moradin staff. Did Bianca or Winnie ever explain to him how it works?

I can tally up the loot and do a "who can use what?" list...later.

[Marullus]

viewtopic.php?f=353&t=5470#p245702

Halflings can use long swords and bastard swords per the book, but these count as two-handed for them.

(Noting they get the 1d8 damage value using either sword, not the 2d4.)

[onlyme]

viewtopic.php?f=353&t=5470#p245702

Halflings can use long swords and bastard swords per the book, but these count as two-handed for them.

(Noting they get the 1d8 damage value using either sword, not the 2d4.)

Do longswords count as two handed for them as well, or just bastards? I read the sentence that way, but I would think that longswords only have room for one hand as it is. I thought the book specifically prohibited bastards or two handed ones.

[Marullus]

The book prohibits two-handed (by human standards) weapons for halflings.

The house rule says they can use a longsword if they use two hands. (i.e. a human longsword becomes a halfling's two-handed sword. Her diminutive hands fit on the human-hilt just fine.)

[Rusty Tincanne]

Winnie doesn't know how the rod worked.

Winnie deflects Issachar's invitation. We will seek council with it own druids and or sisters, she offers politely. She differs with him on the topic of the highwaymen,The premise of clearing the Tower was sold as revenge, was it not? The goblins raided caravans and your prose is to stop that, is it not? And they are certainly a danger, but aren't humans more of a danger? Those men were organized and well armed, and when they want to rest, they will come to Gaul and blend in, receiving hospitality from the people and blessings from the priests. She does not offer to come hunting them at this time, though. If I were to cross their path again, I would think to charm them to fight for the Tower for us, and for the Blackhelm Ckan, of course.

[Alethan]

Earc replies to Issachar, "You're right, of course. It was the heat of battle and the fear of dying that brought my words. We should return to the tower to finish clearing it out. I do hope you will return with me."

"No, Winnie, not revenge - simply a matter of safety. We need caravans to come to Gaul safely. The goblins are using the tower as a base for their raids on the caravans."

[Rusty Tincanne]

Winnie shrugs. Mind you this is all academic, but both the highwaymen and the goblins are acting the same. They can share the same fate, for all I care. If we were to hunt for them, with three of us charming them, enough would follow us to the Tower. Why not let the two groups winnow each other down? She leaves the conversation for another time, knowing the riders will be gone by the time the group is healed enough to leave town again.

Addressing Earc and Bianca, she asks about the spell books and inks. Shall we take a week or so to copy spells from these books here? Once done, we can each keep a spell book, but the overall knowledge can be shared. I have a particular interest in the Burning Hands spell as an extension of our innate magic from Beith, as well as a few of the more complicated spells. She explains that, as much as she wants to return to the tower, she wants to transcribe at least one offensive spell before entering the wilds again.

Winnie cannot use any armor, shields or swords - though I might be wrong about the swords.
Perhaps counting 1-2 chests and a spell book as roughly equal in value to a piece of magical weaponry/armor?

If Bianca needs tutoring in Read Magic, let me know and we can spend time doing that.

[Alethan]

Winnie can use the shortsword that Earc gave her. But yes, I agree about copying spells and sharing the ink and materials necessary to do that so we don't have to cover those additional costs.

Earc still wants a Find Familiar spell!