IC V

[thirdkingdom]

By the way, it was not my intention with creating the Moneylender's Guild to set up a situation where you guys had little cash on hand. I never thought y'all would be spending so much time in such a small, backwater place, or need so much money here.

[frobozz]

Lanny the elf

By the way, it was not my intention with creating the Moneylender's Guild to set up a situation where you guys had little cash on hand. I never thought y'all would be spending so much time in such a small, backwater place, or need so much money here.

I actually really like the treasure encumbrance rules because they force us to be selective about how much equipment and other weight we carry around with us (which can be a fun challenge). The backwater-ness of Jessup is also another reason why Lanny is not keen on using this tower as a major base of operations in the future - too far away from services like a Moneylender's branch, weapons trainers, spell scribing supplies, etc. Threshold is still Lanny's favored base of operations, and it is also close to his heart. The tower might make for a nice summer home, but that's about it...

[sulldawga]

Lanny the elf

These spell scribing supplies will come in handy during the next few days, so if the Bank of Marodin is open for business and Lanny can borrow 150 gp to purchase them (with a 10% guaranteed rate of return), Lanny will purchase the remaining (2) 75 gp packets for anyone in the group to use.

Marodin will give Lanny the gold and tell him not to worry about paying him back.

"The better you are at casting spells, the more likely I am to live to see the next spell cast!"

[frobozz]

Lanny the elf

"A generous offer, and a wise investment. Thank you, Marodin."

Spellcasters: I'll add these supplies to my character sheet, but if you wish to use them during the time we are here in Jessup, just let me know. Lanny will be weapons training, which will probably take up all of his time. Perhaps Meagnor could use these supplies, since he cannot yet weapons train.

TK, is there an encumbrance value for each 75gp worth of supplies? When Lanny gets back to Threshold, he plans to purchase as many spell scribing supplies as he can reasonably cram into his backpack, so the encumbrance value would be helpful to know.

[thirdkingdom]

I'm going to say each 75 gp unit weighs 20 cn. This reflects the fragility and awkwardness as opposed to actual weight.

[thirdkingdom]

Remainder of Thaumont 22

Upon arriving in Jessup the companions go their separate ways, each with their own task to fulfill. Those studying spells find themselves fortunate, as Lanny, Meagnor and Tratiln are able to successfully learn the sorcery of their choosing. Drudsa begins to peruse a new dweomer, whilst the practical Bregalad thrusts and parries with his spear in the inn's courtyard in an attempt to better his skill.

Please let me know who will cast Analyze and on what the following day. I have quoted the spell text below:

To use an analyse spell, the caster must imitate using the item. This includes wearing armour (which won’t disrupt
this spell), wielding weapons, wetting one’s lips with a potion, and so on. Any curses or other ill effects of theitem may affect the caster.
The caster then has a chance equal to 15% plus 5% per level to identify one magical property of the item and how to activate it (or that the item has no more unrevealed magical properties). If an item has more than one magical property, then the one that is revealed will be one that the caster does not already know about.
The caster does find out command words or other instructions needed to activate the power(s) that are discovered on the item, but does not discover how many charges each power has.

Please note that in addition to a chance of normal failure (as above) there is some chance of "total failure". Having a sage ID the item does not come with this risk, nor will I be providing background on any item. Also note that casting the spell -- successful or not -- will not tell you how many properties the item has!

Provide me with a priority list as to which items you want to study first, and how many times you are will to cast Analyze in order to ID it. Also please note that you can only substitute one first level spell for a 2nd level one, not two. In other words, the swap is done on a spell for spell basis, regardless of the levels involved.

[Bouv]

Tratiln will, the next day, have Analyse memorized and test out the elvish blade to see if he can sense anything about it, while doing his training with Thordin.

[thirdkingdom]

Tratiln will, the next day, have Analyse memorized and test out the elvish blade to see if he can sense anything about it, while doing his training with Thordin.

Um, I think you mean the chain mail, right? And you're leaving the potions to Meagnor? And how many times are you willing to cast Analyze on the armor?

[Bouv]

Tratiln will, the next day, have Analyse memorized and test out the elvish blade to see if he can sense anything about it, while doing his training with Thordin.

Um, I think you mean the chain mail, right? And you're leaving the potions to Meagnor? And how many times are you willing to cast Analyze on the armor?

Yes, chainmail, sorry. I'll memorize it three times since we are staying in the village and willing to cast it 3 times.

[thirdkingdom]

Thaumont 23, AC 1000

The day is spent in practice by some, leisure by others. Saul is kept busy with his plans for the fete, and other his watchful guidance kegs of ale are brought up from cellars, a half-dozen shoats slaughtered, the green is swept and cleaned and so forth. Thordin and Marodin, having little to do, spend their day speaking with the locals. While Jessup is by all means a small, sleepy village they do learn the following:

The village is plagued less by whatever monstrosities dwell within the necromancer's Tower than by the actions of an obstreperous band of orcs dwelling about a day's ride to the east. The tribe of orcs, of the Bloody Bones tribe, have taken to raiding the caravans that ply the eastern road, Jessup's main artery of travel -- either north to Darokin or south back into Karameikos.

A hive of giant bees can be found in the wood's a half-day's ride to due north. While such bees are fairly tame, they are know to aggressively defend their hive and queen. Those daring their stings, however, and entering the hive, are oft-times able to return with some of the honeycomb, which bears a faintly magical aura and can be used to cure wounds and injury.

