IC XV

[thirdkingdom]

The knighting ceremony on the 16th is one of great pomp and circumstance, as much a celebration of the liberation of Threshold as the adventurers' ascension into the ranks of minor nobility. Half the city must certainly be in attendance; overnight the Baron's men have erected tents and a low wooden stage on the cleared green previously used by the Gnomish Caravan. In addition to the companions, a good dozen of the Baron's men are honored to one degree or another. At the end of the ceremony, the Baron decrees the following day to be an impromptu festival, and announces that he shall supply the food and drink for all.

Severi takes advantage of the downtime to study new spells. He successfully learns a divininatory spell that aids in the identification of magical items; on the 25th of Klarmont he also grasps an illusion that permits the mage to create multiple images of himself, thusly confusing his enemy. The 25th of Klarmont also sees the beginning of an intense heatwave; the already heat of the summer increases to only slightly less than a furnace. Birds drop from the sky, dogs seek shelter in the dirt under houses and porches and children amuse themselves by cracking eggs over flat stones and watching them fry. Hedge witches, old crones and bartenders mutter that the heat can only have an unnatural -- and malignant -- cause.

[thirdkingdom]

The other adventurers spend their days helping with the rebuilding of Threshold. Rhys and Thurgan lend what aid they can in their particular crafts; Vanco ministers to the sick and injured, whilst Quint spends his days in study.

[Wyzard]

Severi the Silvertongued, Elf

Severi finds the heat intolerable, and retreats into a deep cellar, where he studies by candlelight. He only emerges at night while these conditions persist.

[thirdkingdom]

Severi the Silvertongued, Elf

Severi finds the heat intolerable, and retreats into a deep cellar, where he studies by candlelight. He only emerges at night while these conditions persist.

Do you guys wish to wait until the heat wave abates? There will be some mechanical effects to adventuring in the heat (i.e., you'll need to track water supply and consumption

[Wyzard]

Yeah, it's crazy to adventure in weather like this.

[Atlictoatl]

Tev Meren, Fighter

Prior to the heatwave, Tev spends 2000 gp helping to outfit the men of Threshold who visit his makeshift training center with arms and armor and hiring a few of the more skilled men to help run it when he leaves. He's clear with everyone that it's not his training center, but Threshold's, and he's merely sharing his spoils of war to help the town get it started.

Once the magical heatwave strikes, he follows Severi's lead and does his best to stay where it's cool.

2000 gp spent on XP reserve.

[Alethan]

Rhys is in agreement on not adventuring during the heat wave, but that does not keep him from shedding shirt and continuing to help rebuild the town and keep.

[MonsterMash]

Thurgan, dwarf

Thurgan keeps working through the heatwave though his consumption of ale increases in proportion.

[Alethan]

Rhys has plans for one of his cat claws, so he converts his share of the take into stones and squirrels them away on his person.

He picks up 4 more topaz @ 500gp each. The rest is lost to transaction fees.

When he has some down time, he tries to gain an audience with Myraal to discuss whether or not he might be able to convert one of the cat claws into a pendant or amulet that can aid his unarmed fighting skills. If so, then he inquires as to about how much this would cost the adventurer.

As a way of trying to sweeten the deal, he suggests that if Myraal knows of any places where they might find old documents such as he is looking for and Rhys can see if the party will pursue those leads.

[Koren n'Rhys]

Quint Kacie

Quint, too, makes time to approach Myraal and offer his aid. As a member of the mage guild, he feels more obligated than his aloof elven comrade. Understanding, in part at least, the losses Myraal and the Guild have suffered, he offers his meager abilities in establishing a new home for the Guild, now safe behind the city walls and some measure of financial support as well. He also reveals the spellbook that had been recovered from the lost city. "When I have learned what I can from it, I shall certainly donate it to help rebuild the library."

In the days following the Knighting Ceremony, Quint splits his time between aiding Myraal as he can (if needed) and studying the spell book. If Severi doesn't object, he proposes they work together and share resources. He has no objections at all to waiting out the heatwave before they travel back to tackle the ur-orcs.

So - spell study. As noted, Quint has no problem sharing spells with Severi. Go right ahead, Wyzard.
I'd already indicated that Quint would study Find Familiar next and will continue to devote as much further time as he can, working on the following in this order:
Charm Person from Severi, then Audible Illusion from the book, followed by Magic Missile. Is it faster or more efficient to learn MM from Severi or the book? He'd do whichever is easiest.

[Wyzard]

Hahaha, is Severi really that aloof? I guess maybe he is.

He's happy to work with Quint on magic stuff. We need to find a scroll of Web somewhere, it's a big hole in our arsenal. Also, I don't know if we've made Continual Light amulets for the human PCs, yet. Severi's never learned the spell, but it's a good thing to have for any character without infravision.

[Koren n'Rhys]

Hahaha, is Severi really that aloof? I guess maybe he is.

He's happy to work with Quint on magic stuff. We need to find a scroll of Web somewhere, it's a big hole in our arsenal. Also, I don't know if we've made Continual Light amulets for the human PCs, yet. Severi's never learned the spell, but it's a good thing to have for any character without infravision.

He seems to be played that way, to a certain degree anyway. We'll call it Quint still getting a feel for his place in the group.

We should trade the 2nd level spells we have at some point. Other than Elf Mark, I have all your 1st level but you still need some of mine. Where did you get Mirror Image to study? Does Severi have a spellbook or something you picked up that Quint doesn't know about?

(EDIT: Looks like you have Drudsa and Gan's spellbooks from before my time. I can study Cont Light if it helps us more.)

Yeah, I agree Cont Light and Web would both be handy. Not sure if we can get them from Myraal somehow? Those amulets would be handy, but there's also something to be said for having a flaming torch too!

[phil285]

Vanco Basou, cleric
Vanco converts 500gp of his share to a topaz gem and hides it in his belongings. The rest of his share he donates via the church. "I never expected such wealth! The local deanery must rub their hands with joy when they see me approaching now."
He spends the heatwave in quiet contemplation, taking advantage of any stone-walled churches.

[Wyzard]

Severi has a captured spellbook he got from...somewhere. Look at his character sheet in the Characters thread. It's in a spoiler block below the character sheet insert thing, IIRC.

[thirdkingdom]

Klarmont 28, AC 1000

After three day of intense, soul-crushing heat the weather finally breaks and normalcy returns to Threshold; crisp, cool night followed by hot days. In the downtime, Quint has been studying spells like a prodigy. Every single one he attempts to learn he does, and in fairly quick order.

The weather back to normal, the adventurers are ready to head back out to the Forgotten City and the lair of the ur-orcs.

Quint learns Find Familiar, Charm Person, Auditory Illusion and Magic Missile. Also, I assume Quint will cast Find Familiar? Anyone want to make special preparations before heading out?

[Wyzard]

Severi buys Bruno a waterskin, and tack/saddle/saddlebags for his horse. I forgot that stuff. I'll knock the money off later.

[Koren n'Rhys]

Quint learns Find Familiar, Charm Person, Auditory Illusion and Magic Missile. Also, I assume Quint will cast Find Familiar? Anyone want to make special preparations before heading out?

I do want to cast it soon, yes, but I'm not sure if he should wait until we're back out in the wilderness. Any oddities in how it works?

[Atlictoatl]

Tev Meren, Fighter

Tev collects the vast amounts of oil that the team purchased and distributed when they took the field and discusses the best means of transporting it with the two mages. It seems like it would come in handy for their expedition against the ur-orcs.

[Alethan]

Rhys brings along six waterskins of the strongest alcohol or wine he can buy, in case the party comes across more of the beetles that spit liquid rock. He recommends others do the same, as well.

[thirdkingdom]

Quint learns Find Familiar, Charm Person, Auditory Illusion and Magic Missile. Also, I assume Quint will cast Find Familiar? Anyone want to make special preparations before heading out?

I do want to cast it soon, yes, but I'm not sure if he should wait until we're back out in the wilderness. Any oddities in how it works?

No oddities, as per the spell, but I'll be using one of the expanded tables from Dragon, I think.