By late afternoon those practicing their skills are interrupted by a short but fierce thunderstorm, as seems to be typical in these parts. Just prior to the storm, however, Drudsa is able to learn the spell he is studying. Those practicing with blades give up for the day, and Tratiln uses his newly acquired spell to analyze the properties of the armor found in the troll's cave. Multiple castings reveal little, except that it carries a dweomer that toughens it and makes it more resistant to damage at the same time it becomes less burdensome.

Contrary to my customary practice, I will not be revealing the rolls made for the Analyze spell. The chain mail seems to function as armor +1 and has half the encumbrance of non-magical armor. I am not going to allow multiple people to cast Analyze multiple times. I am trying to get you guys to go to sages to spend your hard-won treasure.
rremedio, if you are still with us, let me know if you are casting Analyse on the potions.

[rremedio]

Meagnor the Elf doesn't like the idea of tasting unknown potions very much, but he can't help the wish to try his newly learned spell. He takes one of the two stoppered glass flasks on his hands, whispering some ancient verses before wetting his lips in the mysterious fluid.

memorized Analyse two times, casting it one time in the potion. Meagnor wants to start learning Ventriloquism, if there's still time.

[Innana]

Innana is excited to practice riding around town. After practicing all the basics, then she practices more difficult moving mounts and dismounts on Bliss. During her breaks she would mingle with the villagers and listened to what was being said. The villagers seemed excited about the party. It is a small town, and villagers seem eager to please, and have been gregarious.

Innana meanders back to the Inn to start getting ready so she can help with what is needed around town. She likes hanging out with the women and children. Innana finds that the information she gleans from them are most reliable.

She stops through and talks to the group to see what the plans are developing. She hears from Thordin and Merodin about the orcs, and the magical honeycomb. Innana would like to help the villagers get rid of the threats to the village. Innana is also very interested in the honeycomb since she is a fighter, and inevitably will need healing.

Meagnor is going to taste the potion flask, and thinks that is worthy of attention, and watches closely for any adverse reaction.

Nothing like a tall mug of ale and some music to help decide what is most important. The merriment of the towns people is contagious, and Innana is getting ready to PAAARTAY.



There is so many things to do with so little time.

[Bouv]

Tratiln spends the day in training and examinaning the armor. "Well, it seems to offer more protection that regular chain mail I'm pretty sure, but I do know for fact it is lighter than any chain mail I have ever seen or worn."

[riftstone]

Thordin the dwarf is also interested in the bees. Day 3 may be a side quest for Innana, Saul and Thordin.

On day 3, Thordin will announce to the group he is making the short trip to find the bees, and will be back that evening.

"I think I can make it there by noon or so, grab a little bit of the honey and make it back by late supper. If anyone wants to tag along, I leave after I finish this beer."

[frobozz]

Lanny the elf

Lanny is worn out after a day of intensive training, and he stops at the inn to rest and catch up on the news of the day. Learning about the stories gathered from the villagers, he shares his opinions.

"The orc threat is persistent, but not imminent. If they are indeed attacking travelers on the eastern road, then we should confront them before we leave this general area of the country... But I still think that we should try to track down the kobolds before following that road to the east. The kobolds attacked us, and they killed Innana's crew, so dealing with them is a much more personal quest. As for the bees, I say leave them bee... They are natural creatures in their natural habitat, and it would be best to leave them alone."

Lanny's official vote is changed slightly: Kobolds, Tower, Orcs (and then Threshold/Elwyn). He is still ok with the general consensus to check out the tower first and then decide where to go next.

[sulldawga]

Marodin is bored and will happily follow his friend Thordin to see what sort of healing honey they can retrieve from the bees.

He will give Semele the option to stay in town or follow them on the side quest.

The night before, he will discuss tactics with Thordin and the others.

"It's my understanding that bees can be calmed, or even driven away, by thick smoke. If we can think of a way to get the smoke close to the hive, it would make our task easier. I can pray for a spell that would protect one of us from fire, if needed. Otherwise, I can pray for a spell that would aid us in battle, and just have it out with them."

Bless or Resist Fire, what do you think?

[Innana]

Innana will want to go with Thordin and the group to get some healing honeycomb. Sounds like the stuff could come in very handy.

[zebediah]

Drudsa the dabbler will also join on the trip for the healing honey.

Assuming we take that side quest Drudsa will adjust his prepared spells to:
Exterminate (x3)

Sleep (x2)

Invisibility
Mirror Image

[Bouv]

Tratiln is intrigued by the giant bees and for that day will memorize sleep twice and rainbow attack once.

[frobozz]

Lanny the elf

Lanny shakes his head at all this talk about going after some bees. He complains loudly to Bregalad, who happens to be the closest person:

"I don't understand, Bregalad... These days in town were meant for training, study, relaxation, and healing, and instead we are off to put ourselves in harm's way again... We're surrounded by evil kobolds, orcs, and wraiths, and yet we choose to pick a fight with some bees that are dwelling peacefully in their natural habitat? I suppose I could understand it for those that have nothing else to do, but now Tratiln is forsaking his training, Drudsa is forsaking his study, Saul is forsaking his party planning, and all of them are forsaking their healing... Where is the focus and discipline in this group? Why can't we just finish what we set out to do before embarking on new adventures?"

Lanny continues to grumble under his breath as he returns to his room to rest from his splitting headache.

Just Lanny being his usual stick-in-the-mud self. I'm ok with the bee side quest for those that want to go, just try not to get poisoned and die while you are gone! Also, I can see the advantage of having Drudsa along for his Sleep and Extermination spells, although I wonder if Sleep would work on insects like giant bees. I suppose there is only one way to find out...